FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms
QUALITY AT VALUE
No govt scheme to I QUIT: SAKSHI
be shut, says Yadav AS SINGH AIDE WINS WFI POLL
But skips mentioning Ladli Behna Yojana
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Addressing the State As-
sembly during the mo-
tion of thanks, Chief
Minister Mohan Yadav
said no government-run
schemes would be shut
but he did not mention
about ‘Ladli Behna Yo-
jana’ in his speech. The 4-
day Assembly Session of
newly formed govern-
ment concluded after the
CM's address, here on
Thursday.
"For us the party's
Sankalp patra is like Gita
and Ramayana and we will
talk about the manifesto
after five years," the chief
minister said.
Yadav added that all
places where the steps of
Lord Krishna had fallen in
the state would be devel-
oped as religious places
and wherever the Ram
Bhakts were killed, the
state government will lay
red carpet in those places
on January 22.
The chief minister fur-
ther added that the state
government would pro-
vide bus and trains for
those who want to visit
Ram’s birth place Ayodhya
on January 22.
NEWS BRIEF
Several dead, hurt in
Prague Univ shooting,
suspect killed: Police
PRAGUE: Czech police said
Thursday a gunman had
killed several people at a
university building in central
Prague before being
"eliminated". "The gunman
was eliminated!!!" police said
on X, formerly Twitter.
"The building is currently
being evacuated and there
are several dead and dozens
of wounded people on the
scene," the statement
added. Czech media said the
shooting had occurred at
the Charles University
Faculty of Arts whose
teachers and students were
instructed to lock
themselves up as police
action was under way.
The private Nova TV
reported a blast and a
gunman on the roof of the
building in Prague's historic
centre.
CISF to provide
security to Parl
NEW DELHI :The
government has decided to
hand over "comprehensive"
security of the Parliament
building complex to the
Central Industrial Security
Force (CISF) in the wake of
the recent breach of the
safety ring, official sources said
Thursday. The CISF will
render access control to the
new and old Parliament
complex in an airport security-
like fashion where body
frisking of persons will be
done through hand-held
detectors and their belongings
will be checked through X-ray
machines, with a provision to
even scan shoes, heavy jackets
and belts by putting them on a
tray and passing them through
the scanner, the sources said.
VOL. 13 NO. 189 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023 | PAGES 16
FREE PRESS
IT WILL BE FUN TO PLAY WITH OLD
FRIENDS SHAMI AND MOHIT Pg-14
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav addressing House on Thursday
During his address, he
also talked about 2000-
year-old Aryabhatta theo-
ry, which is now quite
helpful for aviations.
Yadav also praised Ujjain
and King Vikramaditya
for his contribution in es-
tablishing the observatory
in Ujjain and also for con-
structing Ram temple in
Ayodhya.
The Chief Minister also
raised the issue of Green-
wich timing and alleged
that the Britishers had in-
tentionally made some
changes, which are wrong.
Impt posting of IAS, IPS officers
to go into hands of Centre
FOR RESHUFFLE,
govt has to take
green signal from
different levels
NITENDRA SHARMA
BHOPAL
The changes in state poli-
tics indicate that the cen-
tral leadership and the
RSS will have direct inter-
ference in the govern-
ment's functioning.
The posting of IAS and
IPS officers will be done on
the basis of green signal
from different levels.
The Chief Minister, the
Chief Secretary and the
Principal Secretary used to
carry out administrative
reshuffle after holding dis-
cussions. Now the central
leadership's permission
INDIA SET 297 TARGET FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Bengaluru airport's Terminal-2 recognised
as one of world's most beautiful airports
BENGALURU: The Terminal-2 (T2)
of the Kempegowda International
Airport (KIA) here has secured
recognition as one of the 'World's
Most Beautiful Airports' and has
been awarded the 'World Special
Prize for an Interior 2023' by the UN-
ESCO's Prix Versailles, the Banga-
lore International Airport Limited
(BIAL) said on Thursday.
It is the only Indian airport to re-
`3
-
EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE
NATION
AFTER DAYS OF HIGH DRAMA, LS
ADJOURNED SINE DIE
When amount of
LPG cylinder will
be deposited:
LOP Singhar
BHOPAL: Leader of
Opposition Umang Singhar
cornered the State
Government on Ladli Behna
Yojna and the BJP's promise
to provide gas cylinder at Rs
450. Singhar raised these
issues while speaking on
motion of thanks on
Thursday. He tried to corner
the government in the
Assembly targeting BJP's
Sankalp Patra and the govt-
run schemes. He said on
Rakha bandhan, the gas
cylinder was given to the
Congress MLA Jaivard- Ladli Behan beneficiaries at
han Singh asked that the
Chief Minister can imple-
Rs 450 and since then no
facility was given for refilling,
ment the time according to he asked "Is the government
the Ujjain timing and shall going to give the benefit in
pass it in the state Assem- the next Rakhi". He added
bly and all people should that the Ladli Behnas will not
follow it. be going to get the amount of
Many BJP MLAs also Rs 3000. He said the
raised their voice in government was formed after
favour of CM Yadav and a making promises to the
few Congress MLAs also people but the state
supported Jaivardhan. government is trying to
But crossing the party ignore those promises. He
line, Congress MLA from said "If Cheetah can come
Tarana Mahesh Parmar from Africa, why not lions
backed the Chief Minister from Gir of state Gujarat are
on the issue. not coming to state".
Mukesh Gupta becomes TNCP, Vashishth
shifted from CM's secretariat
BHOPAL: The government on Thursday transferred two
IAS officers. Principal Secretary (PS) Mukesh Gupta was
shifted from the post of director of Town and Country
Planning (TNCP).Gupta will remain PS of planning,
finance and statistics department. Labour commissioner
Shrikant Banoth has been given the additional charge of
director of TNCP. Neeraj Vashisth, who was in the CM's
secretariat, was posted as deputy secretary. Vashisth is
considered very close and loyal to former chief minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
has to be taken for trans- Then the transfer order
ferring officers holding im- will be issued. Besides the
portant positions. The BJP BJP, RSS will play an im-
has to take permission portant role in a few im-
from the central leadership portant postings.
after holding talks with the The RSS has had a lot of
party organisation. say in the culture depart-
The organisation will col- ment and in the universi-
lect information through ties. Now the government
its men about the officers has to consult some impor-
whose names have been tant leaders of the RSS for
proposed by the govern- posting of some officers.
ment for transfer.
CONTD. ON P8
Sanju
Samson hit
maiden ODI
hundred in
110 balls In
the crucial
series
decider in
Paarl on
Thursday.
His maiden
international
hundred
came 8 years
after his
debut.
ceive this recognition, said BIAL, tres, the terminal is built upon four
which operates the KIA. foundational pillars: technological
The Prix Versailles, established leadership, a terminal in a garden,
in 2015, focuses on "intelligent sus- environmental and ecological stew-
tainability" as a cultural driver, ac- ardship, and a celebration of Kar-
knowledging innovation, creativi- nataka's rich heritage and culture,
ty, reflection of local heritage, eco- the BIAL said.
logical efficiency, and values of so- Phase 1 of T2, inaugurated on No-
cial interaction, a BIAL statement vember 11, 2022, is designed to ac-
said. commodate 25 million passengers per
Encompassing 2,55,661 square me- annum, it said.
r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023;
WEATHER
23.00c. 12.20c
Sunrise : 07.02
Sunset : 05.46
AGENCIES/ NEW DELHI
Olympic medalist Sakshi
Malik, who was a face of
wrestlers' protest against
former WFI president Brij
Bhushan Sharan Singh
over sexual harassment al-
legations, on Thursday an-
nounced that she is quit-
ting wrestling after his
aide Sanjay Singh was
elected president of the
federation.
Sakshi Malik, distraught
and emotional, broke down
as she left the venue after
addressing a press confer-
ence in the national capital.
She put her shoes on the
table at the press confer-
ence as she announced her
decision to quit wrestling.
"We slept for 40 days on
the roads and a lot of peo-
ple from several parts of
the country came to sup-
port us. If Brij Bhushan
Singh's business partner
and a close aide is elected
as the president of WFI, I
quit wrestling," she said,
accompanied by some oth-
er wrestlers who were part
of the protest.
"We have made demands
for a woman president. If
the president would be a
woman, harassment would
not happen. But, there was
no participation of women
earlier and today you can
see the list, not even a sin-
gle woman was given a po-
sition. We had fought with
complete strength but this
fight will continue. The
wrestlers of the new gen-
eration have to fight," she
said.
Vinesh Phogat, World
Championships and Asian
Distillery Grp
suppressed
income, Rs 351 cr
cash seized,
says CBDT
NEW DELHI: Unaccounted
cash of Rs 351 crore and jew-
ellery worth more than Rs
2.80 crore were seized after
the Income Tax department
conducted searches against
an Odisha-based distillery
group and its promoters, the
CBDT said on Thursday.
The business of the
group is "controlled" by a
family based in Ranchi in
Jharkhand and one of the
family members is a "polit-
ically exposed person", the
Board said in a statement,
without taking any name.
Official sources con-
firmed that the action was
linked to the December 6
searches launched at more
than 30 premises in 10 dis-
tricts of Odisha, Jhark-
hand and West Bengal
against Boudh Distillery
Pvt. Ltd. (BDPL), promoted
by the family of Congress
Rajya Sabha MP Dhiraj
Prasad Sahu.
Sahu's family house in
Ranchi was also raided by
the tax department during
the 10-day-long search.
Some recent press re-
ports quoted Sahu, 64, as
saying that the cash had
nothing to do with the Con-
gress party and that he
would give an account of
everything. CONTD. ON P8
r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815
WEDDING BELLS
AGAIN? Pg-16
Wrestler Sakshi Malik during a press conference after Sanjay Singh, an associate of Brij Bhushan
Sharan Singh became the new President of WFI, in New Delhi on Thursday. Malik announced her
retirement from wrestling and said she wont compete under Brij Bhushan’s aide.
Games medallist, also ex-
pressed her deep disap-
pointment and said that
the future of wrestling is
dark and grapplers are still
fighting. "There are mini-
mal expectations but we
hope that we get justice. It's
saddening that the future
of wrestling is in the dark.
To whom shall we convey
our grief ?... We are still
fighting while we are
training," she said.
Sanjay Singh was on
Thursday elected as the
new president of the
Wrestling Federation of
India (WFI). The Wrestling
Federation of India elec-
tions were held on Thurs-
day after several postpone-
ments earlier in the year.
CONTD. ON P8
GSTAT to be opened
in Indore: Nirmala
LALWANI RAISED
the issue in Lok
Sabha, FM agreed
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Indore
Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitaraman has
announced in the Lok Sab-
ha that a bench of GST Ap-
pellate Tribunal (GSTAT)
will be opened in Indore.
This will be the second
bench in the State after
Bhopal.
While discussing in
favour of the bill presented
in the Lok Sabha, MP
Shankar Lalwani demand-
ed to open a bench of GST
Appeal Tribunal in Indore.
On which, Sitharaman an-
nounced that a bench of
GSTAT will be opened in
Indore also.
Recently, Lalwani had
met Sitharaman and re-
quested her to open a GST
3 soldiers killed as terrorists
ambush Army vehicles
POONCH/JAMMU
Three soldiers were killed
and as many injured when
heavily armed terrorists
ambushed two Army vehi-
cles in Poonch district of
Jammu and Kashmir on
Thursday, officials said.
The vehicles, carrying
the personnel to the site of
a cordon-and-search opera-
tion, came under attack at
Dhatyar Morh between
Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz
under the jurisdiction of
Surankote police station
around 3.45 pm, according
to officials.
A defence spokesperson
said a joint search opera-
tion was launched in the
general area of Dhera Ki
www.freepressjournal.in
Dabdaba rahega...: Brij Bhushan
after his aide elected WFI prez
Following the win of his
aide Sanjay Singh in the
Wrestling Federation of
India (WFI) elections,
the former president of
the federation Brij
Bhushan Singh said on
Thursday that it is the
victory of wrestlers
across the country and
added "dabdabaa tha, dabdabba rahegaa" (dominance
was there, dominance will stay!).
Former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's aide Sanjay
Singh on Thursday elected as the new president of the
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
"This is not my personal victory, this is the victory of the
wrestlers of the country. All wrestling activities were
stopped for 11 months. I hope that after the formation
of the new federation, wrestling events will resume
which were paused for the past 11 months," said Brij
Bhushan to the media.
PANNUN CASE
India gets
consular access
to Nikhil Gupta
NEW DELHI
India received consular ac-
cess on three occasions to
Nikhil Gupta, who has
been in a jail in the Czech
Appellate Tribunal in the capital of Prague following
city. Lalwani had told the the US accusing him of in-
Union Finance Minister volvement in a foiled plot
that the city has the high- to kill a Sikh separatist on
est number of taxpayers in American soil.
the state. EAM Spokesperson
Besides, a bench of In- Arindam Bagchi also said In-
come Tax Appellate Tribu- dia is extending necessary
nal (ITAT) and bench of consular assistance to Gup-
National Company Law ta. "An Indian national is
Tribunal (NCLT) are al- currently in the custody of
ready present in the city. the Czech authorities pend-
Apart from this, a bench of ing a request for extradition
the MP High Court is also to the US. We have received
set-up in the city, hence a consular access at least on
bench of GSTA should be
opened here. This will pro-
three occasions," Bagchi said
at his weekly media briefing
vide ease to the tax profes- in response to a question on
sionals and businessmen the case involving Gupta.
of the area. MP Lalwani "We are extending neces-
expressed hope that soon sary consular assistance as
the approved bench would per requirement," he said.
be set-up in the city. CONTD. ON P8
were moving to the site,
the terrorists fired upon
the vehicles -- a truck and a
Gypsy -- killing three sol-
diers and seriously injur-
ing three others, the offi-
cials said. Reinforcements
were rushed to the site of
the ambush and a massive
anti-terrorist
was launched.
operation
Disturbing images and
videos emerging from the
site showed blood on the
street, broken helmets of
soldiers and shattered
windscreens of the two
Gali in Poonch district Army vehicles. The offi-
Wednesday night based on cials said there was a pos-
"hard intelligence" about sibility that terrorists had
the presence of terrorists walked away with arms of
and an encounter ensued the targeted soldiers.
there. As additional forces CONTD. ON P8
BHOPAL INDORE / BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

NSA invoked against

Absence of traffic cops during
peak hours adds to chaos
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
The Bhopal traffic police
are often seen discharging
duties for recovering fines
for violations like not
wearing helmet and fas-
tening seat belt, however,
they are nowhere to be
seen when major squares
and junctions of the city
are dealing with traffic
snarls during the peak
hours.
A majority of the crowd-
ed city localities often face
traffic gridlocks during
the peak hours, some of
which are Karond square,
Roshanpura square, Prab-
hat square and Chunab-
hatti square, where the
traffic police often mount
barricades for recovering
fines. No sooner do the
peak hours kick in, the
traffic police go missing.
The situation has come
to such a pass that road
rage incidents are report-
ed every now and then on
such junctions due to ab-
Major junctions and squares of the
city reel under traffic snarls
sence of traffic police per-
sonnel. On some occa-
sions, women traffic police
personnel are deployed
there, who end up paying
no heed to the traffic
snarls.
The latest of such inci-
dents was observed on
Wednesday in light of the
putla dehen programme,
when vehicles cropped up
on Roshanpura square in
huge numbers. It took al-
most an hour for the
traffic gridlocks to sub-
side. Meanwhile, the traf-
fic police turned a blind
eye to the plight of the
commuters.
The traffic police also
claim to have cracked
down on no parking and
unauthorised parking, but
in stark contrast to their
claims, traffic snarls often
prevail on Govindpura
turning, where the city
EFFORTS ON TO
MITIGATE TRAFFIC
SNARLS: DCP (TRAFFIC)
D eputy commissioner
of police (Traffic)
Padm Vilochan Shukla
said that recently, the
traffic gridlocks pre-
vailed in the city due to
increased VIP move-
ment. He added that de-
spite less police person-
nel in the Bhopal traffic
police force, efforts are
on to ensure a smooth
commute.
buses are parked in a hap-
hazard manner. The
Anand Nagar square of
the city also shares a simi-
lar ordeal, where the traf-
fic cops are seen witness-
ing the chaos with folded
hands. Apart from this, the
persons crossing the road
when the signal turns
green has invited scores of
accidents recently and re-
minders to traffic police
fall on deaf ears.
externed criminal for
assaulting man
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
The police invoked the Na-
tional Security Act (NSA)
against a listed criminal,
who was recently
externed, but refused to
mend his ways and assault-
ed a man Gautam Nagar
for refusing him money for
alcohol.
The accused, identified
as Lakshminarayan, 30,
has been arrested.
The Commissioner of po-
lice (CP) had recently ex-
terned as many as 11 listed
criminals of the city, in-
cluding Lakshminarayan.
Gautam Nagar police sta-
tion TI Shailendra Kumar
Mishra said at around 9 pm
on Wednesday, Lakshmi-
narayan stopped a man
named Gulfam in Gautam
Nagar and asked for
money to consume alcohol.
When Gulfam refused,
Laxminarayan assaulted
him. Gulfam approached
the police and lodged a
complaint against Laxmi-
narayan. The police arrest-
ed him on Thursday morn-
ing and invoked the NSA
against him for flouting
the rules after being ex-
terned.
Cricketer rejected by MPCA makes it to
IPL, narrates his share of struggles
Ashutosh Sharma
will play for the
Punjab Kings in
the IPL 2024
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Ashutosh Sharma, hailing
from Ratlam has been ac-
quired by the Punjab
Kings (PBKS) in the IPL
2024 auction. Ashutosh
had been sidelined by the
MP team, despite playing
the best game in the Syed
Mushtaq Trophy.
Ashutosh represented
the Ujjain Division in his
initial days. He set the
record for the fastest half-
century against
Arunachal Pradesh in the
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy,
scoring it in just 11 balls,
surpassing Yuvraj’s previ-
ous record.
Ashutosh spoke to Free
Press, following his IPL se-
lection; he expressed grati-
tude towards his coach, he
said, “I was optimistic
about being chosen in the
IPL due to my noteworthy
performance in the Syed
Mushtaq Ali Trophy, I have
the highest strike rate of
270 in this trophy. I also
scored 200 in the Col CK
Nayudu trophy. My joy
knew no bounds when
Punjab Kings selected me.”
He further expressed dis-
appointment over being
dropped from the Madhya
Pradesh Cricket team. “I
faced immense disappoint-
ment when the Madhya
Pradesh coach omitted me
from the team, despite my
commendable perform-
ance in the previous match
for the state. Scor-
ing around 90 in
the Syed Mushtaq
Ali Trophy, I found
myself dropped
from the team after
a management
overhaul at MPCA
the following year.
Then for the next 2
years I played no
cricket and was
disappointed
throughout, then I
joined Railways
and got a posting in
Bhopal, and I
found solace in
playing for the
Railways junior
team. Eventually, my per-
sistence paid off as I se-
cured a spot in the Railway
senior team.”
Furthermore, he men-
tioned that during chal-
lenging times, Coach
Amay Khurasiya played a
crucial role. Khurasiya,
not only bolstered my con-
fidence but also instilled
belief in my abilities. De-
spite the rollercoaster
journey marked by highs
and lows, the culmination
was undeniably worth the
patience, said Ashutosh.

Man killed as Four held for beating Thieves break into

Now, ‘Pavan’ heads to
the wild in Kuno
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
‘Pavan’, the male cheetah,
was released into the
Nayagaon forest area of
Kuno National Park on
Thursday. With this the
number of cheetahs
released into the forest
from their enclosures
stands at four. Nayagaon
forest area is part of
Peepalwadi Tourism Zone.
While on safari, the visitors
will have the opportunity of
sighting cheetahs.
On Wednesday, ‘Veera’
was released into
Nayagaon forest area,
while on December 17, two
male cheetahs - Agni and
Vayu were released into
Parond forest area , which
Fourth cheetah to be released from
enclosure into open jungle
too is a tourist zone.
The long wait for people
to see cheetahs sprinting in
the open grassland of Kuno
has now ended. In the com-
ing time, more cheetahs
will be released into the
open jungle so that they
can survive on their own
and also become a major
attraction for tourists.
There are fourteen adult
cheetahs and of them four
have been released into the
wild.
Notably, a total of 20
adult cheetahs were
translocated to Kuno
National Park from
Namibia and South Africa
last year. Of them, six
adult cheetahs have died
due to sundry reasons.
Some of them had died
inside in the wild alleged-
ly due to collar infection
during monsoon, forcing
the authorities to capture
the remaining cheetahs
and place them inside the
enclosures for health
check up. All the remain-
ing cheetahs are healthy
and hence the decision
was taken to release them
in the open under the
watchful eyes of the offi-
cers.
speeding car hits bike
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
e-rickshaw driver to death
OUR STAFF REPORTER
A man was killed after a speeding car collid- city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
ed with his motorcycle near Golkhedi toll
booth in Eintkhedi on Wednesday evening. The city crime branch on
The deceased was identified as Rajesh Pra- Thursday arrested four persons
japati, 28, a native of Nazirabad. He used to for allegedly beating an e-rick-
work as a computer operator at an MP shaw driver to death.
Online shop. Eintkhedi police station house All the four accused are veg-
officer (SHO) Rachna Mishra said Prajapati etable and fruit vendors, who
had arrived in the city for shopping on had killed the e-rickshaw driver
Wednesday. The accident happened when he at a deserted house in BHEL af-
was heading back home in the evening. As ter abducting him.
Prajapati reached near the toll booth, a car Additional Deputy commis-
rushing at a high speed collided head-on sioner of police (Crime)
with his bike, owing to which Prajapati fell Shailendra Singh Chuhan told
on the ground. Free Press that the arrested ac-
The car driver sped away from the spot, cused have been identified as
while Prajapati, who was grievously injured, Arjun, Neeraj, Nadeem and Brij
died a few minutes later. The on-lookers Mohan. He added that two other
rushed to the spot and informed the police, accused are still at large and a
who sent his body for post-mortem. His kin search was on to nab them.
were informed by the police too. Chouhan said that on Tuesday,
The police said that a hunt is on for the ac- the victim, Zaid Uddin, was
cused car driver on the basis of the CCTV standing near Chetak bridge,
footage recovered from the spot. when Nadeem’s rickshaw
crashed into his e-rickshaw and
then fled. Zaid followed Nadeem
and later nabbed him to ask for
compensation. Nadeem grew fu-
rious and called five of his asso-
ciates.
All of his friends assaulted
Zaid in public and then took
him to a house in BHEL. There,
Zaid was tied up and assaulted
by sticks as well as rods. He was
also attacked with blade and
other sharp weapons, following
which Zaid bled profusely and
died.
On Wednesday, the accused
draped Zaid’s body and
disposed of it near Chetak
bridge. The crime branch offi-
cials got the lead after sifting
through as many as 60 CCTV
footages. Four of them were ar-
rested on Thursday, while the
search for two other unidenti-
fied accused is on.
hardware shop, make away
with booty worth Rs 75k
BHOPAL: A band of thieves
broke into a hardware shop
in Misrod on the intervening
night of Wednesday-Thurs-
day and made away with
booty worth Rs 75,000, the po-
lice said.
The police added that a
case has been registered
against the accused and fur-
ther probe is on in the case.
Misrod police station TI
RB Sharma said that the
complainant, Yogesh Ku-
mar, a resident of Samard-
ha, owns a hardware shop in
Gunjan Nagar of Misrod.
On Wednesday night, he
shut down his shop at 10 pm
and went home. When he
reached his shop on Thurs-
day morning, he found the
lock on the door broken and
the entire shop ransacked.
He found that bundles of
copper wires as well as cut-
ter machines, drilling ma-
chines, grinders and other
goods worth Rs 72,000 were

PMT forgery case: CBI court sentences five to 7-year RI
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
A special CBI court in Bhopal on Thursday con-
victed five persons and sentenced them to seven
years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a
fine of Rs 10,000 each in connection with forgery
in Madhya Pradesh Pre Medical Test (MP PMT)
exam 2013.
CBI public prosecutor Manuji Upadhyay said
that special CBI court judge Nitiraj Singh
Sisodiya convicted four mediators and a solver
under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 419, 420,
467, 468, 471, 120 B and relevant sections of the
Madhya Pradesh Recognised Education (MPRE)
Act. The four mediators were identified as
missing. Additionally, Rs
3,000 in cash was also stolen
by the thieves.
Rakesh Kumar, Hardik Patel, Shravan Sonar The CBI began investigation into the matter Kumar approached the po-
and Dhananjay Singh and the solver as Mukesh and presented a charge sheet against all the lice and lodged a complaint
Maurya. He said “During the MP PMT exam accused before the court. During the trial of the against the unidentified ac-
conducted in 2013, Mukesh was giving exams in case, special judge Sisodiya found all the cused. The police have be-
place of another person (who was a juvenile). accused guilty and pronounced the judgement of gun sifting through the
When the matter came to light, a case was regis- the case on Thursday. CCTV footage to trace and
tered against the accused. apprehend the thieves, they
Later, the case was handed over to the CBI.” BHOPAL SPORTS NEWS ON 15 said.

DISTRICT NEWS

ED begins to probe ‘double-money’ fraud Two shopkeepers selling meat

FP NEWS SERVICE
Balaghat
The Enforcement Direc-
torate (ED) has begun to
probe the ‘double-money’
fraud in the district, offi-
cial sources said on
Thursday.
A fake finance company
lured a large number of
people to make short-term
investments to double
their incomes. A large
number of people invested
money in the scheme.
Many people associated
with the company are in
jail, but the kingpin of the
gang is still at large.
The court has asked the
Mega event centred
ED to interrogate those
who are in jail.
Immediately after the
ED began a probe, the case
hogged the limelight
again.
It came to light on May
17 last year that the police
had registered more than
50 cases in Lanji and Bal-
aghat against those who
were involved in the
fraud.
They arrested a few cul-
prits and sent them to jail,
but some of them were re-
leased on bail, and some
are still at large.
Charge sheets have been
filed in the court in con-
nection with 28 cases
which additional sessions
judge (Balaghat) Naushin
Khan is hearing.
On December 18, addi-
tional director of ED in
Bhopal visited Balaghat to
take permission for
quizzing the culprits and
the judge allowed it.
ED will probe three
cases lodged against Ajay
Tidke, kingpin of the gang
Somendra Kankrayan
(still absconding) and
Dhanraj Amadare who is
in jail along with his
brother Hemraj.
According to reports, the
role of the officials of
some nationalised banks
is not above board in the
fraud. It is the officials of
the bank who provided
cheque books to the cul-
prits in large numbers,
sources said.
The state government
recommended a CBI probe
into the case, and it has
come to light that the
agency will also probe the
case.
The police are trying to
find out the links of the
case in Maharashtra and
Chhattisgarh.
The police raided the
hideouts of the culprits
and found over Rs 15 crore
and announced a reward
for providing clues about
the absconding culprits.
in open advised to procure Bogus company dupes
licence by district admin
FP NEWS SERVICE
150 women of Rs 10 lakh
Anuppur
After orders were issued by the state Chief Minis-
ter Mohan Yadav to ban the sale of meat in open,
the Anuppur district administration plunged into
action. During the monitoring of the meat selling
activities in open on Thursday, the district admin-
istration team advised two shopkeepers indulging
in the practice to cover the meat and sell it. Both
of them were also found to be devoid of a license,
after which the team schooled them and advised
them to procure a license with immediate effect.
Notably, after the orders came from CM Yadav’s
side, the meat traders have begun thronging the
municipality officer of Anuppur to get a license. Complaint lodged 21 women. According to the
complainants, Gupta took the
The district administration has also stated that in
case a trader is facing hurdles in procuring a li-
at police station, photocopy of their Aadhar
cards and bank passbooks, as-
cense, he/she shall get in touch with the Chief mu-
nicipal officer (CMO) of Anuppur.
probe is on suring them that he would pro-
vide a loan of Rs 40,000.
FP NEWS SERVICE After taking money, Gupta
Naugaon (Chhatarpur) neither took the calls of the
women nor did he deposit loan

on govt schemes to ANGRY WITH WATER SHORTAGE, Director of a company Modart

Credit Corporation Limited in
Naugaon duped 150 women of
amounts in their banks. Then
the womenrealised that they
had been deceived. When they
be held in Lalitpur
FP NEWS SERVICE
WOMEN LOCK CIVIC BODY OFFICE Rs 10 lakh in the name of mak-
ing insurance and giving them
loans, buthe ran away.
visited the house of Gupta, they
found it locked.
Afterwards, they went to
Lalitpur FP NEWS SERVICE formed about the shortage The women duped by the com- Isanagar police station and
Shivpuri of water in the ward, but pany lodged a complaint at the lodged a complaint there.
A mega event centred on government schemes they did not do anything to police station and demanded ac- Police station in-charge Ra-
will be held at a temple in Lalitpur town of Uttar Fed up with shortage of supply water. tion against the bogus firm and jkumar Yadav took the com-
Pradesh on December 27 and 28, District magis- water, women residents of The Shivpuri Nagar Pali- its director. plaint of the women and as-
trate (DM) Akshay Tripathi said on Thursday. ward number-11 in Shiv- ka, ruled by the BJP, is in a According to reports, director sured them of interrogating the
DM Tripathi chaired a meeting ahead of the puri city locked the gate of bad state. Both the Chair- of Modart Credit Corporation house owner and of tracking
event to review the preparations to be ensured Nagar Palika office on person and the deputy Limited Company, Rajendra down the culprit with the help
there. Thursday. chairman belong to the Gupta took a house on rent in of cyber cell.
DM Tripathi said in the meeting that the The angry women also BJP. ward number 11 in the city. Now they are moving from pil-
event will be held for two days at the Tuwan raised slogans against the Baghel alleged that there He used to visit Alipura, La- lar to post to get back Rs 1,995
temple of Lalitpur. Stalls of MNREGA scheme, officials of the civic body. was nobody to listen to the hera Purwa, Isanagar and Nau- that they gave to Gupta.
PM Aawas Yojana, PMGSY and other schemes As the officials could not problems raised by her, so gaon and contact women and The banner that was put up in
shall be set up there, and the deputy CM of the enter the office, they in- she along with the women set up a non-governmental or- front of the house where Gupta
state will inaugurate the event. He also directed formed the police about residents of the ward num- ganisation (NGO). was living contained a mobile
all the nodal officers to discharge the duties as- the incident. The police companied the women agi- both the motors attached ber 11 had to stage a sit-in He promised them to provide phone number – 9984597527.
signed to them conscientiously. tried to pacify the agita- tators. to two tube wells were out and lock the office of the a loan of Rs 40,000 through his In the banner it is written that
In the meeting, Chief development officer Ka- tors, but they refused to Baghel said the residents of order. civic body. company and, in the name of the head office of the company
malkant Pandey, Additional DM Ankur Shri- leave the place. of her ward had not been Chairperson of Nagar The police assured the insurance, took Rs 1,995 from is in Kolkata, West Bengal.
vastava, deputy CMO and other administrative BJP councilor from the getting drinking water for Palika Gayatri Sharma agitators that their prob- each woman. There was no other reference to
officials were also present. ward Neelam Baghel ac- the past one month, since and Keshav Sagar were in- lem would soon be solved. Then Gupta set up a group of the company.
 BHOPAL CITY
INDORE / BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

MP PREPARED TO TACKLE JN1 COVID VARIANT Is govt committed to

10K remdesivir injections continue Ladli Behna: Oppn
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Congress trains guns on govt

in stock, 47K beds reserved

city.bhopal@fpj.co.in

Opposition tried to put the

RS 2 LAKH TO EACH CMHO, MEDICAL COLLEGES
TO PURCHASE PCR TESTING KITS
NO CONFIRMED CASES OF JN1 IN MP, ALL ARE
SUSPECTS: HEALTH DEPT
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
The health department
claims to have sufficient
beds, ICU beds, oxygen
supply, and medicines, in-
cluding a stock of remde-
sivir injections in the
state following the emer-
gence of cases of the
Covid-19 sub-variant JN.1.
So far, four cases have
been reported in Madhya
Pradesh.
Additional director
health Dr Pramod Pathak
said that the department
has written to the dean of
all medical colleges to
maintain the stock of
remdesiver injection.
They have been asked to
approach Madhya
Pradesh Public health
Service Corporation Lim-
ited (MPHSCL) to get the
supply, this comes after
For third consecutive term
RATLAM MLA TO FORGO restriction, warn statewide stir
ALLOWANCES & PENSION
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
The three-time BJP MLA
from Ratlam city,
Chetanya Kasyap has said
that he will not withdraw
his salary allowances and
pension this term too.
The BJP MLA told the
House that he had not tak-
en any salary allowance or
pension during his two
previous terms as mem-
ber of the legislative as-
sembly and would contin-
ue to do so this time as
well.
Kasyap said that he
wants that his allowance
and pension should not be
withdrawn from the state
exchequer and the sum
should be used in develop-
Centre asked states and
Union territories to main-
tain a constant vigil amid
an uptick in Covid-19 cas-
es and the detection of the
new JN.1 variant.
Deputy director (Health)
Dr Himanshu Jaiswar
said, there are no con-
firmed cases of JN1 in MP,
all are suspects. “We have
sufficient stock of remde-
sivir injections. MPHCL
has around 10,000 injec-
BJP MLA Chetan Kasyap speaking
in House on Thursday.
ment of state and public
welfare works. “God has
made me such that I can
give some contribution in
public service,” said the
legislator.
tions in stock. Mock drill
of oxygen plants has been
done. We have 47,000 beds
for Covid patients and
asked all the heads of hos-
pitals to keep 10 beds in
their hospital right now.
The state government
has sanctioned Rs 1.5
crore for PCR testing and
Rs 2 lakh to CMHO and
medical colleges each to
purchase PCR testing kits,
said Pathak.
DJ bands oppose sound box
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Bhopal Electronic Musical
Band and Disk Jockey As-
sociation has opposed the
government order on lim-
iting the use of
speaker/sound boxes to
two during any outdoor
events and procession. The
association has demanded
the government to permit
4 or 6 sound boxes.
Its association has
warned of state wide agita-
tion from December 24 if
the government fails to
fulfill their demand.
The government order
has adversely affected
business, particularly dur-
ing the wedding season, ac-
cording to the association.
It further stated that the
RESERVED: 10 beds in Hamidia, 16 in JP
G
MC Dean Dr Salil
Bhargav said,
“Right now, we
have kept 10 beds
reserved for Covid
patients and then if
cases spikes, beds will
be increased. Hamidia
Hospital has sufficient
oxygen supply.”
electronic musical bands
and disk jockeys are not
related to any religion, but
directly connected to liveli-
hood.
Sandeep Malotia, Balaji
DJ and association
president, said, the gov-
ernment has asked it to
work only two sound boxes
but we have demanded per-
C
ivil surgeon JP Hospital
Dr Rakesh Shrivastava
said, “Sixteen beds have
been kept reserved in Covid
ward. We have adequate
medicines, beds, oxygen etc
to handle the cases of new
variants. PCR testing is being
carried out at JP Hospital.”
mission to allow four to six
boxes during the wedding
season. “We have request-
ed the CM to consider our
demand or else we will
have no option but to go for
a state wide protest from
December 24. We are hav-
ing discussions with DJ
groups from other districts
as well,” said Balji.
government in dock over
the Ladli Behna scheme,
rising debt, education and
health in the Assembly
while speaking during dis-
cussion on motion of
thanks on the Governor’s
address to the House on
Thursday.
The Congress legislators
wanted to know from the
government if the govern-
ment was committed to
continue the Ladli Behna
Scheme as the Governor’s
speech on Wednesday had
no mention of it.
The opposition also cor-
nered the government over
the state's rising debt
which has skyrocketed to
around Rs 4 lakh crores and
per capita debt has touched
Rs 50,000 during the BJP
rule.
Stating that the gap be-
tween rich and poor has
widened, MLA Ramnivas
Rawat said that the BJP
Vijayvargiya slams Cong over
poor roads, infra pre 2003
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Kailash Vijayvargiya
launched a blistering at-
tack on Congress citing the
poor roads, electricity and
pathetic infrastructure be-
fore BJP came to power in
the state in 2003. Now Mad-
hya Pradesh has better
roads, adequate electricity
and robust infrastructure,
said the BJP MLA during
Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar having meeting with MLAs in Vidhan Sabha on Thursday
over Ladli Behna, rising debt
government has failed to
eradicate poverty from the
state as out of 8.5 crore pop-
ulation, 5.37 crores are still
taking the free ration.
He also questioned the
save girl child campaign
claiming 8 point decline in
girl birth rate in the state.
Citing NITI Ayog survey,
the Congress MLA said the
state stands 17th in health
sector.
Pointing to the repeated
mention of PM Narendra
Modi in the Governor's ad-
dress, the Congress MLA
Bala Bachchan wanted to
know if MP has become a
Central-ruled state.
He also wanted to know
from the treasury bench
why the state has failed to
take the GST compensation
sum of Rs 5000 crores from
Centre pending for the last
three years.
The Opposition also re-
discussion on motion of
thanks for the Governor’s
speech in Assembly on
Thursday. Vijayvargiya
said that in 2003, the state
had 60, 000 km road length
and most of them were re-
plete with potholes. Now
the state has around 5.10
lakh km of road network
and that too of good quali-
ty. In 2003, the state's infra-
structure budget was
around 3, 878 crores which
Officials harassing
people over
loudspeaker norm
ttacking the
A government
over the deci-
sion on loudspeakers at
religious places, Arif
Masood alleged that in
the name of rule, the of-
ficials were unnecessar-
ily harassing the con-
cerned people. He
sought clarification
over the implementa-
tion of the loudspeaker
norm in the light of the
Supreme Court ruling.
minded the government of
its promise to buy paddy at
Rs 3100 per quintal.
During the discussion on
the Governor’s Address, as
many as 31 Congress MLAs
moved amendments on it.
is now 56, 256 crores, he
elaborated.
The electricity production
in 2003 was 5,173 MW and at
that time, requirement was
13,000 MW and now the
state is producing 29,000
MW electricity which is
surplus, said the senior BJP
leader. Prahlad Patel said
that owing to its geographi-
cal location, Madhya
Pradesh can become the
biggest supply chain centre.

No major temp HC asks govt to APPOINTMENT

CM, VD arrive at Delhi to
fluctuation in state install RWH in Smart
BHOPAL REPORTS A discuss ministry formation city projects in MP
RISE IN TEMPERATURE They will also The Central leadership plans... Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh High Court, princi-
OUR STAFF REPORTER take part in the o induct MLAs into ministry o include pal bench in Jabalpur, has ordered authority
City.bhopal@fpj.co.in two-day meeting T keeping in mind the caste and
regional equations for the Lok
T minimum one
minister from each
concerned and agencies for implementation
of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) in the state.
There was no major fluctuation in tem- being held for LS Sabha elections region The order has been issued for installing wa-
perature across the state on Thursday. ter harvesting projects in government and
The central along with western and
poll preparations The delay public projects immediately. The court in its
eastern parts of the country reported OUR STAFF REPORTER he party is unable to take a decision on junior and senior order made it mandatory to install rain water
minimal weather activity. Shallow fog
in patches is quite likely for Bihar,
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in T legislators in the House. harvesting system in the all Smart City proj-
ects being run in Madhya Pradesh as per Bhu-
Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Mohan Ya- has to decide the portfolios mi Vikas Rule (supra).
Bhopal recorded 25.8 degrees Celsius dav, BJP’s state unit presi- they will be allotted. Double bench of Chief Justice Ravi Mali-
day temperature, dent VD Sharma and or- Because senior leaders math and Justice Vishal Mishra has passed
while it recorded ganisational general secre- are being inducted into the the order on Public Interest Litigation (PIL),
10.1 degrees Cel- tary Hitanand Sharma left ministry, many other lead- of advocate Aditya Sanghi. Union Ministry
sius night temper- for Delhi on Thursday to ers may be deprived of cab- of water resources, New Delhi, Madhya
ature after a rise of discuss the formation of inet berths. Pradesh Government, PS department of
1.3 degrees Cel- ministry with the central According to sources, it housing and environment, UAD commis-
sius. Indore leadership. has become difficult for the sioner, Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur,
recorded 24.4 de- The BJP is holding a two- party to choose ministerial Bhopal Municipal Corporation(BMC) have
grees Celsius day day meeting on Friday and candidates, because there been made respondents in the petition, said
temperature and Saturday to discuss the are many senior leaders in Sanghi.
12.4 degrees Cel- preparations for the Lok the House. Jabalpur Municipal Corporation, in its re-
sius night temper- Sabha elections. tions for the Lok Sabha elec- Central leadership is tak- ply, has ensured installation of Rain Water
ature. According Before the meeting, the tions. The leadership plans ing a decision on the list of Harvesting system in 1058 government hous-
to meteorological leaders from MP will hold to include minimum one ministers on its own, and es/buildings. BMC in its reply said the State
department, main- talks with party’s national minister from each region. once it is done, the list will government issued a directive which made in-
ly weak western disturbances have president JP Nadda and or- The party is unable to be handed over to the state stallation of rainwater harvesting systems
moved across the mountains of North ganisational general secre- take a decision on junior government for the swear- mandatory on a building having an area of
India, weather activity remained con- tary BL Santosh. and senior legislators in the ing-in ceremony. 140 sq. mt. or more. “The owner of the build-
fined to mid and higher reaches. Srina- The names of probable House. For this reason, it Yadav and other leaders ing has to mandatorily deposit a fund com-
gar, Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie, Mus- ministers may be finalised has not been able to form discussed the probable mensurate to its building area for implemen-
soorie and Nainital are yet to record de- at the meeting. The central the ministry. names of ministers with tation of RHW system at the time of availing
cent December rains. Snowfall has elud- leadership plans to induct According to sources, af- Santosh. At a meeting, to be building permission. The required fund was
ed all these popular destinations. Even the legislators into the min- ter senior leaders have giv- held with Nadda, the names categorized in 4 categories as per the building
the rains have been far and few for the istry keeping in mind the en their consent to join the of the ministers will be fi- area i.e. 140- 200 sq. mt., 200 - 300 sq. mt., 300 -
plains of North India. caste and regional equa- cabinet, the organisation nalised. 400 sq. mt. and 400 sq. mt and above,” it said.
DISTRICT INDORE / BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

Police action
Amzhera youth’s ‘accident
NEWS IN BRIEF
plan to tackle
Kanjar menace
death’ turns out to be MURDER
FP NEWS SERVICE
Accused first had eye
Amzhera

In a major twist in the suspicious death of on Bhavana's sister

Bhagwat Katha recital
begins with Kalash Yatra
KHETIA: The recitals of Shrimad Bhagwat Katha started on
Thursday in Manokamaneshwar Mahadev Temple with a
grand Kalash Yatra. The yatra traversed through Ram
Temple, Gandhi Chowk, Tagore Chowk, and Court
Chouraha. Preacher Praveen Das recited the katha by
performing Havan at the temple. Shri Radha Krishna Ashram
sant Rajaram Maharaj addressed the devotees. Dinesh Patel,
Brajesh Harsola, and others of the Manokamaneshwar
Mahadev Temple Management Committee urged devotees
to attend katha till December 26.
692nd Urs of Hazrat Khwaja
Kamaluddin Chishti commences
DHAR: The 692nd Urs of Shahenshahe Malwa, Hazrat
Maulana Khwaja Kamaluddin Chishti initiated the
ceremonial presentation of Chadar Sharif at Astane Alia.
The event featured Qawwali performances by renowned
groups such as Jafar Shadab Qawwal Party and Azam Sabri
Qawwal, captivating religious attendees. The Urs
committee extended a warm welcome to visitors, offering
dastarbandi. Noteworthy guests, including representatives
from Ajmer and Delhi, presented sacred sheets. Suhail
Nisar, acting chairman of the Urs committee, announced a
series of Qawwali programmes and a vibrant trade fair
during the 15-day celebration, concluding with a colourful
gathering on December 25.
Radheshyam Sargara, Amzhera police
claimed to have cracked a blind murder
case. Police arrested accused in this case as
well.
Radheshyam found injured near Nalapura
culvert on Mangod Road on December 14
night. Two days later, on December 16, the
victim died while undergoing treatment at
Indore.
Initially, it was found that the victim, iden-
tified as Radheshyam Sargara, 27, a resident
of Rajsamad district in Rajasthan, met a
road accident, and some unidentified
vehicle might have knocked him. However,
during the investigation, some shocking
revelations were unearthed, as the accused,
identified as Ankush Panwar, tried his best
to portray the incident as an accident.
On the day of the incident, Radheshyam,
who was a photographer by profession, was
knocked down by a car after he had a
dispute with his wife Bhavana and accused
Ankush at Ghoda Chowpati in Dhar. Later,
the matter went to the police, and after
counselling, Radheshyam agreed that he
would not meet Bhavana again.
Meanwhile, a few hours later, the victim
was again involved in a dispute with Bha-
Before Bhavana, accused Ankush
had an eye on her sister Monica,
who used to visit Bhavana's place
frequently. But Monica got
married somewhere else, in
Mandsaur. After her marriage, the
accused started eyeing Bhavna. He
started visiting Radheshyam’s
place often, and the victim started
raising objections over this.
Low income became root cause of discord Since the victim did not like his
Radheshyam hails from Rajasthan, while Bhavana is from presence at home, the couple is
Mandsaur. Both knew each other before marriage, and three often involved in disputes over the
years ago, they entered into the nuptial knot. The couple had issue. Meanwhile, the accused
one child from their marriage. took advantage of the discord
Radheshyam was a photographer by profession and had less between husband and wife. It was
income, and that became the root cause of the discord also revealed that the accused had
between the couple. However, since Bhavana was good at an eye on the victim's wife, who
studying, the victim admitted her to a nursing course, and after was considering him her brother
completing the nursing course, she got a job at Amzhera CHC. and tying 'Rakhi'. Bhavna made it
Since Ankush was also a photographer, he came in touch with clear that she did not know what
Radheshyam and subsequently started visiting his place. was going on in Ankush's mind.
vana. Ankush came to know about the inci- Before villagers could catch him, the ac-
dent; he straight drove his car to Amzhera, cused fled the spot, leaving injured Rad-
where he saw Radheshyam near Nalapura heshyam behind. Later, Radheshyam’s wife
culvert on Mangod Road. In a fit of rage, the Bhavana took him to Amzhera CHC, from
accused crushed him with his car. where he was referred to Indore.
FP NEWS SERVICE
Alot
Day after Madhya Pradesh and Ra-
jasthan police carried out a joint
operation at three Kanjar camp-
sites in Rajasthan, Ratlam SP
Rahul Lodha visited Alot and
Barkheda Kala police station area
and discussed in detail with the po-
lice officers about Kanjar problem
and also gave them necessary in-
structions.
Speaking to media persons, SP
Lodha said, "For a permanent solu-
tion to the problem, we are
forming a team and taking action
and this action will continue and
action will also be taken against
the anti-social elements."
Lodha said that to control the in-
cidents of theft, the police are con-
tinuously keeping an eye on such
anti-social elements and further
action will be taken under the cam-
paign also.

Barnagar gears up for
Viksit Sankalp Yatra
BARNAGAR: Barnagar is set to host a camp for the Viksit
Bharat Sankalp Yatra on January 1, 2024. A preparatory
meeting at the municipal auditorium, chaired by president
Abhay Tongya and vice-president Anita Verma, saw chief
municipal officer Kamla Kol briefing officials on the event.
The Yatra aims to extend benefits from Central
government schemes to locals, including Ayushman Bharat
Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana. Various department officials
attended the meeting, ensuring a collaborative effort for a
successful campaign.
Manawar resident receives Indore Ratna
MANAWAR: Darshan Parihar,
from Jajamkhedi village,
Manawar, was awarded the
prestigious Indore Ratna by
former Lok Sabha Speaker
Sumitra Mahajan at the Brilliant
Conventional Centre in Indore.
Recognised for his outstanding
contributions to the insurance
and investment sector, Darshan
received applause from
Manawar's district panchayat
member Kapil Solanki and
others.
One killed, eight Waiter films woman while bathing Earlier on Wednesday, Kanjar
dens at Arnia and Tokda villages
injured in bus-truck have been raided. During the joint
police operation, the Kanjars from
head-on collision in hotel room, arrested all three villages managed to evade
capture, leaving behind vacant
dwellings. No women were present
Bus driver was allegedly FP NEWS SERVICE No 306, she saw a mobile station road police swiftly during the raid; only small chil-
Ratlam phone near the ventilation arrived at the spot and ar- dren were found, offering no infor-
in inebriated condition window. She immediately rested the accused, and also mation about the Kanjars' where-
An employee of a hotel has came out of her room and confiscated his mobile abouts.
FP NEWS SERVICE been held for video record- found the employee record- phone for further investiga- SP Lodha clarified that the opera-
Khandwa ing a woman while she was ing video on his mobile tion. Based on the com- tion was in response to the escalat-
taking a bath in a room at phone. plaint, a case was registered ing crime rates in the area. While
One person was killed and eight others were the hotel. Sagar Hotel is re- Reacting swiftly, she under Section 354C of the the Kanjars escaped this time, law
seriously injured after a passenger bus head- portedly situated near Dat raised an alarm, prompting IPC. enforcement remains committed
ing from Maharashtra to Indore collided Ki Puliya in Ratlam. her brother and mother to Notably, the hotel manage- to future actions to curb theft and
head-on with a truck, Chegaonmakhan police As per station road police rush to her aid. Other hotel ment has denied their in- criminal activities, ensuring the
said. The accident was reported at Torni Fan- station in-charge BR employees also rushed and volvement in the alleged safety of the community.
ta near Deshgaon village at around 5 am on Verma, the woman was a na- beat up the accused. crime and demanded strict
Thursday. The impact was so intense that the tive of Delhi and checked The waiter has been iden- action against the accused.
truck's engine was completely crushed.
Both legs of the truck driver were fractured.
into the hotel with her fami-
ly on Tuesday.
tified as Narendra Singh
from Etawah village in Uj-
The restaurant within the
premises was rented out
BJP, Cong announce
He was admitted to Khandwa District Hospi-
tal along with other injured passengers, while
On Wednesday afternoon,
while taking a bath in room
jain.
On being informed,
and Narendra Singh was an
employee of the restaurant.
candidates for by-poll
those who sustained minor injuries were tak- FP NEWS SERVICE
en to the Chaigaonmakhan community Ratlam
health centre. One passenger, identified as
Babban died in an accident.
One woman passenger, a resident of Jal-
Encroachers attempt to grab Jain community The BJP and Congress have an-
nounced their candidates for the

Farmers seek relief from DFO Khare

PIPLIYA MANDI: A delegation of farmers urged
divisional forest officer Sanjay Khare to address the issue of
pests and wild animals wreaking havoc on agriculture.
Farmers, led by Kachrulal Chadawat, highlighted the
destruction caused by these pests and the intrusion of wild
animals, damaging crops. Khare advised farmers to report
animal sightings, ensuring prompt action. The delegation,
including Vikram Prakash Vidyarthi and Badrilal Dhangar,
appealed to fellow farmers for cooperation and reporting
pests and wild animal locations for effective resolution and
compensation measures.
Dhar rout Indore by 211 runs
DHAR: Dhar cricket team routed
Indore Royal Club by 211 runs in
the B Grade Cricket Tournament
organised by the Indore Divisional
Cricket Association. Batting first,
Dhar posted an imposing total of
294 runs, led by Darshan Gandhi's
unbeaten 121 runs, Divyanshu's 41
and Yash Chauhan's 31. In
response, the Royal Club
crumbled, managing only 83 runs in
28 overs. Dhar's Deepak Kushwaha took three wickets,
with Umesh and Monu claiming two each. Association
leaders, including chairman Karan Singh Pawar and
president Pradeep Joshi, congratulated the team for their
stellar performance.
Pooja's Varsidan Varghoda taken out
ALOT: Varsidan Varghoda of
Bajna village resident, Pooja
Vijaykumar Bafna was taken out
in the city under the guidance of
Indravijayji Maharaj and Sadhvi
Muktirekha. Shravak and
Shravikas from local Shreesangh
participated in the Varghoda
procession. Indravijayji Maharaj
emphasised the importance of
restraint for salvation during the
post-procession congregation.
Notably, Pooja will take Diksha
on February 14, 2024.
gaon, admitted to the district hospital, said
that it was at 5 am there was fog on the road
and the bus was travelling at high speed. The
land; prez injured in stone pelting by-election of ward No 31 of Rat-
lam Municipal Corporation, sched-
uled to be held on January 5. A bye-
bus driver was drunk, and he also had a FP NEWS SERVICE vey numbers 170, 172, 173). the scene. Duo had received election was necessitated after the
liquor bottle with him. Tanda Meanwhile, an encroacher minor injuries. death of BJP corporator Ashok
When many passengers asked him not to identified as Rajesh Bhil (res- Based on a complaint by Jonwal.
drink and drive, he told them not to worry Encroachers have attempted ident of Kharwali), confront- Jain, a case was registered District BJP president Rajendra
and, to be carefree. He said that he had a habit to grab Jain community- ed them, alleging ancestral with the police station. Earli- Singh Lunera informed in a press
and would take every one Indore safely. After owned agricultural land ownership of the land and er too, disruptions by the ac- release that Karan Kaithvas will
some time there was a strong shock and the leading to a violent alterca- also made abusive remarks cused hindered agricultural be the BJP candidate for the by-
bus met an accident. Panic gripped the pas- tion. The community presi- at Jain. activities on the land, election.
sengers, who immediately alerted the author- dent and his companion were Tensions escalated as the prompting repeated appeals Meanwhile, Ratlam City Con-
ities about the driver's reckless behaviour. injured as encroachers accused resorted to stone from the Jain community to gress president Mahendra Kataria
Passengers said that the driver was in an ine- pelted them with stones dur- pelting along with his accom- address the situation. informed that Mukesh Kaithvas
briated condition. ing their visit to the site. plices. In a bid to avoid the Expressing grave concern will be the Congress candidate.
After the accident, both the driver and con- As per information, the in- stone attack, the duo hid be- over the escalating situation, Notification for the by-election
ductor abandoned the bus and fled the spot. cident occurred when com- hind a tree and promptly in- community members urged has been issued and the process of
The police launched a search to locate and ap- munity president Paras Jain formed the police about the SP to swiftly intervene, ap- nomination papers has started
prehend both the driver and the conductor, accompanied by Awadhesh incident. However, upon the prehend the accused, and en- from December 15. The last date
ensuring that they face legal consequences Sachan arrived at agricultur- arrival of the police, the ac- sure appropriate legal ac- for filing nomination papers is De-
for their actions. al land (plots marked as sur- cused successfully fled from tion. cember 22.
Prof’s daughter gets 3-yr jail Saint Thomas School celebrates golden jubilee
SENDHWA: Court of addi- er and were making false state- FP NEWS SERVICE pals. Alumni, including
tional session judge class II Ru- ments to get the certificates Barnagar Nitin Choudhary, Dr
pesh Naik sentenced three- made. Sameer Srivastava,
year imprisonment to one An- By preparing forged docu- Saint Thomas Higher Sec- Colonel Vivek Pachonli,
shu Verma, daughter of one ments with misleading infor- ondary School in Barnagar Colonel Dheeraj Kumar
college professor in a cheating mation, certificates were made marked the completion of Vishwakarma, and cadet
case. by giving false declaration its 50th year with a golden Ansh Choudhary, reflected
Government lawyer forms in which orders to regis- jubilee extravaganza on on their experiences and
Narayan Jadav said that the ter the crime if found guilty af- Wednesday. Sub-divisional praised the institution.
court found Anshu guilty un- ter investigation were given to officer Shivani Taretia was The ceremony featured
der Section 420 (cheating) of the police by the then SDM. In the chief guest. The pro- diverse cultural perform-
the IPC and sentenced her to the year 2018, the police arrest- gramme was presided over ances by students, honour-
three-year jail. The court also ed the accused, Anshu, and her by Bishop Dr Sebastian ing former managers and
slapped a fine of Rs 1,000. brother and booked them un- Vadakkel. by guest introductions and Vadakkel emphasised the principals. Aditya Shah
According to Jadhav, a com- der relevant sections of the The ceremony com- the presentation of shawls evolving role of education, and the stage management
plaint was made in the year IPC. menced with a ceremonial and mementos. encouraging students to team orchestrated a seam-
2016 by complainants Ram The challan was presented welcome, led by the school SDO Taretiya commended embody positive values. less event, concluding with
Kuwade and Ankit Chavda of by the police before the court band, offering a guard of the vibrant presentations Principal Molly Tony a vote of thanks by teacher
Sendhwa that Professor on December 31, 2019. After honour to esteemed guests. by the students, urging shared insights into the Jankutty Yee Tee. The cele-
Ashok Verma and his children four-year court proceedings, Institution manager Father them to excel in both aca- school's journey, acknowl- bration reaffirmed the
had colluded and made caste the court found Anshu guilty, Shivush delivered a warm demics and future endeav- edging the contributions of school's legacy and its com-
certificates of non-creamy lay- Jadhav said. welcome speech, followed ours. Bishop Dr Sebastian past managers and princi- mitment to shaping a
bright future.

AIDS awareness programme held

MEGHNAGAR: Red Ribbon Club of Meghnagar
Gov urges eligible people to avail benefit of welfare schemes PANCHANG 22.11.2023
Government College organised an AIDS and sickle cell
awareness programme on Thursday. Principal
FP NEWS SERVICE
Bow & arrow, paintings presented (DAKSHINAYAN)
Alirajpur Saka 1945 Samvat 2080
Maulshree Kanude inaugurated it. Emphasising the child development programme, acceptance Month : Kartik Shukla 10 Wednesday 11.05 P.M.
club's role in blood donation and disease awareness, Governor Mangubhai Patel department, rural livelihood letters were given to the
Nakshatra : Pu-Bhadrapad 6.37 P.M. then Utt-Bhadrapad
Yoga : Harsan 2.46 P.M. Then Vajra
principal Kanude appointed Chinki Damor and was on a day-long visit to mission, and horticulture beneficiaries of various Karan : Taitil 12.07 P.M. then Vanij
Shailendra Bhuria as Red Ribbon ambassadors. Alirajpur district and ad- department and took the schemes, and bank linkage Moon : Kumbh 12.58 P.M. then Min

Counselor Deepika Mandoria highlighted AIDS and dressed the programme or- information. He talked about approval letters worth Rs 5 7
9
sickle cell issues, stressing the genetic aspect of sickle ganised under the Viksit special efforts to spread crore were presented to 161 10 8
KETU

SUN, MARS 6
cell. Principal Kanude addressed misconceptions about Bharat Sankalp Yatra in information about millets and groups of the rural livelihood
PLU
MOON
MER VEN
anemia, and blood donation and urged students to Bhilkhedi village of Jobat their importance. mission.
maintain good health. The programme was conducted tehsil. Calling for connect- He saw and encouraged the District panchayat president
11
SAT 5
by Dr Nidhi Singh Gehlot and a vote of thanks was ing the remaining eligible products made by women Anita Chauhan, Jobat MLA 12
proposed by Dr Sonia Sharma. people with the various wel- group members in the Sena Patel, Indore divisional NEP 4
2
fare schemes of the Central Governor Patel was welcomed the exhibition of various exhibition of the rural commissioner Malsingh 1
HER, JUP
Body of 53-year-old man found and State governments, the into the programme by departments organised at the livelihood mission. He also Bhaydia, collector Dr Abhay RAHU
3

GAROTH: The body of a 53-year-old man was found on a Governor urged the people presenting him the traditional venue, Governor Patel visited took information about the Arvind Bedekar and SO Rajesh
vacant ground near the Central Bank of India and Post to avail the benefit of bow and arrow, Jhuldi, and the exhibitions of agriculture, efforts made to raise sickle Vyas, and senior officials were FREE PRESS CL ASSIFIED
Office in Garoth on Thursday. The deceased was identified schemes, who are eligible. Pithora paintings. While visiting health, revenue, women and cell awareness. In the present.
RUNNING CLASSIFIED
as Amarlal Bagri, a resident of Shamgarh. A panchnama Awareness needed DISPLAY CLASSIFIED 7 DAY 500/-
was prepared by Garoth police station in-charge Uday 15 DAY 1000/-
Singh. According to police, the incident occurred at night to prevent sickle cell vent sickle cell disease. For every section of society camps must be organised. cell testing camps should 50/- SQ.CM. B/W.
75/- SQ.CM.
30 DAY 1500/-

and there is a possibility that the man died due to this, public representatives, will have to come forward The general public should be organised in Anganwadi (MINIMUM SIZE 1X3) DISPLAY CLASSIFIED
excessive cold. Notably, the deceased used to work at a Governor Patel said that officers, employees, intel- and participate in positive be given information re- centres, schools, and hos- FREE PRESS CALL- 9425082195
hotel and was an alcoholic. awareness is needed to pre- lectuals, and people from efforts. For this, awareness garding sickle cell. Sickle tels.
INDORE CITY
DAVV comes up with strict rules
to check paper leak cases
THE PROPOSAL STIPULATES ACTION AGAINST COLLEGES
DOUBLING UP AS EXAM CENTRES, CENTRE
SUPERINTENDENTS, TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING
EMPLOYEES FOUND INVOLVED IN THE WRONGDOING
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Hounded by regular ques-
tion paper leak cases, Devi
Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya
(DAVV) has decided to
crack the whip. It has de-
cided to tighten the noose
around teaching and non-
teaching employees
involved in paper leak
cases.
The university has pre-
pared a proposal recom-
mending strict action
against stakeholders
found involved in paper
leak cases.
The proposal stipulates
action against colleges dou-
bling up as exam centres,
centre superintendents,
teaching and non-teaching
employees found involved
in the malpractice. As per
the proposal, the invigila-
tors and babus if found in-
volved in the wrongdoing
will face termination.
In the case of private in-
stitutes, which double up
as exam centres, the uni-
versity will instruct the
college management to
sack such employees. In
the case of government
Goods displayed outside shops seized from Bambai Bazaar
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Indore Municipal Corpo-
ration continued its
seizure drive in Rajwada
and surrounding markets
on the second consecutive
day seizing two truckloads
of material displayed by
shopkeepers on the foot-
path in Bambai Bazaar
area on Wednesday.
A removal gang of IMC,
accompanied by heavy po-
lice personnel, reached
Bambai Bazaar and seized
goods displayed by shop-
keepers on the footpath
and the road thus disrupt-
ing free flow of vehicular
traffic.
Two truckloads of ma-
terials including cots,
BULLOCK DIES DUE
TO OVERLOADING
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
A bullock cart puller was
booked for overloading af-
ter a bullock died in Tuko-
ganj.
It was said that the bul-
lock cart puller fled after
the bullock fell uncon-
scious near Rajkumar
Bridge.
According to the police, a
case under section 429 of
the IPC has been regis-
tered against the cart
Traders complain about
inspection by fake GST officer NIGHT TEMPERATURE TO CONTINUE TO DECREASE FOR COUPLE OF DAYS
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
The traders in the city met
State GST Commissioner
Lokesh Kumar Jatav at his
office on Thursday and
briefed him about the inci-
dent of inspection by a fake
GST officer. They urged
him for a 24X7 helpline.
A delegation of traders
under the aegis of Madhya
Pradesh Tax Law Bar Asso-
ciation president Ashwin
Lakhotiya, Ishaq Chaud-
hary from Ahilya Chamber
of Commerce Industries,
Rajesh Baheti, president of
Plywood and Laminates
Traders Association
Narendra Bafna and trader
Mayank Pavecha met SGST
Commissioner Jatav.
They briefed him about
an incident of stopping a
INDORE | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
colleges, the university
will recommend action
against the involved per-
sons to the Department of
Higher Education (DAVV).
The proposal also states
that the superintendent
would be debarred for a pe-
riod of five years if a paper
leak takes place from his
centre.
Apart from this, the col-
lege doubling as an exam
centre will not be allowed
to admit students for three
years after paper leak from
its premises.
The university prepared
such stringent guidelines
as question paper leak cas-
es were not stopping de-
spite all efforts and the
university could do little
about it for many years.
The modus operandi was
that the envelopes of ques-
tion papers would be
nets, counters and other
goods kept outside the
shops were sized by the
removal gang.
puller on the complaint of
PFA Indore president
Priyanshu Jain. She said
that she was informed that
a bullock fell unconscious
on the service lane near
Rajkumar Bridge on
Wednesday evening. The
cart was loaded with iron
rods due to which the bul-
lock could not move and he
fell unconscious and later
died. The people had in-
formed the IMC officials
when the bullock was tak-
en from there.
Day turns cloudy, temp remains below normal
plywood vehicle by a per-
son posing as a GST offi-
cer between Agar-Ujjain.
They gave a memorandum
to the Commissioner stat-
ing the entire sequence of
events.
The Commissioner as-
sured of immediate action
to ensure that such an in-
cident does not recur. It
was agreed upon on the
opened at exam centres
and someone would click
photos of the papers and
circulate them to students
through WhatsApp.
The first incident of pa-
per leak came to light in
April 2022 when four stu-
dents were seen not enter-
ing the exam hall but
watching something on
their mobile. On learning
about this, a flying squad
reached the college con-
cerned and caught the stu-
dents. Paper of the exam
scheduled for the day was
found on their mobile
phone which was received
around 15 minutes ahead
of the exams.
In May, question papers
of Business Regulatory
Framework and Business
Organisation and Commu-
nication subjects were
leaked around 8 hours be-
fore the commencement of
the exam sending the
university in a tizzy.
An inquiry committee of
DAVV had confirmed the
leak after which the uni-
versity had cancelled both
the papers.
Police had arrested Bhu-
vanesh Singh Pawar, a pro-
Bablu Kalyane of the Re-
moval Department said
that announcements were
made on Wednesday ap-
MY Hospital’s housekeeping staff
stages demo at commissioner’s house
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
The housekeeping staff of
Maharaja Yeshwantrao
Hospital staged a protest
against the superintendent
of MY Hospital outside the
divisional commissioner's
home on Thursday, alleg-
ing non-payment of salary
and forcing them to work
at the superintendent’s
home instead of at the hos-
pital. A written complaint
of misbehaviour was also
lodged with the collector
over the same.
Meanwhile, an audio has
also gone viral in which a
complainant can be heard
saying that he had not
lodged any complaint nor
signed any papers.
One of the agitators
Kalpana Kaushal said that
they were employed to
work in MY Hospital but
suggestion that a toll free
number should be issued
for the traders which will
work 24x7. There was dis-
cussion on the advice of
creating awareness among
the traders, so that it does
not happen again. In case
of GST or other problems
of the traders, they should
contact the officials of the
association.
Invigilators,
babus need to
surrender
mobiles
s per the pro-
A posal, invigila-
tors and babus
on exam duty would
have to surrender their
mobile phones 30 min-
utes ahead of the com-
mencement of the exam
to the centre superin-
tendent who would put
them in an almirah and
seal it. The invigilators
and babus would get
their mobile phones
back only after the
exam is over.
fessor of Radiant Institute
of Management and Sci-
ence (RIMS) in BCom
paper leak case.
The accused, taking un-
due advantage of his duty
in examination work, had
obtained the BCom papers
and had passed them on to
some students.
It was learnt that he had
broken the seal of the en-
velopes containing ques-
tion papers before keeping
them at the police station
and shared photos of the
same with some students.
Since the incident, the uni-
versity was preparing
guidelines for curbing
such incidents.
pealing to shopkeepers to
remove goods placed out-
side the shops else the
same will be seized on
ALLEGE NON-PAYMENT OF
SALARY AND BEING FORCED TO WORK
AT SUPERINTENDENT’S HOUSE
they are forced to work at
the superintendent's bun-
galow.
“We have to sweep, mop,
and wash utensils. The
family members misbe-
have with us and also ac-
cused us of theft. We are
not getting our salary for
two months and it is hard
for us to run our house-
holds,” she said.
Other agitators Gokul,
Parveen B, Geeta and oth-
ers alleged that they are
not getting their salaries
and they are also being
treated rudely.
However, superintendent
Dr PS Thakur denied the
allegations and said that
the responsibility of giv-
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
The north-easterly winds
continued to reel the city
on Thursday and kept the
day temperature four de-
grees Celsius below nor-
mal, consecutively for the
fifth day.
The cold winds kept the
night temperature at 12 de-
grees Celsius while the
rise in humidity kept the
morning hazy.
Meanwhile, the officials
of the regional meteoro-
logical department said
that the conditions would
remain similar for a cou-
ple of days and night tem-
perature would continue to
decrease.
The sky remained par-
tially cloudy on Thursday,
but the cold winds forced
Special
counter for
Haj pilgrims at
passport office
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Special counters to is-
sue passports to Haj-
2024 pilgrims would be
opened at the city’s
Passport Seva Kendra
(PSK).
This special facility
would be opened by the
Regional Passport Of-
fice (RPO), Bhopal in ac-
cordance with the in-
structions of the Min-
istry of External Affairs
so that passport-related
work of Haj applicants
can be done smoothly.
According to official
information, along with
this, nodal officers have
been appointed for Re-
gional Passport Office,
Bhopal and Passport
Seva Kendra, Bhopal
and Passport Seva
Kendra, Indore, to expe-
ditiously resolve the
passport applications of
Haj pilgrims. Instruc-
tions have been issued
to all in-charges of Post
Office Passport Seva
Kendra’s for expeditious
disposal of the applica-
tions of Haj pilgrims.
For any kind of infor-
mation, all Haj pilgrims
can contact the office on
telephone number 0755-
414 0085 during office
hours or email at atr-
po.bhopal@mea.gov.in.
Thursday. Those who did
not pay heed had to face
the brunt on Thursday, he
added.
On Wednesday also, the
IMC had seized seven
truckloads of materials
from Lohar Patii and
Maharani Road.
Last week, mayor
Pushyamitra Bhargav
had visited markets at Ra-
jwada and surrounding
areas and appealed to the
shopkeepers not to place
their goods on footpaths
for display as this forces
the pedestrians to walk
on the road which leads to
vehicular traffic jams. He
had stated that the IMC
would shortly start a
drive to seize items found
kept on footpaths.
ing salary to them is of the
the outsource company.
The company has made the
payment on Thursday and
all other allegations are
baseless.
The hospital administra-
tion had to call staff from
other hospitals for main-
taining cleanliness as the
conditions were turning
poor.
Some hospital staff also
claimed that the demon-
stration was led by a nurs-
ing officer who was trans-
ferred from the hospital a
couple of days ago as em-
ployees of other associated
hospitals, of the same out-
sourcing company, didn’t
participate in the protest.
the people to wear extra
warm clothes.
“No significant change
in minimum tempera-
tures is likely over many
parts of Central India for
a couple of days. Under
the influence of a fresh
western disturbance, like-
ly to affect the western Hi-
malayas on December 22-
24, the night temperature
will decrease while the
day temperature will re-
main below normal,” re-
gional meteorological de-
partment officials said.
The maximum tempera-
ture on Thursday was
recorded at 24.8 degrees
Celsius which was four de-
grees Celsius below normal
while the night tempera-
ture was recorded at 12.4
degrees Celsius, which was
one degree above normal.
Taking iron syrup proves
injurious for 12-yr-old boy
Admitted
to ICU
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
The condition of a 12-year-
old boy, Kartik Chouhan,
deteriorated after taking
iron syrup and he had to be
admitted to the ICU of a
hospital. The boy had tak-
en the iron syrup on Satur-
day during a camp organ-
ised by the district admin-
istration and health de-
partment under the
anaemia awareness month
at the Sajeevani
Clinic at Chhota
Bangada.
“My son had
taken the medi-
cine in the
school. He got se-
verely ill after
taking the medi-
cine and suffered
adverse reaction
all over his body. He also
suffered from diarrhoea
and vomiting for two days
after which we rushed him
to Chacha Nehru Hospital
on December 19 where he
was admitted to the ICU,”
Pankaj, father of Kartik
Missing minor
girls found from
Maharashtra
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Two minor girls, who
were missing for a few
days, were recovered by
the police from Maharash-
tra on Thursday. The girls
had left their places with-
out informing their par-
ents who were searching
for them in their area and
at relatives’ places.
DSP (Headquarters)
Umakant Chowdhary said
that the parents of the
girls lodged a missing re-
port on December 3 that
their daughters had left
their places on December
1 without informing them
and have not returned.
The police took the pho-
tographs of the girl and
registered a case. During
the investigation, police
found the girls’ location
in Ahmednagar in Maha-
rashtra after which a
team was sent there. The
police managed to bring
the girls back to the city
and handed them over to
their family members
safely.
Maryland State University awards
honorary PhD to Chowdhary
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Deputy Superintendent of
Police Umakant Chowd-
hary has been recently
awarded an honorary PhD
by Maryland State Univer-
sity, USA in recognition of
the work done by him in
community policing. It is
noteworthy that DSP
Chowdhary, posted as DSP
(headquarters) in Indore
rural, has done many no-
table works while working
in various branches of po-
lice. He has done many in-
novative works in depart-
ments like Traffic Police,
Fire Service as well as
S yrup
administered
during anaemia
awareness camp on
Saturday
H ealth officials
term it a
reaction due to
some other reasons
and not due to
intake of iron syrup
and a resident of
Chhota Bangada,
said.
He added that
the patient’s
throat was
swollen even
though he didn’t
have any disease
earlier.
Meanwhile, the
superintendent of Chacha
Nehru Hospital Dr Preeti
Malpani said that there
were some rashes on his
body but now he is recov-
ering. “He was admitted to
the ICU initially but has
been shifted to the recov-
Man along with son
kills another son, held
THE ACCUSED
SEVERELY THRASHED
THE VICTIM AND
TRIED TO SHOW THAT
THE INJURIES WERE
DUE TO ROAD
ACCIDENT
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
A man was arrested on
Thursday for killing his
son in the Khudel
area. His other
son too was arrest-
ed for the killing.
The accused had
beaten the youth
at their place but
had tried to con-
ceal the real cause of his
injuries and instead made
efforts to show that the in-
juries were sustained in a
road accident but the au-
topsy examination report
revealed 22 internal in-
juries which led to his
death. This led the police
to investigate the matter
who are now questioning
the accused.
DSP (Headquarters)
Umakant Chowdhary said
that the deceased has been
Film and Adventure in
Tourism Board.
He has conducted many
awareness programmes
with youth, students and
various social organisa-
ery ward and will be dis-
charged from the hospital
soon,” Dr Malpani told me-
dia.
Meanwhile, health de-
partment officials said,
“Sometimes such adverse
reactions occur due to
worms or allergies. Cur-
rently, the child's condition
is significantly improving
and no other child has ex-
perienced any such reac-
tion after taking iron
syrup. Sometimes, stom-
ach ache or vomiting is a
common effect of taking
iron medicines in some
children,” they added.
identified as Chaman
Singh Jatav, 28 years, a res-
ident of Sanawadiya vil-
lage. He was rushed to a
hospital under Tilak Na-
gar police station jurisdic-
tion on December 16 in an
unconscious state by his
father Ramesh Jatav and
brother Vinay who in-
formed the doctors that
Chaman Singh got injured
in a road accident.
Chaman died
during treatment
the next day.
Tilak Nagar
police registered
a case and sent
the body for the
autopsy which
revealed 22 internal in-
juries sustained due to se-
vere thrashing. After that,
the case was transferred to
the Khudel police as the in-
cident spot comes under
their jurisdiction. A case
under sections 302 and 201
of the IPC was registered.
Chowdhary further said
that Ramesh and Vinay
were detained for ques-
tioning as they were prime
suspects and were later ar-
rested.
tions. All officers and em-
ployees of the department
and various social organi-
sations of the city congrat-
ulated him for this
achievement.

INDORE-UJJAIN DOUBLING PROJECT
Rail movement on second
line to start on Dec 29
Inspection by
Commissioner
Railway Safety
is fixed for
December 28
MANISH UPADHYAY
city.indore@fpj.co.in
There is good news for rail-
way passengers as the sec-
ond railway line between
Indore and Ujjain is likely
to open for operation by
December 28 night or
December 29.
The finishing work on
the Indore-Ujjain doubling
project is going on at a fast
pace.
The work of track dou-
bling on the 73.79 km long
Indore-Ujjain section is be-
ing carried out in three
blocks. The doubling work
between Barlia-Laxmibai
Nagar block, which is
about 21 km long is going
on at a fast pace. Under the
Grahak Pakhwada begins
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Grahak Panchayat organ-
ises Grahak Pakhwada
every year in December.
During this, various pro-
grammes for customer
awareness are organised.
The fortnight started with
the lighting of lamps by the
guests. Environmentalist
DilipVaghela and TV artist
Amit Soni were present as
chief guests in the pro-
gramme.
Keeping the outline of
the programme, president
Devendra Dubge informed
the attendees that the Gra-
hak Panchayat is working
on various aspects along
with working towards cus-
tomer awareness, cus-
X-MAS IS NEAR AND SANTA CLAUS IS HERE: The city is gearing up for Christmas celebrations and Santa can be seen in various malls of the city.
project, the yard remodel-
ling work at Mangliagaon
and Laxmibai Nagar rail-
way station is going on at
war footing.
‘Under the mega block
the speed of the yard re-
modelling of both the rail-
way stations has been in-
creased and as a result, the
remaining work like track
and signal linking is going
on at a fast pace. We are
working to complete the
entire doubling work by
December 26. Importantly,
the date of inspection by
the Commissioner Railway
Safety is fixed for Decem-
ber 28. Generally, CRS
gives on the spot nod for
opening up of any new line
for train operation. As a
procedure, the Construc-
tion Department formally
releases the project com-
pletion certificate. If
everything goes well, the
second line may open for
movement of the trains by
December 28 itself or by
tomer guidance, providing
justice to the customers on
the errors in goods and
services, public awareness
programs, rallies and
through public movement
etc.
Dr Vaghela explained the
importance of nature in
human life and said, “We
should plant more and
more trees and make them
grow comfortably. We may
plant less trees but those
planted should be saved.”
Guest Amit Soni, while
appreciating the work of
Grahak Panchayat, asked
for full cooperation in the
promotion of Panchayat on
social media. DG Mishra
and SuhasPundalik from
Malwa Prant Were present
in the programme.
TUNNEL ON
INDORE-DAHOD
NEW LINE MAY
BE COMPLETED
BEFORE TIME
A
K Mishra, general
manager of Western
Railway has stated
that the construction work
of about 2.7 km long
tunnel on the Indore-
Dahod new rail line
project, would be
completed before time.
The tunnel is being
constructed close to Tehi
(Pithampur) from three
directions. Mishra was in
the city and replied to only
one question of the media
after participating in the
video-conferencing of
Chairman Railway Board.
December 29,’ high level of-
ficial sources informed
this correspondent on
Thursday.
HC asks govt to
install RWH in
Smart city
projects in MP
Indore: Madhya Pradesh
High Court, principal
bench in Jabalpur, has or-
dered authority concerned
and agencies for implemen-
tation of Rain Water Har-
vesting (RWH) in the state.
The order has been issued
for installing water harvest-
ing projects in government
and public projects immedi-
ately. The court in its order
made it mandatory to install
rain water harvesting sys-
tem in the all Smart City
projects being run in Mad-
hya Pradesh as per Bhumi
Vikas Rule (supra). Double
bench of Chief Justice Ravi
Malimath and Justice
Vishal Mishra has passed
the order on Public Interest
Litigation (PIL), of
advocate Aditya Sanghi.
Union Ministry of water
resources, New Delhi, Mad-
hya Pradesh Government,
PS department of housing
and environment, UAD
commissioner, Municipal
Corporation, Jabalpur, BMC
have been made respon-
dents in the petition, said
Sanghi.
CAT results: 6 city students score above
99 percentile; over 20 can get top IIMs
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
At least six students of the city
got over 99 percentile in the Com-
mon Admission Test (CAT) re-
sults which were announced on
Thursday. Nearly 20 students of
the city have scored high and are
expecting to receive interview
calls from the top 5 IIMs.
The website of CAT, which is a
gateway to IIMs and around 125
non-IIM b-schools in the country,
had crashed minutes after decla-
ration of the results and students
had to face great hardship in
accessing their results.
As per information, Hussain
Mahuwala of the city has se-
cured 99.90 percentile, Aditya
Rathi got 99.83 percentile, Deban-
shi Bansal 99.61 percentile,
Aditya Bawaskar 99.32 per-
centile, Gautam Chhajed secured
99.27 percentile and Bhavya
Thakur got 99.26 percentile.
The students who scored high
and also had exceptional previ-
ous academic records will be
Veep mimicry: RaGa, Kalyan’s effigies burnt
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Workers of BJP local unit on
Thursday staged a protest
against TMC MP Kalyan
Banerjee who mimicked Vice
President Jagdeep Dhankar fol-
lowing suspension of several
Opposition MPs from
Parliament.
The saffron party workers
burnt effigies of Banerjee and
senior Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi who made video of the
former’s act.
BJP city president Gaurav
Vijayvargiya slams Cong over
poor roads, infra pre 2003
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Kailash Vijayvargiya
launched a blistering at-
tack on Congress citing
the poor roads, electricity
and pathetic infrastruc-
ture before BJP came to
power in the state in 2003.
Now Madhya Pradesh has
better roads, adequate
electricity and robust in-
frastructure, said the BJP
MLA during discussion
INDORE CITY
INDORE | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
called for an interview round
within a fortnight.
While the students scoring
more than 99 percentile are also
likely to get more than one call A
SUCCESS IN
SECOND ATTEMPT
fter doing BBA from a private
university in Indore, I gave CAT for
in the aptitude test, I got admission to
BBA course in Nirma University,
Ahmedabad. Along
with doing BBA, I
prepared for CAT day
and night. Made a
from a top five IIM, some stu- the first time two years ago. I had timetable and studied
dents who scored around 97 to 99 scored 80 percentile for CAT and finally
percentile may also get calls from at that time. After succeeded in cracking
that, I started CAT. Glad that the
different IIMs. working with a
There are about 5,100 manage- dream of studying in
private company and IIM can now be fulfilled.
ment seats in 20 IIMs across the did not give the test — ADITYA RATHI, (99.83 percentile)
country. This time, there were last year. My father
record registrations for CAT. (Abbas Mahuwala)
About 3 lakh students had ap- also had prepared for ENTRY INTO PGP
plied for the entrance exam. Of CAT so I got a lot of support from him WILL BE THROUGH IPM
these, about 2.88 lakh students and the rest of the faculty. Riding on
took the test, which is the highest
number so far.
their support, this time I was able to
score well. I hope that on this score the After Class XII, I got a chance to take
admission to IPM course in IIM
Indore. Despite being
path to IIM Ahmedabad will definitely
A subject expert said that de- open. in IIM, my target was
spite the tough competition, stu- — HUSSAIN MAHUWALA, (99.90 percentile) to crack CAT. Along
dents of Indore have been suc- with pursing IPM, I
prepared for CAT by
cessful in scoring well. IIMs will PREVIOUSLY, I MISSED doing internship at
send calls in the next few days to OPPORTUNITY BY ONE MARK Tata Strive during
those who have scored well. The summer vacation.
ying IIM, I had given the aptitude test
composite score comprising of
CAT percentile, Class X, XII and E for admission in five-year integrated
Now, I am confident
of getting admission in
graduation marks is taken into programme when I was in Class XII, but
I missed the opportunity to get into IIM
IIMs in Ahmedabad, Bangalore or
Calcutta. Currently my IPM third year
consideration. IIM will release
the selection list after the inter-
by one mark.
On the basis of the score I had received
exams are going on.
— DEBANSHI BANSAL, (99.61 percentile)
view.
Akhil Bhartiya Jat
Mahasabha demands
public apology
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
Members of Akhil Bhartiya Jat Ma-
hasabha, Indore burned the effigy of
Rahul Gandhi at Bhawarkuan intersec-
tion on Thursday, demanding an apology
from him and TMC Member of Parlia-
ment Kalyan Banerjee for allegedly mim-
icking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The agitators said that they would
launch a nationwide protest if Rahul
Gandhi and Banerjee didn’t apologise for
their act.
President of Mahasabha CL Mukati
Ranadive said that it is a very haviour shows the mental said, “They are furious over the 'insult' of
unfortunate and shameful inci-
dent for the MPs of the opposi-
bankruptcy of the entire op-
position including Congress
Dhankhar, who belongs to the Jat com-
munity. The entire I.N.D.I.Alliance should
tion parties to insult the Vice
President in the temple of
which is condemnable,” he
added.
apologise to Dhankar.”
State president Vilas Patel, state secre-
democracy. Ranadive said that the entire tary Inderpal Malik, MukeshJat, Raja Jat,
“This behaviour of Rahul Opposition including Rahul Sunil Jat, BhanuJat, Gajendra Jat and
Gandhi, Kalyan Banerjee and Gandhi and Kalyan Banerjee other social workers participated in the
MPs of the opposition parties should apologise to the Vice agitation.
shows that democracy and the President. Senior BJP leader On Wednesday, the controversy over Tri-
dignity of the Constitution Krishnamurari Moghe, mayor namool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee's
have no importance for them. Pushyamitra Bhargav, Youth impersonation of Vice-President Jagdeep
It is clear from the actions of Commission chairman Nis- Dhankhar escalated, leading to public
the Opposition that this is an hant Khare, state co-media in- criticism from Prime Minister Narendra
arrogant alliance which sells charge Deepak Jain Tinu, for- Modi and President Droupadi Murmu.
hatred from their so-called mer MLA Gopikrishna Nema,
Shop of love. This kind of be- and others were present.
APPOINTMENT
on motion of thanks for which is now 56, 256
the Governor’s speech in crores, he elaborated.
Assembly on Thursday. The electricity produc-
Vijayvargiya said that in tion in 2003 was 5,173 MW
2003, the state had 60, 000 and at that time, require-
km road length and most ment was 13,000 MW and
of them were replete with now the state is producing
potholes. 29,000 MW electricity
Now the state has which is surplus, said the
around 5.10 lakh km of senior BJP leader.
road network and that Prahlad Patel said that
too of good quality. In owing to its geographical
2003, the state's infra- location, Madhya Pradesh
structure budget was can become the biggest
around 3, 878 crores supply chain centre.
PHOTOS BY PINTU NAMDEV
Congress protest against suspension of 142 MPs today
BHOPAL: ongress will organise demonstration across the state on Friday protesting the suspension of 142 MPs form
both the house of the parliament. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal has instructed the state units of the party to
organise the protest at all district headquarters. Recently, a meeting of INDIA bloc was held and the members decided
to rise in protest against the BJP government by organising demonstration against the non-democratic practices.
MADHYA PRADESH BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

DISTRICT NEWS
Cyber fraud who
Effigies of TMC MP, Rahul burnt Hospitals well-equipped to deal duped man of Rs 4.17L
with new corona cases: CMHO held in Ahmedabad
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Appeals to people to avoid JN1. The number of people afflicted
with the virus is increasing across
People suffering from coughs and
cold should visit a nearby health cen-
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in

visiting crowded places the country with each passing day.

Nineteen positive cases were re-
tre, Dr Dehalwar said, adding that
they should avoid going to crowded
The MP cyber police on
Thursday claimed to have
ported from Goa and one each from places, wear marks and wash their arrested a man in Ahmed-
FP NEWS SERVICE Kerala and Maharashtra. hands. abad of Gujarat for duping a
RAJGARH/SHIVPURI/GANJ BASODA: The BJP Narmadapuram Because the cases are rising in dif- In-charge of the Corona wing of the resident of Ayodhya Nagar
workers burnt the effigies of TMC MP Kalyan ferent states in the country and district hospital Dr RS Chouhan said to the tune of Rs 4.17 lakh in
Bandyopadhyay for mimicking Vice President Jagdish Chief medical and health officer Dr abroad, the state government has is- 2,300 active cases were reported from May 2023. The accused was
Dhankhar and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for making a Dinesh Dehalwar has said the sued an alert asking the people to fol- different parts of the country. identified as Vinod Prajap-
video clip of the incident. They also criticized Rahul district is well equipped with oxygen low the Covid-19 guidelines. Nevertheless, the new variant of ati, a native of Rajasthan.
Gandhi. In Shivpuri, the BJP workers raised slogans against cylinders, beds, ventilators and med- Those who are afflicted with the Corona is not as dangerous as covid- Superintendent of police
Bandyopadhyay and Rahul and burnt their effigies at icines to deal with Covid-19 the cases JN1 virus are suffering from influen- 19 that killed millions of people (SP) of MP state cyber cell,
Madhav Chowk. Effigies of Rahul and Kalyan were also of which have resurfaced nearly za, breathing troubles and cough and across the world. Vaibhav Shrivastava said
burnt in Ganj Basoda. after two years. cold. Dr Dehalwar also said there According to WHO reports, people Prajapati had created a fake
Dr Dehalwar’s statement came in were enough employees to test the pa- should not be scared of the new vari- agency on a website named name of Umia agency Mor-
‘College Chalo’ drive launched in Rehti the wake of new variant of Covid-19, tients. ant of the virus. Indiamart.com with the bi, based in Gujarat, where
he had uploaded an adver-
NASRULLAGANJ (REHTI): The higher education
tisement selling gypsum
department has launched ‘College Chalo’ campaign from
December 11 which will continue till January 31. It has
been done before the beginning of the academic session
2024-25. As part of the scheme, Government Degree
3rd young DSP national BMC swings into action against meat, fish traders
boards and ply boards etc at
a cheaper rate. A resident of
Ayodhya Nagar had stum-
College in Rehti contacted all the school students,
teachers and guardians and urged the students to take
admission to colleges through an online admission system.
conference begins OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
shops was destroyed.
A meat shop, which was in the
bled across the advertise-
ment in May 2023 and trans-
ferred Rs 4.17 lakh into the
OUR STAFF REPORTER green belt, was demolished near AI- fraudster’s account, expect-
Nodal officer of Rehti cluster Jyoti Vishwakarma said a
city.bhopal@pj.co.in The Bhopal Municipal Corporation IMS. Besides, 5 kilogram fish was de- ing the order to be delivered
team visited the higher secondary school in Manjarkui,
(BMC) team swung into action stroyed after removing roadside to him. The accused instant-
Mardanpur, PM Shri Kanya Higher Secondary School and
The third national con- against meat and fish traders on shop in Barkheda Pathani and Ba- ly transferred the amount to
CM Rise School and informed the students about the only
ference of young deputy Thursday and collected Rs 11,100 jarang Market. Meat traders were re- his other bank accounts and
admission system and career options.
superintendent of police fine in 14 cases. Action was taken moved in Bhanpur under ward no. cut off all contacts.
is being organised in hy- against meat traders in ward no. 1, 72. Meat/fish traders have been Prajapati used to frequent-
Preparations for Shri Ram Maha Yagna on brid mode at Central 57 and 72. asked to have a valid licence. They ly change his location to
GANJ BASODA: Raghuwanshi society is getting ready to Academy for Police Two meat shops were closed in have to install opaque glass to hide dodge police action and also
organise Shri Ram Maha Yagna in Ayodhya. The people of Training (CAPT), Gandhi Nagar under ward no-1 the skinned meat. Similarly, traders use fake Sim cards. The po-
the community are working round the clock to give final Bhopal. The two-day conference knowledge base of selection, im- while meat shops were closed in have not been allowed to sell even lice had registered a case
touches to the Yagna which will be performed. A tent city started on Thursday. As many as plementation and integration of ward no-57. Meat/fish traders were fish at roadside shops. against the accused in May
is coming up on 65 acres. Sixty per cent of work at the 42 police officers from across the new-age technology; to success- removed from Hoshangabad Road, BMC additional commissioner 2023 and had begun search-
place, where the Yagna will be performed, has been done. country are physically attending fully handle the menace of cy- DRM office, Habibganj Naka. Simi- Ranveer Singh said, “Action against ing for him. He was nabbed
It is being set up near the big cantonment at Karsevak the conference and 160 partici- bercrime. He further stated that larly, a spot fine was imposed against meat/fish shops should not be linked after the police collected
Puram Parikrama. Maha Yagna will begin from February 10 pants are attending virtually. the correct procedure of investi- three traders for violating guideline with livelihood as it is related to ample technical evidence
and continue till February 18. The idol of Ram Lala will be Former DGP Rishi Kumar Shuk- gation should be followed to in- at Habibganj Naka and four kilo- health and hygiene. Traders have to against him and connected
installed at the temple on January 22. la emphasised on building the crease the conviction rate. gram meat confiscated from these follow guidelines.” all the dots.

BHOPAL NEWS IN BRIEF Mithi Gobindram Public School Madhuban, Trident organise health camp
Smart India Hackathon concludes
The Software Edition of the Smart India Hackathon SIH-23
concluded at Oriental Institute of Science and Technology
on Thursday. The nodal centre received four problem
remembers Sant Hirdaram Ji FP NEWS SERVICE
Narmadapuram
staff can be used for free OPD
treatment in Madhuban hospi-
tal, Budhni, for six months. Di-
statements from three ministries to challenge the FP NEWS SERVICE Madhuban Hospital and Trident rector of Madhuban Hospital Dr
participating teams. The problem-solving enthusiasm was Sant Hirdaram Nagar Foundation jointly organised a CA Harrison (general surgeon),
high as six teams engaged with Problem Statement ID SIH two-day free health camp on the Dr Prashansha Sadashiv, Dr
1309, focusing on Application Development for monitoring Mithi Gobindram Public premises of St Francis Convent Preeti Pawar (gynaecologist), Dr
wool from Farm to fabric, presented by the Ministry of School run by Hemu Kalani School, Budhni, which began IH Kashif (child specialist), Dr
Textiles. Similarly, five teams each delved into Problem Educational Society remem- from Tuesday and ended on Puneet Pathak (dentist) and Dr
Statement IDs SIH 1320, addressing In-cab smart guidance bered Paramhans Sant Hir- Wednesday. Rakesh Nag were present at the camp and ex-
for Dragline Operator, and SIH 1319, dealing with daram Sahib Ji on his death Health of 750 students, teachers and other amined the health of the students and staff
Forecasting and scheduling of railway rakes, both from the anniversary (Mahaprayan) employees was checked free of cost. Health of the school.Madhuban Hospital will hold
Ministry of Coal. on Thursday. cards distributed among the students and such camps again, the doctors said.
The objective of the event
was to inform the students
Dharmendra Sharma about the high ideals and
appointed CAIT simple life of Sant Hirdaram
district president who lived for others.
The heir of Sant Hirdaram
Dharmendra Sharma has been Ji, Siddh Bhauji, in his mes- Sadhwani said those who be- Coordinator of the school
appointed as the district president sage urged the students and lieve in God and work ac- Devendra Sharma and
of Confederation of All India the teachers to work for the cording to His wishes receive teacher Sapna Lachchwani
Traders (CAIT) for Bhopal district, welfare of every animal and divine grace and enjoy eter- highlighted the ideals of
based on the recommendation of help people without expect- nity and Sant Hirdaram Ji Sant Hirdaram Ji.
Sunil Agrawal, joint president of ing anything in return. was one of them. Academic Vice-chairman of the soci-
CAIT Madhya Pradesh. Service to humanity and director Gopal Giordhani ety Hero Gyanchandani, sec-
all animals will be a real trib- said that Sant Hirdaram Ji retary AC Sadhwani, assis-
Vishwarang 2023 begins at ute to Sant Hirdaram Ji, was one of those great souls tant secretary KL Ramnani
Rabindranath Tagore University Bhauji said. who came to this world to es- and others were present on
Secretary to the society AC tablish values of life. the occasion.

Health check up to be held

for shelter home inmates
BHOPAL: Urban develop-
ment and housing depart-
ment has ordered the map-
ping of shelter homes for
the destitute in urban ar-
eas. It is to ensure better
arrangements for the bene-
ficiaries and to conduct
their health check up.
Vishwarang 2023 commenced at Rabindranath Tagore All municipal corpora-
University on Thursday. The inaugural event featured a tion commissioners, chief
melodious presentation of Tagore’s songs by the Janaki medical and health officers
Band, while Trupti Nagar and team showcased the vibrant and municipality officers
Malvi folk music. The event featured a captivating have been asked to ensure
performance by Amir Khan on the Sarod, accompanied by mapping of all 125 shelter
Hridesh Chopra on the Pakhawaj. The Janaki Band homes of the state with the
presented musical renditions of Tagore's compositions, and help of Sanjivni clinic, ur-
the Bhagoria dance and Malvi folk music added vibrant ban primary health centre
cultural hues to the festival. and civil dispensary etc.

Rashtriya Balrang fest draws to a close

OUR STAFF REPORTER Chakeva securing the cuisine of their respective

Bhopal
Rashtriya Balrang festival
held at the Indira Gandhi
National Human Museum
premises concluded with
the prize distribution cere-
mony on Thursday.
Haryana’s Badhawa folk
dance claimed the first
prize, followed by Hi-
machal’s Pahadi Nati Folk
dance securing the second
position and Bihar’s Sama
third position in tradition-
al folk dance presentations
from various states in the
“Rashtriya Balrang 2023”
programme organised by
the school education de-
partment.”
The three-day, the festival
began with the state-level
Balrang on December 19,
where approximately 1,000
students from the state’s 9
divisions showcased the
culture, attire, dance, and
districts on different
stages, aligning with the
theme of the festival,
“Aatmnirbhar Bharat”.
Following this, on De-
cember 20 and 21, the Na-
tional Balrang saw the par-
ticipation of around 450
students from 22 states and
union territories, showcas-
ing their cultural elements
and artistic talents in vari-
ous literary and cultural
competitions.
Assembly adjourn for ‘Sine Die’
RAIPUR: The first session of the sixth Chhattisgarh
Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on
Thursday evening. Before this, the house passed the Sai
government supplementary budget 2023-24.
NINE MLAs TO BECOME
MINISTER TODAY
OP Choudhary
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
The Nine Ministers of Vishnu
Deo Sai government will take
oath on Friday in Raj Bhavan
around 11 am. The swearing
ceremony of the ministers
will be held as per the tradi-
tion of Chhattisgarh state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party
MLAs who are going to take
oath are Brijmohan Agarwal,
Ramvichar Netam, Dayal Das
Baghel, Kedar Kashyap,
Lakhan Devangan, Shyam
Bihari Jaiswal, OP Choud-
hary, Tank Ram Verma, Lax-
mi Rajwade. While selecting
the names, the Sai govern-
ment takes proper care of
new and old faces in order to
maintain equilibrium in the
government.
Eight time MLA Brijmo-
han Agarwal is considered as
heavy weight MLA in BJP.
Brijmohan Agrawal’s politi-
cal career started in 1977 at a
very young age of 18. In 1990
Pending
bonus of
`3,716 crore
to farmers
on Dec 25
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
Chhattisgarh government
has commenced swift imple-
mentation of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's Guarantee
made during the election
campaign.
The state government has
granted approval for houses
to over 18 lakh families under
the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana. The commitment to-
wards purchase of 21 quintals
of paddy per acre from farm-
ers at Rs 3,100 per quintal.
The government is gearing
up for release of payment of
the two years' pending bonus
to the farmers, an official
communication said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo
Sai announced that on the
birth anniversary of former
Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, observed as Good
Governance Day on Decem-
ber 25, the pending bonus for
two years will be disbursed to
farmers. Sai stated that the
bonus for the Kharif market-
ing years 2014-15 and 2015-16,
totalling Rs 3,
The Agriculture Depart-
ment stated that farmers will
receive a bonus (Dhaan Upar-
jan Protsahan Yojana) at the
rate of Rs 300 per quintal for
the paddy procured at the
support price in the afore-
mentioned two years. The
bonus disbursement pro-
gramme will be organized
from the state level to the de-
velopment block level on De-
cember 25.
The Chief Minister will en-
gage with farmers through
video conferencing during
the event. At the
development block level pro-
gramme, local public repre-
sentatives and dignitaries
will provide certificates of
the disbursed amounts to the
beneficiary farmers.
LAST WORD
CM dedicates beautification work of Zero Point Chowk
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated
the beautification work of
Zero Point Chowk located
near Chhattisgarh Vidhan
Sabha premises on Thursday.
Under the aforementioned
work, gardens near the main
square have been adorned
with beautiful depictions of
Chhattisgarh's heritage of art
and culture. Beautification of
the main square called Zero
Point Chowk and the gardens
on both sides has been done at
a cost of Rs 37.95 lakh.
Assembly Speaker Dr. Ra-
man Singh, Leader of Opposi-
tion Dr. Charandas Mahant,
MLAs Ajay Chandrakar,
Ramvichar Netam, Gomti Sai
Brijmohan Agarwal
Ramvichar Netam
at 31, he became the youngest
member of legislative assem-
bly and since then till 2013
elections, he has been consec-
utively winning all the elec-
tions for 6 times with an ever
increasing winning vote mar-
gin. He is also identified with
the “Mohan Bhaiya”.
BJP MLA Ramvichar Ne-
tam is an Indian politician
who has served as a Member
of Parliament in Rajya Sabha.
He was a member of the
Chhattisgarh Legislative As-
C’garh record constant rise in resolution of cases
STAFF REPORTER / Bilaspur
State of Chhattisgarh has wit-
nessed steady growth in reso-
lution of disputes in National
Lok Adalat with participation
of more and more litigants for
resolution of their cases
through National Lok Adalat.
Anand Prakash Wariyal,
Member Secretary, CGSLSA
said that under able guid-
ance of Chief Justice
Ramesh Sinha and under
constant directives of Exec-
utive Chairman Justice
Goutam Bhaduri, State of
Chhattisgarh has witnessed
steady growth in resolution
of disputes in National Lok
Adalat with participation of
On arrival at Swami Vivekananda Airport Raipur, Jagdalpur BJP
MLA Kiran Singh Dev and the newly appointed Chhattisgarh state
president of BJP was accorded welcome on Thursday night on his
arrival from New Delhi.
and many others, Assembly
Secretary Dinesh Sharma
were present. The main
square located at the Mowa-
Vidhan Sabha Fourlane Road
Kedar Kashyap
Shyam Bihari Jaiswal
sembly from Ramanujganj
and served as Cabinet Minis-
ter in Raman Singh's min-
istry. In 2015 Amit Shah ap-
pointed Netam as a National
Secretary in his National
Team. OP Choudhary, an
MLA from Raigarh con-
stituency is was a vibrant bu-
reaucrat who resigned must
lucrative job of a IAS officer
and joined politics. The
young IAS officer is soon go-
ing to lead the state as a
young and bold minister of
NATIONAL LOK ADALATS 2023
Justice Goutam Bhaduri,
Executive Chairman CGSLSA
(the main district road of the
Public Works Department)
was constructed about 20
years ago. The huge circum-
ference of the ‘Chowk’ made
CHHATTISGARH
Kiran Singh
Dev is
BJP state
president
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
Once again the Bharatiya
Janata Party has thrown
a surprise with the ap-
pointment of Jagdalpur
BJP MLA Kiran Singh
Dev will be the new
Chhattisgarh state presi-
dent of BJP.
The organisation gener-
al secretary had issued the
order on the advice of par-
ty's national president Ja-
gat Prakash Nadda.
Dayal Das Baghel
Sai cabinet in Chhattisgarh.
Despite, OP Choudhary lost
assembly elections of 2018
from Kharsia against ex-Min-
ister Umesh Patel, instead of
settling down, he gave tough
fight and now going to sworn
as Minister. During the elec-
tion campaign Home Minis-
ter Amit Shah publicly de-
clared to make him big man. In Chhattisgarh, BJP
Earlier, OP Choudhary name has decided to make
was also making rounds in changes in the state organ-
the media as CM candidate ization after Arun Sao,
but in the last hour his name holding the responsibility
was dropped, said his sup- of state president till now,
porters. became the Deputy Chief
Kedar Kashyap, son of vet- Minister of the state.
eran BJP leader Baliram Singh is currently an
Kashyap, won the election MLA from Jagdalpur seat
from Naryanpur assembly of Bastar and has also been
constituency with a record the General Secretary in
margin. Kedar got the organization. He had
ministerial portfolio in Dr. worked on many positions
Raman Singh government in BJP. In view of the Lok
and this time again going to Sabha elections, Kiran
take oath as a Minister from Dev will have the respon-
naxal affected Bastar divi- sibility of taking the party
sion. forward.
more litigants for resolution
of their cases through Na-
tional Lok Adalat.
National Lok Adalats
were organized across all
District Courts, Tehsil
Courts, Family Courts, Fo-
rum, Tribunal, Permanent
Lok Adalat, Revenue Courts
and High Court within the
State on February 11, May
13, September 09 and Decem-
ber 16, 2023.
In the 1st National Lok
Adalat 3,11,607 cases, 3,94,573
for second, 4,72,177 for third
and 4,85,813 cases for last Na-
tional Lok Adalat and thus a
total 16,64,170 cases were re-
The Chief Justice Ramesh solved across different
Sinha Courts of the State with re-
Health department issues
alert on cold wave
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
The Chief Medical and Health Officer of dis-
tricts have made an appeal to the general
public of the districts that an alert has been
issued by the National Disaster Manage-
ment Authority and India Meteorological
Centre, the prevalence and intensity of cold
takes the form of cold wave.
There has begun from the month of De-
cember. There is a possibility of the desti-
tute, homeless, poor, elderly and school go-
ing students in urban and rural areas being
affected by the cold. The guidelines have
been issued regarding what to do and what
not to do for protection.
The guidelines state stay inside and go out
of the house only when there is urgent work. should be covered. If you use a kerosene or
Listen and read carefully the weather relat- coal heater, make arrangements for a sky-
ed news and news related to emergency.
Take care of the elderly and children and
light to allow the gas and smoke to escape.
Eat healthy food, hot and fresh food only.
do not leave them alone. Also ensure that If any effect related to cold is visible on
the power supply remains intact even in
case of emergency. Use such a residence
the body - like nose, ears, toes, fingers be-
coming red, immediately contact your
where the temperature remains correct, nearest government health institution. If
keep drinking hot water as needed. you have abnormal temperature condi-
In case of power interruption, do not keep tions, excessive shivering, lethargy, weak-
food items in the freezer for more than 48 ness, difficulty in breathing, etc., then im-
hours. To protect against cold wave, a cap or mediately contact the nearest government
muffler can be used and head and ears health institution.
the road prone to accidents. beautification work was done.
Hence, as a safety precau- The gardens located on both
tion, the circumference of the sides of the route were built
round structure at the about 16 years ago. These gar-
‘Chowk’ was reduced and the dens, located on the entry
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
Supplementary Budget is
first step towards fulfilling
Modi’s guarantee: Sai
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
The Second appropriation
bill of more than Rs 12,992
crore for the financial year
2023-24 was passed by voice
vote on the third day of
winter session of the Chhat-
tisgarh Assembly.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo
Sai said, now the stove of any
poor family will not go out
and everyone will get their
own permanent house as part
of the guarantee of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
He said, a provision of Rs
3,799 crore in supplementary
budget for the first install-
ment of Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana has been kept.
Provision of Rs 3,800 crore
has been kept for two years
outstanding paddy bonus
payment. The other
provision is of Rs 1,200 crore
for Mahtari Vandan Yojana,
Rs 1,230 crore for Jal Jeevan
Mission, Rs 1,123 crore for Kr-
ishak Jeevan Jyoti Yojana.
Under the Social Security
Pension Scheme provision of
Rs 307 crore has been kept
and more than Rs 255 crore
for National Health Mission.
He adds, provision of Rs 150
crore for special infrastruc-
ture scheme in Naxal affected
area and Rs 250 crore for set-
ting up sewerage treatment
lief being granted to the
tune of ₹7,89,98,37,892 in the
year 2023.
The said National Lok
Adalats were organized with
appearance of parties both
in virtual as well as physical
mode along with Special Sit-
ting of Magistrates for dis-
posal of cases related to
petty offences.
A remarkable achieve-
ment with settlement of
50,882 pending cases
across different Courts in-
cluding settlement of 932
cases pending for over 05
years, 82 cases pending
for over 10 years and 328
cases involving Senior
Citizens.
route of Chhattisgarh Assem-
bly Building, have been beau-
tified in such a manner that
the person passing through
the route will have a glimpse
of Chhattisgarh's culture.
The Main Square has a stat-
ue of bell metal pattern in-
stalled at the Chowk in such a
way that it can be seen from
three sides. The structure
built around is of 6 meters cir-
cumference. Statues of women
and men have been installed in
the gardens located on both
sides of the assembly route.
Walls of the gardens have been
adorned with Bell Metal art-
work to promote Bastar Art.
Several bell metal statues de-
picting Chhattisgarhi culture
has also been placed in these
gardens.
plant.
He said, “I will be ready
like a brother for the safety
and prosperity of my sisters. I
will take care of the facilities
of the elderly while fulfilling
the duty of a son.”
He expressed gratitude to
the general public for the un-
precedented support received
from the people of Chhattis-
garh, while replying to the
discussion.
Sai said that the previous
government had presented a
budget of more than Rs 1 lakh
21 thousand crore. But the
government did not make
CM releases ‘Shri Krishna
Janmasthan Samachar Patr’
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
On the occasion of the birth an-
niversary of freedom fighter
and senior litterateur Pandit
Sunderlal Sharma, Chief Min-
ister Vishnu Deo Sai released a
book titled "Shri Krishna Jan-
masthan Newspaper". It has
been re-edited and compiled by
Acharya Ramendranath
Mishra. Pandit Sunderlal
Sharma, the pioneer of social
reform, had published the
handwritten newspaper "Shri
Krishna Janmasthan
Samachar Patr" from jail in
Good people have no work
in Congress: Kashyap
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
C]garh State BJP General Sec-
retary Kedar Kashyap, reacting
to the resignation of senior trib-
al leader Nand Kumar Sai from
the Congress, said that the Con-
gress, which believes in break-
ing, itself is in shambles. Good
people have no work in Con-
gress. He said Congress did pol-
itics with Mahant Ramsundar
Das. After losing by the highest
margin in the entire state, he
understood the dirty game
FCI to take 15 lakh MT of
parboiled rice in central pool
STAFF REPORTER: The Gov-
ernment of India has given
permission to take 15 lakh
metric tonnes of parboiled rice
from Chhattisgarh to the cen-
tral pool.
Permission to procure par-
boiled rice from Chhattisgarh
was pending for a long time.
On receiving permission from
the Government of India to
procure parboiled rice, the
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo
said that the state has got the
benefit due to the double en-
gine government. On behalf of
the state, he has expressed
gratitude to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Union
Food Minister Piyush Goyal
for it. The Chief Minister Vish-
nu Dev Sai has requested to in-
crease the quota of rice pro-
curement in the Central Pool
from 61 lakh metric tonnes to
74 lakh metric tonnes and also
to procure 59 lakh metric
tonnes of Arwa and 15 lakh
metric tonnes of Unna rice
from the state.
The Chief Minister has said
that in the Kharif marketing
year 2023-24 in Chhattisgarh,
as of December 20, 39.63 lakh
metric tons of paddy has been
procured from 8.68 lakh farm-
concrete efforts to collect rev-
enue. The result was that in
the last five years the previ-
ous government took huge
loans to meet the expenses.
When we handed over the
treasury after 15 years of rule,
in the year 2018, the state had
a total debt of Rs 41,695crores.
In a period of just five years,
the amount increased to Rs
91,533 crore. Despite finding
the treasury in such a
difficult financial situation,
the government is deter-
mined to fulfill each and
every promise of Modi's guar-
antee.
1922-23 during the freedom
struggle. Mishra, has compiled
"Shri Krishna Janmasthan
newspaper" in form of a book.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo
Sai congratulated Mishra for
compiling and publishing
"Shri Krishna Janmasthan
Samachar Patr" of Pandit Sun-
derlal Lal Sharma. He said that
the book is an important and
historical literary work.
Youngsters will get an oppor-
tunity to learn and understand
the struggles and
contributions of Pandit Sun-
darlal Sharma.
within the Congress and hence
he left the Congress. Many
more senior Congressmen left.
Now senior tribal leader Nand-
kumar Sai has also resigned.
This is proof of Congress's inner
story. He alleged Bhupesh
Baghel took Nandkumar Saiji
to Congress but did not give him
due respect. Baghel wanted to
use senior tribal leader Nand-
kumar Sai as a pawn but in the
elections the tribal society
taught a lesson to the anti-tribal
Congress.
ers at support price and more
than 3 lakh metric tons of pad-
dy is arriving every day. This
year, it is estimated that about
130 lakh metric tonnes of pad-
dy will be procured from farm-
ers at support price. Whose
custom milling will produce 88
lakh metric tons of rice. Out of
this, about 74 lakh metric
tonnes of rice will be procured
in the central pool (58 lakh
metric tonnes in the Food Cor-
poration of India and 16 lakh
tonnes in the Civil Supplies
Corporation) and 14 lakh
tonnes in the state pool.
The Chief Minister has also
mentioned in the letter that a
target has been set to procure
61 lakh tonnes of rice in the
central pool for Chhattisgarh
state. In the state, due to exces-
sive breakage of some
varieties of paddy in milling,
Arwa rice is not produced of
the prescribed quality and
there are difficulties in Arwa
milling. Custom milling of
such paddy will speed up cus-
tom milling. The Food Depart-
ment of the Government of In-
dia has issued a letter of ap-
proval for the procurement of
15 lakh metric tonnes of par-
boiled rice from Chhattisgarh.

NATION BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
SNIPPETS
Two brothers run
over by school bus
wo brothers on
T
their way to school
were killed after
they were allegedly run
over by a school bus
here on Thursday, police
said. The incident took
place when Gurmej
Singh, a resident of
Haripur village under the
Khutar police station
area, was going to drop
his children Jeet Pal (14)
and Harmeet Singh (9)
to their school on a
scooter this morning,
said Superintendent of
Police Ashok Kumar
Meena.
NCB BUSTS
INT’L RACKET
T
he Narcotics Control
Bureau busted an
international racket
involving illegal
trafficking of pharma
drugs from India to
Australia and has
arrested three persons
with amphetamine and
other items worth Rs 3
crore, an official said on
Thursday. Acting on a
tip off on Tuesday that a
consignment of drugs
was being sent to
Australia, a DRI team
visited a courier firm
and zeroed in on a
parcel containing a steel
table, he said.
109 girl students
hospitalised
n a case of suspected
I food poisoning, more
than 100 girl students
were hospitalised as
they fell ill after having
lunch at their residential
school in Gadchiroli
district of Maharashtra,
an official said on
Thursday. The incident
occurred on Wednesday
at an 'ashram shala'
(residential school for
tribal children) located
in Sode village in
Dhanora taluka in the
district, he said.
Kejri skips ED questioning again Govt ropes in CISF for
AGENCIES
New Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal on
Thursday skipped the sec-
ond summons issued by
the ED, alleging they were
issued at the behest of po-
litical rivals who wish to
silence the voice of the op-
position.
Kejriwal was summoned
by the Enforcement Direc-
torate for questioning in
the excise policy-linked
money laundering case on
Thursday. The chief min-
ister left for an undis-
closed location for a 10-
day Vipassana meditation
Mayawati kills 2 birds with one
stone; FLAYS MIMICRY OF VP AS
WELL AS SUSPENSION OF MPS
FPJ BUREAU / Lucknow
Making balance with the
opposition and ruling
Bharatiya Janta Party,
Bahujan Samaj Party
(BSP) Chief Mayawati has
condemned the mimicry of
vice-president Jagdeep
Dhankad and at the same
time termed the suspen-
sion of MPs as unfortu-
nate.
In a statement issued on
Thursday, BSP Chief said
that suspension of MPs
from parliament is unfor-
tunate. She said that lax-
ity in the security of
parliament is a big is-
sue but there should
be no politics on it.
Maya said that sus-
pension of
141 MPs of
opposition
parties is
something that
should not happen.
'This act in parlia-
mentary history will
only shake the con-
fidence of the
SECURITY
BREACH,
SUSPENSION,
EXPULSION
AGENCIES / New Delhi
The Lok Sabha was ad-
journed sine die on
Thursday, a day ahead of
the scheduled end of Par-
liament's Winter session
that saw a security
breach, suspension of
over 140 MPs and the ex-
pulsion of TMC leader
Mahua Moitra in the
"bribe-for-query" case.
The session, which be-
gan on December 4, saw
both the Rajya Sabha and
the Lok Sabha running
largely peacefully for the
first week but the sce-
nario changed after De-
cember 13.
On the anniversary of
the 2001 Parliament at-
tack, two people jumped
into the chamber of the
Lower House of Parlia-
ment from the public
gallery during the Zero
Hour, released yellow gas
from canisters and shout-
ed slogans before being
overpowered by MPs.
During the session, the
Lok Sabha approved some
key bills such as those to
replace colonial-era laws
Indian Penal Code (IPC),
Indian Evidence Act,
Code of Criminal Proce-
dure (CrPC), Telegraph
Act and Press and Regis-
tration of Books Act.
These bills were passed
by voice vote with almost
empty opposition benches
Nothing more harrowing for hubby than to
see wife act as widow: HC Says such a
NEW DELHI: No experi-
ence can be a more harrow-
ing for a husband than to see
his wife act as a widow while
he is alive, and such a con-
SAYS SUMMONS
ISSUED AT BEHEST OF
POLITICAL RIVALS
course on Wednesday.
Kejriwal sent his reply
to the ED on Wednesday
in which he said the sum-
mons do not specify
whether he was being
called as "a witness or a
suspect" or as the "chief
minister, Delhi or the
Aam Aadmi Party's na-
tional convener".
He said the fresh sum-
mons -- issued on Decem-
ber 18 -- should be re-
voked, withdrawn, and re-
called.
common men’, said Maya.
However, the BSP Chief
said that mimicry of Rajya
Sabha chairman by the
suspended MPs is not prop-
er. She said that a video of
MPs mocking the chair-
man was made viral which
should not have been done.
She said that it is the re-
sponsibility of everyone to
safeguard the constitution
and parliamentary tradi-
tions.
Taking a jibe at the oppo-
sition alliance, Maya said
that BSP is not a part of
it. Hence the par-
ties in the oppo-
sition alliance
should not
make any
comment on
BSP. ` Any
party might
need support of
BSP in near fu-
ture and keep-
ing this in mind
there should be no
unwarranted com-
ments’, said BSP
Chief.
After days of high drama,
LS adjourned sine die
Lok Sabha Speaker
Om Birla said the
House recorded
74 per cent
productivity, and 18
draft legislations,
including the new
criminal justice bills,
were passed
in the House. While 100
MPs were suspended
from the Lok Sabha, an-
other 46 from the Rajya
Sabha for unruly behav-
iour, disrupting proceed-
ings and showing plac-
ards and raising slogans
over the breach issue.
The Winter session also
marked the first full-
fledged session to be held
in the new Parliament
building.
In the "bribe-for-query"
case, on December 8, a re-
port of the Lok Sabha
Ethics Committee was
tabled in the House.
It recommended the ex-
pulsion of Trinamool
Congress (TMC) MP
Moitra. Subsequently, a
resolution for her expul-
sion was passed by the
Lok Sabha. Moitra was
not allowed to speak in
the House, and the move
saw a united walkout by
opposition MPs in solidar-
ity.
conduct
duct amounts to "extreme
cruelty", the Delhi High
Court has said.
It said a marriage can-
not survive if a spouse de-
prives the other of conjugal
relationship and doing so is
also an act of cruelty.
"Nothing can be a more
harrowing experience
for a husband than to see
his wife act as a widow
"The timing of your
summons leaves much to
desire and strengthens
my belief that the sum-
mons being sent to me are
not based upon any objec-
tive or rational yardstick
but for extraneous consid-
erations at the behest of
political rivals who wish
to silence the voice of op-
position to the ruling dis-
pensation at the Centre to
create sensational news in
the final few months lead-
ing up to the Parliamen-
tary elections in early to
mid 2024," read the reply.
Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi
Party is part of the INDIA
opposition bloc.
PM to address public meeting in Ayodhya on Dec 30
AYODHYA (UP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting here on December 30, officials said
on Thursday. Before the meeting, Modi will inaugurate the Ayodhya Airport and the Ayodhya railway station, they said.
The meeting will be held at a ground next to the airport. On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
inspected the venue of the public meeting, the official here said.
Bill on appointments
of CEC, ECs gets
Parliament’s nod
NEW DELHI: The Par-
ABOUT ccording to
OPPN PROTESTS MASS SUSPENSION, KHARGE
liament on Thursday
gave its nod to a Bill
which seeks to establish THE A the amended
Bill, the
government has
ASKS GOVT TO 'BEHAVE DEMOCRATICALLY' a mechanism to appoint decided to retain
the chief election com-
missioner and election
BILL the status of the
CEC and ECs on par
commissioners with
with judges of the
Law Minister Arjun Ram Supreme Court. According
Meghwal asserting that it's to the Bill, the CEC and
in line with the Supreme ECs will be paid a salary
Court's directions. equal to that of a
The Lok Sabha passed Supreme Court judge.
the Chief Election Com- A new clause has been
missioner and Other Elec- inserted in the amended
tion Commissioners (Ap- bill to protect the CEC and
pointment, Conditions of ECs from court cases while
Service and Term of Of- discharging their official
fice) Bill, 2023 by a voice duties. It states that
vote after a brief discus- notwithstanding anything
sion. The Rajya Sabha had contained in any other law
cleared it on December 12. in force for the time
NDIA bloc MPs on Thursday marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk here to protest the Responding to the debate,
I
being, no court shall
suspension of opposition lawmakers, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Law Minister Meghwal entertain or continue any
asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had violated parliamentary privilege by not said the 1991 Act on the civil or criminal
speaking on the security breach issue inside the House. service conditions of the proceedings against any
Carrying a huge 'Save Democracy' banner and placards with messages like 'Opposition MPs CEC and ECs was a half- person who is or was a
Suspended' 'Parliament Caged' and 'Democracy Expelled' written on them, the lawmakers baked attempt that left out CEC or an EC.
took out the march. the key aspect of appoint-
ments and the present Bill
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TOTAL: covers such areas.
BILL, 2023 PASSED:
3 fresh suspensions He also rejected sugges-
tions that the proposed law
Parliament on Thursday
passed a Bill that seeks
hree more opposition members were suspended from 146 was against the directions
of the Supreme Court,
to allow the government
T
to temporarily take
the Lok Sabha on Thursday, taking the total number of which had asked the gov-
control of telecom
suspensions from the Lower House of Parliament to a record 100. ernment to put in place a
services in the interest of
With this, the total number of MPs suspended for unruly behaviour from the Lok Sabha and law on the appointments of
national security and
the Rajya Sabha stands at an unprecedented 146 since December 14. the CEC and ECs.
also provide a non-
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion for the suspension of D K He noted that the top
auction route for the
Suresh, Deepak Baij and Nakul Nath. court had said in March
allocation of satellite
In the Lok Sabha, while 97 MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session, three were this year that till the time a
spectrum.
removed from the services of the House pending a report of the House Privileges law is in place, a three-
Committee. Removal from the services of the House is the official term used for suspension. member panel, headed by
On Thursday, three Congress MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the prime minister and ha and the Chief Justice of
the Winter session for unruly behaviour. comprising the leader of India, will select the CEC
the opposition in Lok Sab- and ECs.
RETURN OF THE MASKS?
during his lifetime, that too granting
in a situation where he was
seriously injured and expect-
ed nothing more than care
a divorce
decree in
her hus-
amounts to
‘extreme
and compassion from his sig- band's cruelty’
nificant other half. Undeni- favour,
ably, such conduct of the ap- holding that she acted with
pellant/ wife can only be cruelty towards him.
termed as an act of extreme "We thus, conclude that the
cruelty towards the respon- evidence on record proved
dent/ husband," a bench of that there is no chance of rec-
Justices Suresh Kumar Kait onciliation between the par-
and Neena Bansal Krishna ties and such long separation
said. The high court's judg- peppered which false allega-
ment came while dismissing tions, police reports and
a woman's appeal challeng- criminal trial can only be
ing a family court's decision termed as mental cruelty.
security of Parl complex School students wear masks in precaution against COVID during their visit to the Vidhana Soudha,
in Bengaluru
AGENCIES / New Delhi like fashion where body
frisking of persons will be
The government has decid- done through hand-held CWC MEETING
ed to hand over "compre- detectors and their belong-
hensive" ings will be
security of
the Parlia-
ment build-
Retired Deputy
SP’s son detained
he Delhi police have
checked
through X-
ray ma-
Cong has learnt valuable lessons from its
T
ing com- chines, with
plex to the
Central In-
dustrial Se-
taken into custody a
youth from Bagalkote
in Karnataka and
questioned another man
a provision
to even scan
shoes,
performance in assembly polls: Kharge
curity heavy jack- AGENCIES to not repeating the same Telangana and Mizoram.
Force from Mysuru in connection ets and New Delhi mistakes. The Congress won only in
(CISF) in with the security breach in belts by put- He also said several Con- Telangana.
the wake of Parliament, official sources ting them Congress president gress leaders want Rahul While the BJP swept Mad-
the recent said on Thursday. on a tray Mallikarjun Kharge on Gandhi to undertake anoth- hya Pradesh, Rajasthan and
breach of Saikrishna Jagali, a techie and passing Thursday said his party has er Bharat Jodo Yatra from Chhattisgarh, the Zoram
the safety and son of a retired Deputy them learnt valuable lessons from east to west but the final de- People's Movement won in
ring, offi- Superintendent of Police, through the the recent assembly polls cision is up to him and the Mizoram.
cial
sources
said Thurs-
was picked up from his
house at Vidyagiri in the
district headquarters town
scanner, the
sources
said.
and urged party workers to
focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha
elections now.
CWC, the Congress' highest
decision-making body.
This is the first CWC meet-
Noting that the outcomes
of the elections in the five
states, barring Telangana,
day. of Bagalkote on Wednesday Earlier, Addressing party leaders ing after the Congress' re- were "disappointing",
The CISF night. frisking of at a crucial meeting of the cent poll debacle. Kharge said the Congress
will render visitors to Congress Working Commit- The assembly elections has conducted a prelimi-
access control to the new Parliament complex was tee (CWC) at the AICC head- were held in five states -- nary analysis of the results
and old Parliament com- done by Delhi Police per- quarters here, Kharge said Madhya Pradesh, Ra- and identified the reasons
plex in an airport security- sonnel. the Congress is committed jasthan, Chhattisgarh, behind its performance.
PATIENT IN ICU SUSTAINS BURN INJURIES AFTER OXYGEN MASK CATCHES FIRE
JAMNAGAR (GUJARAT): A patient sustained burn injuries after the oxygen mask he was wearing caught fire in the intensive care unit of a government hospital here on Thursday, an official said.
The cause for the incident was not immediately clear, said Dr Deepak Tiwari, medical superintendent of the Guru Gobind Singh Government Hospital. There were some 15 patients in the respiratory ICU
ward on the second floor at the time of the incident, but the fire was brought under control quickly and no one was needed to be shifted, he said.
"A patient suffering from a lung ailment was on ventilator and being administered oxygen when his face mask caught fire. He sustained burn injuries on the forehead and fingers," Dr Tiwari said.
Total 10 black tigers in India, all in Odisha's Similipal: Govt
Over the last five years, the Similipal
Tiger Reserve has received a financial
support of Rs 32.75 crore for wildlife
conservation, habitat management,
human resource, and infrastructure
development under the centrally
sponsored scheme of Integrated
Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH)
AGENCIES
New Delhi
There are a total of 10 "black
tigers" in India, all exclusively
found in Odisha's Similipal, the
government informed the Parlia-
ment on Thursday.
Union Minister of State for En-
Ruckus in J’khand Assembly;
House adjourned twice
AGENCIES / Ranchi
The Jharkhand Assembly
on Thursday witnessed up-
roarious scenes after a leg-
islator demanded action
against BJP state chief
Babulal Marandi for alleg-
ing that the Speaker was
not allowing him to speak
in the House.
Some Congress MLAs, in-
cluding Irfan Ansari and
Umashankar Akela, also
came down to the well rais-
ing slogans against the BJP,
leading to the adjournment
of the House till 12.30 pm.
Before being adjourned,
the House functioned for
only seven minutes till 11.20
am. This was the fifth con-
secutive day when the
Question Hour was washed
out in protest.
Earlier in the day, as the
House assembled for the
day's business at 11.13 am,
Poreyahat legislator Pradip
Yadav, who jumped the ship
to Congress after winning
the 2019 assembly election
on a JVM-P ticket, claimed
that Raj Dhanwar MLA
A woman plays an instrument during the musical project ‘The Pineapple Orchestra’ at the ongoing
Serendipity Arts Festival, in Goa
MARATHA QUOTAS
Shinde govt Delhi govt to send Covid samples
seeks more time, for RT-PCR test, genome sequencing
Jarange-Patil
says 'no'
AGENCIES / Jalna
A ministerial delegation
arrived in Maharashtra's
Jalna on Thursday evening
to meet Shivba Sanghatana
chief Manoj Jarange-Patil
and seek more time to im-
plement the proposed
Maratha reservation, but
he remained adamant on
his December 24 deadline.
The delegation rushed to
Antarvali-Sarathi village a
day after Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde made a de-
tailed statement in the Ma-
harashtra Legislature Ses-
sion in Nagpur that the
government would imple-
ment the Maratha quota at
a special session to be con-
vened in February next
year.
The delegation, compris-
ing Ministers Girish Ma-
hajan, Uday Samant and
others, pleaded for "some
more time" and urged
Jarange-Patil to suspend
all his planned public ral-
lies and agitation pro-
grammes till February
2024.
Choubey, told the
that "melanistic
been documented
Similipal Tiger
Odisha.
As per the 2022 cycle of the pan-
India tiger estimation exercise,
the Similipal Tiger Reserve has
16 tigers, out of which 10 exhibit
BJP MLAs
protested by
trooping into the
well, and they also
demanded that
that the
legislator's
allegation be
expunged from
proceedings of the
House
Babulal Marandi has al-
leged in the media that the
Speaker was not allowing
him to speak in the House.
Yadav claimed that this
amounted to contempt of
the chair and he demanded
strong action against
Marandi.
Yadav claimed that
Marandi, a former chief
minister, had on Wednes-
day told reporters outside
the assembly that the
Speaker had not allowed
DASHBOARD
AGENCIES
New Delhi
The Delhi health depart-
ment has ordered authori-
ties to send an "adequate"
number of Covid samples
for RT-PCR test amid an
uptick in coronavirus cas-
es, officials said on Thurs-
day.
The department has also
ordered them to conduct
the genome sequencing of
Covid-positive RT-PCR
samples, they said.
India on Thursday
recorded 594 fresh COVID-
19 infections, which took
the number of active cas-
es from 2,311 the previous
day, to 2,669, according to
Union health ministry
data.
A meeting was convened
by the Delhi Health Minis-
ter to review the pre-
paredness of health facili-
ties to tackle ILI/SARI (in-
fluenza-like illness/severe
acute respiratory infec-
tions) on Wednesday, offi-
cials said.
"Adequate number of
Covid samples are to be
sent for RT-PCR testing,
as per guidelines. Genome
sequencing of positive
RT-PCR samples is to be
performed, as per guide-
NATION
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
UP woman gets triple talaq for
vealed that the coat colouration
and patterning causing the wild
donating kidney to brother
cats to appear dark stem from a
single mutation in the Trans-
GONDA (UP): A man
gave triple talaq to his
The husband gave her triple talaq soon
membrane Aminopeptidase Q
(Taqpep) gene.
wife over WhatsApp after
she donated a kidney to
after she sent a message to inform him
Published in the journal Pro- her ailing brother. about the kidney donation
ceedings of the National Acade- The man works in Saudi
my of Sciences in September Arabia, while the wife tered a case and said that there is no bar on granting an-
vi- melanism, he 2021, their study noted that stays in Bairiyahi village they will take legal ac- ticipatory bail in such cases,
ron- said. tigers in the Similipal Tiger Re- in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda tion. provided the court hears the
ment, Ashi- The minister serve form an isolated popula- district. The incident un- The practice of triple ta- complainant woman before
wini Kumar said that the Sim- tion in eastern India, with folded after the wife took laq had been declared ille- granting pre-arrest bail.
Rajya Sabha ilipal Tiger Reserve has been very limited gene flow between a decision to save her gal and unconstitutional
tigers" have identified as a distinct conserva- them and other tiger popula- brother by donating one in the country in 2019.
only in the tion cluster due to its genetic tions. of her kidneys. Little did Triple talaq is banned un-
Reserve in composition. The researchers said that such she anticipate that the no- der the Muslim Women
A study led by ecologist Uma isolated and inbred populations ble act would become the (Protection of Rights on
Ramakrishnan and her student are highly susceptible to extinc- catalyst for the dissolu- Marriage) Act, which im-
Vinay Sagar from the National tion, even over short periods, tion of her marriage. poses a punishment of up
Centre for Biological Sciences which poses crucial implications On the complaint of the to three years in jail. The
(NCBS), Bangalore, in 2021, re- for tiger conservation efforts. woman, police have regis- Supreme Court has said
Protest against
Congress
HP: BJP
him to speak during a dis-
cussion on the 1932
MLAs turn
Khatiyan-based recruit-
milkmen
ment policy, which was
passed in the House by
voice vote.
Responding to Yadav's
AGENCIES
Dharamshala
claim, Leader of the Oppo-
sition Amar Bauri said that The BJP legislators
Marandi, who is a member turned milkmen holding
of the House and was elect-
ed by four lakh people of
empty utensils in the Vid-
han Sabha campus at
Raj Dhanwar constituency, Tapovan here on Thurs-
has a right to speak but he day to protest against the
was not allowed despite unfulfilled poll guarantees
keeping his hand raising.
Bauri said Yadav's allega-
of the Congress govern-
ment in Himachal
tions should be expunged Pradesh.
from the proceedings and The BJP MLAs led by
he should seek an apology leader of the opposition,
in the House. Jai Ram Thakur, raised
Subsequent ruckus led to anti-government slogans
adjournment of the House before the session began
at 11.20 am. and demanded that the
When the House reassem- Congress regime should
bled at 12.35 pm, JMM legis- buy milk for Rs 80 to 100
lator Stephen Marandi per litre as promised to the
again raised the issue and farmers.
was supported by minister Thakur said that the
Alamgir Alam, MLA Congress leaders had an-
Pradip Yadav and Irfan nounced ten guarantees
Ansari. They all demanded on the eve of the last as-
action against Babulal sembly polls.
Marandi. "We are here in the Vid-
han Sabha campus to
know what happened to
the promise of buying cow
and buffalo milk for Rs 80
and Rs 100 respectively,"
he told the media.
Escalating his attack on
the government, Thakur
said the farmers and milk
producers are waiting for
the promises to be fulfilled
even after one year.
The milk is presently be-
ing purchased for Rs 30 to
32 per litre in the rural ar-
eas, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader said
and added that even
though the Congress has
recently announced to buy
milk from January 2024,
the people do not believe
in its announcements.
Thakur said that the
Congress had promised to
buy 10 litres from each
farmer.
He added that all the
farmers do not have 10
litres of milk and sought a
clarification from the gov-
ernment on the issue.
COVID OUTBREAK
SHINDE CHAIRS REVIEW MEET: Maharashtra Chief
Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday held a meeting to
review the COVID-19 situation in the state in view of the
detection of the JN.1 sub variant in some parts of the
country. The state was fully prepared to tackle the
situation and people must not panic but should take
precautions, especially due to the upcoming festival and
new year season, Shinde said.
FOUR CASES IN RAJASTHAN: Two more Covid cases of
the new sub-variant were reported in Rajasthan on
Thursday, which took the tally of such cases in the state
to four, prompting the health department to issue an
advisory for the prevention and control of the infection.
lines. And, measures are and wearing masks in
to be taken for raising crowded and close set-
community awareness for tings and in hospital
avoiding overcrowded and premises," an official said.
poorly ventilated settings, The data on COVID-19
 WB teachers recruitment scam: SC notice to ED
NATION BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate on a plea filed by jailed
TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya seeking bail in connection with alleged irregularities in the teachers' recruitment 'scam'
case. A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and SC Sharma issued notice to the ED last Friday and sought its reply on the
appeal filed by Bhattacharya challenging the November 16 Calcutta High Court order rejecting his bail application.

Rahul on HC radar over ‘post on

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
I QUIT: sakshi...
IN YOGI-RAJ, STUDENT
A panel led by Sanjay Singh won the WFI election. The
other panel got seven votes. "National Camps (for STRIPPED, FORCED TO
wrestling) will be organised. Wrestlers who want to do
politics can do politics, those who want to do wrestling
will do wrestling," Singh told the reporters.
Sanjay Singh served on the WFI's previous executive
council. Since 2019, he has also served as the national
X’ and ‘pickpocket jibe at PM’ DRINK LIQUOR
AGENCIES "I kept pleading
federation's joint secretary.
The WFI elections were originally slated to be held on
DELHI HC ASKS Cong leader to take down PICKPOCKET JIBE Jhansi (UP)
with them with
August 12. However, the Punjab and Haryana High post revealing minor rape victim's identity A Class 10 stu- folded hands and
Court, while holding a hearing on a petition in August,
extended the stay on the WFI elections till September 25.
Elections to the federation, which oversees wrestling in
the country, were initially planned for June this year.
DECIDE IN 8 WEEKS, dent in UP's
Jhansi was al-
legedly beaten
up, stripped
asking for
forgiveness, but
they did not
Earlier this month, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik
met Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur at his resi- High Court tells EC naked, and
forced to con- listen to me and
dence in the national capital for discussions on the WFI sume liquor by kept beating me
polls. The court was ABOUT THE CASE his classmates,
Sakshi's husband, Satyawart Kadian, a wrestler him- police said on for about an hour.
hearing a public etitioner Bharat
self, was also among those who called on the minister.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the wrestlers
said they were assured that the government would keep
its promise that no one related or close to Brij Bhushan
interest litigation
seeking action P Nagar told the high
court that Gandhi
made a speech on
Thursday.
The student,
along with his
friends, was
They also made
videos of me on
mobile," the
would get a post in the WFI. against Gandhi as November 22 levelling taken to a de-
"heinous allegations" student said in
Impt posting of... well as formulation serted area in
against individuals the city, where the complaint
The government as well as the party organisation will of guidelines to holding "highest he was badly
have a lot of say in appointing the chief secretary, prin- prevent such governmental positions", bruised, and the group recorded a video
cipal secretaries, officers to be posted in the CM's Sec- including the prime of him, which they later shared online.
retariat, collectors and SPs. AGENCIES cial media platform for some
"malpractice" by minister and referred to The footage shows a group beating up
According to sources, a team is being set up in Delhi, New Delhi time but it was subsequently re- political leaders him as a "pick-pocket". the student with sticks while he pleads
which will examine the proposed postings and give its stored. with them to stop the assault.
reports to the central leadership. Before the posting of The Delhi High Court on Thurs- A bench headed by Acting Chief AGENCIES taste", the Election Com- According to the complaint filed by the
any officer to the Centre, information about the official day asked Congress leader Rahul Justice Manmohan Thursday ob- New Delhi mission (EC) was examin- student's family, when the victim was sit-
concerned is collected from 360 Degree. Before the post- Gandhi to take down his social served although the post was stat- ing the matter and has ting at a park in the city with one of his
ing of officers by the state government, the BJP leader- media post which revealed the ed to have been taken down by X, The Delhi High Court on even issued a notice to classmates on Monday evening, a group,
ship will collect all the information about them. identity of a minor Dalit girl, it continued to be available out- Thursday asked the Elec- Gandhi. also his classmates, approached them.
raped and murdered in 2021, so side India and asked the counsel tion Commission of India "Considering that dead- The four boys, who arrived in a car,
Distillery Grp suppressed... that the child's identity is pro- for Gandhi to have it removed. to take a decision as expe- line for filing reply is pulled him inside the vehicle. They took
"Preliminary analysis of seized evidence reveals tected worldwide. "If we have to protect the identi- ditiously as possible, over and no reply has the student into the forest near Maura-
records of unaccounted sales of country liquor, sys- In the post, which stands geo- ty of the victim, it is necessary it preferably within eight been received, the court nipur Road.
tematic details of undisclosed cash receipts and refer- blocked by social media platform is done all over the world," the weeks, on a notice sent it directs EC to decide the Two more of their friends came there,
ences for movement of unaccounted cash. X in the country, Gandhi pub- court said. has issued to Congress matter as expeditiously and they allegedly consumed liquor.
"The facts unearthed during the search operation in- lished a photograph with the par- "Why don't you take it down? leader Rahul Gandhi for as possible preferably
dicate that the group has been indulging in huge sup- ents of the nine-year-old Dalit Please take down your post be- his alleged "pickpocket" within 8 weeks," the
pression of income earned from the liquor business," girl who died under suspicious cause worldwide it must come jibe at Prime Minister bench, also comprising I-T dept recovers Rs 70L in
the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said. circumstances on August 1, 2021, down. Please seek instruc- Narendra Modi made Justice Mini Pushkarna,
It said "undisclosed" cash amounting to more than Rs with her parents alleging that she tions...otherwise it will be picked during a speech delivered ordered.
cash from TMC MLA's home
351 crore and unaccounted jewellery exceeding Rs 2.80 was raped, murdered and cremat- up by press all over the world. It last month. The court noted that in AGENCIES
crore was seized by the department. ed by a crematorium's priest in can't be done like this. Please get A bench headed by Act- the notice sent on Novem- Kolkata
"A substantial part of the cash, to the tune of Rs 329 southwest Delhi's Old Nangal vil- it down," the bench, also compris- ing Chief Justice Manmo- ber 23, the poll panel it-
crore, was unearthed and seized from obscure and di- lage. ing Justice Mini Pushkarna, told han observed that al- self said it will take ap- The Income Tax department has recov-
lapidated buildings, hidden chambers and hidden safe- Following the post, Gandhi's ac- Gandhi's counsel advocate Taran- though the alleged state- propriate action in the ered around Rs 70 lakh in cash from the
house camouflaged as an unoccupied/nondescript resi- count was suspended by the so- num Cheema. ments are "not in good matter. residence of Trinamool Congress MLA
dence located in small towns of Odisha including Suda- Bayron Biswas during a search there in
pada and Titlagarh in Bolangir District and Khetrajpur connection with alleged evasion of tax-
in Sambalpur district," the statement said.
This cash haul has been the highest-ever seizure of
Power deals, projects by BRS govt: Parl, borders, society, nothing is es, a senior official said on Thursday.
The search, which started at the legis-
currency by an agency in a single operation, officials
earlier told PTI.
The CBDT, which frames policy for the I-T depart-
Revanth Reddy orders judicial probe safe under BJP rule, says Priyanka lator's residence at Samserganj in Mur-
shidabad district of West Bengal on
Wednesday morning, got over late in the
ment, also shared pictures of wads of currency stashed AGENCIES / he state AGENCIES Vadra on Thursday Kuki Zo victims of night after around 19 hours, he added.
in almirahs and a battery of currency machines being
used to count the cash along with the press statement.
Hyderabad T government is
ordering a judicial
NEW DELHI slammed the govern-
ment, alleging that
the violence were
laid to rest at the
"We have recovered cash amounting to
Rs 70 lakh during the raid in Bayron
The main employees looking after the business activi- The Telangana A day after a mass Parliament, borders, Churachandpur dis- Biswas' residence. There was no clarity
probe into three issues
ties of the group "admitted" that the cash seized during government burial in ethnic vio- roads or society, trict headquarters on why such a huge amount of money
the search operation represents the "unaccounted" in- would order a ju- of the Energy lence-hit Manipur, nothing was safe un- in Manipur on was kept there," the official said.
come of the group, generated through its multiple busi- dicial inquiry department. Congress leader der BJP rule. Wednesday, officials The MLA declined to comment on this
ness concerns, the Board claimed. into power pur- The negligence Priyanka Gandhi The bodies of 87 said. matter when PTI contacted him.
This was also "corroborated" by one of the family chase agree- and corruption
members who is actively involved in the business, it ments with by the previous government in the
said.
The CBDT said the business group is engaged in the
business of manufacture and sale of country liquor,
Chhattisgarh as agreement for power purchases of 1000
well as construc- MW from Chhattisgarh will be probed
tion of the
Tejashwi calls ED KASHMIR'S HARSHEST WINTER
grain-based alcohol, bottling of foreign liquor, running
hospitals and educational institutions.
Bhadradri and
Yadadri thermal
n REVANTH REDDY, TELANGANA CM
summons 'routine', PERIOD 'CHILLA-I-KALAN' BEGINS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the
searches on December 8, noting the money looted from
power plants by the previous BRS government, Chief
Minister Revanth Reddy said on Thursday. drop hints he might
the public will be returned as he posted a Hindi news- During a short discussion on the power sector in the
paper report where the cash recovered by the I-T de-
partment was shown stacked.
Assembly, Revanth Reddy said his government is willing
to set up an all party fact-finding committee to look into
give it slip
Taking to X, he had said, "The countrymen should look the 24-hour free power supply initiative of the BRS AGENCIES
at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest regime. Patna
speeches of their leaders.... Whatever has been looted
from the public, every penny will have to be returned, Bihar Deputy Chief Min-
this is Modi's guarantee." The Congress has distanced it- DHANKHAR MIMICRY ROW ister Tejashwi Yadav
self from the MP, claiming that the party has nothing to dropped hints that he
do with his businesses.
India gets consular... Irked Jat Mahasabha might give the slip to the
latest summons by the En-
forcement Directorate,
Gupta, 52, has been accused by the US govt of involvement
in conspiring to kill US-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
His family approached the Supreme Court last week
demands action against which has asked him to
turn up in Delhi on Fri-
day.
pleading for issuing direction to the Indian government
to intervene in the extradition proceedings and ensur-
ing a fair trial in the case.
Rahul & Kalyan Yadav, who returned
from the national capital
on Thursday after a trip
A boatman rows through partially frozen Dal Lake, in Srinagar

ashmir's harshest winter period, 'Chilla-i-Kalan', began on Thursday with the

"The family of this person has gone to our Supreme
Court and this is a process that is going on in the
Supreme Court. I do not think it will be appropriate for
that lasted three days, as-
serted that there was
"nothing new" in the sum-
K mercury dropping several notches below the freezing point at many places,
officials said.
Srinagar city -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- recorded a low of minus
us to comment on issues like jurisdiction. We will wait mons, even as he alleged 4.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, down from the previous night's minus 3.7
for what the Supreme Court has to say," Bagchi said. that the central agencies degrees Celsius, they said.
The US federal prosecutors have charged Gupta of were acting as per the di- Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, which serves as one of the base
working with an Indian government employee in the rections of the ruling BJP. camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus
foiled plot to kill Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of "There is nothing new in 5.8 degrees Celsius, they said.
the US and Canada. the summons. All these The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 3.0
India has already constituted a probe committee to in- agencies -- ED, CBI and I-T degrees Celsius, the officials said.
vestigate allegations. The external affairs ministry department -- have sum- Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, Kokernag town saw the
spokesperson also said that India has taken the allega- moned me so many times mercury settle at minus 3.0 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a low of minus
tions seriously, adding "inputs" have been provided by in the past and I have duly 4.0 degrees Celsius.
the US side and a high-level inquiry committee has been appeared every time. But
constituted to look into all relevant aspects of the mat- now it seems to have be-
ter. Bagchi said this when asked about five serving In- come routine," said the
dian-American members of the US Congress cautioning
that the case can cause significant damage to the India-
US ties of New Delhi does not hold those behind the con-
young RJD leader who is
on the agencies' radar in a
land-for-jobs scam.
Don’t use derogatory words for persons with
spiracy to kill Pannun. "As we have shared earlier, we AGENCIES protest for the second con- Besides Yadav, the ED
take it seriously. The inputs have been provided by the
US side and a high-level inquiry committee has been
constituted to look into all relevant aspects of the mat-
New Delhi

Jat Mahasabha volun-

secutive day on Thursday.
A similar protest was
held by them near the
has issued summons to
his father and RJD presi-
dent Lalu Prasad, who
disabilities in political discourse, EC asks parties
ter," Bagchi said. "This fact has also been noted by these teers on Thursday de- Congress headquarters was the Railway Minister AGENCIES "It is necessary to sioner Rajiv Kumar has on
members of the Congress. I do not have any further up- manded action against on Wednesday. when the alleged scam New Delhi avoid usage of such various forums empha-
date to it," he added. FBI Director Christopher Wray vis- TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Ashok Balyan, National took place. sised that PwDs are actual-
ited India last week against the backdrop of the charges and Congress MP Rahul Secretary of Jat Ma- Prasad has been asked to The Election Commission derogatory language. ly more able than us. They
by Washington in the case. US Principal Deputy NSA Gandhi for mimicking hasabha said more than appear on December 27. has asked political parties have faculties which are
Jonathan Finer too visited India earlier this month dur- Vice President Jagdeep 1,000 people are expected Yadav added, tongue-in- not to use derogatory
PwDs have to be even better than us, so
ing which he held talks with External Affairs Minister Dhankhar and recording to gather at Jantar Man- cheek, "I have always words for persons with dis- accorded, justice and what they need is equity
Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay the act. tar on Thursday and most maintained that it is not abilities in public dis- and accessibility at every
Kwatra and Deputy NSA Vikran Misri. A political row broke of them have come from the fault of these agencies course, saying usage of respect in political stage, and not mere sympa-
3 soldiers killed... out after Banerjee deri- western Uttar Pradesh. which are being made to such semantics in speech discourse/campaign," thy.
sively mimicked Balyan said Banerjee function under so much by politicians and candi- The advisory said politi-
The stretch between Dhera Ki Gali and Bufliaz on the Dhankhar during the op- and Gandhi should be pressure. But I must point dates can be interpreted as the EC said cal parties and their repre-
boundary of Rajouri and Poonch districts is densely position's protest on the "permanently suspended out that a prediction I an affront to such people. sentatives should not use
forested and leads to Chamrer forest and then Bhata stairs of Parliament on from Parliament". made some time ago has In an advisory issued to in speech/campaign by disability, PwDs or terms
Dhurian forest, where five soldiers were killed in an am- Tuesday against the sus- "The members of the Jat come true." "I had said parties on Wednesday, the members of any political referring to disability in
bush on an Army vehicle on April 20 this year. pension of MPs, drawing community demand ac- that no sooner than the as- poll panel said the very parties or their candidates, the context of human inca-
In May, five more Army personnel were killed and a strong condemnation tion against Banerjee and sembly elections in Ra- foundation of democracy can be interpreted as an af- pacity during any public
major-rank officer was injured in Chamrer forest dur- from the ruling BJP. Rahul Gandhi. They jasthan, Madhya Pradesh lies in representation of front to the PwDs," it speech, in their writings or
ing an anti-terrorist operation. A foreign terrorist was Gandhi was seen mak- should be permanently and Chhattisgarh were all communities in the warned. Common exam- political campaign.
also killed in the operation. ing a video of the per- suspended and action over, these agencies would electoral process. ples of ableist language, It also said that political
Earlier in October 2021, nine soldiers were killed in formance by the Tri- should be taken against be back in business and "Of late, the Commission the advisory said, are parties and their represen-
two separate attacks by terrorists in the forested region. namool Congress MP. them," Balyan said. train their guns on Bihar, has been made aware of words like dumb (gunga), tatives should strictly
While five Army personnel, including a junior commis- Holding placards and Dhankhar claimed that Jharkhand and Delhi. use of derogatory or offen- retarded (pagal, sirphira), avoid comments related to
sioned officer (JCO), were killed on October 11 in Cham- raising slogans demand- it was an insult to his And you can see what is sive language in the politi- blind (andha, kana), deaf disabilities that may be of-
rer, a JCO and three soldiers were killed on October 14 ing action against the two background as a Jat, his happening to Delhi CM cal discourse about people (behra), lame (langda, lula, fensive or perpetuate
in a nearby forest. MPs, the Jat Mahasabha caste, who came from a Arvind Kejriwal," said Ya- with disabilities (PwDs). apahij). stereotypes and preju-
volunteers staged a farmer's family. dav. Usage of such semantics Chief Election Commis- dices.

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MUMBAI
Pansare murder case: Tareekh pe tareekh
ATS seeks one more month to finish the probe after HC chided it for going slow in investigation
URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI
The Anti-Terrorism Squad
(ATS) has sought more time
to complete its probe in the
2015 murder of Communist
Party of India (CPI) leader
Govind Pansare.
The ATS sought one month
more to finish the probe after
the Bombay High Court chid-
ed it for going slow in the in-
vestigation.
On February 16, 2015,
Pansare was shot in Kolhapur
and he succumbed to injuries
on February 20. The high
court has been monitoring the
Sahil moves HC,
seeks quashing
of betting app FIR
URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI
Actor Sahil Khan has ap-
proached the Bombay High
Court seeking quashing of the
FIR registered against him in
connection with the online
betting application Lion
Book, which in turn is alleged
to be linked to Mahadev bet-
ting application, contending
that it has been filed with
malafide intentions.
Khan approached the high
court after his pre-arrest bail
plea was rejected by the ses-
sions court on December 13.
While rejecting the plea, the
sessions judge Abhay
Joglekar had observed that
prima facie there is evidence
to show his link with Lion
Book. The court has said that
the probe is at an initial stage,
hence his plea cannot be
granted.
A division bench headed by
Justice Ajey Gadkari has kept
the matter for hearing in Feb-
ruary 2024.
An FIR was registered by
the Mumbai police under the
Maharashtra Prevention of
Gambling Act in connection
with alleged illegal online bet-
ting app Lion Book.
Seeking quashing of the
FIR, Khan has contended that
he has never been involved
with any betting app. The FIR
is “wrong, false, bogus, illegal
and filed with malafide inten-
tions”, contends his plea.
His counsel Rajiv Chavan
said that the contents of the
FIR do not make out any case
under Maharashtra Preven-
tion of Gambling Act. Also,
the probe is at the initial stage.
Chavan said that as per the
agreement his role was only
to promote the application on
various platforms. He further
said that the actor was not in-
volved in any illegal activi-
HC dismisses
Chhabria’s plea
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI
In a setback to Sanjay
Chhabria of the Radius
Group, the Bombay High
Court on Thursday rejected
his plea seeking condonation
of delay in filing a revision
petition challenging special
court’s order allowing his ar-
rest in the Yes Bank-DHFL
fraud case.
In April 2012, Chhabria
was arrested by the CBI in a
case of alleged corruption
against Yes Bank founder
Rana Kapoor and Dewan
Housing Finance Corpora-
tion Ltd (DHFL).
The Directorate of En-
forcement (ED), which is
probing a related case, subse-
quently sought his custody
by approaching the special
court for Prevention of Mon-
ey Laundering Act (PMLA)
cases, which was allowed.
This PMLA court order
was challenged by Chhabria
before the HC. He also sought
that the high court condone
the delay in filing the plea.
Rejecting his plea, Justice
Prithviraj Chavan said, “The
delay cannot be and should
not be condoned at the sweet
will of the person who ap-
proaches the court beyond
the prescribed time limit.”
ED counsels Hiten Vene-
gaokar and Ayush Kedia op-
posed the plea saying that it
was very vague as it did not
provide sufficient cause nor
did it state how late the revi-
sion application was being
filed.
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
probe in the case following a
plea by Pansare’s family.
Smita Pansare, slain
leader’s daughter, had filed a
plea in the HC and sought
transfer of the probe contend-
ing that the masterminds be-
hind the killing and the shoot-
ers are still unidentified and
at large.
The HC, on August 3, 2022,
had transferred the probe to
the ATS from the Special In-
vestigation Team of the State
Crime Investigation Depart-
ment (CID), on Smita
Pansare’s plea observing that
there has been “no headway”
ROAD CONCRETISATION
SoBo residents
seek to vacate
stay on tenders
KALPESH MHAMUNKAR
MUMBAI
The South Mumbai residents,
led by former corporator
Makarand Narwekar, have
decided to file an intervention
application on Friday in the
Bombay High Court request-
ing to vacate the stay on the
fresh tenders invited by the
BMC for the concretisation of
roads in the city.
Last week, the high court
had put a stay on the fresh
bids of road concretisation
works when the contractors
Roadway Solutions India In-
fra Limited (RSIIL) chal-
lenged the municipal corpora-
tion's decision to revoke the
contract for road concretisa-
tion.
Few months ago,
Narwekar had written letters
to the BMC requesting action
against the contractor’s re-
fusal to carry out road works
in South Mumbai. Later, the
BMC imposed a penalty on
the contractor and
terminated the contract for
the delay in the commence-
ment of work.
Referring to the high
court's observation that con-
cretisation of the roads in the
city is not a matter of emer-
gency, Narwekar said that it
has created anxiety among
the citizens about whether
the concretisation works
would be completed before
monsoon.
“I have received multiple
complaints from residents ex-
Lifer for grandfather for
sexually exploiting minor
CHARUL SHAH JOSHI
MUMBAI
A special POCSO court has
sentenced a 57-year-old
grandfather of a minor girl to
life imprisonment for sexual-
ly abusing her who was stay-
ing with him and his family
after her parents left her at
the age of two.
The victim's mother left the
victim and her alcoholic fa-
ther when she was 2-year-old
and has been staying with the
accused and his wife since
2009. She stayed with them
till 2020. The girl claimed that,
since 2019, the accused used
to make sexual advances and
exploited her sexually.
The defence raised a ques-
tion on delay in registering the
case, since the first instance is
said to have happened in 2019.
After objection, state hikes outlay for eggs in mid-day meals
Govt fixes the rate for adding eggs to mid-day meals at only `5 per unit which is grossly insufficient
MUSAB QAZI / MUMBAI
Following an objection to the
Maharashtra government
fixing the rate for adding eggs
to mid-day meals at only Rs5
per unit, the state has decided
to increase the allocation.
According to a new gov-
ernment resolution (GR), the
expenditure for the eggs will
be set according to the
monthly average rate dis-
played on the website of the
National Egg Coordination
Committee (NECC), a na-
tionwide association of poul-
try farmers. The decision
or “break through” in the
case.
Initially, the ATS sought
three months to complete the
probe. However, following a
stern remark from the HC,
ATS sought one month more.
“What are you going to do
in one, what you couldn’t do
in four months?,” said a divi-
sion bench headed by Justice
Ajey Gadkari.
In June this year, the HC
granted three months to the
agency to complete the probe.
The agency had claimed it
had got some leads and hence
sought more time. Since then
pressing fears and anxiety
about the pathetic condition
of the roads in the city. Due to
the contractor’s audacious re-
fusal to commence the work,
we have suffered for almost a
year. Now, the citizens want
the BMC to complete the con-
cretisation works on a war
footing ahead of the mon-
soon,” said the former corpo-
rator from Colaba.
He further added that due
to the legal battle between
Citizens are entitled
to get better civic
amenities and services.
Why should the
taxpayers suffer due to
the action and inaction of
the civic body and
contractor? I will urge
the honorable high court
to allow the civic body to
carry out the tendering
process so that it can
immediately carry out the
road works
– Makarand Narwekar,
ex-corporator from Colaba
BMC and the contractor, the
citizens should not suffer.
“Citizens are entitled to get
better civic amenities and
services. Why should the tax-
payers suffer due to the action
and inaction of the civic body
and contractor? I will urge the
honorable high court to allow
the civic body to carry out the
tendering process so that it
can immediately carry out
the road works,” added Nar-
wekar.
The court rejected the argu-
ments observing, “Consider-
ing the circumstances in
which the victim was residing,
the accused was her caretaker
and she was an orphan, it was
obvious that she neither could
resist the acts of the accused
nor could report it. She was a
helpless child caught in a com-
pelling situation.”
The court while holding
the accused guilty of sexual
assault on the minor girl, ob-
served that the testimony of
the victim is corroborated by
medical evidence and in-
spires confidence. Hence,
based on the victim's testimo-
ny, the court sentenced him
to life imprisonment and also
recommended the District le-
gal Aid Society to provide ad-
equate compensation to the
girl who is an orphan.
was taken after the women's
self-help groups as well as
teachers' bodies pointed out
February 16, 2015 Pansare
was shot five times while
returning home from a
morning walk with his
wife in Kolhapur
February 20 He
succumbed to injuries
August 3, 2022 HC
transferred the probe to
the ATS from the SIT
June, 2023 HC granted
three months to the
agency to complete the
probe
Rana Kapoor granted bail
in money laundering case
The court says Yes Bank founder spent more than half
of the maximum sentence prescribed for the crime
CHARUL SHAH JOSHI / Mumbai
The special PMLA court on
Thursday granted bail to Yes
Bank founder Rana Kapoor
for having spent more than
half of the maximum
sentence prescribed for mon-
ey-laundering.
Soon after, the special
court granted bail to Kapoor,
ED sought stay in execution
of the bail. The plea was ob-
jected by Kapoor's lawyers
Rahul Agarwal and Jasmin
Purani, saying that the court
has no power to stay its own
order. The plea hence was re-
jected. The agency is now
likely to move the High Court
on Friday.
However, Kapoor cannot
walk out of the jail as his bail
application in connection
with one of the CBI cases is
still pending for hearing.
The special judge MG
Deshpande while granting
STILL STANDS HIGH
Illegal banners continue to deface the city even after the Bombay High Court pulled up the
Maharashtra government for inaction
‘Terror suspect Bellare is highly radical’
ASHISH SINGH / MUMBAI
In the ISIS Ballari terror
module that was last week
busted by the National In-
vestigation Agency (NIA),
the apprehended suspect,
Kashif Bellare, a close confi-
dant of co-accused Saquib
Nachan, was highly radi-
calised. His interrogation
has unveiled his adherence
to the ideology of ‘Gustakhe
rasool ki ek hi saza, sir tan
se juda (the only punish-
ment for the insolent is
death)’.
Sources said Bellare
served as Nachan’s person-
al assistant since 2002, over-
seeing his business transac-
tions, and was paid Rs25,000
per month. Bellare believed
that those on the path of ji-
had need not fear being
caught by any law enforce-
that the market price of eggs
is higher than the state's allo-
cation.
109 girl students hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning
GADCHIROLI: In a case of suspected food
poisoning, more than 100 girl students were
hospitalised as they fell ill after having lunch at
their residential school in Gadchiroli district, an
official said on Thursday. The incident occurred on
What are you going to
do in one, what you
couldn’t do in four months?
– Division bench
bail to Kapoor the court said,
"The way in which further in-
vestigation is going on in this
case, even after 3 years and 9
months without any logical
end, particularly when the
maximum punishment is
provided to the extent of 7
years, itself is a merit for this
application."
The ED, however, claimed
that they have already sub-
mitted a draft of charges to be-
gin the trial by framing of
charges. The court said how
ment agency. During inter-
rogation, he said that when
Nachan’s son Shamil be-
came entangled in the ISIS
Maharashtra module case,
his boss decided that his
son shouldn’t escape or
Assisted Saquib since 2002, drew
salary of `25,000 per month
hide. He said Shamil got
caught because he chose not
to escape.
He said during question-
ing that anyone who criti-
cises or speaks against their
prophet “deserves death”,
and anyone who kills such a
person is a soldier of the
Prophet.
Sources in the NIA said
that Bellare visited Kerala
several times but remained
tight-lipped about the pur-
The state has for the first
time added eggs to its mid-
day meal menu, with all the
students at government-run
and aided schools getting one
per week. The vegetarian
children as well as those who
don't want the egg are provid-
ed bananas or other local
fruits instead.
The government had allo-
cated an additional Rs5 per
week per student for the cen-
trally sponsored scheme,
which is jointly funded by the
state and the Centre in a 60:40
ratio. The Centre has fixed
the expenditure on a single
the plea has been heard on a
few occasions, when ATS
seeks more time. Initially, the
case was probed by local po-
lice and later transferred to
the State CID.
Two accused, Sharad
Kalaskar and Bikram Bhave,
have opposed the continua-
tion of the monitoring of the
probe by the HC saying that it
has deleterious impact on the
trial. However, the high court
turned down the contention
saying that the accused did
not have a right to an
audience with regard to inves-
tigation.
is that possible if the investi-
gation is not yet concluded.
The court also said that
Kapoor was not responsible
for delay in the trial. The
court said that the ED took no
efforts in bringing all the cas-
es linked to Kapoor before the
courts.
“The offence under Section
4 (money-laundering) pro-
vides punishment with rigor-
ous imprisonment for a term
which shall not be less than
three years but which may
extend to seven years with
fine. Three years and nine
months till date incarcerated
unduly by the applicant is
nothing but a deemed convic-
tion and sentence he has un-
dergone. In case the accused
is acquitted in future, what
about his undue incarcera-
tion amounting to the mini-
mum sentence which he has
undergone for no reasons?”
the court asked.
– –VIJAY GOHIL
pose during questioning.
Officials, however, claimed
that he was actively in-
volved in the indoctrination
of youth.
In 2022, when Saquib
Nachan declared Padgha, a
village near Thane, as Al-
Sham land (the holy Land of
Syria), Bellare engaged
young people aged 18-30
years for terror-related
jobs. They conducted sever-
al ‘dars’ (meetings or lec-
tures) in isolated parts of
Padgha.
During the investigation,
it has been revealed that, in
furtherance of the conspira-
cy, the accused planned to
commit terrorist acts in In-
meal at Rs5.45 for classes 1-5
and Rs8.17 for classes 6-8. In
2019, the Centre allowed
states to provide supplemen-
tary food items from 5% of
their annual budget.
The teachers said that the
NECC rates don't include the
cost of transport and cooking
eggs, for which there should
be a separate allocation.
They also said that in many
places, especially remote ar-
eas, eggs cost even more than
the prices prescribed by
NECC.
“When the procurement of
food material is done in a
Wednesday at an 'ashram shala' (residential school
for tribal children) located in Sode village in
Dhanora taluka in the district, he said. The samples
of food and water have been sent to a laboratory
for testing.
BJP wants to
fight on its own:
Awhad’s stir
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI
A day after the winter session
of the state legislature ended
in Nagpur, MLA Jitendra
Awhad (Sharad Pawar’s NCP
faction) set the cat among the
pigeons and said that the BJP
is planning to go solo in Ma-
harashtra in the next assem-
bly elections, especially after Says matter was
the party’s stupendous victo-
ry in three northern states. discussed between the
In a social media post, BJP and RSS during
Awhad said the BJP wants to
proceed without the “tainted” caste-based census
leaders of other political par-
ties and said that the matter
deliberations
was discussed between the
BJP and RSS during the
caste-based census delibera-
tions.
symbol.
MLA Sanjay
(Shinde group) tore into
Awhad and said that Awhad
Shirsat
However, Ajit Pawar’s
NCP faction and the Eknath
Shinde group shot back, ask-
should think about his fac-
tion, which has ceased to ex-
ist. “We will fight elections on
ing how is it that Awhad
knows what was discussed at
the meeting.
the ‘bow an arrow’ symbol
and discussions have already
been held with Amit Shah in
Awhad posted that the BJP this regard. Some people are
discussed that its core voter trying to mislead the voters,”
share gets unsettled when the he said.
party takes others along. He NCP MLA Amor Mitkari
gave the example of Kasba by- (Ajit Pawar faction) said that
polls where the BJP was un- the party making misleading
seated by a Congress candi- comments didn’t even come
date. The NCP MLA said that to know when its leaders who
the BJP wants potential can- were like ‘shadows’ left the
didates to contest on the lotus party.
HC questions
felling of 199 trees
for metro rail
URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI The court has allowed one
of the petitioners, Ranjit
The Bombay High Court is Gadgil, a town planning ex-
batting for green cover in the pert and a graduate from IIT-
neighbouring city of Pune as Kanpur, to participate in the
well. On Thursday, the court committee meetings and visit
restrained the Pune civic the site.
body from felling of 199 trees Bhattacharya, advocate for
Ronita
for road widening and con- the NGO that Gadgil
struction of Metro rail at presents, submitted that the
Ganeshkhind. The proposal tree census was not conduct-
is to widen the ed as required and
stretch from the the tree authority
Savitribai Phule PMC advocate had granted per-
Pune University says that geo- mission for felling
junction to of trees. The court
Sancheti Chowk tagging of trees noted, “In the ab-
from the existing has been done in sence of such a
36 metres to 45 me-
tres. 90% of Pune city census, the tree
authority may not
Suggesting to be correct to grant
consider an alternate align- permission to fell trees.”
ment or design to save trees, PMC advocate Abhijeet
the court has formed a six Kulkarni submitted that pro-
member committee compris- vision has been made to re-
ing experts in the fields of en- plant trees and concerns of
vironment and engineering the environment have been
along with officers from the addressed. He added that geo-
Pune Municipal Corporation tagging of trees has been done
(PMC), Pune Metropolitan in 90% of the city.
Development Authority (PM- The Supreme Court, on De-
RDA) and representative of cember 28, had sent the mat-
the petitioner, to look into the ter back to high court and
issue and submit a report in stayed felling of trees till
two months. Thursday.
Ex-chief justice
becomes victim
dia to show support for ISIS.
It is alleged that Bellare also of cyber crime
organised all the oath cere- VISHAL SINGH / MUMBAI
monies (baith) for ISIS pro-
grammes. Police in Colaba have filed a
Investigators in the case first information report
said that he was in contact (FIR) against an unknown
with radicalised youth individual for cheating a for-
linked with ISIS terror mod- mer chief justice of the Bom-
ules but has been misleading bay High Court of nearly
the investigators, exerting Rs50,000.
pressure on them by crafting Justice (Retired) Ramesh
a narrative of atrocities in Deokinandan Dhanuka, 62,
the name of religion. Due to received a message on his
his allegedly misleading mobile phone on November
replies, the agency is await- 27 asking him to update his
ing data retrieval from the PAN card details, the police
phone and other digital de- said.
vices recovered from him. The former chief justice
Meanwhile, Saquib was informed that his State
Nachan and 14 co-accused Bank of India account would
were presented before the be closed if he failed to up-
Delhi Patiala House court date the card, an official
on Thursday and were re- said.
manded to an extended sev- Justice Dhanuka clicked
en-day custody. on a link that accompanied
the message and filled in his
personal information, the of-
ficial said, adding that as
soon as he pushed the ‘Sub-
mit’ button Rs49,998 was de-
ducted from his account.
An SBI representative
soon called Justice Dhanuka
centralised manner, the state and told him that a transac-
pays for it at a much higher tion of Rs49,998 had been
rate. But when the schools made from his account, the
are supposed to make the official said. The former CJ
purchase locally, they aren't denied any transactions and
given adequate money. We blocked his internet
currently get only Rs2.08 per banking ID, he said.
student as the cost of cooking Justice Dhanuka lodged a
and add-on material, which complaint on helpline num-
is grossly insufficient. The ber 1930 and gave a written
government must consider statement to Colaba police
providing boiled eggs on November 28.
through district administra- The police have registered
tion, instead of having an FIR against unknown ac-
schools procure and cook cused under various sec-
them," said a teacher at a tions of the Indian Penal
government school in Jal- Code and the Information
gaon. Technology Act, 2000.
Training programme underway for Bihar officers in city
PUNE: A training programme for 53
Category 1 officers from Bihar is
currently underway in the city and it
will go on till December 23.
Facilitated by the Pune Smart City
Development Corporation Ltd, the
programme includes a
comprehensive field visit to enhance
officers' understanding of the
intricacies of the Smart City Project.
PUNE
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

Sadhana’s
programme
cancelled at
Pune Book Fest
PTI: A city-based Sadhana
Publication on Thursday
claimed that a discussion on
a book at the ongoing Pune
Book Festival organised by
the National Book Trust
(NBT) was cancelled at the
last moment.
The festival-cum-exhibi-
tion is being held on the cam-
pus of Fergusson College
here from December 16 to De-
cember 24.
As part of the festival, a dis-
cussion on the Marathi book
"Pakshi Unhacha - Saat
Vidyapeethanchya Awarat",
written by Rajan Harshe and
published by Sadhana Publi-
cation, was scheduled to be
held on Thursday.
But the NBT informed it
about the cancellation of the
event at the last moment, the
publication, which has been
associated for a long with
the socialist movement in
Maharashtra, said in a state-
ment.
As a protest, the discussion
will now take place at the au-
ditorium of the Marathi
Sahitya Parishad on Friday,
it said.
A reaction from the NBT
representative was awaited.
The book is a memoir
where Harshe has narrated
his experiences at several
universities as a student as
well as a teacher, researcher
and administrator, as per the
publishers.
Officials urge vigilance post
arrival of Covid variant JN.1
STAFF REPORTER
In response to the emergence
of the new Covid strain JN.1,
the Pune Municipal Corpora-
tion (PMC) has implemented
precautionary measures. Pas-
sengers arriving at Lohegaon
Airport will undergo
screening as part of this initia-
tive. PMC officials are also
monitoring individuals with
influenza-like illness (ILI) and
severe acute respiratory infec-
tions (SARI).
JN.1 VARIANT OBSERVED
IN WASTEWATER
SAMPLES
Researchers at the Council for
Scientific and Industrial
Research – National Chemical
Laboratory in Pune, along with
partners, detected traces of the
JN.1 variant in wastewater
samples from two sites in the
city, collected ten days apart.
However, subsequent samples
from these sites did not show
traces of the variant, nor did it
spread to other locations. The
team remains vigilant,
conducting further sequencing
of wastewater and clinical
samples to monitor the
presence of the JN.1 variant
and any potential emergence
of other variants.
PMC's Assistant Health Offi-
cer Suryakant Devkar high-
lighted, "As a precaution, we're
testing passengers arriving
from states with reported JN.1
cases, including 10% of both
symptomatic and non-sympto-
matic travellers."
The PMC has increased dai-
ly Covid testing to 300 samples
and prepared 1,300 beds, with
674 equipped with oxygen sup-
port in case there is a surge in
patients, he added.
Preparing for a potential
new wave, the PMC recently
conducted mock drills evaluat-
ing hospital beds, ICU facili-
ties, equipment, drug stocks,
and manpower.
On the other hand, in the
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal
Corporation (PCMC), surveil-
lance of SARI and ILI cases has
begun, with 1,700 beds on
standby.
Dr Laxman Gophane,
PCMC Health Officer, stated
that four hospitals could re-
sume Covid treatment facili-
ties if a surge in cases occurs in
the future.
SYMPTOMS TO LOOK
OUT FOR
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), the new
Covid strain typically presents
mild to moderate symptoms,
such as fever, runny nose, and
sore throat. Additional
symptoms may include loss of
appetite, persistent nausea,
extreme fatigue, and, in rare
instances, gastrointestinal
problems like vomiting.
Seeking medical advice is
advised, particularly if
experiencing unusual fatigue
or digestive issues.
Woman fined
₹1 lakh for
throwing
in-laws out
of house
STAFF REPORTER
A 60-year-old woman in
Pune, along with her daugh-
ter, forcefully removed her
in-laws from their residence
in Koregaon Park. The court
has imposed a fine of Rs 1
lakh on the daughter-in-law.
The court reprimanded her
and instructed a payment of
₹100,000 within fifteen days
and a monthly instalment of
₹25,000 on the fifth day of
each month to the elderly
mother-in-law. Additionally,
a court order has been issued
to allow the mother-in-law
back into the house.
It is noteworthy that the
granddaughter, who resides
in the UK and earns an annu-
al income of ₹50 lakhs at
McKinsey, was part of the
eviction. However, both the
daughter-in-law and grand-
daughter expelled the appli-
cant from the house without
taking responsibility for
maintenance.
The elderly, unwell moth-
er-in-law sought help from
the police and other authori-
ties, receiving no response.
Meeting on Saturday
to discuss the plan of
signal-free Nagar Road
STAFF REPORTER paper since 1997.
Due to difficulties with
Severe traffic congestion on land acquisition, Pune Mu-
Nagar Road took centre stage nicipal Corporation’s (PMC)
in the Legislative Assembly ambitious Shivane-Kharadi
discussions. Vadgaon Sheri road project, which was un-
MLA Sunil Tingre empha- dertaken more than ten years
sized the urgency of resolving ago, is still incomplete.
traffic chaos from Yerwada to "In Santnagar in Lohegaon,
Wagholi and advocated for there are constant traffic
transforming the city road jams. The flyover work at
into a signal-free, smooth pas- Vishrantwadi Chowk will
sage. start soon, leading to traffic
During an engaging discus- jams, so alternative roads are
sion on the last day of the needed. However, the roads
Nagpur Winter Session of the are also not developed," he
Maharashtra legislature, sev- added.
eral issues drew attention in "A road under Section 205
the House on Wednesday. At has been planned to reach the
Points highlighted by
Tingre in winter session
n Congestion on
undeveloped roads within
civic jurisdiction
n Out of 300 km of roads,
only 140 km are usable
n Pending development of
the Shivane to Kharadi
road since 1997
n Traffic jams in Lohegaon,
Maruti Mandir in Dhanori
village
n Preventive traffic solutions
at Vishrantwadi Chowk
considering flyover work
the request of Vadgaon Sheri Lohegaon - Dhanori area
MLA Sunil Tingre, Minister from Five Nine Chowk to
Uday Samant has convened a Dhanori. I told Minister Uday

Javalkar appointed as observer GHRCEM inventors Consequently, she applied

under the Protection of
Women from Domestic Vio-
meeting on Saturday to make
Nagar Road signal-free in his
Vadgaon Sheri constituency.
Samant that there is a prob-
lem of traffic congestion in
the area of Maruti Mandir in

for Yuva Sena in Western Maha granted patent for lence Act, of 2005.
Despite a court directive
against eviction, the daugh-
"In the context of the traffic
jam in Pune, there are 300 km
of roads in the villages includ-
Dhanori village, and the Mu-
nicipal Corporation has not
yet issued a notice to me for

STAFF REPORTER corn-peeling machine ter-in-law violated it, leading

Aniket Javalkar, an active ac-
tivist from Karvenagar in-
volved in the social and politi-
cal field, has been appointed
as the observer of the Shinde
group's Yuva Sena for the
Western Maharashtra divi-
sion.
An appointment letter in
this regard was given to
Aniket by Purvesh Sarnaik,
the working president of the
Shinde group. Through Shiv
Bhakta Pratishthan,
Javalkar is engaged in the
conservation of historic forts
across the state. He stated
that efforts will be made in
the future for the growth of
the party and organisation,
along with various social ac-
tivities. Aniket Javalkar is a
staunch supporter of MP
Srikant Shinde.
Observers from Shiv Sena
(Shinde group), and Yuva
Sena have been appointed
across the state. This respon-
sibility has been entrusted to
Aniket to strengthen the par-
ty in the Maharashtra divi-
sion. Additionally, Yuva Sena
has assigned significant re-
sponsibilities to officebearers
for the upcoming Lok Sabha
and Vidhan Sabha elections.
Javalkar is recognised as a
dedicated worker who is
available 24 hours to help peo-
ple and consistently conducts
various social programmes,
including tree plantation,
health camps, blood donation
camps, and assistance to the
elderly. His committed efforts
were acknowledged, leading
to his selection as an observer
for the Shiv Sena Yuva Sena
by Maharashtra Chief Minis-
ter Eknath Shinde.
STAFF REPORTER
A team of inventors from GH
Raisoni College of Engineer-
ing and Management, Pune,
including Dr RD Kharadkar,
Campus Director, Dr Arun
Thakare, Associate
Professor, and students from
the Mechanical Engineering
department, have been grant-
ed an Indian Patent for their
"Corn Peeling Machine." The
patent recognises the ma-
chine's innovative design,
utility, and potential impact
on the agriculture and agro-
ylene material for rollers en-
sures durability and re-
silience, making it a sustain-
able and cost-effective solu-
tion. The machine's square-
shaped teeth on side rollers
prevent damage to corn
seeds, showcasing a thought-
ful and strategic design
choice to enhance functional-
ity. Contributors Dheeraj
Shaha, Pandurang Pawar,
Nilesh Pawar, and Chhaya
Bade, who played a signifi-
cant role in developing the
prototype according to the de-
sign, are also recognized as
to fines and monthly pay-
ments. Legal experts, includ-
ing Adv Tosif Shaikh, Adv
Asha Jadhav, Adv Swapnil
Girme, Adv Kranti Sahane,
Adv Mahesh Gawli, Adv
Suraj Jadhav, Adv Adil
Datarange, Adv Nupur Ar-
gade, and Adv Jotsana
Padghamkar, supported the
mother-in-law in the legal
proceedings.
Cong to stage protest if govt fails to
inaugurate new airport terminal
STAFF REPORTER
The Congress party's Pune
unit is set to stage protests if
the inauguration and opera-
tionalisation of the new termi-
nal building at Pune airport
ed within the civic jurisdic-
tion, and only 140 km of them
have been developed so far.
The rest of the roads are im-
passable, and no action is be-
ing taken by the Municipal
Corporation to develop alter-
native roads," Tingre noted.
The MLA highlighted that
the Shivane to Kharadi road,
an alternative to the Nagar
road with the most traffic
congestion, has been on
annum (MPPA).
The new building boasts
central air-conditioning, five-
passenger boarding bridges,
34 Check-in Counters, and an
In-line Baggage handling sys-
tem. It's designed as an ener-
land acquisition even though
I own a place here," he added.
Meanwhile, a special meet-
ing was demanded to resolve
this traffic jam and to make
the city road signal-free, like
Dapodi to Nigdi on the old
Pune Mumbai road. On this,
Minister Uday Samant prom-
ised to call this meeting. Ac-
cordingly, a meeting has been
called for next Saturday (De-
cember 23).
"Aviation Minister Jyotira-
ditya Shinde initially an-
nounced the terminal's inau-
guration in September 2023,
with subsequent promises for
October. Despite a written re-
quest to Prime Minister

Bhimathadi Jatra kicks off

do not happen by January 1 gy-efficient structure with a Narendra Modi's office, his in-
next year. Mohan Joshi, for-
mer MLA and the general sec-
retary of the Maharashtra
STAFF REPORTER This year's Bhimthadi fair showcases 320 Pradesh Congress
stalls featuring handloom clothes, attractive Committee stated that
The highly anticipated Bhimathadi Jatra, a weaves, cotton clothes, handicrafts, ragi with despite the building
five-day celebration of Indian tradition, pulses, millets like ral, sava, bhagar, sama, being ready for three
culture, and craftsmanship, has officially start- varai, spices, pickles, agricultural produce, months, the delay in
ed on Thursday and will run until December 25. fruits, and vegetables. These stalls highlight the inauguration is
This year, the event is adopting a new the craftsmanship of women entrepreneurs solely due to the Prime
approach, focussing on being from rural areas of the state processing industries. Patentees. Minister's office not
environmentally friendly and and beyond. The patented Corn Peeling The college adopts a prob- confirming a date.
plastic-free. Collaboratively or- Organiser Sunanda Pawar Machine introduces a lem-solving approach, en- To alleviate conges-
ganised by the Agricultural De- emphasised the diverse offer- groundbreaking approach to abling students to tion during peak
velopment Trust of Baramati, ings, including a gallery of corn processing, providing a understand real-life hours at Pune Airport, AAI
Bhimthadi Foundation, and manufactured durable goods, more efficient and cost-effec- problems and find practical has invested Rs. 475 Crore in
Mahatma Phule Krishi Gandari showcasing the art tive solution for farmers, solutions. The faculty and constructing the New Inte- Four-Star GRIHA rating. volvement in state election
Vidyapeeth Rahuri, the fair is culture of Maharashtra, Potraj, agro-processors, and maize students of the college have grated Terminal Building. Joshi said that the comple- campaigns hindered the inau-
being held at the Agriculture Bharud, Astrology, Patharwat, grain traders. The patent previously obtained patents The existing Terminal Build- tion and testing of the new ter- guration. Passengers eagerly
College Ground in Pune's Sin- Burud, Kersunivale, Nandi highlights the machine's dis- for innovative designs and ing, with a modest 22,000 Sqm. minal were finalised before await the operationalisation
chananagar. Bail, Halgi, Lezeem, Dhol, Ga- tinctive features, reducing products. area can handle up to Seven August 2023, with air passen- of the new terminal, which
Food enthusiasts in Pune can janritya, tribal arts, and dance. human effort by peeling the Sunil Raisoni, Chairman of Million Passengers per an- gers using social media to would increase the airport's
indulge in a diverse array of dishes, including In addition, special attention is given to se- cover of a single corn in just Raisoni Group of Institutions, num (MPPA). In contrast, the urge the Union Ministry of passenger capacity and the
Khandeshi Puran Mande, Shenguli, Hulgya lected products from the state and abroad, 10 to 15 seconds and having and Shreysh Raisoni, Execu- expansive new terminal Civil Aviation and the AAI to number of flights. However,
Madga, Pithla-Bhakri, Khandesi Bharit- with informative stalls on environmental con- the capacity to process 2 kg of tive Director of Raisoni Group building spans over 3,60,000 operationalise the terminal political considerations ap-
Bhakri, Thalipeeth, Hurda, Dhapate, Shipi servation, native tree conservation, non-toxic corn per minute. The use of of Institutions, extended their sq. ft, providing additional promptly. He also alleged the pear to delay the inaugura-
Amti of Karjat, Kolhapur Tambada and kitchen gardens, fisheries, floristry, silk, and Ultra High Molecular congratulations to the inven- passenger handling capacity inadequate acknowledgement tion," Mohan Joshi said in a
Pandhra Rassa, Fish, Mutton, Chicken-Bhakri. beekeeping. Weighted (UHMW) polyeth- tors for securing the patent. for 09 Million Passengers per of these appeals. release.

LAST WORD

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dunki’ release turns into a festival

GAURAV KADAM jeeps, and even an SRK lookalike experiences. Akshay Bhujbal re-
dressed as Hardy, the actor's char- counted the thrill of seeing his vil-
Market Yard in Pune buzzed with acter from the film. lage, Talegaon Dhamdhere, fea-
enthusiasm from as early as 6am Organised by Team SRK Pune, tured in the film. "Director Rajku-
on a chilly Thursday morning, as a Shah Rukh Khan fan club from mar Hirani, Shah Rukh Khan,
nearly 700 die-hard fans of Shah the city, the lively procession, Taapsee Pannu, and many others
Rukh Khan gathered to celebrate stretching across 1km, concluded had come to our village to shoot
the release of his latest movie, at the cinema hall, where the jubi- the farm scenes. It was lovely to
'Dunki,' at the City Pride Multi- lant crowd unleashed fireworks see my village in the film," he
plex on Satara Road. With slogans and vibrant colour bombs, their added. Vaibhav Gate said it was a
such as 'We love Shah Rukh,' fervent chants echoing through- wonderful experience to watch
'Bharat ki shaan Shah Rukh out the celebration. the film with so many fans. "I don't
Khan,' and 'Humari jaan Shah Once inside the hall, the fans think any other actor has so many
Rukh Khan,' the atmosphere was reveled in laughter during comedic fans. Shah Rukh is on another lev-
electric. sequences and shared collective el completely. The film too was
Sporting T-shirts and kurtas em- sighs during emotional moments. very good," he added."
blazoned with 'Dunki' and Shah Their excitement reached a Harshal Sonavane, the founder of
Rukh's images, the enthusiastic crescendo when they enthusiasti- Team SRK Pune, expressed that this
fans commenced the day with a cally danced along with the song year will be unforgettable for Shah
spirited road show featuring bikes, 'Lutt Putt Gaya,' perfectly synchro- Rukh Khan's fans. "After breaking
Bollywood's box-office curse with the
tremendous success of 'Pathaan' in
Organised by Team SRK Pune, a Shah Rukh Khan fan January and presenting his massive
club from the city, the lively procession, stretching film, 'Jawan,' in September, 'Dunki'
nised with the movie's beats. of an unforgettable cinematic cel- marks SRK's third consecutive
across 1km, concluded at the cinema hall, where the As the credits rolled, an ecstatic ebration. blockbuster. We commemorated the
jubilant crowd unleashed fireworks and vibrant standing ovation filled the This author (an SRK fan, mind film's release with a grand rally, fol-
theatre, followed by a gathering you) was present to witness the lowed by enthusiastic celebrations
colour bombs, their fervent chants echoing outside where a celebratory cake manic scenes. Amidst the fervour, both outside and inside the cinema
throughout the celebration was cut, marking the culmination we spoke to fans who shared their hall," he added.
GUJARAT
Protests get
energy dept
to act over
recruitments
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
VADODARA
The Gujarat Energy Trans-
mission Company (GETCO)
faced a storm of protests after
abruptly cancelling its Elec-
trical Assistance Recruit-
ment exams, sparking em-
barrassment for the state
government.
In a bid to address the up-
roar, the administration
swiftly transferred the gener-
al manager of the human re-
sources department, issuing
notices to him and other offi-
cials for explanations regard-
ing the exam failure.
Following the upheaval,
sources from the energy de-
partment in Gandhinagar
disclosed that technical ex-
ams are rescheduled for De-
cember 28 and 29 at six loca-
tions. Candidates holding call
letters will undergo pole
climbing tests, with written
exams slated for January 7.
The saga began after GET-
CO conducted exams in two
phases on March 6 and 9,
2023. Candidates from speci-
fic zones, including Rajkot,
Bharuch and Mehsana, re-
ported discrepancies in pole
exams, prompting the com-
pany to annul the entire set of
exams, triggering statewide
protests from affected and
unaffected zones alike.
Priti Adani helps children,
women combat malnutrition
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
SURAT/NARMADA
Dr. Priti Adani, Chairperson
of the Adani Foundation, vis-
ited Narmada district where
the Foundation is running
project Fortune SuPoshan
since 2018 across all five ad-
ministrative blocks namely
Dediyapada, Garudeshwar,
Tilakwada, Sagbara and Nan-
dod. The project aims to com-
bat malnutrition in women
and children (0-5 years of age)
in 14 CSR sites across 11
states in India.
The day-long event started
in Rajpipla with a vibrant
tribal dance performance
welcoming Dr. Priti Adani,
followed by heart-warming
conversations about the work
being done to promote good
nutrition for the holistic
health of people in Narmada.
In this tribal district, which is
designated as an aspirational
district by the Government of
India, SuPoshan covers 38,388
Winter no relief as people
queue up for Aadhaar
MELVYN THOMAS / SURAT
The festive spirit in Surat, the
"diamond city," is facing a
frosty reality for many resi-
dents as they endure long, ser-
pentine queues for Aadhaar
cards and income certificates
at the Central zone office of the
Surat Municipal Corporation
in Mughalsarai.
This winter chill has noth-
ing to do with the weather; it's
the result of a 25-day technical
glitch that brought Aadhaar
ops to a standstill, and now res-
idents are paying the price.
For the past two days, the
Central Zone office has been
swamped with people jostling
for their essential documents.
The long wait, starting as early
as 7 am, is compounded by the
agonising slowness of the staff
and alleged mismanagement.
Residents, shivering in the bit-
ing cold, are forced to spend
hours in line just to collect in-
come certificates crucial for
their EWS (Economically
Weaker Section) house allot-
ments by the government.
Adding fuel to the fire is the
claim that the staff is working
with only one operational kit,
despite having five allocated
to the zone. This bottleneck,
coupled with the high demand
of over 1,100 Aadhaar card up-
dates and new applications
across all seven zones, creates
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
CM assures daytime power
to farmers by this year-end
‘Sceptic’ as they are, agriculturists of the state are not buying the promise
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
GANDHINAGAR
The plight of Gujarat's farm-
ers regarding daytime elec-
tricity supply reached a
crescendo before Chief Minis-
ter Bhupendra Patel pledged
a solution by December 2024
during his address in Modasa
town.
Addressing farmers in
Modasa town in Aravalli on
Thursday, the CM said, “By
December 2024, farmers will
get electricity supply during
the day time for agricultural
activities.”
Amidst the tumultuous re-
sponse from farmers, who
have long clamoured for day-
time electricity to aid their
agricultural activities, scepti-
cism lingers.
Kanubhai Patel, a farmer
from Sabarkantha district,
echoed the weariness of
many, stating, "We've heard
these assurances before. Let's
hope this time brings a per-
manent resolution."
The recurrent promise of
daytime power supply has
been a refrain in government
statements. Former Chief
children, 7,991 adolescent
girls, and 12,382 women in the
reproductive age group.
During her visit, Dr. Priti
Adani addressed and ap-
plauded the SuPoshan project
team and the 215 SuPoshan
Sanginis i.e., village-level vol-
unteers trained to drive the
reduction of malnutrition
and anaemia in the district.
She expressed admiration
for their dedication in reach-
ing out to the most vulnerable
population in the challenging
a perfect storm of frustration
and despair.
"There are five kits in the
Central Zone, one of which is
closed. In all, there are 33 kits
operational in all the seven
municipal zones. More than
1,100 Aadhaar card updates
25-day technical glitch
brings Aadhaar
operations to
a standstill
and new cards are being up-
dated. In future, new kits will
be placed in the zones where
there is demand," said Har-
shad Kinkhabwala, Deputy
Commissioner of SMC.
However, residents are
unimpressed with promises of
future solutions. They de-
mand immediate action to ad-
dress the current chaos. With
the festive season approach-
ing, the long queues are not
just a time-consuming incon-
venience; they are a source of
anxiety and stress for many
Surat residents desperately
needing their documents.
Rashida Shaikh, a resident
of Bhagal said, “We came here
in the morning and waited for
our turn for more than five
hours. The staff is working
very slow and they are totally
inefficient.”
By December 2024, farmers
will get electricity supply
during the day time for
agricultural activities.
– CM Bhupendra Patel
Minister Vijay Rupani ini-
tially pledged this support on
August 5, 2021, promising im-
plementation by 2022. Howev-
er, the extension of the dead-
line has left many sceptical.
Farmers in Gujarat
grapple with an enduring
challenge: the absence of reli-
able daytime power supply
terrain of Narmada. The Su-
Poshan Sanginis shared their
experience of working in the
field of nutrition.
Dr. Priti Adani said, “I
firmly believe that as India
achieves remarkable
progress, we should not re-
main behind when it comes to
parameters of health and nu-
trition. With this vision, the
Adani Foundation is supple-
menting the Poshan Ab-
hiyaan through project Su-
Poshan.”
Vi pioneers seamless
grid at diamond bourse
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / SURAT
Vi takes the lead as the first tele-
com operator to ensure uninter-
rupted connectivity within the
recently inaugurated Surat Dia-
mond Bourse.
This monumental hub for in-
ternational diamond and jew-
ellery trade, slated to host over
4,000 offices and generate a
whopping Rs 2 lakh crore annu-
ally, now boasts Vi's cutting-
edge In-building sites, revolu-
tionising connectivity for busi-
nesses within its premises.
Recognising the paramount
importance of round-the-clock
network reliability within this
colossal infrastructure, Vi
strategically installed In-build-
ing sites to guarantee seamless
connectivity. This initiative
aligns with Vi's commitment to
deliver sustainable value, offer-
ing an unparalleled data and
voice experience while crafting
a distinct digital journey for
customers.
LAST WORD
Minus 35: A poignant tale of a Gujarat family's tragic US crossing
NANDINI OZA / AHMEDABAD
In an emotional portrayal of
the grim consequences of des-
perate pursuits for a better
life, the Canadian short film
‘Minus 35’ has emerged as a
compelling voice, shedding
light on the tragic demise of a
Patel family from Dingucha
village in North Gujarat.
Directed by the Indian-
born Nisarg Lakhmani, now
residing in Canada, and pro-
duced by Vidyut Rana
Prakash of Silk Route Enter-
tainment, ‘Minus 35’ is an
emotional reflection on the
harrowing journey that end-
ed in the frozen embrace of
the Canadian winter.
The inspiration for this
for their agricultural activi-
ties. The recurrent promises
from government officials
have left many disillusioned
and sceptical. With each
pledge of rectification and ex-
tension of deadlines, the an-
ticipation for a resolution
wanes.
The inability to access elec-
tricity during daylight hours
hampers crucial farming
tasks, compelling farmers to
navigate their fields in the
darkness of night, exacerbat-
ing the strain on their already
arduous work. This chronic
issue not only impedes irriga-
tion and essential farming op-
Rajkot advises people to mask
up, the sick to stay indoors
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / RAJKOT
Rajkot Municipal Corpora-
tion has issued an advisory
asking people to wear masks,
even as the number of active
cases in Gujarat has in-
creased to 23.
Apart from advising peo-
ple to wear masks while step-
ping out of their homes or of-
fices, the RMC has also sug-
gested that people, who are
suffering from cough and
cold, should not step out.
On December 21, 12 new
cases were reported from the
state, including 6 from
Ahmedabad. An official of
the Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation said that out of
the six persons who tested
positive, three have histories
of international travel.
All the 23 active cases are
being treated at home. Their
samples have been sent for
genome sequencing to ascer-
tain the strain.
Civil Hospitals in the state
Sukanta Das, Cluster Busi-
ness Head – Gujarat, Vodafone
Idea, emphasised, "Vi's mission
revolves around leveraging
technology to enrich our cus-
tomers' lives, especially within
the dynamic business
landscape. Being the first and
sole telecom operator to intro-
duce In-Building sites at the
Surat Diamond Exchange, we
prioritise customer needs by en-
suring Vi users experience un-
interrupted connectivity within
the bourse. Looking ahead, we
plan to fortify this network fur-
ther by adding sites, cementing
our commitment to unparalleled
service."
film stemmed from the
heart-wrenching incident in
January 2022, when four
members of the Patel fami-
ly—Jagdish, his wife
Vaishali and two children—
met their untimely end,
frozen to death while at-
tempting to illegally cross
the US-Canada border in
Manitoba, Canada.
This tragedy exposed the
perilous modus operandi of
illegal immigration opera-
tions that lure hopeful indi-
viduals into fatal pursuits of
the elusive "American
Dream."
Despite arrests made in In-
dia following the Dingucha
family tragedy, subsequent
incidents continued to
SGCCI seeks insurance cover for state exporters
Surat: The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and
Industry called upon the International Financial Services
Centres Authority to provide insurance facilities for
exporters from Gujarat, mitigating risks they face after
erations but also casts a shad-
ow of uncertainty over the fu-
ture of agriculture in the re-
gion, echoing the persistent
struggle faced by those
reliant on the land for their
livelihoods.
Energy Minister Kanu De-
sai's declaration in March,
citing a two-year wait for
farmers to access daytime
power, further fuels the frus-
tration of those awaiting re-
lief.
The state's initiative, the
Kisan Suryoday Yojana
launched in 2020-21, aimed to
provide daytime electricity to
19.2 lakh farmers across Gu-
jarat. The project initially tar-
geted villages in Dahod, Juna-
gadh, and Gir Somnath dis-
tricts, intending to lay CKM
lines for agricultural power
connections.
Despite these initiatives,
the pressing need for reliable
daytime electricity remains
unfulfilled, leaving farmers in
a perennial struggle. As
promises continue, farmers
grapple with uncertainties
about the fulfilment of this es-
sential requirement for their
agricultural endeavours.
are ready to meet any even-
tuality. The facilities set up
during the second wave of
COVID19 are being checked.
Superintendent of Ahmed-
abad’s Civil Hospital Dr.
Rakesh Joshi said that there
is nothing to worry about as
far as the infrastructure at
the Civil Hospital goes. Dr.
Joshi cautioned people to be
Vibrant Gujarat roadshow
makes it to Hyderabad
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
GANDHINAGAR
As the countdown to the 10th
Vibrant Gujarat Global Sum-
mit intensifies, the Gujarat
Government is set to paint
Hyderabad in the hues of its
industrial prowess on De-
cember 22 with a compelling
roadshow.
Having crisscrossed thro-
ugh major domestic cities
and international destina-
tions like Japan, Germany,
the USA, and more, the
VGGS 2024 delegation is on a
mission to spotlight Gujarat's
industrial and manufactur-
ing might.
So far, the state govern-
ment has concluded a curtain
raiser event in New Delhi,
followed by domestic road-
shows in Mumbai, Chandi-
garh, Kolkata, Chennai, Luc-
know, Bengaluru, Guwahati,
Jaipur and Indore.
From IT to aerospace,
unfold. A year later, another
family from North Gujarat
faced a similarly tragic fate,
drowning while attempting
to cross the St. Lawrence Riv-
er at the US-Canada border.
‘Minus 35’ encapsulates
the desperation, struggle, and
fatal decisions that charac-
terise such perilous journeys.
Filmed amid bone-chilling
temperatures of minus 20 de-
grees Celsius, the narrative
resonates with the family's
yearning to achieve their
dreams amidst extreme
weather conditions, culmi-
nating in an unspeakable
tragedy.
Director Nisarg Lakh-
mani, tracing his roots to Gu-
jarat, expressed his personal
MPs of Gujarat on tenterhooks
as Modi magic usurps 3 states
MELVYN THOMAS / SURAT
As the 2024 Lok Sabha elec-
tions loom, a palpable tension
hangs over Gujarat's political
landscape. With BJP's recent
landslide victories in three
states, 24 out of 26 MPs from
the state are reportedly sweat-
ing over their re-election
prospects. The reason? A
growing concern that their
party might prioritise "fresh
faces" over established names
in the upcoming polls.
"The BJP's resounding vic-
tories in Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh
have once again highlighted
the centrality of PM Modi in
electoral success," says a po-
litical analyst. "This realisa-
tion has sparked anxiety
among Gujarat MPs, espe-
cially those above 60, who
fear their age might work
against them."
The fear stems from a
recent trend within the
BJP. In the 2022 Gujarat as-
sembly elections, several
senior leaders were gently
encouraged to step aside,
paving the way for younger
candidates. This, along with
the party's emphasis on "new
blood" in other state victo-
ries, has fuelled speculation
that similar manoeuvres
might be employed in the
cautious.
On December 20, state
health minister Rushikesh
Patel had said that the new
variant is not deadly and that
people should just be cau-
tious. He had also said that
there won’t be any problem
in hosting the Vibrant Gu-
jarat Global Summit in Janu-
ary 2024.
biotechnology to tourism,
these roadshows have been
catalysts for collaboration,
fostering partnerships across
diverse sectors. The agenda?
To attract investments into
visionary projects like GIFT
City, Dholera SIR, and
Biotech Park, steering Gu-
jarat into a future-ready land-
scape.
Minister Jagdish Vish-
wakarma, spearheading this
endeavour, aims to rally in-
dustry leaders at the Hyder-
abad event, where a line-up of
engagements, including ad-
dresses by prominent figures
like V. V. Rama Raju from
FICCI, and captivating audio-
visual showcases, promises
to set the stage alight.
The roadshow isn't just a
precursor; it's a spotlight on
Gujarat's innovative poten-
tial, inviting businesses to be-
come part of the transforma-
tion story at the upcoming
VGGS in January 2024.
connection to the story, em-
phasising the film's overarch-
ing message. "It's about halt-
ing illegal immigration and
advocating thorough re-
search and consultation with
shipping goods abroad. With IFSCA's backing, SGCCI is
optimistic about strengthening risk protection for Gujarat's
exporters and propelling Mission 84's reach across the
country, paving the way for a resilient export ecosystem.
Lok Sabha race.
"The sword of Damocles
hangs heavy, especially for
those over 60," says a BJP in-
sider. . "The whispers in the
corridors of power suggest a
repeat of the 2022 assembly
strategy – retire the old, bring
in the new. This uncertainty
is causing immense stress
among Gujarat MPs, who are
desperate to retain their
seats."
Adding fuel to the fire are
reports of Amit Shah and CR
Patil, the BJP's two top guns
in Gujarat, pushing for a sig-
nificant revamp of the party's
MP roster. While both Shah
and Patil remain secure, their
influence could tip the scales
in favour of younger candi-
dates seen as more aligned
with the party's current direc-
tion.
Villagers in Surat
protest land release
under CRZ scheme
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / SURAT
Residents and farmers from
the coastal villages of Olpad
and Choryasi talukas are gear-
ing up for a massive protest
against the government's con-
tentious move to release valu-
able lands falling under the
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
in 84 villages within Olpad and
Choriyasi talukas. The focal
point of this dissent will be the
Khutai Mata temple in Olpad,
where a substantial gathering
of farmers is anticipated on
Thursday.
Organised under the aus-
pices of the Kantha Vistar
Koli Patel Samaj Paramita
Trust and Khedut Samaj Gu-
jarat (KGS), this pivotal meet-
ing aims to
voice con-
cerns over the
potential
repercussions
of releasing
these lands
ahead of the
public hear-
ing organised
by Gujarat
Pollution Con-
trol Board
(GPCB) at the
Veer Narmad
South Gujarat
Unversity (VNSGU) on the
draft Coastal Zone Manage-
ment Plan (CZMP) of the 84
coastal villages in Olpad and
Choriyasi taluka in Surat on
December 29.
"At the heart of this protest
is our deep-seated worry re-
garding the government's in-
tention to release these lands.
This action could have far-
reaching implications for our
communities and the envi-
ronment," expressed one of
the farmers, highlighting the
collective unease prevailing
among the locals.
The GPCB has organised a
public hearing at the Veer
Narmad South Gujarat Uni-
versity on the draft CZMP of
the coastal villages in Olpad
and Choriyasi taluka in Surat
on December 29.
The agenda for the gather-
legal experts before pursuing
residency," he states.
Prior to its YouTube re-
lease, ‘Minus 35’ garnered in-
ternational acclaim, receiv-
ing accolades such as
the ‘First Time Director’
award at the Naples Film Fes-
tival, Italy, and being a quar-
ter-finalist at the Canada
Shorts – Canadian & Interna-
tional Short Film Fest in 2022.
Lakhmani aims to amplify
the film's impact, intending
to reach the masses to
dissuade such dangerous
pursuits. "It's not just Gu-
jarat or Punjab; many under-
go these risks, but it only
surfaces when caught. The
objective is to spread aware-
ness," he affirms.
The brewing discontent
among senior MPs has the
potential to create fissures
within the Gujarat BJP.
Whether the party can navi-
gate these internal pres-
sures and maintain its Lok
Sabha dominance remains
to be seen. One thing is cer-
tain – the upcoming months
promise to be a period of in-
tense political maneuvering
and anxious waiting for Gu-
jarat's MPs, who find their
futures hanging precarious-
ly in the balance.
"The Modi wave might still
be strong, but its undercur-
rents are shifting. The
Gujarat MPs are right to be
nervous – their political sur-
vival hinges on whether they
can adapt to the changing tide
within the BJP,” said Prakash
Desai, a political analyst.
ing includes an informative
session at Olpad, focusing on
comprehending the draft
Coastal Zone Management
Plan (CZMP) maps and chan-
nelling suggestions to the gov-
ernment. This effort aims to
foster an understanding of the
conservation strategies for bi-
ologically sensitive marine
and coastal areas within the
Coastal Regulation Zone in
Gujarat State.
"Understanding the intrica-
cies of the Coastal Zone Man-
agement Plan and its implica-
tions is crucial for us. We
want to ensure that our con-
cerns are heard and that any
decision made considers the
well-being of our coastal re-
gions," said Ramesh Patel,
president of
South Gujarat
Khedut Samaj,
emphasising
the signifi-
cance of this
programme.
The draft
CZMP, initiat-
ed by the Gov-
ernment of In-
dia and Gu-
jarat, has
sparked wide-
spread discon-
tent. These
maps, administered by the
GPCB to the panchayats, pro-
vide detailed information, in-
cluding survey numbers,
sparking concerns among the
villagers about the fate of
their lands.
“In the wake of these devel-
opments, public hearings in
Surat district are scheduled
on 29-12-2023. These gather-
ings are pivotal opportunities
for us to voice our apprehen-
sions and engage in dialogue
with the authorities," added
another concerned farmer.
Jayesh Patel, president of
Khedut Samaj Gujarat said,
“The villagers aim to use
their voice to ensure their
concerns are addressed, advo-
cating for a balanced ap-
proach that safeguards their
lands, livelihoods, and the
fragile coastal ecosystem”.
With awards from es-
teemed film festivals in India,
including the Thilsri Interna-
tional Film Festival and the
Diamond Bell International
Film Festival, ‘Minus 35’
stands as an emotional re-
minder of the perils of illegal
immigration and the impor-
tance of lawful avenues to-
ward a brighter future.
As Lakhmani collaborates
with influencers to broaden
the film's reach, ‘Minus 35’
serves as a powerful testa-
ment, urging society to pri-
oritise adherence to regula-
tions and fostering apprecia-
tion for the beauty within
each country's lawful oppor-
tunities.
Yadadri temple EO resigns
YADADRI: Yadadri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Executive Officer
Geetha Reddy resigned from his post on Thursday. In 2014, she was appointed as
the Yadadri temple EVO. After her retirement in 2020, the government again
continued her as the EO. However, there have been many accusations from local
CM Revanth orders judicial inquiry
into irregularities in power sector
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Reiterating that the previous
BRS government never sup-
plied 24-hour power supply to
agriculture sector and more-
over, it was involved in large
scale corruption in the power
sector, Chief Minister Re-
vanth Reddy on Thursday an-
nounced in the Assembly that
his government was ready for
a judicial inquiry into the ir-
regularities in the purchase
of electricity from Chhattis-
garh, Bhadradri Power Plant
and Yadadri Power Plant.
Intervening in a discussion
on power sector in the Assem-
bly, the Chief Minister
alleged that the previous gov-
ernment had committed
large-scale corruption in the
power sector and it did not
disclose the facts to the people
during its nine and half year
rule.
Revanth Reddy informed
that he has accepted the chal-
lenge of former minister G
Jagadish Reddy who demand-
ed a judicial inquiry to estab-
lish the facts that the previous
government was completely
transparent in power sector.
"BRS leaders are under the
impression of that they
counter attacked the State
government. The Congress
government has scanned the
entire Energy department
and is now presenting the
facts in the House. The previ-
ous BRS government should
accept the facts in a dignified
manner," he said.
Revanth Reddy stated that
the previous government en-
tered Chhattisgarh agree-
ment without tenders and Op-
position MLAs were thrown
out of the Assembly by Mar-
shals for fighting on Chhattis-
garh agreement. Moreover,
Former Speaker
Pocharam urges
MLAs to act decently
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Former assembly speaker
and BRS party MLA
Pocharam Srinivas Reddy to-
day suggested that the MLAs
of the ruling Congress and
Opposition BRS party to be-
have in a decent manner in
the House. He asked them to
desist from making any per-
sonal comments against each
other.
He said all the members
should maintain the dignity
of the House and added that
the new members of the
House should learn from the
senior members. Speaking
about the BRS party’s defeat,
he said they should accept
their defeat irrespective of
the fact that whether they
committed any mistake or
not. Sometimes, he said he
would be punished.
Pocharam made these re-
marks after observing a war
of words and personal at-
tacks between the Congress
MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal
Reddy and BRS party MLA
Jagadish Reddy. Reacting to
the comments of Pocharam,
assembly Speaker Gaddam
Prasad Kumar also urged the
members to not indulge in
personal attacks.
Cong came to power in the name of
six guarantees: Kadiyam Srihari
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
BRS party MLA Kadiyam
Srihari today criticized the
Congress party for winning
the elections in the name of
six guarantees. He alleged
that after coming to power,
the promises made in the
manifesto were being forgot-
ten by the Congress party. He
was speaking to the media
along with the party MLAs at
the assembly's media point.
Speaking on the occasion,
he recalled that Congress
leader Priyanka Gandhi had
promised at the Hyderabad
Youth Declaration meeting
that Rs 4,000 per month would
be given to the unemployed in
the State after coming to pow-
er and added that it was also
included in the Congress par-
ty’s manifesto. “However,
State Finance Minister
Bhatti Vikramarka said in
the House that the State gov-
ernment had not given any
assurance about the payment
of the unemployment al-
lowance.
The promise of waiving
off crop loans of Rs 2 lakh to
farmers on December 9 has
not been implemented so far.
The Congress party also
promised a bonus of Rs 500 at
people, public representatives and officials on the temple's EVO Geetha. But there
was a feeling among the local people that the then government never paid heed
to these allegations. It is reported that the then MLA Gongidi Sunitha also briefed
former CM KCR several times about the performance of EO.
I am saying from the
Assembly that I will
order the judicial
inquiry into
corruption in
Chhattisgarh
agreements,
Bhadradri and Yadadri
power projects.
Moreover, the
government will
constitute a fact-
finding committee
with all parties on 24-
hour power supply,
– Revanth Reddy ,
Chief Minister
official was demoted and
posted in the remote area for
releasing the facts on Chhat-
tisgarh agreement, he re-
minded.
Siddipet, Gajwel, Hyderabad South topped in
non-payment of electricity bills: CM Revanth
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Chief Minister A Revanth
Reddy has informed that Sid-
dipet, Gajwel and Hyderabad
South areas are in top three
positions in the non-payment
of electricity dues in the
Telangana State.
Intervening in a discussion
on power sector in the Assem-
bly on Thursday, the Chief
Minister said that Siddipet
stood first with 61.37 per cent
dues followed by Gajwel (
50.29 percent) and Hyderabad
South was in third position
with 43 percent dues.
Financial condition of Telangana's power
utilities is precarious, matter of grave concern
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Terming the financial health
of Telangana power sector as
precarious and a matter of
grave concern, the State gov-
ernment released a white pa-
per on power in the Assembly
on Thursday.
The State government said
the financial health of the
power utilities is alarming
with debts of Discoms being
Rs 81,516 crore and accumu-
lated loses of Discoms rising
to Rs 62,461 crore as on Octo-
ber 31, 2023.
The White Paper said that
the main reason why the Dis-
coms were facing so many dif-
ficulties in electricity pro-
curement was dues of Rs.
28,842 crore which have not
been paid by various depart-
ments of the State govern-
ment for years.
"Out of this total arrears,
the arrears of the irrigation
department alone are Rs.
14,193 crore. Apart from this,
the burden of Rs. 14,928 crore
which the previous govern-
ment had promised to pay to
the Discoms under the actual
adjustment costs of power
purchase (True up charges)
further weakened the finan-
the support price and buy
grains from the farmers. But,
till date, there is no record of
any purchase made any-
where,” he said, adding that
the Congress party's promise
regarding these three prom-
ises had gone wrong. He ac-
cused the Congress govern-
ment of trying to break its
word by not fulfilling any as-
surance. He demanded that
the six guarantees must be
implemented by the Congress
State government.
He made it clear that they
would fully cooperate with
the State government on the
issue . “We are ready to be pa-
tient even if it will take one
year for the implementation
of the welfare schemes prom-
ised by the State govern-
ment,” he added.
"The previous government
entered agreement with
Chhattisgarh for 1000 MW
power supply. Due to this
agreement, the State govern-
He suggested that BRS
MLAs Harish Rao and K
Chandrashekar Rao and AIM-
IM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi
should take the responsibility
of paying the dues in Siddipet,
Gajwel and Hyderabad South
respectively.
Revanth Reddy ridiculed the
statement of former minister
and BRS MLA Jagadish Reddy
who said there were no power
cuts in Telangana during the
BRS regime and no farmer
staged dharna for power.
"Everyone knew that
farmers had staged a protest
and laid siege to the Electric
cial position of the Discoms,"
it disclosed.
At the time of formation of
the Telangana State the in-
stalled generation capacity of
TSGENCO was 4365.26 MW.
Prior to the formation of the
State itself, generation projects
have been conceived/ initiated
with a capacity of 2,960 MW.
The commissioning of these
projects after the formation of
the State has been critical in
providing reliable power supply.
"After formation of the
state, only one power project of
1,080 MW capacity was con-
ceived and commissioned at
Bhadradri Thermal Power
Stations (BTPS) with inordi-
nate time and cost overrun us-
ing subcritical technology. An-
Bigg Boss winner Prashant sent on 14-day judicial remand
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Bigg Boss winner Pallavi
Prasanth was remanded by a
Nampalli court in connection
with a public property dam-
age case. Prashanth was tak-
en to Chanchalguda jail after
the court remanded him to 14-
day judicial custody. Prashant
is a remand prisoner in the
jail now.
Bigg Boss Telugu season 7
winner Pallavi Prashanth's
bail plea has been heard in
the Nampally court. The
Ram Charan, Upasana seek blessings with Klin Kaara, at Mahalaxmi temple
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Global star Ram Charan, ac-
companied by his beautiful
wife Upasana and their pre-
cious daughter Klin Kaara,
marked a joyous occasion at
Mumbai's Mahalaxmi temple
today. Dressed in a crisp white
shirt, Ram Charan looked
dapper as the family made
their first auspicious outing
in the city.
The sweet family moment
captured Upasana carrying
Klin Kaara in her arms as
they arrived at the temple.
This significant visit was to
ment is now incurring the
burden of Rs 1362 crores.
Moreover, the
previous government had
signed with an outdated com-
Sub Station in Kamareddy
on September 1. Farmers
from Nereducharla in
Suryapet district took to the
streets during the BRS rule.
A farmer named Komurayya
committed suicide due to
lack of power supply and the
damage of crops in the BRS
rule. Srisailam hydel power
generation tunnel exploded
and nine persons were killed
due to the government’s neg-
ligence. The Congress party
supported the family of Fati-
ma who died in the accident.
The then chief minister and
energy minister did not visit
other power project of 4,000
MW in Nalgonda District
(Yadadri Thermal Power Sta-
tion) was taken up at a location
far removed from the coal
mines leading to avoidable
coal transport costs of over Rs.
800 Cr/annum which are liable
to further escalate with time
and will be applicable over en-
tire life time of the project," the
report pointed out.
The accumulated losses of
discoms as on 31.03.2023 stand
at Rs. 62,461 Cr. Discoms have
a debt of Rs. 81,516 Cr (as on
31.10.2023). Of this, an
amount of Rs. 30,406 Cr has
been borrowed as working
capital primarily to pay
power charges to he genera-
tors. Despite this, an amount
court adjourned the verdict
till Friday (December 22).
Prashant's lawyer
Julakanti Venugopal
sought bail from
the court for
Pallavi
Prashanth. He
told the court
that the illegal
developments of
the destruction of
the property took
place due to lack of proper se-
curity provided by the police.
Advocate Venugopal told
The trio visited the Mahalaxmi temple for their first
family outing in Mumbai, as they seek blessings for the
little Laxmi of their house, Klin Kaara. We love the bond
and values their family shares.
celebrate Klin Kaara's 6-
month birthday, a milestone
cherished by the entire fami-
ly.
The trio visited the Maha-
laxmi temple for their first
family outing in Mumbai, as
they seek blessings for the lit-
tle Laxmi of their house, Klin
Kaara. We love the bond and
values their family shares.
HYDERABAD
pany to establish Yadadri
thermal power project. The
company used the expired
sub - critical technology and
incurred huge losses to the
government.
Thousands of crores of
corruption took place in the
Yadadri power project. Simi-
larly, there was a large scale
corruption involved in the ex-
ecution of Bhadradri
thermal power project," Re-
vanth Reddy pointed out.
"I am saying from the As-
sembly that I will order the ju-
dicial inquiry into corruption
in Chhattisgarh agreements,
Bhadradri and Yadadri
power projects. Moreover, the
government will constitute a
fact-finding committee with
all parties on 24-hour power
supply," the Chief Minister
said.
those affected families," he
reminded.
The Chief Minister point-
ed out that the AIMIM party
did not even mention the
misdeeds of the BRS govern-
ment in the Assembly.
"Akbaruddin is trying his
best to save his old friend.
Friendship with such people
is not good for MIM. No need
to suspect the sincerity of the
Congress in the matter of mi-
norities. Everyone is aware
of who was friendly with
whom from NTR's regime to
CM KCR's rule," Revanth
Reddy added.
of Rs. 28,673 Cr of generation
and transmission dues re-
main to be paid by discoms,
the White Paper said.
The difficulty faced by dis-
coms in paying power pur-
chase bills has been aggravat-
ed by the default of Govern-
ment in paying the power
bills of its own departments
which have now mounted to
Rs. 28,842 Cr. Of this, the
amount due from lift irriga-
tion projects alone is Rs.
14,193 Cr. Government’s de-
fault in paying committed
true up charges of Rs. 14,928
Cr has further contributed to
the further deterioration of
discom finances.
The State government in
its White Paper said that for
merely to keep the power sup-
ply going, the discoms are re-
sorting to borrowings on a
regular basis which have
reached unsustainable pro-
portions.
"There is very limited
scope to continue to fund the
purchase of power through
these means. Discoms are
now finding themselves in
debt trap due to failure of gov-
ernment in paying its dues
and commitments to the sec-
tor," it said.
the court that Bigg Boss win-
ner Prashanth was not aware
of what happened outside.
The Jubilee Hills police
also arrested 16 other
accused in the case.
Among the accused,
four are minors.
The remaining 12
will be produced be-
fore the court after
medical examination.
The minors will be pro-
duced before a Juvenile Jus-
tice Board.
According to the police,
This precious family time
truly shines as the sweetest
moment on the internet today,
showcasing Ram Charan
with his beauties Upasana
and Klin Kaara.
As we eagerly await Ram
Charan’s upcoming political
thriller ‘Game Changer’, we
can’t wait to see more this
adorable family together.
HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
President inaugurates tourist
attractions at Rashtrapati Nilayam
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
President of India Droupadi
Murmu inaugurated various
tourist attractions at Rashtrap-
ati Nilayam here on Thursday.
Those include -a replica of
a historic flag post; -Maze
Garden and Children’s park; -
restoration of step wells and
traditional irrigation system;
Shiva and Nandi sculptures
on the rock water cascade;
and addition of new enclaves
in the Knowledge Gallery.
The 36 meters (120 ft) tall
Flag Post, made of teak wood,
had marked the integration
of Hyderabad State into the
Indian Union in 1948. The
Maze Garden, located near
the main building, has Mur-
raya Exotica as main attrac-
tion, while Children’s park
has been set up to engage the
younger visitors.
Restoration of three step
HC gives green
signal for Singareni
union elections
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
The Telangana High Court has
given its green signal for hold-
ing Singareni Collieries’ work-
ers union elections on Decem-
ber 27. The petition filed by the
State government was rejected
by the apex court of the State.
The bench rejected the peti-
tion of the State government to
postpone the Singareni elec-
tions. The Singareni elections
will be held as usual on Decem-
ber 27 after the HC’s orders. In
its petition, the government
sought postponement of the
Singareni elections by citing
formation of the new State
government. It requested that
the elections be held in March
next instead of December 27.
The Deputy Solicitor Gen-
eral told the High Court that
all arrangements for the elec-
tions had already been com-
pleted. Reminding that the
Sate government sought post-
ponement of the elections
many times during the
regime of the previous gov-
ernment, the High Court has
ruled that the election cannot
be postponed again.
The High Court said the
State government had previ-
ously given an undertaking
that the Singareni elections
would be held regardless of
the results of the assembly
elections and ordered that Sin-
gareni Collieries union elec-
tions be held on December 27.
Pallavi Prashanth's fans re-
sorted to vandalism after the
Bigg Boss finale. A case has
been registered against them
for attacking private vehicles,
RTC buses and police vehicles
and damaging them. The po-
lice have taken the incident se-
riously. They are in the process
of identifying the attackers.
The police have identified 16
people and detained them.
Based on the videos and
CCTV footage, the police are
identifying those involved in
the vandalism.
The Rashtrapati Nilayam remains open for the
general public throughout the year, except during
the President’s southern sojourn.
wells will capture a signifi-
cant amount of rainwater an-
nually. It will increase water
security and local resource
sustainability while tradi-
tional irrigation systems will
make visitors aware about
the heritage.
Dakshinamurthy Shiva
seated under a banyan tree,
facing South and Nandi Bull
on a rock will be another at-
traction for visitors. In the
Knowledge Gallery, two new
enclaves have been added -
one provides information
about unification of Hyder-
abad and another about Rash-
trapati Bhavan and Presi-
dents of India.
The Rock paintings outside
the Knowledge Gallery depict
Govt will take IT, other
Industries to new heights
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Minister for Irrigation and
Civil Supplies Capt N Uttam
Kumar Reddy has asserted
that the Congress govern-
ment is poised to elevate the
industries, information tech-
nology, and related sectors to
unprecedented levels in
Telangana.
Delivering the inaugural
address at the Hyderabad
Business Seminar, themed
"Promotion of trade between
US and Telangana," organised
by the Confederation of Indi-
an Industries (CII) and Amer-
ican Telugu Association
(ATA) at T-Hub here on Thurs-
day, Uttam Kumar Reddy reaf-
firmed the commitment to
driving Telangana's economic
landscape to new heights.
Highlighting the legacy of
the previous Congress gov-
ernment between 2004-2014,
the Minister underscored the
pivotal role it played in devel-
oping global infrastructure in
Hyderabad, attracting invest-
ments from leading compa-
nies worldwide.
He said Rajiv Gandhi In-
ternational Airport (RGIA),
160-km long Outer Ring
Road, PV Narasimha Rao
Expressway Corridor and
other infrastructure
projects executed by the
Congress Govt laid the foun-
dation for the placement of
Hyderabad as a global city.
The Minister emphasised
the importance of building a
various aspects of “Ek
Bharat, Shresth Bharat” – Sci-
entific and defence achieve-
ments, heritage, various mon-
uments and art forms.
The Rashtrapati Nilayam
remains open for the general
public throughout the year,
except during the President’s
southern sojourn.
Visitors can book their slot
online through
http://visit.rashtrapati bha-
van.gov.in. People can visit
the Nilayam six days a week
(except Mondays and Gov-
ernment holidays) from 10:00
am to 05:00 pm, with the last
entry at 04:00 pm. Walk-in
booking facility will also be
available at the Reception Of-
fice, Rashtrapati Nilayam.
Promotion of trade
between US and
Telangana," organised by
the Confederation of
Indian Industries (CII)
and American Telugu
Association (ATA) at T-
Hub here on Thursday,
– Uttam Kumar Reddy ,
Minister of Irrigation
robust foundation for talent ac-
quisition by encouraging high-
er education. He expressed
confidence that the new Con-
gress Government would pro-
pel Hyderabad and Telangana
into unparalleled growth.
Addressing the audience,
Minister Uttam Kumar
Reddy outlined the govern-
ment's vision to set ambitious
targets for the advancement
of industries, innovation,
and information technology.
He announced plans to pro-
mote these sectors in Tier-2
and Tier-3 cities, alongside de-
veloping new infrastructure
and fortifying existing struc-
tures.
"The government's focus is
not only on Hyderabad, but
also on ensuring equitable de-
velopment across all regions
of Telangana," he said.
Characterising Hyder-
abad as an ideal destination
for global investors, Uttam
Kumar Reddy cited its
favourable climate, con-
ducive atmosphere, and rich
talent pool.
FBI offers $10,000 reward for information on missing Indian student
New York: The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for
information about a 29-year-old female student from India who
went missing from New Jersey over four years ago. Mayushi Bhagat
was last seen leaving her apartment in Jersey City on the evening of
GLOBAL
BULLETIN
Japanese firms to
repatriate wartime
Korean workers
SEOUL: South Korea's top court
ordered two Japanese
companies to financially
compensate more of their
wartime Korean workers for
forced labour, as it sided on
Thursday with its contentious
2018 verdicts on the firms that
caused a huge setback in
relations between the Asian
neighbours. But observers said
that Thursday's ruling won't
likely hurt bilateral ties much
since Seoul and Tokyo, now
governed by different leaders,
are pushing hard to bolster
their partnerships in the face of
shared challenges like North
Korea's evolving nuclear threats
and China's increasing
assertiveness.
Coal mine accident
in China kills 12
BEIJING: At least 12 people
were killed and 13 others
injured in a coal mine accident
in China's Heilongjiang
province, media reports said on
Thursday. The accident occurred
in the Jixi city's Hengshan
district on Wednesday
afternoon, the state-run China
Central Television reported.
The accident at the Kunyuan
Coal Mine killed 12 people and
injured 13 others, the China
Daily newspaper said. Those
injured were shifted to a
hospital. An investigation team
has been set up to probe the
cause of the accident, the
reports said. Mining accidents
are common in China. However,
the number of deaths has
reduced in recent years. China
is the world's largest producer
and consumer of coal.
Nepal-Britain: 100
years of friendship
KATHMANDU: The relationship
between Nepal and Britain has
grown many fold over the past
century and extended to
multiple areas, foreign minister
N P Saud said on Thursday, as
the Himalayan nation comme-
morated the 100th anniversary
of its Friendship Treaty with the
UK. "It is a matter of pride for
us that Nepal was able to sign
the treaty with a great world
power of that time, while
many Afro-Asian countries
were struggling for political
independence as well as
decolonisation," Saud said at a
special function organised at
Singhdurbar Secretariat here to
commemorate 100 years of
singing of Nepal-UK Friendship
Treaty 1923.
Crossword # 993
Across
1 African country (5)
4 Dealt with (7)
8 Conspicuous (7)
9 Akbar's grandfather
(5)
10 Some forensic
evidence (3)
12 Maori war dance
(4)
15 Ruse (4)
16 European language
(6)
17 Breathe quickly (4)
19 Floor coverings (4)
21 Current of air (6)
22 European (7)
mountains (4) 2 Dye with wax (5)
23 Moos (4) 3 Seizes suddenly (4)
4 Bound (4)
25 Last in a long line
(3) 5 Castro's land (4)
28 Right at the 6 Genus of
beginning? (5) herbaceous plants
29 Capital of Georgia (7)
(7) 7 Grimy (5)
30 Source of brilliant 11
light (3-4) (informal) (6)
31 1920 Colette novel 13 Fore's counterpart
(5) (3)
Down 14 Found out (6)
1 Armed helicopter 18 Favouring relatives
25 Nova, 26 Http, 27 Zinc.
13 Aft, 14 Learnt, 18 Nepotic, 19 Mel, 20 Sashimi, 22 Aroma, 24 Opine,
Down:1 Gunship, 2 Batik, 3 Nabs, 4 Tied, 5 Cuba, 6 Lobelia, 7 Dirty, 11 Nicked,
29 Tbilisi, 30 Arc-lamp, 31 Cheri.
16 French, 17 Pant, 19 Mats, 21 Breeze, 22 Alps, 23 Lows, 25 Nth, 28 Ortho,
Across: 1 Gabon, 4 Tackled, 8 Notable, 9 Babar, 10 DNA, 12 Haka, 15 Ploy,
FPJ - SUDOKU - 95
WHAT TO DO: Fill in the grid so
that every row, every column and
every 3x3 box contains the digits
1 to 9. Every puzzle has only one
correct solution.
Talks on for new Gaza truce: US
AGENCIES / Washington
The US says "serious negotia-
tions" are taking place on a
new Gaza truce and the re-
lease of more Israeli
hostages, according to BBC.
But prospects remain un-
certain after Hamas's leader
reportedly rejected the idea
of a temporary pause during
talks in Cairo on Wednesday,
reported the BBC on Thurs-
day.
The Hamas-run Gaza gov-
ernment said 20,000 people
had been killed there since Is-
rael launched its military
campaign against the group.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces
say they’ve uncovered a net-
work of tunnels in the heart
of Gaza City with entrances
connected to the houses of
Hamas leaders.
Peter Lerner, an Israeli
army spokesman, said on
Wednesday that the rooms
were 20 metres (60 feet) un-
derground with elevators,
stairs, separate water and
electricity shafts, and with
water, food, weapons and
communications equipment
stored for a prolonged stay.
Partnership
with India is
now deeper:
Blinken
IANS / Washington
The US has deepened its part-
nership with India and ele-
vated cooperation through
the Quadrilateral Security
Dialogue, or Quad, Secretary
of State Antony Blinken has
said.
Speaking at the end-of-
year press availability on
Wednesday, Blinken said in
the coming year, the US will
continue to stand "shoulder-
to-shoulder" with those who
share its vision for a "free,
open, prosperous, and secure
world".
"Our partnerships in the
Indo-Pacific have never been
stronger... We've deepened
our partnership with India.
We've elevated cooperation
through the Quad with India,
Japan, Australia," Blinken
said.
An informal strategic fo-
rum comprising US, India,
Australia and Japan, one of
the Quad's primary objec-
tives has been to work for a
free, open, prosperous and in-
clusive Indo-Pacific region.
for jobs (7)
19 Actor Gibson (3)
20 Japanese dish of
raw fish (7)
22 Fragrance (5)
24 Orate; express
one's views (5)
25 Exploding star
(4)
Stole 26 Start of a Web site
address (4)
27 Metal used in
making brass and
in galvanising
(4)
Solution
Level: Hard
April 29, 2019, wearing "colourful pyjama pants and a black T-
shirt." Her family reported her missing to police on May 1, 2019.
The FBI Newark Field Office and the Jersey City Police Department
are seeking the public's help in solving Bhagat's disappearance.
An artillery fires towards Gaza, in southern Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip on Thursday
He said one of the rooms was
an "underground hall" 150
metres (yards) across.
The military shared videos
of what it said were the un-
derground structures, show-
ing tunnels with concrete
walls, blast doors, ventilation
systems, security cameras,
electronic equipment, and
long staircases descending
deep into the earth. The mili-
tary said the complex was
centered on Palestine Square
in central Gaza City, under
Missing Indian student
found dead in UK
PTI / London
The UK's Metropolitan Police
are on Thursday appealing
for information to piece to-
gether the last movements of
Gurashman Singh Bhatia, a
missing Indian student
whose body was found by po-
lice divers in a lake in Canary
Wharf area of east London.
The Met Police said the 23-
year-old had been reported
missing after a night out with
friends last Thursday, De-
cember 14.
Officers went on to carry
out "extensive enquiries", in-
cluding viewing CCTV,
speaking to witnesses and
analysing phone and finan-
cial data. Water searches
US will land international astronaut on Moon: Kamala
IANS / Washington
The US will land an interna-
tional astronaut on the Moon
aboard NASA's Artemis mis-
sion by the end of the decade,
said Vice President Kamala
Harris during a meeting of
the White House's National
YOUR DAY By Vinayak Vishwas Karandikar
ARIES: Today is the day
to travel and take care of
health. Expect
expenditure for health
and communication. People in travel,
tourism and education will be
benefited. Ill health of or travel with
family members is indicated. Some
people may suffer from ear pain.
TAURUS: Today is the
day of gain and loss.
Expect expenditure for
travel, business and
premiums. People from
communication, security and
entertainment will be benefited. Long
journey with or ill health of family
members is indicated.
GEMINI: Today is the
day to celebrate success
in business and career.
Expenditure for business
or vehicle is indicated. People dealing
with property, education and
communication will be benefited.
Success party for education or
marriage celebration is indicated. You
may suffer from knee pain.
CANCER: Today is the
day to travel and invest.
Expect expenditure for
business, health and
travel. People from medical and
tourism fields will get success. Ill
health of or tour with family is
indicated. Some people may suffer
from ear pain.
LEO: Today is the day to
work and enjoy. Expect
expenditure for
education, travel and
communication. People in art and
entertainment will get success.
Dispute or long journey with family
members is indicated. Some people
may suffer from back or muscle pain.
VIRGO: Today is the day
of gain and losses, so
plan it accordingly and
take wise decisions.
Expect expenditure for premiums and
maintenance. Technical, insurance and
maintenance people will be benefited.
Family disputes are indicated, so
communicate wisely.
stores, government offices
and civilian apartment build-
ings.
The Hamas militant group
which is engaged in a battle
with the state of Israel has re-
portedly backed out of a par-
tial ceasefire to hostilities for
the release of hostages held
by it.
According to sources in Is-
rael's Prime Minister's Office
(PMO), the political head of
Hamas, Ismael
Haniyeh who is in Cairo
were also
carried
out in the
area and a
body be-
lieved to
be that of
Bhatia was recovered by po-
lice divers in the water in
South Quay.
"Gurashman's death is be-
ing treated as unexpected,
and while there is nothing to
suggest it was suspicious, we
will ensure our investigation
is as thorough as possible to
confirm this," said Detective
Chief Superintendent (DCI)
James Conway, responsible
for local policing in the
Tower Hamlets area of Ca-
nary Wharf.
Space Council in Washing-
ton, DC.
Alongside American as-
tronauts, we intend to land
an international astronaut
on the surface of the Moon by
the end of the decade, Harris
said at the meeting held on
Wednesday.
LIBRA: Today is the day
to travel, study and take
care of health.
Expenditure for spouse,
health and travel is expected. People
from management, communication
and travel will be benefited. Ill health
of or travel with family members is
indicated.
SCORPIO: Today is the
day to travel and take
care of health. Expect
expenditure for
education and health. People in art,
entertainment and communication will
get success. Ill health of or dispute
with family members is indicated. You
may suffer from back pain.
SAGITTARIUS: Today is
the day to face
problems or losses, so
act wisely . Expect
expenditure for children, education
and house. People in construction,
garage and maintenance will
get success. Family dispute is
indicated. Some people may suffer
from cough.
CAPRICORN: Today is
the day to study, travel
and invest. Expect
expenditure for
education, vehicle and house. People
in medical, automobiles and
communication fields will be
benefited. Ill health of or travel with
family members is indicated.
AQUARIUS: Today is the
day to face problems or
losses, so act wisely.
Expect expenditure for
health, business and family needs.
People in fields of medicine,
communication and insurance will get
success. Domestic life may be
disturbed due to workload.
PISCES: Today is the day
to earn and enjoy. Expect
expenditure for business,
entertainment and
education. People in fields like
banking, communication and
entertainment will be benefited. A
family get-together is indicated. You
may suffer from toothache problem.
WORLD
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
The municipality said that
Nuclear fusion replicated
3 times in breakthrough
at least eight rockets were
launched, two of which im-
pacted in the city,
causing damage to infra-
structure, including homes,
vehicles and a preschool, but
no injuries.
Israel's Iron Dome defence
system intercepted five of the
rockets, with the other land-
ing in an open
area, according to authori-
ties.
In response, Israeli aircraft AGENCIES / Los Angeles used, in a process called “ig-
struck Hezbollah targets in nition.”
Lebanese territory and ar- Scientists in California Now they say they have
tillery shelled the source of shooting nearly 200 lasers at successfully replicated igni-
the rocket fire. a cylinder holding a fuel cap- tion at least three times this
The rocket barrage came sule the size of a peppercorn year, according to a Decem-
leading a galaxy of senior after Israeli fighter jets re- have taken another step in ber report from the LLNL.
Hamas leaders have in- portedly struck Hezbollah the quest for fusion energy, This marks another signifi-
formed the Egyptian negotia- terror sites near the which, if mastered, could cant step in what could one
tors that the militant group Lebanese town of Bous- provide the world with a day be an important solution
would agree only for a total laya, located over 20 km from near-limitless source of clean to the global climate crisis,
end to the war in Gaza Strip. the border.
Israeli forces also targeted
power.
Last year on a December
driven primarily by the
burning of fossil fuels.
Israel strikes Hezbollah Lebanese terror operatives morning, scientists at the Richard Town, a scientist
Hezbollah launched a bar- who approached the border National Ignition Facility at who leads the LLNL’s iner-
rage of rockets at the north- fence in the Metula the Lawrence Livermore Na- tial-confinement fusion sci-
ern Israeli city of Kiryat area. Hours earlier, tional Laboratory in Califor- ence program, told Nature
Shmona overnight Wednes- four rockets were fired nia (LLNL) managed, in a that he was “feeling pretty
day, prompting Israel to re- from Syria towards Israel, world first, to produce a nu- good” about the results. “I
taliate by striking terror sites setting off sirens in northern clear fusion reaction that re- think we should all be proud
in Lebanon. towns. leased more energy than it of the achievement.”
Ticking climate time bomb buried under
Arctic could make Earth uninhabitable
I
n the remote Arctic archipelago of Permafrost is ground that remains
Svalbard, scientists have uncovered frozen for at least two consecutive years,
a ticking climate time bomb. and it varies across Svalbard. The west-
Millions of cubic metres of methane, a ern regions, influenced by warmer
greenhouse gas far more potent than ocean currents, have thinner per-
carbon dioxide, are migrating beneath mafrost, while the lowlands boast a
the permafrost, with the potential to ex- thicker, ice-saturated layer with excel-
acerbate global warming significantly. lent sealing properties. However,
A recent study led by Dr. Thomas Bir-
chall from the University Center in The research, which utilised histori-
certain geological features, even within
continuous permafrost, could allow
Svalbard has revealed that while the cal data from commercial and scientific methane to escape.
lowland regions of Svalbard possess ice- boreholes, indicates that these methane The study's findings are based on an
rich permafrost acting as an effective deposits are not isolated to Svalbard but extensive review of wellbore data, re-
seal, the highlands are less icy and more are likely present throughout the vealing that gas accumulations beneath
permeable. Arctic. "At present, the leakage from be- the permafrost are more common than
This discovery raises concerns about low permafrost is very low," Dr. Birchall previously thought. "We were surprised
the possible release of trapped methane explains, "but with glacial retreat and by the frequency of gas findings," said
should the permafrost thaw excessively permafrost thawing, we may soon see Birchall. "It seems these accumulations
due to rising temperatures. this change." are quite widespread."
Harris said that it is in Meanwhile, NASA has in space exploration and pre- missions to Mars.
recognition of the essential committed to train an Indian pare for future missions to The Artemis programme
role that allies like Europe, astronaut to fly to the Inter- Mars by 2025. Artemis III will is the most ambitious space
Japan and Canada played national Space Station in also land the first woman exploration effort in genera-
in the Artemis pro- 2024. and the first person of colour tions. For the first time in
gramme. However, it re- With NASA's Artemis on the Moon, paving the way more than half a century,
mains unclear which coun- mission, the US aims to re- for a long-term, sustainable the United States will return
try that astronaut will repre- turn humans to the moon, presence and serving as a astronauts to the lunar sur-
sent. and maintain US leadership gateway for future astronaut face.
Shooting at
Prague Neighbours have reached
University
moon: Nawaz lauds India
leaves 10 dead
ANI / Islamabad
AGENCIES / PRAGUE
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz
A gunman killed 10 people Sharif has once again lauded India and said
and seriously wounded 11 that the countries around have reached the
others at a Prague university moon but Pakistan has still not risen from the
on Thursday before being Earth. The former Pakistan PM was address-
"eliminated", according to ing PML-N cadre in Islamabad on Wednesday.
police and Prague emer- Pointing out the dire economic situation of
gency services. the country, the Pakistan Muslim League ‐
Czech police said shortly Nawaz (PML-N) supremo asserted that Pak-
after 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) that istan is responsible for its own downfall.
they were responding to the Our neighbours have reached the moon but
shooting at Charles Universi- we haven't even risen from the ground so far. The PML-N supremo said inflation was low
ty's faculty of arts building in It can't keep going on like this, Sharif said. during his government in 2014 and a roti was
Jan Palach Square, before re- We have been responsible for our own available for Pakistani PKR 2 in Aabpara, Is-
porting the shooter had been downfall, otherwise this nation would have lamabad, which now has reached PKR 30.
"eliminated", reports Reuters. reached a different place, he added. He claimed fake cases were registered
The Prague emergency Nawaz Sharif, who is running for Prime against him, Maryam and other PML-N lead-
services department said on Minister a fourth time, remarked in his ad- ers. Conviction in two cases was struck down
X that 11 people had been dress on Wednesday, by the Islamabad High Court only in three
killed including the gunman In 2013, we were facing severe load hearings.
and 11 were wounded. shedding of electricity, we came and ended it, Sharif also called for Pakistan to prioritize
Petr Nedoma, director of ended terrorism women's development if the nation hoped to
the Rudolfinum Gallery at a from all over the country, restored the become developed. Every nation that has de-
concert hall across Palach peace of Karachi, highways were built, CPEC veloped has prioritised women in develop-
Square, told Czech TV he came, and a new era of development and pros- ment, they have brought women forward for
saw the shooter. "I saw a perity began. As per ARY News, Nawaz development.
young person on the gallery Sharif, pointed out that he was ousted from I think that women will have to be equal
who had some weapon in his power three times: in 1993, 1999 and 2017. participants for development, women will
hand, like an automatic Sharif asked, who to blame now for the also have to go ahead and work in the service
weapon, and shooting to- present crises in Pakistan, “We shot ourselves of this country along with men, The News In-
ward the Manes Bridge.” in our foot.” ternational reported.
ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $175,000 IN COMPENSATION
US judge exonerates inmate after 48 yrs
AGENCIES / Oklahoma "It's a lesson in resilience death in 1975.
and tenacity," Simmons The punishments were
An Oklahoma judge has told reporters after the de- later reduced to life in
exonerated a man who cision, according to the As- prison because of US
spent 48 years in prison for sociated Press. "Don't let Supreme Court rulings on
a murder he didn't commit, nobody tell you that it can't the death penalty.
the longest known wrong- happen, because it really Simmons had maintained
ful sentence in the US, re- In an order on Tuesday, can." his innocence, saying he
ported the BBC. Judge Amy Palumbo de- Simmons served 48 years, was in his home state of
Glynn Simmons, 70, was clared Simmons innocent. one month and 18 days in Louisiana at the time of
freed in July after a dis- "This court finds by clear prison for the 1974 murder the murder.
trict court found that cru- and convincing evidence of Carolyn Sue Rogers dur- A district court vacated
cial evidence in his case that the offence for which ing a liquor store robbery his sentence in July after
was not turned over to his Simmons was convicted, in an Oklahoma City sub- finding that prosecutors
defence lawyers. sentenced and impris- urb. had not turned over all evi-
On Monday, a county dis- oned... was not committed Simmons was 22 years dence to defence lawyers,
trict attorney said there by Simmons," said Oklaho- old when he and a co-de- including that a witness
was not enough evidence ma County District Judge fendant, Don Roberts, were had identified other sus-
to warrant a new trial. Palumbo in her ruling. convicted and sentenced to pects.
EDIT BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
FREE PRESS
FOR FREE FLOW OF TRUTH
Mumbai’s public transport users deserve better
Mumbai
Needless rushing Naama
with penal Bills ÷Smruti Koppikar
I
t is indeed doubtful whether the Indian Parliament
A
mong the many elements
has ever passed any laws more important than the that make London a famed
ones intended to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), global city is its incredibly
people-oriented public transport
the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Evi-
network. From the airport to most
dence Act. They will have a bearing on every citizen in pin codes across the city, from one
one way or another. Yet, there was hardly any debate end to another across its zones,
worth the name in the Lok Sabha when the three Bills short or long distances, with or
were moved and passed. The Bills will have a smooth pas- without baggage and strollers and
wheelchairs, it is possible to com-
sage in the Upper House too. It is not that the Opposition mute on a single seamless prepaid
did not have anything to say on those Bills. In fact, polit- card while hopping from one under-
ical parties like the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, ground line to another or from the
and the DMK had a lot to say about them. That 142 of the underground to its iconic bus net-
work or overground.
Opposition MPs are under suspension till the session
Commuting for work or leisure is
ends has dampened their enthusiasm. not an activity fraught with uncer-
Home Minister Amit Shah has told the House that he tainty, delays, and life-threatening sit-
has read every word in the new Bills, and there was no uations. Its public transport network
need for any worries on that count. He has blamed the ex- functions as such systems are meant
to — for the people. In fact, Transport
isting laws for their antiquity and colonial legacy. What for London (TfL) which operates and
he should have remembered is that the IPC, drafted in manages the system, places people’s
1834 and brought into force in 1860, had undergone health as a goal of the transport net-
several changes during the interregnum. It was a mea- work in the belief that more people
walking, cycling and using public
sure of the drafting skill that till today it has remained
transport for work and leisure would
the least amended law in the country. Much the same can mean a healthier city. Significantly,
be said about the two other laws. This was all the more as official data shows, public
reason that the proposed system of law should have been transport has become increasingly vi-
vetted by legal experts, practitioners of the law, and other tal over the past 20 years with the per-
centage share of journey stages of pri-
stakeholders. Even if the consultations took one or two vate transport in London having de-
more years, it was worth it, as what is sought is a com- clined while that of public transport
plete overhaul of the legal system. has increased.
What happened in the case of the three agricultural The ease and reliability of its pub-
Bills passed with alacrity is too recent to recapitulate lic transport network is evident
even to a non-resident during a stay
here. Had more attention been paid to responding to pub- of a few days, as it was to me recent-
lic opinion, the government would not have been forced
to recant. If anyone believes that the suspension of the
Opposition MPs is to facilitate a smooth passage of the
Bills, he cannot be blamed. A new legal system is what
the government wants to bequeath to the nation, and it is
in everyone’s interest that it should be fool-proof. All that
India’s is a case of colossal municipal failure
the Opposition demanded was a statement by the Home
Minister in the House on how and why two outsiders cre-
ated anarchy in the Parliament building. Obstinacy by Rational
those in authority does not redound to their credit.
Analysis
Mimicry beckons mirth, laughter ÷ S Murlidharan
I
n the grand theatre of politics, mimicry has been a
T
he havoc wreaked by Cyclone
time-honoured tradition, dating back centuries to its Michaung on December 4 and
Greek roots. However, the recent uproar over a Tri- 5 in Chennai and on
namool Congress MP's alleged imitation of Vice- December 5 and 6 in coastal Andhra
Pradesh where landfall took place is
President Jagdeep Dhankhar has left many scratching
yet another grim reminder of India’s
their heads. Mimicry, after all, is the art of imitation and, colossal municipal failure. It is sick-
ideally, inducing laughter, not sparking political eningly recurring in India’s coastal
firestorms. One wonders why a harmless jest has escalat- areas. Over the years, Orissa has
ed to the point where even the President and the Prime geared itself to face nature’s fury by
Minister feel compelled to weigh in as if the VP under-
putting in place systems and infra-
structure to evacuate people from
went a political crucifixion. It's almost as if mimicry has harm’s way. Chennai on the con-
become a sacred act, only to be wielded with utmost rev- trary reacts when the crisis blows on
erence — a curious turn of events in the realm of political its face with relentless fury when cy-
clones strike, apparently quinquen-
satire.
nially. Besides loss of property and
Ironically, the master of mimicry himself, Narendra people, life gets paralysed for days
Modi, remains unscathed by the mimicry maelstrom. together especially in low-lying ar-
Those who've witnessed his political rallies can attest to eas where residential houses have
his uncanny ability to send rivals “to the wall” with well- been allowed to spring up with hu-
mungous callousness.
timed mimicry. Perhaps there's an unspoken agreement Indian city roads don’t last one
that certain figures are immune to the jests they dish out. full year after they have been laid.
Modi's past escapades, including not sparing then Vice- Traditionally, roads are first lev-
President Hamid Ansari from his barbed tongue, high- eled, then smeared with bitumen
and overlaid with stones and then
light the selective nature of political humour. In a world
completed with chips on which bi-
where even Jawaharlal Nehru could laugh off a jab about tumen in generous quantities is
his bald head in Parliament, it's perplexing to see the cur- poured and levelled with road
rent furore over a mere mimicry act. As political
mimicry takes centre stage, one can't help but wonder if
we've lost sight of the bigger picture — the essence of hu- Bhagavad Gita
mour in politics.
In the grand dance of power, maybe it's time for leaders Jayanti
to take a cue from history where wit was met with laugh- — Swami Brahmavidananda Saraswati
ter, not suspension threats. After all, in the circus of pol-
itics, well-executed mimicry should be met with
T
oday is Gita Jayanti.
applause, not political posturing. Anywhere between
3500 to 5000 years ago,
Sri Krishna taught Arjuna
INDIA 75 YEARS AGO
FPJ Archives on this day. Usually
DECEMBER 22, 1948 Vedanta texts that deal with
spiritual and philosophical
wisdom of India are taught
in the ashrams and forests,
on the riverbank, in highly
peaceful surroundings of
the Himalayas and else-
where.
The Gita was one text that
was born literally on the
battlefield, amidst the
clash of arms, the
neighing of horses,
the trumpeting of
elephants, the beat
of the kettle
drums and the
GUIDING LIGHT
blowing of trumpets and
conches. Arjuna declared
himself as a student and Sri
Krishna accepted him as a
student and teaching in the
form of a dialogue began. All
the noise faded into the
background. Both of them
were just focused on teach-
ing.
Born in such a situation,
the Gita is a complete text
for humanity. For the
preparatory stages of hu-
BACKBONE OF R.S.S. BROKEN man life, it prepares one to
be successful with the right
‘SATYAGRAHA’ SCOTCHED: NO DEEP ROOTS
New Delhi, December 21. The R.S.S. movement which has taken
focus on proper attitudes of
action. It improves your bal-
the form of demonstrations in various parts of the country during ance and your personal com-
the last two weeks is showing signs of slackening, according to petency so that you have a
the latest indications available here officially. better chance of success.
ly. The network may be plagued
with the functioning issues such as
delays and breakdowns that take a
while to be set right, but the overall
experience of using the public
transport network does not leave
one exhausted or feeling vulnerable
about one’s safety. The waiting time
is minimal in most of the city’s
zones, there is ample rider informa-
tion available at stations and bus
stops about when to expect the next
train or bus, connections can be
made across lines criss-crossing a
city so long as one can read the un-
derground map, and most stations
or bus stops are within walking dis-
tances avoiding the need for the
last-mile connection with another
transport such as bicycle or rick-
shaw. And yes, London’s com-
muters number a few millions too
unlike a few other cities in Europe
which also have enviable public
transport systems.
This struck a chord while watch-
ing a reel doing the rounds these
days about Mumbai. It shows the
top view of Mumbai’s under-con-
struction coastal road across the
bay at Haji Ali and Worli. The sea-
fronted areas are unrecognisable
now with the land that has been cre-
ated and the shoreline view badly
punctuated by the road. To some in
Mumbai, the coastal road presents
the futuristic city, one that uses its
abundant water and heralds the
city into the league of international
cities with similar bridges. To
many others, the coastal road is an
embodiment of how an elected exec-
utive authority like the Brihan-
mumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC), directed by the state govern-
ment, has privileged the city’s
smaller private transport segment
such as car users over the majority
rollers. But bemused Indian
denizens watch mutedly the annual
spectacle of roads being laid on the
broken roads in a patchwork fash-
ion. Apparently, annual road laying
activity is a big opportunity for the
political class to line their pockets
with make-believe road laying ac-
tivities begetting them huge payoffs
in the form of kickbacks from con-
tractors who are only too happy to
share the spoils in a spirit of mutual
back scratching. The first hint of
monsoon is enough to cause pot-
holes on Indian roads.
We talk incessantly of corruption
at high places in gun deals and gar-
gantuan imports but gloss over
grassroots corruption with a sigh of
helplessness. Indeed, cynics among
us aver such municipal corruption
is par for the course just as we take
speed money at government offices
in our strides. If only we could
usher in municipal reforms of the
roots and branches variety.
In Delhi, the multiplicity of au-
thorities, central government, state
government and municipality has
resulted in buck-passing. Garbage
dumps remain uncleared for
months. In the US for example, each
state is divided into counties like
our own districts and they enjoy
enormous taxation powers. Apart
from Federal income tax, there are
also state and county taxes to con-
tend with. Apart from the size of the
property one owns, residents have
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Time to mask up again
J ust when we though Covid was a thing
But, that is not the main of the past, the JN1 variant has reared its
message.
The main message of the
Gita is that beyond success
head. All of us now need to to be cautious,
start using masks outside the home and
take extra care among crowds.
lies total joy and fulfilment.
Called Ananda in Sanskrit,
everyone seeks it in life but
few find it. The Gita reveals
II
that Ananda is one's own
true nature. How to discover
it in terms of knowledge,
A stitch in time saves nine and the
government should take the new Covid
variant seriously by enforcing all Covid
how to prepare the mind, protocols before it is too late. Cases of any
the right values are all un- form of virus multiply rapidly as was
folded in the Gita. Anyone witnessed earlier. However, one must not
and everyone gains panic but take precautions. Prevention is
great benefit by study- always better than cure.
ing the text.
Of course, the Bha-
gavad Gita should
be studied with a
III
sampradayav-
it, a tradition-
al teacher of a lineage. If
T o prevent a countrywide resurgence of
the Covid virus, the government must
step up testing at all well-frequented public
these teachers have up- places such as airports. Wearing masks
loaded videos, it is good to should be made compulsory especially in
see some for some general
awareness. Please do not try
to study it on your own. It's a
highly technical text. Be-
lieve me! It is more compli-
cated than studying a book
on engineering. I was one
before I became a monk. So,
I know how much more spe-
cialised the Gita is.
May the Gita bless the fu-
ture generations as it has
done in the past.
The writer is the founder of
Aarsha Vidya Foundation. You
can write to him at
aarshavidyaf@gmail.com
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: That men do not learn very much
from the lessons of history is the most important of all
the lessons of history.
— ALDOUS HUXLEY
that uses its public transport net- counts and conversations, is well-
work. known to officials and policymakers
It is no secret that the coastal road
primarily services the western side
of the city, ring-fencing it across the
water in an almost north-south
for the city too. The question is the
steps they take and the broad strate-
gies they adopt for the city.
Those of us who live — and swear
axis, providing a traffic-free or less
congested road for private car users
in this area of the city. It makes car
— by Mumbai’s public transport
network find it to be the most con-
venient, reliable and relatively
commuting from say Malabar Hill safer than in any other city in India
to Bandra Kurla Complex faster, but that isn’t saying much. Mumbai
skirting around the key arterial made it to the 19th spot in the
roads that must be negotiated now. world’s cities for public transport
The coastal road does nothing for earlier this year in a private media
the average Mumbai commuter survey, but that isn’t saying much
who uses its public transport net- either. Other Asian cities were
work of suburban trains and local ahead by some distance and, as ex-
Seamless, safe and reliable multi-modal transport with
walkable pavements is still a dream for millions of
commuters in Mumbai
BEST buses which is soon to be aug- pected, European cities bagged the
mented with the metro network. It top spots. Let’s not forget that con-
is important to remember too, that cerned citizens had to literally wage
at a time of climate crisis, the a battle to keep the BEST network
coastal road has been termed as going a few years ago; without the
“maladaptive infrastructure” in activism, the most affordable option
UN reports. for nearly 3.5 to 4 million com-
In the last decade or so, the share of muters, would have seen a ruthless
commuters using public transport paring down.
has declined both in Mumbai city In the context of investing in the
and the Mumbai Metropolitan Re- city’s public transport network, not
gion (MMR), according to various merely tinkering around or putting
studies and government data. On an in an extra railway line but upgrad-
average, from more than three in ing it to make commuting safer and
every four commuters using multi- convenient for all, it is tempting to
modal public transport, the share imagine how the thousands of
has dropped to less than two of every crores spent on the coastal road
three in the last decade or so; these could have been better allocated
years have seen a sharp rise in the and used. This called for a compre-
use of private transport and a stag- hensive strategizing in the official
gering increase in the number of circles of what the city’s public
cars and two-wheelers in the city. transport network should be and
The shift is evident and, by all ac- the imagination to keep commuters
to cough up county taxes even if coming self-sufficient. US goes a
they don’t own properties with the step further to meet the exceptional
county jurisdiction so long as they
own cars. Such county taxes pave
demands on its finances during cy-
clones and other natural calamities.
the way for good roads, regular and
clean water as well as clearing the
Their insurers float catastrophe
bonds offering attractive returns to
roads of snow during peak winters the subscribers in return for them
in states like Massachusetts. losing their shirts (!) should a
In Switzerland and in the state of calamity strike within the specified
California in the US, denizens duration. Such financial
pretty much choose the projects innovation is a strict no-no for the
they need by direct voting in return typical Indian investors barring a
for the heavy municipal taxes they few intrepid high net worth (HNW)
pay. But sadly, in India, the annual investors.
collection of municipal taxes literal- We have slowly of course been
We talk incessantly of corruption at high places in gun
deals and gargantuan imports but gloss over grassroots
corruption with a sigh of helplessness
ly goes down the drain. We Indians building the sinews of national and
love our national and state level pol- state level disaster management or-
itics but hardly hold our municipal ganisations but the truth is it takes
councillors to account. We have em- an efficient local grassroots govern-
powered our panchayats. It is time ment to size up the challenges
we hold our municipalities to ac- unique to them and rise them with-
count. out being caught unawares. No two
To be sure, accountability and states or, for that matter, no two
power go hand in hand. Municipal- municipalities are similar. Each
ities are by and large starved of has its own geographical and topo-
funds, barring a select few like graphical peculiarities. Grassroots
Mumbai’s perhaps which imposes administration is the crying need of
steep property taxes. In the US, mu- denizens. Funds must devolve onto
nicipal bonds are floated to beef up them smoothly.
the finances of municipalities. In In- There is a charge that political
dia, they have made a mark but parties are obsessed with metropol-
have a long way to go in terms of be- itan cities. The recent defeat of BRS
crowded areas such as schools, colleges,
theatres, markets and workplaces (before
it's too late to control).
PV Madhu Nivriti
Preserve the Sengol’s
eminence
J ust this year, the new Parliament edifice
was anointed with the Sengol, the
righteous Raj Dand and symbol of just
Maya Bhatkar governance, in solemnity and hope of fair
judgment and just verdict . In a democracy
the people are sovereign and their chosen
representatives run the affairs of the nation
while keeping the Sengol in its high
eminence. Post independence, though the
Sengol was not installed in the House,
there was mutual respect across the aisle
and debates therein were animated and
productive. Given the current lack of trust
and acrimony on either side of the aisle, it
would take much more than a symbol for
SN Kabra the House to uphold its dignity and vision.
And both need sustenance from the
Treasury benches and the Opposition. As
custodian of the Sengol, the greater onus is
on the Speaker to nurture its symbolism. As
a sequel to the “Congress-mukt abhiyan” in
2014, the crusade is now seen to extend to
the entire Opposition. This negates the very
essence of parliamentary democracy
MIKA’S MATRIX
at the heart of it all. This is not diffi-
cult to do but Mumbai’s many
transport agencies have not shown
the inclination to do either. Its mul-
tiple transport agencies function in
grand isolation, each keeping the fo-
cus on its own jurisdiction and
every agency expecting the com-
muter to make the adjustments
needed. Seamless, safe and reliable
multi-modal transport with walka-
ble pavements is still a dream for
millions of commuters in Mumbai.
At a bus stop, for instance, the
guessing game of when a bus will ar-
rive continues as it did way back in
the 1970s or earlier; there are apps
that disclose this information but it
should primarily be available at the
bus stop. Most bus stops are not
worth the name given the lack of ba-
sic facilities; many do not even have
lights and queues are totally passe.
The suburban trains are super-effi-
cient but right outside the railway
station lies complete chaos with ven-
dors fighting for space amidst rick-
shaws and buses, and rickshaws re-
fusing rides to destinations. Similar
chaos, on a smaller degree, ensues at
the metro stations too. The BMC
does not make it a priority to
provide comfortable and safe pave-
ments for commuters to walk short
distances. Last-mile connectivity is
still an issue across the city.
A city which is driven by millions
of commuters, travelling for work
and leisure, must do better for
them. Can its many agencies come
to one table and keep commuters at
the heart of the work they do? They
can but they are unlikely to.
Senior journalist Smruti Koppikar writes
extensively on cities, development, gender,
and the media. She is the Founder Editor of
the award-winning journal ‘Question of Cities’
to Congress in the Telangana state
assembly elections is attributed by
pundits to its Hyderabad fixation
which once again brings to the fore
the India-Bharat divide. If munici-
palities shore themselves up, state
governance would automatically
shore up. After all India is a union
of states and states are the union of
panchayats and municipalities.
Successive finance commissions
have increased the share of states
from the central revenues
including from GST. It is time state
finance commissions were consti-
tuted to ensure equitable
devolution of funds to municipali-
ties and panchayats. And paren-
thetically, we should try out right to
recall at the grassroot levels —
namely panchayats and municipal-
ities — so that our elected represen-
tatives learn to fear people’s wrath!
It is not enough for our politicians
to make aerial surveys to size up the
enormity of the losses suffered in
the wake of natural disasters.
Ground-level elected representa-
tives must be made to better serve
the people. It is such
representatives who should gradu-
ate to state assemblies and the Par-
liament. As it is they are
paradropped directly into Lok Sab-
ha elections, resulting in terrible
lack of touch with ground realities.
S Murlidharan is a freelance columnist and writes
on economics, business, legal and taxation issues
predicated on debate and dialogue. And in
its very antithesis, should bills be enacted
without broader insights, the Sengol must
reluctantly step down from its tall pedestal.
R Narayanan
Can’t afford war
T his refers to the editorial ‘When will POK
be ours?’ (Dec 16). Right from the Jan
Sangh days, the BJP was unrealistic and
used the Kashmir issue as rhetoric. Even
today though BJP is in power, it takes up
the issue of annexure of POK in a casual
manner. It is incongruous that Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh is talking more like
the chief minister of the state. India is in no
position to undertake war on two fronts —
China and Pakistan — unless imposed
upon us. At this state any intrusive action
from India into the POK will be readily an
excuse for China to intervene. Today our
economy is heading towards good shape,
and India must emerge economically more
vibrant rather than inviting war.
Parag Deshmukh
Dear reader,
We are eager to know your opinions, comments and
suggestions. Write to editor.indore@fpj.co.in Using snail
mail? Send your letters to Free Press, Free Press House, 3/54,
Press Complex, AB Road, Indore 452008
 MONEY
MARKET WATCH Govt to hold pre-bid meet for critical mineral auction today
SENSEX 70,865.10 s 358.79 The Ministry of Mines said on Thursday that it will be Ministry of Mines launched the first tranche auction of 20
NIFTY 21,255.05 s 104.90 conducting a pre-bid conference for the first tranche of critical and strategic mineral blocks on November 29. These
USD/INR 83.27 t 0.09 auction of critical and strategic minerals on Friday at Dr. blocks are in eight states and union territories viz, Bihar,
GOLD 63,050.00 t 50.00 Ambedkar International Centre here in hybrid mode. The Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Odisha, TN, UP and J&K. BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
SILVER 79,100.00 s 600.00

BIZ BULLETIN
IL&FS invites bids to sell
entire 50.42% stake in arm
SENSEX REBOUNDS 358 POINTS ‘India's agri exports likely
to reach $53 bn this fiscal’
Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services
Ltd has invited bids to sell their entire
50.42% shareholding in its subsidiary
IL&FS Investment Managers Ltd, the
company said in a newspaper notice on
Thursday. Interested participants are
ON BUYING IN HDFC BANK, RIL
Markets found winning momentum in afternoon session and climbed 452.4 points to 70,958.71
PTI / New Delhi

India's agriculture exports this

required to submit the expression of
interest along with necessary documents
by 1700 IST on Jan 31. Kroll is the
financial and transaction advisor for the
proposed transaction, the notice said.
M3M to invest `700 cr to
develop project in Noida
Realty firm M3M on Thursday said it will
invest Rs 700 crore to develop a
commercial project in Noida. In a
statement, Gurugram-based M3M India
said the company will invest RS 700
crore to build a new project 'M3M The
LINE - Luxury Retail and Pentsuites' in
Sector 72, Noida. The project is spread
over 3 acres with saleable space of about
9 lakh square feet. The investment
includes land cost of Rs 250 crore and a
construction cost of Rs 450 crore.
WPIL gets order worth
`4.25 bn from WB govt
WPIL Ltd has received an order worth
4.25 bln rupees from the West Bengal
government, according to an exchange
filing on Thursday. The order is for
execution of a turnkey project for package
II of surface-based water supply scheme,
northern sector under Purulia district in
the state, it added in the filing.
PTI / New Delhi
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty
recovered by more than half cent on Thurs-
day following buying in index majors HDFC
Bank and Reliance Industries.
The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 358.79
points or 0.51 per cent to settle at 70,865.10
with 21 of its stocks ending in the green and
nine in the red.
The barometer opened lower and fell fur-
ther by 585.92 points or 0.83 per cent to a low
of 69,920.39. But, markets found the winning
momentum in the afternoon session and
climbed 452.4 points or 0.64 per cent to
70,958.71.
The broader Nifty rallied 104.90 points or
0.50 per cent to 21,255.05 as 38 of its con-
stituents advanced and 12 declined. During
the day, it hit a high of 21,288.35 and a low of
20,976.80.
Both key indices had hit record high levels
in intra-day trade on Wednesday before clos-
Govt extends last
date for RFP for
Bharat Bond ETF
advisors to Jan 8
ing sharply down by over 1 per cent. Sensex
tanked 930 points while Nifty lost around 303
points.
Most sectors participated in the rebound
on Thursday with energy, metal and banking
sectors emerging as top performers, analysts
said.
Buying in HDFC Bank and Reliance Indus-
tries helped indices to recover from day's
lows, they said. RIL and HDFC contributed
Banks expect variable RBI issues draft omnibus SRO
rate repo rollover as framework for banks, NBFCs
more than 300 points to Sensex gains.
Among the Sensex firms, Power Grid rose
the most by 2.27 per cent, HDFC Bank by 1.82
per cent, Kotak Bank by 1.66 per cent, and Re-
liance Industries by 1.38 per cent. NTPC, State
Bank of India, Tata Steel and Bharti Airtel
were also among the gainers.
Bajaj Finance, Axis Bank, HCL Tech and
Mahindra & Mahindra were among the
major laggards.
"After a subdued start, the market reversed
from the day's low amid buy-on-dips strategy.
However, the overall trend is subdued, FIIs
stayed muted ahead of festive break and glob-
al market traded on a negative note ahead of
announcement of the US GDP data today,"
said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit
Financial Services. "Some consolidation is
warranted in the near term due to peak valu-
ation. A gradual rise in oil prices along with
concern over high domestic food inflation
may have a hindrance to the stretched rally of
the last 2 months," he added.
fiscal are expected to reach the
last year's level of USD 53 billion
despite restrictions imposed on
shipments of certain key com-
modities, including rice, wheat
and sugar, according to a senior
government official.
In 2022-23, the country's agri ex-
ports stood at USD 53 billion.
The government has
"We expect that we would prohibited exports of wheat
reach that level in spite of USD 4.5 and non-basmati white rice
billion-USD 5 billion impact due
to the restrictions," Additional and has imposed curbs on
Secretary in the commerce min- sugar exports
istry Rajesh Agrawal told re-
porters here on Thursday.
The government has prohibit- hoping to increase banana ex-
ed exports of wheat and non-bas- ports to USD 1 billion," he said.
mati white rice and has imposed Exports of fruits and vegeta-
curbs on sugar exports. bles, cereals, meat, dairy and
He said the government is pro- poultry products registered a
moting exports of new products healthy growth rate during April-
like bananas and value-added November.
millet products to new global des- Rice exports, however, de-
tinations. clined 7.65 per cent to USD 6.5 bil-
"In the next three years, we are lion during the same period.

Mahindra subsidiary ties

INFORMIST / New Delhi liquidity deficit balloons PTI / New Delhi

The Reserve Bank of India on

up with Attero
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Ltd (MLMML)
on Thursday said it has tied up with
lithium-ion battery recycling as well as e-
waste management firm Attero. The
strategic collaboration, focused on
effective EV battery recycling, represents
a proactive effort to tackle the
environmental concerns linked to safe
electric vehicle battery disposal, the
company, a unit of Mahindra & Mahindra,
said in a statement.
RBZ Jewellers IPO gets
The government has extended
the last date for submitting re-
quest for proposals for appoint-
ment of consultants and legal ad-
visors for the Bharat Bond Ex-
change-Traded Fund to Jan 8
from Dec 26, the disinvestment
department said on Thursday in
a notice.
The Bharat Bond
Exchange-Traded Fund
invests in "AAA" bonds
issued by public sector
INFORMIST / Mumbaii
With the liquidity deficit in the
banking system already at a
record high, money market deal-
ers in banks expect the Reserve
Bank of India to roll over the vari-
able rate repo tender for 1 trln ru-
pees on Friday to avoid the deficit
widening further, hampering the
banking system's functioning over
the next week.
At the end of trade on Wednes-
day, liquidity in the banking sys-
tem was in a deficit of 2.27 trln ru-
liquidity deficit, which could rise
to 3 trln rupees, some more leeway
is required. Beyond that, it de-
pends on government spending."
The RBI conducted a seven-day,
variable rate repo auction for 1
trln rupees on Friday, the first di-
Thursday issued a draft om-
nibus framework for Self-Regu-
latory Organisations (SROs) for
banks, NBFCs and other enti-
ties regulated by it.
SROs enhance the effective-
ness of regulations by drawing
upon the technical expertise of
practitioners and also aid in
framing/ fine-tuning
regulatory policies by
providing inputs on technical
and practical aspects, nuances
and trade-offs involved, the
draft said.
sector," as per the 'Draft Frame-
work for comments Omnibus
Framework for recognising
Self-Regulatory Organisations
(SROs) for Regulated Entities
(REs) of the Reserve Bank of In-
dia'.
The proposed framework
also lays down the broad mem-
bership criteria and other
According to the central terms and conditions to be fol-
lowed by SROs for grant of
bank, SROs can help in recognition by RBI.
fostering innovation, According to the proposal, a
transparency, fair SRO should have sufficient au-
thority which is derived from
competition and membership agreements to set
consumer protection ethical, professional and gover-

subscribed 16.86 times
The Rs 100 crore-initial share sale of RBZ
Jewellers received 16.86 times
subscription on the closing day of bidding
on Thursday. The Initial Public Offering
(IPO) got bids for 13,31,88,450 shares
against 79,00,000 shares on offer, as per
NSE data.
Happy Forgings IPO gets
companies that are
constituents of the Nifty
Bharat Bond Indices
The department also clarified
that it will consider bids from
consultants who have experience
in managing both private and
public offerings of exchange-trad-
pees. It is the second time the
deficit has hit a record this week,
after crossing 2 trln rupees for the
first time ever on Monday.
"I am confident that the RBI will
roll over the variable rate repo for
one more week," V.R.C. Reddy,
head of treasury at Karur Vysya
Bank, said. "In view of the current
rect liquidity injection since Jul
19. At the auction, the central bank
accepted bids worth 1 trln rupees,
setting a cutoff yield of 6.61%. Last
week, the redemption and coupon
payment of the 7.68%, 2023 bond
also added 819 bln rupees on a
durable basis to the banking sys-
tem liquidity.
According to the central
bank, SROs can also help in fos-
tering innovation, transparen-
cy, fair competition and con-
sumer protection.
In sum, self-regulation shall
complement the extant regula-
tory/ statutory framework for
better compliance, in letter and
spirit, the draft said.
"... the omnibus SRO frame-
work prescribes the broad ob-
jectives, functions, eligibility
criteria and governance stan-
dards, which will be common
for all SROs, irrespective of the
nance standards and enforce
these standards on the mem-
bers.
SROs should have objective,
well-defined and consultative
processes to make rules
relating to conduct of its mem-
bers and shall be able to enforce
these rules.

subscribed 82 times
The initial public offer of auto
components maker Happy Forgings got
subscribed 82.04 times on the last day of
bidding on Thursday, driven by huge
demand from institutional buyers. The Rs
1,008.6 crore-initial share sale fetched
bids for 68,62,98,398 shares against
83,65,639 shares on offer, as per NSE
data.
Credo Brands IPO gets
subscribed 51.85 times
The Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Credo
Brands Marketing, which owns denim
brand Mufti, got subscribed 51.85 times
on Thursday, the last day of subscription.
Heavy demand from institutional buyers
helped the share sale attract smart
subscription on the closing day.
INOX India shares settle
with over 42% premium
Shares of cryogenic tank maker INOX
India Ltd on Thursday made a remarkable
market debut and ended with a premium
of over 42 per cent against the issue price
of Rs 660. The stock made its debut at Rs
933.15, up 41.38 per cent from the issue
price on the BSE. During the day, it
jumped 50 per cent to Rs 990. Shares of
the company ended at Rs 939.90 apiece,
up 42.40 per cent.
CEAT invests `30 mn in
Tyresnmore Online
CEAT Ltd on Thursday invested 30 mln
rupees in wholly-owned subsidiary
Tyresnmore Online Pvt Ltd towards
subscription for 24,578 equity shares in a
rights issue, the company said in an
exchange filing. The investment has been
done on a cash consideration basis and
CEAT's shareholding in the subsidiary
remains 100%.
Venus Remedies forays
into wellness arena
Venus Remedies Ltd, a pioneer in
pharmaceutical R&D, on Thursday
unveiled a significant transformation of
its consumer healthcare division, R3SET.
This strategic pivot marks R3SET's foray
into the wellness arena, coupled with the
expansion of its pain management
portfolio, showcasing the company's
holistic approach to wellness solutions.
ASICS India to add 50
new stores by 2025
Japanese sports performance brand ASICS
is eyeing major expansion in India by
adding 50 new stores by 2025, thereby
commemorating a decade of establishing
the brand independently in India. ASICS
India will also witness opening of its first
mono-brand store in 2026, giving
consumers access to an expanded global
product portfolio. The brand opened its
100th store in India recently.
—Agencies
ed funds. Earlier,
government had said that it
would consider only those con-
the
sultants who have experience in
public offerings of exchange trad-
ed funds.
The Bharat Bond Exchange-
Traded Fund invests in "AAA"
bonds issued by public sector
companies that are constituents
of the Nifty Bharat Bond Indices.
In the last tranche of the Bharat
Bond ETF in December 2022,
the government raised 65.4 bln
CEA'S CO-AUTHORED ARTICLE
Global CRA’s methodologies
need to be more transparent
PTI / New Delhi
The methodologies used by global
credit rating agencies are heavily
loaded against developing
nations and there is a pressing
need to reform the rating process
to make them more transparent,
according to an article written by
Chief Economic Adviser V Anan-
tha Nageswaran and Senior Ad-
viser Rajiv Mishra.
They also said that India's sov-
ereign rating has remained at
'BBB-' for the last 15 years though
it has become the world's 5th
largest economy from the 12th
place about a decade ago.
The article is part of the com-
pendium titled 'Re-Examing Nar-
ratives--A Collection of Essays'
prepared by the office of CEA.
The views expressed by the au-
thors are personal and not that of
the finance ministry.
Over-reliance on non-transpar-
ent qualitative factors, including
perceptions, value judgements,
views of a limited number of ex-
perts, and surveys with loose
methodologies in sovereign rat-
ing, results in unacceptable out-
?????????????????????????????
KNIGHT FRANK REPORT
PE investments in realty down 44% in 2023
PTI / New Delhi
Global investors have been cau-
tious this year to put money into In-
dian real estate, as private equity
inflow is down 44 per cent till De-
cember 12 to USD 3 billion com-
pared to the entire previous year,
according to Knight Frank.
Real estate consultant Knight
Frank India on Thursday released
its data showing that the Indian
real estate market received USD
3,024 million in PE investments
from 23 deals between January 1
Sebi to auction properties of five companies on Jan 22
PTI / New Delhi
Capital markets regulator Sebi
has said it will auction 13 proper-
ties of five companies, including
Sunheaven Agro India and
RaviKiran Realty India, along
with that of promoters and direc-
tors on January 22 to recover
money illegally collected from in-
vestors.
comes from a global point of view,
Nageswaran and Mishra said. "It
makes the rating of developing
countries almost invariant with
respect to even sizeable move-
ments in relevant macroeconom-
ic fundamentals. This happens
because the base rating, estimat-
ed through quantitative scoring
of macro-fundamentals, is over-
ridden by qualitative considera-
tions while finalising the pub-
lished ratings," the article said.
Further, it said the set of loose
qualitative information fed into
the quantitative scoring of coun-
tries and the final qualitative
overlay, based purely on the
agency's subjective assessment of
the countries' ability and willing-
ness to pay, become heavily
loaded against the developing
countries.
The rating of India re-
and December 12 this year, as
against USD 5,357 million recorded
in 2022.
Global geopolitical uncertainties
and a high interest rate environ-
ment with multiple rate hikes from
The other firms whose proper- These five companies had the sale of these properties. and their promoters and direc-
ties will be auctioned are Just-Re- collected money from Of the 13 properties, seven are tors, Sebi said the auction will be
liable Projects India Ltd, Orion investors without complying related to Rakhal Bharoti group conducted online on January 22,
Industries, and Rakhal Bharoti of companies, two each of Orion 2024 from 11 am to 1 pm.
group of companies. with the public issue norms Industries Ltd and Just-Reliable The markets watchdog has
The properties will be auc- Projects India and one each of asked the bidders to make their
tioned at a reserve price of Rs These assets include land Sunheaven Agro India, and own independent enquiries re-
15.08 crore, according to a public parcels in West Bengal and Ravikiran Realty. garding the encumbrances, liti-
notice issued by the Securities Jharkhand. Inviting bids for the sale of the gations, title of the properties put
and Exchange Board of India
(Sebi) on Monday said.
Further, Quikr Realty has
been engaged by Sebi to assist in
properties in the recovery pro-
ceedings against the companies
on auction and claims, before
submitting their bids.
Govt grants LIC Parliament passes Traded bond
1-time exemption
Telecommunications Bill outstanding rises
to achieve 25%
MPS in 10 years PTI / New Delhi
to $2.47 trillion
PTI / New Delhi Parliament on Thursday
in Jul-Sep qtr
passed the Telecommunica- PTI / New Delhi
The government has granted a one- tions Bill, 2023 that aims to re-
time exemption to Life Insurance form the country's century-old Total outstanding bonds traded in
Corporation of India (LIC) to telecom law to make the sector the domestic market inched up to
achieve 25 per cent Minimum Public investor-friendly, prioritises USD 2.47 trillion as of September
Shareholding (MPS) within 10 user protection but also 2023 from USD 2.34 trillion in
years, the state-owned insurer said extends powers to the govern- lar stringent provisions for March 2023, says a report.
on Thursday. ment to intercept communica- phone number spoofing for While all bonds are debt, all
SThe country's largest insurer tions. fraud, and moots an "digital-by- debts are not bonds, as bank loans
LIC was listed in May 2022. The gov- Replying to the discussion on design" online grievance re- and loans from multilateral agen-
ernment had sold over 22.13 crore the bill in Rajya Sabha, Tele- dressal mechanism for address- cies like the World Bank, IMF and
shares, or a 3.5 per cent stake in LIC, com Minister Ashwini Vaish- ing users complaints. It also the Asian Development Bank are
through an IPO.
The government currently holds
naw said colonial era legisla-
tions were being replaced,
seeks to tighten the noose on
pesky callers through various
debt but not bonds.
Of the total bonds outstanding,
96.5 per cent stake in the company. paving the way for the new leg- means, including by checking the Central government bonds (G-
In a stock exchange filing, the islation that matches the aspi- misuse of SIM. secs) stood at USD 1.34 trillion as
state-owned insurer said the Depart- rations of new India, making it The discussion on the bill in of the second quarter (Q2), up
ment of Economic Affairs has decid- a "historic" and landmark day. both Houses happened without from USD 1.06 trillion in the
ed to grant a "one-time exemption to Drawing attention to key most of the opposition March 2023 quarter, Vishal Goen-
LIC to achieve 25 per cent MPS with- provisions in the bill that aim members as many of them have ka, cofounder of Indiabonds.com,
in 10 years from the date of listing to safeguard telecom users, the been suspended for unruly be- said quoting the RBI data.
i.e., till May 2032". minister said impersonation haviour. On the other hand, the
Earlier this year, the government and acquisition of SIM fraudu- While the industry has called country's total external debt,
had amended the regulation so that lently using someone else's the legislation progressive say- which are government and corpo-
listed state-run companies, includ- identity proof for telecom serv- ing it will boost digital connec- rate bonds as well as their loans
ing banks, will not need to comply
with the rule requiring an MPS of 25
ices will be punishable with im-
prisonment for a term up to
tivity and innovation, critics
said it "extends the colonial
from lenders, rose marginally to
USD 629.1 billion as of June 2023,
per cent even after their privatisa- three years and a fine of up to powers of interception of com- although the debt-GDP ratio de-
tion, if the government decides so "in Rs 50 lakh. munications without any safe- clined to 18.6 per cent, according
public interest". The bill also lays down simi- guards". to RBI data.
Gilts end lower as investors
make room ahead of Fri auction
INFORMIST / New Delhi Wednesday. "The rally has burnt out
Sales of apartments in top 7 cities may rise over the last couple of days because there
20% to 2.6 lakh units this year: Report
Government bond prices ended lower
on Thursday, falling in the last two
is an absolute lack of investors right
now," said a dealer at a private bank.
Sales of apartments across seven major cities are estimated to rise by 20 hours of trade as investors made room "Even PSU (public-sector undertaking)
per cent to around 2.6 lakh units, the highest since 2008, on better for the fresh supply of gilts at the 300- banks have not been buying. There may
demand, according to JLL India. Sales stood at 2,15,621 units in the last bln-rupee weekly auction on Friday, be a small buy number today, but this
calendar year in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, dealers said. Prices remained in a nar- week the foreign investor flow has dried
Bengaluru and Pune. JLL India on Thursday said sales in the first nine row band for most of the day, tracking up as well, so the market couldn't stay
months of 2023 reached 1,96,227 units as against 1,61,575 units in the offshore cues ahead of the minutes of steady heading into the auction."
year-ago period. Only apartments are covered in the report while row the Monetary Policy Committee's De- State-owned banks have had a re-
houses, villas, and plotted developments are excluded. cember meeting, due after market duced appetite for gilts as the banking
hours on Friday. system's liquidity deficit hit a record
the US Federal Reserve and the US and Canada, the consultant The 10-year benchmark 7.18%, 2033 high of 2.27 trln rupees on Wednesday,
Central Bank of Canada have said, explaining the reason behind bond closed at 99.92 rupees, or 7.19% according to Reserve Bank of India
curbed investment activities from the slump. yield, against 100.07 rupees, or 7.17%, on data.

BIZ BULLETIN
SBI to sign 200 mn euro
LoC with EIB
State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday
said it will sign a 200 million euro
(about Rs 1,800 crore) Line of Credit
(LoC) with the European Investment
Bank (EIB) for supporting climate action
projects in the country. The agreement
will be signed on December 21 at the
bank's IFSC Gift City Branch in
Ahmedabad, SBI said in a regulatory
filing. The loan document will become
operational, subject to necessary
approvals, it said.
Suzlon bags 193.2 MW
wind power project order
Renewable energy solutions provider
Suzlon Group on Thursday said it
secured a contract from KP Group to
develop a 193.2-MW wind energy
project in Gujarat. The new order for the
development of a 193.2 MW wind
power project for the KP Group will be
part of wind-solar hybrid and STU's
(State Transmission Utility) tariff-based
project for increasing renewable energy
contribution in Gujarat, Suzlon Group
said in a statement.
3 individuals offloads
Ami Organics' shares
Three individuals on Thursday offloaded
shares of pharmaceutical company Ami
Organics for Rs 474 crore through open
market transactions. ICICI Prudential
Mutual Fund, Malabar India Fund, Bofa
Securities Europe SA, Goldman Sachs
Investments Mauritius I, Morgan Stanley
Asia Singapore, Valuequest Investment
Advisors were among the buyers of the
shares. Dhwani Girishkumar Chovatia,
Girishkumar Limbabhai Chovatia, and
Kiranben Girishbhai Chovatia sold 46
lakh shares of the company on the NSE.
Cotton output may fall 8%
to 294.10L bales this yr
Cotton production may decline by
around 8 per cent to 294.10 lakh bales
in the 2023-24 season due to lower
yields in most growing regions,
according to the Cotton Association of
India (CAI) estimates released on
Thursday. The total cotton production
during the 2022-23 season (October-
September) stood at 318.90 lakh bales
of 170 kg each, according to CAI data.
India-Oman FTA to help
boost apparel exports
A free trade agreement (FTA) with Oman
will help boost apparel exports as huge
business opportunities are there in the
Gulf nation for Indian exporters, AEPC
said on Thursday. Negotiations for the
pact, officially dubbed as the
Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement, are moving at a fast pace.
India’s alcoholic beverages exports
to cross $1 billion in next few years
PTI / New Delhi
The country's alcoholic beverages
exports are expected to cross USD
1 billion in the next few years on
account of increasing demand for
spirits in global markets, a senior
government official said on Thurs-
day. As against the exports of USD
325 million in 2022-23, the outbound
shipments from the sector touched
USD 230 million during April-Octo-
ber this fiscal, Additional Secre-
tary in the commerce ministry Ra-
jesh Agrawal told reporters here.
The global trade of these prod-
ucts is about USD 130 billion.
Ashok Leyland Piramal Ent confident of recovery
bags order for 552 in downstream investment in AIFs
buses from TN
PTI / New Delhi
transport entity Piramal Enter-
PTI / New Delhi
Commercial vehicle major Ashok
Leyland on Thursday said it has
bagged an order to supply 552 buses
from Tamil Nadu State Transport Cor-
poration (TNSTC).
The ultra-low entry (ULE) buses
would be used for public transport, the
company said in a statement.
Ashok Leyland has been a long-
standing supplier of buses to TNSTC,
having supplied over 18,477 buses till
date.
"This order reinforces our dedica-
tion to creating very efficient and tech-
nologically advanced products that ex-
ceed our customer expectations and
contribute to the growth of public
transportation," Ashok Leyland Man-
aging Director & CEO Shenu Agarwal
said. The company said it will com-
mence the delivery of the buses within
the next few months.
IIFL Fin says has investments
of `9.31 bn in alternative funds Govt inks pact for `22,627 cr Japanese loan to finance bullet train project
INFORMIST / Mumbai
IIFL Finance Ltd on Thursday said
it has investments of 9.31 bln rupees
in units of alternative investment
funds. Out of this, 9.10 bln rupees
are invested in alternative invest-
ment funds where companies asso-
ciated with IIFL Finance have no
exposure, it said in an exchange fil-
ing. The company has an invest-
ment of 213.7 mln rupees in IIFL
Fintech Fund. IIFL Finance has an
Coal India to fully switch over to
own e-auction platform from Jan 1
INFORMIST / Kolkata
Coal India Ltd plans to completely shift its e-
auction mode of sales to an online portal de-
veloped in-house from Jan 1, a move expect-
ed to improve internal synergies and in-
crease efficiency, officials associated with
the plan told Informist.
The new online auction portal, developed
by the company's subsidiary Central Mine
Planning & Design Institute Ltd and Nation-
al Informatics Centre, will handle the entire
coal auction mechanism. While test runs
were first completed in June this year, the
platform underwent some technical modifi-
cations and tailoring for the buyers, which
was completed four months ago.
"From June to November, we have
already handled 29 auctions involving 419
loading points and auctioned 11.9 mln tn of
coal sold by Coal India subsidiaries," a
senior official at Central Mine Planning &
Design Institute said.
Zomato offers to acquire
Shiprocket for $2 billion
IANS / New Delhi
Online food platform Zomato has
made an offer to acquire home-
grown logistics solution provider
Shiprocket for close to $2 billion
(more than Rs 16,600 crore), me-
dia reported on Thursday.
Zomato has made an offer to
buy the company and no final de-
cision has been taken on the deal
yet, reports Bloomberg, citing
people aware of the development.
In August last year, Zomato-
backed Shiprocket, also backed
by Info Edge, Temasek and
Lightrock, raised $33.5 million
that took its valuation to around
$1.2 billion.
Zomato, in the same month,
completed the acquisition of
quick commerce company
Blinkit (formerly Grofers) and its
warehousing and ancillary serv-
ices business.
Zomato's board approved the
Rs 4,447 crore transaction to ac-
quire Blinkit. The ancillary busi-
ness was bought for Rs 61 crore.
Meanwhile, Shiprocket is re-
portedly in talks with top VC
firms for a fund-raise upto $75-100
million, led by US-based invest-
ment firm Tribe Capital.
"The demand for Indian spirits
is increasing...It is expected to go
beyond USD 1 billion in the next
few years. Indian beverages mar-
ket is growing very fast and slowly
demand for these brands across
the world is also picking up,"
Agrawal said, adding that in the
forthcoming three-day Indus Food
last 12 months)
debtor companies,
it said.
prises Ltd (PEL)
on Thursday said
it is confident of
recovery of the
underlying
downstream investments in the
impacted Alternative
Investment Funds (AIFs) follow-
ing RBI guidelines earlier this
week.
As of November 30, 2023, the
value of investments by PEL and
Piramal Capital & Housing Fi-
nance Limited in AIF units was
Rs 3,817 crore.
In a regulatory filing, Piramal
Enterprises said Rs 653 crore of
this pertains to funds that have
no exposure to any debtor com-
panies. Of the remaining Rs 3,164
crore, Rs. 1,737 crore worth of
downstream investments have
been made by the AIF into three
entities that are (or were in the
exposure of 32.8 mln rupees in one of
the downstream investments of
IIFL Fintech Fund, it said.
The RBI on Tuesday directed reg-
ulated entities against investing in
alternative investment funds that
have investments, either directly or
indirectly, in a debtor company. A
debtor company of the regulated en-
tity is any company to which the
regulated entity has or had loan or
equity exposure anytime during the
preceding 12 months.
In the first half of the current financial
year ending March, Coal India auctioned a
total of 32 mln tn of coal, and aims to put an-
other 60 mln tn under the hammer in Oct-
Mar. The world's largest coal miner has al-
ready asked all its subsidiaries to rout 60%
of the coal meant for e-auctions through the
in-house auction portal, and completely
switch to this portal from Jan 1, officials
According to a TechCrunch re-
port last week, citing sources,
"the funding talks are ongoing
and the terms may change".
Both Tribe Capital and
Shiprocket did not comment on
the report.
Bengaluru-headquartered
Shiprocket aims to become IPO-
ready in the next 12 to 18 months.
It aims to disburse around Rs 100
crore to SMBs in the next 12
months.
Launched in 2017, Shiprocket
provides a technology stack to
help retailers integrate their
shopping websites on Shopify,
Magento, WooCommerce, Zoho,
and others. Shiprocket also offers
state-of-the-art fulfilment
solutions with more than 45
warehouses located across the
country.
show in Greater Noida (Uttar
Pradesh), there will be a wine and
spirits section. Over 2,500 global
buyers, 5,000 domestic buyers and
86 retail chains would be partici-
pating in the show apart from over
120 foreign exhibitors.
The world trade in the segment
is being captured by Scotch (USD
13 billion). When asked if FTAs of
India will help promote these ex-
ports, he said, "This is also one of
the areas where we are trying to
negotiate upon...we are also trying
to see the duty concessions that are
required in various destinations,
we get (that)".
"Taking a con-
servative view of
the regulatory in-
tent, PEL intends
to adjust the
entire Rs 3,164 crore in our finan-
cial statements through capital
funds or provisions. We are en-
gaging with relevant stakehold-
ers to finalize the details," it said.
According to a brokerage firm
Emkay report, PEL will be pro-
viding for this entire Rs 3,160
crore; as a result, FY24 reported
P&L should see a material
impact and estimated losses
would be Rs 2,200 crore in FY'24.
Earlier this week, the Reserve
Bank barred banks and NBFCs
from investing in any scheme of
AIFs having investment in com-
panies that have taken loans
from the lenders concerned in
the past 12 months to curb the
BEYOND FINANCIAL AID
PTI / New Delhi
The Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) has signed a loan
agreement with the Central government to
provide an Official Development Assis-
tance (ODA) loan of 400 billion Japanese
Yen (approximately Rs 22,627 crore) as
tranche five for the construction of the
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail
(MAHSR) project.
"This is the largest commitment amount
through a single project loan agreement in
the history of JICA, across the globe," ac-
MONEY
said.
"This will help improve synergies as the
entire coal handling mechanism in the auc-
tions will be done by all Coal India sub-
sidiaries and thus improve coordination," a
second official at Central Mine Planning &
Design Institute said.
Earlier, all e-auction sales were handled
by state-owned MSTC Ltd, and Mjunction
Services Ltd - a joint venture of Steel Author-
ity of India Ltd and Tata Steel Ltd. The for-
mer would auction 60% of the total volume,
and Mjunction handled the rest.
From the start of the new year, both these
companies will effectively cease to auction
any more coal from Coal India.
"Our charges mechanism and pricing is
also different from what was the norm for
MSTC and Mjunction; we will be charging
on a pro-rata basis instead of charging in a
single instance," said the first official from
Central Mine Planning & Design Institute,
which is headed towards listing on bourses.
NIIF to invest `675 cr in GMR
Airports Infra arm's airport
PTI / New Delhi in GMR Visakhapatnam Interna-
tional Airport Ltd (GVIAL), GMR
National Investment and Infra- Group said.
structure Fund (NIIF) is planning The transaction envisages
to invest up to Rs 675 crore on the a primary investment by Nation-
upcoming greenfield internation- al Investment and Infrastructure
al airport at Bhogapuram in Fund in the form of Compulsorily
Andhra Pradesh, which is being Convertible Debentures (CCDs)
developed by the GMR group. to be issued by GVIAL, it said.
This marks NIIF's second air- GVIAL -- a special purpose ve-
port investment, after the GMR hicle to develop and operate the
Goa International Airport Ltd,
which operates Manohar Inter-
Bhogapuram International Air-
port -- was in 2020 awarded the
national Airport in Goa. concession to develop and
GMR Airports Ltd (GAL) -- a operate the Bhogapuram Inter-
subsidiary of GMR Airports In- national Airport (BIA) to the
frastructure Ltd (GAIL) -- and north of Visakhapatnam under a
NIIF have entered into binding 40-year design-build-finance-op-
agreements for the NIIF to invest erate-and-transfer model.
up to Rs 6.75 billion (Rs 675 crore)
CPI-AL inflation NHAI InvIT plans to raise `80-90 bn
at 3-month high
of 7.37% in Nov debt in Jan or Feb, say sources
INFORMIST / New Delhi INFORMIST / Mumbai
India's CPI inflation for agricul- National Highways Infra Trust,
tural labourers rose to 7.37% in the infrastructure investment
November from 7.08% in Octo- trust of the National Highways
ber, according to data released Authority of India, plans to raise
by the labour bureau. In the year- around 80-90 bln rupees of debt in
ago period, CPI inflation for agri- January or February, officials
cultural labourers was at 6.87%. aware of the development told In-
The overall index for formist on Thursday.
agricultural labourers rose to
1253 last month from 1241 in Oc-
tober.
The infrastructure investment
trust is looking to raise funds
through bank loans and bonds--
"The major contribution to-
wards rise in the general index of
Agricultural Labourers and Ru-
both through public issue and
private placement, one of the
sources said. "See, the total debt
ral Labourers came from food that we are looking to raise is
group to the extent of 10.85 and 8,000-9,000 crores (80-90 bln ru-
10.50 points, respectively, mainly pees) and out of that how much
due to increase in prices of rice, would be through bonds, we are
wheat, atta, pulses, onion, still working out the numbers,"
turmeric whole, garlic, mixed another official involved with the
spices, etc," the bureau said in a transaction said.
release on Wednesday. The trust is looking to issue
Inflation based on CPI for
rural labourers rose to 7.13% last
month, a four-month high, from Nexzu Mobility plans to set
6.92% in October. The index rose
to 1262 in November from 1251 in
October. An upward trend in
both indices was seen across all
up smart EV park in Gujarat,
states except West Bengal and
Himachal Pradesh, the release invest `5,000 cr in 10 years
Shareholders
approve Byju's
FY22 audited
financials
IANS / New Delhi
Edtech major Byju's sharehold- PTI / Mumbai
ers have approved the company's
audited financials for the fiscal Atulya Mittal-founded electric
year 2022 at its high-voltage An- mobility firm Nexzu Mobility
nual General Meeting (AGM). has proposed to set up a smart
The AGM also cleared a reso- EV Park in Gujarat and plans to
lution on reappointment of invest Rs 5,000 crore in the
MSKA & ASSOCIATES, a mem- project over the next 10 years, the
ber firm of BDO International, as company said on Thursday.
Byju's statutory auditor. Nexzu Mobility said it has
"Think and Learn, the parent signed an initial pact (MoU) with
company of BYJU's, held its An- the state government for this
nual General Meeting (AGM) to- purpose.
day with close to 60 shareholders It also said the work on the pro-
in attendance. All the resolutions posed project is set to begin next
were passed, including the ac- year once land has been allotted
counts for FY22," the company to the company.
said in a statement. "Nexzu Mobility will invest Rs
BDO was re-appointed as the 5,000 crore over the next 10 years
statutory auditors of the compa- to set up the smart EV park in
ny. The auditor BDO later an- Gujarat, which is expected to
swered all questions from share- generate employment for over
holders. 5,000 people," the company said
ment amount of JPY 1 trillion and 50
billion (Rs 59,396 crore) since 2017.
This assistance goes beyond the finan-
cial aid to include a range of technical con-
tributions, such as feasibility studies, fun-
damental and intricate design work, train-
ing programmes in Japan, collaboration
on station area development, and the de-
ployment of Japanese Shinkansen experts
to work alongside the executing agency,
cording to a JICA statement issued on the National High-Speed Rail Corporation
Thursday. JICA has been supporting the Limited (NHSRCL), JICA said.
MAHSR bullet train project by providing The objective of the project is to develop
ODA loans with the cumulative commit- a high-frequency mass transportation sys-
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
Can India sustain high growth
without triggering inflation?
D
espite expectations of an
economic downturn
globally, India's economy
is progressing swiftly. However,
could this development become
a reason for inflation in India?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
recently stated that the country's
economy could grow by up to
7% in FY 2023-24, exceeding the should take cues from India's
initial estimate of 6.5%. ongoing growth or sustained
However, the inflation rate is
expected to be 5.4%, surpassing
economic development. If India
trends at 6% growth while the
the 4% target. Fortunately, there economy grows up to 7%, it
is optimism that inflation won't could lead to inflation. But if
increase further. there is harmony between trends
According to the latest and actual economic
assessment by the International development, inflation may not
Monetary Fund (IMF), the growth be a concern.
of the Indian economy is
expected to be around 6.3% in What Do Inflation
the current financial year and the Figures Indicate?
next. While the RBI anticipates a As per data released by the
7% growth in the Indian National Statistical Office on
economy. It remains to be seen Tuesday, India's Consumer Price
whether this growth becomes a Index (CPI) for November stood
cause for inflation. at 5.55%, up from 4.87% in
October.
Rural inflation remained at
5.85% in November 2023, an
increase from October's 5.12%.
Food inflation in November was
8.70%, compared to 6.61% in
October.
November's inflation figures are
still within the RBI's tolerance
band of 2-6%.
What's Happening?
Since GDP growth and inflation What’s Next?
are two sides of the same coin, During Friday's Reserve Bank of
typically, when the economy India meeting, Governor
grows, inflation also rises. Shaktikanta Das stated that
However, the RBI is cautious, India's GDP growth could be 7%
aiming for a steady decrease in in FY24, with Q3 at 6.5% and Q4
inflation, keeping in line with its
4% inflation rate target.
at 6%. Additionally, the GDP
growth rate for the first three-
As mentioned in Mint, according quarters of FY25 is expected to
to Neelkanth Mishra, Chief be around 6.7%, 6.5%, and
Economist at Axis Bank, we 6.4%, respectively.
Teji Mandi (TM Investment Technologies Pvt Ltd) is a SEBI registered Research
Analyst (RA). Information in this article should not be construed as
investment advice. Please visit www.tejimandi.com to know more.
portfolio.
"NHAI has added more roads
to the portfolio, so now we are re-
newing the offer, so we expect
that to happen in January and a
part of that would be funded
through bonds, the official said.
"The timing of that would be clos-
long-term bonds, which would er to January-end or February as
have a maturity of 15-18 years, compared to December or Janu-
where demand from insurance
companies is expected to be
strong. "We are still fine-tuning
ary, which we were thinking of
earlier." The proceeds of the bond
issuances will be used for paying
which route will be through 15
years or 18 years," the official
said. Overall, the trust plans to
the concession fees to NHAI.
In October 2022, National High-
ways Infra Trust raised 15 bln ru-
raise funds around 150-160 bln ru- pees through a public issue of
pees, which would be a mix of bonds, which were rated AAA by
debt and equity. CRISIL Ratings. The trust had
NHAI InvIT has so far not bor- raised funds through bonds ma-
rowed anything in the current fi- turing in 13 years, 18 years and 25
nancial year, the official said, years, that had a separately trans-
adding that the borrowing is ferable and redeemable principal
linked to acquisitions of NHAI parts structure.
KSB to invest
`23 mn in Sunsure
Solarpark Fifteen
INFORMIST / Mumbai
KSB Ltd has entered into a
power purchase agreement and
in a statement. share subscription and share-
The proposed park will serve holders' agreement to invest up
as hub, provide comprehensive to 23 mln rupees in Sunsure So-
solutions for Electric Vehicle larpark Fifteen Pvt Ltd for the
(EV) companies, professionals, purpose of solar power captive
owners, and users by enabling an consumption, according to an ex-
ecosystem in a concentrated area change filing on Thursday.
and infrastructure sharing, The transaction is expected to
among others, it said. be completed within six months.
"With its focus on clean energy Sunsure Solarpark Fifteen
and mobility, high-tech manufac- was incorporated as a special
turing and innovation, Gujarat is purpose vehicle, and it is
a fantastic destination for a engaged in the business of devel-
Smart EV Park. The establish- opment of renewal energy gener-
ment of the park will strengthen ation projects.
the state's standing as an EV In a separate exchange filing,
manufacturing hub and support KSB said the cancellation of the
the 'Make-in-India, Make-for-the- investment and the entering into
World' initiative in the industry," a limited liability partnership
said Mittal. namely Clean Max Circe Power
The proposed Smart EV Park LLP with Clean Max Enviro En-
will be an industrial park with ergy Solutions Pvt Ltd. Since the
ready to move in manufacturing agreement was not effected in
facilities, common testing facili- agreed timeline, the agreement
ties, common R&D units, hous- and investment proposal have
ing, educational and healthcare been revoked and terminated.
facilities. In October 2020, KSB had in-
It will also include facilities de- vested and entered into a limited
signed to train professionals on liability partnership namely
the latest in electronics, battery Clean Max Circe Power LLP
manufacturing, powertrains and with Clean Max Enviro Energy
other EV components, the com- Solutions.
tem by constructing the High-Speed Rail
between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, using
Japan's Shinkansen technology, thereby
enhancing mobility in India and contribut-
ing to regional economic development.
Saito Mitsunori, Chief Representative,
JICA India said: "I am happy to witness
great progress in the MAHSR project. As
we mark the signing of the latest loan
agreement, we are once again reminded to
renew our commitment to support the
NHSRCL and various stakeholders to-
wards achieving the goal of the successful
completion of the project.
 Gillespie backs Starc’s IPL deal but questions Cummins massive price
SPORTS BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
SYDNEY: Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie has questioned Pat Cummins’ massive IPL
price tag, saying T20 cricket is not the quick’s best format but backed Mitchell Starc’s
jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore deal.”Pat’s obviously a quality bowler and a quality leader,
we’ve seen that. I just don’t think T20 is his best format,” Gillespie told SEN Radio.

RAJAT PATIDAR MAKES ODI DEBUT, SCORE 22 RUNS IND W V/S AUS W POOJA, SNEH BOWL VISITORS OUT FOR 219

Samson’s maiden Shafali, Smriti hammer Australia Australia’s first innings, which lasted 77.4

ODI ton leads overs and 305 minutes, was boosted by a

superb counter-attacking half-century by
Tahila McGrath (50 off 56 balls), who
hammered the fastest Test half-century by

India to 296 for 8

PAARL (SOUTH AFRICA)
Sanju Samson carved a well-
measured maiden ODI hun-
dred as India posted a chal-
lenging 296 for eight against
South Africa in the series-
deciding third match here
on Thursday.
Samson (108 off 114 balls)
found a perfect sidekick in
the patient Tilak Varma,
who struck his first ODI
fifty (52 off 77 balls), as they
milked 116 precious runs for
the fourth-wicket to place
India in a position to win
this series.Samson and Var-
ma came together when In-
dia were slightly wobbling
at 101 for three after being
asked to bat first.But the
pair showed excellent situa-
tional awareness.
Their partnership was all
about pragmatism without
letting go of any opportunity
to unfurl any big shot.
Usually a free-flowing hit-
ter, Samson shelved his ma-
cho intentions for a large
part of his innings, concen-
trating on singles and twos
as the Boland Park pitch
also had this slight bite on
it.But the right-hander in-
termittently brought out his
T20 avatar into play like
when he smashed
pacer Nandre
Burger for a big six
over mid-wicket or
while executing an
exquisite inside-
out loft over cover
off left-arm spin-
ner Keshav Ma-
But before India made that
good fightback, the Proteas
bowlers had them on the
ropes taking three
wickets.Debutant Rajat
Patidar, who stepped in for
an injured opener Ruturaj
Gaikwad was a treat to
watch during his 16-ball 22,
South Africas bowler Nandre Burger, right, celebrates after bowling
Indias batsman Rajat Patidar PTI
harsan in front of the wicket
with a delivery that was an-
gled into him from over the
wicket.KL Rahul helped
Samson add 52 runs for the
third wicket but the Indian
captain’s effort to pull Mul-
der resulted in a catch to
stumper Heinrich Klaasen
an Australian woman batter off 52
deliveries. Beth Mooney contributed a
patient 40 and skipper Alyssa Healy scored
38 but the rest of the batters failed to fire
MUMBAI
Pooja Vastrakar claimed her best
Test figures in her third Test, 4/53
and Sneh Rana bagged 3-56 as
India Women bundled out Aus-
tralia Women for 219 and then
knocked off 98 runs for the loss of
one wicket to take the honours on
the opening day of the only Test of
the multi-format series, at the
Wankhede Stadium here on
Thursday.
In reply, Smriti Mandhana and
Shafali Verma batted freely, hit-
ting some beautiful shots as India
raced to 50 in 46 balls) Both capi-
talised on the wayward bowling by
the Australians, hitting 12 bound-
aries in the first nine overs. They
added 90 runs for the opening
wicket before Shafali Verma was
out for 40, trapped before the wick-
et as she missed a straight one. Her
40 off 59 was studded with eight
boundaries.At stumps, Smriti
Mandhana was batting on 43 off 49
balls (8x4) with Sneh Rana keeping
her company at four. India would
now look to bat through the second
day to take a big lead and put fur-
ther pressure on the Australian
Women, who are playing a Test in
India after 40 years.
Earlier, Healy could not have
imagined that they would be out
cheaply when she won the toss and
elected to bat in her debut Test as
captain They got off to a poor start
but recovered a bit before losing
two wickets late in the first session
UMESH YADAV AFTER BEING
SIGNED UP BY GT
as the hosts took control of the pro-
ceedings on the first day.
Australia were in trouble soon
after the start as they lost Phoebe
Litchfield (0) and Ellyse Perry
with only seven runs on the board.
In the 4th over, McGrath struck
back-to-back boundaries off Renu-
ka Thakur — the first a drive
through covers off a length ball,
followed by an even better square
drive through the gully.India
could have had a third wicket but
Mooney survived as a DRS review
by India goes in favour of the bat-
ter.
The ball by Renuka Thakur jags
in past the outside edge and hits
the left-hander on the front pad.
The ball tracker shows it was go-
ing down leg and the TV umpire
rules it as an umpire’s call.Mc-
Grath struck Renuka Thakur for
two more fours — a superb punch
past point in the seventh over and
then another one off a wide deliv-
ery in the ninth over. She also
drilled a stunning cover drive off
Vastrakar in the 10th over, a copy-
book shot with a long stride for-
ward and the back knee bent per-
fectly.
Mooney, who held up one end
with a patient knock, used the DRS
to good effect by getting an lbw de-
cision in her favour as she tried to
build a partnership with skipper
Alyssa Healy, who opened her ac-
count with a superb six off Deepti
Sharma after going scoreless for 12
deliveries.
ENGLAND COACH MOTT FEELS
But India made another break-
through when Harmanpreet Kaur
brought back Pooja Vastrakar be-
fore lunch and the pacer struck off
the final delivery before the break.
Pooja pitched it short outside off
and Mooney (40b, 2x4)tried to cut it
but only managed to glove it to
Sneh Rana at first slip.After lunch,
Alyssa Healy (38) and Annabel
Sutherland added 40 runs for the
fifth wicket but Pooja Sharma end-
ed their partnership when she
bowled the Australian skipper try-
ing to sweep a delivery that stayed
low. Kim Garth was the next major
contributor to the Australian
score as she remained unbeaten
on 28, adding 30 runs for the ninth
wicket with Jess Jonassen (19).
Bowling in four spells, three of
them from the Garware end, Vas-
trakar claimed one wicket from
the Tata End in his first spell and
then claimed the all-important
wicket of Beth Mooney from the
Garware end in her second spell
on the stroke of lunch.
With the 24-year-old pacer from
Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh, being
India’s best bowler of the day,
skipper Harmanpreet Kaur used
her judiciously, bringing her in to
break the rhythm of the
Australian batters. And Vastrakar
did not disappoint her as she
claimed wickets at crucial inter-
vals.Sneh Rana picked the key
wicket of Tahlia McGrath, getting
her to flick uppishly to midwicket,
and added Alana King (5) and Lau-
ren Cheatle (6) to her tally after
Tea for a 3-56 haul.
Brief scores:
Australia 219 all out in 77.4 overs
(Tahlia McGrath 50, Beth Mooney
40, Alyssa Healy 38, Kim Garth 28
not out; Pooja Vastrakar 4-53, Sneh
Rana 3-56, Deepti Sharma 2-45) vs
India Women 98/1 in 19 overs
(Shafali Verma 40, Smriti Mand-
hana batting 43; Jess Jonassen 1-4).

It will be fun to play Stokes and Archer will have

haraj for a four.His
fifty came off 66
balls with a single
to third man off

with old friends T20 Word Cup places kept open

pacer Beuran Hen-
dricks.But at the
other end, Varma
generally strug-
gled for flow as he TAROUBA (TRINIDAD AND
could find a bound-
ary only in his 39th
ball, a scratchy
Shami and Mohit Star
TOBAGO)

pull off Hen-
dricks.However,
the left-hander
gave company to
Samson to take In-
dia out of the
woods. Indias Tilak Varma (L) and Sanju Samson (R) run between the wickets AFP
Finally, Varma
fell in his venture to acceler-
ate, a miss-timed sweep off
Maharaj ending in the
hands of Wiaan Mulder in
the deep.But Samson
carried on and was not to be
denied a hundred this
time.The landmark moment
for him came when he
pushed Maharaj to long-off
for a single as the dressing
room went on its feet to ap-
plaud a fine dig.Samson was
dismissed as he tried to up
the ante as a skier off pacer
Lizaad Williams was snaf-
fled by Reeza Hendricks in-
side the rings.However, a
good cameo by Rinku Singh
(38 off 27 balls) helped India
motor on in the end phase of
the innings.
NEW DELHI
Veteran India fast-bowler
Umesh Yadav, who was
roped in by Gujarat Titans
for INR 5.8 crore at the IPL
2024 auction in Dubai, ex-
exhibiting wonderful eye- after the ball took a deflec- pressed excitement about
hand coordination.But tion off his thigh pads.How- the prospect of playing
Burger’s lovely in-dipper ever, India found two will- alongside his old friends,
that disturbed the stumps ing soldiers in Samson and fast-bowlers Mohammed
snapped his stay and Hen- Varma who effected an es- Shami and Mohit
dricks trapped Sai Sud- cape. Sharma, in the
upcoming edi-
SCOREBOARD tion of the
tournament.
India innings:Rajat Patidar b Burger 22Sai Sudharsan lbw b “It’s been
Beuran Hendricks 10 Sanju Samson c Reeza Hendricks b quite a featured for England since
Williams 108 KL Rahul (c) c Klaasen b Mulder 21Tilak while
Varma c Mulder b Maharaj 52Rinku Singh c Reeza since Sha-
Hendricks b Burger 38 Axar Patel c Mulder b BE Hendricks mi, Mohit
1Washington Sundar c Markram b BE Hendricks 14 Sharma
Arshdeep Singh not out 7Avesh Khan not out 1 Extras: (B- and me
1, LB-5, NB-1, W-15) 22 Total: (For 8 wickets in 50 overs) were part of
296 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-49, 3-101, 4-217, 5-246, 6- the 2015 World
255, 7-277, 8-293. Bowling: Nandre Burger 9-0-64-2, Cup squad. Those
Lizaad Williams 10-0-71-1, Beuran Hendricks 9-0-63-3, memories are
Wiaan Mulder 7-0-36-1, Keshav Maharaj 10-2-37-1, Aiden coming back.
Markram 5-0-19-0. The way Shami
all-rounder Ben
Stokes’ match-winning
is bowling now, I feel we prowess and Jofra
will have a lot of fun. We Archer’s “box-office pace”
have had a partnership are a must for England in
with the red ball and I the 2024 T20 World Cup
feel he will be and the two injured play-
bowling with the ers will have places kept
new ball. So, we open in the team for them,
will have to work said white-ball coach
on strategies for Matthew Mott.
the middle Stokes is recovering
overs,” said Ya- from a knee operation he
dav to broad- underwent in November
casters and hopes to be fit to cap-
JioCin- tain England in the Test
ema. series in India in January-
March next year. While
fast bowler Archer has not
March because of an elbow
injury.The duo is expected
to make the T20 World Cup
squad for the showpiece
event starting in June, fit-
ness permitting.
“I think that’s a given,”
Mott said when asked
whether Stokes and
Archer will be in the mix
for World Cup selection.
“Ben, aside from his in-
credible match-winning
ability in every depart-
ment, gives us that ability
to have a seam bowler in
your top six that gives you
so many options with your
team balance...It makes se-
lection a hell of a lot
easier. So that’s a given,”
he said ahead of the fifth
and final T20I against
West Indies here.
“In terms of Jofra, you’ve
just got absolute box-office
pace, change of pace, bowl
any over in the innings.
Bowl your Super Over,
bowl your last over when
they need to. Him on the
park is massive, everyone
would agree with that.”
Archer has struggled with
a series of injuries which
have kept him out of Test
cricket since 2021. He
played just seven white-
ball games in 2023. He has
not been selected in the
Test squad to tour India in
January-Match next year.
The T20 World Cup will
be held in June next year
in the West Indies and
United States.Mott also in-
dicated that the opening
pair of Jos Buttler and Phil
Salt is also expected to be
in the T20 World Cup
team.

CRICKET DIGEST
RECREATIONAL DRUG USE
Zimbabwe Cricket suspends
two national players
HARARE: Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)
announced on Thursday that it has
suspended two men’s international
players from all cricket activities
with
immediate
effect for
recreational
drug use.
The
concerned
players,
Wessly
Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta,
both tested positive for a banned
recreational drug in an out-of-
competition case recorded during a
recent in-house doping test.
ZC added that pending a hearing
for breaching anti-doping rules, the
duo will not be a part of cricketing
activities. “They have been charged
under the ZC Code of Conduct for
Players and Team Officials and will
appear for a disciplinary hearing
soon,” it said.The news comes as a
huge blow after men’s head coach
Dave Houghton resigned in this
week after Zimbabwe failed to
qualify for 2024 Men’s T20 World
Cup. Zimbabwe had also failed to
qualify for this year’s Men’s ODI
World Cup in India.
TEST SQUAD FOR
AUSTRALIA SERIES
West Indies include 7
uncapped players
ST JOHN’S (ANTIGUA): West Indies
announced a 15-man squad
featuring seven uncapped players
for next month’s two-match Test
series against Australia with Kraigg
Brathwaite leading the and Alzarri
Joseph will be his deputy.
The seven uncapped players in the
squad are: batter Zachary McCaskie,
wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach;
allrounders Justin Greaves, Kavem
Hodge and Kevin Sinclair, as well as
fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and
Shamar Joseph.The West Indies
squad will arrive in Australia on
December 30 and will hold a
preparation camp from January 2
to 9 in Adelaide, followed by a
four-day First Class warm-up match
against a Cricket Australia XI at the
Karen Rolton Oval (KRO) in Adelaide
from January 10 to 13 .
West Indies Test squad: Kraigg
Brathwaite (c), Alzarri Joseph (vc),
Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk
McKenzie. Alick Athanaze, Kavem
Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua
DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, Gudakesh
Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair,
Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph,
Zachary McCaskie
INJURY BLOW FOR PAKISTAN
Khurram Shazad ruled out
of Australia series
MELBOURNE: Pakistan have
suffered a blow with pacer Khurram
Shazad missing the remainder of
his side’s ongoing Test series
against Australia
due to stress
fracture in his ribs
and an abdominal
muscle tear.
Shazad
complained of
discomfort in his
left side during
the first Test.
against Australia
in Perth and scans
revealed the
right-armer had
picked up a stress fracture in his
ribs and an abdominal muscle
tear.”Khurram Shazad has been
ruled out of the Test series against
Australia due to a stress fracture in
his left 10th rib, as well as an
abdominal muscle tear,” Pakistan
Cricket Board said in a statement
on Thursday.”He will then return to
the NCA in Lahore where he will
continue his injury management
and rehabilitation,” it added.
Back-up quicks Hasan Ali and
Mohammad Wasim Jnr loom as the
most likely replacements given they
are already in Australia and in the
touring party, with star pacer
Naseem Shah sidelined for the tour
with injury.
LANDSCAPE GARDENER
18 MONTHS BACK
Spencer Johnson makes his
mum smile with hefty
IPL paycheck
MELBOURNE: Without a
professional cricket contract,
Australia’s Spencer Johnson
was a landscape gardener till
last year
but fast
forward
18
months
the pacer
is proud
that he
put a
smile on
his
mother’s
face, by bagging a hefty IPL
deal with the Gujarat Titans.
Johnson’s IPL millionaire price
CricFan TV
tag after Gujarat Titans shelled
out Rs 10 crore for him at the
announces Queens
auction in Dubai on Tuesday
capped an extraordinary rise as of Cricket- women’s
there was a time, not too long
ago, when it looked like his
cricket career could be
cricket chat-Show
over.”Eighteen months (ago) I MUMBAI
didn’t have a state deal or a
Big Bash contract. I was
CricFan TV announced the exclusive India
working as a landscaper and broadcast of the world’s first ever women’s
greenskeeper. So fast-forward
cricket chat-show titled “Queens of Cricket”.
18 months, yeah it’s definitely Shooting for the first of the 20-episode series
different situations,” he told that features Indian cricketers Radha Yadav
reporters here.
and ShikhaPandey, began here at a city studio
A recurring stress fracture in in the presence of Marc Hayward the driving
his foot, first suffered during
his professional debut for
force behind CricFan TV. The show will go on
air with its first episode on the Sports18 net-
South Australia in a one-day work
game way back in 2017, led to and Jio on 27 th December 2023.The first-ever
three years out of the game female-focused cricket chat show, designed to
and loss of contract.
celebrate and empower womenin sports show-
After surgery and prolonged
casing the rapid growth of Women’s cricket not
rehabilitation, the 28-year-old
just in India but across the world.”
left-arm pacer regained his
South Australia contract
midway 2022 and made his
Big Bash League debut for
Brisbane Heat in January this
year.Johnson was largely
unknown outside of state
cricket circles before he
announced himself as a fast
bowler of note for the Heat in
last season’s Big Bash League
with his 150 km/h
thunderbolts.
 Saweety Boora aims to defend her crown at Nationals
GREATER NOIDA: All eyes will be on Saweety Boora as the reigning world champion will look to defend her 81kg title in the
Women’s National Championship which begins here on Thursday. The competition will feature over 300 boxers from 35 units
competing across 12 weight categories for top honours., Saweety, who claimed silver at the 2014 World Championships in the
SPORTS
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
light heavyweight category, has also bagged gold (2022), silver (2015), and bronze (2021) at the Asian Championships.

SPORTS DIGEST CONTROVERSY ALSO BEGINS IN WRESTLING ARENA 85TH SENIOR NATIONAL
BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
Former Argentine soccer player
Ezequiel Lavezzi hospitalized
MONTEVIDEO (URUGUAY): Former Argentine soccer
player Ezequiel Lavezzi was hospitalizedin the beachfront
Brij Bhushan-aide Sanjay Singh Lakshya Sen,
Aakarshi Kashyap
Uruguayan city of Punta del Este with a shoulder blade

elected new WFI chief

fracture. A police report
obtained by The Associated
Press says the 38-year-old
Lavezzi was found with the
injury at 5 a.m. after he
attended a party in his
mansion.
Lavezzi, who played for Paris
Saint-Germain, Napoli, San
Lorenzo and the Argentine
national team, was taken to
the Sanatorio Cantegril
hospital with his girlfriend,
Natalia Borges.”It is unknown how the injury came
about,” the police report said.Police said Lavezzi was at a
party in his mansion in the region of José Ignacio, where
he has lived since 2019. Police investigator Paola
Hernández said witnesses will be interviewed throughout
the day.
Messi’’s Miami opens MLS on Feb. 21.
Star could miss at least 6 matches
NEW YORK: Lionel Messi’s first full season with Major
League Soccer’s Inter Miami starts Feb. 21 at home
against Real Salt Lake in a
matchup three days ahead of
other openers, and the
eight-time Ballon d’Or
winner could miss at least six
games while with
Argentina’s national team.
MLS released its schedule
Wednesday, with each team
playing 34 matches, The
New York Red Bulls offered a
holiday ticket promotion
with one catch, that a game
against Miami wouldn’t be included. Miami visits the Red
Bulls on March 23 during a FIFA international fixture
window when Messi could be with Argentina.
Liverpool routs West Ham 5-1 and
advances to the League Cup semis
LIVERPOOL: After finishing last season empty-handed,
Liverpool kept its four-pronged trophy pursuit alive by
advancing to the League Cup semifinals with a 5-1 win
Sanjay, who is UP
Wrestling Association
Vice President and
hails from Varanasi,
secured 40 votes as
against seven that his
rival and 2010 CWG
gold medallist Anita
Sheoran got.
The new Madhya
Pradesh chief minister
Mohan Yadav, who
did not turn up for
the polls, got only
five votes in the VP
election
NEW DELHI
Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay
Singh on Thursday became
the new President of the
Wrestling Federation of
India (WFI) with his panel
comfortably winning 13 of
the 15 posts
“It’s a triumph for thou-
sands of wrestlers in the
country who suffered in the
past 7-8 months,” Sanjay
Singh told reporters after his
huge win.”We will respond to
politics with politics and
wrestling with wrestling,”
Sanjay replied when asked
about politics being played
within federation.
The panel of Sheoran, a
CWG gold medallist, though
managed to win the key post
of secretary general with
Prem Chand Lochab, a for-
mer RSPB secretary, defeat-
ing Darshan Lal 27-19.Deven-
der Singh Kadian, who runs
a chain of food joints on Na-
tional Highways and is con-
sidered to be close to protest-
ing wrestlers, claimed the
senior vice president’s post,
beating I D Nanavati 32-15.
The victory of these two
candidates from the Sheoran
camp suggests that a compro-
mise formula must have been
worked out since Sanjay won
by a huge margin while votes
were split in the elections for
these two posts.The WFI of-
fice expectedly wore a festive
look with Brij Bhushan sup-
porters shouting victory slo-
gans.Slogans like ‘Sanjay
bhaiya kya le ke chale, Brij
Bhushan ki khadau le ke
chale’ (What did Sanjay
carry with him, Brij
Bhushan’s wooden slippers)
also reverberated inside the
BJP MP’s bunglow that hous-
es the WFI office.
Sakshi quits sport
Less than one kilometre
away from the WFI office,
country’s top wrestlers Ba-
jrang Puna, Vinesh Phogat
and Sakshi addressed media,
expressing their disappoint-
ment at the outcome of the
WFI polls.
Sakshi, as a mark of protest
against the election result,
quit the sport. It is another
matter that she had been
struggling of late and had lost
trials to young wrestler Son-
am Malik several times.
The three wrestlers were
face of the protest against the
BJP MP, who they
had accused
of sexually
exploit-
ing sev-
eral
women
wrestlers, including juniors.
“We fought from our heart
but if a man like Brij
Bhushan, his business part-
ner and a close aide has been
elected as the president of
WFI, then I quit wrestling,”
said a teary-eyed Sakshi, and
kept her shoes on the table in
a dramatic announcement.
Stage set for lifting
UWW ban on WFI
The WFI elections will also
pave the way for lifting the
UWW ban on it. The world
governing body of the game
had banned WFI for not con-
ducting election on time, forc-
ing Indian wrestlers to com-
pete as neutral athletes at the
2023 World Championships.
“Dabdabba tha,
dabdabba
rahega...”:
Brij Bhushan
Singh said that it
is the victory of
wrestlers across
the country and
added “dabdabaa tha,
dabdabba rahegaa”
(dominance was
there, domi-
nance will
stay!).
“This is not my personal
victory, this is the victory of
the wrestlers of the country.
All wrestling activities were
stopped for 11 months. I
hope that after the forma-
tion of the new federation,
wrestling events will re-
sume which were paused for
the past 11 months,” said
Brij Bhushan to the media.
“A message has been giv-
en. Every akhaada in the
country is bursting fire-
crackers. Dabdabaa tha,
dabdabaa rahega!. I want to
give the credit of victory to
the wrestlers of the country
and the electors. I want to
thank the government as
well.
march on
GUWAHATI the next round.
Second-seeded Ashmita
Commonwealth Games Chaliha defeated Suzen
gold medallist and top Burhagohain 21-13, 21-10
seed Lakshya Sen and to set up a face-off with
top-billed Aakarshi Delhi’s Rishika
Kashyap
reached the
men’s and
women’s
singles
third
round re-
spectively
in the 85th
Senior Na-
tional Bad-
minton
Champi-
onships
here on
Thursday.
Sen ward-
ed off T
Sidarth 21-
8, 21-5,
while
Aakarshi
was made
to sweat by
Rituparna
Das before
emerging a
21-18, 21-11
winner in 32 minutes. Nandi.Unnati Hooda, the
Sen and Sidarth were 2023 Abu Dhabi Masters
cautious in the first champion, triumphed
game as the players over Manisha Rani
fought for each point un- Tirkey of Jharkhand
til they reached a tie at 5- 21-11, 21-17, setting up a
5. He then accelerated to third-round clash with
secure the first game at Tanvi Sharma.Sharma,
21-8.The ace shuttler to- the silver medallist in
tally dominated the sec- Badminton Asia’s U17
ond game to win it 21-5 and U15 Junior Cham-
and wrapped the match pionships in 2023, faced
in just 25 minutes. a tough time against
Later, BWF 2023 World Shreya Lele, ultimately
Junior Championships securing a 21-18, 22-24,
bronze medallist Ayush 21-13 victory in 56 min-
Shetty faced a tough utes.Defending champi-
challenge from Neer Ne- on and former Junior
hwal but emerged victo- world No. 1 Anupama
rious 23-25, 21-18, 21- Upadhyaya defeated
12.He will face seventh- Taneesha Singh 21-5,
seeded Alap Mishra in 21-12.

ULTIMATE KHO KHO LEAGUE SEASON 2

over West Ham. Curtis Jones scored twice, with Dominik
Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah also
getting goals in the largely one-sided game at Anfield.
Jarrod Bowen struck a consolation goal for West
Ham.Liverpool will play Fulham in the two-legged
Gujarat Giants name
semifinals, and second-division Middlesbrough will face
Chelsea.”The performance, the scoresheet, the result and
the individual performances put together to make a
team on the pitch,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said
captain and vice-captain
on Wednesday.
CUTTACK
Ethan Mbappé, 16, makes his debut for
PSG and joins brother Kylian Ultimate Kho-Kho League
PARIS: After watching his brother Kylian Mbappé score franchise Gujarat Giants
for Paris Saint-Germain, 16-year-old midfielder Ethan have announced their cap-
Mbappé made his debut for the French champion. tain and the vice-captain
ahead of the second season
with Akshay Bhangre lead-
ing the squad and Patta
Narsayya will be his
deputy.
This will be Akshay’s
first foray into the
Ultimate Kho-Kho League.
Having started playing
when he was in the fifth
grade, Akshay, who is a de-
fender, represented Maha-
rashtra in national compe-
titions at the senior and
junior levels. He captained
the Maharashtra senior
team and also the Indian
Kho Kho team.”It is my
first season in the Ultimate
The French league leader finished the game with the two Kho Kho League, and I am
brothers on the field after the teenaged Mbappé came honoured that Gujarat Gi-
on for Manuel Ugarte during stoppage time in a 3-1 ants have trusted me with
home win against Metz on Wednesday. captaincy. The Giants are a
Kylian Mbappé scored twice on his 25th birthday to very strong franchise and I
extend his league-leading tally to 18 goals.Ethan Mbappé promise to do my best to
is as a technically gifted left-footed midfielder and came lead the team to glory. We
on to the field with their proud parents in the stands at
Parc des Princes. He had been an unused substitute BHOPAL SPORTS
earlier this season against Nice.
He played for the same youth team as his brother Kylian
U-17 HANDBALL COMPETITION
- AS Bondy - and turns 17 on Dec. 29.
Lautaro misses a penalty and Inter
loses to Bologna
Jabalpur girls take
MILAN: Lautaro Martínez had a penalty saved as two-
time defending champion Inter Milan was eliminated
from the Italian Cup by Bologna, which came back to
away the trophy
will try to do our very best team faced Nepal in a Test
every day,” said Akshay. series.”The Gujarat Giants
Patta has been given the have assembled a well-bal-
responsibility of vice-cap- anced squad. The Adani
tain, will be playing his Sportsline management
second season in the Ulti- has given us a free hand to
mate Kho-Kho League. An build a squad as per the
attacker with great flair, needs. Akshay Bhangre
he is a big fan of Kho Kho and Patta Narsayya are
players Prasanna Kumar good leaders and I am con-
and Amit Patil, and has fident they will ensure we
captained his state team. put our best foot forward,”
Patta has also donned the said Sanjeev Sharma, Head
Indian colours when the Coach, Gujarat Giants.
ICAR-Central Zone
Sports Meet concludes
I’m on the right path: Savita
NEW DELHI
Indian
women’s hock-
ey team
captain Savita
Punia on
Thursday said
her third con-
secutive FIH
Goalkeeper of
the Year
Award is a tes-
tament to her
progress on the
right path.
Savita won the recogni-
tion for the third succes-
sive time on Tuesday.
“This acknowledgment
serves as positive encour-
agement for me, confirm-
ing that I am on the right
path,” Savita said in a
Hockey India release.
“While the team has
maintained good form this
year, as we approach 2024,
my goal is to sustain peak
performance and provide
the team with the best op-
portunity to qualify for
the Olympics at the FIH
Hockey Olympic Quali-
fiers in Ranchi next
month,” she added.Savita
credited the entire Indian
team for her success.
“It’s difficult for me to team, Savita has been a
share the overwhelming consistent performer,
emotions I experienced leading India to signifi-
upon learning that I have cant victories in recent
been honoured with this years.
award once more, for the She played a pivotal role
third consecutive in the team’s title win at
year.”My desire to be the the inaugural FIH Hockey
best is fuelled by the Women’s Nations Cup 2022
shared objective of achiev- in Spain, also securing In-
ing victories for the team. dia’s promotion to the FIH
I am not alone in this jour- Pro League 2023-24.She
ney, the entire team de- then led the team to a
fends as one. So, I want to bronze medal at the Asian
dedicate this award to my Games in Hangzhou, fol-
team,” she said. lowed by the title win at
Savita played her first the recent Jharkhand
international match in Women’s Asian Champi-
2011 and since then has ons Trophy.Under her cap-
amassed 266 caps for In- taincy, India also achieved
dia. their best-ever world rank-
A true stalwart for the ings — No. 6 with 2368.83
Indian women’s hockey points.
RCC defeats MCC-A,
Railway Masters secure
victory over Hamidia Sports
OUR STAFF REPORTER
Bhopal

win 2-1 at San Siro after extra time.
Bologna, which last won the trophy in 1974, will face
Fiorentina in the quarterfinals. The Tuscan team beat
second-division Parma on penalties last week.Lautaro
could have given Inter the lead in the 64th minute but
he saw a penalty saved by Bologna goalkeeper Federico
Ravaglia following
a handball by
defender
Tommaso
Corazza.Lautaro is
the leading
goalscorer in Serie
A with 15 goals
this season, but he
has failed to score
seven out of 20
penalty attempts
for Inter.Carlos
Augusto headed
in a corner for
Inter to open the
scoring in the
second minute of
extra time.
Gwalior triumphs in boys’ category RCC defeated MCC-A by one wicket,
OUR STAFF REPORTER while Railway Masters secured a victo-
Bhopal ry over Hameedia Sports by 82 runs in
OUR STAFF REPORTER the Mushroom World Seniors Cup
Bhopal The ICAR-Zonal Sports Cricket.
Jabalpur emerged victorious in the state-level 67th Meet (Central Zone) cul- MCC-A scored 141 runs in 20 overs,
Under-17 Handball Competition girls’ category, minated on Thursday, with contributions from Devansh and
which took place at Tatya Tope Ground in Shivpuri. bringing an end to four Piyush, each playing innings of 27 runs.
The final and semi-final match was held between days of exhilarating In response, ARCC chased down the tar-
teams from Gwalior, Bhopal, Jabalpur, and Tribal competition and sports- get of 144 runs in 18.5 overs, with a re-
Region. manship at TT Nagar markable partnership, led by Sanskar
In the girls’ category final match between Sports Complex. Singh’s brilliant 56 runs off 23 balls.
Jabalpur and the Tribal Development Division, Ja- A total of 464 partici- MCC-A won the exciting match by one
balpur’s team secured a victory with a score of 16-13. pants, including 405 wicket.
Sagar and Shahdol competed for the third position, men and 59 women from In the second match, Railway Mas-
and Sagar triumphed over Shahdol with a score of 8- 12 ICAR institutes situ- ters, choosing to bat first, posted a to-
3. ated in central and tal of 233 runs in 18 overs against
Meanwhile, the boys’ category match was played northern states of India Hamidia Sports, by the help of Sohail
between Gwalior and Bhopal, with Gwalior emerg- took part in the event. ICAR-CIAE Bhopal secured first posi- Masood and Santosh Gharana’s im-
ing victorious with a score of 25-20, claiming the tro- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research In- tion in basketball, badminton mixed pressive centuries. Hamidia Sports,
phy. Bhopal secured the runner-up position. In a stitute, Izatnagar, secured the “Zonal doubles and achieved second positions in reply, managed to score 151 runs in
hard-fought match for the third position, Ujjain de- Overall Championship Award” among in team events like kabaddi, volleyball 15.2 overs, with Sanjay Sharma being
feated Sagar 22-17. Teams from across the state participating institutes, while ICAR- smashing and 4x100 relay. Additionally, the top scorer with 36 runs. Railway
showcased their talent during this four-day tourna- Central Institute of Agricultural Engi- they secured first positions in individ- Masters won the match, and Santosh
ment, featuring league matches and subsequent neering, Bhopal, earned the title of ual categories such as cycle race, car- Gharana was named the Player of the
semi-final matches. “Runners-up.” rom, high jump and table tennis. Match.
 Enrollment T here has been a growth of 26.5% in student
enrolments in schools and higher education
the question hour, he said there has been a 31%
growth in enrolment among girls between 2014-15
institutions after the Narendra Modi government and 2021-22 and the figure for girls belonging to
increase in assumed office in 2014, Education Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan told the Rajya Sabha on
Scheduled Castes (SC) stood at 50%. The
enrollment growth rate for SC and Scheduled Tribe
Modi era Wednesday.
Replying to supplementary queries of MPs during
(ST) students was 44% and 65%, respectively, he
informed. – PTI
BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023

JNU to reconsider proctorial Jhalawar

CAT 2024 results declared: inquiries against students

Medical College
scandal: Student
accuses HOD of

Aspirants await admission

harassment
SIMPLE VISHWAKARMA
PTI / NEW DELHI MUMBAI

The Jawaharlal Nehru Uni- In a shocking incident at Jha-

into top Indian B-schools

LAVANYA AHIRE AND
MEGHA CHOWDHURY / MUMBAI
The anxious waiting period
for India’s MBA aspirants is
over as the Indian Institute
of Management, Lucknow
(IIM Lucknow) announced
the results of the Common
Admission Test (CAT) 2024
that will determine which
Indian B-school these candi-
dates get into. Persevering
through months of hard
work, giving countless
mocks and spending endless
hours in books has finally
borne fruit as the CAT top-
pers rejoice in their small
victories, still apprehensive
of the long journey to inter-
views and their dream col-
lege ahead.
Kumar Sai Vishnu, a 100-
percentile student from
Andhra Pradesh, said, “I’m,
of course, very happy about
it. It was challenging as I was
also working while prepar-
ing for the CAT 2023. I’ve
been preparing since last
year while also being in col-
lege. As advice, I would say
we do not need long hours of
study for CAT is what I feel.
Just take in some hours for
Kumar Sai Vishnu
Abhishek Baraiya
it either in the morning or
late at night.”
Abhishek Baraiya scored
99.98% while studying
Chemical Engineering at
Nirma University. “I am ex-
Stuti Mansata
Unnat Akhouri
tremely happy about the re-
sult but not surprised after
the amount of effort and
time that I put into study-
ing”, he said. Baraiya told us
that his recipe for success
was starting preparations
for CLAT in September 2023,
dedicating a certain portion
of his time every day to
studying for the exam.
One of the female toppers,
Stuti Mansata scored 99.88%
in the exam. She graduated
in 2022 as an IT Engineer
from LJ Institute of Engi-
neering & Technology and
has been working since. “It
was perseverance and dedi-
cation combined with hours
of studies”, she said about
her preparation method.
She told us that working
while studying for CAT was
extremely challenging be-
cause she had to manage her
hours between working and
studying. She wants to get
into IIM Ahmedabad.
Unnat Akhouri got 99.96%
in his CAT exam. A final
year student of NALSAR
University of Law, Hyder-
abad, he talked about his
gruelling journey, juggling
college with thousands of
mock exams that helped him
stay ahead of the curve. He
hopes to get into the top
three IIMs — IIM Ahmed-
abad, IIM Bengaluru or IIM
Calcutta.
versity (JNU)
administration will recon-
sider all proctorial inquiries
initiated against the four stu-
dents' union representatives
and 12 hostel presidents for
holding a protest against wa-
ter shortage, Vice-
Chancellor Santishree Pan-
dit said on Thursday.
The representatives of the
JNU Students' Union
(JNUSU) and the hostel pres-
idents received an inquiry
notice last month for the
protest outside the Vice-
Chancellor’s residence on
Sep 19.
The students' body, however,
said it was not happy with
the "little" consolation.
In a meeting with the JNUSU
representatives and the hos-
tel presidents on Monday,
the Vice-Chancellor assured
to reconsider an appeal by
the JNUSU to withdraw
proctorial inquiries at the ap-
peal stage initiated against
the students over the water
shortage protest.
However, no clarity was giv-
en on the other ongoing in-
quiries by the JNU adminis-
tration.
In a memorandum to the VC
submitted on Dec 15, the
JNUSU demanded the with-
drawal of all ongoing in-
quiries against students for
staging protests, terming the
action as "draconian" and
"arbitrary".
"We, the hostel presidents of
JNU, convened with the
Vice-Chancellor on Dec 18 in
anticipation of addressing
pressing issues affecting the
hostel community. The Vice-
Chancellor informed us that
all proctorial notices will be
reconsidered at an appeal
stage," a statement by the
hostel presidents said.
The JNUSU has called for a
torch march on December 23
on the campus demanding
the withdrawal of the Chief
Proctor Office manual which
penalises protests in selected
areas of the campus, closing
of all proctorial inquiries,
and commencement of stu-
dents' union elections.
The students said that they
were not satisfied with the
"little" consolation and will
continue their call for
protests.
"The promise of an appeal is
little consolation for those
who find them unfairly tar-
geted... As hostel presidents
we will continue our effort to
advocate for our rights and
concerns", they said in the
statement.
The students also alleged
that while the VC acknowl-
edged the issue of the water
crisis faced by students in
several hostels and "vaguely"
assured to take action, no
clear detail or plan was given
citing a "lack of funds".
lawar Medical College, Ra-
jasthan, a first-year female stu-
dent has come forward, accusing
Dr Srikant Shete, the head of the
physiology department, of ha-
rassment, inappropriate touch-
ing, and pressuring her for
friendship.
Following the student's moth-
er’s complaint by an email and a
subsequent written complaint
by the student herself, a five-
member probe committee has
been formed to investigate the al-
legations.Dr Shiv Bhagwan
Sharma, the college's principal,
informed, "A complaint came for
sure; some student lodged a com-
plaint, and an investigation is
underway. The Women's Ha-
rassment Committee is conduct-
ing the inquiry. To avoid affect-
ing the investigation, Dr. Shete
has been sent to the Government
Directory of Medical Education."
According to media reports,
the student alleged that Dr Shete
frequently called her to his
chamber, spoke to her in double-
meaning phrases, stared at her,
and touched her
inappropriately. She further al-
leged that the HOD forced her to
remove her apron and, when she
resisted, began harassing and
making jokes about her in front
of other students.
Dr Shete refused to comment
to The Free Press Journal stat-
ing that his joining process is not
yet complete.

PIB

IIM Kozhikode launches

Study in IIT, that too 14th batch of Sr Mgmt prog
without JEE
EDUCATION DESK / CHENNAI rounded approach. There is biomechanics, injury pre-
EDUCATION DESK / MUMBAI

Indian Institute of Technol-
ogy Madras (IIT Madras)
National Programme on
Technology Enhanced
Learning (NPTEL) is
launching seven new online
courses on sports science,
which is a fast-growing field
in India, according to a
press release issued by the
institution. The courses can
a high demand for skilled
personnel across sports do-
mains with competitive
sports expanding rapidly in
India. These NPTEL
courses equip learners to
understand how to enhance
performance, monitor diet
and training frequencies,
formulate recovery pro-
grams, and offer a holistic
approach to sports science."
vention, sports psychology,
strength training for Indi-
ans, and cultural aspects of
sports.
The areas covered
include exercise
physiology, movement sci-
ence, sports nutrition, in-
jury prevention, training
fundamentals, strength con-
ditioning, and sports psy-
chology. Through theory
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu addressing the golden jubilee celebrations of MNR
Educational Trust at Hyderabad
Kozhikode
ity." Programme directors Prof
Anandakuttan B Unnithan and
The Indian Institute of Manage- Prof Venkataraman S, Associ-
ment (IIM ate Professor added, "We have
Kozhikode) has launched the developed the Senior Manage-
14th batch of the Senior Man- ment Programme to enable par-
agement Programme, accord- ticipants to strengthen their
ing to a press release. leadership capabilities to drive
The institute claimed joining their organisation's growth and
this one-year high-impact lead- success confidently. Partici-
ership course will enable aspir- pants will gain advanced mana-
ing and new business leaders to gerial skills, cross-functional
increase returns on capital, es- acumen, creative problem-solv-
tablish viable long-term part- ing ability, data-savviness, and
nerships, and develop winning an innovation mindset in this
strategies for multiple markets. high-impact one-year learning
The modules will enable par- journey." Emeritus CEO (India

be taken online free of cost.
The institute mentioned
that the online courses are
aimed at bridging the gap
between theory and practi-
cal applications. The cours-
es are tailored to the Indian
With a recommended
12th-standard certificate as
a qualification, learners can
take this introductory
NPTEL course to explore
PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS
and practical knowledge, ticipants to advance their and APAC) Mohan Kannegal,
participants will gain in- leadership potential said, "Recent industry re-
valuable insights to build a and strategic deci- A ports suggest that close
career in sports science. sion-making capa- one-year to 78% of India CEOs,

NPTEL-IIT Madras
Speaking about
course, Prof. Mahesh Pan-
this

chagnula, Co-Principal In- EDUCATION’S ROLE IN bilities through a high-impact as against 54% of
pedagogy consist- course launched by global CEOs, in-
ing of engaging
the premier business and clude automation

and South Asian body struc-
ture and cultural aspects.
The first Batch for these
seven courses will com-
mence classes on Feb 19,
2024, which is also the last
date to apply for the courses
on the NPTEL’s website -
https://nptel.ac.in/courses
The course was initiated
by seven IITs (Madras, Bom-
bay, Delhi, Kanpur, Kharag-
pur, Guwahati and
Roorkee) along with the In-
dian
Institute of Science, Banga-
lore.
Highlighting the impor-
tance of this course, Prof
Andrew Thangaraj, NPTEL
coordinator at the IIT
Madras, said, "This compre-
hensive set of courses will
be a game-changer, address-
ing India-centric sports
needs and promoting a well-
launches specialised free
courses in sports science.
this growing field. The
courses are relevant for stu-
dents pursuing bachelor's
and master's in sports sci-
ences, physiotherapy, phys-
ical education and other re-
lated areas. On completion,
students can pursue diplo-
mas or PG degrees in these
areas. The Center of Excel-
lence in Sports Science and
Analytics at IIT Madras has
introduced courses in this
domain.
These courses are target-
ed towards a broad
audience including coaches,
athletes, trainers, physio-
therapists, and nutrition-
ists, among others. It covers
crucial sports topics such as
vestigator, at the Center of
Excellence in Sports
Science and Analytics, IIT
Madras, said, "These cours-
es are for everyone. For any-
body who is an enthusiast, a
sports person, or who is in-
terested in topics like
strengthening, fitness, con-
ditioning, sports, nutrition,
and psychology."
While the courses are be-
ing offered online on the Na-
tional MOOCs portal of In-
dia, SWAYAM
(swayam.gov. in), for which
enrolment is free, the final
exam will be in-person cen-
tre-based and proctored,
which carries a nominal fee
of Rs 1,000 per course.
Students can gain a do-
main certification in sports
science by completing five
core courses and two elec-
tive courses.
NATION-BUILDING
EDUCATION DESK / MUMBAI
Hyderabad: President
Droupadi Murmu empha-
sised the role of good educa-
tion and health in the overall
development of individuals
while highlighting how
through its knowledge, India
has managed to hold an im-
portant position in the world.
"Good education opens the
doors of progress and good
health keeps a person active
in life", Murmu said at the
golden jubilee celebrations of
MNR Educational Trust in
Hyderabad on Wednesday.
The President hailed the
trust’s vision and efforts,
which she said helped it grow
continuously for 50 years.
Murmu said that today In-
dia holds an important place
in the world's knowledge
economy. The IT companies
located in Telangana, espe-
cially in Hyderabad, and the
talented IT professionals of
the state have a huge contri-
bution to the reputation of In-
dia.
"Our IT professionals are
praised all over the world.
Students pursuing their edu-
cation in Hyderabad have
made their mark in all profes-
sions, including engineering.
Educational institutions have
a remarkable contribution to
this success", she added.
Murmu also said that insti-
tutions active in the field of
education and health should
move forward with the spirit
of cooperation in overall na-
tion-building. For this, they
will have to pay special atten-
tion to rural education and
medical facilities for the peo-
ple of rural areas.
"Making education and
health services accessible to
all is essential for the overall
development of Telangana
and the entire country. MNR
Educational Trust should
make continuous efforts for
the educational development
and health welfare of people
from deprived sections. It
should contribute more to-
wards women's empower-
ment by paying special atten-
tion to their education and
health", she concluded.
live online ses- digitisation
sions, a five-day management goals in their compa-
in-campus immer- institute with ny's long-term corpo-
sion at the IIM Emeritus rate strategy.” Emeri-
Kozhikode campus, a tus is collaborating with
hands-on, integrative ana- IIM Kozhikode in this Senior
lytical project, real-world case Management Programme.
studies, and business simula- “In this context, we at Emer-
tions, the institution claimed. itus are pleased to offer IIM
IIM Kozhikode Director Prof Kozhikode's Senior Manage-
Debashis Chatterjee said, "Busi- ment Programme, which has
nesses today have seen a com- successfully enabled scores of
plete transition than they used participants to redefine their
to run a decade ago. IIM leadership potential through
Kozhikode's Senior Manage- proven frameworks and best
ment Programme has enrolled practices in business strategy,
close to 750+ participants in decision-making, future busi-
thirteen batches. Designed by ness models, and succeed in
world-class faculty at IIM senior leadership positions con-
Kozhikode with cutting-edge fidently”, Kannegal added.
thought leadership and indus- The 14th batch of this profes-
try-leading insights, learners sional certificate programme
will feel empowered to lead begins on Dec 30, 2023, with a
complex business strategies fee of Rs 6,00,000 + GST, with
confidently with data-driven, flexible payment options and
informed decision-making abil- low-cost EMI options.

Ahead of UPSC interviews, IAS and Want to crack defence exams? Find tips here
ex-topper shares expert tips SUNDER GARIYA / MUMBAI

It's a crucial hour for stu-

SUNIDHI VIJAY / MUMBAI
The interview schedule for
the UPSC main exam has
been released by the Union
Public Service Commission
on Dec 19. A total of 1,026 can-
didates are going to appear
for the interview, which is
scheduled to start on Jan 2,
2024, and end on Feb 16, 2024.
Considered as one of the
toughest exams in India,
more than four lakh candi-
dates appear for the prelims
exams each year.
Of these, a little over 10,000
make it to the main exams
and less than 10% of these are
selected for the interview
rounds.
Even though only a select
few will cross the final bar-
rier to land their dream job,
candidates will need a lot of
preparations and expert
tips to ace their interview
round.
To help candidates cross
this hurdle, The Free Press
Journal spoke to IAS
Avinash Kumar, who ranked
17th in the UPSC CSE 2022. He
shared some insightful tips
and suggestions to help the
candidates impress inter-
viewers.
Enlisting the pre-interview
preparations, he advised that
candidates should limit the
number of mock interviews.
There is no correlation be-
tween the mock interviews
given and the score achieved.
"When a candidate gives too
many mock interviews, there
is too much unnecessary
feedback. This would lead to
answers getting mechanical
over time."
During the interview, can-
didates can get too excited
and reckless. He said that it is
important for a candidate to
have a certain amount of seri-
ousness in them. They should
exhibit calmness, and positiv-
ity and should have a balance
of theory as well as practical
knowledge. Candidates
should also make sure that
the tone of the interview is set
correctly.
"Have sufficient
amplitude, ample pause and
give short, succinct answers,"
he said. According to Kumar,
there are times when the can-
didates have to tackle "bounc-
er" or out-of-the-box
questions
which they
must do effi-
EXPERT TIPS
ciently. Candidates should
also not panic in case they
don't have an answer. Accept
that you don't know the an-
swer frankly.
"If you don't have an an-
swer for the question, just
politely say that you are not
able to recall the answer, or
you are not very sure of the
answer." He also advised
candidates not to hide any-
thing about themselves and
to be real. "Your humble
background is what makes
you who you are," said Ku-
mar.
dents across the country
who aspire to get into the de-
fence forces as the Union
Public Service Commission
(UPSC) released the exam
notification for both the
2024 National Defence Acad-
emy (NDA) and Combined
Defence Services (CDS) I on
Wednesday.
As students take to last-
minute scrambling and
seek out expert tips, The
Free Press Journal (FPJ)
talked to a
few individ-
uals who
aced the process earning a
recommendation from the
Service Selection Board
(SSB) to gather tips on
preparation strategy for de-
fence aspirants.
Sweta Tanwar (22) a fe-
male candidate from Delhi,
passed the SSB interview on
her initial attempt after tak-
ing the CDS exam in 2023.
An alumnus of Army
Public School in New Delhi,
Tanwar was fascinated by
the adventurous and disci-
plined life that army per-
sonnel follow which she
Chirag Bohra (Left), Nishtha Vaid (Centre) and Sweta Tanwar (Right)
says became her passion.
Sharing preparation tips,
she said that aspirants need
to focus on the English lan-
guage as it plays a vital role
in the selection.
"It allows you to concen-
trate on other subjects. My
command over the language
was quite good so I could
concentrate on General Sci-
ence.”
Nishtha Vaid (24) from
Jaipur, shared that her
grandfather's career as an
Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot
motivated her to pursue a
career in the armed forces.
Although she initially
aimed for the Indian Med-
ical Corps (IMA) but was
unable to secure a spot at
Pune’s Armed Forces Med-
ical College after
completing school, she re-
mained steadfast in her de-
termination to join the uni-
formed services. Presently,
she has received recommen-
dations for the Army's OTA
Chennai and the Air Force
Academy (AFA) – Hyder-
abad
Speaking on her prepara-
tion for the exam, Vaid said
that she focused on study-
ing NCERT books for the
General Science section.
Additionally, she found on-
line classes to be very bene-
ficial.
On the interview round,
she said, “I love challenges
which helped me in clear-
ing the SSB round. It is just
like a video game – you
complete a task and then
move on to the next. Just be
patient and keep the mind-
set right.”
Vaid also recommended
female candidates aspiring
to join the defence forces to
distinguish themselves
from the competition, as
there is intense competition
and limited availability of
positions.
Uttarakhand-based Chi-
rag Bohra (19) cleared the
NDA written exam and was
selected to OTA Gaya after
clearing the SSB round in
March 2023.
He said that though his fo-
cus was on cracking Mathe-
matics, he saved notes from
classes eighth to 12th for GS,
which helped clear the
exam.
Chirag was recommended
by the SSB-11 Allahabad cen-
tre on his third attempt.
 VASTU | LIFESTLYE
HEALTH & WELLNESS

www.freepressjournal.in MUMBAI | FRIDAY

BHOPAL | FRIDAY||DECEMBER
DECEMBER 22, 22,
2023 2023

Biophilic design tips for a Treatment:

nature-inspired living experience

NEETA SENACHA All About Hidradenitis Lifestyle
    Making
certain lifestyle
changes can help

TRUPTI PALAV
Views of nature
Position
furniture in such
a way that you can
H
idradenitis
Suppurativa
(HS) is a chronic
skin condition that
primarily affects hair
Suppurativa: manage HS. This
includes maintaining
a healthy weight,
avoiding tight clothing,
take advantage of and quitting smoking.
follicles in areas where A chronic skin condition common in women
B
iophilic design views of natural
the skin rubs together, Topical and
is a concept that elements. For oral medications:
such as the armpits,
incorporates example, if there is Antibiotics,
groin, buttocks, and
nature and natural a garden, park, or corticosteroids, and
under the breasts.
elements into the scenic landscape in other medications may
While both men and
living environment, front of the window, be prescribed to reduce
women can be affected,
promoting a sense then avoid placing inflammation and
studies indicate that
of well-being and heavy furniture prevent infection.
pieces that can HS is more commonly
connection to the Biologics: For
block the beautiful diagnosed in women,
outdoors. This more severe cases,
view. This not only especially those
design philosophy Risks associated biologic medications
brings nature into between the ages of
acknowledges the that target specific
profound impact your home but also 20 and 40. The precise with hidradenitis
components of the
nature has on provides a visually reasons for this suppurativa: immune system may
appealing backdrop. gender disparity are Reduced quality of life:
well-being, be recommended to
productivity, Introduce not fully understood, The physical symptoms
but hormonal factors, control inflammation.
and overall natural light Flaunt nature- Decorate outdoor of HS, combined with
Maximize the use of genetic predisposition, the chronic pain Surgery: In cases
happiness! inspired hues living spaces where conservative
natural light in your home. and lifestyle choices and discomfort, can
Here are Select a colour Create an outdoor measures are
Consider large windows, such as smoking significantly impact
some palette inspired extension of your ineffective, surgical
skylights, and glass doors to and obesity may a person’s daily life,
effective by nature. home with a deck, options such as
bring in sunlight. Natural light Earthy tones like contribute to the leading to emotional
ideas to patio or balcony. drainage of abscesses,
not only enhances the visual higher prevalence of distress and social
bring greens, browns, Decorate these excision of affected
appeal of your space but HS in women. HS can isolation.
biophilic and blues can spaces or areas tissue, or laser therapy
also positively affects significantly impact a
design into create a calming with comfortable
person’s quality of life,
Complications: may be considered.
your home. your mood and and grounding outdoor furniture and In severe cases,
productivity. both physically and Hidradenitis
atmosphere. Consider surround yourself
emotionally. In this Suppurativa can lead to
incorporating these with potted, hanging
Prefer natural article, we will explore complications such as
colours in your walls, furniture, soft plants to feature the
the causes, symptoms, cellulitis, sepsis, and the
materials furnishings or decor elements. connection to nature.
risks, and available development of fistulas
Incorporate Feature natural textures Artworks treatment options (abnormal connections
natural materials Prefer textures inspired by Choose artwork for Hidradenitis between structures),
such as wood, stone, nature, such as stone, wood, or or decor that reflects Suppurativa. which may require
and bamboo into even textiles like wool and cotton. nature. Paintings,
your home decor. This tactile experience can evoke photographs, or surgical intervention.
Wooden furniture, a connection to the natural world, sculptures inspired by What are the causes? Symptoms of hidradenitis suppurativa: Associations with
The exact cause of Recurrent
stone countertops, or providing a sense of comfort. natural elements can
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Painful nodules Scarring: As the 
 Hidradenitis other conditions:
bamboo flooring can Add water features serve as focal points and abscesses: The condition progresses, Suppurativa often HS is often Hidradenitis
add a sense of warmth and contribute to is not fully understood, Suppurativa,
If space allows, consider water
but it is believed to result hallmark of HS is the repeated follows a cyclical pattern, associated with
and authenticity, features like a small indoor fountain the overall biophilic the development inflammation and with periods of flares and other conditions, characterized by painful
connecting you to the from a combination of
or a decorative water wall. The sound design. Nature- of painful, swollen healing can result remission. Flares can be including nodules and abscesses,
natural world. inspired accents are genetic, environmental, disproportionately
of flowing water can have a calming
and immune system nodules or abscesses. in the formation of triggered by factors such metabolic
Add indoor plants and soothing effect, enhancing the beneficial to give you a These lumps can scars, which may as stress, hormonal syndrome, impacts women, with
Nature brings sense of serenity. factors. HS often begins inflammatory a higher prevalence
overall ambience. rupture, leading to the lead to restricted changes, and
happiness to the after puberty and bowel disease, and observed in the female
release of pus. movement in the friction.
homeowners! Bring Choose sustainable design is more common in arthritis. population.
affected
the outdoors inside Consider sustainable and eco-friendly women, people with Tunnels under the areas.
by incorporating design elements. Opt for furniture made a family history skin (Sinus tracts): Although both genders can experience this
indoor plants. Select a from recycled materials, use energy- of the condition, Over time, tunnels or chronic skin condition, hormonal influences
variety of plants that efficient lighting, and choose products and those who channels may form and other contributing factors make women
thrive indoors, such as with minimal environmental impact. have metabolic beneath the skin, more susceptible. For individuals of any gender
pothos, snake plants syndrome. connecting the affected experiencing symptoms or suspecting HS, seeking
All in all Smoking and areas. These tunnels
and succulents. Indoor Integrate biophilic design to transform medical attention is crucial for proper diagnosis
plants not only add a obesity are also can be a source of and management. Early intervention and a
your home into a tranquil space connected associated with an
touch of greenery, but chronic drainage and comprehensive approach are vital for addressing
to nature. Embrace these principles for a increased risk of
they also improve air recurring infections. the physical and emotional challenges associated
beautiful environment that enhances mental, developing HS.
quality. physical, and emotional well-being! with Hidradenitis Suppurativa.
Botox and
lasers can only be
Why dermatologist supervision is       
Why eat garlic
T
here has been a providers: Though these are
lot of discussion PRAVEEN KUMAR
commonplace procedures, it is
about who is the
best person to go to
crucial for effective skin care treatments important to remember that they
are medical procedures and you on empty stomach
Y
for good skin care and will have to live with the results for ou must have tried
skin issues in recent Here are some consuming lemon
reasons why choosing a a long time if not years. Choosing
times. The answer a dermatologist will ensure that and honey in the Prevents
has been conclusive: dermatologist-supervised morning. You might have hypertension:
skin care treatment is a you get the right amount of
An experienced treatment which is authentic also tried drinking green tea Health experts say that
dermatologist is the smart move: first thing in the morning garlic can also work
and in a clean and sterile
best person to go for Medical skin care is better environment. but have you tried garlic well for those suffering
skin care treatments than OTC: Dermatologists on an empty stomach? It is from hypertension. As it
and advise. Many are can prescribe ingredients healthy. Eating raw garlic enhances blood circulation,
now aware that our for skin care treatments There is no guesswork in skin on an empty stomach offers it can be considered
skin is the largest DR. RINKY KAPOOR that are tested for safety and care and you will feel better several health benefits good for the heart too.
organ in our body. So Consultant efficacy so that the patient about yourself: At some point and we shall discuss them Additionally, it promotes
why let it suffer the Dermatologist, is sure exactly what they in our lives, we all have wasted in this article. Garlic is overall heart and
brunt of unsupervised Cosmetic are getting and it is safe for time over millions of skin care considered miraculous for vascular health.
treatments and cheap Dermatologist & their skin type. Medical- products hoping they will work several reasons. It comes
options? You would Dermato-Surgeon, grade skin care treatments but they only reduce the bank with several medicinal Digestive system:
The Esthetic Clinics work better and faster than properties. And when you It cleans your stomach:
not do it to the other account balance. Dermatologist- Garlic can also heal
OTC products. eat it in the morning on Garlic has the power to clear
organs, would you? supervised skin care will come certain stomach
A dermatologist goes an empty stomach, you toxins and harmful bacteria
Why head to the normal under training in college
What is dermat supervision? You will save a lot of with an insider knowledge of
in your stomach especially issues. It is also good
salon or a cosmetic A major concern today cash in the long run: what is good for your skin type, will be able to reap most for your digestive
and medical school to of its health benefits in a when you eat it when your
counter rather than in the cosmetic industry Dermatologists use the and what products and formulas system.
learn all about skin, better way. Firstly, it is a stomach is empty.
going to an MD’s is an uncountable number latest, clinically tested, that work best for your concerns. Blood pressure:
hair nails, and anatomy. natural antibiotic. It has Nerve issues: Certain
offer for skin care of unqualified individuals and proven technologies No more trial and error. You Those suffering from
They have about 10-12 the capacity to cure several reports also suggest that
treatment guidance posing as skin experts or for skin resurfacing, anti- will get the benefit of dramatic blood pressure can try
years of advanced types of infections and it consuming garlic can help
and options? Over-the- dermatologists and dabbling aging, and other skin issues improvement in the skin with garlic as a remedy.
education and training can also heal your body and those suffering from nerve
counter skin care is in skin treatments. This which are FDA-cleared and fewer treatments and products It can keep it under
under their belt. They keep several minor health problems.
fine but not effective is a concern because their also include non-surgical than before. control.
are the ones who learn issues at bay. So, it can be Blood: If you cultivate the
in addressing signs unprofessional practices technologies. dermatologists Consulting a dermatologist
about the development, used both as a preventive habit of eating a clove of raw Liver: You will be
of aging or making a reflect qualified cosmetic are the only ones who get a before any procedure ensures
invent, and discover measure and a cure for garlic every day, you may surprised to know
noticeable difference surgeons who are professionals hold of the top technology. skin health and prevents allergic
the new techniques and several minor health issues. also reduce the levels of bad that eating raw garlic
in skin texture, running a clinic or spa. This has two advantages, reactions or damage. Provide
options in skin care So, instead of starting your cholesterol in your blood. can enhance the
tone, health, and Dermat supervision means one is that you get the your complete medical history,
first. Dermatologists day with a cup of coffee Immunity: Yes, garlic functioning of your
appearance. You need being physically present latest what is there rather including allergies, to the doctor.
are qualified to do the or any other beverage, is good for your immune bladder and your liver
high-quality products and doing the procedures than some cheap, knockoff For instance, those with a history
procedures that an try eating raw garlic. But system. Your body will too.
and expertise that yourself and not letting a machine. Secondly, the of herpes may need preventive
aesthetician can only ensure that you talk to a be able to fight diseases
only dermatological recommend. From mild
nurse or nonprofessionals trained provider will aim to medication for laser treatments, Detox: Among the
supervision can do it. It is unethical to claim meet your goals and devise and blood thinners can make the doctor before trying this efficiently if you eat garlic. foods that help you
rash to skin cancer and remedy. Some people may
provide. Mistakes by to be a dermatologist when a treatment plan based on skin sensitive, causing bruising Blood pressure: detox, garlic stands at
acne to wrinkles, the experience pain in the
untrained ‘specialists they are not and don’t have your skin type. This gives and pigmentation in laser Those suffering from blood the top. It is a super
dermatologist has a stomach as soon as they
can cause irreparable the educational background long-lasting and sustainable treatments. Prioritizing caution pressure can try garlic as a food which can help
solution for all issues eat raw garlic on an empty
damage to the skin and to testify their professional results, which saves you a is essential in skin, hair, and nail remedy. It can keep it under you get rid of the
with skin, hair, nails, stomach.
even scar the skin. status. lot of money in the long run. care. control. toxins in your body.
etc.

 rheumatoid arthritis

Turmeric: Tart cherry juice:
Curcumin, the Tart cherries contain
TANUSHREE KULKARNI active compound anthocyanins, which
in turmeric, has have anti-inflammatory
powerful anti- and antioxidant
Fish Tomatoes Olive oil
inflammatory

I
nflammation is the body’s way
of protecting itself from harmful
bacteria and viruses. It is the
body’s way of removing irritants and
damaged cells. In rheumatoid arthritis,
inflammation starts to get out of control
and can thus cause immense pain to the
patient. There are some foods that are
rich in saturated fats and sugars and
can increase inflammation, increase
the chances of heart diseases and
cause an overall damage to the body.
Unfortunately, there is no food or diet
that can totally curb inflammation.
But, there are some food items that can
reduce inflammation and keep morning
stiffness and soreness in check.
Food items such as olive oil, veggies,
fishes, etc, are excellent for the well-
being of our body. Here is the list of
food items that you should include in
your diet, in case you are suffering from
rheumatoid arthritis. Add these food
items in your diet today to ensure the
well-being of your body, in case you are
suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
According to the experts,
food items rich in omega-3 fatty
acids can lower inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in
fishes can cut down on bad
cholesterol levels. Rheumatoid
arthritis can also put you at a
greater risk of heart diseases.
Therefore, eating good
cholesterol can help you keep
your heart healthy. Fishes
such as salmon and anchovies
are great sources of omega-3
fatty acids. Eating fish twice
a week goes a long way in
keeping your heart healthy and
safe.
Grains
Studies have shown that
consuming whole grains in
comparison to white bread,
rice or pasta can reduce
inflammation drastically. Fibre
content in the whole wheat
grains can reduce the harmful
effects of inflammation.
Tomatoes are a rich source of It is a little properties. Drinking tart
known fact that and antioxidant cherry juice may help in
lycopene that helps in reducing
a Mediterranean properties. reducing inflammation
inflammation of the body
diet is great Including turmeric and alleviating
drastically. Cooked tomatoes are
a greater source of lycopene than for those in your diet or symptoms of rheumatoid
raw ones. So, make sure to include suffering from taking turmeric arthritis. However, it’s
tomatoes in your diet. inflammation supplements may essential to choose a
and rheumatoid help in reducing version without added
Berries
arthritis. Olive inflammation sugars to avoid potential
Fruits are a great way to keep
oil, which is a associated with negative
inflammation caused in rheumatoid
major part of the rheumatoid effects.
arthritis at bay. Did you know that
Mediterranean arthritis. It can be
Nuts berries are a great source of
added to dishes or
Nuts are a great anti-inflammatory properties? diet, is good for
source of omega-3 fatty acids those suffering consumed as
Anthocyanins, which lend
Greens and vitamin E that help in from rheumatoid a supplement
it its colour, are rich
arthritis. The after consulting
According to the experts, fighting inflammation effectively. in anti-inflammatory
Almonds and walnuts, in particular, properties. Hence, these compound with a healthcare
vitamin E found in green
are a great source of these vitamins. foods can effectively cure found in olive professional.
leafy vegetables such as
spinach, broccoli, and methi Most of the nuts are also rich in inflammatory-related oil, which lends So, the best way to fight rheumatoid
protects the body from antioxidants that help to maintain disorders. According to it its taste, is arthritis and keep inflammation in check is
inflammatory molecules. and fight the damages caused by the studies by trusted as effective to adopt a balanced diet rich in antioxidants,
Green leafy veggies, also inflammation. So, make sure to experts, blueberries as taking vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore,
packed with vitamins and include nuts in your daily can help fight intestinal painkillers in the
include veggies, fruits and grains that are rich
minerals such as calcium, iron diet to keep inflammation inflammation. body. sources of these.
and phytochemicals, can help in at bay.
fighting inflammatory diseases. Disclaimer: The Free Press Journal bears no responsibility for the content that appears on this page.

BHOPAL | FRIDAY | DECEMBER 22, 2023
NEW BEGINNINGS
PERSON OF
CHARACTER
VIJAYALAKSHMI NARAYANAN
anasi Salvi has enjoyed a remark-
M able career in Indian television
for more than 27 years. Although
the mystery behind her captivat-
ing presence remains a sweet secret,
her dedication to her craft remains stead-
fast. The Free Press Journal team recent-
ly interviewed the actress to delve into her
journey and explore how television has
empowered her.
Speaking about her journey in the realm
of entertainment, Manasi exclaims, "This
A still from
aashirwad
journey has been very special for me. Nev-
er did I imagine nor did the idea ever occur
to me of becoming an actor. I was a trained
dancer in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi
and I would often perform on the stage.
Somehow, my photos reached an ad
agency and I ventured into featuring in
commercials. I was okay with that kind of
exposure as it did not buy too much of my
time and additionally, I was also pursuing
my studies. And then Aashirwad (1998)
happened."
As an untrained actor, who debuted
around the age of 16 or 17, does she hold a
memory of pursuing the profession? "Dur-
ing the time of Aashirwad, I recollect, I
was called to the office. The story was nar-
rated to me in six lines and I was told that
the shoot starts from the next day. Manish
Goswami (the producer of Aashirwad) nar-
rated the story, the pay was finalised and I
was asked to report to shoot at 9 am. It was
very gravitational and organic. Acting just
happened. I was not at all aware about the
craft or about what goes on around a film
Robert De he 80-year-old actor who has adoptive daughter Drena, 52, Raphael, 47, and 28-year-old twins
Niro wants T Julian and Aaron with ex-wife Diahnne Abbott as well as Elliot, 25, and 11-year-old Helen Grace
with second wife Grace Hightower, welcomed baby girl Gia earlier this year with his Chinese
girlfriend Tiffany Chen. He told Rolling Stone: "Yeah. Half-Chinese. I want to try to teach her
young Chinese and show her nursery rhymes in English and Chinese. I'm hoping to have her learn both."
daughter to Just months after De Niro became a dad again, 83-year-old Hollywood star Al Pacino welcomed Roman
with girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29, but he said that he had no idea the "Godfather Part II" actor was set to
learn THIS become a father again himself and simply noted that he was "happy" to hear the news and promised they
_ IANS
will talk about it next time they get the chance to catch up, reports suggests.
Tanuj Virwani
opens up about
his love story with
Tanya Jacob
RIA SHARMA
ctor and veteran star Rati Agni-
A hotri's son Tanuj Virwani is all set
to tie the knot with Tanya Jacob, a
corporate professional, on Decem-
ber 25 in Lonavala. The couple got en-
gaged in November 2023 in Singapore.
The Free Press Journal caught up with
the groom-to-be for an exclusive inter-
view.
Opening up about entering a new
phase in his life, Tanuj shares, "I'm ex-
Wedding
cited. I feel positive and sure-footed. I
know I have made the right choice,
also at the right time and with the
right person. A lot of people have
been asking me if I'm feeling but-
terflies in my stomach, but not
yet. It could change maybe on the
Bells again?
wedding day but right now I'm
as cool as a cucumber. In fact,
my entire family has been en-
thusiastic and charged up.
They want to be involved in
every facet of planning the
wedding and it's so nice that
everyone's coming together more extroverted than Tanya but as time has
Arbaaz and Malaika parted
for the celebration."
Tanuj reveals the theme of
passed and as I became a little bit wiser, I re-
alised that you have to know your true well ways in the year 2017
their wedding and how he is wishers. I didn't want to have a circus or a
preparing for his big day. "When mela. It's very easy to call 500 people but it is CJ DESK Malaika and Arbaaz remain
we were planning, December 25 also a private time for me and as much as I love co-parents to their son,
came up as one of the most auspi- sharing it with the media, my family and ollywood actor and Arhaan.
cious dates. I thought it would be
nice to have a Christmas theme
and everything white, red and
friends, I wanted it to be intimate."
The Inside Edge actor further shares how he
fell in love with Tanya. "We've known each oth-
B producer Arbaaz Khan
is all set to tie the knot
once again. If media
In an interview, Giorgia pub-
licly acknowledged her
breakup with Arbaaz, sharing
green. It was no-brainer that we er for a long time. I met her a decade back when reports are to be believed, details about it for the first
wanted to have it at our farm- she was in Mumbai. Our families also know Arbaaz is dating makeup artist time. She disclosed the end of
house in Lonavala as the place is each other very well. Even when Tanya shifted Shura Khan and they are plan- her relationship with Arbaaz
very close to my heart and I've back to Singapore, we kept in touch. As time ning to take their relationship Khan, expressing, "We were
been coming here since I was a went by, we realised that our goals, aspirations to the next level soon. Arbaaz friends, more like best friends.
kid. We've kept the guest list full and what we expect from life were in align- was previously married to Bol- I will continue to harbor feel-
of people who are close and who ment. We didn't want to spend the next few lywood diva Malaika Arora. ings for him, always."
have made a difference to our years dating and figuring things out. We gave it According to reports, Arbaaz "The relationship that he had
lives. But it's going to be a lot of a real thought and decided to take things for- and Shura will get married in with Malaika (Arora) did not
fun. The day itself is so special ward. That's how everything was initiated and an intimate ceremony on De- really come in the way of my
that we don't have to really have the rest is history," he says. cember 24 (Sunday) in the relationship with him. What I
to go out our way to do anything On a concluding note, Tanuj reveals how his presence of their family mem- am now to be called some-
extra. It is such a special and sa- parents' reacted when he informed them he bers. The couple reportedly body's girlfriend, I don't, I defi-
cred moment," the actor gushes. wants to get married. "At the back of my head, I met on the sets of his upcom- nitely find it very demeaning.
Tanuj reveals why he was keen knew my parents wanted to be in a stable rela- ing film Patna Shukla. Howev- We both knew that it wouldn't
on having an intimate wedding. tionship. My mother is truly ecstatic about the er, both Arbaaz and Shura have lasted forever. It was
He explains, "Luckily, both of us wedding. She's been wanting me to settle down have remained tight-lipped very different," Giorgia added.
have been in sync with the kind for a long time, ever since I turned 30. She about their relationship and Arbaaz and Malaika were
of wedding that we want. With knows Tanya and is very fond of her. She also have not shared any official married to each other for over
all due respect to people who believes that Tanya is the right life partner for statement about their wed- 19 years, since 1998, till they of-
like having fancy and lavish me. Both my parents are extremely happy as I ding. ficially parted ways in 2017.
weddings, we wanted some- am their only child and it's very important to After his divorce with Malai- The duo have a soon named
thing smaller and more inti- have their blessings as I am on the verge of ka, Arbaaz dated actress Gior- Arhaan. Malaika, on the other
mate. It is reflective of who making this life-changing decision," Tanuj gia Andriani for several years. hand is currently dating actor
we are. I'm probably a lot signs off. Despite their separation, Arjun Kapoor.
PICS: VARINDER CHAWLA
CAUGHT ON CAM
The actress
discusses the
significance of Celebs were
snapped as Karan
pursuing they were out Singh
and about in Grover
financial
Mumbai
freedom and
social respect
Tanishaa
set." Mukerji
She adds, "My director Rakesh Sarang is
a very strict and thorough professional. I
remember, once I went home crying, from
the sets, vowing that I don't want to do the
serial. But, my mother would tell me to
keep going at it, one day at a time. With
every passing day, I've come as far as 27
years in the industry." Shriya
In a former interview, Manasi had men- Saran
tioned that television empowers women. with
Reaffirming her stance, she shares, "If daughter
we are showing women who are win-
ning, we must also show women who
do not get the spotlight. What
we cannot deny is that tele-
vision is the only medium,
which guarantees you a
payment on a daily basis.
In today's society where
marriages are crumbling
across different sections,
a lot of the lesser-privi-
leged women find employ-
ment in TV. From make-up
artists and assistants to
professional saree drap-
ers, the opportunities
for women in TV are
aplenty. I believe that
for a woman to be
emotionally and men-
tally independent, she has to
first be financially independ-
ent. Financial independence
is what TV assures."
As a single parent to a
teenage daughter, Manasi
shares the piece of advice
that she would like to of-
fer to her young child,
"Two pieces of advice
that I received from my
father, while I was
growing up. One, char-
acter is important.
Second, there are no
free lunches. Addi-
tionally, I would
also advise to not Sunny
chase money. As Leone
my bio on Insta-
gram suggests,
'Situations May Urvashi
Change; Ethics
Can’t''," she
Rautela
concludes.
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