First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021

First India Bureau
Lucknow: In a move
aimed at changing the
rural landscape, CM
Yogi Adityanath-led
government has or-
dered to set up units in-
cluding solar plants,
biogas, fly ash bricks,
and organic food pro-
cessing units on Agri-
culture lands.
Farmers will now be
able to set up industrial
units on barren lands
andapartfromengaging
themselvesinindustrial
activities they can also
give their land on lease
which will help them to
earn more income.
The revenue depart-
mentof thestategovern-
menthasfixedtheprovi-
sion of a private lease of
land for a maximum pe-
riod of 30 years for solar
plants, biogas, fly ash
bricks, and organic food
processing units.
With this initiative of
the UP CM ttar Pradesh,
the electricity can be
generated from the bar-
ren fields which will
help farmers in gener-
ating more Turn to P6
Yogi government all set to change the rural landscape
RURAL EMPOWERMENT
Good news for villagers and farmers
unable to utilise their barren lands. They
can now become entrepreneurs
CM Yogi Adityanath
Kasganj accused
Elkar gunned down
First India Bureau
Kasganj: Brother of
liquor mafia Moti Dhi-
mar, whose associates
had allegedly killed a
police constable and se-
verely injured a sub-in-
spectorintheweehours
of Tuesday, was gunned
down in an encounter
here early on Wednes-
day, police sources said.
“Elkar and others
were surrounded by a
police team on the
banks of Kali river and
in the exchange Turn to P6
BOARD EXAMS FROM APRIL
DM Kasganj & senior police officers shoulder the body of Martyr
Devendra Kumar
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
LUCKNOW l THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. UPENG/2020/04393 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 89
OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR, AHMEDABAD & LUCKNOW
New Delhi: Noting that
theprocessof reformsin
agriculture is necessary
and important, Prime
MinisterNarendraModi
on Wednesday said new
farm laws provide an op-
tion to farmers and have
beenbroughttomeetthe
emerging challenges.
In his reply to the mo-
tion of thanks on the
President’s Address in
Lok Sabha, PM said no
mandis have been shut
after the implementa-
tion of these laws and
there has been no im-
pact on the MSP. Con-
gress members, who
interrupted Prime Min-
ister during his speech,
later staged a walkout.
“Threefarmlawswere
broughtinbytheGovern-
ment. The process of ag-
ricultural reforms is nec-
essary and important.
The agriculture sector
has been facing challeng-
es for years. We will have
to make efforts to meet
them and we have made
honest efforts,” PM said.
He also accused the
Opposition of mislead-
ing farmers protesting
against farm laws.
Turn to P6
AGRI REFORMS NECESSARY, FARM
LAWS PROVIDE AN OPTION: MODI
‘I consider the farmer’s protest to be ‘pavitra’. But, when ‘Andolanjeevis’
hijack protests, showcase photos of those jailed for serious offences, does it
serve any purpose? Not allowing toll plazas to work, destroying telecom
towers- does it serve a pavitra andolan?’ —Narendra Modi, PM
 President’s speech
showcased India’s
‘Sankalp Shakti’. His
words have boosted spirit
of confidence among
people of India.
 Post-COVID world is
turning out to be very
different. In such times,
remaining isolated from
global trends will be
counter-productive. We
will have to emerge as a
strong player. That is why
India is working towards
building an Aatmanirbhar
Bharat.
 During discussion
on President’s speech, a
large number of women
MPs took part. This is
a great sign. I want to
congratulate women MPs
who enriched proceed-
ings with their thoughts.
 Our doctors, nurses,
Covid warriors, safai
karamcharis, those who
drove ambulances…
such people and so many
others became manifesta-
tions of the divine who
strengthened India’s fight
against pandemic.
 After laws relating to
agriculture were passed
by the Parliament – no
Mandi has shut. Like-
wise, MSP has remained.
Procurement on MSP has
remained. These facts
can’t be ignored.
 Those who talk big on
electoral reforms oppose
One Nation One Election.
They speak of gender jus-
tice but oppose triple talaq.
OPPN STAGES PROTEST
Lok Sabha saw angry protests from the
Opposition as PM Modi mentioned the farm
laws. After a huge altercation, the Congress
and the Trinamool walked out, shortly after
the Prime Minister said the slogan-shouting
“was a planned strategy to drown out
reason and hide the truth”.
‘Cong will scrap
farm laws if
voted to power’
Lucknow: Attacking the
Centre over the new
farm laws, Congress
leader Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra told a
rally in western Uttar
Pradesh that if voted to
power her party would
scrap them. At a kisan
panchayat organised
by Congress in
Saharanpur, Priyanka
accused PM Modi and
other BJP leaders of
insulting farmers who
are protesting against
the laws. See p8
The Centre Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that
no farmer participating in the ongoing farmers’
protests has been called for questioning by the
National Investigation Agency (NIA). In a written
reply to a question on “whether the NIA summoned
farmers participating in the ongoing farmers’
protests”, Union Minister of State (MoS), Home, G
Kishan Reddy said, “No, sir.”
‘NO FARMER CALLED BY NIA’
MODI IN LS
China,Indiastartsynchronised
disengagement in East Ladakh
Beijing/New Delhi:
The frontline troops of
China and India at the
south and north banks
of the Pangong Lake in
eastern Ladakh started
“synchronised and or-
ganised” disengage-
ment from Wednesday,
the Chinese defence
ministry said, in what is
seen as a forward move-
ment in the overall dis-
engagement process to
defuse the over nine-
month border standoff.
There was no official
comment by either the
Indian defence minis-
try or the Indian Army
on the Chinese state-
ment but people famil-
iar with the develop-
ment said both sides are
in the process of pull-
ing back their ar-
moured units like tanks
and armoured person-
nel carriers.
The office of Defence
Minister Rajnath Sin-
gh, meanwhile, tweeted
that he will make a
statement in the Rajya
Sabha on Thursday on
the situation in eastern
Ladakh. “Raksha Man-
tri Shri @rajnathsingh
will make a statement
in Rajya Sabha tomor-
row regarding ‘Present
Situation in Eastern
Ladakh’,” it said.
Authoritative sources
in the Indian defence
and military establish-
ment did not refute the
Chinese defence minis-
try’s statement on the
developments in the
northern and southern
banks of Pangong lake,
an area that witnessed
major face-offs since the
row erupted on May 5.
People familiar with
the situation in eastern
Ladakh said both sides
are in the process of
pulling Turn to P6
Twitter blocks
500 accounts
on govt demand
New Delhi: In response
to the ‘’legal requests’’
from the Central gov-
ernment, Twitter on
Wednesday informed
that it has taken multi-
ple enforcement actions
including permanent
suspension of over 500
accounts for clear viola-
tions of Twitter’s rules.
The social media gi-
ant in a statement said,
“Separate to our en-
forcement under the
Twitter Rules, over the
course of the last 10
days, Twitter has been
served with several sep-
arate blocking orders
by the Ministry of Elec-
tronics and Informa-
tion Technology
Turn to P6
EQUITY INDICES DIP,
BANKING STOCKS
UNDER PRESSURE
Mumbai: Key equity indices see-sawed between
gains and losses on Wednesday and closed in the
red zone as investors turned cautious over the
sustainability of a recent risk rally. At the closing
bell, the BSE S&P Sensex was down by 20 points
or 0.04 per cent at 51,309 while the Nifty 50 edged
lower by 3 points or 0.02 per cent to 15,107. Sec-
toral indices at the National Stock Exchange were
mixed with Nifty private bank down by 0.7 per
cent, financial service by 0.2 per cent and metal
by 0.8 per cent. But Nifty realty gained by 1.6 per
cent and auto by 0.9 per cent. Among stocks,
HDFC Bank dropped by 1.2 per cent to close at Rs
1,591.90 per share. Axis Bank closed 0.7 per cent
lower and IndusInd Bank by 0.4 per cent.
CEC reviews poll preparedness
in Chennai,to visit Pondy today
Chennai: A high level
team from the Election
Commission of India
(ECI) led by Chief Elec-
tion Commissioner
(CEC) Sunil Arora ar-
rived in Chennai on
Wednesday to review
the preparedness for
the ensuing elections
to the Tamil Nadu As-
sembly slated to be
held in April-May.
Also, an eight mem-
ber ECI team will visit
Puducherry on Thurs-
day to review the pre-
paredness for Assembly
elections to be held in
April or May this year.
Arora and other ECI
officials will hold meet-
ings with representa-
tives of recognised po-
litical parties and offi-
cials and oversee the
process for polls in TN.
Apart from Arora, the
team comprises Elec-
tion Commissioners Su-
shil Chandra and Rajiv
Kumar, Secretary Gen-
eral Umesh Sinha, Dep-
uty Election Commis-
sioner Chandra Bhush-
an Kumar, Turn to P6
CEC Sunil Arora alongwith ECs Sushil Chandra & Rajiv Kumar, Umesh Sinha meeting with District
officials at Chennai to review poll preparedness for forthcoming Assembly Elections in Tamil Nadu.
Indian & Chinese troops have been locked in a border standoff in
eastern Ladakh since May last year. —FILE PHOTO

UTTAR PRADESH
LUCKNOW | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021
02
CM Yogi trended on
Twitter again on
Wednesday as Netizens
showered praise on
him for his good gov-
ernance and his
image as a tough
administrator. It all
started late in the even-
ing and by night the
twitter trend# lq’kklu dh
igpku ;ksxh th reached
up to second position
on the trending list
notching more than
40,000 tweets.
UP CM has asked
officials to organise
programme and focus
on second phase of
women empowerment
campaign under Mis-
sion Shakti which will
commence on ‘Interna-
tional Women’s Day’ on
March 8.
CM issued instruc-
tions to organ-
ize programs at all
martyrs’ memorials in
UP on the occasion of
Maharaja Suheldev ji’s
birth anniversary.
Yogi Speaks
Yogi Speaks
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Uttar
Pradesh is all set wit-
ness a flurry of such
festivals thanks to Yogi
Adityanath Govern-
ment’s focus to show-
case the rich, myriad
and unique variety of
fruits and vegetables
grown by farmers in the
state.
A beginning in this
regard was made in
Jhansi where a straw-
berry mahotsav was
organised recently,
following which the
horticulture, agricul-
ture and various oth-
er c departments have
drawn up an itiner-
ary to highlight the
benefits and nutrion-
al aspects of some of
these juicy, succulent
and lipsmacking
fruits cultivated by
UP farmers.
“These fruit festivals
will encourage farming
and consumption of
fruits that will not only
enhance the immunity
and overall health of
people but also at the
same time guarantee
fair price to the farmers
growing them.
Through these festi-
vals, the CM also in-
etnds to encourage
farmers to do organic
farming,” said a senior
horticulture officer. He
said a Sweet Potato Fes-
tival would soon be held
in Gorakhpur as part of
this series.
This would be fol-
lowed up by a Dragon
fruit Festival owing to
its health benefits and
medicinal value. Drag-
on fruit is considered a
superfruit which is ex-
tremely rich in fibre,
calcium, magnesium,
iron and vitamin A and
C while it is devoid of
fat. It is also an anti-
oxidant.
Dragon fruit is high-
ly effective in control-
ling sugar, said the of-
ficial. Also in the pipe-
line are plans to hold
guava festival in Pray-
agraj, banana festival
in Kushinagar and
Aonla festival in
Pratapgarh. All these
fruits figure among the
One District One Prod-
uct (ODOP) scheme of
the government.
Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi had also
talked about the health
benefits of strawberry,
dragonfruit and sweet
potato in his Man ki
Baat recently. The PM
had mentioned the
name of Gaya Prasad
Singh alias Murari Sin-
gh from Sultanpur dis-
trict’s Lambhua village
in this connection.
After Strawberry Mahotsav, UP set to witness a series of fruit fests
FRUITY UP
Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi visiting a fruit and
vegetable stall at Raj Bhavan recently. —FILE PHOTO
Steps such as setting up of new mills and reviving old ones set the ball rolling for Yogi-led govt
UP GOVT SETS ‘RECORD’ FOR HIGHEST
PAYMENTS TO SUGARCANE FARMERS
First India Bureau
Lucknow: The Uttar
Pradesh Government
claims to have set a new
record in the state by
paying arrears to sugar-
cane farmers including
farmers dues during
Samajwadi Party and
Bahujan Samaj Party
government in the
state.
According to the of-
ficial data, over 97 per-
cent (Rs 34847.60 crore)
of sugarcane payment
has been paid so far in
the crushing season
2019-20. This process of
payment continues dai-
ly . So much so, that the
state government has so
far made Rs 1,21,613.85
crore of total cane price
payment from March,
19, 2017 till date.
There has been no
drop in the purchase
price either. In his ini-
tiative to bring prosper-
ity to farmers’ lives, Ut-
tar Pradesh Chief Min-
ister Yogi Adityanath
and his government has
also made a record in
the production per hec-
tare of sugarcane and
by operating sugar
mills during the corona-
virus pandemic.
The Yogi government
claims it has set a new
record for the highest
ever payment to sugar-
cane farmers, including
the dues of the previous
government. In order to
get higher prices for the
millers, the work of
making sulphur-free
sugar has also started
in these areas.
It is noteworthy
that the opening of
new mills and mod-
ernization of old
mills was a historic
step taken in the in-
terest of farmers in
view of 29 mills that
were closed from 2007
to 2017 under the BSP
and SP regime.
The state government
is also confident that
the sugarcane farmers
are aware of these facts
and therefore, they are
not going to get caught
in anyone’s deception.
It is to be known that
due to a large number
of sugarcane farmers in
the state, it holds a
prominent position as a
cash crop. With 51 per-
cent of the total area
dedicated to sugarcane
farming and 50 percent
of production as well as
contributing 38 percent
of the sugar production
to the entire country,
Uttar Pradesh is the
largest producer of
Sugarcane in India.
About 119 of the total
520 sugar mills in coun-
try are in Uttar
Pradesh.
CAPACITY BUILDING KHANDSARI ON GO
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken some revolutionary steps to encourage sugarcane producers of Uttar Pradesh.
Mission Shakti propogates self-defence
skills in various districts of Uttar Pradesh
First India Bureau
Muzaffarnagar: Over
2000 girl students par-
ticipated with enthusi-
asm in the self-defence
training in Muzaffarna-
gar under the Mission
Shakti campaign on
Wednesday
.
The training was or-
ganised by the Depart-
ment of Secondary Ed-
ucation.
Students of Central
School RDSO in Luc-
know too actively
participated in the
training. They even
practised the moves
in their classrooms
while students of
Bhagwandeen Arya
Kanya Inter College
in Lakhimpur Kheri
learnt the techniques
from experts and also
through online medi-
um. The Baghpat dis-
trict administration
sensitised 13,722
about the causes of
women through its
over 1000 awareness
activities held on
Wednesday. Elderly
women also became a
part of this aware-
ness campaign in
many parts of the dis-
trict.
In Auraiya, the police
teams interacted with
women and girls in
crowded spots and told
them in detail about the
utility of the helpline
numbers.
The anti-Romeo
squad over there inter-
cepted the suspects at
busy market places and
released them after
warning.
Meanwhile, the dis-
trict administration in
Rampur also organized
events to create aware-
ness about the Mission
Shakti campaign
among the residents,
particularly the women
in the district.
The women help-
desks situated at all the
police stations of the
district also helped the
women complainants
lodge their complaints.
Dedicated counsellors
also resolved their is-
sues by providing coun-
selling sessions related
to several cases.
Guv appeals to shun
dowry, child marriage
First India Bureau
Deoria: Governor
Anandiben Patel dur-
ing her visit to Deoria
visited an exhibition on
agriculture develop-
ment besides inaugu-
rated newly construct-
ed auditorium at Police
Line.
She also interacted
with beneficiaries of
National Livelihood
Mission, Progressive
Farmers, Pradhan
Mantri Awas Yojana,
Urban and Rural and
Akanksha Samiti, Agri-
culture, NRLM, etc. She
presented a symbolic
cheque of Rs 3,56,25000
to SHG women.
Governor Anandiben
Patel said earlier wom-
en did not get opportu-
nity but now have be-
come aware through
self-help groups. She
said women were bene-
fitted through schemes
run by State and Cen-
tral government and it
would be better if its
promotion was done by
women.
Highlighting the
schemes floated by
the government,the
Governor said Kanya
Sumangala scheme of
state government
would increase litera-
cy and should be pur-
sued by self-help
groups besides par-
ticipation of women
in Ayushman Bharat
Yojana would be ben-
eficial. Awareness to
deal with malnour-
ished child should be
created for which Rs
5000 is given by state
and central govern-
ment for nutritious
food for pregnant
women.
Anandiben Patel also
appealed to women for
shunning dowry and
child marriage besides
making country free of
TB till 2025.
Governor Anandiben Patel handing over a cheque to a SHG. —REPRESENTATIVE PICTURE.
CS chairs
unlock meet
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Uttar
Pradesh Chief Secre-
tary Rajendra Kumar
Tiwari chaired a meet-
ing of the State Steer-
ing Committee for Im-
munization created for
the Covid-19 Vaccina-
tion drive. In the meet-
ing the Covid-19 vacci-
nation programme was
reviewed and the Chief
Secretary was informed
that as of 5th February
a total of 673210 benefi-
cary have been admin-
istered the first dose of
Covid-19 vaccine.
The Chief Secretary
asked the officials of
the districts where the
vaccination drive has
slowed down to pick
up pace. He was in-
formed that health
care workers who
have been adminis-
tered the first dose of
the vaccine will re-
ceive the second dost
on the days 5 Febru-
ary, 19 February, 25
February, 26 February,
4 March, 05 March and
15 March 2021.
SPECTACULAR!
A spectacular view of Tent City of Magh Mela on the bank of Ganga in Prayagraj on
Wednesday. Rise in temperatures has added to the charm of the massive congregation.
Abhyudaya scheme
gets underway
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Aspirants
preparing for competi-
tive exams started reg-
istering themselves on-
line for ‘Mukhyamantri
Abhyudaya Yojana’
which will begin free
coaching classes on the
auspicious day of ‘Bas-
ant Panchami’ on Feb-
ruary 16.
These free coaching
centres are being set up
under direct supervi-
sion of the CM Yogi at
the divisional level in
the first phase and will
begin at district level in
the second phase.
The coaching will
have a provision of
direct counselling by
the Senior IAS, IPS
and PCS Officers to
the aspiring candi-
dates. In case of exami-
nations like NDA and
CDS, thorough training
will be given by the
Principal of UP Sainik
School. Along with this,
there will be separate
classes for NEET and
JEE exams.
CSTiwari presiding over the meeting.

Students at a government school in Kanpur were in for a pleasant surprise on Wednesday as they found their school painted as a train compartment. (Right) Students being made to maintain distancing in a Lucknow school.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: As students
thronged their schools
on Wednesday
, it was a
moment in time for
them as they witnessed
a morning like never
before. The students
didn’t gather for morn-
ing assembly, were
made to sit one each on
the whole desk, their 50
per cent friends were
absent and in most cas-
es, they were being
treated as if they were
entering an ICU under-
going the heavy saniti-
sation procedures.
Schools in Uttar
Pradeshwerereopened-
from classes 6 to 8 on-
Wednesday
.
This Is what the stu-
dents said they felt
when they reached
their schools after a gap
of 11 months. TheUP
state government has
issued a set of guide-
lines to be followed asa
precautionary measure
for Covid 19. The
schools were shut
across the state since
March 2020.
In Kanpur, students
were given an arousing
welcome in a school at
BhitargaonBlockwhere
the school was painted
as a train wagon.
EducationMinister
said, “Classes 1 to 5 in
UP schools will reopen
on March 1, 2021.” The
schools in UP have reo-
pened in accordance
with the COVID-19
SOPs. The government
ensuresthattheschools
must follow the Union
Health Ministry’s pro-
tocols for its reopening.
Officials from the Ba-
sic Education depart-
ment mentioned that
both the government
and private schools
across the state have to
follow the Standard Op-
erating Procedure
(SOP) issued by the gov-
ernment to ensure
teachers, students, and
staff’s safety
.
According to the Ba-
sic Education Depart-
ment, classes will be
held only two days a
week. Considering the
SOP
, only 50 per cent of
studentswillbeallowed
toattendthem.Director
of Basic Education,
Sarvandra Vikram Ba-
hadur Singh issued a
timetable for class one
to class eight.
First India Bureau
Kasganj: The liquor
mafia menace in the
state took the life of a
brave policeman on
Tuesday
. The mortal re-
mains of constable Dev-
endra Singh, who was
killed in an attack by
liquor mafia in Kasganj
district, reached his na-
tive Nagla Bindu
wrapped in tricolor, to
the heart wrenching
cries of near and dear
ones. The family mem-
bers of the constable
become inconsolable
when they saw the body
of the brave heart.
Mother and wife of
Devendra Singh fainted
after seeing his motion-
less body while his sis-
ter cried her heart out
and his daughter kept
calling him.
The situation at the
fallen soldier’s home
brought tears to every-
one’s eyes. During the
final rite the bier of De-
vendra Singh was car-
ried by ADG Ajay
Anand, DM PN Singh
and SSP Babloo and his
colleagues.
Devendra Singh, resi-
dent of village Nagla
Bindu was posted as
constable in Sidhpura
police station in Kas-
ganj district.
On Tuesday evening,
SI Ashok Kumar Singh
along with constable De-
vendra Singh had gone
to Nagla Dhimar to in-
vestigate and take ac-
tion on illegal liquor be-
ing prepared.
Whentheyreachedthe
spot, they were attacked
by the liquor mafia in
which Devendra lost his
life while Ashok Singh
was seriously injured.
First India Bureau
Bareilly: Two youths,
including a minor, were
booked in separate cas-
es under provisions of
the UP Prohibition of
Unlawful Conversion of
Religion Act and charg-
esof rapeonWednesday
in Nawabganj area here,
the police said.
In the first case, the
accused, a Class 12 stu-
dent, was admitted to a
hospital in Bareilly and
will be sent to a juvenile
home after being dis-
charged, SP (Dehat) Raj
Kumar said.
He said the minor had
taken away a 15-yr-old
girl from the same vil-
lage to Jaipur and prom-
ised to marry her.
The girl, who studies
in Class 9 and belongs to
another community,
was fooled as the boy
had given her another
name once she reached
Jaipur. When the girl ob-
jected to the ‘nikaah’,
she was held hostage,
raped and later left out-
side her village by the
youthwhofledtheplace.
In the second case, Ba-
reilly SSP Rohit Sajwan
said a youth from the
same police station area
had eloped with a Class
10 student to Bhilwara
in Rajasthan on Febru-
ary 2 asking her to con-
vertbeforemarriageand
was raped upon refusal.
Lucknow: As many as
97 per cent people who
have been vaccinated by
the Covid-19 vaccine in
India have been found to
besatisfiedwiththisvac-
cination so far. This in-
formation has been giv-
en by Dr VK Paul, mem-
ber of NITI Aayog and
head of Covid-19 Task
Force, Government of
India. Under the world’s
largest vaccination pro-
gram, India has admin-
istered vaccines to 66
lakh people. These in-
clude health workers
and frontline workers
who are at greater risk.
Janardan Misra
Prayagraj: Takingnote
on Ganga pollution is-
sue, Allahabad High
Court has asked Pollu-
tion Control Board
Chairman to file per-
sonal affidavit about
monitoring cleanliness
of river Ganga. The
courtaskedthatwaswa-
ter sample collected be-
fore sunrise and after
sunset? If so then pre-
sent record of past three
months.
The High Court also
saidthatpollutionboard
should explain process
of drainage treatment
and Sewage Treatment
Plant. Court directed to
submit past three-
month report of STP
emission and bio reme-
dial of drainage. Fur-
ther it asked state gov-
ernment as to why STP
was not functional.
Full bench of Justice
MK Gupta, Justice Sidh-
harth Verma and Jus-
tice Ajit Kumar passed
this order while hearing
Ganga pollution case.
STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOLS IN UNIQUE PROTOCOL
Classes from 6 to 8 start in state after almost a year, as children attune themselves to an ambience they had never experienced before
Waering mask and social distancing being practised at the schools in Lucknow on the first day of reopening after the 11-month break on Wednesday.
A student undergoing temperature check before entering his
school in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Kasganj District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh consoling
grieving father of martyred constable Devendra Kumar.
TWICE A WEEK
First India Bureau
Lucknow: As part of
Swachh Bharat Mis-
sion, a ‘Swachhata Ma-
harally’ was organised
under the leadership of
CabinetministerSuresh
Khanna by Municipal
Corporation for increas-
ing awareness and par-
ticipation of city resi-
dents. The rally kicked
off with the national
anthem at 1090 intersec-
tion in Gomti Nagar.
MayorSamyuktaBhatia
welcomed Khanna and
cabinet minister Ashu-
tosh Tandon ‘Gopal ji’
by presenting bouquet.
Suresh Khanna said
spreading awareness
about cleanliness
through the rally would
increase public partici-
pation. He said in previ-
ous cleanliness rank-
ings, Lucknow bagged
121stspotwhilelastyear
it ascended to 12th place
and if such hard work,
public cooperation and
awareness was contin-
ued then Lucknow
would claim top spot on
the list of cleanliness
rankings in the country
.
Urban Development
minister Ashutosh
Tandon said making the
city clean and beautiful
would lead to boost in
tourism, which in turn
would provide new em-
ployment opportunities
as-well-as other tourism
related businesses.
The rally proceeded
from 1090 Gomti Nagar
andafterpassingthrough
Kalidas Marg, Vikrama-
ditya Marg, Raj Bhavan,
Hazratganj, BJP office
crossing ended at Lal-
bagh Jhanda Wala Park.
The rally was attend-
ed by 4,000 residents,
school children along
with distinguished
guests and dignitaries
besides members of
Sanitation Promotion
Committee of different
wards, municipal corpo-
ration officers and em-
ployees, sanitation
workers, etc.
LMC pushes cleanliness challenge through rally
PEOPLE MOVER
Minister Suresh Khanna says people’s
cooperation can make city number one
Urban Development Minister Suresh Khanna, minister Ashutosh
Tondon and Mayor Sanyukta Bhatia flag off an awareness rally on
cleanliness in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Teary eyed village
awaits justice to martyr
Two youths booked for conversion,rape
The girl was sent for a
medical examination
that confirmed she
was raped.
First India Bureau
Saharanpur: A wom-
an strangulated her
husband to death with
the help of her lover in
Hozkhedi area here.
Accused Poonam
married Shishpal 10
years back. Shishpal
was suffering from can-
cer and he was unable to
go for work. Poonam
had affair with neigh-
bour Ankur who helped
her killing her husband.
Police said Poonam
had arguments with her
husband and following
that she called her lover
Ankur and strangulated
her husband to death.
Later they told family
members that Shishpal
died due to the disease.
Man strangled
by wife, along
with lover
‘97% people vaccinated
against covid are satisfied’
Ganga pollution: HC raps PCB
The bier of Singh was
carried by ADG Ajay
Anand, DM PN Singh
and SSP Babloo
UTTAR PRADESH
03
—PHOTOS
BY
SUMIT
KUMAR
—PHOTO BY SUMIT KUMAR

l Vol 1 l Issue No. 89 l RNI NO. UPENG/2020/04393. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Amar Ujala Ltd. B-5 Amausi Industrial Area Kanpur Road Lucknow.
Published at 98, Friend’’s Colony, Raheem Nagar, Dudouli Road, Madiyaon, Lucknow (UP). Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
PERSPECTIVE
04
TWITTER FIGHTS
GOVERNMENT
ON FREE SPEECH
he government is at war with mi-
cro-blogging site Twitter and at
stake is the freedom of speech in
this country
. It started with Amer-
ican pop star Rihanna and climate
activist Greta Thunberg tweeting their sup-
port for farmers protesting against the three
farm laws the government is committed to
implementing. It was the “protest toolkit”
used by the Swedish activist which the Delhi
Police said was intended to mass mobilise sup-
port for farmers’ stir. As a criminal case was
registered against the unknown creator of the
toolkit it became clear that Twitter was in for
trouble. The government ordered Twitter to
deactivate 257 handles using #ModiPlanning-
FarmerGenocide for their inflammatory con-
tent. Twitter blocked the handles but reacti-
vatedthemsubsequentlyciting thecompany’s
rules and India’s laws defending free speech.
At this point, the IT Ministry issued a stern
warning to Twitter asking it to take down the
handles or face criminal action, including
jail for seven years, under India’s IT Act. In a
five-page notice, the IT Ministry said that the
content posted on #ModiPlanning-
FarmerGenocide was “designed to inflame
passions and hatred” and was “factually in-
correct”. “Incitement to genocide is not a
freedom of speech. It is a threat to law and
order,” the notice said. It also cited several
Supreme Court judgments defending the
rights of authorities when it came to main-
taining public order. Twitter fell in line and
deactivated 126 hashtag accounts but that
certainly wouldn’t satisfy the Centre.
There were more handles, 1,178 of them,
which the government suspected to have
links with Khalistani and Pakistani elements
and wanted Twitter to block them. The Cen-
tre charged them with spreading divisive and
hateful propaganda. The microblogging site
has deactivated only 583 of them as it has re-
peated its stance on free speech. Having taken
down some of the accounts, Twitter held its
ground on the remaining posts. Its blog post
on Wednesday gave its reasons for not acting
“accounts that consist of news media enti-
ties, journalists, activists, and politicians” as
they “did not believe that the actions they
have been directed to take are consistent with
Indian law, and, in keeping with our princi-
ples of defending protected speech and free-
dom of expressions”. The IT Ministry found
the blog “unusual”. Interestingly, the govern-
ment’s response came on the new home-
grown micro-blogging platform ‘Koo’ and
also shared on Twitter. With the government
supporting ‘Koo’ and some Union ministers
and others already using it to flaunt the idea
of Aatmnirbhar Bharat, the tussle with Twit-
ter could become a prestige issue for the gov-
ernment. Just as the new farm laws have. The
situation as it stands doesn’t augur well for
Twitter and free speech.
Then there is Koo to contend with. The in-
digenously developed social media platform
could well become a handle for a different
kind of propaganda.
IN-DEPTH
T
n today’s world where global
big tech companies pay scant
respect to consumerism, the
statement “If you are not
paying for the product, you
are the product” holds great
significance.
Theglobaltechnologyplayers
do not charge from the users for
using services like Facebook,
Whatsapp, Instagram but in-
stead, make users their product
and utilize user behaviour
trendstopromotetheiradvertis-
ing business. Their privacy pol-
icy seems to be a hogwash
whereinauserisaskedtoaccept
a privacy policy or be simply de-
nied the service. Initially
, the
serviceisofferedtouserstogain
criticalmassandwhenthereare
sufficient users on the platform,
the privacy policy is changed
unilaterally
. Recently
, Whatsapp
updated its privacy policy
whereinitstatedthatuserinfor-
mation would be shared with its
group companies and the users
werecompelledtoacceptitorbe
denied of Whatsapp service. Af-
terthebacklashbyIndianusers,
Whatsapp has been forced to
postpone its implementation
from Feb 2021 to May 2021.
This is just one such exam-
ple. We see it every day, if
you google some article/
product, you start seeing ad-
vertisements of similar
products within few seconds
and more so on other plat-
forms too. This is obviously
some kind of tracking or
data sharing across the plat-
forms and this is a total in-
vasion of privacy and track-
ing without any specific
knowledge or consent.
Presenting a 100 pager docu-
ment of a privacy policy to a
person who may be a lawyer,
qualified to understand or
ABCD (AAYA, BAI, Chaukidar,
Driver) a segment of people,
Not many have capacity and ef-
forts to read this document and
it’s obviously unjust to shift the
onus on the person that you
have accepted the policy
. It’s not
specific consent.
AccordingtoWhatsApp,us-
ers in India will have no other
option than to share their
data with Facebook and other
groups’ platforms. However,
the app’s policies on data-
sharing will not be changed
for users in Europe. The big
question that remains is that
the privacy of Indian users is
any less important than Euro-
pean users. Why have Indian
users taken for granted when
it comes to privacy and data
protection? Indian users have
a right to be treated equally to
their global counterparts and
the Indian Govt. must make
this clear to the Global Tech
companies and also protect
citizens with personal data
protection bill or some imme-
diate announcement for all
tech companies who are tak-
ing the data away outside the
borders of the country?
Whatsapp is now entering
into India’s payments systems.
The sharing of payments-relat-
ed data of Indian users with
Whatsapp Group companies for
targeted advertisements in a
clear violation of NPCI guide-
lines. According to the NPCI
guidelines<pleasementionsec-
tion>, there is a duty to, “not
share the data/information
with any other third party, un-
less mandated by applicable law
or required to be produced be-
fore a regulatory / statutory au-
thority
. In such exceptional
cases wherein data / informa-
tion is required to be shared un-
derapplicablelaworrequiredto
be produced before a regulato-
ry/statutory authority and to
theextentpermittedundersuch
law / by such regulatory/statu-
toryauthority
,thePSPshallpro-
vide a prior written intimation
to NPCI & Bank of such disclo-
sure.” Accordingly, an app fa-
cilitating payment through UPI
is not allowed to share data with
a third-party under the NPCI
guidelines. NPCI further re-
quires that “PSP Bank [which
enable TPAs] shall ensure that
that third-party app provider
shall require exclusive permis-
sion from NPCI & PSP bank for
sharing individual UPI transac-
tion data with any other third
party including its own Parent,
subsidiaries, and subsidiaries
of parents other than entities
such as - Indian Government/
Indian intelligence/Indian law
enforcement agencies/Indian
regulatory bodies.”
However, the big tech com-
panies in order to promote
their advertising business
compromise on user privacy
which is detrimental to In-
dian users. The selling of
Indian users data to any bid-
der offering a higher price
violates all privacy guide-
lines and must be prohibited
at all costs.
I see some arguments of free
vs paid for data sharing. In ei-
thercase,datacannotbeshared
without personal specific well
understood consent. This
phrase “When service is free,
you are the product” makes us
believe that if we are using
Free, we have permitted our
personal information to be used
as free service provider wants,
it’s a flawed thought process
and this is also one of the exam-
ples to shape our mind. Just be-
cause there is a Free bathroom
to take bath, does not mean the
serviceprovidercansetupcam-
eras into the bathroom. That’s
an invasion of privacy
.
When the data and content
is pushed to you and influ-
ence the mind with informa-
tion that is already shaping
your opinion or tilted the
mind share, and you have
not even realised it. You have
lost your freedom of choice.
Imagine while you are di-
rectly not aware but your
mind is polarised towards a
particular movie / start ,
caste / religion or a particu-
lar product – good / bad.
This is exactly what I call it
sale of privacy and freedom.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY
THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL
HANDOVER OF PRIVACY AND
‘FREEDOM OF CHOICE’ OF INDIAN
INTERNET USERS FOR PROFITS
I
Whatsapp is now
entering into
India’s payments
systems. The
sharing of
payments-related
data of Indian
users with
Whatsapp group
companies for
targeted
advertisements is a
clear violation of
NPCI guidelines.
According to the
NPCI guidelines <
please mention
section>, there is a
duty to, “not share
the data/
information with
any other third
party, unless
mandated by
applicable law or
required to be
produced before a
regulatory/
statutory authority
THE BIG TECH COMPANIES
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE
THEIR ADVERTISING
BUSINESS COMPROMISE
ON USER PRIVACY WHICH
IS DETRIMENTAL TO
INDIAN USERS. THE
SELLING OF INDIAN
USERS’ DATA TO ANY
BIDDER OFFERING A
HIGHER PRICE VIOLATES
ALL PRIVACY GUIDELINES
AND MUST BE PROHIBITED
AT ALL COSTS
DR AJAY
DATA
THE WRITER IS THE
FOUNDER & CEO - DATA
INGENIOUS GLOBAL LIMITED
tudents across
Australia have
started the new
school year us-
ing pencils,
pens and keyboards to
learn to write.
In workplaces, machines
are also learning to write,
so effectively that within a
few years they may write
better than humans.
Sometimes they already
do, as apps like Grammarly
demonstrate. Certainly,
much everyday writing hu-
mans now do may soon be
done by machines with ar-
tificial intelligence (AI).
The predictive text com-
monly used by phone and
email software is a form of
AI writing that countless
humans use every day
.
According to an indus-
try research organisation
Gartner, AI and related
technology will automate
production of 30% of all
content found on the inter-
net by 2022.
Some prose, poetry, re-
ports, newsletters, opinion
articles, reviews, slogans
and scripts are already be-
ing written by artificial
intelligence.
Literacy increasingly
means and includes inter-
acting with and critically
evaluating AI.
This means our children
should no longer be taught
just formulaic writing. In-
stead, writing education
should encompass skills
that go beyond the capaci-
tiesof artificialintelligence.
ARE YOU SCARED
YET, HUMAN?
In 2019, the New Yorker
magazine did an experi-
ment to see if IT company
OpenAI’s natural language
generator GPT-2 could
writeanentirearticleinthe
magazine’s distinctive
style. This attempt had lim-
ited success, with the gen-
eratormakingmanyerrors.
But by 2020, GPT-3, the
newversionof themachine,
trained on even more data,
wrote an article for The
Guardian newspaper with
the headline “
A robot wrote
this entire article. Are you
scared yet, human?”
This latest much im-
proved generator has im-
plications for the future of
journalism, as the Elon
Musk-funded OpenAI in-
vests ever more in research
and development.
ROBOTS HAVE
VOICE BUT NO SOUL
Back at school, teachers
experience pressure to
teach writing for student
success in narrowly de-
fined writing tests.
But instead, the prospect
of human obsolescence or
“technological unemploy-
ment”needstodriveurgent
curriculum developments
based on what humans are
learning AI cannot do — es-
pecially in relation to crea-
tivity and compassion.
AI writing is said to have
voice but no soul. Human
writers, as the New York-
er’s John Seabrook says,
give “colour, personality
and emotion to writing by
bending the rules”. Stu-
dents, therefore, need to
learn the rules and be en-
couraged to break them.
Creativityandco-creativi-
ty(withmachines)shouldbe
fostered. Machines are
trainedonafiniteamountof
data,topredictandreplicate,
not to innovate in meaning-
ful and deliberate ways.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
Students must learn the human traits of writing
S
Be on guard. Stand firm in
the faith. Be courageous. Be
brave. —Corinthians 16:13
Spiritual
SPEAK
Top
TWEET
Dharmendra Pradhan
@dpradhanbjp
Thank the #CCEA led by PM Shri
@narendramodi for continuing
with the focus of prioritising
the progress, prosperity
development of eastern India by
approving grant-in-aid of `100
crore to Brahmaputra Valley
Fertilizer Corporation Limited,
Assam. #CabinetDecisions
Prakash Javadekar
@PrakashJavdekar
After the Laws relating to
agriculture were passed by
Parliament - no Mandi has shut,
likewise, MSP has remained.
Procurement on MSP has also
remained. These facts can’t be
ignored - PM @narendramodi

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INDIA
05
STATUS REPORT FILED IN BHEL
WOMAN OFFICIAL SUICIDE CASE
New Delhi: The
Telangana gov on
Wednesday submitted
to the SC that a
senior officer has
been appointed as
investigating officer and
a status report has been
submitted to it on Feb
7 in the BHEL woman
official suicide case.
The petition was filed by
the mother of the BHEL
sexually harassed victim,
who allegedly committed
suicide later, seeking a
CBI investigation in the
case. “A senior officer
has been appointed as an
Investigating Officer, in
terms of Court’s previous
order and a status report
has been submitted
on February 7,” the
Telangana government
submitted report.
ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR IN
BENGAL: GOVERNOR
Kolkata: Slamming the
Mamata Banerjee-led
state government over
law and order situation,
West Bengal Governor
Jagdeep Dhankhar on
Wednesday said that
an atmosphere of fear
prevails in the state.
Interacting with report-
ers, the Governor said,
“There is such an envi-
ronment of fear in the
state that people cannot
even speak about it. I
have been vocal about
this since I came here.
Fear and democracy
cannot co-exist. “There
is no place for such
fear in a cultured state
like West Bengal.”
328 SATELLITES LAUNCHED
TILL DATE: JITENDRA SINGH
Union Minister
Jitendra Singh said
that 900 crore was
allocated to ISRO
for the financial year
2020-21 for develop-
ing capacity for the
launching of satellites.
In a written reply to
a question in the Lok
Sabha, he said that the
Department of Space
has been involved in
launching satellites of
foreign countries since
long. The total number
of satellites launched
till date is 328 from 33
different countries and
the revenue earned till
date is 25 million US
dollars.
RAHUL GANDHI TO SPEAK IN LOK
SABHA ON THURSDAY
New Delhi: Congress MP
Rahul Gandhi will speak
in Parliament during the
Union budget discussion
in Lok Sabha on Thurs-
day. The discussion on
Union budget 2021-22
started on Wednesday
in Lok Sabha with PM
Narendra Modi’s speech
in reply to the Motion of
Thanks on the President’s
address. The Wayanad
MP has been critical of
the Union Budget present-
ed by FM Nirmala Sithara-
man on February 1 and
said that budget propos-
als will adversely impact
the common man. He
has slammed the govern-
ment’s economic policies
and has advocated direct
cash transfers to the
poorest sections to give a
boost to the economy.
PARLIAMENT SESSION
RAHUL LEADS CONGRESS
WALKOUT OVER FARM LAWS
New Delhi: Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi on
Wednesday led the par-
ty’s MPs in staging a
walkout in the Lok Sab-
ha during Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi’s
speech during his reply
to the President’s ad-
dress. The walkout
from the Lok Sabha fol-
lowed disruption and
sloganeering by the
Congress MPs during
PM Modi’s speech in the
Lok Sabha. The Con-
gress MPs raised slo-
gans against the new
farm laws that were en-
acted last year, and
which prompted sever-
al farmers’ unions sit
on the Delhi borders
demanding repeal of
three laws. Congress’s
floor leader in the Lok
Sabha made several
interjections during
PM Modi’s speech
prompting Speaker Om
Birla directing the
members to maintain
order in the House. As
the sloganeering con-
tinued by the Congress
MPs, PM Modi took a
dig at them saying,
“The Congress party is
so divided that its Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha
MPs take different lines
on issues.” Rahul Gan-
dhi soon after led the
Congress MPs out of
the Lok Sabha. —ANI
FARMER PROTESTS WILL
GO ON INDEFINITELY:
RAKESH TIKAIT
New Delhi: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has
said that the farmer protests would go on
if the government didn’t take back the three
contentious farm laws. “If the gov does not
accept our demands, we will continue protest
till even 2024,” Tikait said. He further stated
“As long as the three farm laws are not taken
back, a law on MSP is not made and the Swa-
minathan Committee report not implement-
ed, we would continue.” Tikait added.
CONGRESSLYING,MISLEADINGPEOPLE:TOMAR
New Delhi: Union Ag-
riculture and Farmers’
Welfare Minister Nar-
endra Singh Tomar
slammed Congress for
misleading the people
by lying about the new
farm laws pointing that
the party is losing its
support base. The Un-
ion Minister tweeted on
Wednesday, “The farm-
er-friendly Central Gov-
ernment has enacted
the Agricultural Re-
forms Act, in the larger
interest of the farmers,
but the Congress, which
is losing its support
base, is trying to mis-
lead the people of the
country by lying one lie
after another.”
“Congress MPs in the
country’s Parliament
are also telling lies
on the agrarian reform
laws. Congress MP
Ravneet Singh Bittu
again misled and our
minister Anurag
Thakur immediately
exposed his lies,”
Tomar said in another
tweet. The Minister had
earlier said that the op-
position has failed to
point flaws in new farm
laws and the opposition
did not discuss provi-
sions of these legisla-
tions during the motion
of thanks to the Presi-
dent’. Several rounds of
discussion have been
held between the gov-
ernment and the pro-
testing farmer unions.
U’Khandglacier
burst:Rescue
operationscontinue
Delhi Special Cell to
interrogate Deep Sidhu
Farmers announce 4-hour
‘rail roko’ on February 18
Chamoli: The Indo-Ti-
betan Border Force
(ITBP) on Wednesday
informed that the res-
cue operations continue
at the Tapovan tunnel
following glacier burst
in Uttarakhand. “ITBP
and other agencies are
cutting the loose ends of
pipes and wires inside
the Tapovan tunnel as
rescue operation con-
tinues. Tunnel authori-
ties are also assisting in
marking of the tunnel
inside,” tweeted ITBP
.
For boosting up the
morale of ITBP jawans,
ADG Western Com-
mand ITBP, M S Rawat
visited 8th Battalion
Gaucher, Uttarakhand
today and appreciated
the troops for rescue
and relief operations.
“MS Rawat, ADG
Western Command
ITBP visited 8th Battal-
ion Gaucher, Uttara-
khand appreciated and
motivated the troops for
rescue and relief opera-
tions being carried out
at Tapovan, Raini and
Lata villages. A basket-
ball match was organ-
ized in which ADG also
played with jawans,”
tweeted ITBP.
ITBP personnel also
were seen carrying ra-
tion items to Long vil-
lage that was cut off
due to flash floods tra-
versing through moun-
tainous terrain.
A meeting of all agen-
cies including senior
officials of ITBP, NDRF,
Army, and local admin-
istration has been
called today to decide
further course of res-
cue operations.
A glacial broke in the
Tapovan-Reni area of
Chamoli District of Ut-
tarakhand on Sunday,
which led to massive
flooding in Dhauligan-
ga and Alaknanda riv-
ers and damaged hous-
es and the nearby Rishi-
ganga power project.
—ANI
New Delhi: Intelligence
Bureau (IB) will inter-
rogate actor-turned-ac-
tivist Deep Sidhu, who
has been sent to 7-day
police custody for his al-
leged role in the vio-
lence that took place at
the Red Fort and other
parts of the national
capital on Republic Day
,
according to Delhi Po-
lice sources. Questions
will be posed to Sidhu
regarding the farmers’
agitation leading to vio-
lence across the nation-
al capital on January 26.
He is currently in Crime
Branch’s custody
. Delhi
Police Special Cell will
also interrogate Sidhu,
sources said. —ANI
New Delhi: Protesting
farmers Wednesday an-
nounced a four-hour na-
tionwide rail blockade
on February 18 as they
renewed their strategy
to intensify their agita-
tion, which also includ-
ed a candle march on
February 14 in the mem-
ory of those killed in
the 2019 Pulwama ter-
rorist attack.
In a statement, the
Samyukta Kisan Mor-
cha,whichisspearhead-
ing the protest, also said
toll collection will not be
allowed in Rajasthan
from February 12 as
part of their week-long
protest strategy
.
The SKM said in the
statementthatinameet-
ing on Wednesday farm-
er unions decided to es-
calate their agitation.
“There will be a ‘rail
roko’programmeacross
the country from 12 pm
to 4 pm on February 18,”
the SKM said.
Earlier this month,
the protesting farmers
had observed a three-
hour road blockade to
press their demand of
repealingthethreelaws.
SKM leader Darshan
Palsaidcandlemarches,
Mashaal Juloos’ (torch
marches) and other pro-
grammes will be held
across the country on
February 14 in respect
of the sacrifices of the
40 CRPF personnel who
were killed in a terrorist
attack in Jammu and
Kashmir’s Pulwama on
February 14, 2019. —PTI
No gadgets for
online classes to
poor students: SC
New Delhi: The Su-
preme Court put on
hold on order passed by
the Delhi High Court
directing private un-
aided schools in the na-
tional capital to provide
free gadgets and inter-
net connections to poor
students for online
classes and claim a
reimbursement from
the state government.
A Bench headed by
Chief Justice of India
SA Bobde while hear-
ing the Delhi govern-
ment’s appeal against
the High Court order
also issued notice to the
NGO ‘Justice For All’
on whose petition the
order was passed.
The High Court while
passing the order had
said that to separate
such students from oth-
ers in the same class
due to non-availability
of a gadget or a device
would generate “a feel-
ing of inferiority” that
may affect their hearts
and minds. —PTI
Koregaon violence: Rona Wilson files plea
Mumbai: Accused ac-
tivist Rona Wilson’s
lawyer Sudeep Pasbola
filed a petition in the
Bombay High Court
seeking dismissal of
the case against his cli-
ent in the 2018 Bhima
Koregaon violence.
The lawyer attached
a digital forensic report
from a Massachusetts-
based forensic firm Ar-
senal Digital which
mentioned that a hack-
er hacked Rona Wil-
son’s laptop and planted
10 letters right before
Wilson’s arrest.
These were the letter
used first by Pune Po-
lice and later the Na-
tional Investigation
Agency (NIA) as the
base of their evidence
against the activists,
read the petition.
Earlier, the Pune Po-
lice had mentioned in
the court that the con-
tents of these letters
claim that the arrested
accused were planning
Narendra Modi’s assas-
sination and were
hatching a conspiracy
.
Arsenal Digital was
approached by Advo-
cate Sudeep Pasbola to
examine the electronic
copy of his client.
Wilson was among
those who were arrest-
ed in 2018 for inciting
riots during a celebra-
tory gathering to mark
the 200 years of the Ko-
regaon-Bhima battle.
Verdict in MJ
Akbar’s case
on Feb 17
New Delhi: Delhi’s
Rouse Avenue Court on
Wednesday deferred the
hearing till Feb 17 in the
criminal defamation
case filed against jour-
nalist Priya Ramani by
former Union Minister
MJ Akbar.
The court, which was
set to pronounce the
judgement, will now
pronounce the verdict
in the case on Feb 17.
MJ Akbar, the former
Minister of State for
External Affairs, had
filed a defamation case
against Ramani for ac-
cusing him of sexual
misconduct. Ramani
was the first woman to
accuse Akbar during
#MeToo campaign. —ANI
Proceeding of Lok Sabha during the Budget session, in New Delhi on Wednesday. —PHOTO BY ANI

INDIA
06
Kasganj accused ...
of fire, he was injured.
He was taken to a CHC
in Sidhpur where he
succumbed to his inju-
ries,” SP, Kasganj,
Manoj Sonkar said.
Elkar, a resident of
Nagla Dhimar village in
Sidhpura area here, was
earlier booked under
the Excise Act and was
involved in spurious liq-
uor trade with brother
Moti and others.
Sonkar said Elkar’s
accomplicesmanagedto
escape during the en-
counter and police are
on the lookout to trace
them. A constable was
beaten to death and a
sub-inspector seriously
injured when a police
team went to Nagla
Dheemar village to
serve a warrant to liq-
uor mafia kingpin Dhi-
mar Tuesday evening.
Dhimar and his asso-
ciates abducted both po-
licemen and severely
thrashed them, result-
ing in the death of con-
stable Devendra, Dis-
trict Magistrate Chan-
draprakash Singh said.
SI Ashok Kumar, se-
verely injured in the at-
tack, is undergoing
treatment at a hospital,
he added.
Yogi government all
income as they will be
able to sell electricity
along with food grains.
This is not less than an
opportunity for the
farmers to become en-
trepreneurs in their vil-
lage itself.
The government is
alsoprovidingloansand
subsidies to farmers
through different
schemes. Not only this,
by waiving the loan of
Rs 36,000 crore of 86
lakh farmers, the Yogi
government is going to
give new strength to the
farmers and the econo-
my of the villages.
For the betterment of
villages, farmers, and
industries, the State
Governmenthasalready
amended the revenue
code to complete the pro-
cess of non-cultivation
of agricultural lands in
45 days.
Agri reforms...
“CongressMPsinHouse
debated on the colour of
the laws. It would have
been better if they had
debated on the content
and intent of the laws.
Letusunderstand,asfar
as the protests are con-
cerned, our farmer
brothers at Delhi bor-
ders have been a victim
of rumours,propaganda
and confusion,” he said.
PM Modi said, “I want
toaskhasanythingbeen
snatched that was avail-
able earlier? What has
happened is an alterna-
tive option has been pro-
vided. That is the ar-
rangement under the
new laws,” he said.
“Those who are dis-
rupting the House are
doing so as per a well-
planned strategy
. They
are unable to digest that
people are seeing
through the truth. It will
not work. Through their
games, the trust of the
people can never be
won,” he said. —ANI
Twitter blocks...
(MeitY), GoI, under Sec-
tion 69A of the IT Act.”
“We took a range of en-
forcement actions—in-
cluding permanent sus-
pension in certain cas-
es—against over 500 ac-
counts escalated across
all Ministry of Electron-
ics and Information
Technology orders for
clear violations of Twit-
ter’s Rules,” the state-
ment added.
The company in-
formed that they took
steps to reduce the visi-
bility of the hashtags
containing harmful con-
tent,whichincludedpro-
hibiting them from
trending on Twitter.
“Following the reports
of violence in recent
weeks, we are sharing a
granular update on our
proactive efforts to en-
force our rules and de-
fend our principles in
India,” it said.—ANI
CEC reviews...
ADG Sheyphali B
Sharan, Director Pankaj
SrivastavaandECSecre-
tary Malay Mallick. Ta-
mil Nadu Chief Elector-
al Officer Satyabrata
Sahooandotherofficials
received Arora and his
team at the airport here,
whentheylandedat1110
hrs from New Delhi.
Afterholdingseparate
meeting with parties,
Arora and ECI officials
would hold a meeting
with Sahoo and the Po-
lice Nodal Officer. It
would be followed by a
meeting with District
Electoral Officers and
the SP
.
China, India...
back their armoured
units in line with steps
agreed upon for overall
disengagement in the
last round of military
talks, adding a clear pic-
ture will emerge soon.
“The Chinese and In-
dian frontline troops at
the southern and north-
ernbankof thePangong
Tso Lake start synchro-
nised and organised dis-
engagementfromFebru-
ary 10,” spokesperson
for Chinese Ministry of
National Defence Senior
Col Wu Qian said in a
statement in Beijing. PTI
FROM PG 1
WILL MAHAPATRA BE MEMBER OF
CBDT ?
Name of J B Mahapatra is doing the round for the
post of Member CBDT. He is 1985 batch IRS (IT)
officer.
AJAY SINGH TO JOIN CBI
Ajay Singh is all set to join the CBI as SP. He is
2013 batch IPS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.
JUSTICE SANJAY YADAV TO BE CJ
OF ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT ?
Justice Sanjay Yadav is likely to succeed Justice
Govind Mathur as Chief Justice of Allahabad High
Court in May.
NO FULL-TIME SECRETARY FOR
DRINKING WATER
The Government of India is yet to appoint a
full-time Secretary to the Department of Water
Drinking Sanitation.
WHO WILL BE NEW CHIEF ELECTORAL
OFFICER OF MAHARASHRA?
Who will succeed Baldev Singh, Chief Electoral
Officer of Maharashtra ? The State Government
has recommended three names – Shrikant
Deshpande (1991 batch), Anand Limaye (1989
batch) and Aseem Gupta (1994 batch).
CENTRAL DEPUTATION TENURE OF
MS. SMITA S CHAUDHRI ENDING SOON
Central deputation tenure of Ms. Smita S Chaudhri,
working as Joint Secretary, National Commission
for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), is ending soon. She
is a 1990 batch IA AS officer.
TWO IPS OFFICERS OF J K TO JOIN
GOI
IPS officer Shailendra Mishra of 2009 batch and
IPS officer of J K cadre Shriram Ambarkar
Dinkar of 2011 batch are set to join the GoI on
deputation.
13 PROBATIONERS OF 2014 BATCH
CONFIRMED IN IFS
As many as 13 probationers of 2014 batch have
been confirmed in the Indian Forest Service.
The officers are: Abhishek Tomar, Pankaj Rajput,
Jadhav Shrikrishna A N S, Nitish Kumar, Sunil
Kumar Berwal, Yash Deep Singh, Vikash Kumar
Ujjwal, Mohan Choudhary, Amit Kanwar, Honmane
Dinesh Vasantrao, Navin Prakash Shakya, Harish
and Khushwant Singh.
TWO IRS-IT OFFICERS GET NEW
POSTINGS
Dr. Shyam Prasad Katipalli has been appointed
as Addl. CIT (OSD) in the office of Pr. CCIT,
Ahmedabad , Gujarat Region and Devinder Kumar
Gupta is CIT (OSD) in the office of Pr.CCIT, Delhi
Region.
GOYAL GETS ADDITIONAL CHARGE
Sandeep Goyal has been given the additional
charge of the DG, Home Guard. He is presently DG
Prison. He is an IPS officer of AGMUT cadre.
TWO IPS OFFICERS GET FIELD
POSTINGS IN MP
Alok Kumar has been appointed as SP, Nirwari
and Rajiv Kumar Mishra will now be SP, Guna in
Madhya Pradesh.
2 FORMER OFFICERS OF MAHARASHTRA
NOTIONALLY APPOINTED TO IAS
J T Patil and S N Dhivare, former State Civil
Service Officers of Maharashtra cadre, have been
notionally appointed to the IAS against the Select
List of 2018.
MS ARCHANA GOYAL GULATI
RETURNS TO PARENT CADRE
Ms Archana Goyal Gulati, Joint Secretary, NITI
Aayog, has been given premature repatriation
to her parent cadre with imposition of extended
cooling off condition.
MS SUMITA MISRA RETURNS TO
PARENT CADRE
Ms Sumita Misra, Joint Secretary, Economic
Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, has been
accorded premature repatriation to her parent
cadre in order to avail promotion in the cadre. She
is a 1990 batch IAS officer of Haryana cadre.
POWERGallery
By arrangement with: http://
whispersinthecorridors.com
West Bengal: Develop-
ment in West Bengal is
only possible when
Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee leaves and the
BJP ‘kamal’ (lotus)
blooms, said BJP na-
tional President JP Na-
dda on Wednesday
.
“PM Modi ji has tried
everything possible to
bring development in
Bengal while Mamata
has exploited the public
through appeasement
and dictatorship, and
damaged Bengal’s cul-
ture. Development in
West Bengal will be pos-
sible only if you say
goodbye to Mamata’s
government and wel-
come the BJP’s lotus,”
Nadda said while at-
tending the party’s ‘Cha
Chakra’ programme in
the Kharagpur district.
“Kamal is the way
ahead. It will bring de-
velopment in Bengal.
Recently, Modi ji dedi-
cated Rs 4,700 crore for
a refinery project and
Rs 25,000 crore for high-
ways. All this develop-
ment will be possible
only when the lotus
blooms,” he added.
Nadda is in WB as
part of the parivartan
yatras being carried out
in an effort to oust the
ruling Trinamool Con-
gress. The first yatra
was launched by Nadda
from Nabadwip in Na-
dia district on Saturday
.
Assembly polls are
likely to be held in West
Bengal in April-May
this year. —ANI
Devp only possible when Mamata
leaves, lotus blooms in WB: Nadda
Senior BJP leader
and Union Home
Minister Amit Shah will
visit poll-bound West
Bengal on Thursday
where the elections for
the West Bengal As-
sembly are scheduled
to be held in April and
May this year. Anil Bal-
uni, BJP Rajya Sabha
member and media in-
charge said in a press
statement that during
his one-day stay, Shah
will flag-off the fourth
phase of ‘Poribortan
Yatra’ from Cooch
Behar and participate in
various programmes.
“Tomorrow Shah will
visit the historic Shri
Madan Mohan Temple
and offer prayers.
New Delhi: Drug firm-
Wockhardt on Wednes-
day said it has been
awarded a six-month
extension of its agree-
ment with the UK gov-
ernment to fill-finish-
COVID-19 vaccines.
This expands origi-
nal agreement untilAu-
gust 2022, and the man-
ufacturing will contin-
ue to be undertaken at
the company’s North
Wales-based subsidiary
CP Pharmaceuticals,
Wockhardt said.
On the development,
UK International Trade
Secretary Liz Truss
said, “It brings impor-
tant investment to the
local area, bringing jobs
security to the com-
munity as we battle this
awful pandemic”.
Wockhardt’s invest-
ment shows “strength
of our trading ties with
India which is a boost to
our already-strong vac-
cine supply as we build
back stronger from cor-
onavirus”, she added.
Washington: Describ-
ing India as one of the
most important part-
ners of the US in the
Indo-Pacific region, the
Biden Administration
said that it welcomes In-
dia’s emergence as a
leading global power
and its role as a net secu-
rity provider in the re-
gion. “India is one of the
most important part-
ners in the Indo-Pacific
region to us. We wel-
come India’s emergence
as a leading global pow-
er and its role as a net
security provider in the
region,” State Depart-
ment Spokesperson Ned
Price told reporters at
news conference.
New Delhi: Petrol and
dieselpricesonWednes-
day scaled new highs in
the country as rates
were hiked for the sec-
ond day in a row.
Petrol price was
hiked by 30 paise per
litre and diesel by 25
paise a litre, according
to a price notification
of state-owned fuel re-
tailers.
The increase took
petrol price to an all-
time high of Rs 87.60 a
litre in Delhi and to Rs
94.12 in Mumbai.
Diesel rates rose to Rs
77.73 per litre in the na-
tional capital and to an
all-time high of Rs 84.63
in Mumbai.
Rates vary from state
to state depending on
the local incidence of
taxation (VAT) and
freight.
Oil Minister Dhar-
mendra Pradhan in Ra-
jya Sabha said the gov-
ernment is not consider-
ing a reduction in excise
duty to cool rates from
their record highs.
New Delhi: Ministry of
Home Affairs stated in
Rajya Sabha that the
rules under the Citizen-
ship Amendment Act
(CAA), 2019 are under
preparation and the Act
has already come into
force with effect from
October 1, 2020. The
Ministry made the
statement in response
to Congress MP Digvi-
jaya Singh’s question
on whether it has draft-
ed the rules to be noti-
fied under CAA. “If yes,
then what are details
including the date by
which the rules are ex-
pected to be notified. If
not, then what are the
reasons?” he asked.
New Delhi: Interna-
tional traffic fell by
90.56 per cent to 18.55
lakh in 2020 due to
the pandemic as com-
pared to the corre-
sponding period of
2019, Civil Aviation
Minister Hardeep
Singh Puri said.
Moreover, domes-
tic passenger traffic
fell to 3.77 crore in
March-December pe-
riod of 2020 from
11.99 crore in the cor-
responding period of
2019, minister said.
Scheduled interna-
tional passenger traf-
fic continues to re-
main suspended in
India since March 23,
2020, due to the pan-
demic. However, spe-
cial international
flights have been op-
erating since July
2020 under air bubble
a r r a n g e m e n t s
formed with various
countries.
“Revenues of ma-
jor Indian scheduled
carriers fell from Rs
46,711 crore during
April-September 2019
to about Rs 11,810
crore during April-
September 2020.
UK extends Vaccine
supply deal with
India’s Wockhardt
Intn’l air traffic fell
by 90.5% in 2020
US welcomes
emergence of
India as global
leading power
Fuel prices at
fresh high as
rates go up
second day
Nadda is in WB as part of parivartan yatras being carried out in an effort to oust TMC
BJP National President J.P. Nadda addresses in Birbhoom, West Bengal. —PTI FILE PHOTO
Rules under
CAA is being
prepared:
Home Minister
New Delhi: Under a
campaign to rescue
missing and abducted
girls, the Madhya
Pradesh police have res-
cued 2,444 minors in
January
. According to a
police official, a total of
3,122 cases of missing
and abducted girls re-
mained pending at the
end of the last month.
“Operation Muskan’
was carried out in Janu-
ary in which 2,444 miss-
ing and abducted girls
were rescued from Mad-
hya Pradesh and out-
side the state,” the offi-
cial from the MP police
headquarters here said.
Out of those rescued,
175 minors belonged to
Indore, 144 from Sagar,
115 from Dhar, 107 from
Rewa, and 102 girls from
Chhatarpur in Madhya
Pradesh; he further add-
ed. Under the opera-
tion, about 82 per cent
of the missing girls
were found in MP and
the remaining were
traced to other states.
As per official, 141
girls were rescued from
Punjab, 8 from Telan-
gana, 6 from Kerala, 5
from JK, 4 from West
Bengal, 3 each from
Karnataka and the Un-
ion Territory of Da-
man, and one from As-
sam. Some of the girls
were also traced in Gu-
jarat, Maharashtra, Ut-
tar Pradesh, and Ra-
jasthan, he said.
2,400 missing girls rescued by cops
Mamata took a swipe at the BJP over the
‘Rath Yatras’ saying that the saffron party
leaders are travelling on raths “as if they are
gods”. “Rath Yatra is a religious festival. All
of us have participated in this festival. We
know Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Goddess
Subhadra travel in those chariots. But, the BJP
leaders are using this Rath Yatra for their own
political purposes. BJP leaders are travelling on
raths as if they are gods,” Banerjee said.
Raths are for Gods and Goddesses,
not Politicians: Mamata Banerjee
ASSAM TO DISCONTINUE COVID TESTING
AMIT SHAH IN BENGAL TODAY

NEWS
07
Promoted by
Vrion Global Pvt. Ltd.
PLEASING
PICTURES
REQUIREMENT
HOLDS UP
PRINTING OF
GRADATION LIST
BOOK!
In the digital world,
everyone knows the
importance of pictures
as a picture can speak
a 1000 words. This
importance of picture
in our life has become a
reason for the delay in
the printing of gradation
list book of officers of
the state.
The printing work
of the gradation list
book was in full swing
for the 550 officers
but once the officers
came to know that the
pictures to which are to
be printed are from the
time they applied for the
job everyone wanted
to change it as the
officers cannot recognize
themselves in these
pictures.
The hold up in the
printing began when an
officer came to know of
his picture to be printed
and got it changed to a
recent one. Instead of
keeping it to himself, the
officer had revealed the
details about the picture
to his friend who in-turn
told to their friends. In
short duration of time,
every officer in the list
wanted to update their
photos so that when in
the future the book is
referred then people can
recognize everyone.
With the current
situation it is to be seen
whether the book which
was to be published in
January will be published
in February or not. The
person who is tasked
with the printing of the
book is not to be blamed
as how can he refuse to
change the picture when
the request comes from
prominent officers.
—Ahtesham Siddiquii
WHEN NAGAR
NIGAM’S
ACCUSED AND
PROBERS ARE
SAME!
While Lucknow
Nagar Nigam
blew the trumpet with
mega cleanliness
rally in Lucknow on
Wednesday, it hasn’t
looked to sanitise its
conscience. While
Nagar Nigams are often
accused of adopting
corrupt practises, the
Lucknow Nagar Nigam
has gone a step ahead.
The Nigam has deputed
two of its Lekhpals for
probing a matter in
which they themselves
are accused. The two
Lekhpals, tainted of
giving under the table
favours to one of the
builders, are in the probe
team of the same matter
that builder is accused
in. He has charges of
siphoning off a piece of
land in Kanausi region of
the city with the help of
two Lekhpals here. And
as soon as the matter
has been transferred
to the two Lekhpals for
probe, they are more
than willing to shield
the accused builder. In
this whole episode, the
Lekhpals are also trying
to divert the Nigam’s
attention by stating that
they are being threatened
by a local corporator.
—Vishal Srivastav
First India Bureau
Lucknow: With assem-
bly election due early
next year the demand
for establishment of a
High Court bench in
Western UP is once
again gaining momen-
tum. As a part of set-
ting up agenda the BJP
MP from West UP Vijay
Singh Tomar on
Wednesday took up the
matter in Rajya Sabha.
Even as it had been a
potential political
weapon for West UP
based Rashtriya Lok
Dal (RLD), the BJP has
been trying to capture it
well in advance to coun-
ter the rival forces.
Tomar pressed for
acceptance of the de-
mand for a bench in
west UP as this region
is quite far off from
Prayagraj (then Alla-
habad). This is also
an emotive agenda for
the people of the
west.
Though it has never
been a public move-
ment in Allahabad, in
west UP it is. Thereby
RLD, which has joined
farmers agitation, al-
ways kept it on top of
its poll agenda.
But successive gov-
ernments at the centre
always looked other
way
. During his stint in
UPA II government
RLD chief Ajit Singh
had taken up the matter
with the then Union
Law Minister Kapil
Sibal who in turn had
sought opinion from UP
government, but for po-
litical reasons the state
government quietly sat
on the issue.
The issue, hanging in
fire for the last 60 years,
has time and again been
in limelight with people
agitating over it as it is
major political issue in
West. The possibility of
BJP raising it to higher
pitch to divert the atten-
tion of the people from
farmers stir could thus
not be rule out.
Historically the issue
was raised during the
chief ministership of
Sampoornanand for the
first time in 1955 and
later in 1976, the state
government had pro-
posed to the Allahabad
High Court for the es-
tablishment of the
bench. While it was sub-
sequently reiterated by
the UP government in
1978 and 1979 before the
court on plea of “justice
at doorstep”, Justice
Jaswant Singh commis-
sion had finally recom-
mended for the bench in
the year 1984.
The demand for a sep-
arate bench is closely
connected with people
of west UP who travel a
long distance to attend
HC in Allahabad, which
is far away from cities
such as Meerut (637
km), Saharanpur (752
km), Ghaziabad (607
km), Bijnaur (692 km),
Moradabad (662 km),
Bulandshahr (567 km),
Rampur (633 km), Agra
(461 km), Aligarh (500
km), Mathura (500 km),
Amroha- JP Nagar (692
km), Muzaffarnagar
(693 km) and Gautam-
buddha nagar (617 km).
Thus, a huge popula-
tion in west UP could
be benefited, which has
18 Lok Sabha constitu-
encies and 90 assembly
seats.
Demand for HC bench in West UP gains momentum
While the demand for setting up a separate bench in UP West was never a public movement in Prayagraj, in West UP it is
HOTEL LOBBY JOINS LAWYERS
First India Bureau
Delhi/Noida: The Up-
per House of Parlia-
mentonTuesdaypassed
the National Capital
Territory of Delhi Laws
(Special Provisions)
Second (Amendment)
Bill, 2021 to regularise
unauthorised colonies
in Delhi. With this
move, the experts be-
lieve will boost the re-
alty sector, which was
reeling under slump.
It is expected that
this decision will large-
ly hit realty sectors in
NCR.
The experts say that
colonies like Sainik
Farms, Anant Ram
Dairy, Mahendru En-
clave which is was in
affluent colonies cate-
gory will get a boost.
The experts further say
that this boom will dent
NCR, especially Noida’s
realty sector.
“Sainik Farm is a
very old and affluent
colony in Delhi area.
The buyers instead of
getting attracted to
NCR cities, will be more
interested over here.
The area is already has
water supply, main-
tained by MCD, gas pipe
line. In the heart of
Dehi with dense green.
Considering all the
facts people will attract
to colonies like Sainik
Farms rather moving to
group housing luxury
segment” said Dinesh
Gupta, CMD of Samri-
dhi group.
“The government of
UP
, will have to give spe-
cial mileage to the UP-
NCR, especially Noida
and Greater Noida. But
so far we are finding
that bureaucracy is le-
thargic and ultimately
pushing behind one of
the finest planned cities
in India,” Gupta further
said.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: The bail ap-
plication filed in the
special court SC-ST Act
on behalf of Ravi and
Lavkush, accused in the
case of alleged gang-
rape and death of a
Dalit girl in Boolgadhi
village of Hathras was
heard on Wednesday.
The Hathras incident
had given the Yogi gov-
ernment a lot sleepless
nights. The bail applica-
tion was filed on 3rd
February and the court
has reserved its verdict.
CBI investigating offic-
er DSP Seema Pahuja
was present in the court
while the victim’s
brother also reached
the court under the pro-
tection of CRPF. Ac-
cused Ramu’s bail plea
was rejected on Janu-
ary 29th by the court.
The four accused in
the Boolgarhi case,
Sandeep, Ramu, Ravi
and Lavkush are cur-
rently in Aligarh Jail.
The CBI after 67
days of investigation
had submitted the
chargesheet to Special
Court of Hathras (SC-
ST Act). The four ac-
cused were also given
a copy of the
chargesheet after their
appearance in the
court on January 4.
Advocate Munna
Singh Pundir on 8th
January had filed a
bail application for ac-
cused Ramu which was
to be heard on 20th
January but couldn’t
be heard due to a strike
by lawyers.
The bail plea was
then heard on 29th Jan-
uary, and the court on
Wednesday finally after
hearing the arguments
from both parties has
reserved the verdict.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: A week be-
fore the Valentine’s Day
is celebrated as Valen-
tine week when couples
shower their partners
with gifts and love but
Lucknow has woken up
to surprising banners.
Gomtinagar intere-
sections of the city wit-
nessed posters that
stated ‘Siddhi Hates
Shiva’, reminding eve-
ryone of the Sonam Be-
wafa case.
The hoardings and
posters of ‘Siddhi
Hates Shiva’ on the
streets seems to point
that a girl named Sid-
dhi has been deceived
by the boy named Shi-
va, after which the
girl has invented a
new way to defame
the boy.
Gomtinagar, in the
capital city of Lucknow
has always been the
first choice of people
for hangout so the place
can be bustling with
youth and couples.
The poster of ‘Siddhi
Hates Shiva’ has not
only surprised every-
one but has triggered
the curiosity among
people to know the sto-
ry behind the poster.
First India Bureau
Firojpur: Jayant
Chaudhary, RLD Na-
tional Vice President
addressing thousands
of farmers who took
part in Firojpur Ma-
hapanchayat, said that
farmers should be ac-
tive in the fight for their
rights and should not be
divided due to factors
like religion and caste.
Chaudhary said that
when PM Modi was the
then CM of Gujarat, he
had written to then PM
Manmohan Singh on 11
March 2011 demanding
the improvement in the
medium between cus-
tomer and farmer as
well as declaring MSP.
He added that PM
Modi had forgotten
these demands as he
transformed from CM
to PM and has now
implemented agricul-
tural laws which ben-
efit the corporate.
During his address, Jay-
ant Chaudhary said
that the farmers are
stubborn on their de-
mands and will force
the government to give
up on the agricultural
laws.
He added that the po-
lice do not want to use
force on the farmers
and neither the farmers
want to be nuisance as
the IAS and PCS offic-
ers are one of them. He
also gave the slogan
which roughly trans-
lated says ‘we are re-
bels, Modi will lose and
farmers will win’.
On the demand of the
farmers he announced
that another Mahapan-
chayat will be held in
Bulandshahr.
Thousands of farm-
ers thronged the Ma-
hapanchayat in tractors
and were soon joined by
Haryanvi singer Ajay
Hooda which was a
cause of renewed en-
thusiasm in the people.
Centre’s move boosts
colonies like Sainik Farms
‘Factors like caste,religion should
not divide farmers’: Jayant
One of the posh properties in Sainik Farms.
Representative picture. One of the posters in Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow.
Jayant Chaudhary addresses Mahapanchayat in Firojpur village.
Bullion Businessman
Verma flees to Nepal
Hathras Case: Bail plea of accused heard Reminiscent of Sonam Bewafa, Siddhi hates
Shiva posters throng Gomti Nagar intersections
First India Bureau
Gorakhpur: Bul-
lion businessman Sa-
gar Verma, who
bought jewellery
from the cops who
robbed it, has report-
edly crossed borders
and is presently hid-
ing in Nepal. Accord-
ing to reports, in-
spector Dharamen-
dra Verma alongwith
three constables,
who were posted in
Basti seized 8kgs of
silver and 10grams
of gold from employ-
ees of businessman
Sunil Verma at
Khajanchi Chauraha
of Gorakhpur.
Shahpur police, act-
ing swiftly on the
complaint arrested
the accused after
identifying them
from CCTV cameras,
who, during interro-
gations revealed that
they had sold 4 KG of
silver to another bul-
lion businessman in
Maharajganj named
Sagar Verma.
The bullion
businessman Sagar
Verma however es-
caped to Nepal soon
as he received the
news that his accom-
plices have been
caught. The police
then detained his fa-
ther and brother to
pressurize him to
surrender but to no
avail. The police then
received information
that Sagar Verma
has escaped to Nepal.
Accused Sagar
Verma bought 4 kg
of silver from cops
who had robbed it
Allahabad High Court

Once a person realises that the
only limit is their own mind then
nothing can stop them, nothing!
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO Editor, First India
08
2NDFRONT
First India Bureau
Lucknow: BJP high
command has decid-
ed to engage its heav-
yweights to wrest the
ruling Trinamool
Congress’ citadel of
Birbhum that com-
prises 14 Assembly
constituencies.
The saffron camp is
likely to send Rajnath
Singh, Smriti Irani,
and Uttar Pradesh CM
Yogi Adityanath to the
south Bengal district
shortly as the party
showed impressive per-
formance by bagging
leads in four Assembly
seats out of 14 in
the 2019 Lok Sabha
elections.
The saffron camp
gained remarkable
momentum by taking
its vote share to more
than 40% in 2019
from 8% in 2016.
“Since we have made
deep inroads in north
Bengal in 2019 gen-
eral elections by bag-
ging seven Lok Sabha
seats out of eight,
now we are giving
stress in south Ben-
gal. We are expecting
a tooth and nail bat-
tle with the TMC in
Birbhum district as
our performance in
the previous Lok Sab-
ha elections was im-
pressive,” said a BJP
leader.
Eyeing the 14 Assem-
bly seats in the district’s
two Lok Sabha constitu-
ency -- Birbhum and
Bolpur, Union Home
Minister Amit Shah
held a roadshow in Bol-
pur on December 20 last
year.
The four Assembly
seats — Dubrajpur,
Suri, Sainthia, and
Rampurhat — in the
Birbhum Lok Sabha
constituency wit-
nessed BJP’s aggres-
sive onslaught in the
general elections in
2019. When the saf-
fron camp secured
the lead with a razor-
thin margin in Sain-
thia seat, the differ-
ence was between 5%
to 9% in three other
seats. Among the
four seats, two are
reserved for candi-
dates belonging to
Scheduled Caste com-
munities.
“In the 2019 Lok Sab-
ha elections, we per-
formed well in the re-
gions dominated by the
voters belonging to the
SC communities. In
Birbhum districts,
Dalits form more than
35% of total elector-
ates as Scheduled
Tribe voters have more
than 6% electoral
stake. So, we are pre-
paring for an all-out
battle in Birbhum as
the district turned to
be a fertile ground for
us in the previous gen-
eral elections,” said a
BJP leader.
CM Yogi Adityanath, Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani
BJP pitches heavyweights to wrest
South Bengal seats from TMC
Party likely to send Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani and CM Yogi Adityanath to Birbhum
First India Bureau
New Delhi: The Cen-
tre informed Parlia-
ment on Wednesday
that the Allahabad
HighCourtismonitor-
ing the CBI probe into
the rape and murder
case of a 19-year-old
woman in Hathras, as
directed by the Su-
preme Court.
In a written reply to
aquestionintheRajya
Sabha, Union Minis-
ter of State for Home
G Kishan Reddy said
the apex court had ob-
served that since the
Uttar Pradesh police
was divested of the
probe and the central
agency is carrying out
the investigation,
there would be no
room for apprehen-
sions at this stage.
He said the investi-
gation into the case
has been transferred
to the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI)
on the recommenda-
tion of the state gov-
ernment through a
gazette notification of
October 10, 2020.
Reddy said accord-
ing to the available in-
formation, the Su-
preme Court, in its or-
deronOctober27,2020,
had observed that the
petitioners had prayed
thattheUnionof India
and the authorities
concerned be ordered
to conduct a fair probe
and if the need arises,
by transferring the
case to the CBI, or a
special investigation
team (SIT) be formed
to investigate the mat-
ter and that it was also
prayed that a sitting or
retiredSupremeCourt
or high court judge be
appointed to look into
the matter.
Reddy said the Su-
preme Court observed
that it would be appro-
priate for the high
court to proceed to
monitor the probe in
themannerinwhichit
would desire and that
the CBI shall report to
the high court in the
manner as would be
directed by the high
court through its or-
ders from time to time.
First India Bureau
New Delhi: Of the to-
tal 4,78,600 prison in-
mates in the country,
Uttar Pradesh had the
overall highest num-
ber of prisoners –
1,01,297 (or 21.16 per
cent of the country’s
total prison inmates)
— followed by Mad-
hya Pradesh (44,603)
and Bihar (39,814).
Total 3,15,409 or 65.90
per cent prisoners be-
long to the Scheduled
Castes, Scheduled
Tribes and the Other
Backward Class catego-
ries, according to gov-
ernment data presented
in Parliament on
Wednesday
.
The maximum num-
ber of prisoners from
the OBC, SC, and ‘Oth-
ers’ categories were in
Uttar Pradesh jails,
while ST community’s
inMadhyaPradeshjails,
according to the data.
The prison statistics
presented by Minister
of State for Home Af-
fairs G Kishan Reddy
were based on a compi-
lation of data by the Na-
tional Crime Records
Bureau (NCRB) updated
till December 31, 2019.
Rajya Sabha member
Syed Nasir Hussain had
soughttoknowif thema-
jority of prisoners in the
country’s jails are Dalits
andMuslims,acategory-
wise break-up on their
numbers and what ef-
forts the government
was making to rehabili-
tate and educate them.
First India Bureau
Saharanpur: Farmers
have made the country
“atmanirbhar” (self-re-
liant) but they are being
made to suffer through
the new farm laws, Con-
gress leader Priyanka
Gandhi Vadra said on
Wednesdayatafarmers’
meeting in Saharanpur.
The kisan mahapan-
chayat is being held in
the face of prohibitory
orders banning large
gatherings by the dis-
trict administration.
The government does
not understand farmers
or what they stand for,
said Priyanka, who was
attending the mahapan-
chayat as part of the
party’s 10-day “Jai
Jawan, Jai Kisan” cam-
paign.
The party has been
vociferously supporting
the farmers’ protest and
UP
,wherestateelections
are due next year, has
become a new area of
focus. “They call farm-
ers agitators, extrem-
ists,andterrorists.They
doubt the farmers, but
the heart of the farmer
can never be against the
nation. The farmer’s
heart, his work itself is
for the land. How can
they betray the nation?”
added the Congress gen-
eral secretary
.
“The PM had time to
go to Pakistan, he had
time to go to China, but
he did not have time to
visit the bordering areas
of his constituency and
meet farmers,” she said.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: Attacking
BJP government, SP
President Akhilesh Ya-
dav said that Jungle Raj
in the state has crossed
its limit and the society
is feeling oppressed due
to the BJP government’s
practices.
He said that UP CM’s
Zero-tolerance policy
against the criminals
has no effect on the
criminals as the crimi-
nals in the state are
roaming freely
.
Akhilesh in a state-
ment on Wednesday
said that the liquor ma-
fia under the BJP gov-
ernment has been tak-
ing lives of innocent
people. The liquor mafia
after the Kanpur inci-
dent last year has this
time around too taken
the life of more police-
men as a Constable and
SI who had gone to take
action against illegal
liquor being made in
Nagla Dhimar were
thrashed by goons.
The SI was admitted
to the hospital in seri-
ous conditions while the
Constable died
The SP president said
that incidents of harass-
ment of female in Luc-
know have been increas-
ing as recently a student
of Babasaheb Bhimrao
Ambedkar University
was molested and her
brother who protested
against it was beaten up.
Akhilesh said that
due to the farmer’s
movement the political
situation of the state
has changed and he be-
lieves that in the upcom-
ing 2022 elections SP
will have the confidence
of the general public.
Uttar Pradesh registers
highest number of prisoners
PMhadtimetovisitPakbutnotfarmers:Priyanka
SP chief slams BJP
over UP law order
First India Bureau
Lucknow: In accord-
ance with the directives
issued by Chief Minis-
ter Yogi Adityanath for
timely completion of all
construction works of
Police department, the
Additional Chief Secre-
tary (Home) Awanish
Awasthi instructed the
PWD officials to ensure
completion of quality
work within time frame.
He directed officials
entrusted with the task
to provide utilisation
certificate of govern-
ment funds by February
end. Awasthi issued in-
struction while review-
ing district-wise con-
struction work of Police
Department, conducted
by Public Works Depart-
ment (PWD) here at Lok
Bhawan on Wednesday
.
As part of the ongo-
ing construction work
of residential and non-
residential buildings of
the police department, a
total of 353 construction
works are being done by
the PWD.
These construction
worksof thedepartment
include coming up of
hostelsandinvestigation
rooms at 317 police sta-
tions besides barracks
with a capacity of 200
people set to be estab-
lished at 30 PAC centres.
Furtherfourtransithos-
telsbesidestwoadminis-
trative buildings would
also be constructed.
It may be mentioned
that the government has
issued directives for en-
suring availability of
residential facility for
all police personnel, spe-
cially women police per-
sonnel on top priority
.
Further, the govern-
ment has also issued di-
rectives for carrying out
works related pertain-
ing to land, cutting of
trees and demolition of
building.
Ensure quality work in time: Awasthi to PWD officials
ON THE JOB
ACSAwanishAwasthi reviewing construction work related to Police
Department at Lok Bhawan onWednesday.
MOCK DRILL
Police conducting a mock drill to check their preparedness to tackle riots and deal with
anti-social elements, at Parivartan Chowk in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav
Priyanka Gandhi with other Congress leaders during Kisan
Mahapanchayat in Saharanpur on Wednesday.
First India Bureau
Lucknow: As many as
66,692 manual scaven-
gers, including 37,379 in
Uttar Pradesh, have
been identified across
the country
, the govern-
ment said on Wednes-
day
. In a written reply in
Rajya Sabha, Minister
of State for Social Jus-
tice and Empowerment
Ramdas Athawale said
340 people have died
while cleaning sewers
and tanks in the last five
years.
Out of the 340 deaths,
full compensation has
been paid to 217 and par-
tial compensation has
been paid to 47, accord-
ing to the data shared by
Athawale. A total of
66,692 manual scaven-
gers have been identi-
fied across the country
.
The highest number of
manualscavengershave
been identified in UP at
37,379 followed by 7,378
in Maharashtra, 6,170 in
Uttarakhand and 4,295
in Assam.
UP tops list
in manual
scavenging
in country
lll
ACS directed
officilas
entrusted with
the completion
of Police dept
construction
work to provide
utilisation of
funds by Feb
HATHRAS GANG RAPE CASE
—PHOTO
BY
SUMIT
KUMAR
HC monitoring CBI probe
as directed by SC: Centre

LUCKNOW, THURSDAY
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
09
09
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
lease don’t be angry with
me for bringing two love
tragedies to you in Valen-
tine week but I belong to
a generation brought up
on love stories of Romeo-
Juliet and Heer-Ranjha,
so there is a beauty and a ‘sighing
pleasure’ in tragic love for me.
Ek Duje ke liye was a statement
that love is forever, in spite of
barriers of language, caste, re-
gion, food, parental disapproval
– love sustains. In Qayamat se
Qayamat Tak, love bloomed like
a flower amid cactus. There was
an innocence to the love of Ka-
mal Hasan and Rati Agnihotri
and the songs were lovely, Hum
bane tum bane and Tere mere
beech mein are still favourites for
me. As a teenager I adored the
scene where Rati writes the
name of her beloved all over the
walls of her room, Mere Jeevan
Saathi is still one of the cutest
numbers in a lift, detailing the
names of movies!
Papa Kehte Hain and Aamir
Khan brought a fresh love to the
audiences and such was the pow-
er and on-screen chemistry of
the love of Aamir and Juhi that
QSQT made them overnight
stars! The youth of the day iden-
tified with the couple, they were
Raj and Rashmi in their minds
and hearts, breaking the tradi-
tions and standing steadfast for
their love. The beautifully sim-
ple songs like a brook bubbling
are still much listened to…
“Akele hai toh kya gum hai,
chahe toh humare bas mein kya
nahi, bas ek zara, saath ho tera,”
what better defines love than
this? The people adored the so-
cute smooches of the duo and
Juhi with her ‘hum’ instead of
‘main’ had many a girl copying
her. With a heroine who can’t
cook and a hero who isn’t macho
– I loved it!
The young couples’ despair
when both sets of parents refuse
to understand their love and fo-
cus on their ego, tugs at the heart-
strings in both movies. And when
they choose to die together rather
than living away from the other…
in our hearts…we all yearn for
such a love…
ISHQ PYAAR
ISHQ PYAAR
YA JANOON!
YA JANOON!
In the Valentine week, City First celebrates love through two movies which
are all about love, there is no sub-plot – it’s love which runs like a sparkling
stream in these movies- Ek Duje Ke Liye and Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak!
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
P

RASHMI KUCHHAL
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
conceived Handi in 1984. It is located in
Jaipur’s busiest and most centrally lo-
cated areas, MI road and Vaishali Nagar.
It is a place for North Indian, Tandoori,
Mughlai Food. I firmly believe that good
food, in general, brings incredible satis-
faction and happiness to one Handi
welcomes its guests with immense warmth
along with a lot of spices making them feel at
home as soon as they put their first foot in!!
We serve some very authentic non-vegetar-
ian dishes and are famous for our Lal Maas,
Jungli Maas, Handi Meat, Butter Chicken
etc. I would like to share two of my favour-
ite dishes that I love to cook for my family-
10
ETC
F
A
C
E
O
F
T
H
E
D
A
Y
SHREYA KALRA, Fashion Blogger
LEO
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
Success is foreseen in
raising capital for
something important. A
senior may favour you on
the academic front and offer you all
the help. By strict dietary control and
exercise you can enjoy a full life, even
if you are ailing. There is no escaping
some responsibilities.
LIBRA
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
Profits accrue in a
business venture and keep
you in a financially healthy
state. Distractions at work
can lead to mistakes, so remain
focused.Excitement on the domestic
front prevails as a family member
returns home after a long period. You
are likely to enjoy a family trip.
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20
Getting a chance to meet
an important client is likely
to propel your business
forward. Exceeding the
budget may destabilise the financial
front. Those ailing will find distinct
improvement in their condition.
Family will appear most responsive
to your needs.
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 23 - DEC 22
Savings are likely to
accumulate and give your
financial position a big
boost. This is not the day
when you can afford to sit back and
relax at work, because a new task
stares you in the face! Those ailing are
likely to be on the road to recovery.
Your achievements will be praised.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
Fatigue and irritation may
be the lot of those
undertaking a long journey
today. You will get the
opportunity of impressing others
through the property that you own.
Don’t get starry-eyed and assume
things, as you can offend someone
on the romantic front.
AQUARIUS
JAN 21 - FEB 19
Previous investments will
start giving handsome
returns and keep your
account in a healthy state.
You will manage to achieve your aims
on both personal and professional
fronts. You are likely to feel strong and
energetic as an ailment disappears.
Someone in the family will help you.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 20
Good financial
management promises to
get you more for your
money. Letting a senior
intervene in a complex situation at
work will be the right step. You
manage to remain in shape by eating
wisely. Your hard work will bring you
good fortune and positivity.
CAPRICORN
DEC 23 - JAN 20
Money comes from an
unexpected source to
finance something
important. Making the right
moves at work will help win favour of
those who matter. Remaining regular
in workouts is the key to achieve
total health. You will manage to tie
up a lot of loose ends.
VIRGO
AUG 24 - SEP 23
Efforts to get a raise or
increment are likely to
succeed. Your suggestions
and opinions will be
respected in a professional matter at
work. Even irregular workouts will
keep you in good health. Homemak-
ers will have enough money to see
the work to completion.
CANCER
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
A wrong financial decision
may prove heavy on the
pocket. At work, you can
have more on your platter
than you had bargained for, but you
may take it as an opportunity to
impress higher ups! Your self-moti-
vation to remain fit works wonders. A
family member will benefit you a lot.
PISCES
FEB20 - MARCH 20
Don’t get unduly worried
about someone’s health, as
his or her condition is set
to improve. An initiative
taken by you on the family front will
be appreciated by all. Those buying
or selling property may sign a
profitable deal. Your ambitious trait
is likely to drive you on to success.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
Financially, you will
manage to tap a few
additional sources of
income. There is a good
chance of earning big bucks for
those in the creative field. Those
ailing are likely to be nursed back to
health by the family. Overly busy
schedule can give you little time.
YOUR
DAY
Horoscope by
Saurabbh Sachdeva
A SERIOUS AFFAIR
I have always been
very passionate
about food. I grew
up in a family
where food was
considered to be a
serious affair. I
always saw my
parents putting in
a lot of efforts to
introduce us to
new dishes and
cuisines. My
parents travelled a
lot and
consequently, we
got accustomed to
varied cultures!
RASHMI KUCHHAL
I
I
have another
recipe for my
wonderful and
foody readers!
The wellknown
cooking technique
– Dum Pukht, that
is cooking the dish
with steam until it
matures, is said to
be an innovation of
the Nawab of
Awadh. Being on
fire – sealed with
dough though it
takes hours and
hours to prepare,
the aroma keeps
everyone waiting
to relish the fla-
vours of the dish.
Handi, around
heavy bottomed
utensil, was nor-
mally used and it
was made a point
to seal the utensil
with a dough
known as purdah
or veil so as the
moisture and fla-
vours are retained
in the dish. The
reason behind the
style of slow cook-
ing is roasting and
proper maturing of
the prepared dish
and sustains the
flavours and aro-
ma.
The two most rel-
ished dishes made
by this fragile tech-
nique of slow cook-
ing are Dal Makha-
ni and Dum Biry-
ani. These dishes
are cooked for
hours and hours to
get the best results.
Here’s a recipe
of one of the most
famous dishes –
Dum Biryani,
which has evolved
from the lands of
Mughals.
INGREDIENTS
1- Mutton – 1 kg
2- Ghee – 75 gms
3- Jeera – 1 ½ tsp
4- Dalchini – 4 piec-
es
5- Doda elaichi – 4
pieces
6- Onions – 3 medi-
um (thinly sliced)
7- Rice – 500 gms
8- Tej Patta – 4 piec-
es
9- Salt to taste
METHOD
Soak the rice in
water for an hour.
Meanwhile, boil
mutton with half
the quantity of tej
patta, dalchini,
jeera and some
salt.
Strain and keep
aside. Heat the
ghee, add doda elai-
chi( cardamom)
and the rest of
jeera, dalchini
(cinnamon) to it.
Add the sliced
onions, stir till col-
our changes. Add
rice (after draining
water), salt
strained stock and
bring it to a boil.
Cook on dum till
the rice is fluffy
and well done.
Serve with some
curd to relish its
taste best and leave
us finger licking.
Dum Biryani Prepared From
The Magic Of Slow Cooking
I
n chilly nights,
there is nothing
more comforting
than a simmering
cup of soup. Burst-
ing with flavors of
garlic, onion and
mushroom, this
mushroom soup is
highly nutritious
and also a perfect an-
tidote for frozen
nights. So just to en-
sure you stay nour-
ished and warm, a
quick recipe of the
Mushroom soup. You
can have this soup
ready in about 25
minutes, and can
freeze the leftover for
the chilly days
ahead.
INGREDIENTS
Chopped mushroom
– 1 cup
Finely chopped on-
ions – 2tbsp
Finely chopped gar-
lic cloves – 5
Butter – 2 tsp
Milk – ½ cup
Plain flour ( maida)
– 2 tsp
Freshly ground
black pepper and
salt to taste
PROCEDURE
 Combine the milk
and 2 cups of water
in a deep pan and
bring to a boil. Keep
aside.
 Heat the butter in
another deep pan,
add the onions
garlic and sauté
on a medium
flame for 1 minute.
 Add the mush-
rooms and sauté
on a medium
flame for 2 to 3
minutes.
 Add the plain
flour and sauté
on a medium
flame for a few
seconds.
 Add the milk-wa-
ter mixture grad-
ually and cook on
a medium flame
for 2 to 3 minutes,
till no lumps re-
main, while stir-
ring continuously
 Add the salt and
pepper and bring
to a boil. Soup is
ready
.
Enjoy a bowl of com-
fort and stay
warm.
MUSHROOM SOUP

First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021

First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021

First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021

First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021

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First india lucknow edition-11 february 2021