AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020 l Pages 14 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No.

63

Home Minister Amit Shah, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and others after the signing of an
accord between GOI, Assam Govt and Bodo representatives in New Delhi. —PHOTO BY PTI

HISTORIC ACCORD, SAYS SHAH

AS BODO AGREEMENT GETS INKED
T
he government
today signed an
accord with the
National Dem-
ocratic Front
of Bodoland - the
banned militant group
in Assam - bringing to
an end the decades-long
statehood movement
which saw much blood-
shed. The agreement
will keep Assam’s ter-
ritorial integrity intact,
while ensuring all-
round development of
the Bodo people with a
Rs 1500 crore financial
package, said Himanta
Biswa Sarma, Assam
minister and the BJP’s
key strategist in the
northeast.
Union minister
Amit Shah, who was
present on the occa-
sion, said the “histor-
ic accord,” would
“help develop the
Bodo region and As-
sam”. He also said it
SHAH TO BE IN GUJARAT FOR WEDDING tants now, all are our
ON JAN 31, FEB 1 brothers,” said Amit
Shah. Of them, those
who have a clean record
will be made part of the
paramilitary forces. The
families of those who
died in the Bodo move-
ment will receive Rs 5
lakh as compensation.
According to the
agreement, the area
called BTAD will be
renamed as Bodoland
Territorial Region
and the Centre would
expedite ‘hills tribe’
would be permanent has been spearheading status to Bodo people
as it involves all the statehood move- living in the hill dis-
stakeholders, unlike ment, was also a signa- tricts of Assam. The
last time, when three tory. Under the agree- Bodo language, with
groups were left out. ment, the Centre will Devnagri script, will
The tripartite agree- take a sympathetic become associate of-
ment was signed by As- view of those who took ficial language for en-
sam Chief Minister up arms for the state- tire of Assam.
Sarbananda Sonowal, hood movement, sourc- The agreement also
top leadership of the es said. involves a hefty finan-
four factions of the More than 1,500 mili- cial package -- the state
NDFB, ABSU, and the tants are expected to government would give
Centre. The All Bodo surrender on January Rs 250 crore for 3 years
Students’ Union, which 30. “They are not mili- to develop the area.
Bodo Accord will usher in new
dawn of peace & harmony: PM
New Delhi: Hailing and would help Bodo tect and popularise the
the accord signed people get access to unique culture of the
with Bodo groups on development-oriented Bodo people.
Monday, Prime Min- initiatives. “They will get ac-
ister Narendra Modi “Ushering in a new cess to a wide range
said it would usher dawn of peace, harmo- of development ori-
in a new dawn of ny and togetherness! ented initiatives. We
peace, harmony and Today is a very special are committed to do-
togetherness and day for India. The Ac- ing everything pos-
that those associated cord with Bodo groups, sible to help the Bodo
with armed resist- which has been inked people realise their
ance groups would today will lead to trans- “Those who were aspirations,” he said.
now enter the main- formative results for previously associat- The government on
stream and contrib- the Bodo people,” the ed with armed resist- Monday signed an ac-
ute to the nation’s prime minister said on ance groups will now cord with the National
progress. Twitter. be entering the main- Democratic Front of
He said the accord He said the accord stream and contrib- Boroland (NDFB), one
will lead to transform- stands out for many uting to our nation’s of the dreaded insur-
ative results for Bodos reasons as it success- progress,” he said. gent groups of Assam,
as it successfully fully brings together In a series of tweets, providing political and
brings together lead- the leading stake- the prime minister said economic bonanza
ing stakeholders un- holders under one the accord with Bodo sans a separate state or
der one framework framework. groups will further pro- Union Territory.

CM urges Jaishankar to ‘rescue’ students in corona-hit China

Haresh Jhala parents back home are
CM TO ADDRESS TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS IN DELHI worried about their
Gandhinagar: Con- well being and so they
cerned over the corona have approached the
virus scare, Chief Min- State Government with
ister Vijay Rupani on a request to take up the
Monday spoke to Union issue and see that their
Minister of External Af- children reach home at
fairs S Jaishankar and the earliest.
requested him to rescue A Vadodara citizen,
Gujarati students whose daughter Shri-
stranded in China. ya is pursuing MBBS
The Chief Minister, course with the Uni-
in a press release, versity of Hubei in
stated that he spoke China, has taken up
over the phone with the matter of the
Union External Af- medical students
fairs Minister S Jais- well as 100 others liv- the contagious dis- He also informed the studying in Wuhan.
hankar and informed ing in that country ease spread by corona Union Minister that The parent said that
him that some 300 Gu- are “trapped.” virus is not complete- the students are study- with commercial estab-
jarati students study- They are willing to ly controlled by the ing in the medical lishments and eating
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ing in China and as return to Gujarat till Chinese Government. branch in China. Their outlets Turn on P5
 LIT FAMES
Day
05

AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020

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

23RD - 27TH JANUARY 2020

02

‘NEED TO FOCUS ON ETHICAL TOURISM’

First India News Tourism Minister Vish-
vendra Singh Bharat-
Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh said, ‘It is time that together to create an
ecosystem of responsi-
visitors would like the
monument more, and

N all stakeholders work together to create an ecosystem

estled between pur, with Dickinson’s ble tourism.” the locals would benefit
the green hills husband Edward Dick- A cardiologist by too,” she said.
that surround
Jaipur, Amber is, in
inson joining them in
conversation.
of responsible tourism’ training, Dickinson
shared how her interest
“All royalties from the
book are going to be used
campaigning author Singh commended in Amber was piqued. “I for the Amber Ladies
Rashmi Dickinson’s the Dickinsons for the came to Amber almost Collective,” she declared.
words, “the progenitor contributions they had 20 years ago, just as a This Collective will help
of Jaipur”. This an- made towards the pres- tourist. I used to walk orphaned, destitute or
cient town is built ervation of Amber’s around, discovering divorced women by
around the Amber Fort, heritage. Drawing from new things like a child,” training them as tour
which is as much an en- Dickinson’s advocacy she said. In 2013, she guides, thus enabling
gineering marvel as it is for responsible tour- started long walks them to make a living.
a work of art. Amber ism, Bharatpur said, called Come walk with Moderator Dickinson
Fort is one of the most “there is a need to ex- me in my beloved Am- asked Singh about his
visited monuments in plore ethical tourism.” ber. She invited her department’s initiatives
India, and yet, accord- He said: “Rajasthan has friends and acquaint- to promote tourism.
ing to Dickinson, large only explored 20% of its ances to these walks. Bharatpur said that the
parts of it are in “dire tourism potential.” As “The response was very department will make
need of better mainte- more monuments are positive,” she said, talk- new tourist-circuits
nance”. Her book Se- preserved and promot- ing about the success of which will comprise of
crets of Amber details ed, it was important to these walks. Eventually, places that have archi-
the history and archi- make sure that tourism she realised that Amber tectural, natural or reli-
tecture of the town of activities made a “posi- needs responsible tour- gious importance. Ac-
Amber through twelve tive contribution to the ism to protect the social cording to him, these
‘walks’ conducted in conservation of natural and architectural herit- circuits will be marketed
the city. On the last day and cultural heritage.” age of the town. “Re- in various regional lan-
of the JLF, Secrets of He said, “it is time that Rashmi Dickinson, in conversation about responsible and sustainable tourism with Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh and sponsible tourism guages, in order to “pro-
Amber was launched by all stakeholders work Edward Dickinson on the last day of JLF. —PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR would ensure that the mote domestic footfall.”

‘IF HUMANS SURVIVE, THEY MUST FOURTH DAY OF JLF: RICH VARIETY OF THE MULTIPLE FORMS OF STORYTELLING

Current state CPEC IS ‘BELT,

SURVIVE THE WAY OTHER CREATURES DO’ of Indian ROAD AND
First India News
Greenblatt had the audience foundational and hence,

“I am going to talk tightened to their seats as he told

the discomfort with a
figure like Lucretius democracy BEYOND’
about an obscure event,
of which I make an ex-
travagant claim. No sin-
the story of what happened in 1417
was obvious. For hu-
mans, ‘survival’ meant
to procure enough food
I n a spirited conversa-
tion at the most oppor-
tune occasion of 71st
A t the “Belt &
Road” session,
presented by the Aga
gle event actually to eat and to reproduce, Republic Day, NEXA Khan Foundation,
changes the world deci- On the Nature of held an engrossing ses- journalist Manoj Joshi
sively; it’s always a suc- Things said, and only sion on ‘The Democracy remarked on the pro-
cession of occasions. then “is it possible that Index’ featuring Deputy cess of writing a paper
However, there was this the species will thrive CM Sachin Pilot and Ra- on the Belt Road Initia-
very odd and neglected and will last for a jdeep Sardesai¸ in con- tive, “I think one of the
occurrence, that turned while.” This idea of the versation with Namita mistakes we often
out to have an extraor- ‘survival of the fittest’ Bhandare. The session make, is to obsess
dinary and rippling set was not fully observed deliberated on the cur- about CPEC (China Pa-
of consequences,’’ Ste- in the European world rent state of Indian de- kistan Economic Cor-
phen Greenblatt had until Darwin’s time in mocracy, and the role of ridor) and that CPEC
the audience tightened the 19th century. citizens and political is ‘Belt and Road’,
to their seats at the JLF Lucretius’ argument parties. “It’s time to re- which it is not. In fact,
as he told the story of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stephen Greenblatt at the JLF. was that this universe claim our republic by I would argue that nei-
what happened in 1417, was not created only for reclaiming the values ther Indian Ocean, nor
when a man called Pog- taught in schools, since cretius’ ideas were con- humans and that this that hold our nation to- Asia are the focus; the
gio Bracciolini found its Latin was par excel- sidered subversive in was not “our story”. “If gether,” commented Ra- Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Rajdeep Sardesai in focus would instead be
the last copy of the Ro- lence. “It was beautiful his age and beyond. humans survive, they jdeep Sardesai. conversation with Namita Bhandare. on Europe.”
man poet Lucretius’ On but unbearable!”- un- For the Christian must survive the way

Kashmir, its past & its uncertain future

the Nature of Things. bearable, since it
Greenblatt was intro- claimed things that the
duced by historian Tom world didn’t want to
Holland.
When philosophy be-
gan in the ancient
hear. In 1417, Christian-
ity was the “overwhelm-
ing vision of the world”,
world, it caused “sur- so ask yourself this:
prise and bafflement how happy would a
which led to a desire to Pope then be if he got to
know”, even to know hear that “praying is
things that could have futile”? An ardent sup-
caused chaos. For the porter of Epicureanism
longest time, On the Na- (an ancient Greek phil-
ture of Things was osophical thought), Lu-
world of the 15th cen-
tury, the ideas in Lucre-
tius’ poem- that “the
world has no creator, no
designer; that atoms
have not been made and
cannot be destroyed,
and that nature func-
tions without divine
control”- were problem-
atic. Even in the He-
brew bible, the belief
that all species were
created by God was
other creatures do.” Lu-
cretius believed that
early humans were
speechless and only
slowly developed the
skills that enabled them
O f Barbed Wires and
to “construct civilisa-
tions”. We won’t last
forever either, neither
are we unique – we are
made of the same atoms
in different configura-
tions that “make up the
stars, make up dirt”.
Almond Blossoms
was a session that ex-
cles and poems on is-
sues of the politics of
place, diaspora, the lit-
to Siachen, Pakistan,
China, Sri Lanka and
terrorism in Kashmir
sity of Melbourne. He
was previously an Advi-
sor to the Chief Minis-
plored the paradoxes erature of exile and and Punjab. Padma ter of Jammu and Kash-
and polarities that de- Muslim identity. Jour- Shri Amitabh Mattoo is mir and Chair of the
fine the region in the nalist and Distin- Professor of Disarma- Jammu and Kashmir
context of the human, guished Fellow at the ment Studies at Jawa- Knowledge Initiative.
the personal and the po- Observer Research harlal Nehru Universi- Together, they speak of
litical. Poet, teacher Foundation Manoj ty and Honorary Profes- Kashmir, its past, its
and academic Asiya Za- Joshi has written exten- sor of International troubled present and its
hoor has written arti- sively on issues relating Relations at the Univer- uncertain future.

India needs better opposition, says Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee

I
ndia needs a better party should want a bet- ment. In India, it is 400 sector, write off the Reserve Bank of India
opposition which is ter opposition to keep it Poverty, like per cent. Net income loans. We cannot really (RBI) Governor if it
the heart of any de- under check,” Banerjee cancer, is that it generates is four afford that right now,” was offered to him, Ba-
mocracy and the ruling said. many prob- times the amount you he said. He stressed that nerjee said, “Absolutely
party should embrace The Indian-Ameri- lems. There are put in. The same exper- devolution of power not. Because to be an
that to keep it under can innovative MIT many diseases. Some iment was done in and decentralisation RBI governor, you bet-
check, noted economist economist, his wife Es- Bangladesh for 10 years. were very important for ter be a macro econo-
and Nobel laureate Ab- ther Duflo and Harvard
people are education It has been exactly the economic success. mist.” Asked if he could
hijit Banerjee said in professor Michael Kre- poor, some are heath same there,” he said, “Take China, it has have won the Nobel
Jaipur on Sunday. mer jointly won the 2019 poor and some asset giving references from on the ground democ- Prize based in India, he
Speaking at a session Nobel Economics Prize poor. You have to his work. racy even though it is said, “I don’t think so.”
at the JLF, he said there “for their experimental figure out what is He said it was impor- such an authoritarian- “I benefited enormous-
was no co-relation be- approach to alleviating missing. tant that the poor are ism set up. They intro- ly from a place (MIT)
tween the authoritari- global poverty”. Eluci- encouraged in the be- duced village elections where I had the world’s
dating on the ways to —Abhijit Banerjee, ginning, asserting that 20 years ago. The elect- best potential PhD stu-
anism and the econom- Economist and Nobel laureate
ic success. ameliorate poverty, he Noble Laureate Abhijit V Banerjee speaks during the JLF. these people “actually ed leaders go to differ- dents. And that is im-
“You can easily argue said there was no silver have never done any- ent places. The intra- portant. All this work
that Singapore had a bullet, but many silver is inviable to work and couraged by giving these people after 10 thing in their lives”. province competition is that I am taking credit
successful dictator and pallets. never does work,” he them assets and free- years. They will be 25 Banerjee also spoke intense. There is devo- for is mostly done by
can easily come back “Poverty, like cancer, said. bies. per cent richer, they about the crisis in the lution of power. China others. “My students,
and talk about Zimba- is many problems. Banerjee also chal- “There is so much will be healthier and banking sector. “We are is much more decen- collaborators, and
bwe. We can talk about There are many diseas- lenged the dogma that prejudice about the happier. It encourages in a deep cycle. It will tralised than India de- friends and that is what
this ad nauseum… At es. Some people are edu- if the poor people are abilities of the poor. them to keep trying and take some time to fix spite its ruling Commu- makes it valuable. It is
some level authority is cation poor, some are given money they waste Give the very poor some they work harder than things, particularly the nist Party being such a not that there is dearth
an illusion,” he said. heath poor and some it, become lazy and fall asset. Not lend, but give the people who didn’t banking sector. We centralised force,” he of talent here, but
“India needs a better asset poor. You have to back into poverty. He them an asset. Maybe a get the assets,” he said. don’t have the money to said. bringing together of
opposition. The opposi- figure out what is miss- advocated that the peo- cow, some goats or trin- “It is sustainable. We do what China did Responding to a ques- people on a large scale
tion is the heart of de- ing. Trying to solve eve- ple living in abysmal kets to sell, then you have calculated the rate which was to put the tion on whether he changes it. It is hard to
mocracy and the ruling rything with one action poverty should be en- look what happens to of return on the invest- money in the banking would accept the post of do it alone,” he said.
 AHMEDABAD l TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020 l Pages 14 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 63

RAHUL GANDHI’S CONGRESS READIES

GOVT TO SELL 100% STAKE IN AI; SETS
MARCH 17 AS DEADLINE FOR BIDS
HEIR APPARENT
FOR AIR INDIA.
SEARCH IS ON...
New Delhi: The govern-
ment on Monday an-
nounced sale of 100 per
cent stake in debt-laden
Air India as it issued the
preliminary bid document
for the strategic disinvest-
ment and has set March 17,
as the deadline for submit-
ting expression of interest.
As part of the strategic
disinvestment, Air India
would also sell 100 per
cent stake in low-cost air-
line Air India Express and
50 per cent shareholding
in joint venture AISATS,
as per bid document issued
on Monday.
Management control of
the airline would also be
transferred to the success-
ful bidder.
This is the second time in
less than two years that the
government has come out
with proposal for selling
stake in Air India, which
has been in the red for long.
The government has set
March 17, as the deadline for
submitting the expression of
interest (EoI).
AISATS is an equal joint
venture between Air India and
Singapore Airlines. It offers
ground handling services.
Air India also has interests
in Air India Engineering Ser-
vices, Air India Air Trans-
port Services, Airline Allied
Services and Hotel Corpora-
tion of India.
THE AIR POCKET
 The debt left with the
company are mainly
on account of aircraft
purchase, which are
against government
guarantees but those
guarantees will go once the
airline is purchased by a
new owner
 In the current offer, the
government is offering
100% and has already
reduced the debt liabilities
of the airline by `29,400
crore from `62,000 crore
and will further reduce
over `9,300 crore of the
total debt and offer the
airline with `23,286 crore
debt. Et had reported it
first that the debt would
be in the range of over
`20,000 crore
These entities are in the
process of being trans-
ferred to a separate com-
pany -- Air India Assets
Holding Ltd (AIAHL) -- and
would not be a part of the
proposed transaction, the
document said.
According to the docu-
ment, debt of Rs 23,286.5
crore would remain with Air
India and Air India Express
at the time of closing of the
disinvestment.
Turn on P5
AKROSH
RALLY IN JAIPUR TODAY
Aditi Nagar & Agencies
Jaipur: Congress lead-
er Rahul Gandhi will
address ‘Yuva Akrosh
Rally’ rally in Jaipur
on Tuesday. The mega
rally will be held at
historic Albert Hall in
Ramniwas Bagh.
The Congress is ex-
pecting one lakh youth
to attend the rally and
Youth Congress work-
ers and NSUI members
have been putting in
everything to garner
more support for the
rally.
Rahul has chosen
Jaipur to launch his na-
tionwide campaign to
tap youth anger against
the central government
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Avinash Pande, Ashk Ali Tak and Raghu Sharma.
in wake of CAA, NRC
and highhandedness in
dealing with student
protests in university
campuses particularly
in JNU, JMI and AMU.
Rahul Gandhi’s rally
has assumed immense
importance as it is also
being seen as a catalyst
to pitch the young leader
of the grand party back
in the topmost affairs.
It may be recalled that
Rajasthan Assembly on
Saturday passed a resolu-
tion urging the Centre to
repeal the Citizenship
(Amendment) Act (CAA),
amid opposition by the
BJP which accused the
ruling Congress of pursu-
ing appeasement politics.
It is the second Con-
STAGE FOR MEGA SHOW;
AT LEAST 1 LAKH
TURNOUT EXPECTED
gress-ruled
state after
Punjab to
pass such a
resolution.
Earlier, Ker-
ala Assembly
too had passed
a resolution
against the CAA
moved jointly by
the ruling Left alli-
ance and the opposi-
tion Congress-led UDF.
The Ashok Gehlot gov-
ernment had called
for a special session to
pass the resolution.
Veteran Congress
leader and AICC Gener-
al Secretary & Rajasthan
incharge Avinash Pande
and Deputy Chief Minis-
ter and Turn on P5
THE RALLY MAY PROVE TO
BE A LAUNCHING PAD FOR
RAHUL, WHO IS LIKELY TO
TAKE BACK THE REINS OF
THE PARTY BY FEBRUARY-
END. BEFORE DECIDING ON
JAIPUR AS THE RALLY
VENUE, SONIA HAD HELD A
DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH
AHMED PATEL, AVINASH
PANDE, ASHOK GEHLOT AND
KC VENUGOPAL. AND
CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD
BY RAHUL GANDHI'S OFFICE
WITH PILOT WHO HAS
RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS
SIXTH YEAR PCC TENURE

Coronavirus ‘patient’ in Raj stable: Minister CRUCIAL READ

WB BECOMES FOURTH STATE TO PASS RESOLUTION
First India News

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s so-

SENSEX CATCHES
CHINA FLU
Beijing on a hyper W
est Bengal Monday became the fourth state
to pass a resolution against the contentious

mode as toll reads 81

Citizenship Amendment Act, with Chief Minister

cial justice and empow-
erment minister Bhan-
war Subhash Garg on
Monday informed me-
dia that a person sus-
pected of being infected
by coronavirus has been
admitted to Sawai Man
Singh Hospital in Jaipur.
Giving out more de-
tails, the minister said,
“The patient has been
kept in isolation and is in
stable condition.” He
also said that the pa-
tient’s samples have been
sent to Pune and the
state government is tak-
ing all possi precautions.
Meanwhile earlier to-
day, a girl from Chapra in
Bihar was hospitalised af-
ter displaying symptoms
similar to those of Corona-
virus, which has claimed
the lives of 80 people in
China. “According to the
information received, 18
persons Turn on P5
TMonday
he domestic stock
market tumbled on
weighed down
by weakness in global
equities, as rising con-
cerns over fast-spread-
ing coronavirus damp-
ened demand for riskier
assets. Investors on
Dalal Street also chose
to stay on the sidelines
ahead of Union Budget
2020. BSE benchmark
Sensex fell 1.10 pe cent
or 458.07 points to
41,155.12, while Nifty
ended at 12,119.00,
down 129.25 points or
1.06 per cent.
Shanghai: Chinese Pre-
mier Li Keqiang will “in-
spect and direct” efforts
to control a virus out-
break in the central city
of Wuhan and promised
reinforcements, as pro-
vincial authorities faced
accusations from the
public of a failure to re-
spond in time.
Li, clad in a blue pro-
tective suit and mask,
thanked medical work-
ers in Wuhan, the capital
of Hubei province and
the epicentre of the out-
break, as the death toll
rose on Monday to 81.
“Li ... thanked frontline
medical workers for their
all-out efforts in treating
patients and urged them
to pay attention to their
own protection,” Xinhua
news agency said.
“He required efforts to
guarantee medical resourc-
es supply, race against time
to treat patients and ensure
adequate market supply
and stable prices.” Turn on P5
Mamata Banerjee, who has vociferously protested
against the law, demanding that it be repealed immedi-
ately. Kerala, Rajasthan and Punjab have already
passed resolutions against the Citizenship law,
which came into effect from January 10.
LINKS BETWEEN PFI AND MY KIDS HAVE ONE
ANTI-CAA PROTESTS: ED RELIGION, INDIAN: SRK
T S
he ED has found that the hah Rukh Khan found a
recent violent protests spot on the trends’ list on
in Uttar Pradesh against Monday after in a video
the Citizenship Amendment Act that went viral, the Badshah of
(CAA) had a “financial link” with Bollywood said that the only re-
the Kerala-based outfit PFI, offi- ligion that his children - Suhana,
cial sources said on Monday. The Aryan and AbRam - have
agency is probing the PFI under been taught to identify them-
the Prevention of Money Laun- selves with is a religion called
dering Act (PMLA) since 2018. ‘Hindustan’.

Much-awaited new Industries Policy only after budget session

Haresh Jhala
Gandhinagar: The
much-awaited new in-
dustries policy of the
Gujarat Govern-
ment’s for 2020 to
2025, which was to be
announced this
month, has now been
postponed and will be
announced only after
the budget session
concludes on March
31. The term of the
previous policy ended
on December 31 but
would be continued
till the new policy
comes.
Industries depart-
ment sources told First
India that the respec- ups, technology and been drafted in consul- ing automobile and
tive wings of the de- service and hospital- tations with stakehold- ancillary sector.
partment had submit- ity will have focus as ers from various sec- The government
ted a draft policy to the these next-gen sectors tors. The government plans to tap the “huge
higher-ups and they hold employment op- provides incentives to potential” in the horti-
had given final touches portunities. various sectors to at- culture sector and so
to the policy but the an- The government is tract investment, but it plans to provide incen-
nouncement was held also planning to give in- also plans to offer in- tives to the sector, espe-
back ostensibly due to centive packages to MS- centives for value addi- cially processed foods.
the Assembly session in MEs in selected sectors. tion to raw materials The state govern-
motion with a break of These sectors can be and even exports are ment is giving subsi-
40 days between two sit- forest and environment, done of value added dy with maximum
tings. energy, food and health, products. cap and also backs
The State is plan- urban development, The State is hub of technology, finance
ning to cover more transport and finance, textile, diamond, borrowing and reha-
areas, and especially since they can have ver- pharmaceuticals, bilitation of the sick
non-conventional sec- tical and horizontal chemicals, engineer- units. There are plans
tors, that were not value-addition chain. ing, ceramics, textiles to give incentives to
covered in the last Industries policies and diesel engine ma- textile industries for
policy. These include will be covering MSME, chines. In the last two expansion and even
rail projects, aero- cottage industries, skill decades, the State has value addition as well
space, defence, start- development and have succeeded in attract- as technology.
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
04
in
BRIEF
Udyog Exhibition NOW, HELMETS COMPULSORY Gujarat ranks 7th in
unmanned railway
FOR PILLION RIDERS AS WELL
sees 48,000
visitors in 4 days
Surat: The 12th edition
of biennial exhibition
crossing accidents
Udyog-2020 came to a First India News
close on Sunday. The
exhibition organized
First India News WHY NOW? Ahmedabad: Accord-

—PHOTO BY HANIF SINDHI

by the Southern Guja-
rat Chamber of Com- ing to data released as
merce and Industry Ahmedabad: If you are part of the National
(SGCCI) at Sarsana riding a two-wheeler, Crime Records Bureau
Convention Centre saw
a total of 48,000 visitors
please carry a helmet (NCRB) 2018 report, a MAJOR CAUSES
through the course of
for your pillion rider, total of 18,414 accidents
four days. too. have been recorded at 
There were 5,000 visi- The government on Gujarat’s unmanned
tors on the first day, Monday said that the railway crossings; these
16,000 on the second, press release issued on incidents have left
20,000 on the thirds and
December 04, following a 17,619 people injured
7,000 on the fourth day.
Traders from cabinet meeting, has and 8,040 dead. With
Ahmedabad, Vadodara, been misinterpreted, and these numbers, Gujarat 
Rajkot, Surat, Vapi, that the helmet rule is ranks seventh in death
Umargam, Mumbai, still very much in place. tolls at unmanned rail-
New Delhi, Gurugram, The latest announce- way crossings.
Chandigarh and Jaipur
took part in the event.
ment came during the The list is led by Uttar
SGCCI Chairman Ka- hearing of a Public In- Pradesh, which saw as Paradoxically, the prob-
tan Desai said that terest Litigation (PIL) Two scooterists wearing helmets ride down the River Front road in Ahmedabad on Monday. many as 22,541 deaths at lem of many unmanned
around 24 stalls at the case at the Gujarat High unmanned railway railway crossings in Gu-
event were booked for Court (HC) when assis- stance on the issue. PIL against the state the effective implemen- guidelines. Following crossings. jarat remains un-
textile machinery. This
tant public prosecutor Contrary to the Motor government demanding tation of the rules and this, Chief Minister Vi- Of the total 1,048 un- changed. About 373 peo-
year buyers took more
interest in water jets Nisha Thakor argued Vehicle Act 2019, the policy guidelines for the regulations of the Motor jay Rupani announced manned railway cross- ple have lost their lives
and rapier machines. that the state has not is- government had issued Gujarat cabinet decision Vehicle Act 2019. that the relaxing of the ings in the country, Gu- in 1,617 incidents record-
These machines cost sued any circular mak- a statement to the press to make helmets “tempo- On December 17, the helmet norm was tem- jarat accounts for 361 ed at unmanned railway
somewhere between ing helmets optional in after a cabinet meeting rarily” optional for two- Road safety committee porary. The Road Safety unmanned railway crossings in
Rs50 lakh and Rs90 urban areas. Moreover, on December 04, which wheeler riders in all mu- of the Supreme Court Committee had asked crossings, including 192 Ahmedabad, alone.
lakh.
she said, it is mandatory said helmets would not nicipal areas in the state. had sought an explana- for a report on the im- in meter gauge and 169 Among other cities in
Effluent floods to wear a helmet, even if be compulsory for rid- The December 04 state- tion from the state gov- plementation of the Mo- in narrow gauge. the state, 202 people from
Danilimda roads, one is a pillion rider. ers in urban areas. ment was issued after ernment on its decision tor Vehicle Act 2019 According to the Rajkot, 318 from Surat,
again The court has asked The petitioner in the the government slashed to make helmets option- from all the states after NCRB report for 2018, 182 from Vadodara have
the transport commis- PIL being heard at the traffic violation fines of al. Thereafter, the com- Gujarat announced re- work is underway on the lost their lives in acci-
sioner to file an affidavit HC, Surat-resident Sa- Motor Vehicle Act 2019. mittee had asked the laxation for two-wheeler project of launching a dents at unmanned rail-
on the government’s jeev Ezhava had filed a The PIL was made for state why it ignored SC riders in urban areas. bullet train in Gujarat. way crossings.

20 workers hurt as Ahmedabad sees sudden spate of thefts

scaffolding on Akota First India News appearing to have sto-
len the iPhone, police
scious with what is
likely to be chloroform,

Ahmedabad: The road

stretch from Khodiar-
nagar to Danilimda
flooded with chemical
effluent flowing from a
drainage line, again, on
Monday. A video which
went viral on social
media reportedly
shows a factory releas-
ing chemical effluent
into the drainage line.
The south zone engi-
neering department
rushed to the spot to
check the source. Earli-
er, in the south zone, 42
factories were sealed
which found violating
the effluent disposal
norms. The officers of
the south zone believe,
the factory in the video
could be one of the
units which were
sealed earlier.
Cong alleges
irregularities in
recruitment
Ahmedabad: Gujarat
Pradesh Congress Com-
mittee on Monday al-
leged irregularities in
recruitment for seven
posts of Class 1 and
Class 2 posts in Kamd-
henu University. Chief
spokesperson Manish
Doshi alleged the re-
cruitment norms were
compromised, especial-
ly the age criteria.
Doshi said there was
no minimum educa-
tional qualification and
age was defined. The
Congress party has de-
manded an inquiry for
the same.
bridge collapses Ahmedabad: The city
has seen a spate of
thefts and burglaries,
sources say.
New Ranip resident
Kalpesh Paradia filed a
and fled with jewellery
worth Rs56 lakh from
entered his jewellery
according to police re- complaint stating that shop in Satellite area.
cords in the 48 hours. an unknown burglar A 55-year-old man
A 48-year-old woman allegedly broke open says an unknown per-
has filed a complaint the lock of his house son stole jewellery
with Vastrapur police, while he was out with worth Rs15 lakh from
saying an unknown his family on Sunday, him on the pretext of
person broke into her using a duplicate key. asking for directions to
house in Bodakdev and The thieves escaped Mithakali crossroads.
decamped with jewel- needed them for a wed- son for allegedly steal- with cash, gold and sil- The accused person al-
lery worth Rs3 lakh. ding function. ing her mobile phone ver worth Rs2.93 legedly snatched
The victim, who works In another com- when she was visiting A jewellery shop Rajesh Soni’s purse
as a clinical research- plaint filed with the Himalaya Mall with owner has alleged that from his Activa and es-
er, brought back her Vastrapur police sta- her friends. CCTV foot- two unknown persons caped. Soni works is a
Most labourers fell on a pile of bamboo. jewellery from her tion, Ridhhi Saanbhag age from the mall on Monday allegedly salesperson at a Ghat-
bank locker since she said an unknown per- shows a young person knocked him uncon- lodia jewellery shop.
First India News used a large bamboo
scaffolding erected al-
Vadodara: Around 20 most throughout the
labourers were injured
after the platform and
length of the solar dome
on the Akota-Dandia
CRIME BRANCH
frames of a solar dome Bazaar lane of the link.
collapsed at Akota-Dan-
dia Bazaar link in Va-
dodara. The incident
The work on the
structure of the solar
dome was completed re-
Man posing as monk steals jewellery from senior citizen
took place during the cently and aluminium Ahmedabad: A an ashram. The person threatening to harm threaten the police of- black Samsung mobile
installation of solar panels were being erect- 71-year-old man has then told Thakur that him while he was on ficer. The two accused phone was found aban-
panels. The installation ed on its interior for filed a complaint with the man seated in the duty. The complainant, have been identified as doned on Sunday. A
was decided by Va- aesthetics. Those who Sabarmati police, ac- front seat of the car is Narendrasinh Fat- Prerak Kaushik Nim- complaint has been
dodara Municipal Cor- were present on the site cusing a group of peo- a Digambara monk. ehsinh of Sarkhej po- bark and Ankit Kam- filed at Ranip police
poration five years ago told media that only one ple, including a man Thakur says that he lice station, said that, lesh Patel, the owner of station and a probe has
on city roads by the de- labour who was work- posing as a Digambara gave the monk a wrist while out patrolling, he Om Pan Parlour. begun.
partment of planning. ing on the project when monk, for allegedly watch, a gold chain and was ordered to give no- Rape complaint
The platform and the incident took place stealing his jewellery a gold necklace to get tice to a paan shop in Mobile found at Sa- against NSUI worker
frames were erected to had serious injuries. It worth Rs1.25 lakh and his blessings in return. Bopal as there were barmati Jail Ahmedabad: A
install decorative pan- seemed that the labour- fleeing from the spot. many vehicles parked Ahmedabad: One 42-year-old married
els on the interior of the ers were safe as most of The complainant, Bal- Two held for illegally outside the more mobile phone woman has filed a com-
solar dome. The work them fell on a pile of want Thakur, says threatening cop shop. However, the was found at Sabarma- plaint with Vadaj po-
on the project was going bamboo that had gath- while he was at Motera Ahmedabad: A police shop owner and anoth- ti Central Jail during a lice, accusing an NSUI
on for quite some time ered due to the collapse. stadium road on Mon- constable has filed a er person, who claimed surprise inspection worker of allegedly
and one lane of the link Fire brigade officials day, a blue car came up complaint against two to be an advocate, re- conducted by prison raping her. Vadaj police
was closed to facilitate rushed to the spot for to him and a person persons, including an fused to accept the no- authorities and police. have begun a probe
the project. The workers rescue operations. fasked for directions to advocate, for allegedly tice and started to According to police, a into the case.

GUP
LEADER THINKS CAN WOULD YOU DARE TO WITH NO POWER COMES EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY
USE AND DISCARD OVERRULE YOUR BOSS? NO RESPONSIBILITY OFFENDER?

W hen they want to become political

W e are taught to respect
S o far you have only heard the Delhi
F orget ordinary citizens, even

SHUP
leaders, they tell workers,
“Without you, I am nothing.” However,
once they reach a certain rung on the
political ladder that humility swooshes
straight goes out the window. Once they
become leaders, they think they can
make and break juniors. Case in point:
the behaviour of the Ahmedabad District
BUGGED? Or is it the BJP president has become the talk of
grapevine... . First India the town after a worker has alleged
that the senior politico threatened to
begins a column that entangle him in a fake PASA (Prevention
of Anti-Social Activities Act) case,
brings to you gossips or because he forgot to put the president’s
tete-e-tete from the name on the plaque of a building that
was being inaugurated. The worker’s
corridors of power letter has gone viral on social media.
Good on him!
authority, whether it is
teachers in school or bosses at the
workplace. However, not everyone
accepts this; some people who defy
their boss’s order to establish in
the system who is more powerful.
In the Gujarat government, there
is a senior cabinet minister who
has the guts to put files on hold,
even if they cleared and signed by
the chief minister himself. It is not
about one or two isolated cases,
nor it is a situation where there are
some wrong decision taken by the
chief minister. Nope, it’s not that the
senior minister has his boss’ back in
administrative matters. It’s a simple
question of a power play.
Chief Minister complaining that his
government needs to be empowered. about Ahmedabad Municipal
After all, the Delhi state government
has very little power. Even the police
department does not report to the
chief minister. Did you know there’s a
similar situation closer to home? The
Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation is
in the same conundrum. It is a civic
body, but has little autonomy. At the
most, its power lies in the ability
to collect property tax and keep
the city clean. It cannot even plan
road-development works for the city,
since that falls under the Road and
Building department of government
of Gujarat. We feel a bit sorry for
them, to be honest.
bureaucrats are complaining
Corporation’s online services.
One IAS officer told us that AMC’s
records still don’t reflect the
property tax he paid online two
years ago! He only found out about
the issue because he wanted to
transfer some property to someone
else. He’s so hassled by the notices
that he chose to cover a distance of
8 km, to physically reach the main
office of AMC in the hopes that his
batchmate could intervene in the
matter. So much for digital India! If
officers aren’t spared from dealing
with such incompetence, what hope
do we, mere mortals, have?
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
GUJARAT AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
05

Now, Gandhinagar civic limits AMC digs up old road

resurfaced at Rs4 crore
to touch Ahmedabad city First India News

—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE

Vavol, Kudasan, Sargasan, Koba, Kolavda, Khoraj, Tarapur, and Pethapur to come under G’nagar city
First India News
Gandhinagar: Gandhi-
nagar Municipal Corpo-
ration is set to table a
proposal to absorb 14
villages and one nagar-
palika, and thus extend
the area under the city
limits, in the standing
committee meeting on
Tuesday.
Gandhinagar Mayor
Ritaben Patel told First
India, “The standing
committee is taking up
the proposal. We plan to
include surrounding
villages like Vavol, Ku-
dasan, Sargasan, Koba,
Kolavda, Khoraj, Tara-
pur, and one Pethapur
nagarpalika in the city
limit area.”
If the state govern-
ment approves the pro-
posal some 2.50-3 lakh
people living in rural
areas will start getting
civic services. With this,
the area under Gandhi-
nagar city limits will go
Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation plans to expand its city limits and will merge 14 villages.
from the current 117 sq.
km to somewhere be-
tween 170 and 180 sq.
km.
“Increasing the city
limit is good if they are
able to give proper ser-
vices to the present citi-
zens of the city. If that is
not happening, just in-
creasing the limit is not
going to serve anyone. It
will, however, fill the
coffers of the corpora-
tion,” alleges leader of
opposition Shailendras-
inh Bihola.
Bihola also alleged
that the Gandhinagar
Municipal Corporation
is still not completely
autonomous.“The en-
tire development of the
city is in the hands of
the state government.
The corporation only
has the responsibility of
keeping the city clean.
Even villages like Borij,
Indroda and others,
Ahmedabad: A road
that was resurfaced just
last month by the
Ahmedabad Municipal
Increasing Corporation (AMC) has
the city been dug up, also by the
limit is AMC. Officials admit
good if they are that the mix-up was
able to give proper caused by a lack of com-
munication between de-
services to the partments of the civic
present citizens of body.
the city. If that is Last month, the AMC’s We have to admit that this hap-
not happening, road and building de- pened due to a lack of coordination
just increasing the partment spent Rs4 crore among the departments. If they had
limit is not going to resurface a road near worked in sync, this would not have hap-
Karnavati Club to allow pened. —Ramesh Desai, road and building chairman, AMC
to serve anyone. It smooth and seamless ve-
will, however, fill hicular movement. How-
the coffers of the ever, before Ahmedabad’s been averted,” said ing their own policy,”
corporation. motorists could take ad- Ramesh Desai, road and said Dinesh Sharma,
vantage of the new road, building chairman, leader of the opposition
—Shailendrasinh Biho-
la, Leader of Opposition the drainage department AMC. at the AMC, referring to
remembered that it had However, he says, only the body’s 2016-17 policy
forgotten to install a one layer of the road regarding road-open
which are already storm-water line before was done. “The work permission, drafted es-
merged in the city limit the roads were resur- will be completed short- pecially for private play-
area are still not getting faced. ly. Meanwhile, I’ve asked ers who needed to install
better service. In such a “It is a careless step. the city engineer to look underground cable or
situation, merging more We have to admit that into this. The guilty will pipeline networks. He
means the corporation’s this happened due to a be punished. Also, I have added: “This is sheer
income from property lack of coordination asked the concerned de- negligence by the AMC
tax will increase but among the departments. partments to work in and will clearly benefit
citizens are not going to If they had worked in sync,” said Desai. contractors hired by the
get benefit out of it.” sync this could have “They are not follow- ruling party.”

Manek Chowk Ex-servicemen stir called ACB nabs Koli leaders claim
husband of
shut down for off, state assures action Sarpanch MLAs across the
road refurbishing First India News
Amreli: The Anti Cor-
ruption Bureau (ACB)
party with them
of Gujarat police on First India News STRONG MESSAGE
Gandhinagar: Protest- Monday nabbed two
ing ex-servicemen have people including a clus- Ahmedabad: Leaders
decided to call off their ter coordinator under of the Koli communi-
agitation after the state Swachchh Bharat Mis- ty—which has great in-
government assured sion (SBM) scheme and fluence along Gujarat’s
them and their family the husband of a wom- coastal belt and can po-
members of a meeting an Sarpanch red-hand- tentially decide the fu-
to discuss their con- ed taking bribe from a ture of at least 30 as-
cerns within the next 10 contractor for passing sembly seats right from
days. the bills of 9 lavatories Kutch to Umargam—
Minister of State for he had constructed un- met on Monday in
The popular Manek Chowk eateries zone wears a deserted look. Home Pradipsinh Jade- der the scheme, in the Ahmedabad to decide
ja met the delegation of Taluka panchayat office their political stand on
First India News “It is not possible to the ex-servicemen at the premises in Dhari town major issues.
carry out this work in secretariat, where min- of Amreli district in The sudden meeting,
Ahmedabad: The bus- the day time since the ister conveyed to them Ex-servicemen organized a rally in Gandhinagar on Monday. Gujarat. which was unexpected
tling night street-food area is a major commer- that the state is con- The hunt for the third by political observers,
market at Manek cial market. By month- cerned about their de- leged that, earlier, re- leged that, in many accused and woman is being seen as a show
Chowk will remain end, the work will be mands and will think tired servicemen and cases, promises made Sarpanch of Dudhala of power, especially
shut for road-resurfac- completed,” said over it. He assured the their family members by the state govern- panchayat, Rasilaben since community lead-
ing work until the end Ramesh Desai, R & B delegation that within were entitled to land ment to the families of Rameshbhai Parmar ers say they have the
of the month. chairman. The work will the next 10 days a meet- (plot for constructing a martyrs never fulfilled; was on Assistant Direc- support of community in the reservation poli-
After local council- cost a total of Rs55 lakh. ing will be called, in house and a small piece even reward money is tor of ACB, D P Chu- MLAs from across the cy, adding that not only
lors complained about The road in Manek which respective de- for agriculture), but never transferred to dasama said that based party divide. After the will the community join
battered roads in the Chowk has not been re- partment officials will that scheme was discon- the accounts of kith on a secret complaint meeting, Koli leader the protest and agita-
Khadia ward, especially surfaced in 15 years; also remain present. tinued by the state gov- and kin. by the contractor a trap Chandravadan Pitha- tion led by women can-
in the Manek Chowk lo- just patched. Encroach- Former servicemen ernment, which has Normally, one needs was laid on Monday and wala told that commu- didates but will also
cality, the engineering ments will be removed- had launched their agi- been paying compensa- permission to stage a K V Katriya- the cluster nity leaders have decid- plan a state-wide agita-
department has taken from existing footpath. tation with 14 demands tion in cash. protest in Gandhinagar. coordinator (on con- ed to support women tion demanding status
up work to repair the Over Rs25 lakh has including compensa- “We lay down our However, Gandhinagar tract) and husband of candidates fighting for quo of the original res-
roads. There is a slight been made for new foot- tion of Rs1 crore for the lives while protecting DSP Mayur Chavda told the Sarpanch, Ramesh reservation in the LRD ervation policy.
increase in the road paths from Sankdi families of martyrs, the nation and, in re- the media, “Although B Parmar were nabbed competitive exams. Another leader of the
height due to the previ- Sheri to Juna Bajar and land for retired service- turn, our families get they did not take any taking a bribe of Rs Pithawala said that community alleged that
ous patchwork, so resur- Maneknath temple to men, pension and other peanuts,” one leader permission, we are al- 81007- They had de- the Koli community the state government
facing will be done with Manek Chowk foun- benefits. said. Some members of lowing the protest since manded a bribe of Rs firmly believes that no has failed to address the
milling-technology. tain. Delegation leaders al- the agitation also al- they are ex-servicemen. 900 each. —agency changes should be made issue of the reservation.

FROM PG 1
CM urges...
completely closed in
that country, students
are finding it very diffi-
cult in arranging food
and water. “If the situa-
tion continues like this,
students will be in great
trouble,” he states in his
letter to Vadodara MP
Ranjanben Bhatt.
Even the Morbi dis-
trict authorities are not
taking any chances as
the famous ceramic in-
dustry has exposure to
China. They have alert-
ed office-bearers of the
industries association
to immediately report to
them if any industrial-
ist has recently visited
China or any China buy-
er has visited or is likely
to visit for business.
HEIR APPARENT... Chairman and Manag- transfer the manage- ness to many historic in giving their consent said the health minister keep their strength up.
The remaining debt ing Director Ashwani ment control to private rallies and the political to Albert as venue for Dr Raghu Sharma. The He also visited the
would be allocated to Lohani said Air India players. However, there messages from here re- the rally. Health Minister has also construction site of a
AIAHL. does not have “excess were no bidders. verberated across the Rahul too hopes to re- urged the Central Gov- new hospital due to be
A person in the know staff ” and the retiring country. peat the same feat with ernment to conduct a built in days.
of PIM details said staff employees’ medical ben- Rahul Gandhi’s... When Jaipur was a this rally. While, the full screening of sus- On China’s heavily
would be given shares efits issue is being sort- PCC chief Sachin Pilot small city, all major po- country is engrossed pected persons arriving censored social media,
on discount under Em- ed out. visited Albert Hall to litical rallies of national with CAA and NPR but from international air- where dissent is typical-
ployee Stock Option Pro- On the Air India stake check arrangements. leaders whether it was he is believed to be keen ports. Suspected case of ly suppressed, local offi-
gramme (ESOP). sale, Department of In- Earlier, Pande met Ge- Lal Bahadur Shastri, In- to align with issues that coronavirus reported in cials have borne the
Air India staff will be vestment and Public As- hlot to review an overall dira Gandhi, Atal Bi- instantly connects with Rajasthan. brunt of mounting pub-
offered three per cent of set Management (DI- arrangements of the hari Vajpayee, L K Ad- youth like unemploy- lic anger about the han-
the airline’s total shares PAM) Secretary Tuhin mega show. Notably, the vani or Babu Jagjeevan ment and economic Beijing on... dling of the virus.
in the government’s dis- Kanta Pandey, said the Gandhi family has high Ram, Albert Hall was slowdown. He said 2,500 more med- Some lashed out at
investment process. proposed Air India dis- hopes from this crucial the topmost choice. ical workers would ar- the Hubei governor, who
About 98 crore shares investment is struc- rally of Rahul which is Recently, when the Coronavirus rive in the next two days. had to correct himself
would be set aside under tured on “very sound being mainly organised Congress had organised ‘patient’... Li is the most senior twice during a news
the ESOP, the person principles”. by Gehlot-Pande team, a peace march to protest in four districts of the leader to visit Wuhan conference over the
said. EY is the transaction in active support with against CAA, it had cho- state have returned since the outbreak be- number of face masks
As on November 1, adviser for Air India dis- PCC chief Pilot. sen Albert Hall as a from China. The Chief gan. He inspected ef- being produced in the
2019, Air India and Air investment process. WHY ALBERT starting point. There- Medical and Health Of- forts to contain the epi- province.
India Express had 16,077 In 2018, the govern- HALL?: The Congress fore, Indian Youth Con- ficers of the four dis- demic and was shown “If he can mess up the
employees on their rolls, ment proposed to off- has deliberately chosen gress president Srinivas tricts have been in- on state television lead- data multiple times, no
including permanent load 76 per cent equity Albert Hall as venue for B V and national presi- structed to keep all of ing medical workers in wonder the disease has
people. share capital of the na- Rahul’s rally because dent of NSUI Neeraj them under constant chants of “Wuhan jiay- spread so severely,” one
Meanwhile, Air India tional carrier as well as this place has been wit- Kundan did not hesitate monitoring for 28 days,” ou!” - an exhortation to Weibo user said.
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
PERSPECTIVE AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
06

STATUS OF POLICING IN
wards marginalized com-
munities, both within the
force and outside. Much
greater sensitization is
called for on several is-

INDIA REPORT 2019

sues: gender, human
rights, juvenile delin-
quency, transgenders, mi-
grants and minorities.
The last chapter takes up
issues which are often

India is global hub for IT, there are many police stations without access to computers, vehicles or telephones brushed under the carpet:
police brutality, custodial
violence, encounters and
ping stone for all this has to the reluctance to lodge first
DR SANJEEV be based on robust empirical information reports. Some
CHOPRA date. The report tells us of the revelations are a
that even though India is cause of concern bordering
The author is an IAS & a global hub for IT, there on ‘alarm’. In the norma-
Director, Lal Bahadur are many police stations tive sense, third degree as
Shastri National Academy without access to wire- a fair tool in investiga-
of Administration Mussoorie less, computers, vehicles tion is not acceptable but
and Honorary Curator, Valley or even telephones. Hun- nearly a third of the re-
of Words: Literature and Arts dreds of police stations spondents felt that it was
Festival, Dehradun are unable to provide okay, especially in the
clean drinking water or case of heinous crimes. In
functional toilets to police my view, this is again linked

T
he CSDS – Common Cause personnel, and that it was to inadequacy in training,
Status of Policing in India common for many cops to and the cult of machismo
Report 2019 with focus on report a 14-hour work day. which Bollywood perpe-
Police Adequacy and Work- Not because I head a train- trates and gets accepted
ing Conditions is an excel- ing institution which has and internalized. We have
lent, nuanced, non – judg- recently conducted two mul- still not passed the Preven-
mental document which ti stakeholder consultations tion of Torture Bill 2017, but
covers a wide range of is- on addressing issues relat- the NHRC and SHRCs are
sues which impact the crim- ing to violence against wom- taking suo motto cogni-
inal justice administration en and children where, but zance of many serious ab-
in India. As citizens, many also on the basis of my inter- errations.
of us have our percep- action with policemen at all The report confirms
tions about the police be- levels, it is claret that even the impression most of
cause in our daily (lived) when training programs are the one hundred and
experience, we interact offered, such is the pressure eighty officer trainees
with them only during of work that officers are not have reported from their
crises or emergencies, relieved. No wonder that one-week police attach-
and often their perfor- the report shows that only ment in their training
mance does not match our 6% of police officers have districts. Your columnist
expectations. However, we been to a training pro- has seen reports from dis-
rarely try to find out the gram in the last five years: tricts ranging from Patiala
reasons for, and the circum- and this ha s an impact on in Punjab to Balurghat in
stances under which they how policemen view them- West Bengal and Udham
are on duty 24x7: rather on selves and their environs. Singh Nagar in Uttara-
the days we celebrate with Training programs also khand. The refrain is the
our family and friends: offer an opportunity to same. They are overworked
Holi, Diwali, Christmas and bond and share experi- and if not underpaid, at
Eid, they are on duty, and on ences, and if it is a multi least under recognized for
the road, to ensure that we -stakeholder training pro- their contribution.
are safe! gram, the gains are even Your columnist has long
As Vipul Mudgal ex- more significant. held the view that each po-
plains in ‘The Context’, The report is neatly lice station should not only
India cannot be an eco- structured into eight chap- have its sanctioned strength,
nomic superpower with ters , the first being on ade- turn impacts their efficien- wireless sets, jeeps and mo-
prosperity for all its citi- quacy of policemen across cy. The third chapter, on tor cycles, but also a gym-
zens if it is served by a states. Based on data from resources and infrastruc- AS CITIZENS, MANY OF US HAVE OUR nasium and a good cafeteria
criminal justice system BPRD and NCRB the five ture looks at the availa- serving wholesome meals
which is severely under- major issues covered in- bility of adequate and PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE POLICE BECAUSE IN (for policemen, visitors and
Hundreds of mined on account of mul- clude staffing and recruit- functional facilities and OUR DAILY (LIVED) EXPERIENCE, WE INTERACT those in custody). The of-
police stations tiple factors: severe hu- ments, training, infrastruc- requisite skill-sets which WITH THEM ONLY DURING CRISES OR ficer in charge of a police
man resource shortages, ture, diversity, workload form the backbone of po- st ation should also have
are unable to poor physical infrastruc- and functional autonomy. licing. The fourth chap- EMERGENCIES, & OFTEN THEIR PERFORMANCE a contingency fund to
provide clean ture, inadequate commu- The next chapter is on the ter on crime investigation DOES NOT MATCH OUR EXPECTATIONS meet sundry situations.
drinking water nication systems, indif- working conditions – and looks at the abilities of If the woman in the po-
or functional ferent attitude to train- here it is the policemen’s the police to solve crimes. lice uniform represents
toilets to police ing, procedural issues, own perception about their Apart from political inter- the state (which she does)
personnel, and interreference in work, working and service condi- ference there are issues re- policing from the gender report crimes against she has to be adequately
and the priority to the ur- tions. It’s a vicious cycle: lating to willingness of wit- lens. With higher repre- themselves. And yet, the provided for – and both
that it was her person and her pro-
gent, rather than the im- inhuman duty hours can be nesses and victims to co- sentation of women in representation is less than
common for portant. Not only are these directly attributed to the in- operate with the investiga- the police force, the inter- eight percent. The penulti- fession should be held in
many cops to factors discussed in the re- ability of the states to fill in tion process, as well as the face with the community mate chapter analyses the the highest esteem.
report a 14- port, the effort is to look at the sanctioned strength of tedium involved therein. is much better, and more attitude of the dominant THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
hour work day alternatives, but the step- the police force, which in The fifth chapter looks at women come forward to majority in the police to- THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Romance writers of America imploded over racism

O
ver the past scribes the Romance The book’s author filed 40 years, romance writers
month, Ro- Writers of America as an ethics complaint, accus- have been successfully
mance Writers “more scandalized than ing Milan of bullying and pushing back against sec-
of America, a dowager countess find- damaging her business ond-class treatment in the
one of the coun- ing her headstrong niece prospects. In December, publishing industry.
try’s largest writing asso- alone on the lap of a rak- Milan was suspended from My research suggests
ciations, with over 9,000 ish duke,” while NBC the organization for a year this is due to their surpris-
members, has erupted in a News tells us there’s and banned from future ingly effective – and some-
race-related scandal. “lots of passion but not leadership positions. what counterintuitive – ap-
The controversy began too much love” among The result shocked al- proach to social network-
when diversity activist the writers. most everyone involved. ing and support.
and romance writer As a former journalist, I Milan has been a vocal Unlike other profes-
Courtney Milan, in a get the appeal of a saucy and effective advocate sional organizations,
pointed tweet, criticized lead. But as a scholar who’s for inclusion. In protest, they welcome novices,
racial stereotypes that spent nearly a decade stud- nine members of the share trade secrets and
appeared in a book by a ying romance writers and board resigned, includ- readily exchange advice
fellow member. Writers their networks, I see how ing eight women of color. about how to leverage
took sides. A punish- portraying the incident as The president and execu- new technology to ad-
ment was handed down. a catfight or a relationship tive director quit. The vance their careers.
Backlash ensued. gone wrong oversimplifies RITA Awards – the Os- These tactics have helped
TOP TWEET
Now the very existence the controversy, which has cars of romance publish- authors improve the terms
of the 40-year-old organiza- serious implications for COURTNEY MILAN, IN A POINTED TWEET, ing – were canceled, of their publishing con- Dharmendra Pradhan
tion is in doubt. But you’d the rest of the publishing CRITICIZED RACIAL STEREOTYPES THAT while major publishers tracts, pioneer new promo- @dpradhanbjp
Held a review meeting on the
never know it from the industry – and beyond. APPEARED IN A BOOK BY A FELLOW MEMBER pulled their sponsorship tional techniques and form
pilot project for Entrepreneurship
cheeky media coverage, from the annual confer- a grassroots network of promotion and Mentoring of Micro
which hasn’t been able to IT ALL ence. writers that can quickly Businesses in the temple town of
resist casting the contro- FALLS APART adapt to changes in the Puri, Odisha, along with senior
versy as a battle between To briefly recap what hap- ber Courtney Milan, who is by a white member, calling TRADITION market. officials from @PetroleumMin,
forlorn lovers. pened: In August, Romance Chinese American, Twit- it a “racist mess” for its de- OF SUPPORT FOR FULL REPORT LOG ON TO @SteelMinIndia, @MSDESkillIndia
CNN, for instance, de- Writers of America mem- ter-shamed a novel written piction of Asian women. Here’s why it matters: For WWW.FAIROBSERVER.COM and Odisha Govt.

Vol 1  Issue No. 63  RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.
Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor: Jagdeesh Chandra, Resident Editor : Darshan Desai, Managing Editor: Robin Roy, responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
in
BRIEF
Kishor to skip
JDU meet
Patna: Bihar Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar
has called for a meeting
of Janata Dal (United)
(JDU) leaders at his res-
idence here on Tuesday.
The meeting is slated to
be attended by all the
JDU MPs, MLAs and
other prominent lead-
ers. However, the par-
ty’s vice president
Prashant Kishor will
not attend the meeting
as he will be in Delhi.
“There is no agenda for
the meeting. However,
the party workers will
be given insights about
the ground level works
which are to be done in
parts of the state. After
January 30, I will go
to Delhi for the
election campaigns,”
Kumar said. Voting for
the 70 seats in Delhi
Legislative Assembly
will be held on Febru-
ary 8 and counting of
votes will take place on
February 11.
Shivakumar
meets RaGa
New Delhi: Former
Karnataka minister
and Congress MLA DK
Shivakumar met Rahul
Gandhi on Sunday here
amid the delay in an-
nouncement of the
state party unit presi-
dent. Shivakumar is
the front runner for the
Karnataka Pradesh
Congress Committee
(KPCC) president post.
Earlier this month, af-
ter former Karnataka
chief minister Siddara-
maiah, urged Congress
interim president So-
nia Gandhi to offer the
post to one of his close
associates and party
leader MB Patil, Shiva-
kumar downplayed the
developments by as-
serting that they can
continue to do their
state politics and he
will take care of his
other domestic issues.
Siddaramaiah has
voiced his support for
Patil, who belongs to
the Lingayat communi-
ty and hails from north
Karnataka, where
the BJP a stronghold in
the region.
Amit Shah’s
poll rhetoric
New Delhi: This Delhi
election campaign be-
gan as a war of memes
and ended up as a clash
of quotes. While the
AAP was leading in the
‘meme’ war, the BJP is
dominating the quota-
ble quotes, some of
whom have sparked off
major controversies,
with Union Home Min-
ister Amit Shah him-
self leading the charge.
“For 15 years you gave
Congress a chance and
five years to the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP). I
guarantee now that we
will turn Delhi into a
world-class city if we
come to power. If that
does not happen, you
can come and pull my
ears.” Shah said. He
was campaigning for
the BJP candidate from
Northeast Delhi’s Ba-
barpur constituency.
Delhi will go to the
polls on February 8,
where AAP is tipped to
be the favourite.
NCW URGES KERALA GOVT TO
ACT AGAINST ‘LOVE JIHAD’
New Delhi: Urging Kerala
government to take action
against ‘love jihad’,
National Commission for
Women (NCW) chairper-
son Rekha Sharma said,
“I conducted a detailed
enquiry into the forceful
conversion and love
jihad and women leaving
the country. Marrying a
person from a different
religion is not a problem
‘TRUE FACE OF SHAHEEN BAGH’
Union Min Prasad hit out at Rahul Gandhi , Kejriwal for “standing with the Tukde Tukde Gang”
New Delhi: Accusing
protesters at Delhi’s
Shaheen Bagh of trying
to suppress the views of
a “peaceful majority”
over the controversial
CAA, Union Law Minis-
ter Ravi Shankar Pras-
ad on Monday hit out at
Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi and Delhi Chief
Minister Arvind Kejri-
wal for “standing with
the Tukde Tukde Gang”.
“Shaheen Bagh is
emerging as a textbook
case of a few hundred
people seeking to sup-
press the peaceful ma-
jority. This is the true
face of Shaheen Bagh
and uncovering it in
front of the country is
very important. Rahul
Gandhi and Arvind Ke-
jriwal are both silent on
this issue,” he said.
“It is offering plat-
form to ‘Tukde Tukde
Gang’ elements under
the garb of opposition
to the Citizenship
Amendment Act. This
protest is not just a pro-
test against CAA it is a
protest against Modi,”
Prasad said.
For more than a
month, over 200 women
have been joined by
hundreds of others eve-
ry day at South East
Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh
at a sit-in protest
against the CAA which
promises citizenship to
only non-Muslim refu-
gees from three neigh-
bouring countries.
Besides making reli-
gion a test of citizen-
ship for the first time in
violation of the consti-
tution, the CAA along
Cong move NHRC over brutalities on protesters
Cong leader Rahul Gandhi and Gen Secy Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
coming out of the National Human Rights Commission of India.
New Delhi: A Congress
delegation led by Rahul
Gandhi and Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra met offi-
cials of the National
Human Rights Commis-
sion (NHRC) to demand
a probe into the alleged
allegations of police
atrocities against those
protesting against CAA
across the state of Uttar
Pradesh.The Congress
but forcefully converting
them is a problem. It is
happening in Kerala,” She
furthur said. “Women
are forcefully taken to
different countries in the
name of love jihad and are
used as a sex object. The
Kerala government and
the Chief Minister should
solve the issue. It is not a
problem of some commu-
nities but of a country.”
INDIA
AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
08
R-DAY
Gaganyaan will be
milestone for New
‘Are you in favour of Sharjeel Imam or not’ India, says PM
New Delhi: Accusing saffron party is doing
Delhi Chief Minister “dirty politics” over
of shielding the ‘tukde it. He said law and or-
tukde gang’, Union der in the national
Home Minister Amit capital entirely lies
Shah Monday asked with the Centre and
does the Delhi CM sup- “if they are saying
port those who talk of that they need per-
‘dividing the country’. mission from me, I am
Addressing a poll rally giving them permis-
at Rithala area in Del- sion, open the road in
hi, Shah said Kejriwal de tukde gang’ to jail. Earlier in the day, one hour”. On Amit
immediately tweets “Kejriwal ji are you in Kejriwal alleged that Shah’s promised to
whenever he talks favor of action against the BJP does not want make Delhi a ‘world- PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and all three staff
about issues pertain- Sharjeel Imam or not? to open the Shaheen class city’, Kejriwal chiefs leave after paying homage to martyrs on the occasion of
ing to water, electrici- Are you in favor of Bagh stretch of the said he hopes the 71st Republic Day at the Nationall War Memorial in New Delhi.
ty, and CCTVs, but those at Shaheen Bagh Kalindi Kunj road home minister does
would he tell the peo- or not? Make it clear to where anti-CAA pro- not backtrack on his New Delhi: Prime Min- CM-GUV TIES
ple of Delhi if he is in the people of Delhi,” tests are going on for words once the elec- ister Narendra Modi on
favour of sending ‘tuk- he asked. over a month as the tions are over. —ANI Sunday said that the
Gaganyaan mission
will be a historic
ALL-PARTY MEET
At Delhi election rally, Thakur achievement in the field
of science and technol-
leads chants of ‘shoot the traitors’
ogy for India in the 21st
century and a milestone
for New India.
New Delhi: A video “On the solemn occa-
purportedly showing sion of Republic Day, it
Union Minister Anurag gives me great joy to tell
Thakur leading the you about ‘Gaganyaan’.
crowd at a BJP rally in The country has taken
New Delhi to chant another step towards
“shoot the traitors” has this goal. In 2022, we
surfaced on social me- will be celebrating 75
dia Monday. years of Independence.
The video, reportedly And on that occasion,
shot at an election rally, we have to fulfill the for New India,” he add-
with NRC can be used to shows the Minister of pledge to take an Indian ed. PM further said four
target Muslims who are State for Finance egg- cluding by BJP leaders. nothing to do with into space through the pilots of the Indian Air
unable to prove their ing the crowd to chant Last month, BJP candi- Mishra’s march. Mishra Gaganyaan mission,” Force have been short-
lineage, critics say. ‘Desh ke gaddaro ko, date from Model Town was later given a BJP Modi said in his first listed for the mission
The government, goli maaro saalo ko Kapil Mishra raised the ticket to contest in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address and they will be going
however, says the law is (shoot the traitors of slogan during a ‘tiranga Assembly elections. of the year. “Gagan- to Russia for training
necessary to help those the nation)’ — a slogan march’ in support of the The slogan was also yaan mission will be a for the mission.
who have faced reli- frequently used against Act in Delhi’s Con- raised at a pro-CAA historic achievement in Modi said these tal-
gious persecution and anti-CAA protesters. naught Place. Delhi BJP rally in Nagpur ad- the field of science and ented youth were sym-
will not endanger The slogan has earlier had then distanced it- dressed by Union Min- technology for India in bols of India’s skills,
the citizenship of any been raised in rallies in self from the controver- ister Nitin Gadkari in the 21st century. It will talent, ability, courage
Indian. —ANI favour of the CAA in- sy and said they had December. —ANI prove to be a milestone and dreams. —ANI
No responsible
citizen or party
Utter failure of ‘AAP, Cong behind anti-CAA protests’ should resort to
India’s foreign New Delhi: BJP Presi- speeches there...They
violence: Ramdev
policy: Sibal dent JP Nadda on
Sunday said that AAP
are spreading canard
and playing vote bank
New Delhi: With the and Congress are be- politics on CAA. Our
EU Parliament set to in- hind the protests in government did every-
troduce an anti-CAA various parts of Delhi thing it could to help
resolution, senior Con- against CAA. Delhi from the outside.
gress leader Kapil Sibal “Some people are sit- Now we want to work
termed the move an ‘ut- ting in baghs (gardens) speak such language? inside Delhi, give us a
ter failure of India’s for- these days. Some are sit- They have been taught chance to do the same by Deoria: Amid uproar
eign policy’. ting in this bagh, some by AAP and Congress making us win,” Nadda over CAA and NRC,
“It is very unfortu- in that. Can children leaders who deliver said. Nadda said. —ANI Yoga Guru Ramdev said
nate. I never imagined that no responsible citi-
that India’s internal af- MUMBAI PROTEST ‘Prepare nat’l register HOWRAH PROTEST zen or party should re-
fairs will be a subject sort to violence.
matter of discussion in of unemployed’ “Spreading violence,
delegation, which also the EU as well as in the New Delhi: Taking a talking of dividing the
included Mohsina Kid- United States. This is dig at the Central gov- country, is a traitorous
wai, Salman Khurshid, one of the greatest fail- ernment over current act against the country.
P L Punia, Jitin Prasa- ures of our foreign poli- unemployment rate in No responsible citizen
da, Abhishek Singhvi, cy that they (govern- the country, Congress or party should do so,”
Rajiv Shukla and UP ment) were not able to leader Digvijaya Singh Yoga Guru said. Earlier
Congress chief Ajay explain. It is the result on Monday suggested on Sunday, he had said
Kumar Lallu, also de- of the discontent among PM Modi to prepare a that disruptive powers
manded a thorough the millions of people in ‘National Register of from outside the coun-
probe into the deaths this country, who fear Educated Unemployed try would never want
that took place in the consequences of CAA Indian Citizens’ instead India to be economically,
state during the violent as their citizenship will of National Register of socially, politically and
protests last December. be questioned.” —ANI Citizens (NRC). —ANI religiously stable. —ANI
GUV BEDI ACCUSES PUDU CM OF
MUNDE TO HOLD HUNGER DISRESPECTING PADMA AWARDEES RAILWAY TO RUN FULLY ON
STRIKE OVER WATER CRISIS Puducherry: Lt. Governor ed him to present shawls ELECTRICITY BY 2024: GOYAL
Aurangabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kiran Bedi, who is often to the Padma awardees. New Delhi: Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on
Pankaja Munde will be leading a day-long hunger at loggerheads with the “People of Puducherry Monday said that the Indian Railways is expected
strike and protest here on Tuesday to outline the state government, has need to know how their to switch entirely to electricity by 2024, as it is
issue of water crisis in the region. “We are going accused Chief Minister V. elected representa- already shunting diesel locomotives gradually
to organise a day-long hunger strike over the Narayanasamy of refus- tives disrespected their out of service. “By the year 2024, we expect the
issue of Marathawada water crisis and want the ing to honour the Padma own Padma Awardees entire Indian Railways to be run 100 per cent on
Uddhav Thackrey government to take measures awardees at an event in and also artists who electricity. It will be the first railway network in
to resolve the same. The protest is also about Raj Nivas on the occa- came from Jammu and the world to be run fully on electricity. We are
other problems which are in Maharashtra”, she sion of Republic Day. Kashmir and Arunachal very conscious of our responsibility to the envi-
said. “Due to the lack of water, farmers are facing She also claimed that CM to perform here at Raj ronment. We are embarking on rapid electrifica-
difficulties in Marathawada. shouted and argued with Nivas,” read a statement tion of our rail network,” said Goyal.
the official who request- from Governor.
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
Vinesh lashes out at being ignored for Padma awards
Raised questions about the manner
in which awards are given, terming
the process as an “unfair one”
New Delhi: Indian
wrestler Vinesh Pho-
gat, who is one of In-
dia’s biggest medal
hopes at the upcoming
Olympics, questioned
the ‘unfair’ process of
selecting Padma awar-
dees after the govern-
ment announced the
Rafael Nadal fights his
way into quarter-finals
Rafael
beat Nick
6-3, 3-6,
7-6, 7-6 to
reach
quarterfinal
Melbourne: Rafael Nadal left
the muttering and the preening,
the underarm serving and the
‘tweening, to his younger, flashi-
er opponent, Nick Kyrgios. Sure-
ly, Nadal was content to collect
the win in the latest installment
of their rivalry.
The No. 1-ranked Nadal kept
his thoughts to himself and lim-
ited his shot-making to the more
traditional variety in an enter-
taining 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) vic-
tory over home-crowd favorite
Kyrgios on Monday to reach the
Australian Open quarterfinals
and get closer to a record-tying
20th Grand Slam title. Here’s how
the elevated stakes and tension
affected both men: At 5-all in the
pivotal third-set tiebreaker, Kyr-
gios double-faulted. That offered
up a gift-wrapped set point.
But Nadal failed to take advan-
tage because he double-faulted
right back. Still, two points later,
the 23rd-seeded Kyrgios put a
forehand into the net, and the set
was Nadal’s. Not long after, Kyr-
gios double-faulted again to get
broken at love. That put Nadal
ahead 2-1 in the fourth, seeming-
ly in control. He faltered, though,
while serving for the win at 5-4,
double-faulting to create a pair of
break points, the second of which
Kyrgios converted with a jump-
ing forehand and celebrated by
throwing his head back & scream-
ing. Spectators rose and waved
their Australian flags in support
of the 24-year-old from Canberra.
New Ahmedabad stadium leading the race to host IPL 2020 final
lll
The lavishly
built Sardar
Patel Stadium is
still in an
‘almost ready’
condition and is
expected to be
available to host
matches from
March 2020
SPORTS AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
ernment awards sev- the deserving get left
eral sportspersons. out each time. This has
This award serves as become a pattern.
great encouragement
for sports and for ath-
The 2020 Awards list
is no different. Who de-
list a day before the 71st letes to continue chas- cides who shall be
Republic Day. Phogat, ing excellence but is awarded? Are there
who was not on the list also seen that numer- current or former ath-
for a third time, took a ous times, this awards letes in the jury? How
dig at the government don’t honour current does it even work? At
for leaving out ‘deserv- achievements or in- the end it all just seems
ing’ candidates and stances of sporting slightly unfair,” she
questioned who decid- success in the recent said. Phogat received
ed the awardees. past,” said Phogat, in a the Arjuna Award in
“Every year our gov- tweet. “It’s almost like 2016. Earlier this
Ranji: Unbeaten Sarfaraz
smashes another double ton
New Delhi: Sarfaraz
Khan has hit a quick-
fire double hundred for
Mumbai on Day 1 of
their Ranji Trophy
match against
Himachal Pradesh in
SIMONA HALEP IN QF
Nadal will Simona Halep overcame
Dharamsala as the
youngster continues his
take on a gutsy display from Elise rich vein of form this
Mertens to secure her place season. Sarfaraz Khan
Dominic in the quarter-finals with a 6-4 got to his 2nd successive
Thiem in the 6-4 win. The 2018 finalist was
a break up in the first set and
daddy hundred, this
time an unbeaten 200-
quarterfinals two breaks up in the second plus score in Round of
but saw her advantage eroded
by the Belgian 16th seed in
Ranji Trophy at the
Himachal Pradesh
both sets. The Romanian Cricket Association
will play Anett Kontaveit Stadium. Sarfaraz got
in last 8.
Basketball legend
daughter die in crash
New York: US bas-
ketball legend Kobe
Bryant has died in a
helicopter crash in
California, sparking
an outpouring of
grief from fans
around the world.
Bryant, 41, and his
daughter Gianna, 13,
were among the nine
killed when the air-
Ashleigh Barty sets up craft came down in
Calabasas. There
last 8 tie with Kvitova were no survivors
from Sunday’s crash
Local eyes remain fixed on Ashleigh
Barty, the Young Australian Of The which happened in
Year and world No 1, who survived foggy weather. Bry-
an alarming form wobble to see off
the determined Alison Riske 6-3,
1-6, 6-4. Barty’s victory booked a From left,
quarter-final against the eighth seed Gianna
Petra Kvitova, the two-times Wim- Maria-Onore,
bledon champion who made the final Vanessa
here a year ago after beating Barty. Bryant (wife),
Kobe Bryant
and Natalia
Bryant
Investigators work at the scene of a helicopter crash.
NEW VENUE
New Delhi: The new Council meeting, which
Sardar Patel Stadium was held on Monday,
being built in said that it was almost
Ahmedabad looks to be certain that the new sta-
the frontrunner to host dium will host this
the final of the 2020 edi-
tion of Indian Premier
year’s IPL final.
“You have to wait till
League (IPL). The sta- February for the confir-
dium was initially set to
host a match between
mation, but it is almost
certain that the final of
Asia XI and World XI, the 2020 edition of In-
but that plan had to be dian Premier League
dropped because the will be played in
stadium won’t be com-
plete in time for the
Ahmedabad,” source
said. Asked about the
game in March. Speak- old tradition of the pre-
ing to IANS, sources in
the IPL Governing
vious year’s winner
hosting the opening
09
month, Vinesh defeated a 0-1 lead but then held
Luisa Elizabeth Melen- her opponent down
dres 4-0 in the final of long enough for her to
Rome Ranking series to
win her first gold med-
be awarded the match
with a 4-1 scoreline. Six-
al of the 2020 season. time World Champion
In 2019, she pinned and Olympic medallist
two-time Worlds medal- MC Mary Kom was con-
list Maria Prevolaraki ferred the second-high-
of Greece to clinch the est civilian honour, the
bronze medal in the 53- Padma Vibhushan,
kg category in the while former national
World Wrestling Cham- women’s football cap-
pionships in Kazakh- tain Bem Bem Devi will
stan. She had conceded receive the Padma Shri.
en 301 for Mumbai in
their previous round
against Uttar Pradesh
after coming into bat at
a crucial juncture.
Sarfaraz in elite
company
Sarfaraz has become
only the 2nd Indian
player after Tamil Na-
to the double hundred du’s WV Raman to fol-
mark in just 199 balls as low up a first-class tri-
he dominated the ple hundred with a dou-
Himachal Pradesh
bowling attack on Mon-
ble hundred. Raman
had achieved the feat
day. Notably, Sarfaraz with scores of 313 and
Khan had hit an unbeat- 200 not out in 1989.
KOBE
BRYANT
1978–2020
ant, a five-time NBA
champion, played for
the LA Lakers
throughout his career
and is considered one
of the greatest play-
ers in the game’s his-
tory. Tributes from
celebrities, politi-
cians and fellow
sports stars have been
pouring in, many ex-
pressing shock at his
sudden death. Mo-
ments of silence have
been observed at bas-
ketball games across
the United States.
game and the final But nothing of that sort
match, the BCCI official with the final match,”
said that the final is the official said. The tour-
property of the board nament as reported by
and the franchises have IANS earlier will be
nothing to do with it.
“The knockouts are the
played from March 29 to
May 24. The opening
property of the BCCI game will be played at
and the revenue earned
through gate money is
the Wankhede Stadium
in Mumbai. Earlier, the
the board’s money. stadium was set to be
The IPL franchises inaugurated by hosting
have nothing to do with a match between Asia XI
the knockout matches.
The opening match is
and World XI. However,
plan stands unfeasible
definitely to be played at as the construction
the home ground of the
previous year’s winner.
work won’t be complete
in time for the game.
 What you achieve in life depends

2ND FRONT
more on what lies ‘within’ you
rather than behind you.
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India

www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
10

Guj asks Qatar for long-term

gas supply at reduced price
18 lakh houses are supplied gas through pipelines, govt wants to raise figure to 22-24 lakh
First India News
CHAIRPERSON
New Delhi: The Gov-
ernment of Gujarat has
made appeal to Qatar
for long term gas supply
to the State at afforda- Four-day Royal Coronation Ceremony of Mandhatasinh Jadeja began at Rajkot.
ble rate.
In a meeting held in
capital New Delhi be-
tween union petrole-
Coronation for 412-year-old
um and natural gas
minister Dharmen-
dra Pradhan and Qa-
throne of Rajkot royals begins
tar's energy minister Masuma Bharmal Jariwala present under one roof wife Kadambari Devi
Saad Sherida al- to mark the occasion. during the entire puja
Kaabi, Gujarat ener- Rajkot: The grand roy- On Thursday, the cer- vidhi
gy minister Saurabh Patel said total 18 lower price of gas sup- After talks with visit- ate deals with Qatar, al coronation ceremony emony began after “Never in the Indian
Patel shared details lakh houses in Guja- plied under long-term ing Qatari Energy Min- Australia, and Rus- of crowning of Mand- Mandhata and his son history after the Brit-
of Gujarat based gas rat are supplied gas contract to reflect fall- ister Saad Sherida Al- sia. In 2015, it renego- hatasinh Jadeja, 17th Jaydeepsinh travelled ishers ruled India, such
power plants and said through pipelines. ing rates of the spot or Kaabi, Pradhan said, tiated the price of the heir of the 412-year-old in a vintage car to a royal coronation cer-
Gujarat has 4,000 The state govt intends current market, Oil "LNG contracts should long-term deal to im- royal throne of erst- Godess ashapura tem- emony of this grandeur
MW installed capaci- to raise this figure to Minister Dharmendra reflect current market port 7.5 million while Rajkot state be- ple to seek the blessings has taken place. We are
ty power plants func- 22-24 lakh. The coun- Pradhan said. Qatar reality. All energy pro- tonnes per year of gan on Monday at the of their Kuldevi. After thankful to Moraribapu
tional, including state try has total 24,000 supplies 8.5 million ton- ducers have to revisit LNG from Qatar, help- Ranjit Vilas Palace – the seeking the blessings, who suggested to do Ra-
govt owned 2500 mw mw installed capacity nés of liquefied natural this old practice (of ing in saving Rs 8,000 current residence of Rajsuya Yagna began in jsuya Yagna which not
gas power plants and gas power plant, of annually to India at a pricing LNG linked to crore. the royal family. the most traditional, re- taken place in India
private sector owned which, Gujarat's price linked Brent oil) and come to new In 2017. It got Exx- The event will wit- ligious and cultural since past 200 years. “
1500 mw gas power share is 21%. crude oil. Landed price methodology reflecting onMobil Corp to low- ness one of the finest form as mentioned in said Pramila Raje the
plants. Even if these Qatar is largest comes to $9-10 per mil- demand-supply." er the price of Gor- conglomeration with the holy Indian scrip- eldest member of the
plants run at 70% of LNG supplied for In- lion British thermal India has in the gon LNG and a year representatives of three tures according to the Royal family. Raje is sis-
total capacity, they dia. unit, while the same gas past used its status as later convinced institutions Dharma Shashhtrokt vidhi. ter of Manoharsinh
will require 3.5 mt During the meeting, is available in spot mar- Asia's third-largest Gazprom to lower Sanstha, Raj Sanstha Mandhatasinh was Jadeja- father of Mand-
gas. India pressed Qatar to ket at half the rate. LNG buyer to negoti- rates also. and Loktantrik Sanstha accompanied by his hataSinh.

Guj Cong leaders engaged in Jaishankar to

visit Narmada
Bapu: Shah’s bold decision IGLUS Centre
of Excellence
door-to-door Delhi campaign on January 28 making reminds of Sardar inaugurated
Gargi Raval Vadodara: External First India News comparison between First India News
BJP LEADERS’ CLOSED DOOR MEETING Affairs Minister and Sardar Patel and

A
Ahmedabad: As many Rajya Sabha member Rajkot: Morari Bapu Amit Shah. Gandhinagar: IGLUS
as 30 Gujarat Congress from Gujarat, S Jais- compared Union Criticizing politi- Centre of Excellence
leaders, including state hankar will be on a Home Minister Amit cal opponent’s com- (ICE)–A Smart City
president Amit Chavda, visit to Narmada dis- Shah with former ment, BJP’s vice pres- Lab–was launched at
will be drafted in a door- trict on January 28- Deputy Prime Minis- ident and spokesmen Gujarat Internation-
to-door campaign for 29. Jaishnkar will ter Sardar Vallabhb- Bharat Pandya said, al Finance Tech-City
the February 8 Delhi visit proposed air- hai Patel. Morari Bapu is high- (GIFT City) on Mon-
Assembly elections. strip site in Rajpipla. Addressing the au- ly respected spiritual day.
A meeting of the top He will also launch a dience on the last day guru and his views The ICE will act as a
party leadership held in water conservation of Ramakatha organ- must be seen as im- platform for exchange
New Delhi on Monday works at Dholar village. ized under the Annu- partial, no one should of knowledge and glob-
decided that Gujarat He will inaugurate a al Field Biswashti react on his views. al best practices re-
leaders would not en- GMRVF skill develop- Festival in Veerpur Morari Bapu Unfortunately, Con- garding smart city ini-
gage in public meetings ment centre at Vagadia village of Rajkot. gress leaders can’t di- tiatives around the
but concentrate on village. He will also pay Morari Bapu said scholar and highly in- gest praise other than world. As GIFT City is
door-to-door campaign visit to Statue of Unity, that Amit Shah bold- tellectual, but Ramayan of the Gandhi family. India’s first operational
“to expose the farce of World’s tallest statue ly makes a decision is written because of Morari Bapu also smart city, ICE will also
BJP’s much-touted Gu- sembly seat. drafted according to and nearby newly de- that reminds him of his devil act. To get rid talked about his person- act as a common hub
jarat model”. The Guja- Satav is Chairman of caste dynamics. veloped jungle safari Sardar. Chief minis- of him, Ram had actu- al relations with Shah. for global experts and
rat leaders have been Congress party’s “Gujarat leaders will and release birds there. ter Vijay Rupani was ally gone to exile, so Morari Bapu further practitioners in the
summoned to Delhi by Screening Committee camp in Delhi for the He will visit Arogya present with his wife while praising Ravan, said that with my Talga- field of sustainable
Rajeev Satav, general for the Delhi Vid- next ten days. We have van nearby. Anjali Rupani on the one should not forget jardi eyes, I can see fear- urban planning.
secretary in-charge of hansabha elections. Be- been assigned door-to- It’s worth noting occasion. the contribution of lessness, valor, and Tapan Ray, MD &
Gujarat affairs. Those ing closely associated door campaign. I will that Narmada and His statement irked squirrels and mon- blessing in Amit. Dur- Group CEO, GIFT
selected for the cam- with the Gujarat lead- hold meetings in Balli- Dahod districts in political opponents of keys.” ing the speech in Parlia- City, Finger Matthias
paign include the party ers, he knows their maran constituency Central Gujarat are BJP and Amit Shah. State Congress ment, Article 370, - Swiss Post Chair at
chief, MLAs, and other strength and has as- where the party has among most back- Leader of Opposition President Amit Chav- Morari Bapu had in EPFL, and Dr Anup K
post-holders, who have signed work according- fielded Haroon Yusuf,” ward districts of Paresh Dhanani re- da also while paying the past also made Singh–Director Gen-
been assigned different ly. Leaders from Guja- said Imran Khedawala, country. These two dis- minded the spiritual respect to Morari statements from the eral, Nirma Universi-
constituencies. rat, Haryana and Ra- MLA from Jamalpur- tricts in Gujarat are leader, “With all due re- Bapu said this was platform in support ty, signed an MoU to
In all, five MLAs from jasthan were picked for Khadia constituency. covered under the Aspi- spect to Morari Bapu, not expected from of PM Modi and Home initiate the process
different states have door-to- door campaign. The campaign starts rational Districts pro- we should not forget such a spiritual Guru. Minister Amit Shah for incubating ICE at
been selected per as- The leaders would be Tuesday, he added. gramme of Centre. that even Ravan was There can’t be any many times. GIFT City.

PM to address R-DAY IN RUPANI’S HOMETOWN

Global Potato
Conclave via VC Breathtaking performances leave audience spellbound
First India News Masuma Bharmal Jariwala home town of Rupa- performance was done men as they performed
ni. by 2,200 students and daredevil motorcycle
Gandhinagar: Prime Rajkot: The 71st Re- Thousands of rose around 1,100 students stunts. To showcase the
Minister Narendra public Day celebra- petals were showered showcased talent with sharpness and speed of
Modi shall be address- tion at Rajkot was from the helicopter Yoga performances. Chetak commandos of
ing the 3rd Global Po- marked with some after the flag unfurl- Pipe Band display Gujarat a mock bus kid-
tato Conclave at Gan- spectacular perfor- ing was done by the by students of Sansk- napping scene was cre-
dhinagar through re- mances, breathtaking Governor. ardham enthralled ated on the ground and
mote video conferenc- acrobatics and dis- A total of 28 platoon the audience as they in minutes the com-
ing on 28 January 2020. play of tabloids at the including Rajkot and played music while mandos equipped with
PM is expected to Racecourse ground in Jamnagar Mahila plat- dancing. The Gym- modern equipment
take an overall view of presence of Governor ton, coast guard, chetak nastics performance saved passengers from
the achievements and Acharya Devvrat and commando, SRP police by policemen and hijacked bus and arrest
opportunities in the Chief minister Vijay and 922 police officers their children and the kidnappers.
area of potato research, Rupani. participated in the pa- some breathtaking Dog and horse show
trade and industry, and This year the state rade headed by IAS of- performances of Mal- marked the end of
value chain manage- celebrations were ficer and parade com- kham left audience programme followed by
ment and set a roadmap done in Rajkot city, mandant Pravin Ku- spellbound. the prize distribution
for the decade. which is also the mar. Cultural dance Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inspect R-day Parade in Rajkot. Women outshines ceremony.

AHMEDABAD, TUESDAY
JANUARY 28, 2020
AU REVOIR MALHOTRA UNPLUGGED Bollywood fashion icon Manish Malhotra shared various facts of his journey during a session at JLF 2020
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
A
s we bid ‘au revoir’ to KIRTI CHAUHAN
JLF 2020, most of the kirti.chauhan@firstindia.co.in
O
literature lovers are al-
ready looking forward n the last day of Jaipur
to JLF 2021. Today, on Literature Festival 2020
the last day, there was on Monday, a session
an aura of quiet happi- with the costume design-
ness at the successful comple- er and stylist Manish Malhotra
tion of the festival, a feeling of ‘Manish Malhotra: Unplugged’
relief that all went off smoothly was held to celebrate his jour-
and unanswered questions of ney of 30 glorious years in cos-
the venue and dates for 2021. tume designing and 15 years of
28th January 2021 to 1st Feb- his label. He was in conversa-
ruary 2021 have been tentatively tion with Safir Anand.
scheduled though Sanjoy Roy The designer who has
has intimated that there could worked in more than
be slight changes in the dates 500 films feels that
and they will confirm in a the Garments
week’s time on the website. should speak
Five people were detained more than words.
and later released after a warn- He believes in
ing for shouting, slogans learning contin-
against CAA and the govern- uously rather
ment. They were asked to leave than acting of
by the organisers and Team- knowing every-
work Arts and the JLF put out a thing.
statement that it is not their Manish has wit-
Manish Malhotra
desire to silence protest, and
rightly so, is that not the very
idea of literature? To discuss,
converse, put across protests
and ideas to others through the
power of the pen and the voice,
to be open to dissent and leave
the world a better place. Bidding
goodbye to JLF 2020, we prom- VANSHIKHA GOUR
ise that the Pink City will wel- vanshikha.gour@firstindia.co.in
T
come you back with open arms
and till then, keep the spirit of he final morning of
JLF alive in our hearts. See you! Jaipur Literature Festi-
val 2020 was absolute
—PHOTO BY SANTOSH SHARMA
bliss with the message
of making a change now be-
fore it is too late.
Bollywood fame Dia Mirza,
along with Shubhangi Swarup,
Renata Lok-Dessallien, Sonam
Wangchuk, Apoorva Oza and
Namita Waikar discussed the
terrifying effects of climate
emergency in a session moder-
ated by Samir Saran.
“Some great species are be-
ing lost in this world. It is a
reality and it hurts terribly.
But whenever we listen to chil-
dren and spend time with
them, our minds starts open-
ing letting our hearts bleed if
they must and then finding a
resolution to get up and know
the signs fully. Our children
are the voice that reminds us
that we are one people, one
planet, one home,” said Dia
Tearfully Yours
Dia Mirza during her session at JLF’20
tearfully when asked about
how we can all contribute to
making a difference. Dia had
to take a break to get herself
under control before she could
continue the session.
Sonam Wangchuk touched
the roots of this situation, say-
ing, “If we look at all the reli-
gions and spirituality, I think
Manish Malhotra in conversation with Safir Anand
nessed so many ups and downs
in his working span of three
decades in the industry. On
being asked about his sur-
vival mantra, he said that
the core idea is to reinvent
consistently. He added, “I
ancient people were much wis-
er to worship nature rather
than us exploiting it. Three in-
stitutions could make a differ-
ence- education, democracy
and spirituality. What we are
doing is being violent towards
nature. It was only in 1870 that
Africans got the right to vote. It
was only in 1920 when women
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia 11
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
Day
05
23RD - 27TH JANUARY 2020
—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR & SUNIL SHARMA
—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR
said that he likes to listen to
youngsters because they have
non-layered opinions and fresh
perspectives.
Manish started his career as
a stylist and on being asked
about his journey from styling
to designing, he said that when
he entered in the industry, he
observed a lot of mixing, which
were not matching appropri-
ately with the garments. So, he
started the trend of mixing the
things that are picking up with
the looks and hence he infused
the concept of costume design-
ing with styling.
Manish has been working on
his book with co-author Sonal
Kalra for almost a year and
would be launching it by the end
of 2020. On being asked to share
more details of his book, he said,
“The book is about my life and it
will tell people about my journey
like to travel and observe people throughout and the struggles I
and since I am not educated faced.” He added that his book is
much, observation is my big- about inspiring people and said,
gest education. A lot of time we “If you have a mind, a heart, fo-
speak so much, but sometimes cus and if you are passionate
its good to listen and see, and about something, then it will
that’s how I imbibe.” He also surely happen to you.”
—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR
were allowed to vote. Now isn’t
it time that we allow plants and
animals to vote? We hu-
mans will have to advo-
cate them and from the
parliament to the pan-
chayats, we must have
some reserved seats for
the representatives of na-
ture too. It is time we change
the teaching systems in the
institutions because right now,
they are teaching about defor-
esting instead of saving our
beautiful nature.”
While concluding the ses-
sion, Samir’s words over-
whelmed the rapt audience.
“We need to put our best foot
forward to make a change. We
often feel that the situation is
too grave to be solved by an
average individual but the re-
ality is that every contribu-
tion, small or large, counts!
Us, as one people, have to step
up now before it is too late. It
is us who can make a differ-
ence,” he said.
 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
JLF’20 12-13
AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020

Day
05

23RD - 27TH JANUARY 2020

—PHOTOS BY SUMAN SARKAR, SANTOSH SHARMA & SUNIL SHARMA

JLF TADKA!
JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL (JLF) 2020 WILL BE REMEMBERED
AS MUCH FOR THE AMAZING SESSIONS, CONVERSATIONS, AND
OPINIONS, AS IT WILL BE FOR THE GLAMOUR, CLOTHES,
SUNGLASSES, SHOES AND ‘SELFIE CRAZE’. THROUGH JLF
TADKA, WE HAVE BROUGHT YOU GLIMPSES OF THE ‘LOOK’ OF
JLF AND HOW THESE LOVELY PEOPLE HAVE ENLIVENED THE
FESTIVAL THROUGH THEIR SMILES, ATTITUDE, JOY AND SPIRIT

SOAKING UP THE SPIRIT OF JLF

Jagdeesh Chandra with (from left) Diya Mehta, Mohan Singh,

Jagdeesh Chandra with Prakash Bhandari, Lokpal Sethi and Ajay Sharma Jagdeesh Chandra with Mohan Singh and Sanjoy Roy Selfie moment with Jagdeesh Chandra Khushboo and Kavita LP Pant Rukshmani Kumari, Ram Pratap and Jyotika Diggi
 www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
PUBLIC CELEBRATES REPUBLIC DAY
Students mark
Republic Day at
Diwan-Balubhai
School, Kankaria, in
Ahmedabad.
Fun, Games and Food
CITY FIRST
A
s the day unfolded on
Saturday, all the play-
grounds of the Chi-
manbhai Patel Insti-
tute here in Ahmedabad were
filled with great zeal, excite-
ment and frolicsome atmos-
phere. More than 700 stu-
dents from five institutes,
including BJMC (Bachelor
of Mass Communication and
Journalism), BBA, BCA,
MBA and MCA participated
in 10 events: cricket, volley-
ball, lemon and spoon race,
sack race, three-legged
race, slow cycling, 100m dash,
table tennis, chess and tug of
war, as part of the insti-
tute’s Sports Day.
Alongside sports, the day
also marked a food fest,
CITY BUZZ AHMEDABAD | TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2020
14
—PHOTO BY NANDAN DAVE
People hold a
71ft long national
flag and take a
part in rally on
the occasion of
71th Republic
Day at Gandhi
Road in Old city
of Ahmedabad on
Sunday.
Senior-most staff member Mansingh Makwana was the
chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations at Gujarat
Science City. Executive director SD Vora, deputy executive
engineer (electrical) BK Vaghela and Administrative
Officer N Matangkumar were also present on this
occasion. 
—PHOTOS BY HANIF SINDHI
Students of Seventh-
Day Adventist Higher
Secondary School,
Maninagar, and Lotus
Primary School in Isanpur
waved tricolour flags,
sang national songs and
even painted their face in
the colours of the flag to
celebrate Republic Day
here in Ahmedabad.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
CITY FIRST
S
uper model, actor and
Pinkathon founder
Milind Soman was in
town recently to for-
mally announce the 3rd edi-
tion of the Bajaj Electri-
cals Pinkathon Ahm-edabad
2020 presented by COLORS.
The 52nd Pinkathon will be
held on Sunday, 1st March 2020
at Ground A, Vallabh Sadan, Sa-
barmati River Front, Ahmedabad.
Online registration is now open
for 3K, 5K Family Run and 10K race, Nikita Jaimin Panchal, a
runs. Also present on the occca- baby-wearing mother who will
where students showcased sion, Esha Kansara along with run the 3K race, and sexage-
their culinary skills by prepar- for their food items, thus apply- Geeta S Rao, who’s left leg is inac- narian Renu Mittal and cancer
ing and serving mouth-water- ing in practice the business and tive below the waist and will be survivor Pragnya Shah, both of
ing food items. They also made managerial strategies they running the 21K race. Takhu Tu- whom will participate in the
promotions for their respective learn theoretically. kadiya, a visually impaired run- 10K race.
stalls and planned the budget cityfirstgujarat@gmail.com ner who will compete in the for 5K cityfirstgujarat@gmail.com