First India-Lucknow Edition-10 December 2020

LUCKNOW l THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. UPENG/2020/04393 l Vol 1 l Issue No.28

PM MODI TO LAY FOUNDATION STONE OF NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING TODAY OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the New Parliament Building at Sansad Marg today. The new building is an intrinsic part of the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and will be a land-

mark opportunity to build peoples’ Parliament for the first time after independence, one which will match the needs and aspirations of ‘New India’ in the 75th anniversary of independence in 2022. The function

12°C - 27°C

will be attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Hardeep S Puri, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan

Singh. Around 200 dignitaries, including Union Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Secretaries Ambassadors/High Commissioners will attend the function, which will also be webcast live.

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13 agitating farmer unions unanimously reject draft proposal sent by Centre; Govt assures registration of all pvt mandis to strengthen AMPC; Adamant farmers to block Delhi-Jaipur NH by Dec 12; call for nationwide sit-in protest on Dec 14

A serious threat to Modi & Shah’s good governance New Delhi: Farmer unions on Wednesday rejected the government’s proposals on changes in three farm laws and said they will intensify their protest for the repeal of these laws.

“We reject the government’s proposals,” said Darshan Pal, President of Krantikari Kisan Union at a joint press conference of farmer unions at Singhu border between Delhi and Haryana. The farmer union leaders said that there will be sit-ins at BJP offices and protest demonstrations will be held in many parts of the country on December 14.

They said that DelhiJaipur highway will be blocked on December 12

TOMAR MEETS SHAH AS FARMERS REJECT GOVT’S PROPOSAL

A farmer smokes Hukkah during the protest against farm bills at Delhi Ghaziabad border, in Delhi on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

and added that they are also giving a call to farmers from other parts of the country to

CABINET APPROVES ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad addresses a press conference on Cabinet decisions, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave a nod for Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) to boost employment in the formal sector and incentivise creation of new employment opportunities during the COVID-19 recovery phase under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0, said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The Cabinet has approved an expenditure of Rs 1,584 crore for the

current financial year and Rs 22,810 crores for the entire scheme period from 2020 to 2023.

The scheme will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after October 1, 2020 and upto June 30, 2021, Prasad said in a press briefing here.

The government will pay both 12 per cent employees’ contribution and 12 per cent employers’ contribution i.e.

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reach Delhi.

The proposals were sent to farmer union leaders after they at-

tended a meeting called

by Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.

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Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah after farmer leaders rejected the Centre’s draft proposal to amend the new agriculture laws. Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal was also present in the meeting. The meeting likely took place to discuss the next course of action.

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, CPI Gen Secy D Raja and CPM Gen Secy Sitaram Yechury speak to media after meeting President Ram Nath Kovind over farm laws, at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

Opposition meets President, seeks repeal of farm laws New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and leaders of some other opposition parties including NCP, DMK, CPI-M on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind and urged him to persuade the government “not to be obdurate” and accept demand of

Centre to send extra vax storage equipment to states from today New Delhi: Starting from December 10, the Centre will send additional vaccine storage equipment to states and union territories, as the preparation for starting the vaccine drive is going on in full swing.

Three vaccine candidates, including that of Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, have applied for emergency use authorisation. While the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation reviews the applications, the Centre is readying the ground work for vaccine delivery.

According to health ministry, the present cold chain system consists of 85,634 equipment for storage of vaccine at about 28,947 cold chain points across the country. The number (85,634) includes all auxiliary equipment as well like walk-in cool-

—PHOTO BY ANI

DON’T PUT POSTERS OUTSIDE HOMES OF COVID +VES: SC

Foreign envoys take a tour of Bharat Biotech facility where Covaxin is being developed, in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

ers, transport box etc.

The Centre had already asked the states and UTs to assess their cold-storage requirement, if they need extra walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, deep freezers, ice-lined refrigerators etc., as the present equipment are also used for other immunisation programmes.

The supply will start from December 10, the ministry has said.

The current cold chain is capable of storing additional quantity of Covid-19 vaccine required for first 3 crore people — health care workers and frontline workers, the ministry has said.

Health care workers will get vaccine shots in the beginning followed frontline staff. Then people with co-morbidities will be given priority. —ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said putting up posters or signs outside the homes of Covidpositive patients, to indicate they were suffering from the disease, was no longer required unless there was direction from a competent authority.

The apex court said posters could be affixed in specific cases by authorities under the Disaster Management Act. The remarks were made by a bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and M R Shah, Turn to P6

protesting farmers for repeal of 3 farm laws.

Talking to the media after submitting a memorandum to the President, the leaders said farm bills were passed “without proper discussions and consultations”. Apart from Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief

Sharad Pawar, Communist Party of IndiaMarxist leader Sitaram Yechury, DMK’s TKS Elangovan and CPI’s D Raja met the President.

Rahul said they informed the President that it is “absolutely critical that these antifarmer laws are taken back”.

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Govt ropes in 4 firms to prepare blueprint for film city project Vishal Srivastav Lucknow: In a major push towards converting Film-City-Dream to reality, the state government has made yet another rapid stride towards it.

The government has roped in as many as four firms that will prepare the blueprint for the the mega project deemed as country’s biggest ever film city.

Taking a rapid stride to set up its 1,000-acre film city near the Yamuna Expressway in Gautam Budhha Nagar, UP government has shortlisted four firms for consultancy on design, architecture and contruction.

The government had carried out bids through Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), the nodal

agency for the project recently after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met corporate giants and Bollywood celebrities in Mumbai.

The firms that have been roped in are CBSE South Asia Pvt Ltd, EGIS India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd, NDS Art World Pvt Ltd and CP Kukreja Architect -- were shortlisted on Monday.

The Film City is coming up at Sector 21 of YEIDA on the Yamuna Expressway. Of 1,000 acre, 780-acre site would be used for film centre while 220-acre would be meant for commercial venture.

Recently, CM Yogi had unveiled the ambitious plan to open a world-class film city in Noida. The plan was duly backed by the Indian Motion Picture Producer’s Turn to P6

WITH EYE ON 2022, YOGI SETS OUT TO EMPOWER WOMEN! M Tariq Khan

Lucknow: Taking women empowerment to the grassroots level, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 3209 tube-well operators including 516 women.

Gender justice and merit, claims the Yogi Adityanath Government, are two major yardsticks in providing employment opportunities to youths in a fare and transparent manner. With just about a year to go for assembly

elections due in early 2022, the BJP Government knows time is of essence. Not surprising therefore it has embarked and turned the heat on fulfilling its promises, especially the ones that can ensure it a second term.

But election is not the only thing on Yogi’s mind when it comes to promoting women in the state. As they say, actions speak louder than words, the CM in his approach to change the fate of women in Uttar Pradesh, has taken a cautious approach and

CM Yogi Adityanath and Prayagraj MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi during the event.

made sure that what’s there on the paper, reaches their doorstep.

The government knows that delivering jobs to the unemployed under Missison Rozgar and empowering women under Mission Shakti can prove to be a gamechanger in the coming elections. Hence, the focus on improving the lot of women, which was emphasised by the UP CM in October this year on Navratri when he announced the launch of Mission Shakti for creating awareness and improving their lot through

tailor-made government schemes for them.

Representation in jobs to ensure financial security and introducing a dedicated women patrolling scheme “Pink Patrol” to provide security and check crime are touted as the milestones in ensuring gender justice.

As many as 250 women police personnel have alre ady been deployed after intensive training in Lucknow.

These officers have been trained to take immediate action on cases of molestation and vio-

lence against women.

To make it effective, patrolling is also being done on the basis of complaints and suggestions from women. According to Lucknow Police, the patrol vehicles will be initially stationed at places where women move around in large numbers, specially girls’ colleges. Areas, where cases of molestation take place, will also be included.

The scheme would be implemented in other cities across the State.

In the first phase of this program, Turn to P6

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02

CM Adityanath’s penchant for Flora & Fauna While the Chief Minister has domesticated 500 cows, he loves feeding monkeys, planting trees, playing with his dog & much more Vishal Srivastav Lucknow: A few years ago, a Tiger cub was found roaming near an Ashram in Balrampur district. Since the area falls near the Indo-Nepal border and is about 150 km from Gorakhpur, the cub had strayed quite deep outside the forest and was venturing into the human habitation.

When Yogi Adityanath came to know about the cub, it was brought to the Gorakhnath Temple where he cuddled it and took good care of the cat and later handed it to the forest officials.

This instance tells a lot about how Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who looks tough from the outside, has a softer side hidden within as well.

“I have this special bonding with the animals. Coming here (To Gorakhnath) gives me peace,”the CM had recently iterated about his love for nature.

CM Yogi is a big time animal lover. His love for animals goes beyond

SAVIOUR CM: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has always had a soft corner for animals. The animals also resonate the special bonding with the Chief Minister whenever he finds time to spend with them.

just cows that he is often clicked with. Very few will know that the saffron clad leader has a dog named Kaalu which stays at the Gorakhnath temple. Whenever the chief minister visits the Ashram,

Kaalu shadows him all along.

With Yogi speaks with such enthusiasm about the cows, he backs his love with evidence as well. The cowshed or Gaushala at the Gorakhnath houses ap-

proximately 500 cows whom the CM feeds with his hands whenever he reaches there.

While his daily has altered following his appointment as CM, Adityanath had a gruelling time table as head priest

of Gorakhnath Temple for years.

His associates call Yogi a very disciplined man. He wakes up at 3 am and after performing Yoga and prayers, he feeds the cows at his Gaushala. He takes

his breakfast only after he is done feeding the cows. Though he loves all his cows but a cow named Nandini is his most favourite.

Whenever the CM reaches Gorakhpur, he never forgets to meet the cattle.

While CM feeds the cows, he doesn’t shy away from hundreds of monkeys that house at the Ashram. “There are hundreds of monkeys that live here. They are fed fruits and vegetables everyday as per the orders from him (Yogi).

When he visits the Ashram, he himself feeds them,” said one of the workers at the Ashram.

Since the Ashram falls near the Tuthibari in Maharajganj, a number of deers and antelopes often stray there.

Yogi is often seen feeding them as well.

While the chief minister is fond of the fauna, he loves the flora as well. Yogi has planted hundreds of plants which have now grown into huge trees. He has also planted some medicinal plants which are used when required.

Farmer welfare is priority, says CM First India Bureau Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the government in Uttar Pradesh is prioritising welfare of the farmers at all levels.

He said that the paddy purchase this year is five times the purchase done in the last year of the previous government. He also said that the payments of farmers must be given on time at paddy purchasing centres while ensuring that they receive all facilities.

The chief minister was reviewing the operation of paddy purchase centres in a high-level meeting at his official residence today.

He said that it must be ensured that farmers do not face any

difficulties when selling their produce. Agriculture and rural development are the top priorities of the state government, the chief minister said.

Giving instructions for the organisation of Udgam Samagam and loan mela in every district as part of a special economic package, the CM said that beneficiaries should be given loans to set up MSME units so that more youth can get employment.

“There should be no delay in purchase of paddy and that too at the MSP that is already fixed by the government. Also, the payments must be made on time to the farmers and their should be no laxity at any level,” said CM Yogi directing the officials at the meeting.

Chief Secy reviews Dibiyapur Plastic City project in Auraiya

AKTU aims to give 40K jobs to youths under ‘Mission Rozgar’

Deputy CM Maurya takes a dig at Rahul, Akhilesh for misguiding farmers

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

First India Bureau

Lucknow: The progress of the Plastic City Project Dibiyapur (Auraiya) developed by Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) was reviewed in a meeting organised by the Project Monitoring Group headed by Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari.

It was informed in the meeting that the project has been developed on Kanchasi-Dibiyapur road in Auraiya district at a distance of eight kms from Kanchasi railway station.

The project has been developed on a total of 359.38 acres of land, of which 274.45 acres have been developed for industrial and 84.93 acres for residential plan-

Lucknow: Under ‘Mission Rozgar’, an initiative launched by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the state, the Abdul Kalam Technical University has set a major target of providing jobs in more than 750 management and technical institutes of the state in the new academic session.

AKTU will conduct interviews for students in 40,000 positions in various companies. A big online employment fair will be organised

by AKTU in the coming week in which many well-known companies will mobilise to give jobs to students.

Spokesperson of

CS Rajendra Kumar Tiwari presided over the meet.

ning.

So far 77 industrial, 109 residential and 1-1 commercial and institutional plots have been allotted. According to the decision taken by the government, a proposal is being sent to the Government of India to make a part of Dibiyapur available for all types of industries and to build a plastic park on the land available near UPSIDA in Kanpur.

The university will be organising an online job fair to provide opportunities

EDUCATION PLUS EMPLOYMENT: The unique initiative by the university is a win-win situation for youths and corporate houses.

AKTU, Ashish Mishra explains, “It is the dream of every student to get a good job after completing the degree.

AKTU is aiming to fulfill the dream of the students under the ‘ Mission Rojgar’ of the Yogi government.”

AKTU Vice-Chancellor Prof Vinay Kumar

Pathak said, “Companies were not coming to the campus due to COVID-19 pandemic but the efforts of the government have slowed the pace of the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Once the cases were controlled in the state, many companies have started coming to the

BROUGHT DOWN

The Kiteflyers role in cutting metro ops off The Chinese Manjha used to fly the kites has been playing spoilsport by disrupting electric supply in OHE lines First India Bureau Lucknow: Despite stringent appeals by the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) of abstaining people from kite flying near the metro corridor, various incidents of overcrowding of the overhead wire with the Chinese manjha have been reported.

Services of the metro rail have been disrupted recently because of the same.

On 07.12.2020, the OHE (overhead) line

near Vishwavidyalaya metro station was tripped due to Chinese manjha and the metro services were briefly interrupted for some time. This short circuit occurred due to the tripping of OHE line damaged the insulator which was changed late evening. The services were later restored by diverting the metro to the second line. An FIR been lodged at Mahanagar police station.

Uttar Pradesh Metro has filed as many as 508

thread(Manjha) used for flying kites inhibits is a good conductor of electricity and causes short-circuit thereby damage to the OHE. Role of Chinese Manja in disrupting power supply are as follows: z The metal in Chinese

manjha disrupts power supply.

REACTION: As many as 508 such cases have been registered by UP Metro for causing disruption in its services.

such cases against those flying kites, so that disciplinary action can be taken against them. According to Section 78 (Crime and Punishment) of Section 11 (Crime and Punish-

ment) of Metro Railway Act 2002, there is a provision of 10 years’ imprisonment for a person causing damage to Metro property and that too without a warrant.

The Chinese

z Copper wires used for

starter and motor binding alongwith barbed metal wires, are also used for kite cutting and looting.

z They at times cause

severe injury to the throat and eyes of a passer’s by and also affect the lives of animals and birds.

campus to select students.” Currently, companies are conducting online student interviews.

But a target has been set to recruit over 40, 000 students in the new session for which companies will bring 40, 000 jobs for AKTU students, he added.

It is to be mentioned that earlier this week, many well-known companies including NTT Data, Cadila, Amazon, Infosys, GentSIght, etc, conducted online interviews and hired students for over 9000 vacant posts.

Lucknow: Slamming opposition leaders for instigating farmers against the government, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya took potshots at the Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

During a road inauguration ceremony in Agra on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, taking a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav said that those who are talking about farmers do not know the difference between coriander and carrot leaves.

“I am the son of a

SATIRICAL: Deputy CM Keshav Prasad plays hard with words.

farmer. Farmers of the country know that Modi government will never ever harm them.

Farmers are being misled by these leaders who are trying to cook their own meal on their behest. Both, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, if they are so worried about farmers, should tell me the difference coriander and carrot leaves, I am sure they will not be able to differentiate,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.

Women get to play Assistant Commissioners for a day First India Bureau

Lucknow: In an empowering gesture towards women, the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Department recently appointed LLB student Sonal Priya as the assistant commissioner and assistant registrar, Cooperative in Kanpur district of the state for one day.

Sonal not only inspected a paddy purchase centre but also instructed the staff to pay dues on a timely basis and warned them against any laxity failing which, they might have to face strict action of the administration.

Similarly, Renu, an accountant, was given

MORE POWER TO WOMEN: UP Cooperative Department has made it a point to empower women in their projects.

charge as assistant commissioner and registrar, Cooperative Department, for one day in Amroha district.

The Cooperative department has carried out several measures to empower women under the Mission Shakti campaign in November.

The department held

meetings in which stress was laid on making more women join the cooperative department. In a seminar held jointly by UP State Warehousing Cooperation, and UP Cooperative Union, stress was laid on women empowerment through skill development.

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03

‘Not farmers, but Centre responsible for logjam’ First India Bureau

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hands over appointment certificate to a new recruit at an event in Lucknow on Wednesday as Jal Shakti Minister Mahendra Singh and CS RK Tiwari look on. (R) The CM issues online appointment letters to new appointees in the districts.

No favouritism, now only merit will work for appointments: CM

Yogi gives appointment letters to 3,209 tube well operators under ‘Mission Rozgaar’ M Tariq Khan Lucknow: Giving a push to its promise of creating employment opportunities under `Mission Rozgaar’, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday handed over appointment letters to 3,209 tube-well operators including 516 women.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while handing over the appointment letters, said it was for the first time that the youth were getting government jobs in UP without recommendations and favouritsm.

“Merit is the only criterion. The recruitment process (of the government) has remained transparent since its formation and over 4 lakh youth have got employment in the past 3.5 years,” he said.

“Over 15 lakh youth

Lucknow: It is the Centre, and not the farmers, which is prolonging the ongoing demonstration against the new agriculture laws at Delhi’s borders by not addressing the issues, a farmer union leader alleged on Wednesday as the protest entered its ninth day here.

Scores of protestors, belonging to various districts of western UP and chiefly members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Bhanu and Lok Shakti factions, are camping at the Noida-Delhi border.

According to officials, both carriageways of the Delhi-Noida Link road a key route connecting UP and the national capital remained

Members of BKU (Bhanu) at the protest site.

closed for commuters on Wednesday also.

“Commuters are advised to take either the DND route or the Kalindi Kunj route instead of the Link Road via Chilla,” an official said.

In Noida, the protestors belonging to BKU (Bhanu) are staying put at Chilla border, while those from BKU (Lok Shakti) are camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal

6 killed in mishap, CM Yogi announces `2L each to kin

CM Yogi Adityanath, Jal Shakti Minister Mahendra Singh, Chief Secretary RK Tiwari along with other officials and recipients of the appointment letters.

got employed in the private sector during the same period and over 1.5 crore youth are now selfemployed with financial assistance from the banks,” he added.

“With our continuous efforts, the farmers are now getting seeds and irrigation facilities timely. Besides this, the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi’, ‘PM

Fasal Beema Yojana’, ‘Per Drop More Drop’ and other schemes are making agriculture more profitable for the farmers,” the CM said.

“Farmers are foundation of a prosperous state and the government is continuously working towards doubling their income,” he added.

“Tube-well operators play an important role in

farming and water conservation also forms an important part of their duties,” the CM said.

While the CM handed over appointment letters to Shobhit Shukla, Sujit Narayan, Arun Kumar, Khyati Sharma and Kanchan Nishad in a programme held in Lucknow, the others were given the letters by public representatives in

programmes held at district level.

Minister for Jal Shakti, Mahendra Singh said, “It is after 2011 that tubewell operators have been appointed. The area of irrigated land in UP has increased to 23 lakh hectares. For the first time, the selected youth were given a month’s training and posted in districts opted by them,” he said.

The well into which the ill-fated vehicle plunged.

in

BRIEF 4 of cattle thieves gang arrested

Fursatganj coldest at 7.6 degrees

Four suspected cattle thieves of a gang active in western UP and Haryana were held in Greater Noida after they got injured in a gunfight with police, officials said on Wednesday. The encounter took place late Tuesday night in Dadri area when the accused men, who were in a pick-up truck, were intercepted by the local police for checking, the officials said.

Uttar Pradesh witnessed dry weather on Wednesday with Lucknow being covered in dense fog, the met department said. Jhansi recorded the highest maximum temperature of 30.5 degrees Celsius, while Fursatganj was the coldest at 7.6 degrees Celsius. The weatherman has forecast dry weather and shallow to moderate fog at isolated places.

CM to address webinar on Poorvanchal CM Yogi Adityanath will address the 3-day national webinar and seminar on Sustainable Development of Poorvanchal: Issues, Strategy and Future Direction at DDDU Gorakhpur University today. Cabinet members, educationists, scientists & investors will attend the seminar.

Covid in state coming under control: ACS Navneet Sehgal First India Bureau Lucknow: COVID-19 infection in the state is coming under control, Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Navneet Sehgal told the media. He, however, warned that people should continue taking precautions to prevent its spread.

Sehgal stressed that the infection is currently at the stage where it was on July 22. He added that the rise in the number of cases in the state was a result of the rise in Delhi, but constant efforts are being

ACS Information Navneet Sehgal

made to tackle it.

In the light of the ongoing season of marriages and festivals, he said that people should wear masks, wash hands repeatedly, maintain social distancing and stay away from crowds. Sehgal added that precautions are needed till the time vaccine is made available.

First India Bureau Lucknow: Six members of a marriage party were killed after their SUV fell into a well in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district, the police said on Wednesday.

The accident took place around Tuesday midnight when theSUV driver failed to spot the unguarded well in Deewanji ke Purva village and the vehicle fell into it, Maharajpur police station in-charge I Z Y Khan said.

Six occupants of the four-wheeler died on the spot, while three others were rescued after police

The ACS revealed CM Yogi Adityanath today took a detailed review in connection with the vaccine. The training of the vaccinator has started and 35,000 sites have been created to store vaccines.

There has also been a reduction in the number of containment zones and hotspots, Sehgal pointed out. As of now, there are 7710 hostspots and 7679 containment zones. He said in the last 24 hours, 1381 new cases have emerged. There are 20658 active cases and of them 9537 are in home isolation.

pulled out the vehicle from the well, he said.

The victims, belonging to Swasa village in Mahoba district of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, had gone to the village in Madhya Pradesh for a marriage function, he said.

The deceased were identified as Chatrapal Singh (40), Raju Kushwaha (37), Ramratan Ahirwar (37), Ghanshyam Ahirwar (55), Kuldeep Ahirwar (22) and Ramdheen Ahirwar (50), the police said.

Condoling their deaths, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial assistance of Rs two lakh each to the kin of the victims.

since December 1. Asked about the protest continuing for the ninth day, Rajeev Nagar, a local farmers’ union leader said, “It is not the farmers but the government that is prolonging the protest.”

“The government knows our demands. It can address our concern and we will be gone,” Nagar, Gautam Buddh Nagar unit president of the BKU (Bhanu), said.

Lallooji & Sons says FIR against them illegal First India Bureau Mathura: Lallooji & Sons, a 100-year-old leading turnkey solutions event management company, has strongly denied the Kumbh Mela administration’s allegations against it of submitting false bills, and described the FIR registered against it and its key personnel by the Mela administration as illegal, and aimed at scuttling the legal process for recovery of outstanding dues.

Lallooji & Sons had entered into a contract with the Kumbh Mela administration and undertaken major works for setup of tin, tents, and supply of furniture for the mela at Allahabad last year. The work was executed on an unprecedented scale, and the fair was the largest ever effort in terms of temporary camping ever executed in India.

Lallooji & Sons executed all the works as per the agreement and to the satisfaction of the users. With no resolution in sight, Lallooji & Sons approached the Allahabad HC in December 2019 for release of the dues.

SWEETNESS OF UTTAR PRADESH

Sugar coated: CM inaugurates sulphur-free Munderwa, Pipraich mills lll

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government would also start other closed sugar mills and informed that directives had been given to the officers to work in this direction

First India Bureau Gorakhpur: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that his government operated 119 sugar mills of the state in times of Corona pandemic and also paid a record Rs 1.12 lakh crore to cane farmers.

This had never happened before, he said.

CM Yogi said this while inaugurating the sulphur-less sugar plant of Munderwa and Pipraich sugar mills of Uttar Pradesh State Sugar and Sugarcane Development Corporation Limited on Wednesday.

In the programme organised at Pipraich sug-

ar mill complex, Yogi Adityanath said the mills of Pipraich and Munderwa would be the first in the state to produce sulphur-less, refined sugar.

“This refined sugar will reach the world’s largest hotels, hospitals and other institutions which in turn will give a new identity to sugarcane farmers of eastern UP,” he observed. The CM said every town in eastern UP was based on sugar mills.

“But sadly, the previous governments plundered the money by selling 21 sugar mills under a conspiracy. When the BJP government came

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath taking a tour of a sugar mill.

to power in 2017, we started running sugar mills,” he said.

CM Yogi said a private sector sugar mill was set up in Pipraich in 1932, it was acquired in 1974 but the mill closed

in 1999. Similarly, the private sector sugar mill in Munderwa of Basti was started in 1932, acquired in 1984 but it was also closed in 1999.

The old mills used to crush 12 lakh quintals

of sugarcane in a year while the new sugar mills crushed 45-45 lakh quintals, four times more in a year.

The sugar branding of sugarcane farmers of Pipraich and Munder-

wa will be done through the government, that too absolutely free. “Do not be limited to sugar production, also pay attention to options like sugarcane juice packing,” he suggested.

CM Yogi said his government would also run other closed sugar mills and informed that directives had been given to the officers to work in this direction. “This work will be expedited as soon as the corona outbreak stops,” he added He said the country remained safe under the leadership of PM Modi even in the testing corona period. Food was delivered to the poor, mi-

grants were safely transported to their homes.

MP Ravi Kishan, MLA Mahendra Pal Singh, Fateh Bahadur Singh, Vimlesh Paswan, Sangeeta Yadav etc. were present in the programme in Pipraich, while in the programme of Munderwa, done online from here, Suresh Rana, MoS for Sugarcane Development, Suresh Passi, MoS for Sugarcane Development, Moti Singh, Horticulture Minister Shriram Chauhan, Basti MP Harish Dwivedi, Siddharthnagar MP Jagdambika Pal, MLAs of Basti district, ACS Ganna, Sanjay Bhoosreddy etc. were also present.

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DON’T PINCH THE SOLDIER’S PENSION

IN-DEPTH

CENTRE, FARMER AGITATION ENTERS CRITICAL JUNCTURE

MAJ GEN CP SINGH, RETD

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entre’s attempt to mollify farmers by proposing some amendments in the three statutes came as a cropper as the agriculturists rejected the proposal sent by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Farmers were firm on not settling for anything less than the repeal of the contentious new agricultural marketing laws. The government says these laws are much needed for reforming the farm sector and is equally adamant about rejecting the demand for scrapping them. The farmers have now threatened to escalate their agitation with a blockade of the Delhi-Jaipur Highway on December 12. From December 14 the protests would extend to the entire country and would include gherao of Delhi and BJP offices, the capture of toll plazas, and boycott of Reliance malls and Jio. They said one by one they will block all roads leading to Delhi. Farmers felt there was no commitment from the government on their demands and found Centre’s offer “vague”.

Concerned at the turn of events, the government went into a huddle with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar rushing to Amit Shah’s residence.

The government’s proposals said, “Written assurance that the existing minimum support price regime for procurement will continue.” The government also agreed to give a written assurance that no buyer can take the loan against farmlands and was “open to making an amendment to provide for an appeal in civil courts”. On the farmers’ fears over Agriculture Produce Market Committees, the proposal said cess and tax will also be levied on traders operating outside mandis.

The protests, which have remained peaceful so far, have come as a shot in the arm for political parties which extended their support to the farmers. A delegation comprising Sharad Pawar (NCP), Rahul Gandhi (Congress) Sitaram Yechury (CPM), and D. Raja of the CPI met President Ram Nath Kovind and gave him a memorandum with the request to repeal the new farm laws. The President said that he’ll look into their request.

Their meeting with President Kovind was more a symbolic exercise as the opposition leaders’ plea is unlikely to have acceded.

More important was Rahul Gandhi exhorting farmers to continue their struggle and that the entire Opposition was with them.

He urged them not to give up their fight at this juncture.

While rejecting Shah’s offer, the farmers said that they were open to another proposal from the government but not on the terms proposed by Shah.

This leaves the government with a few options. It can either repeal the laws or crush the agitation when it starts on December 12.

The first measure will be a big loss of face for a strong leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The second option could, however, hurt BJP’s popularity. Another option is to tire out the agitators. Which option will the government choose? Let’s wait and watch.

The writer is a scholar soldier accredited with MA, MSc, LLB, MBA, M Phil (Def Mgt) and M Phil (International Strategic Affairs) “Our God and soldier we adore , At the brink of danger; not before.

The danger passed, and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.”

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Recently, the country has witnessed a multidimensional onslaught on the pension and privileges of the defence veterans.

The citizens are made to believe that they are a burden on the taxpayer and state exchequer.

There has been a clamor to cut the pensions and privileges on the name of increasing pension share of defence budgetcutting into the modernization

xpenditure on defence should be taken as insurance on growth and prosperity or a premium to be paid for unhindered growth. Defence forces are disciplined forces that never resort to strikes and unruly behaviour to express their demands, howsoever justified. They look up to their officers and leadership at all levels to stand up for the rights and privileges of the soldier and be counted. Certainly, the Govt is expected to know and meet their demands of operational readiness, welfare, and safety of their families back home.

EYE ON DEFENCE PENSIONS Recently, the country has witnessed a multi-dimensional onslaught on the pension and privileges of the defence veterans. The citizens are made to believe that they are a burden on the taxpayer and state exchequer. There has been a clamor to cut the pensions and privileges on the name of increasing pension share of defence budget-cutting into the modernization. However, no such proposal has been made for the civilian pensioners. It’s prudent to flag the following issues on this aspect:z Rising Defence Pensions. The

big noise is being made about ballooning defence pensions, which is barely 0.75% of GDP. Certainly the nation can absorb less than one percent of GDP as pension payments to valiant soldiers, who gave the best years of their lives to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

z Other Pension Beneficiaries.

The MP and MLAs get pension and perks for life, by serving for just one day. They be beyond compare, even most of the Central Govt Employees (Officers), other than the Armed forces, re-

tire with Maj Gen equivalent Pay/ Pension and but only 07% of the defence officers reach that level.

Cost-benefit analysis of having a bloated population of employees at assured higher pay scales indicates that pension to soldiers is minuscule expenditure.

IF INDIA ASPIRES TO BECOME A SUPERPOWER IN THE 21ST CENTURY, WE MUST LEARN FROM MAJOR SUPERPOWERS AS TO HOW THEY RESPECT AND TREAT THEIR SOLDIERS AND WAR VETERANS. THE TWO ESTABLISHED SUPERPOWERS TODAY ARE THE USA AND CHINA

z Reducing Defence Budget.

Candidly speaking, the share of military spending to its GDP actually fell over the last decade from 2.7 % to 2.04%. if one excludes the pension component, it’s just 1.5 percent the country’s GDP. A country having an unstable and hostile neighbourhood of nuclear-armed countries and having thousands of km of disputed borders can really ill afford to neglect it’s defence forces. To also include the civilians and pensions in defence budget is prima facie incorrect planning and indicates inflated defence budget, which most of the countries in the world are not doing.

z Defence Civilians are Actual

Drain on Defence Budget Approx 40% of the defence pension budget goes to civilian defence employees which are about 22% compared to approx 78% military pensioners. It’s interesting to know that there are 5.85 lakh civilian-defense employees, who are paid from defence budget.

Need for civilian support in the ratio of 1:4 needs introspection. However, this will never be questioned or reduced because of unions, bureaucratic support and political patronage. Additionally, Rs 1000 crore annually goes on attached MoF personnel.

z Priority to CAPF over De-

fence Forces. While the defence budget has reduced over the last six years in comparison to overall Govt expenditure, the CAPF budget has increased by 12% over the defence budget.

Unfortunately, Giving priority to CAPF over defence forces, lead to the 1962 debacle.

SUPERPOWER’S TREATMENT OF VETERANS If India aspires to become a superpower in 21st century, we must learn from major superpowers as to how they respect and treat their soldiers and war veterans. The two established superpowers today are the USA and China.

Major policies of pension and perks to veterans in these countries are highlighted below:USA. In India, our Defence Expenditure is barely 2.04% of GDP in FY 2019-20 and 15% of total Central Govt expenditure.

Santa was a lady once — is it time to bring her back?

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an Christmas be about gender? Apparently so, if the paucity of female Santas is anything to go by.

There have, in fact, been cases of Australian women donning the secular red and white Santa attire as far back as 1930 — and there is no reason why we couldn’t have more female Santas today.

In 1935, Queensland’s Daily Mercury reported on aviator Nancy Bird Walton, “The Angel of the Outback”, piloting a female Santa Claus into the northwestern corner of New South Wales.

Bird was a volunteer with the Far West Children’s Health Scheme, flying nurses to remote parts of Australia, and transporting patients. “A girl was the first Father Christmas for the isolated area,”

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the article noted.

Before Bird, in 1930, the Daily Pictorial had published a photo titled: “Sydney’s Woman Santa”. The caption described, “Mrs Thelma Lewis, of Randwick, believed to be Australia’s only woman Santa Claus”, filling a role she adored.

These cases from 1930s Australia provide a glimpse of women breaking the rules of socially accepted female behaviour.

(Bird was temporarily suspended from flying in 1935 when a state politician pronounced ladies were not “biologically suited” to the activity).

A ‘SLIMMER, SMALLER’ WARTIME SANTA During the second world war, as with the first, women assumed male roles out of necessity. This included donning a Santa suit. In

the war years, often with little protest.

1942, Perth’s Daily News reported: “Female Santa Claus this Year”. The article read: There will be a subtle change in the person of Santa Claus this year. He will probably be slimmer and smaller, and he probably won’t talk, because his voice won’t be quite as

deep as it should be. Mother will have the difficult job of deputising for Santa Claus this year, as most fathers in camp and on ships will not get leave.

Women stepped in during wartime in the United States too, although the response was not as pretty. A 1941 article in the St. Louis

Star-Times, insisted There is one male domain, however, that should be defended at all costs … A woman Santa Claus? Heaven forbid! That would be stretching the credulity of guileless little children too far.

Despite the grumbling, American women continued to play Santa during

RESISTANCE In the final decades of the 20th century, there was more resistance to female Santas. In Australia, Santa became a bloke again. In the US, the few women Santas working in department stores were either sacked or encouraged to seek alternative employment.

In 1999, a female Santa sued a Walmart in Louisville for unfair dismissal after a customer complained it was a man’s job. She lost.

But the tide may be turning as we settle into the new millennium. In 2018, in Gisborne, New Zealand, Santa was a “female, regional, Maori, queer”. Also in 2018, in Park City Mall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, “Tranta Claus” (a transgender Santa) came to town.

The same for the US is 3.2% of its GDP & 16% respectively. The USA does not include these in defence budget and plans for pay and pensions separately with different ministries.

CHINA. China is the other superpower in the world today.

China has passed a new law aimed at providing better support for the country’s 57 million military veterans.

The law stipulates that it is the common responsibility of the whole society to respect and care for demobilized military personnel, and the veterans can enjoy the benefits of preferential financing policies such as discount interest on loans, tax benefits, and subsidized vocational training

CONCLUSION There is a cost of maintaining battle-worthy army as “Force of Deterrence” and the nation must bear that. A defense budget including pensions and large civilians cadre into it, with an allocation of less than 3% of GDP is unrealistic and highly unjustified. History bears testimony to the fact that when nations do not pay enough attention to the defence of the country, they have been subjugated by others. The policymakers will do well to remember what ‘Chankya’ said The day when the Mauryan soldier has to demand his dues or, worse, plead for them,…. It will be the beginning of the end of Mauryan Empire”!!.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Top

TWEET Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal Govt led by PM @NarendraModi ji approves Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana at an expenditure of `1,584 crore for the current financial year & `22,810 crore for the entire scheme period i.e. 2020-2023. This will benefit around 58.5 lakh employees.

Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge Land Reforms bills that has been passed in state assembly is very unfortunate. Our State land reforms has great history of struggle & Lakhs of people had fought for the farmers & ensured their rights were not diluted.

These bills rub salt into the wounds of farmers.

Spiritual SPEAK

It is better to live in your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.

—The Bhagavad Gita

SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION

Vol 1 Issue No. 28 RNI NO. UPENG/2020/04393. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Amar Ujala Ltd. B-5 Amausi Industrial Area Kanpur Road Lucknow.

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Cabinet clears proposed MoU PM Modi wishes Sonia Gandhi long, healthy life between SEBI and Luxembourg The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MoU is likely to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the area of securities regulations

Govt approves setting up public WiFi under ‘PM-WANI’

Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Prakash Javadekar addresses a press conference on Cabinet Decisions, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

—PHOTO BY ANI

New Delhi: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to sign a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Financial and Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Luxembourg.

The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MoU is likely

Govt wants to get rid of democracy, alleges RaGa

Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at the government, alleging that it wants to get rid of democracy.

Taking to Twitter, he claimed that under the regime of PM Modi reform equals theft.

“Under Mr Modi, reform equals theft. That’s why they need to get rid of democracy,” Gandhi said, using the hashtag “TooMuchDemocracy”.

Gandhi’s tweet came after Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant on Tuesday. “Tough reforms are very difficult in the Indian context, we have too much of democracy. You needed political will to carry out these reforms and many more reforms still need to be done,” Kant had said.

—PTI

to strengthen cross-border cooperation in the area of securities regulations, contribute towards efficient performance of the supervisory functions aid in imparting technical domain knowledge and enable effective enforcement of the laws and regulations governing the securities markets of India and Luxembourg, an official statement said. In addition to

media here on Wednesday, Information Technology (IT) Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “Cabinet has taken a decision to launch PM- Wi-fi Access Network Interface-to unleash a massive Wi-Fi network in the country.”

Cabinet has also approved optical fibre cable connectivity between Kochi, Lakshadweep Islands. “No licence fee for providing broadband internet services using public Wi-Fi hotspots will massively encourage its proliferation and penetration across length and breadth of country. —ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Priyanka greets Sonia Gandhi on her birthday

Sonia Gandhi alongwith Priyanka Gandhi.

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday wished party interim President and her mother Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

Vadra while sharing a Facebook post in Hindi wished her mother.

IN THE COURTYARD

HC asks Prasar Bharati to treat as rep plea seeking to resume AIR units New Delhi: The Delhi High Court asked the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati to treat as a representation plea seeking to resume all channels, stations, services and units of All India Radio (AIR) discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With these directions, a division bench of CJ DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan disposed of the public interest litigation filed

by All India Radio Casual Announcers and Comperes Union and AIR Broadcasting Professionals Association.

The PIL, filed by through advocate Akash Vashishtha, was moved against the closing down of the National Channel of All India Radio and its Re-

‘PM’s entourage can’t be brought into public domain’ New Delhi: Security apparatus and the entourage of the Prime Minister of India cannot be brought into the public domain for security reason, said the IAF challenging a CIC order in the Delhi HC for its disclosure under RTI Act. The IAF said that the

IAF ASKS NETFLIX TO WITHDRAW SCENES FROM ANIL’S ‘AK VS AK’ Mumbai: The Indian Air Force on Wednesday asked the makers of Anil Kapoor-starrer AK vs AK to withdraw some scenes where the actor is seen using foul language while dressed in the force’s uniform. “The IAF uniform in this video is inaccurately donned & the language used is inappropriate,” the IAF said in a tweet,

contributing towards strengthening the information sharing framework leading to effective enforcement of securities laws.

“The technical assistance programme would benefit the authorities by way of consultations on matters relating to capital markets, capacity building activities and training programmes for the staff,” it added. —ANI

New Delhi: The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal of the Department of Telecommunications for setting up of public Wi-Fi networks by Public Data Office Aggregators (PDOAs) to provide public Wi-Fi service through Public Data Offices (PDOs) across the country.

The Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This public WiFi access network interface will be known as PM-WANI and there will be no licence fee for providing broadband Internet through these public Wi-Fi networks. Addressing

New Delhi: Extending birthday greetings to Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished her a long and healthy life.

“Birthday greetings to Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji. May God bless her with a long and healthy life,” PM Modi tweeted.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also wished Gandhi on her birthday.

“Birthday greetings to the President of the Indian National Congress party Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji. May you be blessed with good health and long life,” Gadkari also said in a tweet.

According to top sources in the party, the Congress general secretary has communicated to all the in-charges and PCC presidents of the states that amid the ongoing farmer’s agitation, Gandhi has decided not to celebrate her birthday this year. Sonia Gandhi turned 74 today. She is the longest serving president of the party, having been elected in 1998. —ANI

attaching a teaser of the film. “This does not conform to the behavioural norms of those in the Armed Forces of India.

The related scenes need to be withdrawn.” The IAF tagged Netflix, Anurag Kashyap. On Wednesday evening, Netflix released a statement saying that the scenes were not intended to be disrespectful.

CIC has failed to consider that the information sought by the RTI applicant can’t be disclosed as it is extremely sensitive in nature and since it relates to part-II of SFR, official records of functioning and working of the security apparatus of the Prime Minister of India. —ANI

gional Academies at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Shillong and Thiruvananthapuram, without conducting any assessment. —ANI

HEARING ON PLEAS SEEKING MORATORIUM ADJOURNED SC on Wednesday adjourned to December 14, the hearing on the pleas seeking an extension of the loan moratorium period and waiver of interest on interest on term loans in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, fixed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, said he has already filed his submissions.

SC to hear Maratha quota case on Jan 25 New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday posted for January 25, 2021, the hearing of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a Maharashtra law that grants reservation to the Maratha community in education and jobs.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court, comprising of Justices Ashok Bhushan, L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and Ravindra Bhat, also asked Attorney General KK Venugopal to assist the court on the issue.

“We are of the view that issues raised in these Civil appeals and consequence, which follows is necessary that civil appeals be heard finally and concluded as early as possible,” the bench said. —ANI

SUSHANT SINGH RAJPUT DEATH

Court sends accused Regel in 2-day custody Mumbai: In the latest development in the drugs case, a court in Mumbai sent alleged drug peddler Regel Mahakal to two-day NCB custody. He is accused of supplying drugs to Anuj Keshwani.

Mahakal, an absconding accused in a drugs case linked to

OPERATION TIKEN IN J-K ENDS; THREE KILLED, ARMS SEIZED Pulwama: Three terrorists affiliated with Al-Badre outfit were eliminated in the Tiken area of Pulwama district here on Wednesday, informed the Northern Command, Indian Army. The security forces have seized one AK rifle and two pistols from the encounter site. “Update: Operation Tiken, Pulwama. Three terrorists killed. 1 AK and 2 Pistols recovered,” the Northern Command wrote on Twitter. The operation has been called off, it added. One civilian was shot at his leg when terrorists opened fire in the wee hours. —ANI

Regel Mahakal

actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death was arrested by the NCB. “He used to supply drugs to (another accused) Anuj Keshwani who further supplied it to others,” an NCB official said.

The central anti-law enforcement drug agency conducted raids at

TELANGANA CM TO JOIN PM FOR CENTRAL VISTA FDTN STONE LAYING Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that he will join the latter with a sense of pride on the occasion of laying of the foundation stone for the grand project of Central Vista. This comes as PM Modi is slated to lay the

foundation stone and perform ‘Bhumi Pujan’ for the construction of the new Parliament building on December 10, which is a part of the Rs 20,000 crores Central Vista project. The project was long overdue, as existing government infrastructure in the national capital is inadequate,” Rao said in his letter to PM Modi.

Milat Nagar, Lokhandwala in Mumbai and seized a contraband ‘Malana cream’, worth Rs 2.5 crore .

Earlier, Keshwani, an alleged drug peddler was arrested by the NCB in connection with a drug case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

—FILE PHOTO

“Happy Birthday, Mother,” she said in the post.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, in a letter, has asked all state heads of the Congress to avoid all celebrations, including cake cutting, on Gandhi’s birthday. —ANI

Maha’s ‘Shakti Act’ awards death penalty for rape Mumbai: In a bid to curb heinous crimes against women and children in Maharashtra, the state cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft bill that has provisions for stern punishment, including the death penalty, life sentence, and hefty fines, for perpetrators, speedy trial.

The draft bill seeks to amend relevant sections of the IPC, CrPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for the proposed law’s application in the state.

The cabinet approved the draft bill at a meeting here and it will be tabledin the state legislature during its upcoming winter session, HM Anil Deshmukh tafter meeting.

Two-day winter session of legislature begins in Mumbai from December 14. He said bill, to be called “Shakti Act”, will come up for discussion and approval in the both houses of the legislature. —PTI

KARNATAKA PASSED ANTI-COW SLAUGHTER BILL AMID OPPN Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly passed the anti-cow slaughter bill on Wednesday amid opposition from the Congress. The bill, named as the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2020, was tabled by the ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. It provides for a total ban on slaughter of cows in the state and stringent punishment to those who indulge in smuggling, illegal transportation, atrocities on cows and slaughtering them.

NEWS LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

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BJP puts Nadda in charge of WB polls Nadda arrived in Kolkata, criticised “dynastic politics” of the ruling TMC party, & said “BJP is family” Political party misusing the Constitution: Mamata

BJP National President JP Nadda addresses the media conference at the inauguration of the state election office, in Kolkata on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

Kolkata: BJP Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagat Prakash Nadda is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Wednesday noon for a two-day visit to West Bengal as part of his 120-day nationwide tour.

After inaugurating the party’s West Bengal election office at Hastings, Kolkata and virtually opening party offices in nine districts, Nadda will join a janasampark (public outreach) rally, “Aar noi

annay (injustice no more)” in Bhawanipur Vidhan Sabha seat in the city. He is also scheduled to hold a meeting with representatives from nearby slums today, a BJP statement revealed.

“The programmes are the BJP’s mission against the hegemony and the goonda raj of the TMC (Trinamool Congress),” the party statement said. At 4 pm, Nadda will hold a “chai pe charcha” meet-

ing with Bhawanipur Assembly election team, after which he will offer prayers at the Kalighat Temple.

On December 10, the BJP president will address a press conference at Diamond Harbour in neighbouring South 24 Parganas district. He will address the party cadres and interact with members from fishermen community. Besides, Nadda will offer prayers at Ramakrishna Mission.

Hitting out at the BJP without naming it, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that a political party was misusing the Constitution and urged everyone to pray together to save it as well as the country.

Referring to the Constituent Assembly meeting for the first time on this day in 1946, Banerjee paid her tribute to all its members who gave shape to the country’s Constitution.

On this day in 1946, the Constituent Assembly had met for the first time in New Delhi in the Constitution Hall, now known as the Central Hall of Parliament. —ANI

‘Mamata Banerjee Synonymous with Intolerance’ Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda, accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of being synonymous with "intolerance", & exuded confidence about forming the next government in the state with more than 200 seats.

"Today, I want to recollect what Syama Prasad Mookherjee had said about discipline and tolerance...it is very pertinent in the present situation in Bengal. For West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.... thy name is intolerance," he said after inaugurating nine party offices across various districts of the state.

Mr Nadda accused the Trinamool Congress gover nment of "minority appease-

New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the national capital to discuss the proposed International Airport at Purandar, a sub-district in Pune, Maharashtra.

Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, Pawar said in the meeting with Rajnath Singh, he insisted on the need to expedite work of the airport. "Met Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence secre-

Rajnath Singh with Sharad Pawar.

tary & Civil Aviation secretary in New Delhi to discuss the proposed International Airport at Purandar. —ANI

A

of Finance statement.

The release said this has been made possible as the central government has strengthened the hands of the states through multiple meas-

ures for mobilisation of financial resources in view of the challenges posed by pandemic.

“The measures include grant of additional borrowing permission of 2

tre and State governments to file detailed affidavits on fire safety in hospitals after incidents of fire in COVID-19 dedicated hospitals.

The Centre and State governments were asked to file detailed affidavits on steps taken by them with regard to the top court's December 3 order where it

WHO WANTS THE EXTENSION TO CEO RAILWAY BOARD?

If sources are to be believed, a peculiar situation has arisen in the Railway Board. It is said that PMO reportedly wants to give six months extension to V K Yadav, CEO, RB but it is said that this time he is not interested. The government, however, wants the unfinished task to be finished by the official who is involved since beginning.

RESIGNATION OF IAS OFFICER WITHDRAWN AFTER SEVEN MONTHS

NO REGULAR SECRETARY, DOPT SINCE OCT 1 ment".

He asserted the saffron party will come to power in 2021 polls with more than 200 seats ousting the TMC "lock, stock and barrel".

"When the entire country was watching the 'Bhoomi Pujan' (of Ram temple in Ayodhya), Mamata Banerjee imposed a lockdown in West Bengal on August 5 to prevent people from being part of the occasion at the local level," he said. —ANI

per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product in year 2020-21.

This has enabled the states to mobilise additional financial resources to fight the pandemic and maintain the standards of service delivery to the public. However, to ensure long-term debt sustainability and prevent any adverse impact on future, a part of the additional borrowing was linked to the states carrying out reforms in the sectors critical for service delivery to the citizens,” the release said. —ANI

SC seeks replies on aspects of COVID-19 guidelines New Delhi: The Supreme Court ordered State governments and Centre to file detailed affidavits on the steps taken by them with regard to guidelines on wearing of masks and ensuring social distancing by the public.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, also directed the Cen-

POWER Gallery

An IAS officer has been allowed to withdraw her resignation. Rani Nagar who submitted her resignation about seven months ago, has withdrawn her resignation and got the posting in the cadre state Haryana as Additional Secretary in Info department. She is a 2014 batch IAS officer.

Pawar meets Rajnath to ‘9 states have successfully completed discuss proposed Intn’l One Nation One Ration Card system’ ` 23,523 CR ISSUED TO NINE STATES airport at Purandar New Delhi: As many as nine states have successfully completed reforms in Public Distribution System and implemented the ‘One Nation One Ration Card System’, under which a beneficiary will be able to buy subsidised foodgrains from any Fair Price Shops across the country. The states, which have implemented ‘One Nation One Ration Card System’ are Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tripura & Uttar Pradesh, said a Ministry

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noted that guidelines related to wearing masks and maintaining social distancing were not being followed in almost all of the States & had sought their suggestions over the same.

The bench sought their affidavits by Friday and posted the matter for further hearing on December 14. It was

hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the management of COVID-19 crisis and mishandling of corpses.

The bench also expressed displeasure at the repeated constitution of the committee to probe Rajkot fire incident at a private COVID-19 hospital in which many people lost their lives. —ANI

account number prior to October 1, 2020 will be eligible for the benefit,” as per an official release. —ANI

to all Hindi films. The film industry today is in dire need of financial assistance and today Hindi film producers are getting subsidies from various State Governments including UP and many others.”

IMPPA added, it is mentioned that producers are being harassed by the unions and the Maha government is not providing any kind of protection to them.

The Government of India is yet to appoint a regular Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Home Secretary, has been looking after an additional charge of this post since October 1, 2020 after the retirement of incumbent Dr C Chandramouli.

TENURE OF NHRC CHAIRMAN ENDS?

Tenure of the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Justice H L Dattu has ended early this week.

ED IN SEARCH OF EIGHT JOINT DIRECTORS

The Enforcement Directorate is seeking officers on deputation for eight posts of Joint Director.

WHO IS THE MOST POWERFUL BUREAUCRAT IN ANDHRA PRADESH?

In the bureaucratic circles, it is said that Principal Secretary to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Praveen Prakash is the most powerful person in the state. He is 1994 batch IAS officer.

ANIL SINGHAL GETS FULL CHARGE OF SPECIAL COMMISSIONER, AP BHAVAN

Anil Kumar Singhal, Principal Secretary, Health, Medical & Family Welfare Department, has been placed on full additional charge of Special Commissioner, AP Bhavan, New Delhi. He is a 1993 batch IAS officer of AP cadre.

BHADU TO JOIN NORTH DELHI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

Sunil Bhadu will join the North Delhi Municipal Corporation as Addl Commissioner on deputation basis. An ITS officer is presently posted as Director, Technology, Delhi LSA. TENURE OF ABHAY KUMAR SINGH AS PS TO MINISTER FOR ELECTRONICS & IT EXTENDED

The tenure of Abhay Kumar Singh as Private Secretary to the Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, has been extended upto August 30, 2022. He is a 2004 batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.

CENTRAL DEPUTATION TENURE OF RAJINDER KUMAR KASHYAP EXTENDED

The central deputation tenure of Rajinder Kumar Kashyap working as Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, has been extended for a period of one year beyond December 27, 2020. He is a 1989 batch IPoS officer.

TWO IPS OFFICERS GET NEW POSTINGS IN MP

Manoj Kumar Rai has been appointed as Assistant IG, PHQ, Bhopal and Suraj Kumar Verma was made SP, Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.

By arrangement with: http:// whispersinthecorridors.com

FROM PG 1 A serious...

The farmers are on protest on borders of Delhi against three farm laws.

The government, in its proposal circulated among the farmer leaders on Wednesday, offered to amend 7-8 issues, including providing a written assurance of minimum support price. It also appealed to protesting farmers to end the agitation that’s been going on nearly two weeks now at various border points of the national capital.

Opposition meets...

“Couple of points we

mentioned to the President. The first was the manner in which these bills were passed without any discussion, without a conversation with the opposition parties and certainly without a discussion with the farmers of this country who have built this country,” he said.

“So, the way the bills were imposed, we see it as an insult to the farmers of this country. The Kisan has lost faith in the government. The Kisan does not believe that the government is acting in their interest and that is why lakhs of them are on the streets,

non-violently, compassionately on the streets.

They are struggling in cold weather with complete respect,” he said.

Pawar, a former union agriculture minister, said they informed the President that there was a request from all opposition parties for an indepth discussion on farm bills and that it should be sent to select committee, “but unfortunately, no suggestion was accepted and bills were passed in hurry”. —ANI

Cabinet approves...

24 per cent of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in estab-

lishments employing upto 1,000 employees for two years.

It will pay only employees’ share of EPF contribution i.e. 12 per cent of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1,000 employees for two years.

“An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000 who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) before October 1, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number (UAN) or EPF Member

Govt ropes...

Association that wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Udhav Thackerey explaining why it was difficult for the producers to shoot in the state of Maharashtra. In the memorandum of demands, the IMPPA said, “Subsidies and Entertainment tax exemption which is made available only for all Marathi films by the Government should also be made applicable

With eye... some 100 two-wheelers and 10 SUVs have been pressed into service in the state.Districts where the scheme will

be rolled out include Kanpur, Agra, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Meerut, Noida, Ghaziabad and Moradabad.

Other plans with which the government intends to brighten its prospects include schemes like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

According to data available with the information department, 10 crore families are said to have got toilets in five years and 8 crore families have received gas connections. Similarly,

an amount of Rs 15,000 is being deposited at the time of a girl child’s birth under the Kanya Sumangala Yojana and Rs 50,000 to poor girls for their marriage.

Don’t put... which was hearing a plea against different state governments for putting up posters outside homes of patients in isolation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that although the Centre had not prescribed this action, some states were doing it on their own, perhaps to prevent inadvertent contact.

NEWS LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

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07

Yogi govt’s new tenancy law on the anvil

The new law to-be is slated to safeguard interests of both the tenants, landlords and to lessen diagreements, disputes First India Bureau Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to introduce a tenancy law that safeguards the interests of landlords as well as the tenants. Also, the disputes between the two will also be reduced to a great extent. After the introduction of this law, the precise number of houses rented will also be easily known by the government.

The government is thinking of putting some provisions in the new law, accord-

ing to which, soon no landlord will be able to keep tenants without agreement. Not only this, but they will have to inform the renting authority about this.

After the enactment of the law, the landlords will have to give the written contract letter to the renting authority within three months regarding tenancy.

It would be easier to find out how many people are renting their houses in the state. Before implementing the

RPF inspector shot dead in Manaknagar First India Bureau Lucknow: RPF’s Insoector Puran Singh Negi was shot dead near the railway yard between Mawiya to Manaknagar station in the capital. His bloodsoaked body was found among the bushes on Wednesday morning.

The bullet had hit on the left side of his chest.

Police recovered a service pistol, nine cartridges and a purse from the spot.

Inspector Alambagh told that Puran was originally from Uttarakhand and lived here in a rented house in Sardari Kheda of Alambagh. His wife and two children live in Delhi.

FOR BETTER LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONS: The new law will have norms that would play a role in easing the landlord-tenant disputes, making ‘home’ a happier place to live.

Tenancy Regulations Ordinance-2020 of Uttar Pradesh Urban Com-

plexes, suggestions have been sought from the people of the state,

in which any person can give suggestions on the proposed act until

‘Covid recovery rate at 94.8%, death rate below national avg’ First India Bureau

The inspector’s body was found in bushes on Wednesday.

He was posted at Charbagh. When he did not reach duty at 10 o’clock on Tuesday morning, departmental officers and employees called him. His phone kept ringing but the call was not received. The department informed the higher officials. RPF staff traced the location and informed the police.

20 December.

The draft of the proposed act can be seen on the departmental portal www.awas.up.nic.in and on the website of the Housing Band, www.awasbandhu.in.

Anyone can give their suggestions to the Housing Department at Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhavan by 20 December.

On the basis of proper suggestions, the proposed Act will be changed and placed before the Cabinet. It will be implemented as soon as it gets the approval of the cabinet and then

Lucknow:: The recovery rate of Covid-19 patients in UP has reached 94.8 percent and that the death rate in the state is lower than the national mortality rate, Medical Education Minister Suresh Khanna said following a review meeting at Circuit House on Wednesday.

Khanna, who reached Circuit House in the afternoon, said that along with good treatment, there should be a change in the behaviour of doctors towards patients. He added that this change has been observed for some time.

PREPARED TO WIN: Medical Education Minister Suresh Khanna termed the increasing recovery rate a ‘Good Sign’.

He suggested that a meeting should be held in the Medical College on the first and third Saturdays of every month to encourage good behaviour towards

patients.

Responding to the journalists, Khanna said that the death rate of corona in UP is 1.43 percent, that is less than the national rate

of 1.45 percent. Calling it “a good sign”Khanna said that recovery rate of the state is 94.8 percent and cases are on decrease.”, he said.

‘FARMERS BEING MISGUIDED’ Commenting on farmers’ agitation, Khanna said that farmers are being misguided.

“Those who support the move are looking forward for the bill,” he said.

He added that PM Modi has already announced that the bills for the welfare of farmers will not be repealed. “SP and Congress are only playing politics,” he said.

the governor.

After the enactment of the law, the Rent Authority and the Rent Court will be there to hear the dispute between the landlord and the tenant. Once the fare is fixed, it will not be allowed to be extended arbitrarily later.

In the domestic case, the rent will be increased by five percent and others by seven percent.

As per new rules, the person living in a rented accommodation will be liable to take care of the place. If he is unable

Ex UP Min dies due to prolonged illness

REST IN PEACE: Laxman Singh was an MLA from Katoli seat in 1974, 1977.

First India Bureau Muzaffarnagar: Former Uttar Pradesh minister Laxman Singh has died at his home in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh after a prolonged illness, family sources said.

He was 86. Singh was elected MLA from the Khatoli Assembly

German citizen caught posessing Charas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das

by SSB to be repatriated to his country beats coronavirus at 82 First India Bureau

First India Bureau Lucknow: A German civilian, ManFriend Barrand, who is serving a sentence in Gorakhpur jail will soon be repatriated to his country. He was caught in possession of charas by the SSB while trying to enter India during a check on Sonauli border in 2014. He was shifted to Gorakhpur jail in 2015 and in 2018, the court sentenced him to 10 years.

Barrand has already completed six years of his sentence in Maharajganj and Gorakhpur

PUNISHED FOR DRUGS: The German citizen, caught for illegal posession of drugs, was serving a sentence at the Gorakhpur jail.

prisons. His wife Julia had given an application to the Government of India and office of the German Embassy requesting Barrand to be shifted to a German

prison. Following approval, preparations are on to send the man back to Germany where he will be lodged in a German prison for four years.

Barrand was caught with four kgs of charas when he was coming from Sonrauli bus depot in a rickshaw from Bhairawa (Nepal) on October 31, 2014. The charas, which Barrand was carrying to Goa, was found hidden in a bag.

A resident of Sachsen in Germany, Barrand revealed that he had bought the charas for Rs 1.20 lakh from a hotel in Bhairawa.

After being in Maharajganj jail for a year, the man was shifted to Gorakhpur jail on October 1, 2015.

Lucknow: After a month-long hospitalisation at Medanta Hospital in Lucknow, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of Sri Ramjanmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, returned to Ramnagari on Wednesday following his discharge.

He was brought by ambulance to Ayodhya and taken to his chamber in a wheelchair by his disciples.

A large number of saints, devotees and officials, including District Magistrate Anujkumar Jha, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ghanshy-

BACK TO RAMNAGRI: Nritya Gopal Das in Ayodhya.

am Singh, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das’s successor Mahant Kamalnayan Das, Kripalu Ramdas, etc., were present to receive him.

According to VHP provincial spokesperson

Sharad Sharma, utmost caution is being taken about his health to ensure that he is not infected again.

Mahant Nritya Gopaldas admitted to Medanta Hospital on November 9 after he complained of breathlessness and chest pain.

Upon examination, doctors found a blood clot in the veins of the lungs. Doctors succeeded in clearing the clot.

As the health of the Mahant gradually improved over the weeks, he was discharged.

Nritya Gopal Das’s health had first deteriorated on August 13.

NOTHING ‘FAKE’ IN THIS NEWS

W

hile the government and the local administration have the onus of apprising commoners against ‘fake’ news, there are a few, who lend no ear to this. What astonishes more is seeing a senior IAS officer slipping on this front.

While none can raise doubts on the competence of Lucknow Municipal Commissioner IAS Ajay Kumar Dwivedi, his kinship with press releases hasn’t been too rosy as he often commits blunders in them. On December 8, the officer released a press note which stated that Lucknow will now have free wifi facility at various spots. But no sooner

than the press note reached media houses, the officer realised his mistake and sent a corrigendum stating that the news wasn’t true. What is more surprising in this is the fact that a renowned and responsible National English Daily published the news as well. They probably missed the corrigendum part of it. We, at First India, shall always take care of that in our strive for excellence.

—Vishal Srivastav

ADMN’S UNIQUE PLAN TO SALUTE CORONA WARRIORS The Lucknow District Administration has decided to salute the corona warriors in a unique way. As a mark of appreciation to thank these Covid-19 warriors and also to create awareness about the pandemic, the administration for the first time has decided to take out its own exclusive tableau on the Republic Day on January 26, 2021. In addition

to police, servicemen, journalists reporting from the field, sanitisation workers and delivery persons have also been working round the clock to provide people with basic supplies, civic services to ensure cleanliness,” said District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash, the brain behind the idea. Despite the pressure on the healthcare system, these doctors, nurses and front line staff have been working covered completely in PPE kits

DM Abhishek Prakash holding a meeting with administration and police officials here on Wednesday to take stock of the R-Day preparations.

for hours at a stretch to save the lives of the people. They deserve to be acknowledged and praised for this work, said the DM adding that the R-Day parade would be taken out from the road in front of the Vidhan Bhawan and UP

to pay the rent for two months, the landlord will be able to ask him to vacate the accommodation.

The tenant will not even be able to sabotage the property for any construction without asking the landlord.

The tenant cannot be given a house without agreement. The Renting Authority must be informed whenever renting property. There will be a provision for a rent authority and rent court to hear and decide over the landlord-tenant disputes.

Governor Anandiben Patel would be the chief guest.

Additional District Magistrate (Trans-Gomti) Vishwa Bhushan Mishra has been made incharge of overlooking all the preparations, he said.

—M Tariq Khan

Constituency on a Bharatiya Kranti Dal ticket in 1974.

He was elected again from the same seat in 1977 as a Janata Party candidate and appointed minister in the Ram Naresh Yadav-led government in Uttar Pradesh. Singh, who is survived by his three sons, was a lawyer.

Amended property law to help sr citizens First India Bureau Lucknow: UP government is planning to amend laws against property grab by children of older parents, by amending ‘Maintenance of parents and senior citizen rules’ .

The move comes in the wake of incidents where children of senior citizens evicted them from their proper ties.The government is planning to bring in changes to ‘UP Maintenance of parents and senior citizens rules 2014.

The Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government is mulling to amend laws that will prosecute people for evicting parents from the property.

The government is planning to bring in changes to ‘UP Maintenance of parents and senior citizens rules 2014’ wherein the older parents’ children could be punished for evicting them from their properties.

On Human Rights Day, we all need to be reminded that religion, class and caste apart, we are all humans first.

2ND FRONT

—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

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COVID-19 UPDATE

WORLD

INDIA

08

UTTAR PRADESH

15,69,577 6,89,04,876 1,41,735 97,62,245 7,967 5,58,173 DEATHS

MAHARASHTRA 47,902 DEATHS 18,64,348 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

RAJASTHAN 2,485 DEATHS 2,85,627 CASES

DEATHS

CONFIRMED CASES

KARNATAKA 11,880 DEATHS 8,95,284 CASES

DEATHS

DELHI 9,813 DEATHS 5,99,575 CASES

CONFIRMED CASES

GUJARAT 4,123 DEATHS 2,22,811 CASES

BJP to implement RSS formula Priyanka greets her for victory in panchayat polls mother on birthday

Party’s prime focus now to strengthen grassroots-level party base; MLAs roped in Shishir Awasthi Lucknow: After winning the MLC seat subsequent to the assembly by-election, the BJP workers are now being motivated for the upcoming panchayat elections.

From State Organisation General Minister Sunil Bansal to state in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, everyone is mucking in for the panchayat poll preparations.

According to information, the RSS has given the BJP a new formula for UP victory. If sources are to be believed, many BJP sitting MLAs of Uttar Pradesh can miss ticket for the 2022 assembly polls if they don’t win the panchayat seats for the party in their area. For this, they have been told to connect to the grassroots cadre

RESHUFFLE LIKELY

BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh and State General Secretary organization Sunil Bansal during a —FILE PHOTO party meeting.

base. The list of MLAs who are to get tickets will be made on the basis of their performance and involvement in the panchayat elections.

BJP state unit is continuously emphasising increasing connect with the workers. The party fielded candidates in MLC election for the first time, while the

same experiment would be repeated in panchayat elections.

In the MLC election, BJP won one seat in Bareilly-Moradabad section in West UP, and both seats in Meerut-Saharanpur section. Now the organisation is focusing on building ground for panchayat elections.

To give an edge to this

campaign, BJP State incharge Radha Mohan Singh held talks with the Divisional Officers in Moradabad. The BJP is preparing a list of veteran and senior workers especially those who have good knowledge about panchayat elections, so that they can be given significant responsibility in the polls.

First India Bureau

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday wished party interim President and her mother Sonia Gandhi on her birthday.

Vadra while sharing a Facebook post in Hindi wished her mother.

“Happy Birthday, Mother,” she said in the post.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also wished Gandhi on her birthday.

“Birthday greetings to Sonia Gandhi Ji. May God bless her with a long and healthy life,” PM Modi tweeted.

“Birthday greetings to the President of the Indian National Congress party Sonia Gandhi Ji. May you be blessed with good health and long life,” Gadkari also

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with mother Sonia Gandhi

said in a tweet.

However, Gandhi had decided not to celebrate her birthday this year amid the ongoing farmers’ protest across the country. In a letter Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal has asked all state heads of the Congress to avoid all sorts of celebrations, includ-

—FILE PHOTO

ing cake cutting, on Gandhi’s birthday.

The Congress leader, is currently in Goa after doctors advised her to shift out of Delhi in view of heavy pollution and poor air quality that had aggravated her chest infection. Her son and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is accompanying her.

Six DSPs shifted, five major cities to get new incumbents

Submit details on witness protection scheme: HC

Ahtesham Siddiqui

First India Bureau

Lucknow: In a major administrative reshuffle in the state police force, the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered the transfer of six Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSPs) with immediate effect.

According to the order, five major cities of the state – Prayagraj,

TRANSFER SPREE

—PHOTO/ANI

Visual from the viral video

Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Muzaffarnagar and Mathura – will now have new DSPs. As per the order, Ashok Kumar Shukla

has been removed as DSP (Gorakhpur). He has been replaced by DSP Jagat Ram. Ram Mohan Sharma has been given charge as DSP (Mathura), Jagdish Kaliraman has been made DSP (Varanasi).

Similarly, DSP Vinay Kumar Gautam has been transferred to Muzaffarnagar and Santosh Kumar Singh has been directed to take charge as DSP (Prayagraj) with immediate effect.

Case registered after celebratory firing video goes viral First India Bureau Meerut: The police have registered a case after a video of a few people purportedly indulging in a celebratory firing in Meerut, went viral.

“A video went viral following which the incident came to our notice. The celebratory

firing took place at a function here. We will take an action against those responsible.

Their license will be canceled,” said Arvind Chaurasia, Circle Officer. In the video, two to three men were seen dancing, indulging in firing and recording a video of themselves during the revelery.

Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file documents from the proceedings of the scheme related to the protection of witnesses of criminal cases.

A division bench of Justice Pankaj Mittal and Justice Saurabh Lavania passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by Abha Singh, the chairman of Ranasmar Foundation.

The Court directed the Government Counsel that the Government’s letters and documents related to the scheme along with the counter affidavit be presented in two weeks.

In the petition, the issue of the protection of the interests of criminal

cases including the protection of witnesses has been raised.

In the case of Mahendra Chawla on this issue, a request has been made to the State Government to give instructions to the Supreme Court to implement it effectively in the state. The Petitioner said that in the light of the aforesaid judgment of the Supreme Court, the scheme of protection of witnesses-2018 should be implemented.

Advocates of the State

Government argued that the Government has issued the necessary instructions to the officers of all the Districts to implement this scheme in the state in an immediate and effective manner.

The Court fixed the next hearing of the case on December 20 and directed the Government Counsel to present the Government letters and documents related to the scheme in two weeks with a counter-affidavit so that the petitioner can give further reply in the case.

SURPRISE VISIT

Commissioner visits KDA office, absentee employees face action Asks VC to withhold salaries of staff and give them show cause notice First India Bureau Kanpur: In accordance with the instructions of the government and the Chief Minister regarding timely attendance of officers and staff in government organisations, Commissioner Kanpur Raj Shekhar

conducted a surprise inspection of Kanpur Development Authority (KDA) on Tuesday morning. VC KDA, secretary KDA, chief engineer KDA and other officers were present.

About 40 to 50 per cent of employees and supervisory officers

were found absent during this surprise inspection. The Commissioner marked all of them absent on the register and asked the VC to withhold the salaries of the absentee employees and officers and give them a show cause notice and after receiving the reply within three days, send the report to the Commissioner, taking necessary action.

Kanpur Commissioner Raj Shekhar during inspection at KDA

Most of the attendance registers were not “scene and verified” by

the officer in charge of that section.

This situation reflects

poor supervision by senior officers in charge.

The commissioner asked the VC to streamline this and ensure that the officer-incharge “checks and verifies” the attendance register by 10 am in every condition.

Many employees were found to be absent without the approval of CL or EL but CL / EL was mentioned next to their name in the

register.

The commissioner directed the secretary to get it investigated and the commissioner should be informed in the next three days.

One family complained that they have been making rounds of the KDA office for the last four months but nothing has been done in their case.

To assist the public and to resolve their

grievances in time, the name of the in charge officer and nodal officers at the appropriate places in the commissioner’s section, the post and mobile numbers of the supervisory officers, details of the officer-incharge, etc. are to be displayed so that the people are aware can reach out to the senior officials to resolve their issue.

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia LUCKNOW, THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2020

INTRIGUING

LOVE?

This Throwback Thursday, City First thrills you with romance and intrigue with the delightful Blackmail by Vijay Anand

ANITA HADA

anita.hada@firstindianews.com

“M

ile… mile do badan” was the song which brought me to Blackmail, the artful fervour of Dharmendra and Raakhee as they hide from villians and villainous barking dogs; the forced physical intimacy with the raw passion spilling across made the movie a must watch for a teenage ‘me’. The love making scene, comes as a surprise in the middle of the climax but the erotica is beautifully handled by Vijay Anand, there is grace and ingenuity and the song remains with me decades after I saw it first

and still tugs at my emotions when I see it today. I believe….

Yeh Zindagi kam hi sahi…koi gam nahin…”

But the most popular number of Blackmail is ‘pal pal dil ke paas…’ the heart-stoppingly handsome, shy, limpid eyed Dharmendra wooing Raakhee through this eternal romantic number is a beckoner for lovers even today. I doubt there is a boyfriend who has not hummed it for his lady love at some time or the other. And of course the sheer cute energy of ‘Sharbati teri aankhon ki’ is enthralling with the debonair Shartughan Sinha and a smarter Raakhee!

Blackmail was actually quite a thriller and justified it’s name and it’s director Vijay Anand.

The machinations of having innocents Dharmendra and Raakhee as the pawns, the scien-

tific discovery – the FORMULA, with the backdrop of the mature developing love amid misunderstandings, soulful inspiring music and of course BLACKMAIL all make the film very much viewable.

I liked Blackmail for Raakhee’s role in it. She plays a hat-wearing woman who is in love with Shatrughan, is heartbroken once, struggles internally, moves on consciously and chooses to marry another (Dharmendra) for happiness and fights for it! I like hindi movies in which heroines fall in love twice and are not tied to one man and a sad life forever.

I did not like Blackmail for the silly international gang and it’s innuendos!

09

ETC LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

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M E E D RE GE

10

D E L P E TH

RAINU SINGH

cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

D

eep into the Freedom struggle, Subhash Chandra Bose was searching for an appropriate slogan that would unite all the ethnic & religious groups within the INA (Indian National Army). His brilliant secretary, Zain-ul-Abideen, coined it for him: “JAI HIND”.

This battle cry soon transformed into our National Slogan, a Salutation and a patriotic greeting. Henceforth all official addresses

by Indian leaders ended with “JAI HIND”, and it became an inviolable commitment to India by its citizens.

Then in 1965, our young nation faced the twin danger of foreign enemies at our borders and a severe food shortage caused by recurring droughts.

Luckily for India, the time brought a brave son onto center-stage to face these apocalyptic threats.

He was our brave and profound 2nd Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri.

To tackle this catastrophe he decided to raise the stature of India’s soldier and farmer above all other sections. Therefore, on behalf of the nation, he made a sacred commitment to those guardians of our bor-

FA CE OF TH ED AY

ders and honor.

His clarion call was “JAI JAWAN, JAI KISAN”, and the whole nation cheered this brilliant act of statesmanship leaping across all ethnic, regional and religious divides.

This unwritten pledge of the nation implied that these two Sentinels would take precedence over others.

True to their mettle, henceforth India neither faced a defeat in any battlefield nor had to beg another

YOUR DAY Horoscope by

Saurabbh Sachdeva

American officials.

Let’s not forget that the Green & White revolutions, ribbon-cut by the brave Lal Bahadur, were the biggest miracle stories of the 20th Century in food production.

Our farmers not only restored our Nation’s honour but contributed to peace. A hungry stomach knows no rule of law.

Lastly, let’s not forget that a vast majority of the armed services are constituted by sons and daughters of these very same farmers.

Now that the long-overdue time has come to Honour the Nation’s Pledge of 1965, let’s not make the biggest blunder of the 21st Century by treating farmers as a dispensable community.

Two-thirds of our nation is dependent on farming activity.

Let us REDEEM THE PLEDGE!!

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Aries You are likely to have fun at work today. A changed lifestyle promises good health. You may not be in the best of financial situations, but things are likely to improve. Much excitement is foreseen on the family front.

You may have to shell out more for some item you have purchased, than you had catered for. You may adopt an exercise routine that suits your lifestyle. A senior may not approve of your style of functioning at work. Family life remains most satisfying.

You may get motivated to shake a leg just to get on the fitness trail. It will be important to keep a tab of your expenses today. Some shuffling on the work front is likely but will not affect you. Peace and tranquillity prevail on the home front and will help you unwind.

A hike in salary or some additional perks cannot be ruled out. Your performance will speak for itself at work. Action taken to keep fit on the health front may be too little, too late. A family member staying separated is likely to return home for a few days. Great fun is in store.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Money comes to you from various sources and add to your wealth. Your consistent performance will ensure you are getting ahead in your career. Your resolve will help in bringing physical fitness to your doorstep. You may begin to work towards mending fences in a property.

You will succeed in maintaining stability on the financial front. A senior is likely to favour you regarding something you wish to pursue at the work place. Your decision to look after your health will start to get positive results. Normalcy will be brought on the family front.

Worries regarding money may be laid to rest as you reap rich dividends through past investments.

You can remain involved in some complex problem at work. Health remains satisfactory through own efforts. You can be surrounded by your loved ones today.

You will feel delighted in receiving a payment you had given up as lost.

Someone can go back on his word regarding a professional commitment. You get a chance to discuss health matters with an expert. Something that you wanted to get done is likely to be initiated.

MAR 21 - APR 20

JULY 24 - AUGUST 23

APR 21 - MAY 20

AUG 24 - SEP 23

MAY 21 - JUNE 21

SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22

JUNE 22 - JULY 23

OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

You will find yourself financially more secure now, than in the past. You are likely to give a good account of yourself at work. You may take steps to improve your health. Some issues that seem unlikely to get resolved on the family front will begin to move towards a solution.

A happy financial situation promises to keep you in an upbeat mood. Maintaining balance both on the work as well as the family front is likely to do wonders. You may get motivated to come back in shape. Someone in the family can keep you on your toes and even try emotional blackmail.

A good investment opportunity comes your way, and you are likely to make the most of it. Day proves favorable for those in the legal profession. You are likely to enjoy good health. Your ideas and suggestions about something important are likely to be accepted on the home front.

Financial condition of those down in the dumps is set to improve. Your efficiency at work is likely to impress those who matter at work. Your biggest asset is your sense of humor try to use it to cure your not so good health. Some of you may be on the verge of finalizing a property.

NOV 23 - DEC 22

PURABI BHARGAVA, Content Creator

nation for food.

The world’s most professional soldiers and most hard-working farmers not only rose to the occasion but went far beyond their call of duty. India today is a safe and food surplus country, in spite of having one of the longest borders and the second highest population.

As I write this, it is a sad and despairing sight to see one of those two sentinels being brought under the jackboot of our own Govt.

Farmers have left their home, hearth and fields in this severe cold to face water cannons, teargas, and police sticks. Thousands of bustling villages across North India look haunted as families have moved to the forbidding outskirts of their own country’s capital.

“JAI KISAN” was as sacred a rallying cry as was “JAI HIND”. If we forsake one, can we expect permanent allegiance to the other?

Both are intertwined and congruous !!

“Jai Hind, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” are parallel fate lines on the forehead of Mother India. They are as indelible as the constitution.

Let’s not forget those years of severe drought when shiploads of grain arrived from a patronising, condescending USA and our leaders hung their heads before some sneering

DEC 23 - JAN 20

JAN 21 - FEB 19

FEB20 - MARCH 20

ETC

11

LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

KHLOE

KARDASHIAN NOT PROUD

W

e all know that Khloé Ka rdashian always speaks her mind no matter what the situation. Whether it’s cla pping back to trolls, com menting on Kim’s choice in husbands or just kee pin g her sisters grounded, she never holds back when telling her fam ily members exactly what she think s. However, there’s one family memb er who’s bor ne the brunt of most of Khloé ’s comments/ criticism/shutdowns on camera over the last 13 years, her mom Kris Jenner!

The Kardashian family announced that Keeping Up With the Kardashians would be coming to an end in early 2021 and as a result, many of the Kardashian/Jenners — including Kourtney! — have been feeling sentim ental and nostalgic. So when Khloé was recently asked by a fan about the show’s earliest days, she took the opport unity to open up about reg retting how she’d treated Kris back then.

—Agency

Priyanka’s post

‘Elf on Shelf’

A

ctor Priyanka Chopra on We d n e s d ay jumped on the viral ‘Elf on Shelf ’ trend and gave it ‘Oprah on Chopra’ twist. The trend went viral when scores of Hollywood’s brightest stars including Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner and more took on the ‘elf on shelf ’ tradition, which is associated with the Christmas

cheer.

Elf on the shelf is a popular holiday tradition, in which parents place a small elf doll in their home and tell their children that the elf watches over them during the day and reports back to the North Pole at night. Each morning, after returning from his “mission”, the elf is placed in a different location in the home.

—ANI

A

s veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha on Wednesday rings in his 75th milestone birthday, daughter Sonakshi Sinha shared an adorable family picture to extend greeting on the platinum celebration.

The ‘Dabangg’ star took to Instagram and shared a picture with the ‘Sholay’ star along with her mom and siblings to mark the special day. In the picture, Sonakshi is seen dressed in a traditional ensemble along with other family members at their home. Along with the photograph, the ‘Holiday’ star added, “Happy Birthdayyyy Papa! (along with a red heart emoji).”—ANI

Sonakshi Sinha’s post

essaying the role of a yesteryear actor, Kashyap plays the role of a disgraced film director in the film.

As both Kapoor and Kashyap will be seen having a tussle in the film, both penned down a caption praising the half side of the poster that comprises their respective faces.

“Right side is obviously more photogenic.. @anilskapoor @motwayne @netflix_in @ andolanofficial #AKvsAK,” wrote Anurag Kashyap.

—ANI

HAILEY’S STRUGGLE

A

ctor Kriti Sanon who had been shooting for a new project in Chandigarh, on Wednesday revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19.

The ‘Heropanti,’ actor shared a statement on Instagram informing about it. “I’d like to inform everyone that I have tested positive for Covid-19,” the statement read.

The 30-year-old actor further assured that she has been feeling fine and has placed herself under quarantine.

“There’s absolutely nothing to worry as I’m feeling fine and

have quarantined myself as per BMC and my doctor’s advice,” she said.

“So I’m gonna ride this tide, rest it out and resume work soon. Till then, I’m reading all the warm wishes and they seem to be working,” she added.

—ANI

H

ailey Bieber is getting honest and candid on social media.

The 24-year-old model revealed she suffers from perioral dermatitis on her skin. The condition is described as a “facial rash in which bumps develop around the mouth. In some cases, a similar rash may

appear around the eyes, nose, forehead, or sometimes the genitals.”

“This is day 3 so it’s calmed down a lot,” she wrote on social media.

“Some things that I noticed trigger it: trying a new product, a product that’s too harsh, weather, masks, sometimes certain SPF,” she added.

—Agency

Kriti Sanon; (inset) Her post

J

ohn Legend recently left a very cheeky comment on wife and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen’s recent Instagram photo. Scroll down to see what he said.

Chrissy Teigen recently shared a photo of herself in her underwear on Instagram and her husband John Legend left a comment that made the fans go crazy. In the photo, the 35-year-old chef is seen sitting in her bra and underwear while getting a kiss from her dog. Chrissy captioned the photo, “f–k it!” John then in-

Hailey Bieber

9 YEARS IN B’TOWN

MAKING IT OFFICIAL

LEGEND’S CRAZY COMMENT

Jeremy Renner

ctor Anil Kapoor and filmmaker-turnedactor Anurag Kashyap on Wednesday dropped the poster of their upcoming Netflix film ‘AK vs AK.’ Both the celebrities took to Instagram to share the poster of the Vikramaditya Motwane directorial. While one half of the poster comprises of Kashyap’s half face, the other half comprises of Kapoor’s half-face to make it into one complete face.

While Kapoor will be

Birthday wishes for Senior Sinha

A

Lady Gaga

A

AK VS AK

Khloe Kardashian

JEREMY WITH LADY GAGA

ctor Jeremy Renner will join singer-actress Lady Gaga in the upcoming Ridley Scott directorial, Gucci. The true-crime drama with a focus on crime is based on the book “The House Of Gucci: A Sensational Story Of Murder, Madness, Glamour, And Greed”.

The film will focus on the murder of fashion trailblazer Maurizio Gucci, with Gaga playing Patrizia Reggiani, Gucci’s former wife who was convicted of orchestrating his death after discovering he had an affair.

Roberto Bentivegna has penned the screenplay for the feature, which will be produced by Ridley and Giannina Scott as well as Kevin Walsh. It is slated to release on November 24, 2021.

—Agency

Poster of ‘AK vs AK’

Parineeti Chopra

A Chrissy and John

stantly took to the comment section and wrote, “Don’t mind if I do.” Chrissy responded to the comment by saying, “hooooooooooly shit dude !!!!!!” Fans are loving the comment so much and just an

... her post

hour after the comment was posted, the comment has over 32,000 likes.

—Agency

ctor Parineeti Chopra expressed gratitude as she completed nine years in Bollywood on Wednesday.

“9 years. THANKYOU. #9YearsOfParineetiChopra,” she tweeted.

The 32-year-old actor also recalled the moment when she was signed by the Yash Raj Films banner for her debut flick Maneesh Sharma’s ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’.

“#9YearsOfParineetiChopra,” Parineeti tweeted as she shared the old tweet.

“Guyssss!! The BIGGEST news!! I am being launched by Yash Raj Films as their new talent and I’m signing a 3 film deal!!!!!!!!! :D :D,” the ‘Ishaqzaade,’ actor’s old tweet read.

Today also marks the ninth anniversary of Parineeti Chopra’s debut flick ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl.’

—ANI

CITY BUZZ LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia

MISS AND MRS INDIA CITY FIRST

M

BIRTHDAY WISHES!

GLAM 2020

iss and Mrs India Glam, a renowned beauty pageant by Pawan Tank is all set to be organised from 29 to 31 December at Heritage Village Resort in the Pink City.

Associated with First India, this pageant will take place with the Top 20 ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ finalists (10 in each category).

Co-director, Vishnu Sharma said that all the functioning of the pageant will be according to the COVID 19 guidelines, with no crowd, and the grand finale will broadcast live.

Miss and Mrs India Glam aims to give an outstanding platform and empower every courageous and talented girl in our nation to bring out the sparkle they carry within. The wildcard registrations for Miss and Mrs India Glam Season 2 is also open. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

12

Jagdeesh Chandra greeted Gaurav Gaur, Director, Elite Miss Rajasthan on his birthday at his residence on Wednesday. Also present with them was supermodel Akanksha Bhalla.

LAUNCHED! Pawan Tank with the participants and team of Miss and Mrs India Glam 2020

Nikki, Simran, Priya and Nagma

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Trisha

Dipti Choudhary

Jagdeesh Chandra launched the poster of the second season of WEAA Miss and Mrs India 2021 on Wednesday. Seen here with him are (from left) Yogesh Mishra, Ameesha Raj, Harish Soni and Mamta Garg. Founder Harish Soni mentioned that a total of 40 participants will be selected from 14 cities in the country.

FACEBOOK POST!

WHAT’S HAPPENING!

1

Dr Sanyukta and IAS Rajnish Dubey celebrated their wedding anniversary on Wednesday, 9 December. We wish them all the best!

2

1. Lucknow: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic across India, HCL Foundation (HCLF) has come forward with its partner to support the wellbeing of people. The organization's support is aimed at complementing the state's efforts to increase and enhance the healthcare facilities for elderly people.

2. Lucknow: Sugandhco, a renowned scent shop in Lucknow is following all the safety protocols during the COVID times. They are famous across the globe for their unique scents' collection.

TWO DEPARTED SOULS F CITY FIRST

or the first time in the state’s history, the IAS association had to organise a condolence meeting for two departed officers on the same day.

The two officers who died were Ajay Kumar Singh and Sushil Kumar Maurya.

Singh was a 1998-batch IAS officer who died of a heart attack in Varanasi.

Maurya, who was from the 2010-batch, died of COVID-19 related complications.

The meeting was convened at 5.30 pm on Monday, 7 December. It was attended by the state’s Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, chief of IAS association and chairman of UP Revenue Board Deepak Trivedi, IAS association secretary and commissioner, Lucknow, Ranjan Kumar among other senior officials.

While batchmates paid their tributes to the departed souls, Tiwari assured the offic-

ers that the government stands by the families of the deceased officials and will provide all possible help to them.

Trivedi said that the association has lost two hardworking officers who cannot be replaced. He said that the association will soon discuss how to provide assistance.

Tributes were paid

by Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Awanish Awasthi, Sanjeev Mittal, Arvind Kumar, Abhishek Prakash, Anurag Yadav, Pranjal Yadav, Alok Kumar, Dr. Akhilesh Mishra and Anil Pathak among others. cityfirst@firstindia.co.in

IAS Raj Shekhar took to Facebook and shared pictures with his son. He captioned the images as- "Being happy never goes out of style. -Lily Pulitzer."