First India-Ahmedabad Edition-14 December 2020

AHMEDABAD l MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 2 l Issue No. 20

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2 PAKISTANI TERRORISTS KILLED, 1 ASSOCIATE ARRESTED IN J-K’S POONCH

Two Pakistani terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were gunned down and one associate was arrested at Durgan Poshana area in Poonch in a joint operation launched by Jammu and Kashmir Police, Indian Army and CRPF.The slain terrorists have been identified as Sajid and Bilal.

2 AK 47 Rifles, one UBGL and one Thuraya Satphone have been recovered from their possession.

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GOVT GOES INTO A HUDDLE

AS FARMERS GO ON 9-HR FAST TODAY UNION MINISTERS TOMAR & PARKASH MEET SHAH ON SUNDAY; DATE FOR NEXT ROUND OF TALKS SOON RAJ FARMERS MARCH TOWARDS DELHI

Jaipur: Amid the ongoing demonstration against the farm laws, the farmers’ march from Rajasthan started on Sunday morning from Shahjahanpur, which is around 120 km from Delhi. The group of 800-900 are being led by Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav. Social activist Medha Patkar is also accompanying the group. Visuals showed farmers carrying placards and shouting slogans as they walked slowly down the highway. Tractors pulling tarpaulin-covered trailers, and flanked by cars with banners waved out of the windows, were also seen.

PUNJAB DIG (PRISONS) TENDERS RESIGNATION

Security personnel stand guard as farmers block Rajasthan-Haryana border during their protest against farm laws, at NH 48 in Rewari district on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: Union ministers, including home minister Amit Shah, Agri minister Narendra Singh Tomar and minister of state for commerce and industry Som Parkash, went into a huddle on Sunday as farmers, who have been camping at Delhi’s borders to demand the repeal of three contentious laws, showed no sign to relent. The ministers were accompanied by BJP leaders from Punjab. Tomar and Parkash,

along with their ministerial colleague Piyush Goyal, had led the government’s negotiations with the protesting farmers.

Both Tomar and Parkash met the Union home minister at his house and it was not immediately known what transpired in the meeting, even as the farmers’ agitation in and around Delhi entered its 18th day with the protesters threatening to block the Delhi-Jaipur highway.

Meanwhile, during a press conference, on Sunday, at the DelhiHaryana Singhu Border farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni announced that heads of all farm unions will hold fast from 8 am till 5 pm on Monday. “Govt agencies have been stopping farmers from reaching Delhi, our protests will continue till our demands are met,” said farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka.

Union Minister

Kailash Choudhary on Sunday said the government will soon decide a date and call union leaders for the next round of talks. The government has made it clear that it is ready for discussion anytime. But the farmer unions have said they would come for talks only if the laws are repealed. Asked when the government will hold the next round of meeting, Chaudhary told PTI, “The meeting will be called soon. We are

PM leads nation in paying tributes to victims of 2001 Parliament attack New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday paid tributes to those who lost their lives in 2001 Parliament attack.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad also paid tributes on the occasion. “Paid floral tributes to the brave martyrs who laid down their lives while protecting our Turn to P6

Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Arjun Ram Meghwal and others pays homage to martyrs who lost their lives in 2001 Parliament attack, in New Delhi on Sunday. —PHOTO BY ANI

ready for discussion.

But the date has not been finalised.” The government will find “some solution” to end the deadlock. “We have full confidence. In the next meeting, the issue will be resolved,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on December 16 a plea seeking a direction to authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points Turn to P6

Chandigarh: Punjab DIG (Prisons) Lakhminder Singh Jakhar on Sunday said he has resigned from the service in support of farmers. Jakhar said he tendered his resignation to state govt on Saturday. In his resignation letter to Principal Secretary (Home), he wrote that he was himself a farmer. “I have always listened to my conscience and now I earnestly feel that I should stand by my brotherhood,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

DELHI-JAIPUR HIGHWAY OPENS PARTIALLY

New Delhi: Delhi-Jaipur highway was partially opened after a three-hour closure that started as farmers began a tractor march from Shahjahanpur on the Rajasthan-Haryana border. A highway was opened as farmers removed blockade from the Delhi-Noida border at Chilla. Thousands of farmers on way to Delhi, meanwhile, reached the Rewari border of Haryana, where the police blocked both sides of the Delhi-Jaipur highway to stop them from entering the state.

IN SUPPORT OF FARMERS, KEJRIWAL TO FAST TODAY New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that he will be holding a one-day fast on Monday in support of the protesting farmers.

He also urged all AAP workers and supporters to observe one-day fast in solidarity with the farmers. Addressing a virtual press briefing, he said the Centre should immediately accept all demands of the farmers who have been protesting on Delhi’s borders for the past two weeks. He also asked BJP-ruled Centre to shun “arrogance” and scrap the laws as demanded by agitating farmers.

BJP prez Nadda tests positive for Covid-19

Yogi’s farmers’ outreach: Who will blink first?

BJP dumps its coalition partner in Assam

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has tested p o s i t iv e for the novel coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Nadda said he is in home isolation as per coronavirus protocol and is in good health.

The BJP chief also appealed to people who came in contact with him recently to get tested for the infection.

“Observing the initial symptoms Turn to P6

M Tariq Khan

Guwahati: The BJP on Sunday virtually dumped one of its coalition partners in Assam, the BPF, and picked up a new ally to gain majority and rule the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), a self-governing body in the Bodo-dominated areas of the state.

The Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), which has three ministers in the Sarbananda Sonowal-led coalition government in the state, has emerged as the single-largest party in the just concluded BTC polls, winning 17 seats in the 40-member body.

Turn to P6

Lucknow: Offense is the best defense. And nobody knows this better than UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who put the Opposition parties stoking farmers’ unrest in Western UP on the back foot by launching a blitzkrieg of development and infrastructure projects on Sunday in Meerut.

After launching 29 projects in Ghaziabad, the UP CM laid foundation stones of a whopping 88 projects including on Sunday in Meerut. The shift in fo-

Yogi Adityanath

cus from Gorakhpur in Purvanchal (Eastern), where the UP CM spent three-days, last week, to Paschim (Western) UP is being viewed as a move to woo farmers’ on the warpath over new farm laws. Emphasising that every penny (sugarcane dues) Turn to P6

Fire NOCs go online to give faceless service: CM Vijay Rupani

24X7 RTGS transaction facility to start PORTAL FOR THE SERVICE TO from today: RBI LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 26 Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Sunday said Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) facility in the country will become operational from 12.30 am on Monday (December 14).

“RTGS facility becomes operational 24X7 from 12.30 am tomorrow. Congratulations to the teams from RBI, Indian Financial Technology and Allied Services (IFTAS) and Turn to P6

First India Bureau Gandhinagar: Two months after the state announced that professional youth will be empanelled as fire consultants and they will give consultancy to private firms, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday said that fresh No-Objection Certificates (NOC) from the fire department will be issued

online. This move to a faceless, hassle-free service will begin on January 26. While making the announcement, Rupani reiterated that engineers with fire safety crash courses will be empanelled as fire safety consultants.

He added that fire NOCs for new buildings will be issued for a period of three years, while renewals will be

Vijay Rupani

valid for two years. Fire safety officers will visit the sites every six months and check all

fire safety equipment.

Those applying for fire NOCs will have to upload approvals from the

fire safety officers online and builders/developers will have to submit the fire NOC while filing building plans to avail Building Use certificate.

According to the announcement, all engineers, who have additional qualifications in disaster management or fire safety services will be enrolled as fire safety officers. Other engineers, from any discipline, who are willing to be fire safety officers, will have to take

online and practical training, which will be organized by the urban local bodies.

Later, they will have to clear exams, after which they will be enrolled as fire safety officers.

This list of enrolled fire safety officers will be made public so that they can be hired by owners and management of high-rise buildings, residential societies, hospitals and industrial units. Once hired, they will conduct a check of fire safety

services and issue them fire NOC. The decision comes at a time when fire NOC renewal is as low as 20-23% and urban local bodies don’t have enough staff to conduct studies and get the renewals.

Random surveys are done when major fire accidents occur. However, if there are enough fire safety officers to provide service and get NOC renewal will serve a dual purpose, Rupani added.

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

BJP state unit puts party in top gear for local bodies elections

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani become voter’s list page presidents

First India Bureau

Gandhinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s state-level Chintan Baithak concluded on Sunday evening in Gandhinagar. In the 24-hour marathon exercise, the party’s state leaders, in the presence of state incharge Bhupender Yadav and joint in-charge Sudhir Gupta, assessed the ground situation of local bodies.

State president CR Patil, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and other senior leaders participated in the Chintan Baithak.

A powerpoint presentation was made about all six municipal corporations, 55 nagarpalikas, 31 district panchayats, and 231 taluka panchayats and included data about the last election’s voting pat-

From left: Deputy CM Nitin Patel, CM Vijay Rupani and BJP state unit chief CR Patil at the Chintan Baithak.

tern and vote share were compared with that from the 2017 Assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Patil reiterated that the page president plays

a very important role in turnout and it increases vote share for the party too.

Party’s chief spokesman Bharat Pandya told the media that the party is prepared for

the local body elections and that it has appointed two observers for each district. These observers will consult local leaders and prepare a list of aspiring candidates, which will be

The state-level strategy planning session was a marathon 24-hour affair.

later discussed at the state level.

He added that the party’s state-level leaders will meet on Monday, in the presence of office bearers of various cells and district in-

charges. The BJP’s state unit has appointed IK Jadeja, Bhargav Bhatt and Mahesh Kashwala as state election incharge.

Union Minister Amit Shah has now

been named the page president for Booth No. 10 of the Naranpura ward in Ahmedabad. Making the announcement, Patil stated that this will boost the morale of

lakhs of workers who work on the ground.

Chief Minister Rupani, his wife Anjali Rupani, and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel have also become page presidents.

Ex-Dudhsagar Dairy chairman Congress leaders kept from participating in farmers’ protests Vipul Chaudhary arrested He is accused of embezzling Rs14 cr from dairy employees

Several were placed under house arrest in Rajkot

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s former home minister and the former chairman of Dudhsagar dairy was arrested late at night on Saturday in Gandhinagar.

CID Crime has registered a case of embezzlement, in which Chaudhary stands accused of misappropriating Rs14 crore meant for salaries and bonuses of Dudhsagar Dairy employees.

In a written statement issued soon after his arrest, Chaudhary said: “This is not a Sagardan (cattle feed) scam,” he said. The case has been stayed by the Cooperative Tribunal against the order of the State Registrar.

Investigators suspect that the scam was carried out with the help of about 30 officers and employees. Dudh Sagar Dairy also has branches in other states, making it an interstate crime.

“Out of the Rs14 crore,

Rajkot: Vinubhai Dhaduk, a Congress leader from Jasdan, was among those placed under house arrest on Saturday night, allegedly to keep them from lending their support to protesting farmers in Rajkot. Pal Ambaiya, president of the Gujarat Kisan Congress, was also under police surveillance, sources said.

Echoes of the protests in New Delhi have been heard in Gujarat as many local unions have tried to carry out demonstrations in the state. As local farmer unions are uniting to march to the national capital, Gujarat police are not allowing the farmer groups or the opposition party to stage demonstrations.

Several farmer leaders affiliated to the Congress and farmers

Chaudhary (in white) was produced before a court in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

Rs9 crore has been paid.

While details of Rs5 crore are being obtained,” said Chaudhary.

According to Chaudhary, the Co-operative Tribunal on Tuesday directed the Co-operative Tribunal against the order of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies on the condition of depositing 10% of the estimated Rs22.5

crore in Dudhsagar Dairy in Maharashtra during the drought. A temporary restraining order was issued on October 8, 2018.

After the revolt against the BJP’s Keshubhai government in 1995, Vipul Chaudhary became Home Minister and Transport Minister in the Rajpa government formed under Shankars-

inh Vaghela. However, Shankarsinh later left the party due to differences with Vaghela and rejoined the BJP. During this time, Chaudhary became the chairman of the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation, which markets the popular Amul brand, and Dudh Sagar Dairy. However, over time, both positions were lost.

Dhaduk (right) was allegedly placed under house arrest at his home in Santhali village on Saturday.

organizations in Rajkot district have been placed under house arrest by the police, sources said.

Police have arrested several leaders, including Jasdan Congress leader Vinubhai Dhaduk and Gondal Congress leader Bhavesh Bhasa. Congress and peasant leaders from Lodhika, Jetpur, and Upleta have been detained by the police even before they

joined the agitation, sources confirmed. In this regard, Vinubhai said that the government has left no stone unturned in torturing the farmers.

The Rajkot district panchayat ruling party leader has been under house arrest since Saturday. According to state government officials, no society, organization, or party leader can cooperate in the agitation to bring justice to the

farming community and all traders.

Dhaduk, a farmer leader, a leader of the Rajkot district panchayat ruling party and the chairman of irrigation committee, has been working with all the communities of Jasdan taluka in the farmers’ movement.

Police allegedly placed him under house arrest at his home in Santhali village on Saturday.

ANARCHY ON THE STREETS

Police book 11 in Vejalpur for violating night curfew Another incident also reported, but no arrests made First India Bureau Ahmedabad: Around 11 people have been detained in Vejalpur for violating the night curfew on Saturday, police said. Two of the 11 were arrested on the same day for assaulting police officers.

Vejalpur police detained youths on twowheelers and two auto rickshaws drivers among the violators.

According to police, their team on duty

stopped these vehicles and ordered them to return home due to the night curfew announced by the state government due to the growing cases of COVID-19. Police say this group was celebrating a wedding and thus violated the lockdown rules.

Instead of obeying the police, they started verbal arguments with them and later even assaulted police officers, officials said.

Two police constables have suffered injuries. A criminal complaint has been lodged against 11 persons for rioting, violation of public order and obstruction of public servant from discharging duty and violation of the disaster management act. Police have already arrested two persons in this connection.

In another incident, a video was circulated on social media where

some youths are seen bullying a police team late in the night.

The location in the video is identified as Chacharwadi street of the Dariyapur area. When the DCP, Zone-4, Rajesh Gadhiya was contacted, he did confir m the incident and video clip. He added that no complaint was filed against anyone as there was no untoward incident reported.

Two constables were injured in the scuffle.

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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Seeking higher pay, intern docs to go on strike from Monday

03

Commissioners to turn caretakers in six cities

They want their monthly stipend to be increased from the current Rs12,800 to at least Rs20,000 Ahmedabad: Intern doctors across the state are set to walk away from all duties, including the treatment of COVID-19 patients, beginning Monday.

They say the Gujarat government is paying doctors less than other states, and have demanded an increase in their stipend. They will begin an indefinite strike on Monday if their demand is not met by the government, they said.

According to a letter posted on social media from an account called “Interns of Government of Gujarat”, the intern doctors say they have been working in the COVID-Care Centre since April. About 300 doctors have been recruited for COVID-19 duty since the pan-

—FILE PHOTO

First India Bureau

INEQUALITY

—FILE PHOTO The five-year term of the elected wing of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies ended at noon on Sunday. The elections for these posts are expected to be held in February.

First India Bureau

About 200 doctors at the GCS Hospital had gone on strike last month, demanding a fee waiver.

demic first hit the state in March.

Despite being constantly on duty with senior doctors, they are being paid just Rs12,800, considerably less than what other state governments paying their doctors, especially during the pandemic, they al-

Guj out of Top 10 list of worst-hit states

lege.

Despite repeated representations to Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is also the state’s health minister, as well as the Health Secretary, and other officials, asking for a raise in pay, no positive decision has been forthcoming.

Hence, say that if the state does not meet their demand, all intern doctors working in government and GMERS hospitals, and corporation-run facilities will go on strike from Monday.

Intern doctors want to their stipend to be increased to a mini-

mum of Rs20,000, which is to be paid retroactively from April.

They say arrears are also to be paid.

The Delhi government pays medical, dental pass, and intern doctors an honorarium of Rs1,000 for an eight-hour shift and Rs2,000 for every 12-hour shift.

Ahmedabad: Apart from Junagadh and Gandhinagar, six Municipal Corporations in the state--Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat-will be headed by their respective commissioners for the first time, from Monday.

The commissioners will take on their double mantle as administrators, since the term of the mayors, deputy mayors, standing committee chairmen, corporators, etc., of the six cities ended

IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE XMAS

—FILE PHOTO

LIMITED ROLE

at noon on Sunday.

Usually, the officers in the corporations get a senior officer who has the power of the general board and the standing committee but, this time, the state government has not given permission to the commissioners to make any policy decisions.

They will only carry out routine work.

Elected office bearers will have to return all public facilities including cars, offices, and mobile phones allotted to them by their respective cities once their term ends. Elections to six state corporations are likely to be held next February, a notification on the issue is expected to be announced in January.

Three detained in acid attack on family that left woman, three kids injured in A’bad

A total of 2.10 lakh COVID-19 patients have been discharged so far.

Ajay and Vijay Dantani, as well as their sister, were arrested.

First India News Ahmedabad: The post-Diwali surge in COVID-19 cases appears to be settling down with the state reporting a steady day-on-day decrease in the number of new cases for the past week. Gujarat witnessed 1,175 new cases of Sars-CoV-2 infection in the 24-hour cycle ending Sunday evening, according to the bulletin issued by the state health department.

With this, Gujarat is no longer among the 10 worst-hit states in the country in terms of new COVID-19 cases.

On Sunday, the state

First India Bureau

1,175 cases, 11 fatalities take state tally to 2,27,683 cases, toll to 4,171 saw another 11 fatalities, taking the total death toll to 4,071 since March.

Ahmedabad again reported the highest rise with 247 new cases, while cases also emerged in Surat (172), Vadodara (152), Rajkot (129), Gandhinagar (52), Mehsana (51), and Jamnagar (45), among other districts.

There are now 13,296 active cases in the state, with 65 patients on ventilator support.

With Christmas less than two weeks away, stars, trees and other decor have flooded Ahmedabad’s markets.

—HANIF SINDHI

Passersby watch as youth is murdered First India Bureau Surat: A youth, identified as Rajkumar, was brutally beaten to death by a group of people at Bhagyoday Industries in the city’s Puna area, even

as several people walked by, on Sunday.

Police officials, who say they have arrested the prime accused from his residence, say that Rajkumar worked in the looms and embroidery unit at Bhagyoday

Industries.

CCTV footage shows the deceased running away as he was approached by some goons, who caught up with him and thrashed him with iron rods. Police say he was severely

beaten and succumbed to his injuries. The footage also showed several people walking past the crime scene without intervening.

This is the seventh murder in Surat in two and a half months.

Surendranagar: The two men accused in the acid attack on a woman and her three children were arrested along with their sister in Chotila town on Sunday by the Surendranagar police.

Brothers Ajay and Vijay Dantani had fled after pouring acid on their sister-in-law Laxmiben Dantani and her three minor children in Ahmedabad’s Mendi Kua area on Saturday morning while they slept. The case had been registered at the Madhupura police station.

As part of their investigation, the police had

been surveilling the phones of the two accused as well as their relatives.

On Sunday morning, police recorded that the men’s sister in Chotila had received a call from an unknown number, which had gone on for a long time. Immediately alerted, the Chotila police traced the number to a local trader. Chotila Police Inspector BK Patel and her team traced down brothers and have detained them with their sister. All three are being taken to Ahmedabad.

During primary interrogation, both brothers admitted their guilt and showed remorse for their actions, police said.

VOCAL FOR LOCAL

Guj Tourism wins ‘Best Stall Award’ at India Travel Mart conclave 

ITM is India’s Leading B2B Travel & Tourism showcase that promotes domestic tourism and spread information about the sector

First India Bureau Jaipur: Gujarat Tourism received the ‘Best Stall Award’ for its unique concept and decoration at the ongoing India Travel Mart (ITM) in Jaipur.

ITM is India’s Leading B2B Travel & Tourism showcase.

According to Nikita Kathiriya, Deputy Manager Marketing & Promotions, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd, the initiatives tak-

en by the tourism department highlights the state’s potential to attract both domestic and international tourists, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlighting the need to be “Vocal for Local”, she said, “It is gratifying that the visionary and responsible tourism activities of Gujarat Tourism have been recognized and awarded by esteemed organisations.”

Most participants at

The prize-winning stall featured a large image of Sardar Patel.

the exhibition were hopeful of a stronger future in the sector.

Subash Verma, national advisor for India Association of Travel and Tourism Experts, said that tourism will bounce back. “Tourists in all countries will travel domestically for the next one-two years, and India has a tremendous potential for domestic tourism,” he said, adding that now is the time for each state to push domestic

tourism.

Ajay Gupta, managing director, ITM, said the objective of the exhibition is to promote domestic tourism even during the pandemic, and provide the industry, as well as potential tourists, with information regarding different types of tourism and packages. He said that people who have been stuck inside their homes for the past nine months are itching to get out.

PP Khanna, president of the Association of Domestic Tour Operators highlighted the need for travel and tour operators to follow all health and safety protocols when visiting a tourist destination. In addition, he said, operators need to visit the destinations beforehand.

“They need to move out of their offices and create confidence amongst the masses to travel,” he said.

PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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IN-DEPTH

FARMERS’ STIR CAN’T CONTINUE FOREVER

T

here’s no end in sight to protest by farmers who began converging on the DelhiJaipur Highway to block access to Delhi while refusing to compromise on their demand for the repeal of the three new farm laws. The government, on the other hand, is resorting to the usual tactic of maligning the protesters by calling them Khalistanis and tukdetukde gang besides staying firm on its no rollback stand. The ranks of agitators and their sympathizers are, meanwhile, swelling. Punjab’s DIG Prisons Lakhminder Singh resigned in farmers’ support and next in line are 5000 army veterans who have threatened to return their gallantry medals.

The government is not just waiting for farmers to come forward for talks and calling them names but it is also trying to create a split among farmers.

A group of farmers met Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and threatened to start their own agitation if the new laws are repealed. The petition filed in the Supreme Court by a faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union challenging the validity of the three Acts passed in September this year is also being viewed with skepticism. Validation of the Acts from the Apex Court would give the government the handle to crack down on the protesters.

With all the power at its command, the government will eventually win this fight against farmers who must understand that there is a difference between the National Democratic Alliance and the earlier government of United Progressive Alliance. They must realise that no BJP-ruled the state will allow their protest to succeed and plan their strategy accordingly.

SEDITION IN INDIA – A HISTORICAL RETROSPECT SHRAWAN SAWHNEY IAS (RETD.) SOLICITOR & LEGAL CONSULTANT

S

ALL EYES ARE ON COVID VACCINE CANDIDATES

I

n India the Covid-19 caseload is now a little over 3 percent and the situation looks much under control but life is far from normal as the fear of the virus is still haunting us. With the necessary protocols in place this is bound to decline further. The goal, however, is to protect the virus from infecting the people. The government and pharmaceutical companies are, therefore, are striving to make a vaccine available to the masses at the earliest.

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India, has said that the Covid-19 vaccination drive was likely to begin in January. The SII is testing the Oxford Astra-Zeneca vaccine and expects clearance for emergency trial later this month.

Last week the Subject Expert Committee asked the SII and Bharat Biotech for further study on the safety and efficacy of their vaccine as risk-free vaccination is important for restoring people’s confidence so badly eroded by the pandemic.

Although Pfizer and Sputnik V are already being used, India could wait for SII and Bharat Biotech vaccines as they’ll be not only cheaper but will also be easier to maintain. Pfizer’s being an RNA vaccine there were apprehensions of adverse side-effects in the long run. Those fears have been addressed but its price and low temperatures of minus 70 degrees required for maintenance makes it unsuitable.

That is why all eyes are on the vaccines being developed by Bharat Biotech and the SII which are in a critical stage of trials. States are already geared up for the task of vaccination.

The offence of sedition, as such, was not in vogue but we find instances of revolt by the Muslims themselves against their rulers. Aram Shah provoked rebellion against the regime of Altmish.

Similarly, rebellion incited

by Ali Mardan, again against Altmish, was quelled. Razia Sultana had to suppress the upsurge of soldiers against her regime

edition is perhaps the very vaguest of all offences known to the criminal law. The offence of sedition was pitchforked in the news recently, be it “Delhi riots” during President Trump’s visit in February this year; be it the “Tukade-Tukade” gang of JNU which advocated fragmentation of India, or be it the prosecution of dissident MLAs in Rajasthan in June-July this year under Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

It was rightly observed by Counsel Paulus Pleydell in “Guy Mannering; or The Astrologer” (a second of the Waverly novels by Sir Walter Scott) that “a lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect.”

For analytical jurists the present is more important, for philosophical jurists the future, but the historical jurists attach greater importance to the past. Law is not a disjointed phenomenon or a static entity but an organic and a living mechanism to keep pace with society. Let us track down the historical evolution of the offence of ‘sedition’ in India.

The offence of sedition was extant in ancient India. Dharma-Sutras” bear ample testimony to this. From very early times, the lawgivers treated the king as the embodiment of the state. There were two entities – one the king, the individual and two the kingship, the institution - which represented the state. Arthur Coke Burnell, who has translated ‘Manu Smriti’ in ‘The Ordinances of Manu’, has cited Manu – the ancient lawgiver – to the effect that ‘a king is not to be despised’….. (pp 227-228). Kautilya has also echoed similar views in his ‘Artha Shastra’ (1.13). Even in such early works as the ‘Rig Ved’ there are hymns glorifying the office of king (Rig Ved IV 42). It should be noted that it was not the king but the kingly office that actually carried special dignity

and sanctity and invoked respect and any offence against this office was treated very severely indeed. For offences against the royal office Narada has prescribed monetary and corporal punishment (Narada Smriti, Parikirnaka, 13). The ‘Matsya Puran’ advocates aggravated punishment for interfering with the authority of the king (‘Matsya Puran’ 227.185).

Brhaspati was much lenient and suggested lighter punishment for a person inimically disposed towards king (Brhaspati Smriti XVII).

It is significant that Kamandaka emphasised that there was no punishment, other than death, for the offence of subverting the state (Kamandaka Nitisara XIV 16). In Mudrarakshasa there is an instance of Sreshthi Canadandasa being taken to the execution ground for doing what was politically unwholesome - Rajapathyakarinam (Mudrarakshasam VII).

Manu has stated that in a king’s realm there is no thief, nor adulteror, nor libellor. According to Burnell ‘libellor’ here means ‘one with an injurious voice and sentiments towards the king’ (‘The Ordinances of Manu’ p. 239). Medhatithi has opined that no communication must be had with the man who excites hatred towards the king nor should he be allowed to enter the house. Disloyal feudatories were kept under check after the failures of rebellion and were subjected to various indignities (Epigraphia Indica XVIII pp. 43-46). It is quite clear that royal policy measures were not always liked by the people and that some political

THE OFFENCE OF SEDITION WAS EXTANT IN ANCIENT INDIA. DHARMA-SUTRAS” BEAR AMPLE TESTIMONY TO THIS. FROM VERY EARLY TIMES, THE LAWGIVERS TREATED THE KING AS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE STATE

crimes were committed during outbursts of resentments.

Thus, our ancient legal texts prohibited the people from despising and diffusing hatred against the office. There are various references to instances where people were punished for exciting disaffection towards the king (Mrcchhakatikam VI). The ancient regimes in our country realised that a government has the right to object when its populace wander off from criticism to calumny. Those who excited evil prejudices and stirred up discontent against the king and the kingdom were the producers of mischief of the gravest character. Those who distilled and sold the poisonous product of ferment to saturate the gullible masses with evil thoughts of king and kingdom were repressed with a strong hand.

During the medieval period there was a disintegration of the ancient Indian empire. Muslim invaders captured our terri-

Must we risk destroying the ocean to save the planet?

T

oday’s growing world population and a privileged minority’s rapidly rising living standards are driving resource consumption and waste production at a rate requiring the capacities of 1.7 Earths and fuels alarming levels of global warming. And the ocean is increasingly suffering the consequences – not only the well-known large-scale bleaching of tropical corals caused by rising temperatures, but also the less visible risks of ocean-water acidification and temporal and spatial discrepancies in productivity patterns due to species-specific adaptability.

Earth, and especially the ocean, is thus approaching the tipping point of irreversible degradation. That would be a tragedy, marked by the ocean’s increasing inability to provide us and fu

04

ture generations with necessities such as healthy food, the carbon cycle, nutrient regeneration, and mitigation of global warming.

A recent studies and assessments indicate, the world is still able to change course in the face of this threat, if major pressures— including climate change— are mitigated and marine ecosystems restored. But a new risk is looming on the horizon: commercial deepseabed mining for in-demand minerals.

The industry’s prevailing narrative today is that the world needs deep-sea minerals – including rareearth elements, cobalt, manganese, and tellurium – to enable the renewableenergy transition and decarbonize the global economy. But recent economic analyses suggest that existing land-based mining and a transition towards a cir-

cular economy can fill possible gaps in mineral supply, and even indicate that surplus mineral production, such as from the deep sea, may cause prices to collapse. So, who will gain from mining the seafloor?

The mining of mineralrich substrates will potentially affect the largely un-

touched deep sea at depths of 2,000-4,000 meters in some national waters, as well as the international seabed, known legally as “the Area.” The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) declared the Area and its mineral resources to be the “common herit-

age of mankind,” and established the International Seabed Authority (ISA) – a Jamaica-based body that currently has 168 member states – to manage them.

Since it came into existence in 1994, the ISA has signed 30 mineral-exploration contracts with 21 entities – sponsored by 16 states

and one consortium. And industry pressure to start commercial exploitation has increased in recent years.

Although this impatience is perhaps understandable, seabed mineral deposits are typically found in highly specific and sensitive ecosystems. Older and more ecologically stable locations have more concentrated deposits and thus attract greater mining interest, but the associated ecosystems are more specialized and diverse.

Recent research has revolutionized our view of the deep sea and revealed an extraordinary diversity of small-scale habitats, life forms, and strategies. But we have yet to uncover most of these ecosystems’ secrets, and our understanding of their complexity and functional relationships is still in its infancy.

tory and a cultural conflict ensued wherein the ancient legal mores were subdued. Consequently, the laws of these invaders held sway and added to the extreme fluidity of the contemporary legal system. Muslim laws had an ethico-religious tinge and were prone to subjective application. Strictly speaking, Islamic law did not have a distinct corpus of “criminal law”. It divided crimes into different categories depending on the offence. Huddud were crimes against God. Their punishment was prescribed in the Quran and Hadiths. Qisas were crimes against an individual or family. Their punishment was equal retaliation as per the Quran and the Hadiths. Tazir were crimes whose punishment was left to the discretion of the ruler or judge. Siyasah were crimes against the government.

The offence of sedition, as such, was not in vogue but we find instances of revolt by the Muslims themselves against their rulers. Aram Shah provoked rebellion against the regime of Altmish. Similarly, rebellion incited by Ali Mardan, again against Altmish, was quelled. Razia Sultana had to suppress the upsurge of soldiers against her regime. It is, therefore, noticeable that the offence of exciting disaffection, which included disloyalty and all feelings of enmity, against the Muslim rulers was not unknown in the medieval period also. Any incitement and disparaging exhortation against the Muslim kings was dealt with an iron hand.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

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TWEET Dharmendra Pradhan @dpradhanbjp Welcome the round-the-clock availability of RTGS money transfer services on all days from today 12:30 PM. This will facilitate global integration of Indian financial markets, lead to development of international financial centers in the country and facilitate seamless payments.

Smriti Z Irani @smritiirani NDA victory in Assam BTC polls is validation of PM @narendramodi Ji’s development agenda for the State. I congratulate CM @sarbanandsonwal Ji, @ himantabiswa, @RanjeetkrDass & UPPL for the victory and express gratitude towards the people of Assam for their support.

Spiritual SPEAK

You should perform your duty with a view to guide people and for universal welfare. —Bhagavad Gita

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‘If there are no farmers, why govt talking to them?’

Chidambaram slams the Central government over issue of ongoing farmers’ protest

New farm laws to double income of farmers: Thakur

P Chidambaram

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the Central government and alleged that some of its Ministers had alluded to the presence of “separatist” elements in ongoing farmers’ protest against the agriculture reforms. “Ministers have described the protesters against the Farm Laws as Khalistanis; agents of Pakistan & China; Maoists; &, the latest, tukde tukde gang,” the Congress leader tweeted. “If you exhaust all these categories, it means there are no farmers among the thousands of protest-

ers. If there are no farmers, why is the government talking to them?” he asked.

Meanwhile, several rounds of talks have taken place between the Centre and farmer leaders regarding the laws but no headway has been made on the front Farmers are protesting against the Farmer’s Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, 2020 & Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

New Delhi: With continued farmers protests regarding the Central farm laws, Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur has said that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought three laws to double the income of farmers and that the present government paid Minimum Support Price (MSP), double than what was paid by the previous UPA government.

"The three agriculture laws were brought so as to double the income of farmers. In the last six years, Modi government paid more than double MSP, then what was paid in the UPA time. During 20092014, the UPA government paid Rs 3,75,000 crore whereas the NDA

RJD LEADER MANOJ JHA URGES GOVT TO LISTEN TO FARMERS New Delhi: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha has urged the government to speak to farmer leaders protesting against the three farm laws passed in the Parliament recently. "I am very sorry to say that I have never seen such an insensitive government in my lifetime. They are calling the protestors Khalistanis and Pakistanis. Then why is the government talking with farmers," Jha said. government has paid over Rs 8,00,000 crore," the Minister said.

"The farmers have been given the freedom to sell their products to anybody in the country at any cost. They will

"The farmers and the rest of the society are not demanding the moon from the government. They just want proper arrangements, but the government is not listening to them. I urge the government to listen to them so that things do not go out of hand," RJD leader said.

He added that if the government listens to farmers, its reputation will not be affected, but instead, their stature will increase in history. own their farmlands, only their crops will be on contracts. The government has made this arrangement too. The Centre is working hard to double their income by 2022," he added.

DDC elections: 42.79 pc votes polled till 1 pm in J-K Jammu: The sixth phase of District Development Council (DDC) elections recorded voter percentage of 42.79 per cent across 31 constituencies spread over different districts of Jammu and Kashmir till 1 pm on Sunday.

As per the figures given by the office of State Election Commissioner, in Kashmir Division, Pulwama has recorded a voting percentage of 6.80 per cent, Baramulla 26.68 per cent, Kulgam 32.71 per cent, Shopian 3.66 per cent, Anantnag 20.95 per cent, Bandipora 40.57 per cent, Ganderbal 45.89 per cent, Kupwara 41.21 per cent and Budgam 27.44 per cent till 1 pm.

Similarly, in Jammu and Kashmir division, Udhampur has recorded a voting percentage of 54.69 per cent, Jammu 55.62 per cent, Kathua 50.09 per cent, Ramban 61.91 per cent, Doda 53.39 per cent, Samba 60.61 per cent, Poonch 60.73 per cent, Rajouri 63.07 per cent and Reasi 61.21 per cent till 1 pm.

06

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla releases book on Parl attack

Om Birla during the release of the book ‘The Shaurya Unbound’, which narrates stories of exemplary courage of CRPF India Bravehearts, in New Delhi on Sunday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla released a book on occasion of 19th anniversary of the Parliament attack.

He released the book ‘The Shaurya Unbound’ (English Version) and ‘Samundar Samawe Boond Mein’ (Hindi Version) in the national capital on December 13.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) DG Dr Anand Prakash Maheshwari also attended

the book launch ceremony along with other officers.

Addressing the media, Central Reserve Police Force DG said, “We are fully prepared to face any challenge now and are updated with all the relevant intelligence.

All the concerned agencies are in synergy with each other and best possible security systems will be given to new Parliament.”

‘Deploy central forces Priyanka Gandhi slams Centre for hike in fuel prices immediately in Bengal’ Bolpur: Claiming that Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is "banking on violence" to return to power, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday said central forces should be deployed immediately in West Bengal to put an end to the prevailing atmosphere of political violence and terror in the state.

With Assembly polls due in the state in AprilMay next year, the BJP Bengal minder appealed to the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections, saying there should not be any place for fear and violence.

"Mamata Banerjee knows that the land under her feet has slipped and so she is trying to return to power in the state on the strength of violence.

"I urge the Election Commission to deploy central forces from now itself in order to put an

New Delhi: Amid the rise in fuel prices, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi slammed BJP saying that the party has earned around Rs 3 lakh crore additional revenue by increasing the excise duty on fuel in 2020. “Petrol and diesel prices are sky-

rocketing. By increasing excise duty on fuel in 2020, the BJP government has earned around 3 lakh crore additional revenue. But instead of providing relief to the people where is this money going? Please explain.

Rs 20,000 crore on Parliament Corridor. Rs 16,000 crore for Prime

Minister’s plane and Rs 2 crores being spent on advertising daily,” Priyanka Gandhi tweeted Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan said there has been a rise in fuel prices in the international market because of recent elections in USA & other reasons.

Priyanka Gandhi

Kailash Vijayvargiya

‘HINDU RAJ IN WEST BENGAL SOON’

Pragya Singh Thakur

end to the prevailing atmosphere of political violence and terror in the state," Vijayvargiya said. The ruling TMC and the BJP have been

engaged in a war of words over the attack on BJP national president J P Nadda''s convoy by alleged TMC supporters.

form a “government” in the BTC, but the BJP ignored the pleas.

The United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) has won 12 seats, the BJP nine, while the Congress and the Gana Suraksha Party (GSP), headed by Lok Sabha MP Naba Sarania, got one each.

The BJP and BPF, along with the AGP, fought the 2016 assembly elections together in which BPF got 12 seats, winning all they has contested. Three of its MLAs are still ministers in the Sonowal government. —PTI

Yogi’s farmers’... owed would be paid to farmers even if it requires stopping emoluments of MLAs and MPs, Yogi has vowed to unshackle them from the chains of vested interests and bring them on the path of prosperity.

Instead of directly locking horns with the opposition parties, or for that matter, farmers, Yogi has deftly couched his counter-campaign and using his a vocabulary of ‘development and empowerment.’ He is keeping his ear to the ground. If sources in BJP are to be believed,

Chadha among 3 MLAs Mum Police arrests Republic TV detained by Delhi Police CEO in TRP manipulation case New Delhi: The Delhi Police detained 3 AAP MLAs with Raghav Chadha ahead of their planned protest at Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence. This comes after Police had rejected Raghav Chadha’s request for permission to hold a demonstration at Union Minister Shah’s residence on Sunday in view of the pandemic.

On Saturday, Chadha has written a letter to Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police request-

Raghav Chadha

ing for permission to hold a dharna outside the residence of Union Home Minister against alleging misappropriation of funds by New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has arrested Republic TV CEO Vikas Khanchandani in the alleged TRP manipulation case. Recently, Republic TV Network has alleged that its Assistant Vice President (Distribution) Ghanshyam Singh, who was released on bail on December 5, was “tortured and assaulted” during interrogation

by Mumbai police. An interim application has been filed by Re-

Vikas Khanchandani

public Media Network before Bombay HC stating that Singh was lashed with “chakki belt” while he was in the custody of Mumbai

Police. He was arrested on November 10 in connection with the alleged Television Rating Point (TRP) scam.

The interim application says that police force was saying in Marathi “inko maaro maro maro”. It says that Singh was forced to extend his hand before the police officers & he was whipped by a chakki belt three times (twice on the right hand and once on the left hand).

FROM PG 1 24X7 RTGS... the service partners who made this possible,” Das tweeted. “India will be among very few countries globally with a 24 x 7 x 365 large-value realtime payment system.

This will facilitate innovations in the large value payments ecosystem and promote ease of doing business,” Das has said in an earlier statement. —ANI BJP dumps...

BPF president Hagrama Mohilary said his party repeatedly appealed to the BJP to follow the “coalition” norms and help it to

the party may soon hold ‘Kisan Chuapals’ in western districts soon to spread awareness about the farmers welfare schemes and work it has done for them.

What, however, is making UP CM’s task difficult is the support of some BJP allies and RSS outfits to the agitation. The million dollar question is: who will blink first?

BJP prez... of coronavirus, I got myself tested and the report came back positive. My health is fine, I am following all the guidelines and I am in

home isolation on the advice of doctors. My request is, whoever has come in contact in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get yourself tested,” his tweet read.

Recently, he visited West Bengal as part of his 120-days nationwide tour. —ANI

PM leads...

Parliament in the 2001 terrorist attack. I bow to their exemplary courage and sacrifice,” Shah tweeted.

Earlier today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid

tributes to victims of the 2001 terror attack on Parliament.

“My humble tribute to personnel from police and Parliament who lost their lives on this day in 2001, in a bid to protect the House. Their loyalty and valour will continue to inspire us and further strengthen our resolve to fight against terrorism,” Om Birla tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

“We will never forget the cowardly attack on our Parliament on this day in 2001. We recall the valour and sacrifice of those who lost their lives protecting our Par-

liament. India will always be thankful to them,” PM Modi tweeted.On December 13, 2001, five heavily-armed terrorists belonging to terror outfit Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) and Jaish-eMohammed (JeM), stormed the Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire indiscriminately. Around 14 people, mostly security forces and one civilian, were killed in the attack. —ANI

Govt goes... of Delhi against three new farm laws, saying commuters are facing hardships due to the

road blockades and the gatherings might lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. According to the apex court website, a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde & justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian will hear the plea filed by law student Rishabh Sharma, who has also sought directions to authorities to open the roads at Delhi’s borders, shift the protesters to allotted place and provide guidelines on social distancing and use of masks at the protest site in order to curb the spread of COVID-19.

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07

The Central government apparently thinks that the huge open-air farmers’ protests outside Delhi may fizzle out in due course. But the farmers’ resolve, and their widespread public support, suggest that this time could be different.

FARMERS VS THE

Indian State JAYATI GHOSH

I

ndia’s capital is under siege from more than two million farmers, who are currently gathered at the city’s border in a massive protest that started two weeks ago.

Old and young men, women, and even children from farming families are camping on open roads in the bitter cold of a Delhi winter.

They have abandoned their concerns about viral infection and come prepared for the long haul, bringing enough food to last for several months.

The movement began when several thousand farmers from the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana drove their tractors toward Delhi in the hope of publicizing their grievances in the city’s centre. The protests subsequently swelled as more farmers

arrived from other states, and show no sign of dissipating. More than 500 farmers’ organizations across India are supporting the protesters’ demands, and the farmers’ calls for “Bharat Bandh,” or a national shutdown, on December 8 garnered widespread support from trade unions and several opposition parties.

The immediate trigger for the protests was the government’s hasty enactment of three new farm laws, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic without consulting stakeholders, like the farmers themselves, or state governments, which are responsible for agriculture under India’s Constitution.

On the face of it, the laws appear harmless or even beneficial for farmers. They relax restrictions on the purchase and sale of farm produce, remove constraints on stockpiling under the 1955 Essential Commodities Act, and enable contract farming

based on written agreements. The government’s declared purpose is to create “an ecosystem where farmers and traders enjoy freedom of choice,” with “competitive alternative trading channels” that “promote efficient, transparent, and barrier-free” trade.

India’s farmers view the new legislation very differently. They fear that these “modernizing” laws will pave the way for

the predatory corporate commercialization of Indian agriculture, led by politically well-connected tycoons. Others argue that the laws effectively deregulate farm-produce transactions, contract farming, and stock holding in ways that will harm farmers. Small and marginal farmers fear they will be the worst affected.

These measures were probably the proverbial

last straw for many farmers, whose protests have become more vocal in recent years as threats to their livelihood have increased.

True, farm incomes were declining continuously before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

In fact, farmers played a crucial role in Modi’s initial election triumph after he promised to double their incomes in

five years by offering minimum support prices (MSPs) for their produce (sold to the public food-procurement agency) that were 50% above total cultivation costs.

But Modi failed to keep that promise, and farmers instead received prices that were even lower relative to their costs than they had been under the previous government. Several of Modi’s other promises to

the agriculture sector also turned out to be hollow, further eroding farmers’ trust in his administration.

In recent years, collapsing demand in the Indian economy has kept prices for agricultural produce low. This was the result of policy blunders—two in particular—that destroyed many informal economic activities and damaged livelihoods: the November 2016 demonetization initiative and the subsequent poorly conceived and implemented national goods and services tax.

The government did not use fiscal policy to revive employment and demand, so both incomes and consumption declined, keeping crop prices low. The pandemic subsequently made it much harder for farmers to grow produce and get it to market, while crop prices have remained well below 2019 levels.

Farmers suspect that the new laws will sound the death knell for the public food-procurement system, which, though imperfect, still provides them with some basic protection against the vagaries of the market. And they can see that crop prices in states like Bihar (which has already ended the monopoly of regulated market yards) fall well below the MSPs. One of the new laws aims to do away with “middlemen” like commission agents. But farmers say they would rather interact with such people, and potentially develop a relationship that allows for some flexibility and concessions when required, than with faceless, intractable corporations that can use various means—such as “quality control” during purchase—to deprive them of their due.To be sure,

farmers must also worry about ecological constraints and soil degradation resulting from ever-greater reliance on chemical agriculture, scarce and contaminated water, and climate change (reflected in adverse weather events and changing rainfall patterns). But the Modi government’s policies, farmers fear, would worsen these problems.

So far, the government has sought to deal with the angry farmers much as it has done with all democratic protests. It initially ignored the demonstrators, before claiming that they were being misled and manipulated by malevolent opposition forces.

The government then implied that the Sikh farmers were “anti-nationals” and therefore “terrorists,” and used brute force to quell peaceful protests. Pliant mainstream media and social media trolls have been unleashed in an effort to undermine the farmers and discredit their demands, just as they have aggressively attacked all dissenters over the past six years.

The government has refused to bend to the farmers’ central demand of doing away with these laws. It apparently thinks the open-air protests may in time fizzle out, especially given the cold that has already claimed the lives of several demonstrators.

But this could be hubris. Around half of India’s total workforce depends on agriculture, and two-thirds of the population (and 70% of rural people) depend on farm incomes directly or indirectly. The protesting farmers’ resolve, and their widespread public support, suggest that this time could be different.

SOURCE: PROJECTSYNDICATE.COM

Belief is good. Belief in goodness and love is better. Anything which promotes hate does not deserve your belief.

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

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2ND FRONT AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

08

Dilemma of choosing between loyalists & dissidents, the biggest impediment Gehlot facing in cabinet expansion!

‘I DON’T THINK RAHUL’S CORONATION WILL IN ANY WAY PROVE NEGATIVE FOR GEHLOT’

z How would you decipher the mirage of PCC re-constitution, political appointments and the cabinet expansion, which seems to have blurred the vision of everybody concerned?

The answer to all the questions related to issues pointed out by you, are with CM Ashok Gehlot and yet due to the fog of multiple uncertainties like pulls & pressures, caste factors, political factors, dissidence against the state government and Corona have created such a situation. This forces one to wonder whether the long pending issues like PCC re-constitution, political appointments, ministerial reshuffle and some other important decisions will ever find a solution or not.

Let us simply hope that the Congress High Command and CM Gehlot, soon enough, one day realise that they have all the solutions and they unveil them to end the mirage and clear the vision. z What according to you is CM Gehlot’s inner thought in all this?

I feel he is in a dilemma.

Dilemma of annoying a large number of his supporters, who stood by him in the hour of need, for the sake of those handful, who revolted against the party and the state government and had virtually knocked the doors of BJP. These 102 supporters, who helped Gehlot government survive, are with him in thick and thin, but only until Gehlot doesn’t resort to appeasement of the dissidents, who are back in the party fold now. Such an appeasement might even lead to a big revolt in the party, which even a highly skilful & experienced Gehlot may fail to manage. Some may allege that such a revolt would be stage-managed

by Gehlot himself, but it would be a genuine revolt by his supporters ‘hurt’ deep inside. So, the day, CM Gehlot is able to differentiate between these loyalists and those handful, who had shown open dissidence and came out of his dilemma, then it wouldn’t take even 24 hours for the new ministers to take oath at the Raj Bhawan. z What are the impediments holding Gehlot back and don’t you find it unusual that AICC state incharge Ajay Maken conveyed the deadlines for the party & political appointments to CM Gehlot

through an interview given to PTI? The dilemma of choosing between the loyalists and dissidents, is the topmost reason followed by the unprecedented corona crisis, coupled with the financial crunch and then the critical caste & group balancing in the event of inclusion of the dissidents, form the wall of multiple reasons holding Gehlot back. Considering the experience, stature and command of Ashok Gehlot and his access to Gandhi family, it was extra ordinary for the party High Command to route its message through party General Secretary who in turn, chose PTI to carry forward it rather than a ‘direct approach.’ Considering the kind of seasoned & mature politician Maken is along with his personal admiration of Gehlot’s seniority and skills plus according to my personal knowledge, I am sure that Maken did this on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi, who wanted Gehlot to come out of his dilemma now. z What was the ‘chronology’ of the events according to you, did the Congress High Command first inform CM Gehlot of the deadlines for appointments and then asked Maken to go public or was it Maken trying to pacify Pilot camp after CM all of a sudden, resurrected the ‘Conspiracy Still at Work’ theory?

Mark my words, Congress High Command will never do anything in Rajasthan without first taking Gehlot in confidence. So, Gehlot knew of the ‘deadline’ issue. It was surprising for Gehlot to rake up the dissidence episode from an unusual platform of MLA Sanyam Lodha’s function, but what actually happened according to my sources, is that after Gehlot raised the issue of yet another attempt to topple his government, Pilot himself called Maken and told him that he would like to finally break his silence and demeanour and react to the CM’s statement. This forced Maken to stop Pilot and go public with the appointment deadline dates after due permission from the High Command and which I think was a ‘smart move’ to satisfy all the stakeholders including the aspirant party workers, loyal supporters and the Pilot camp. z Do you think now the deadlines for the

Editor-In-Chief of First India, Jagdeesh Chandra, in The New JC Show, talks about the likely reconstitution of PCC, political appointments and reshuffle of the cabinet, which are said to be the biggest challenges before CM Ashok Gehlot, in thwarting what is infamously called ‘Operation Lotus-2,’ significance of Gehlot as Congress High Command’s confidante, of Sachin Pilot’s future in Congress & how he has found a new ‘Godfather’ in Priyanka Gandhi and much more...

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Jagdeesh Chandra with Shweta Mishra, Aditi Nagar, Kriti Garg, Akanksha Bhalla and Aayushi Shekhawat.

political appointments and cabinet expansion will be followed?

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that everything happens keeping the sanctity of the High Command’s instructions, but these are complex issues and may stretch a bit, but I am certain that before the actual announcements, Gehlot will sit and double check with the High Command that no untoward incident occurs during the entire complicated process. z Do you think Ajay Maken’s going public with the deadlines for appointments has enthused the Pilot camp while discouraging the Gehlot loyalists and will Gehlot eventually manage & afford the re-induction of the two suspended ministers of the Pilot camp?

This has been the first ray of hope for the Pilot supporters post home coming after the open defiance, so being enthused is but natural, as it re-affirms their faith in Pilot still having sway in Delhi and on the other hand, disillusionment of Gehlot loyalists, who are a silent & disciplined lot, is also natural for paying the price despite standing firm and saving the government from the imminent fall. Now, this is the biggest dilemma for Gehlot as how to make himself and his firm loyalists comprehend the ultimate decision to re-induct the suspended ministers in the cabinet, who were actually suspended to save the government. Let’s see how this ultimate puzzle unfolds eventually because you can’t rule last minute changes on this particular issue due to the equations between Gehlot and the High Command.

z Can you confirm that Ahmed Bhai had, just before his untimely sudden demise, fixed November 20 as the date of oath taking for the new ministers in Rajasthan?

Yes, this information is near totally true that despite being hospitalised, Ahmed Bhai was active in his usual crisis management of Congress through his mobile and since the three-member committee appointed for Rajasthan hadn’t met for almost four months, the High Command asked Ahmed Bhai to look into the matter. It is said that Ahmed Bhai conveyed that he would be discharged from the hospital by November 15 and would hold a VC with all concerned from Rajasthan and make new ministers take oath on November 20. But destiny had other plans, he tragically passed away. z What are the biggest challenges before CM Gehlot and state in-charge Ajay Maken?

CM Gehlot clearly has the biggest challenge of thwarting what is now infamously called ‘Operation Lotus-2,’ which may in form of BJP or any other external power, trying to destabilise his government or it might be Pilot camp or some other internal group taking a second shot at bringing down Gehlot government. On the other hand, Maken comparatively has an easier challenge of taking both, Gehlot and Pilot together amicably and ensuring nothing overturns this apple cart. z When Pilot came back to the party fold after the Manesar adventure, the 3 member committee had clearly said that their ‘homecoming’ was uncondi-

tional and ‘bargain free,’ but the pressure being built by the Pilot camp for rehabilitation points to something else. How do you see it?

This is a major contradiction in the party. The three- member committee openly said then that there were no conditions for the comeback of the Pilot camp, so either they were unaware of the conditions or obviously kept those as a secret, keeping the dignity of their High Command, but the subsequent behaviour of the High Command of not only insisting on the rehabilitation, but also on a time -bound rehabilitation, clearly indicates the fact that there was some kind of understanding or MoU between Pilot camp and the Gandhi family, which is being honoured now. z What according to you is the future of Sachin Pilot in Congress? If somehow the Gehlot government falls in coming months, even then the most probable names for CM are Gajendra Singh Shekhawat or Satish Poonia or may be some third person, but what happens to Pilot’s ambition of bagging the coveted chair then?

If Pilot had to become CM of Rajasthan, then it had to be when he defected with his supporters and had the support of BJP although that was highly unlikely even then. Now his future is with Congress because in case, the Gehlot government falls prematurely, then BJP will only placate him with a central minister portfolio for which Pilot will have to swallow the bitter pill of joining BJP first, which would be difficult for him. In Congress, his future is in Delhi as its General Secretary or

Working President. The ‘so-called understanding’ with Gandhi family at the time of homecoming, also had the essential clause of ‘no hyperactive’ role in Rajasthan.

Of course, being the third most popular face in the state after Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje, he would have some extra constitutional authority in Rajasthan with his supporters involved in active politics of the state. As far as BJP is concerned, as of now, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the one, who is fully conducting like a CM designate with the blessings of his central leadership. Though Satish Poonia can also be considered as his alternative, if Raje or some other forces obstruct Shekhawat’s way. z Rumour mill had it some time ago that the BJP High Command has now entrusted Vasundhara Raje with the task of toppling the Gehlot government and she herself has also assured the party leadership of accomplishing the mission in coming 3 months.

How credible do you find these rumours?

Somebody added fuel to this fire by attaching CM Gehlot’s statement regarding the renewed efforts to topple his government with the ‘Raje Contract Theory.’ Despite a strong disbelief in this theory, on checking the rumour, I found it utterly ‘baseless,’ as I feel, Madam will now initiate all her efforts in 2022 so, if at all, some body is in the game, it might be Gajendra Singh or Satish Poonia, but not Vasundhara Raje. I say this with extra confidence because Raje has always found it ‘immoral’ to topple a government with however thin a majority. Although, during the recent crisis, somebody alleged that she helped

Gehlot government survive and later, some evidence was also produced to support these claims, but that is altogether a different ball game. z Do you think that the communicationgap or ‘trust deficit’ between Raje and BJP High Command has narrowed down?

The answer to this will decide the fate of Vasundhara Raje in the state politics, but this is true that in a series of meetings in Delhi with JP Nadda, she conveyed that she was within the party system and was not involved in shielding Gehlot government in the state along with sharing her pain of BJP’s political nobodies, taking pot-shots at her.

These messages apparently were conveyed to PM Modi, who then is said to have told Nadda to take Amit Shah in the loop as he was the man, who oversaw party affairs. Later, Raje herself had courtesy meetings with Amit Shah, so we can say that the misunderstandings and ‘trust deficit’ between her and the Centre have reduced and softening has taken place although the extent of softening is unknown. Meanwhile, the opposite camp reportedly gave a tape to the central leadership, which allegedly had some ‘Raje supporting’ leaders claiming that she would break away with her 40 MLAs, if Gajendra Singh was made CM in case the Gehlot government ‘fell.’ But tapes can be doctored and all these are political games, which go on endlessly. z After watching PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra perform for 5 months now, do you think he is being ‘remote- controlled’ by CM Gehlot?

Well, people expected this to happen and since Gehlot himself has been

party chief in the state more than once, this was most likely to happen, as Gehlot has firm grip on the party organisation, which he had loosened to give free hand to Pilot, when he was made the PCC chief. I think Dotasra has performed well until now and being a grateful man to his senior like Gehlot, he has lived up to his expectations so far. So, the term ‘remote control’ is wrong to use and it would be more precise to say that both share a very comfortable relationship. z With the vacuum in Congress leadership in Delhi, do you think that Rahul Gandhi will take over the charge of the party in FebruaryMarch next year and if that happens, how will it affect the politics of the state?

First, will the reluctant Rahul take over? My call is that Sonia Gandhi will, due to her failing health, transfer the power to someone else for sure.

Now there are ‘50-50’ chances that Rahul may take the charge or may stick to his old stand of a ‘Non-Gandhi’ party president. As far as impact on state politics is concerned, I don’t think Rahul’s coronation will in any way prove negative for Gehlot because firstly, why would he himself destabilise a Congress state government, which is already numbered in the country. Secondly, I, contrary to popular belief, don’t think that he is completely averse to Gehlot’s leadership and lastly, very few people know, but Pilot, after the recent defiance, has a new ‘Godfather’ in Priyanka Gandhi and not Rahul Gandhi. It was Priyanka, who pacified Rahul,who was upset due to Pilot’s dissidence.

During the show #JC onAshokGehlot trended Top 10 All India

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AHMEDABAD, MONDAY DECEMBER 14, 2020

Top 28 finalists of Miss Rajasthan 2020

BEST OF THE BEST —PHOTOS BY SANTOSH SHARMA

Rajasthan’s oldest beauty pageant, Miss Rajasthan announced its top 28 finalists who will be competing to attain the title of ‘Miss Rajasthan 2020’

Jagdeesh Chandra with (from left) Mitali Kaur, Kanchan Khatana, Mansi Bachani, Simran Sharma, Nikita Shekhawat and Amisha Raj

NEHAL NAYAR

nehal.nayar@firstindia.co.in

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Miss Rajasthan 2019 Kanchan Khatana

Miss Rajasthan 2017 Simran Sharma

urning dreams into passion needs a lot of courage, as there are various obstacles that tend to come on the way.

Miss Rajasthan, Rajasthan’s oldest beauty pageant provides a platform to all the aspiring models to fulfil their dreams. The auditions of this pageant were being done virtually, keeping the current scenario in mind.

Out of 5600 girls who had participated to be a part of the pageant, the top 28 finalists were announced by Yogesh and Nimisha Mishra from Fusion Group on Sunday at Hotel Hilton. AJ Dance Group kick-started

the event with their graceful performance.

Jagdeesh Chandra was the chief guest of the event and congratulated all the finalists on the great achievement. He also wished them all the best for their future. Various other renowned people like SSBC Group’s MD Madan Yadav, Hotel Hilton’s GM Vivek Gupta, Jaipur Marathon’s CEO

Ganesh Vandana by AJ Dance Group

Yogesh Mishra

Mukesh Mishra, Arshan Hussain and Pawan Goyal.

Yogesh and Nimisha Mishra said, “The sash ceremony was organised following all the COVID guidelines, and the grooming sessions of the top finalists will be organised in the coming months.”

There will be a month of various grooming sessions for all the participants, to

make them compete with confidence with each other, and also to compete with other states, nations in the coming future.

Queen Chaperon Simran Sharma, Chaperons Kanchan Khatana and Aruna Beniwal, Buddy Chaperons Mansi Bainada, Mansi Bachani and Mitali Kaur will guide the top finalists throughout.

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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VET THE VET MARIAM ABUHAIDERI thepersianladki@gmail.com

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sure of living. Why would you want to spend it doing something you don’t enjoy? If you don’t make the MBBS, and you ain’t fond of animals, opt for something else instead which would not entail you putting a life at risk because you feel you have no choice.

For those who are already vets and are the victim of our flawed system, I would recommend they put in their heart and do their utmost to treat their patients. Trust me it shows when a vet cares and when he or she doesn’t. So you cannot fool your clients. For them, the animal is their child. If you would not care less for a human child, then why such discrimination is practiced with animals? Well, you have taken the oath. Live up to it.

Veterinary clinics are growing exponentially in the city. This is usually a good thing, but we don’t live in Utopia. There are many cases of negligence and manhandling of animals.

Fortunately, some vets are passionate animal lovers.

I hope you find one of them for your pet. I hope our educational system gives us more kindness-led vets. I hope the government gives Veterinary Science as much attention as it does to the medical field. Schools should imbibe more kindness education.

Animal shelters should vet the vets they wish to hire as they exist for the sake of the community animals.

An animal is a life after all.

Choose wisely. It is also a matter of your life. If you chose wrongly you will only be frustrated. Passion will bear fruit, and force will only kill it and the life it is being assigned to save. To those of you who have dedicated your life to serving animals, I express my gratitude.

FA CE OF TH ED AY

am convinced that the Indian educational system needs reviving. But I am also sure that the decision-makers from amongst the Ministry of Education do not read my articles, so the chances that I can bring about change in the way we impart education are slim. The children whose parents can afford an international education for them are fortunate. Those who cannot are almost doomed as their future is pretty much decided for them. In India, you can either study to be a doctor, engineer, accountant, or businessman. You can only choose from Arts, Sciences, and Commerce. Everything has an entrance exam, and seats of colleges can be purchased. And then there is the reservation system. Sadly, this is the state of our country.

Until recently, I believed that only those who loved animals choose to become vets. How wrong I have been. While some choose the stream because they want to help animals, many are veterinarians because they had no choice but to be pushed into studying veterinary science by a flawed system that says if you fail the MBBS, you are bound to take up Veterinary science. And then it goes all downhill from there for the vets and for the animals they treat.

So if you are one of those who doesn’t like animals, I suggest you do not get into it. Veterinarians have an obligation towards animals. The Veterinarian’s oath should be adhered. The job of a veterinary surgeon is tougher.

Their patients do not express themselves as human patients do.

So the task becomes a lot more challenging and this is why the veterinary profession is more grounded in compassion. How then can someone who doesn’t like animals do justice to the oath?

For someone who becomes a vet just for the sake of staying in the medical profession, it won’t make a difference if an animal lives or dies. For them, the profession isn’t as gratifying as it would be had they saved a human life. This is why I always ensure I find out if the vet I seek services from is an animal lover first. I suggest you do too. After all, your pet is your family member and you would want them to be in safe hands.

We all get this one life we are

YOUR DAY Horoscope by

Saurabbh Sachdeva

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Dancing and doing fun things will keep some in perfect health. Timely help from someone close will be a boon for those financially tight at the moment. However, the same cannot be said about business owners, especially where profits are concerned.

Some of you will have to adopt measures to blunt the impact of a lifestyle disease. Consider betting and speculation a big no-no, if you don’t want to ruin yourself financially.

Your performance is likely to improve manifold on the professional front and get noticed.

A family reunion is indicated and promises much enjoyment. Religious minded can go on a spiritually elevating journey. Some of you may get embroiled in a legal battle over property. You will be able to keep up the pace with others on the academic front.

Adequate health measures will keep you in a fine fettle. You are likely to remain in the saving mode for some more time. Positive developments at work can keep you in an upbeat mood. Differences with your spouse should be best avoided or they may take an ugly turn.

MAR 21 - APR 20

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Those ailing for long can expect a miraculous recovery. Keeping a check on expenses is your only hope to save for purchasing a major item. Those in a creative field will achieve much in terms of clientele.

Spouse may differ with your opinion about a social situation.

An exercise buddy can be a blessing in disguise for some. Purchasing expensive items may need to be put on hold. This is the day when you will achieve unprecedented success in your current occupation.

Some of you may not be able to devote much time to family.

Timely treatment of a minor ailment will prevent it getting aggravated.

Returns from previous investments will manage to finance something you desire. Things may not be completely hunky dory on the professional front. Resetting the house may be on the minds.

Choosing a healthy lifestyle at this juncture becomes most essential for some.

Judicious spending and not succumbing to temptations promise to keep your financial situation intact. Market trends can tempt you into playing the stocks, which may prove to be profitable.

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

AUG 24 - SEP 23

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Health remains satisfactory, but aim for total fitness.

Make any excuse, but don’t lend money to anyone today.

Maintaining a working relationship with those you don’t particularly like will be a better option. Home remedy may come in handy in countering a malady.

Shifting into a bigger house is possible.

Those doing their bit to shed weight will succeed beyond their expectations!

You will be able to remain strong on the financial front.

Thinking out of the box is likely to get the spotlight on you on the professional front. A pending property issue will be completed.

Health of a family member may cause a bit of a concern, but will be nothing serious.

Money comes to you from various sources to fill your coffers.

Your strategy for promoting business is likely to be on the right lines and lead to good profits. You can feel hurt at not being invited somewhere.

Rest and relaxation are yours as you manage to find the perfect getaway.

You may be compelled to spend more on something, but it will be worth it. Keeping a low profile on the professional front may keep you from coming into the notice of those who matter.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

AASHIKA BHATIA, Content Creator

APR 21 - MAY 20

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

The Kapoors are said to be the first family of Bollywood and much of the credit goes to Raj Kapoor, the founder of RK Films, son of Prithviraj Kapoor. On his 96th Birth anniversary, City First pays a tribute by remembering the heroines of the Showman!

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews. com

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aj Kapoor was a charmer, he could get people to do things for him which they had never imagined. His films gained national and international acclaim as they grappled with social themes and issues facing the nation like poverty, unemployment and class, individual moral issues – all woven through comedy and stirring romance depicted beautifully through his heroines- innocence personified in white! As his heroine, one had to give up on colour and embrace white.

As we take you on a rain drenched walk through some of the leading ladies of Raj Kapoor who made an impact on me for various reasons, let me tell you that my favourite is Raj Kapoor’s own favourite-Nargis.

Nargis, whom he never asked to bare and who played strong empowered roles in all his movies.

Being a romantic, I like to believe that it was his love for Nargis which made it so. It is their chemistry also, which led to Awaara and Shri 420 being icon-

Kapoor Raj and Krishna

with Rishi, Rajiv

ic films, but each of their 16 films is worth a watch.

My next favourite is Padmini Kolhapure. She struck a chord

and Randhir

as the innocent girl, bride and widow in Prem Rog and the movie gave a strong message of widow remarriage while baring the dark side of life of the rich and hallowed. Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara is a must in weddings even today.

Padmini is closely followed

by Vijyantimala. She is one of my favourites but in Raj Kapoor’s hands in Sangam she left me breathless. Raj had her in white throughout the movie except in the wedding and main kya karun ram mujhe buddha mil gaya – the song which had her looking super cute.

Raj charmed her into wearing a swimsuit as he sang bol radha bol sangam hoga ya nahin. And she is simply WOW as the woman who refuses to

sacrifice her happiness but destiny nails her.

Dimple Kapadia in Bobbylike the entire nation I adored her. Only Raj Kapoor could have presented the perfect combination of innocent and sexy siren in the young Dimple. Andar se koi bahar na ja sake is the cutest with Dimple and Rishi and so is Jhooth bole kauvva kaate with a sexy bold Dimple. Be it the red bikini or the polka-dotted knotted tops, Raj Kapoor nailed the look. The love story in the backdrop of class and values was an instant hit.

As for my point that Raj Kapoor was a charmer and could get the ladies do and bare to the limits they never did for anyone else. Remember Simi Garewal in Mera Naam Joker? Many a young boy wished himself in the shoes of the chubby child Rishi. Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Mandakini in Ram teri Ganga maili- flashes which come to mind is of sexy women, waterfalls, breasts in white transparent sarees and sexiness seeped in womanhood and innocence.

That’s Raj for you! The Showman knew his women and he portrayed them as he saw them- beautiful as God made them.

ETC

11

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AHMEDABAD | MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020

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JC SHOW! Jagdeesh Chandra with the team of the New JC Show at the channel office on Friday. From left – Yogesh Sharma, Senior Editor Syed Umar, Anita Hada, Vijendra Solanki, Aditi Nagar, Shweta Mishra, Swati Jangid, Shashi Bhati, Akanksha Bhalla, Riya Sen, Mahima Sharma, Mansi Bachhani, Vaishali Rajawat, Jyoti Rawat, Khushbu Mishra, Megha Kaushik.

Jagdeesh Chandra with the team

Jagdeesh Chandra with Yasheel Pandel and Gaurav Gaur

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

WEDDING BELLS!

Jagdeesh Chandra blessed and congratulated the newly wed couple Yogendra Singh and Ritu Kanwar at their wedding reception at Samurai farms, Jaipur.

Also seen is Ashok Rathore GM Rambagh Palace and Mahendra Singh & Krishna Kanwar, the parents of Yogendra.

GUJ: Ajay Choudhary, Joint commissioner of police (IPS) organised an abstract live painting talk exhibition at hutheesing centre, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.

Many art enthusiasts visited the exhibition.

CONGRATULATIONS!

—PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI

BIRTHDAY WISHES!

Celebration of drama CITY FIRST

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Congress leader, Mamta Bhupesh and Dr Ghanshyam Berwa celebrated their 26th marriage anniversary with family in a simple way on Saturday.

—City First

Fancy Dress Competition

he virtually ongoing 9th edition of Jai Rangam Festival witnessed two fulllength plays and three short plays on Sunday. The day started with Morning Raga.

Various Dance and Musical Performances were organised from morning to evening. Meer - E - Alam and Dhaapu Khan performed Sufi Songs and played Kamayacha. Three short plays were performed during which Bhoomika Dubey directed Kuch Manzil Upar Se, Anil Tiwari directed Hayaat and Aadar Satkar directed by Sikandar Khan were performed.

Later, performances of full-length plays started. All the plays to be showcased during the festival can be watched on the official website of Jai Rangam at free of cost. Later these plays would be available on YouTube as well. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

CITY FIRST

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ELITE MISS RAJASTHAN 2020

AAKHAR SERIES organised virtually

Aarav

ll the competitions for children between 6 and 14 years have been held at Digital Baal Mela. Children from the age of one to five years have also made a big jump. Entries from many states including Maharashtra Assam and Delhi were received for Digital Mummy-Papa Fair, especially in the fancy dress competition.

The parents of Aarav Sanklecha from Balotra sent a Khwaish photo of Aarav dressed as a chef trying his hand at cooking, while the parents of Khwaish Jain of Maharashtra touched the hearts of many people by dressing their three-year-old girl in a Haryanvi dress. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted Kavish on his first birthday on 10 December, seen here with the proud father Mahesh Sharma of First India family and mother Meenakshi, brother Kanha and grandparents Moolchand Sharma and Rukmani Devi.

Magic of Poetry CITY FIRST

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he famous poets of Jaipur gathered online in the net theatre and made the day worth remembering on Saturday. Rajendra Sharma Raju of Net Theat told that Banaj Kumar Banaj, senior international poet, made all online poetry listeners overwhelmed. Ved Dadhich of Jaipur, while cursing the coronavirus, prayed to Lord Krishna that he should save humanity. Yogita Zeenat in her style recited,” Kisi ne

cheen li uski ravani, vo dariya hai magar behta nahi hai”. Shire Mukhtar Mahir said, “I ached in pain like I was wrapped in myself, then who could stop me? I was moved ahead of me”. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

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enowned Rajasthani language litterateur Vishnu Vishwas shared his literary journey in “Aakhar” series on Sunday. An initiative by Prabha Khaitan Foundation in association with Grassroot Media Foundation, Aakhar aims to promote Rajasthani Language, Arts & Culture. Supported by Shree Cement, the talk-show was held digitally on Aakhar Rajasthan’s Facebook page amid the ongoing pandemic. Rajasthani writer and poet Nahush Vyas interacted with Vishnu Vishwas about his journey and creations. Talking about his journey in Rajasthani literature, writer Vishnu Vishwas shared that despite being from Hindi background, he started writing poems in Rajasthani language because of the sweetness of Rajasthani folk culture.

—City First

The sash ceremony of Elite Miss Rajasthan 2020 will be held today, 14 December at Hotel Hilton. A total of 31 finalists will be announced for the seventh season of Elite Miss Rajasthan, who will then undertake a week of grooming sessions. The finale of this renowned beauty pageant will take place on 20 December.

ELECTIONS!

—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA

The election of Rajasthan Pencak Silat Association was held on Sunday from 12 noon to 2 pm at of Ved Marriage Garden, Panigraha, Jaipur. The officials from 19 districts of Rajasthan participated, voted and elected the State officials.

Hridesh Kumar Sharma (IAS) became the Chairman and Mohan Singh Tada was appointed as the President.

Raj: Club executive elections were held on Sunday at the virtual meeting of Rotary Club Jaipur Royal for the year 2021-22. Harish Khatri became the President, while Rajesh Vijay was appointed the Secretary.