PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: shikha.

vaidya T: 03-25-2025 23:40

BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD. | ESTD. MDCCCXXXVIII | Vol. 58 No. 70 AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 | PAGES 30 | PRICE `4.00

Over 30k taxpayers

declare foreign
assets, income of
`30,300cr due to
nudge campaign:
FM Sitharaman
* INCLUSIVE OF AHMEDABAD TIMES (FOR AHMEDABAD AND GANDHINAGAR CITIES ONLY) INDIA’S LARGEST ENGLISH NEWSPAPER | To subscribe call 1800 1200 004 or visit subscribe.timesofindia.com
PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: dhaval.patel T: 03-25-2025 21:47
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: shikha.vaidya T: 03-25-2025 23:54

BENNETT, COLEMAN & CO. LTD. | Estd. MDCCCXXXVIII | VOL. 58 NO. 70 AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 | PAGES 30 | PRICE ` 4.00

* INCLUSIVE OF AHMEDABAD TIMES (FOR AHMEDABAD AND GANDHINAGAR CITIES ONLY) INDIA’S LARGEST ENGLISH NEWSPAPER | To subscribe call 1800 1200 004 or visit subscribe.timesofindia.com

OSCAR-WINNING PALESTINIAN DISHA SALIAN'S FATHER SUBMITS RANYA ADMITTED TO USING

DIRECTOR BALLAL ATTACKED BY COMPLAINT TO TOP COP SEEKING HAWALA CHANNELS FOR GOLD
ISRAELI SETTLERS, ARRESTED 10 FIR AGAINST AADITYA 8 PURCHASES: DRI IN COURT 9

Kamra gets notice; action Cutting large no.

of trees worse
A’bad 2036 Olympic bid carries
than murder: SC a price tag of `34k-``64k crore
causes reaction: Shinde New Delhi: Observing that
cutting a large number of tre-
es was worse than killing a
Coordination Panel PAST & FUTURE GAMES EXPENDITURE
Comic Seeks 1 RAUT SHARES AJIT’S OLD CLIP ON SHINDE human being, Supreme Co- Reviews Games Olympics
Expenditure
urt on Tuesday said no mercy
Man accused of Week To Appear We understand satire. Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane should be shown to people Preparedness (Rs, Crore)*

raises issue in LS, demands ban London 2012 22,449

But there should be a who damage the environ-
raping daughter Before Police limit… Otherwise, action causes on comedy platforms promoting ment and approved imposing
Jignesh.Parmar
@timesofindia.com
Rio 2016 16,461
hate speech, creating tension
kills self in custody V [email protected] reaction… This is like taking
‘supari’ (contract) to speak against Sanjay Raut reposts old video
afine of Rs 1 lakh for each ille-
gally cut tree. The SC bench Ahmedabad: The twin citi-
Tokyo 2020 21,425
Paris 2028 32,765
Surat: Hours after being de- Mumbai: Deputy CM Eknath someone… The same person of Ajit’s criticism of Shinde as sent out a clear message that es of Ahmedabad and Gand-
tained for allegedly raping Shinde Tuesday responded to those indulging in illegal cut- hinagar have unveiled their LA 2028 43,633
had commented on Kamra says ‘What I said is
his minor daughter, a 45-year- the controversy stirred by Ku- SC, PM and some exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar ting of trees without appro- ambitious plan to host the Brisbane 2032 26,522
old diamond artisan died by nal Kamra’s vi- industrialists. This is (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr val from the authority con- 2036 Summer Olympics, Ahmedabad- Up to * Inflated to Yr. 2021 (in INR Cr.);
**Estimated OCOG cost presented before
suicide in Varachha police deo alluding to not freedom of speech; Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM)’ cerned must be dealt with an with the final blueprint esti- Gandhinagar 41,100** Coordination Committee for Olympics 2036
custody Tuesday. Deputy him as “gad- this is working for Ajit defends himself saying: iron hand. TNN P18 mating costs between Rs
commissioner of police (zo- dar”, likening ‘My statement was correct at 34,700 crore and Rs 64,000 cro- cessed by TOI, reveals esti- strategically divided into
someone
ne-1) Alok Kumar told TOI: the stand-up co- that time while presenting the re. mated costs involved in two distinct budgets: the Or-
— Eknath
“He pulled off his shirt and
hanged himself from the ven-
median’s jibe to
“taking a supa- Shinde | DY CM view of the Oppn. Today this
statement is not correct’
Russia, Ukraine Titled “Review Meeting –
Preparedness towards Am-
bringing the prestigious
sporting spectacle to the
ganising Committee for the
Olympic Games (OCOG)
tilation grill inside the wash-
room. He has three daughters
ri” and said if decorum is not
maintained while doing satire online Sunday. His lawyer The comic also put out a
agree to truce in davad 2036”, the document
was presented in Gandhina-
twin cities of Gujarat and fo-
ur other cities in India name-
budget, which covers the or-
ganising costs, and the non-
and a son. Two daughters are
married while the 16-year-old
“action causes a reaction”.
Kamra, meanwhile, asked
submitted a letter explaining
his absence due to professio-
fresh video on X of a parody
song with images of Shiv Sai-
Black Sea: US gar this week during the bra-
instorming session of the
ly Bhopal, Goa, Mumbai and
Pune, placing the potential
OCOG budget, which covers
infrastructure and operatio-
nal costs for the host city. P 3
girl and son lived with him.
His wife died a couple of ye-
ars ago.” According to the
Khar police for a week’s time
to appear before them after he
was issued a notice Monday
nal commitments in Pondi-
cherry. On Tuesday, a second
FIR for defamation was filed
niks burning his effigy and
vandalising the studio Habi-
tat in which he shot his contro-
T he US said Russia and
Ukraine have agreed to
a truce in Black Sea and to
high-level coordination com-
mittee for the Olympic bid.
The final blueprint, ac-
expenditure in the context of
previous Olympics editions.
The financial outlay is Continued on P 3
complaint, the incident took night in connection with the against Kamra in Dombivli versial show in the backgro- work out mechanisms for
place at around 5 am Monday FIR lodged against him over based on a complaint filed by a und. implementing the ban on
when the victim and her yo-
unger brother were sleeping
the controversial video of a se-
ven-week-old show he shared
Shiv Sena functionary the
previous day. Continued on P 14
strikes against energy in-
frastructure. In separate Trump says some countries ‘Why no decision
in their room. The accused statements, the White Hou-
on defecting BRS
went to their room and alle-
gedly raped her. TNN P 5 78% of judges TALK OF THE TOWN Yogesh Chawda
se said Tuesday three days
of technical-level talks in
Saudi Arabia with teams
may get tariff exemptions MLAs after 1 yr?’
selected for HC from Russia and Ukraine Washington: US President
Brace for overnight New Delhi: Noting that
NEWS DIGEST from upper caste
had yielded agreements “to Donald Trump said on Mon- the application to disqualify
ensure safe navigation” in
the Black Sea. P10
day automobile tariffs are co- migration rule tweaks three BRS MLAs who alle-

2 outfits leave O n a question related to

social diversity in hig-
ming soon even as he indica-
ted that not all of his threate-
A notice published last
month by secretary of
gedly defected to Congress
is pending for almost
Hurriyat, Shah her judicial appointments, ned levies would be imposed
state Marco Rubio reclassifi-
a year before the Telangana

hails move
law ministry informed Parli-
ament last week that 78% Engineer’s body on April 2 while some count-
ries may get breaks. At the es immigration and border-
assembly speaker, Supreme
Court Tuesday asked
related regulations as ‘fore-
Union home minister Amit
judges appointed to different
HCs in the last 7 years, since
2nd found from White House, Trump told re-
porters he may give “a lot of ign- affairs functions’, which
why there had been no deci-
sion one way or the other,
Shah Tuesday hailed the means policies can bypass
dissociation of J&K People’s
2018, were from upper castes,
while minorities and SCs &
T’gana tunnel countries” breaks on tariffs,
but provided no details. the public notice & comment
reports Amit Anand Cho-
udhary. If wondered if the
Movement and Democratic process under the Admini-
Political Movement from the
separatist Hurriyat Con-
STs comprised 5% each.
Those from OBC category
were 12%. Responding to a
T he body of Manoj Kumar,
a project engineer from
UP, was recovered inside the
Bloomberg and the Wall
Street Journal reported ear-
lier that the administration
strative Procedure Act. P 10
decision would be taken af-
ter the assembly’s term
ends.
ference, saying, the “unifying
question in LS, law minister collapsed Srisailam Left was narrowing its approach Meanwhile, Trump said Hearing a plea by BRS
policies of the Narendra Modi
Arjun Ram Meghwal said of Bank Canal tunnel in Telan- to the broad batch of levies the US would impose tariffs MLAs seeking the court’s
govt have tossed separatism
715 HC judges appointed sin- The final round of The Times of India Torrent Power Public Speaking gana early Tuesday morn- Trump has been saying for on autos, pharmaceuticals direction to the speaker to
out of J&K”. The two outfits
ce 2018, 22 belong to SC cate- Contest was held in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The top five winners ing. The body of a missing weeks would be imposed on and aluminium in “the very decide within four weeks, a
publicly denounced the
gory, 16 to ST, 89 to OBC and 37 (from L) include Saurabh Pandey, Parul University, Vadodara; Om Satani, worker had been found two April 2. near future”, arguing that bench of Justices B R Gavai
Hurriyat and its agenda and
from minorities. TNNP 18 Marwadi University, Rajkot; Shrey Joshi, Christ College, Rajkot; Deekshita weeks ago. In all, eight per- US stocks ended Monday the US would need all those and A G Masih said it is pri-
vowed allegiance to the
Athreya, Nirma University, Ahmedabad; Devansh Oza, MSU, Vadodara | P 2 sons had been trapped after broadly higher on optimism products in the event of wars ma facie of the view that SC
Constitution of India. P 6
the roof collapsed on Feb 22 that the tariffs set to be detai- or other problems. REUTERS can interfere if the decision
‘Not even 1% of at Domalpenta village in Na- led next week may not be as is not taken within a reaso-
$601m tax & fine notice
to Samsung: Samsung and
its executives in India have
central pollution Varma inquiry panel garkurnool district. TNN P18 extensive as expected. Continued on P 10 nable time. P 18

plan fund spent’

been asked to pay $601 million
in back taxes and penalties for
dodging tariffs on import of
New Delhi: Amid the “very visits ‘cash-burning’ site
grim” air pollution scenario New Delhi: The three-mem- gu, Himachal Pradesh HC CJ G
telecom equipment. It is one
in the country, a parliamenta- ber judicial inquiry panel, ap- S Sandhawalia and Karnataka
of the biggest such demands
ry panel Tuesday flagged that pointed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna HC’s Justice Anu Srinivasan
in recent years. P12
not even 1% of the Rs 858 cro- to inquire into the alleged dis- — inspected the room which,
re allocated to environment covery of huge amounts of according to the police video,
Allahabad HC order on ministry for a central pollu- cash at Justice Yashwant Var- was the place where piles of
rape: SC takes note: SC on tion control scheme had been ma’s official residence on
Tuesday took suo motu cogni-
utilised till the fag end of this March 14, visited the judge’s Continued on P 14
sance of the controversial
fiscal year. The scheme aims Tughlaq Crescent bungalow
order passed by Allahabad HC
to monitor air quality across Tuesday afternoon and spent cash were seen smouldering
which had held that grabbing
India and take appropriate nearly 45 minutes there. and looked for features to
a minor girl’s breasts and
mitigation measures, besides Sources said the panel — match the physical appearan-
breaking her pyjama string
monitoring water quality comprising Punjab and Harya- ce of the room with that shown
were not enough to charge an
and noise levels. TNN P18 na HC Chief Justice Sheel Na- in the video. TNN P 9
accused with the offence of
rape or attempt to rape.

ICMR uses drone to send

corneal tissue: ICMR
teamed up with AIIMS and Dr
IIT-D prof charged with negligence
Shroff’s Charity Eye hospital
on a feasibility study on using
drones to send sensitive
in PhD scholar’s death at Lothal loose earth and mud, and her
[email protected]
biomaterials such as human
body was recovered during
corneas and amniotic mem-
Ahmedabad: Nearly four the rescue operation.
brane grafts to hospitals for
months after the death of a The FIR names Prof Dixit
transplants.
PhD scholar from IIT Delhi as the accused under Bharati-
(IIT-D) at Lothal following a ya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) sec-
TOI
landslide, Koth police station tions 106(1) for causing death
Doctors say most tumbles
happen at home but there
Why older Indians are more
LATEST IN HEALTH RESEARCH

No more waxing or shaving.

registered an FIR naming the by negligence, and 125(a) for
are ways to prevent

IIT-D guide for ‘causing death endangering human life or

Sweet solution may be here
them or, at least, Smearing a stevia-like

minimise injury
prone to dangerous falls and anti-slip tiles. “Even healthy senior
sweetener on hair
follicles could stop
hair growth in lab
settings, according to
a study published in the
British Journal of Dermatology.

by negligence’. The family of personal safety through rash

Feet apart: Stand with feet about shoulder- Eyes closed: citizens are susceptible to accidents. When Researchers found that taste buds in
1 width apart, eyes open, and hold steady for 4 If you can perform the elderly fall, fear sets in and there is de- hair follicles can be stimulated with a
FOUR 10 seconds, working your way up to 30 sec the first three creased mobility. This can be even more natural sweetener to prevent hair
growth by reducing cell division.
Pushpa Narayan, Anuja Jaiswal
& Srirupa Ray | TNN
EXERCISES TO Feet together: Stand with feet together,
exercises safely and dangerous,” says Dr AB Govindaraj, a sen-
ior orthopaedic from MGM Healthcare, “Our study introduces an innovative
IMPROVE 2 eyes open, and hold steady for 10 sec, with little support, try
to do each one with
Chennai. In fact, many older adults fear drug-free strategy for suppressing
Ramachandran R was an active falling even if they haven’t fallen before, unwanted hair growth,” the study
82-year-old doing brisk morning BALANCE working your way up to 30 sec. Once you can do your eyes closed. Hold says Kishore. “This fear may make them authors told The Independent.
this for 30 sec, move on to the next one avoid basic activities such as walking, shop-

Surabhi Verma, the victim, or negligent actions. Both are

walks and gardening in the evenings. Stand in a corner for 10 sec, working
Till he tripped over his sleeping Lha- or have a kitchen One foot: Stand on one foot, eyes open, up to 30 sec. Aim for ping, or having an active social life. But Air pollution ups risk of
sa Apso during a midnight bathroom
visit and suffered a fractured hip in counter in front to 3 and hold steady for 10 sec, working up to five repetitions
staying active is crucial to keep your body
healthy, and it actually helps prevent falls.”
Parkinson’s threefold
August last year. After surgery and reach out to 30 sec. Switch to the other foot twice a day People with a genetic
many sessions of physiotherapy, he The importance of exercise disposition to
quit all outdoor activities. centre of gravity, with weakened reflexes ularly review medications of seniors to As muscles atrophy with age, physical Parkinson’s disease
Saradha, 84, was cleaning her din- compromising balance,” she points out. identify those that might cause dizziness activity is imperative for senior citizens living in heavily
ing table when she fell and fractured Other risks include a slower walking or affect balance. “They must wear non-slip to prevent falls, says Dr Chatterjee, adding, polluted cities are at a
three times higher risk

termed it a victory of perseve- cognizable offences, meaning

her femur. Though the bone has healed pace and neurodegenerative conditions like footwear. Unstable surfaces should be avoid- “One should focus on improving strength,
since, she refuses to walk without a Parkinson’s disease, decreased bone den- ed. Educating both seniors and carers about balance and flexibility through yoga and of developing the progressive
walker even within the house. TAKE THIS sity and diminished muscle strength, fall prevention, and prompt reporting of chair exercises. Leg and core strengthen- neurodegenerative disorder, a
study by US scientists published
30-SEC TEST particularly in women’s quadriceps, balance issues, weakness or dizziness, is ing routines are particularly beneficial.”

F
or older folks, falls are serious leading to unstable walking patterns. crucial for reducing incidents,” he says. Dr R K Pathak, a 73-year-old orthopaedic in the JAMA Network Open journal
and even when the injuries heal, Time how long you can “Apart from balance and gait prob- surgeon based in Mumbai, began pilates has found.
they can lead to a confidence stand on one leg. If you can lems, the main cause of frequent falls classes with Kishore a little more than a
crisis. According to the US Cen- last for 30 seconds, your is age-related loss of muscle mass Physical strength year ago, egged on by his daughter. “I did How your dahi habit wards
tres for Disease Control and (known as sarcopenia) and blood pres- balance routines which I found to be very
balance is good. People in reduces as off deadly colon cancer

rance and said that justice the accused can apply for bail.
Prevention, more than one out of four sure that drops too much when you get good. I had begun to slouch a bit and pi-
adults who are 65 and above suffers a the 5-10 second range up from a lying down or sitting position we age and posture lates helped improve my posture. It also Researchers at
Getty Images

fall every year, and falling once doubles have a serious risk (called postural hypotension),” says changes shift the increased my mobility, muscle power Massachusetts
the chances of falling again. In India, of falling Ruchi Kishore, a Mumbai-based pilates and stamina. As a doctor, I would rec- General Brigham
most hospital records show fall cases instructor and wellness coach who has a
body’s centre of ommend pilates to all senior citizens as have found that
among senior citizens are growing by lot of senior citizens among her clientele. gravity. This, along it’s an excellent routine for the four regular yogurt
the year. Why do older folks fall? with weak reflexes, things we need the most — posture, reflex- consumption may lower
“Even a minor fall can put them at “Multiple chronic conditions such as di- Making homes senior-friendly compromises balance es, balance and muscle power,” he says. risk of colorectal cancer. Their study,
great risk of injury, immobilise them, abetes, hypertension, cardiac or kidney How do they keep their balance then? published in Gut Microbes, analysed

should be done to her memory The FIR states that Prof

and cause serious health issues. It’s the disease, and the use of multiple medica- “One can install parallel steel bars at Manjari Tripathi, HEAD OF Lessons on fall management decades of dietary data and found
second leading cause of unintentional tions are among the highest contributing hand-holding height along walls at 1ft NEUROLOGY, AIIMS DELHI What if you still fall? “If a fall is una- that two or more servings of yogurt
injury deaths worldwide,” says geriatri- factors,” says Dr Deepa. With increasing intervals for the person to hold on to voidable, try to let your body go limp, per week led to a significant
cian Dr S Deepa, director of the Nation- age, the risk of falls also rises — around while walking,” says Dr Tripathi. For and keep your knees, wrists, and elbows reduction in a particularly deadly
al Institute of Ageing in Guindy, Chen- 25-30% of people aged 60 have accidental severe balance issues, she recommends Rise of fall clinics loose and bent. Drop whatever you have type of colorectal cancer.
nai. In the past year, it has reported 237 falls, and the figure rises to 35% for those using a tripod stick for walking. Many hospitals treating elderly patients in hand. Tuck in your chin and throw
fracture cases due to falls in those over aged 70-80 — says Dr Manjari Tripathi, Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consult- now have fall clinics, some even offering your arms up around your ears to pro-
60. “All these people fell inside homes,” head of neurology at the All India Insti- ant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, services to screen for ‘dark or danger spots’ tect your head,” says Dr Govindaraj. Email your feedback to
she says, adding that generally 6 out of tute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New believes frequent vision and hearing tests at home. They typically suggest handrails After the fall, one must stay calm, take [email protected]

with a proper investigation. Dixit asked Surabhi to collect

10 falls in the elderly happen at home — Delhi. “Physical strength reduces as we can identify spatial orientation issues that on staircases and inside bathrooms, elder- deep breaths, and call for help if the pain with Health Plus in the subject line.
in bathrooms, kitchens, or balconies. age and posture changes shift the body’s might cause falls. Also, doctors should reg- ly-friendly toilets, path lights in bedrooms, is severe or if they are dizzy. Please mention your name and city

And much more on P 11 Surabhi, 23, lost her life af- samples from the trench even
ter she could not be evacuated when she did not have any
following a landslide on Nov knowledge of the collection
File photo of rescue efforts of Surabhi
27 last year. She was at the bot- process and even when there
Verma & Prof Yama Dixit at Lothal
Employee-driven tom of a trench of more than were no safety equipment pre-
giving is key 15 feet depth along with her gu- took place, covering both wo- sent at the site.
to Gen-Z ide, Prof Yama Dixit, in the men. While Dixit was rescued,
engagement morning when the landslide Surabhi got buried under the Continued on P 4
Full story | P13

Waltz a mistake! US NSA’s U’khand govt schoolkids

flub exposes bombing plan say ‘ni hao’ to Mandarin
[email protected]
Chidanand Rajghatta TNN
According to lengthy Spoken Sanskrit in 13
Dehradun: Doon University
Hegseth text, the first U’khand villages
Washington: US President is teaching Mandarin to aro-
Donald Trump on Tuesday
detonations in Yemen would und 250 students, primarily
rejected calls to fire his Na-
tional Security Adviser Mi-
be felt two hours hence, at
1:45 pm eastern time
from Class 11 and 12, enrolled
in 15 govt schools in Uttarak-
T hirteen villages, one in ea-
ch district of Uttarakhand,
are being selected as Aadarsh
chael Waltz after a major se- — Atlantic mag’s editor-in-chief hand, with the aim of “equip- Sanskrit Gram to encourage lo-
curity flub where senior ad- Jeffrey Goldberg wrote after ping them with language cals to converse in Sanskrit. In
ministration officials used attending govt group chat skills to tap into global job Dimar village of Chamoli, home
an unsecured commercial markets while also supporting to those who oversee worship at
app to coordinate military
Message thread that national security interests Badrinath, language trainers
strikes on Houthi targets in was reported appears to be amid ongoing border tensions will be deployed in Apr. P14
Yemen last week. authentic & we’re reviewing with China”.
Waltz accidentally loo- how an inadvertent number The project was initiated in 2021. Shanky Chandra, head
ped in a journalist into a Sig- was added to the chain by Pauri Garhwal district ma- of the department (Chinese
nal chat titled ‘Houthi PC — National Security Council gistrate Ashish Chauhan in Studies) at Doon University’s
small group’ to discuss the spokesman Brian Hughes 2023 though it follows discus- School of Languages, told
bombing two hours before it sions held between former TOI, “This is the first time in
took place on March 13, gi- control over shipping lanes Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bi- India that Mandarin is being
ving the world a stunning in- in the Gulf. pin Rawat and Doon Universi- taught in govt schools.”
side look into the operation ty vice chancellor Surekha
aimed at establishing US Continued on P 10 Dangwal during Rawat’s visit Continued on P 14
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pradipkumar.deshmukh T: 03-25-2025 23:36

2 | THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 { GRAND FINALE

WORD WIZARDS CAST FINAL SPELL

Leave A Mark On A Packed Auditorium And Jury With Their Impassioned, No-Holds-Barred Three-Minute Speeches

SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE SCORE

SHREY JOSHI DEEKSHITA ATHREYA OM SATANI SAURABH PANDEY DEVANSH OZA
CHRIST COLLEGE, RAJKOT 84.33 NIRMA UNIVERSITY, A’BAD 82.00 MARWADI UNIVERSITY, RAJKOT 78.67 PARUL UNIVERSITY, VADODARA 78.33 MSU, VADODARA 76.33
If time travel were possible,
Should voting be made mandatory? Should euthanasia be legalised? Is India ready to host the Olympic Games? Genuine influencer culture or hype?
where would I go?
I would travel back to August 15, 1947, and ask Gandhiji As Oscar Wilde said, we’re all in the gutter, but some of You do not get to decide who dies and who lives. In a India is a country of 1.4 billion and we’re aspiring for the When I say I’m influencing someone, I mean that I have an
how he remained so calm amidst the chaotic violence. I’d us are looking at the stars. Voting is a right which helps country like India, legalising euthanasia will only lead to Olympics. Cricket is our most popular sport but we’re impact on the person’s personality, growth, thoughts. But
go to Babasaheb Ambedkar to ask him what went into the us participate in and contribute to democracy. The option innocent people being killed by their own family nowhere in football or basketball! We need infrastructural the problem is we confuse entertainers or comedians or
making of our Constitution. of NOTA sends a message to parties to do better. members because they don’t want to take care of them. changes. Are we economically stable to host the Games? dancers or actors with influencers.
Pics: Yogesh Chawda

THE GRAND JURY Grand finale

gives Gujarat
its best orator
Team TOI

T
he final round of The Times
of India Torrent Power
Public Speaking Contest
concluded on a high note at
JB Au d i t o r i u m ,
Sunaina Tomar (IAS), additional chief Ahmedabad Management Association
secretary, higher and technical education (AMA), on Tuesday. A total of 20 ora-
tors from Ahmedabad, Surat, Va-
dodara, and Rajkot vied for the top spot
with their extemporaneous speeches
suffused with personal anecdotes and
impassioned appeals, holding the audi-
ence in rapt attention.
The contest reaffirmed the power
of articulate expression and spunk
among the state’s college students,
some of whom voiced unpopular opin-
ions without mincing words.
The finalists, who had triumphed
in the regional rounds, took on the
challenge of speaking their mind on
Piyush Patel (IPS), director, Gujarat
diverse topics ranging from Olympics,
Anti-Corruption Bureau
urban planning, e-commerce and time
travel to electric vehicles, euthanasia
and mandatory voting with elan.
The young speakers articulated
their thoughts in merely three min-
utes, touching upon various aspects
and summing them up in their sig-
nature style, making the contest a
test of both spontaneity and clarity. A MOMENT IN THE LIMELIGHT: Winners of The Times of India Torrent Power Public Speaking contest share the stage with judges, posing with their trophies and certificates
The jury, comprising distinguished
personalities from various fields, had
a challenging task of selecting the best
among the best.
They too contributed their perspec-
Abhijit Shukla (IFS), regional passport tives on subjects pertaining to care for
officer, Ahmedabad the elderly, public-private partnerships
and the infrastructure required to host
Olympics.
After an intense battle of words,
five contestants emerged triumphant
and the one with the highest score was
declared Gujarat’s finest orator.
The event concluded with the win-
ners receiving cash prizes from the
total pool of Rs 3 lakh, along with ac-
colades for their outstanding speeches.

Dr Somesh Chandra, cancer surgeon

Mukesh Patel, international tax expert

 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: c-manan.dave T: 03-26-2025 00:00

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES CITY 3

Reshaping a city: `22k cr infra

plan for 2036 Olympics revealed
Budget To Be Used ‘Good potential
For Expenses to optimise
Other Than Direct cost budget’
Operational Costs Continued from P1

T
Jignesh.Parmar he estimated OCOG bud-
@timesofindia.com get for Ahmedabad rang-
es between Rs 18,600 cro-
Ahmedabad: Bringing the 2036 re and Rs 41,100 crore. This en-
Summer Olympics to Ahmedabad compasses a wide array of ope-
isn’t just about winning a bid, it’s rational costs, including the
about reshaping a city’s future. For competitions, workforce, ac-
City records 41.5°C,
highest in Gujarat
this, the urban development depart-
ment is preparing an infrastructu-
re overhaul of Ahmedabad and its
twin city of Gandhinagar. The mas- GEARING UP!
commodation, technology,
transportation and temporary
infrastructure. When compa-
red to past and future Olym-
Driver crashes into
Ahmedabad: Temperature fluctu-
ations continued as the maximum on
Tuesday reached 41.5 degrees celsius,
sive financial blueprint required to
stage the international sporting
spectacle was revealed at a recent
NON-OCOG EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED
Upgradation New permanent
OCOG INDICATIVE BUDGET
Major
In
`cr
pics, the figures place Ahmed-
abad within a similar range.
According to the review do-
vehicles, assaults
making Ahmedabad the hottest in Guj-
arat. It was followed by Surendrana-
gar at 40.8 degrees celsius and Rajkot
high-level coordination committee
review. The non-Organising Com-
mittee for Olympic Games (OCOG)
of existing
venues:
Rs 2,190cr-
3,300cr (e.g.
SPORT
VENUES
`11,020CR
facilities (already
planned):
Rs 4,330cr-5,940cr
expenditure
Venues
Sports, Games
Min

2,818
Max

3,936
cument, the OCOG budget for
London 2012 was Rs 22,449 cro-
re, Rio 2016 stood at Rs 16,461
citizens near mall
at 40.7 degrees celsius. In all, eight ci- budget — a critical component of crore, Tokyo 2020 reached Rs TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Permanent Services & 5,644 9,415
ties and towns, including Gandhina- the Olympic hosting strategy — is IIT 15,558CR Facilities
21,425 crore, and Paris 2024 was
gar and Vadodara, recorded temper- estimated to be between Rs 16,060 Gandhinagar Operations Rs 32,765 crore while for Los Ahmedabad: The city’s posh
facilities) (additionally for
atures above 40 degrees celsius. Ahme- crore and Rs 22,878 crore. Technology 2,636 4,321 Angeles 2028 it is projected at Vastrapur area witnessed
Olympics):
dabad’s maximum of 41.5 degrees cel- Authorities are looking at fun- People Rs 43,633. The maximum esti- shocking scenes of lawless-
Redevelopment of Rs 1,044cr-1,404cr 1,574 5,636
sius was 4.3 degrees above normal, ding through a mix of govt grants, Management mated OCOG budget for Ah- ness late on Sunday when a
existing venues:
whereas the minimum at 22.1 degrees corporate sponsorships, and inno- International Broadcast medabad exceeds even that of heavily intoxicated man be-
Rs 3,456cr-4,914cr Ceremonies &
celsius was 1 degree above normal. vative revenue streams like lotteri- Centre (IBC): 622 1,599 Paris 2024, indicating the scale hind the wheel of an SUV
(e.g. Rifle Club Culture
According to the India Meteorolog- es. Rs 1,440cr-2,160cr of ambition. However, the revi- went on a reckless rampage,
shooting range)
ical Department (IMD), the maximum The non-OCOG budget encom- Communications, ew notes that there is “good po- injuring several people and
and minimum temperatures on passes capital investments requi- Marketing and 653 1,891 tential to optimise cost budget” damaging vehicles. The accu- tacked Modi but also assaul-
Wednesday could be around 40 degrees red for venue redevelopment, new Look for the Games in Ahmedabad. sed, identified as 24-year-old ted his elderly father, the
celsius and 21 degrees celsius, respec- constructions and transport in- Corporate The non-OCOG budget, fo- Haresh Thakor, a resident of complaint states. The father
tively. The forecast indicates a fall in frastructure enhancements — ex- Administration 991 2,343 cusing on capital investment Thaltej area, was reportedly lost his mobile phone worth
maximum and minimum temper- penses that are separate from direct & Legacy for both sports and non-sports driving under the influence Rs 15,000 in the chaos, Modi
atures by 2-3 degrees during the next operational costs of hosting the Ga- venues, is estimated to fall bet- when he lost control near Hi- told Vastrapur police.
Paralympic 994 1,313
three days. TNN mes. “This budget is dedicated to ween Rs 16,100 crore and Rs malaya Mall on Drive-In Ro- As the situation escalated,
modernising existing sports venu- Others 1,669 6,231 22,900 crore. This includes the ad. The FIR in the case was fi- an agitated crowd gathered,
es, constructing new facilities and Contingency 957 4,346 costs associated with upgra- led at 11.55pm on Monday. demanding action against
Man held smuggling upgrading transport networks to
support the event,” said a senior ur-
Total 18,557 41,031
ding existing venues, redevelo-
ping some and constructing
This incident took place
just a day after the city police
Thakor. The accused alleged-
ly pulled out a knife and char-
`34L gold at airport ban development department offi-
cial.
PUBLIC FUNDING SOURCES BEING CONSIDERED INCLUDE new permanent and tempora-
ry facilities.
commissioner claimed that
law and order in the city is un-
ged at bystanders. The enra-
ged crowd overpowered him
Ahmedabad: A passenger from Du- A significant chunk — between HOST CITY CONTRIBUTION: LOTTERIES: Drawing on the precedent of the Analysis of data shared in der control. Police will now and beat him before police ar-
bai was apprehended by a team from Rs 11,020 crore and Rs 15,558 crore — Allocation from the Ahmedabad Commonwealth Games in India being partly the review document reveals probe how Thakor got liquor. rived, a Vastrapur police offi-
the Customs department at the city will be allocated to upgrade spor- Municipal Corporation’s budget funded through lotteries, this remains a that the non-OCOG expenditu- According to eyewitnes- cial said.
airport on Tuesday. The man was fo- ting venues across Ahmedabad and possible avenue, given the legalisation of re for London 2012 was signifi- ses, around 10pm on Monday, This is yet another case of
CENTRAL / STATE CONTRIBUTION: lotteries in 13 Indian states
und to be in possession of 382g of 24-ca- Gandhinagar, according to the re- Dedicated grants and financial support cantly higher at Rs 71,073 crore, Thakor’s speeding Thar first drunk driving in the city and
rat gold with a market value of Rs 34.7 port, Review Meeting – Prepared- through government missions DONATIONS: Seeking contributions from largely due to extensive city- rammed into a two-wheeler, the state overall. A drunk bu-
lakh. ness towards Amdavad 2036, shared NGOs and corporations wide infrastructure upgrades. then crashed into three cars, sinessman ploughed his luxu-
An examination of the passenger with the committee. NATIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT Rio 2016’s non-OCOG bud- including a vehicle belonging ry cars into parked vehicles
resulted in the recovery of a 382.1g gold Facilities around IIT Gandhina- FUND (NSDF): Potential diversion of a OLYMPIC CESS: A potential levy on get was Rs 49,956 crore, while to one Prerak Modi, who was on the Bopal Ambli Road and
bar, derived from gold spray paste mix- gar are set to receive a facelift with share of NSDF towards Non-OCOG transactions to contribute towards hosting Tokyo 2020 had a comparative- travelling with his father and also injured a woman. Earlier
ed with chemicals, concealed between Rs 2,190 crore to Rs 3,300 crore, while expenses the Games ly lower non-OCOG budget of wife. this year a 50-year-old, also al-
the two layers of the trousers (leg- redeveloping sites like the rifle club Rs 27,046 crore. Paris 2024’s Modi’s vehicle was exten- legedly drunk, was involved
gings) worn by the person, mentioned shooting range and allied facilities grants and financial support thro- This remains a possible avenue, non-OCOG budget was Rs sively damaged, with both in a hit and run case in Mit-
a note by the department. It was the se- will require Rs 3,456 crore to Rs 4,914 ugh govt missions; and potential di- given the legalisation of lotteries in 21,343 crore. Ahmedabad’s pro- bumpers broken, causing an hakhali. A woman lost her life
cond gold seizure on the second conse- crore. version of a share of the National 13 Indian states,” adds the senior jected non-OCOG budget appe- estimated loss of Rs 20,000. in the incident. More recently,
cutive day from the airport. TNN Public funding sources being Sports Development Fund towards UD official. Also, there are options ars to be in line with more re- When Modi confronted Tha- on March 12 in Vadodara, law
considered include the host city non-OCOG expenses. of donations from NGOs and corpo- cent and future Games, sugges- kor about his reckless dri- student Rakshit Chaurasia,
contribution: allocation from the “There are options of drawing rations, and an Olympic Cess, a po- ting a potentially more focused ving, the accused allegedly allegedly intoxicated, killed a
CIVIC DIGEST Ahmedabad Municipal Corpora- on the precedent of the Commonwe- tential levy on any transactions to approach to venue develop- turned aggressive, hurled woman and injured several
tion’s (AMC) budget; central and alth Games in India being partly contribute towards hosting the Ga- ment leveraging existing in- abuses and started a violent others with his reckless and
state contribution: dedicated funded through lotteries. mes. frastructure. altercation. He not only at- drunk driving.
TP panel orders legal
action against advt cos
T he town planning committee of the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
One killed as cops sleep: Gantry removed, trains back on track
Shocking video goes viral
(AMC) on Tuesday issued directives for
legal proceedings to collect Rs 90 crore, TIMES NEWS NETWORK Corporation Limited The track and the OHE da-
comprising licence fees and delayed (NHSRCL) near the Geratpur- maged in the incident were
payment penalties, from 155 outdoor Ahmedabad: It was nearly 26 Vatva section of Ahmedabad restored and made fit for the
advertising firms in Ahmedabad. Earlier, TIMES NEWS NETWORK hand, lived in the Gujarat Housing Bo- hours after the segmental division. It affected the adjoi- movement of trains at around
in March 2023, the town planning com- ard complex in Bapunagar. “Witnesses launching gantry accidental- ning railway track and cau- 4.45am on Tuesday, a railway
mittee and AMC’s standing committee Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad was rocked said that the accused were heavily in- ly skidded at a bullet train sed the overhead electric equ- official said. The first goods
endorsed proposals for waiving more by a gruesome murder late on March 23 toxicated when they attacked the vic- project site near Ahmedabad ipment to break down, impac- train departed from the site at
than Rs 40 crore in late payment penalti- in the Bapunagar area, exposing both tims,” said a police official. Shockingly, that it was lifted and removed ting train movement. 5.36am, and the first passeng-
es for these firms. lawlessness and police negligence. Five while this murder was taking place, from the railway track. By No casualties were repor- er train at 6.06am, he said.
assailants brutally attacked two young cops assigned to patrol the area were fo- 5.30am on Tuesday, railway ted in the incident, but 38 tra- Senior officers and staff,
‘Review annual rent collection from men with knives, leaving one dead and und asleep on duty. authorities finally got the ins were fully cancelled. Se- Monday. The operation invol- including the Western Rail-
agencies’: The TP committee raised the other critically injured, while poli- A group of transgender individuals, track ready for train move- ven other trains, including ved two 750-tonne cranes, two way’s general manager, rus-
concerns regarding inadequate collec- ce officers stationed nearby were outraged by the lack of action, stormed ment. the Vande Bharat Express 500-tonne cranes, and a 130- hed to the site to monitor the
tion of yearly rental fees from compani- caught sleeping. A video of the sleeping the area where the cops were resting After the gantry was lif- between Gandhinagar and tonne capacity crane to remo- restoration work to facilitate
es installing electric lines, gas lines, and cops has since gone viral, and filmed them dozing off ted, the first train passed on Mumbai, the Shatabdi Ex- ve the gantry beams,” the movement of trains on the
optical fibre networks across city, both triggering outrage across on their cots. The video, the rail line at 5.36am on Tues- press between Ahmedabad NHSRCL, which is executing affected line, the WR earlier
overhead and underground. TP commit- the city. The incident occur- which shows officers slee- day, an official from the Wes- and Mumbai, and Ekta Na- the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bul- said.
tee directed officials to gather compre- red outside Karnavati ping as crime unfolded just a tern Railway’s Ahmedabad gar-Ahmedabad heritage spe- let train project, stated. “he However, officials said
hensive information about network Apartments, where two fri- short distance away, has sin- division said. cial trains, were partially can- lifting process was done to en- that the delay in using the al-
installations by these companies and ends — Vijay Shrimali, 19, ce gone viral, sparking wide- The incident occurred at celled, the official said. sure the safety of the bullet ternative route for the goods
validate the annual rental payments and Priyesh Vachheta, 31 — spread criticism of the poli- around 11pm on Sunday night “Lifting operations for the structure and prevent any train exposed the lack of coor-
received by the AMC. were sitting late at night. ce force’s inefficiency. at the bullet train worksite of affected gantry were success- further damage to the adjoi- dination between the railway
“A group of five men, led This occurred a day after the National High Speed Rail fully completed at 11.58pm on ning railway line,”it said. officials and seniors.
1,850 properties of tax defaulters by Jaysinh Solanki and Chi- the city police commissio-
sealed: The AMC authorities sealed rag Vaghela, arrived at the ner summoned people with
1,850 properties in the city’s western
region due to property tax defaults. The
property tax department collected Rs 2.3
spot and began hurling abu-
ses. When Vijay and Vachheta objected,
the situation escalated into violence.
Solanki allegedly pulled out a knife and
criminal antecedents to the
city crime branch to check whether
they were indulging in any crime.
“Even as locals rushed to inform the po-
Man files complaint Teenage girl learns she is 6-months
pregnant; rape investigation begins
after father-in-law
crore during this enforcement drive.
The civic body issued 3,928 notices to stabbed Vijay in the chest, killing him lice about the attack, there was no im- Ahmedabad: A 16-year-old doctor found her to be six
residential property owners who had not on the spot. mediate response. girl was found to be six months months pregnant and filed a
cleared their property tax dues. AMC Vachheta, who tried to intervene, It was only after the incident gained pregnant, after being admitted medico-legal case. A police of-
officials cautioned that failure to pay
would result in disconnection of water
and sewerage services. In the South
suffered severe head injuries and was
rushed to a hospital, where he remains
in critical condition,” said a police offi-
public attention that the police took
swift action, arresting five suspects,”
said a local resident. Bapunagar police
abducts his wife to Sola Civil Hospital. Sources
in Bodakdev police said that
the girl complained of sto-
ficer said that the accused was
known to the girl and raped her
repeatedly, causing the preg-
West Zone, the property tax department cial. charged the five accused under multi- TIMES NEWS NETWORK mach ache on Tuesday, after nancy. Police have recorded
took action against 232 defaulting Police officials said that Vijay, a resi- ple sections, including murder and un- The complainant which she was rushed to a ne- statements of her parents and
properties by sealing them. dent of Naroda, was visiting a relative lawful assembly, on a complaint filed by Ahmedabad: A man has ac- arby hospital. The treating have filed a complaint of rape
in Bapunagar. Vachheta, on the other Vachheta. cused his father-in-law of
reportedly heard on doctor suspected that she was under the Bharatiya Nyaya
abducting his wife from phone his wife telling pregnant and shifted her to So- Sanhita, the SC/ST (Preven-
`500 FINE BALLOONS INTO 7-FIGURE PENALTY DUE TO CLERICAL ERROR Vastrapur Lake. Thirty-ye- her father, “Papa, don’t la Civil Hospital. tion of Atrocities) Act and the
ar-old K K Nagar resident do this to me. Why are At Sola Civil Hospital, a POCSO Act. TNN

Fine-ancial crisis: Law student faces

Ritvik Nayak on Monday fi-
led a complaint alleging you ruining my life?”
that his wife of two months
was forcibly taken away by

`10L blow for not wearing helmet

her father Gagabhai Dev-
sinh Nayak when she went
to meet him near the lake on
Sunday evening. He told po-
TIMES NEWS NETWORK missioner’s office asked me lice that both their phones
According to a staffer to send a mail stating that have been switched off sin-
Ahmedabad: A law student the challan issued was for ce.
from Vastral received a rude
at police commissioner’s Rs 10,00,500 instead of Rs Ritvik, who works for a
shock when what should ha- office, the court portal 500.” private firm in Bodakdev,
ve been a Rs 500 fine for not incorrectly listed his According to him, the co- registered his marriage The call disconnected af-
wearing a helmet ballooned violation as ‘driving urt portal incorrectly listed with Binal on Jan 20 this ye- ter this and further at-
to Rs 10,00,500 on the court’s his violation under Section ar. On Sunday, at around tempts to contact her rema-
website. vehicle exceeding 194D of the Motor Vehicle 6.30pm, when Ritvik was at ined unsuccessful as her
Anil Hadiya was cited permissible weight’ Act as “driving vehicle exce- work, Binal called saying phone was switched off.
last April for riding without eding permissible weight” she was going to meet her Ritvik then called his
a helmet at Shantipura Cir- four challans against my na- “I am a law student in my instead of helmet rule viola- father near Vastrapur La- father-in-law, but the call
cle. “The cops took my photo me. I could pay three of them fourth semester, and my fat- tion. ke. went unanswered. Shortly
and my licence number. La- online, but not the fourth,” her is a small-time business- N N Chaudhari, the joint When Ritvik called her after, his phone too was
ter, I realised that I had been Hadiya said. man. How will I pay Rs 10 commissioner of police, at around 8.15pm, she told switched off.
issued a challan. I went to On March 8, when he lakh if the courts ask me to traffic, said, “There seems him she would return home Suspecting that his wife
Shantipura Circle traffic went to pay the challan after do so?” Hadiya said. to be some error in the entry after dinner. was forcibly taken away,
police and was told that I wo- receiving a court summons On Tuesday, Hadiya while sending the same to When he called again 15 Ritvik approached Vastra-
uld have to pay up online. Af- served on him by Odhav po- went to the metropolitan co- the court after 90 days. We minutes later and only he- pur police, who registered a
ter a few days, I forgot about lice, he found that the sy- urt and even visited the poli- will definitely inform the ard her telling her father, complaint of abduction
the pending challan. Later, stem showed an amount of ce commissioner’s office court and get the mistake “Papa, don’t do this to me. with the purpose of extor-
when I went to the RTO for Rs 10,00,500 instead of the Rs along with Harshad Patel, a rectified. I am not sure at Why are you ruining my li- tion and murder under the
some work for the two-whee- 500 penalty for the traffic of- social worker from the area. which end the error cropped fe? Drop me home at Ghatlo- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
ler, I was told that there were fence. “The staff at the police com- up,” he said. dia.” and began an investigation.
 PD: 26-03-2025
Z: AhmedabadCity
E: 1 U: pradipkumar.deshmukh
T: 03-25-2025 23:47

4 TIMES CITY THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

ATM cash loader siphons off `25L, absconding

TIMES NEWS NETWORK alleged incident that occur-
red on May 11, 2024. Bhadoria
vealed a shortage of Rs 25
lakh in the machine.
ching the cops. Based on the
findings, Chandkheda police
Two get 7 years in jail for
stealing cows for slaughter
Ahmedabad: An employee was assigned to load cash into In CCTV footage, Bhado- registered a case and a team
of a cash management com- a private bank’s cash recyc- ria was seen carrying a car- is out to trace Bhadoria.
pany tasked with loading ling machine at Civil Hospi- ton into the office washroom Police said further action
cash into an ATM is facing tal, Asarwa. and later leaving with a bag, will be taken based on the evi-
charges of breach of trust According to the compla- which was suspected to con- dence collected. The compa-
and misappropriation for al-
legedly embezzling Rs 25
int filed by Rajesh Makwana,
the cash management compa-
tain the missing cash.
Bhadoria resigned a few
ny has also initiated its own
legal proceedings. Police are Two Others Let Off that the link connecting them to the of-
fence was weak. “They were not found
lakh. ny’s route leader, Bhadoria days later and has been unre- examining Bhadoria’s finan- at the crime scene immediately after the
Chandkheda police regis- was responsible for deposi- achable since. The company cial records and possible con- For Lack Of Evidence incident, and they were considered ac-
tered a complaint against Ma- ting Rs 32 lakh into the ATM. initially conducted an inter- tacts to trace his whereabo- cused solely on the basis of the state-
noj Bhadoria regarding the An internal audit later re- nal inquiry before approa- uts. TIMES NEWS NETWORK ments of co-accused. During the inves-
tigation, some evidence emerged, but it
Ahmedabad: A city sessions court con- is insufficient to convict them,” the co-
victed two persons to seven years’ im- urt said.
prisonment for stealing cows for the For the convicts, the court stated,
purpose of slaughter and imposed a fine me was exposed. Imran and Mohsin we- “They were caught transporting cattle
of Rs 1.05 lakh on them. re caught from the vehicle, whereas the with an intent to slaughter them. They
Additional sessions judge H G Pan- other two allegedly escaped. Their na- were found at the scene of the accident
TEACHERS Required for dya punished Imran Shaikh, 35, and mes were revealed in the statements of with the vehicle involved. The cattle be-
CBSE School. Standard 1&2 Mohsin Shaikh, 29, residents of Dani- the arrested individuals. The four were ing transported were returned alive to
(Mother Teacher) Time 7.40
am to 3 pm Divya Jyot School, limda, but acquitted two others – Has- booked for stealing the cows, forgery their original owner. However, one of
Nr. Taj, Shilaj 7574811103 call him Qureshi and Taufiq Shaikh – due to and abetment under the IPC provisions, the cows was pregnant, which is a mat-
or whatsapp
inadequate evidence. as well as under the Gujarat Animal ter of concern for this court.”
According to the prosecution’s case, Preservation Act and the Prevention of The court did not award the maxi-
I Have Changed My Old Name all four allegedly stole a pregnant cow Cruelty to Animals Act. mum punishment, which is 10 years un-
From Lokesh Vimalbhai and a calf from a cowshed in Kuberna- The prosecution examined 16 wit- der Sections 6A and 8 of the Gujarat
Agrawal To Agrawal
Lokeshkumar Vimalbhai, gar in Jan 2023. They stuffed the ani- nesses and supplied 14 documents to the Animal Preservation Act, but instead
Address- D- 5/ 503, Orchid
Legancy, Applewood Town- mals into a hatchback car. While they court during the trial. The court found sentenced them to seven years in jail be-
ship, S.P. Ring Road, Shela, were on their way back, the vehicle met evidence to convict Imran and Mohsin cause they had no criminal antece-
Ahmedabad- 380058
URGENTLY Required. with an accident, and their alleged cri- but acquitted the two others, stating dents.
Shifa Multispecialty
Hospital Managed By the I Have Changed My Old Name
Sarvajanik welfare Trust.
Bagmar Plaza Jamalpur
From Patel Himanshu
Manjibhai To Himanshubhai SNAPSHOTS
Ahmedabad-22. A Leading
Trust Hospital, Looking for
Dynamic & Committed
Candidates for the Following
Vacancies. 1. Cardiologiest
Manjibhai Patel, Address- 14,
Zalawadi Patel Society, Gor
Na Kuva, Maninagar East,
Maninagar,
380008
Ahmedabad-
Gujarat will be second state 579 GST evasion
plaints in 2 years
(Full time-Part time).
Radiologist (Full time-Part
time). 3 Cardio vascular &
2.

thoracic Surgeon (Full time-

Part time). Kindly mail &
contact on this given E-mail
REQUIRED Chemist
QC - QA - MICRO -
I have changed my name from
Kapildev Shyamsundar
Sharma to Kapil Shyamsun-
dar Sharma. Address: A-3,
to implement UCC: Minister T he govt on Tuesday said that
in the past two years, 2023
& Phone Number. E-MAIL PRODUCTION, Apply - Akshar Appt Nr. Mayurpark, TIMES NEWS NETWORK tion tribunals. and 2024, the office of the GST
Laxmipura Road, Gorwa,
shifamultispeciality@gmail. [email protected],
Vadodara-390016 Regarding the e-court project, the mini- commissioner received 579
com Contact : 1 Mr Abdul +91 98982 98354
Sattar Munshi (Chief Gandhinagar: State law minister Rushi- ster stated that Rs 27.84 crore was provided to complaints of goods and service
Executive officer)7778955077 I have changed my name kesh Patel said in the Gujarat assembly on establish digitisation facilities for the high tax evasion. In response to a
from Ramchandani Mina
A Multispecialty General Lalchand to Ramchandani Tuesday that after Uttarakhand, Gujarat court and subordinate courts. question by Congress MLA
Hospital.. Requires (1) An ex- Minaben Lalchand. 101, First will be the second state in the country to imp- Providing details about fast-track courts, Shailesh Parmar, the govt said in
perienced MS Eye Surgeon Floor, Shyam Ujjval Flat,
performing Phaco Surgery., Kankaria, Bhairavnath, lement the uniform civil code (UCC) law. the minister said that the district judiciary re- a written reply that the GST
(2) Medical Officer (MBBS) Ahmedabad. Speaking on budgetary demands of the solved 18,41,016 cases last year. Patel said that commissioner’s office received
preferably with 2-3 years of
ICCU experience, (3) law department, which were passed by the various courts have been made operational in 268 complaints in 2023 and 311
I Have Changed My Old Name
B.Pharm. professional with From Meeta Lokesh Agrawal House, Patel said that imple- the state for different types of complaints in 2024. While GST
2-3 years of experience in To Agrawal Mitaben Lokesh-
medical stores. Attractive sa- mentation of UCC was “ai- laws. evasion of Rs 26,022 crore was
lary offered. Contact: Shri
LOW/NO Code Website, kumar , Address- D- 5/ 503,
Ecommerce SEO Friendly, Orchid Legancy, Applewood med at ensuring equal justice With the approval of the detected in 2023, the amount in
Kalikund Parshvanath Township, S.P. Ring Road,
13+ Years, 500+ Projects, for all citizens”. high court, 595 special courts, 2024 was Rs 28.63 crore.
Multispecialty General Shela, Ahmedabad- 380058
4.5 Star Reviews out of 5.
Hospital, Dholka. Email: The minister mentioned including those under the Atro-
M: 9825087794,
[email protected].
lowcodewebsite.com Congress extends support
that to expedite judicial pro- city Act, were established in va-
cesses, the state govt made IN THE ASSEMBLY rious districts. Under the Guja- to health dept workers: The
provisions for three new ar- rat Victim Compensation Sche- Congress on Tuesday extended
bitration tribunals at the district headquar- me-2019, victims of crimes such as atrocities, support to agitating employees
ters of Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara. A deci- acid attacks, and under the Pocso Act, recei- of the health and panchayat
I have change my name from sion was also made to handle cases of muni- ved compensation of Rs 39 crore in the last department who were protesting
Jebaliya Parthbhai to cipalities and panchayats at these arbitra- three years, the minister stated. in Gandhinagar for the past nine
Jebaliya Parth Alkubhai
Address: 58-B/1, Krushn days. During a discussion on
Nagar Society, Chandlodia, budgetary demands of the health
Ahmedabad

I have changed my name from

Ramchandani Hiteshkumar
Shankerlal to Hitesh
‘Power lines
to be shifted
Neurology hospital to department on Tuesday, Cong-
ress’s Vimal Chudasama and
others demanded that the state
govt accept the demands of the
Shankarlal Ramchandani. 11,
Radhekishan Bunglows,
Nana Chiloda, Ahmedabad underground’ come up at MediCity agitating employees so that the
protest can be called off at the
I changed name from Yash Gandhinagar: To reduce cy- TIMES NEWS NETWORK departments in Gandhina- earliest.
Prabhatkumar Daiya to new clone-related damage to its gar and Surat, whereas in
name Yash Prabhatbhai
Daiya. 31 Nirman Tenaments electricity network, the Guja- Ahmedabad: State health Rajkot and Bhavnagar, satel- 97% farmers get daytime
Nr Ruturaj Society
Chandlodia Ahmedabad rat govt is progressively con- minister Rushikesh Patel on lite centres for cardiology power, says minister: State
verting overhead power lines Tuesday told the sta- will be established, sa- energy minister Kanu Desai told
I Have Changed My Name to underground cables in co- te legislative assem- id Patel. the house on Tuesday that 97%
From Parmar Vishal Manilal
To Roy Vishal Manilal. 125, astal regions, according to bly that the health Some other announ- of farmers were getting daytime
Vira Bhagat Chali, Anil Mill state energy minister Kanu department will es- cements, which were electricity for irrigation in the
Road, Bapunagar
Ahmedabad-38024 Desai. tablish a super-spe- earlier mentioned in state. In response to a question
He added that as part of cialty hospital for the state budget estima- during question hour, the mini-
this project, a sum of Rs 1,009 neurology at Medi- tes, included establis- ster said the remaining 3%, who
crore was spent to replace City on the Civil Ho- hing a drug testing la- are farmers of Banaskantha,
73,762 kilometres of dilapida- spital campus. boratory in Gandhinagar or Kutch, and Devbhumi Dwarka
ted power lines and over 1.74 He also announced that Ahmedabad. It also mentio- districts, will get daytime elec-
lakh electricity poles. “As of new radiotherapy centres ned food testing labs in Meh- tricity as soon as their revenue-
Dec 1, 2024, in Junagadh dis- will be set up at Porbandar, sana, Valsad, and Junagadh related issues are sorted out. The
trict, two power feeders cove- Himmatnagar, Valsad and districts. minister also informed the
ring 16.97km of power lines Godhra by Gujarat Cancer A total budget allocation assembly that electricity consu-
are planned to be converted Research Institute (GCRI). of Rs 100 crore was made for mers in the state received a relief
to underground cables at a The UN Mehta Institute of the M&J Institute of Oph- of Rs 2,004 crore in 2004 as a
cost of Rs 2.74 crore,” the mi- Cardiology will establish thalmology and Government result of electricity duty cuts
nister said. TNN cardiology and neurology Spine Institute in MediCity. twice during the year.

GIFT City in Top 50 list Govt: 112 helpline to be

FOR Sale Flat 4 Bhk
Brandnew unfurnished
of global financial centres rolled out across state
3135 sq ft Bodakdev Ahmedabad: GIFT City has Gandhinagar: The state le real-time monitoring of
Asking 2.31 cr Broker
9825484503 been ranked 46th in the Glo- govt said on Tuesday that the emergency response opera-
bal Financial Centres Index 112 ERSS (emergency re- tions in all districts while al-
OFFICE FOR SELL, 1825 Sq. (GFCI). This marks its first sponse support system) hel- lowing independent monito-
Ft., Fully Furnished, Maurya
Atria Building, Near AIS entry into the top 50 global fi- pline, introduced in seven ring at the district level.
School, Off S G Road, nancial centres, improving districts as a single point of The initiative merged the
Bodakdev (Broker Welcome)
Contact- 9825048880 from its previous 52nd posi- contact for all emergency toll-free numbers of the he-
I Changed my name from Par- tion. services, will soon be rolled alth and family welfare, poli-
................................................................... mar Rajivkumar Dinkarbhai
............................................................................................

............................................................................................

to Rajiv Dinkarbhai Parmar. The GFCI, published bi- out in all districts of Guja- ce, fire, women and child de-
122, Anand Nagar, Sector-27, annually by Z/Yen and the Ci- rat. velopment, and revenue-dis-
Gandhinagar-382028.
ty of London since 2007, eva- centres globally. Out of 119 The helpline has handled aster management depart-
I Have Changed My Name luates the competitiveness of centres mapped, 1.49 crore calls since its ments into one unified
Neelamben Bharatkumar financial centres worldwide. GIFT now figures very launch in 2019. platform.
Panchal To Panchal Nil-
amben. Resi- D-506, Sarthi The recent 37th edition of prominently. It is also ranked The govt said in a state- Initially implemented in
Gold,Vastral, Ahmedabad the index highlights GIFT Ci- fifth out of 15 centres expected ment that in order to make Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi
ty’s growing prominence. to gain significance in the the service accessible across Dwarka, Morbi, Chhota Ude-
Dipesh Shah, executive next two years. Notably, GIFT the state, efforts are under- pur, Botad, Aravalli, and Ma-
FLAT FOR SALE 4 director of the IFSC Authori- IFSC ranks No. 1 on the Repu- way to establish an integra- hisagar, the system is now set
BHK, Semi Furnish,A101 ty, noted: “GIFT IFSC has en- tation Index among these 15 ted control and command for statewide implementa-
HIG, 1st Floor, Sardar Pa- tered the Top 50 financial centres.” TNN centre. The centre will enab- tion, the statement added. TNN
tel Nagar, Shastrinagar,
Naranpura. 9375881451
...................................................................

Father urged cops to file FIR

Continued from P1

P
rof Yama Dixit showed negligence in per-
forming her duty, which eventually caused
Surabhi’s death, according to the FIR. Ram
Verma, Surabhi’s father, was called by the Koth
police station on Sunday from Sitapur in UP. Su-
rabhi’s father told TOI that it was his third visit
after the incident as they were requesting the po-
lice authorities to file an FIR instead of probing
it as a case of accidental death.
According to the FIR, Surabhi was the se-
cond of three children and was a PhD student in
the atmospheric science department of IIT-D.
Verma had two master’s degrees.
“My daughter did not know the details of the
project for which she was accompanying her gu-
ide, Prof Dixit, to Gujarat on Nov 24. She went
with Shikha Rai of IIT Gandhinagar to an exca-
vation site at Pariej on Nov 26, and then with Rai
and Professor V N Prabhakar of IIT Gandhina-
gar to Lothal on Nov 27 . They were part of a pale-
oclimate project.
“A spot was chosen for sampling, after which
a trench of 13x4x10 feet dimensions was dug
using a JCB. Prof Dixit and my daughter ente-
red the trench to collect samples when the lands-
lide took place, and she died of asphyxiation,”
mentioned the FIR.
“We are happy that the police is finally regis-
tering an FIR. Our daughter is gone, but a proper
investigation must be conducted and justice ser-
vice,” Verma told TOI.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pravin.parmar T: 03-25-2025 23:45

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 GUJARAT 5

Man accused of daughter’s Man, his maid

booked for
History-sheeters popping
pills for ‘pain-free’ crimes
rape ends life in custody TOI
`14L extortion
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Surat: A self-proclaimed soci- Stock Of `30L

Ashok Adepal

16-Year-Old Girl Filed Plaint nature’s call and took the

drastic step. “It appears that
al worker from Surat and his
maid were booked for extor- Worth
Against Father On Monday
he took this drastic step out
of guilt, possibly struggling
tion following a complaint fi-
led against them by a 35-year- Medicines
TIMES NEWS NETWORK According to details of
with how he would face soci-
ety and his children after
old textile trader at the Var-
achha police station. Seized, Two Held
the rape complaint, the inci- such allegations. However, The complainant named
[email protected]
Surat: Hours after being de- dent took place at around 5 we are investigating if there Pravin Bhalala and his maid,
tained for allegedly raping am on Monday when the vic- is any other reason for suici- Daxa alias Divya. In 2015, Bha- Vadodara: The recent massi-
his minor daughter, a 45-ye- tim and her younger brother de,” said a police officer. lala gave the victim’s contact ve seizure of painkillers’s
ar-old diamond artisan died were sleeping in their room. As the man died in police information to Divya, who al- stock has exposed a startling
by suicide in Varachha poli- The accused went to their custody, the inquest and legedly sent him nude videos. truth—many history-shee-
ce custody on Tuesday. room and allegedly raped other procedures will be do- After luring him with the pro- ters are gulping these pills be-
Deputy commissioner of her. After the sexual assault, ne in the presence of a ma- mise of sex, she took him to a fore committing burglaries or
police (zone-1) Alok Kumar the victim talked to her el- gistrate. The National Hu- hotel. Subsequently, a person loots to numb themselves nals too, mostly involved in medical stores in the city. The
told TOI: “He pulled out his der sister about it. Her sister Deceased’s body being taken for man Rights Commission posing as a police sub-inspec- from pain. burglaries and loot. Investiga- duo used to sell tramadol hyd-
shirt and hanged himself filed a police complaint late postmortem to SMIMER Hpspital (NHRC) guidelines will also tor called the victim. This revelation came to tions revealed that the crimi- rochloride, codeine syrup,
from the ventilation grill in- on Monday night. on Tuesday be followed in this case. Bhalala then offered to light when the Vadodara Spe- nals consume these pills right and alprazolam illegally by
side the washroom. He has Preliminary investiga- The deceased’s body was settle the matter with the poli- cial Operation Group (SOG) before executing a loot or rob- flouting rules and without
three daughters and a son. tion and statements of wit- ted the procedure to arrest shifted to SMIMER hospital, ce and took Rs 14 lakhs from uncovered a racket involved bery,” said SD Ratada, police proper prescriptions. “We sei-
Two daughters are married nesses revealed that the girl him. and a postmortem was con- the complainant to prevent an in the illegal sale of prescrip- inspector, SOG. zed tramadol hydrochloride
while the 16-year-old girl and was raped by her father. Ba- However, around 6 pm, ducted as per the legalities FIR from being filed. tion drugs in the city, seizing “There is always a risk of tablets worth Rs 15.57 lakh
son lived with him. His wife sed on the this, the police de- he went into the washroom laid down for custodial de- The trader filed the comp- drugs worth over Rs 15 lakh. getting caught while brea- from the duo, apart from code-
died a couple of years ago.” tained the accused and star- on the pretext of answering ath. laint on Tuesday. Investigation revealed king into any house or rob- ine and alprazolam worth the
that the history-sheeters con- bing someone. If they get same amount. We are now try-
sume these drugs to tempora- caught and get a thrashing ing to track down the crimi-

Two ITI teachers booked for Brain-dead painter rily kill the pain from fall or
public thrashing endured
while committing crimes like
burglary, theft, chain-snat-
from the public, these pills
shield them from the pain.
The painkiller also comes in
handy if they get injured whi-
nals to whom they sold the
pills,” Ratada added.
Dr Gautam Amin, a city-
based psychiatrist, said,

19-year-old student’s suicide gives new life to 3 TOI

ching or robbery.
Police arrested two men
for selling ‘tramadol hydroch-
le committing the crime. The-
se pills are prescribed by doc-
tors usually to treat extreme
“Consuming tramadol hyd-
rochloride doesn’t just reduce
pain but also gives a person a
TIMES NEWS NETWORK ne, investigators found a vi- TIMES NEWS NETWORK loride’ and codeine syrup ille- pain,” Ratada told TOI. euphoric feeling. Its effect
deo and photographs he had gally to various groups in the The accused arrested in lasts from 24 to 48 hours, so
Rajkot: A female instructor taken before his death. Vadodara: Karamsad-ba- city. “During interrogation, the present case have been those consuming it can endu-
and a male teacher of an In- In the video, Dharmik sed Shree Krishna Hospital we learnt tramadol hydroch- identified as Vipul Rajput and re pain for that period easily.
dustrial Training Institute mentioned, “I am Dharmik successfully retrieved or- loride pills were sold to crimi- Keyur Rajput, both owners of It’s an addictive medicine.”
(ITI) were booked for abet- Bhaskar, a student at ITI gans from a 30-year-old road
ment to suicide, a month af- Upleta. My madam and sir accident victim from Uttar
ter a 19-year-old student alle-
gedly ended his life. mily has accused the duo of
mentally torture me. Everyt-
hing I do is because of them.
Pradesh (UP) who was decla-
red brain-dead. Liquor worth
The student Dharmik
Bhaskar, who was pursuing
mentally harassing Dhar-
mik, allegedly pushing him
They should be punished.”
His father revealed that
The deceased, Mulayam
Yadav, a painter from Go- of `66L seized,
a wireman course in ITI in
Rajkot’s Upleta was found
to take this extreme step.
According to the police
Dharmik had previously
mentioned being harassed
rakhpur, UP, met with an ac-
cident while riding his bike one arrested
hanging at his house in the complaint, Dharmik had be- by his instructors. However, on March 19. He was admit- TIMES NEWS NETWORK
town on Feb 5. en attending ITI Upleta (Du- the family had advised him ted to the hospital where, de-
His father, Rajesh, a 40- miyani) for the past eight to focus on his studies and spite the best efforts of the The organs being transported Vadodara: The state moni-
year-old labourer, lodged a months. After his suicide, had not filed any complaint medical team, he was decla- for transplant in Karamsad toring cell (SMC) on Tues-
police complaint at Upleta the case was initially regis- earlier. red brain-dead on March 23. day seized a huge stock of li-
police station on March 24 tered as an accidental death Following the new evi- A panel of expert doc- brain-dead. Organ retrieval quor in Godhra taluka of
under sections of abetment under Section 194 of the dence, the police have laun- tors, including Dr. Samir Pa- is only possible if these func- Panchmahal district. The
to suicide and criminal inti- BNS. However, upon exami- ched an investigation into tel, head of the critical care tions are meticulously main- cops received a tip-off, follo-
midation of the BNS. The fa- ning Dharmik’s mobile pho- the allegations. center; Dr. Rachit Patel, in- tained, highlighting the cri- wing which they intercep-
tensivist; Dr. Mirant Doshi, tical importance of this ma- ted a truck near Chundadi
neurosurgeon; and Dr. Ji- nagement,” said Dr Samir village of Godhra. The poli-

Doctor’s suicide mystery deepens tesh Desai, medical superin-

tendent, confirmed his bra-
in-death as per the protocol
Patel.
Surat-based NGO The
Donate Life assisted in coun-
ce said that they found over
16,700 bottles of Indian Ma-
de Foreign Liquor (IMFL)
TIMES NEWS NETWORK from the Nyari Dam on Sun- said. outlined in the Transplanta- selling the patient’s relati- worth Rs 66.57 lakh from
day. He was deputed to the The cops expect to some tion of Human Organs Act, ves, who were in UP at the ti- the truck.
Rajkot: The alleged suicide Rajkot facility of an Ahmed- clues once from his phone. 1994. me of the accident. The cops arrested the
of a radiologist from Tamil abad-based private hospital “Since the phone was sub- “The intensivist team The organs of the decea- driver, identified as Raju
Nadu remains a mystery, just two days before he alle- merged in water, it is non- played a crucial role in ma- sed provided a new lease of Mori, a resident of Porban-
with his parents telling police gedly took the extreme step. functional. We plan to get the naging and maintaining blo- life to three individuals, dar. Mori told the police
that he did not show any signs Police said that his parents device repaired to check for od pressure, hormonal ba- with liver transplantation that he was on his way to de-
of distress. arrived in the city and their any crucial evidence or mes- lance, and the function of carried out at Zydus Hospi- liver the stock to a man
The body of Arun Kumar statements were recorded. sages that could shed light on major organs like the heart, tal, Ahmedabad, while kid- identified as Raju Rabari,
Selvaraj, a native of Mallur in “They said he never any ex- the reason behind the suici- liver, kidneys, and lungs af- ney transplants were done in who stays in Devbhumi
Salem district, was fished out pressed distress," an officer de," the officer said. ter the patient was declared Ahmedabad and Rajkot. Dwarka.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: vikram.vishal T: 03-25-2025 23:47

6 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

Canada: India has intent & Shah rules out

centralisation Veep sounds MPs out on fresh
capability to interfere in polls of power for
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The bogey of for-

election campaign but added
that India, Russia and Pakis-
tan could also interfere in the
justified trade actions and his
threats to our sovereignty”.
The remarks by the Cana-
disaster mgmt
New Delhi: Parliament
passed the Disaster Manage-
look at judicial accountability
eign interference continues to
plague India-Canada ties with
elections. “We have also seen
that the govt of India has the in-
dian official follow a period of
relative quiet and dialling down
ment (Amendment) Bill,
2024, on Tuesday with home Kharge ‘Counters’ NJAC Argument, Nadda Advocates Consensus
Ottawa listing India among tent and capability to interfere of tensions that have rocked the minister Amit Shah saying
countries that may interfere in in Canadian communities and relationship since Trudeau ac- there will be no centralisa- Ambika Pandit & only on whether it is in con-
Canadian elections that will be democratic processes to assert cused New Delhi of facilitating tion of power or discrimina- Akhilesh Singh TNN formity with the constitu-
held on April 28. A top Cana- its geopolitical influence,” said the murder of a Khalistani sep- tion with states in handling tional provisions,” he said.
dian intelligence offi- the official. aratist and Canadian national, disasters. New Delhi: Amid the spi- The deliberations were
cial said Monday that Canadian PM Mark Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Carney Replying to the debate on ralling controversy over the held against the backdrop of
India has both intent & Carney, who replaced has expressed interest in re- the bill in Rajya Sabha, Shah alleged recovery of cash demand in both Houses of
wherewithal to inter- Justin Trudeau earlier building ties with India, and In- said timely reforms were es- from the official residence of Parliament for a discussion
fere in Canada’s demo- this month, has called dian govt too has said it hopes to sential to prevent outdated HC judge Yashwant Varma, over the alleged recovery of
cratic processes. snap polls on April 28 do the same based on mutual systems from collapsing. He Vice President Jagdeep cash from Justice Varma’s
Canada has in the past too seeking a strong mandate in trust and sensitivity. also launched a sharp attack Dhankhar on Tuesday official residence.
accused India of interfering in the middle of an internecine CTV News quoted the offi- on Congress’s management sounded out political parties While the discussion
its domestic politics. Canadian tariff war with the Trump ad- cial as also saying that Pakistan of the PM’s Relief Fund, ac- on the need to think of a with political parties re-
Security Intelligence Service ministration, or what he has could conduct foreign interfe- cusing the previous UPA re- mechanism for putting an mained inconclusive, it was
deputy director Vanessa Lloyd described as “the most signifi- rence activities against Canada gime of lacking accountabil- end to the “judges appoint- decided to hold more rounds.
Dhankhar at a meeting with leaders of various parties in RS on Tuesday
said it was China that was like- cant crisis of our lifetimes be- in line with its strategic aims & ity and transparency. ing judges” regime. Sources said Dhankhar, a vo-
ly to use AI to influence the cause of President Trump’s un- to counter India’s influence. The bill was passed in At a meeting with politi- appointment of judges of SC litical parties on fixing the cal spokesperson for parlia-
Lok Sabha in Dec 2024. cal parties, Dhankhar asked and HCs, as a “visionary accountability of judges. mentary supremacy, assert-
On the need for the representatives of political step”. Dhankhar faulted the In RS, Dhankhar also ed that this was the time to do
amendments, Shah said, parties to come together on apex court’s decision to criticised SC’s decision to something about “judicial
“Some members asked what the issue. Earlier, speaking quash the law. strike down NJAC Act accountability”.
is the need for amendment. I in Rajya Sabha, he described “Now is the befitting oc- .”There is no constitutional Opposition leaders, in-
want to tell them that if a National Judicial Appoint- casion to reiterate that it was provision of review or ap- cluding Congress president-
building is not repaired in ments Commission Act, en- a visionary step endorsed by peal of a constitutional Mallikarjun Kharge and
time, it collapses. They think acted in 2014 with unani- Parliament,” Dhankhar amendment. If there is a leg- TMC’s Sukhendu Sekhar
that maybe, they will come mous support with a view to said, remarks which he is islation (passed) by Parlia- Roy, are learnt to have asked
and change it but nobody’s end the monopoly of the Su- learnt to have reiterated dur- ment or state legislatures, ju- the govt to outline the steps it
turn will come for the next preme Court collegium over ing a meeting leaders of po- dicial review can take place wants to take.
15-20 years.” TNN

End of J&K separatism, says Shah as 2 outfits sever Hurriyat ties

TIMES NEWS NETWORK the “unifying policies Shri @narendramodi Hurriyat Conference as it has
of the Modi govt have Ji’s vision of building a not been able to address the
New Delhi: After Kashmiri tossed separatism out developed, peaceful legitimate aspirations &
outfits Jammu and Kashmir of J&K”. and unified Bharat”. grievances of J&K people”.
People’s Movement (JKPM) In his post, Shah JKPM — founded Senior DPM leader and ad-
and Democratic Political said: “Separatism has by IAS officer Shah vocate Mohammad Shafi
Movement (DPM) — they become history in Faesal after he gravitat- Reshi too said he had com-
were once closely associated Kashmir... two organisations ed towards activism and poli- pletely dissociated with Hur-
with separatist umbrella out- associated with the Hurriyat tics, even submitting his re- riyat faction led by Geelani for
fit Hurriyat Conference — have announced the severing signation, but eventually had same reason. Reshi, who dur-
publicly denounced both the of all ties with separatism. a change of heart and joined ing his tenure as DPM chair-
conglomerate and its separa- “I welcome this step to- back govt service — had is- man in 2018 had distanced
tist agenda and vowed alle- wards strengthening Bha- sued a statement in which its himself from Hurriyat (G) &
giance to the Constitution of rat’s unity and urge all such chairperson Shahid Saleem any other separatist entity,
India, home minister Amit groups to come forward and declared that he or his orga- said he was a bona fide Indian
Shah on Tuesday hailed the shed separatism once and for nisation “have no sympathy citizen committed to suprem-
development on X saying that all. It is a big victory for PM for the ideology of All Parties acy of the Constitution.

EPS meets Shah as BJP, ADMK look to revive ties

[email protected] icant because of next year’s polls and the as-
sessment in many quarters that a split in oppo-
New Delhi: AIADMK and BJP seem to be ex- sition votes will help the incumbent DMK, like
ploring the possibility of reviving their tie-up in the Lok Sabha polls when it swept the state.
ahead of next year’s assembly elections in Ta- Also, it comes during DMK’s offensive
mil Nadu, with home minister Amit Shah and against the Modi govt over issues of lan-
leader of the TN outfit Edappadi K Pa- guage and delimitation: something
laniswami(EPS) holding an important which shows that EPS would not have
round of talks. taken the risk of being attacked for be-
Palaniswami was accompanied by ing the Centre’s proxy if his visit to
ex-ministers S P Velumani and K P Mu- Shah was for reasons to do with sheer
nusamy, MPs M Thambidurai and C V courtesy.
Shanmugam in the meeting at Shah’s The interaction had looked improba-
residence. ble after BJP’s state chief K Annamalai's
Although the two parties high-pitch campaign against AIADMK sank
did not comment on the devel- the possibility of a partnership for LS polls.
opment, Shah’s assertion in TN chief minister M K Stalin broke the
Rajya Sabha earlier in the day news of Palaniswami’s visit to the capital in
that “NDA will stop liquor the state assembly on Tuesday morning: “We
scams in Tamil Nadu after it have information that the leader of opposition
takes office in 2026” only add- has gone to Delhi. He is going to meet someone.
ed to the speculation. He should emphasise this (two language poli-
The development is signif- cy) when he meets him.”
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: arunima.srivastava T: 03-25-2025 23:41

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES NATION 7

Anti-terror crusader turns riot accused’s ‘mentor’

Soumitra.Bose
@timesofindia.com
Nagpur halts bulldozers after HC stay curity officials saw value in
Engineer’s revelations, using

Nagpur: Mohammad Hamid B ulldozers rolled back late Monday after Bombay high court’s
Nagpur bench issued a temporary stay on demolitions, but the
crackdown on properties linked to riot accused showed no signs
him as an insider to highlight
internal rifts within his com-
Engineer, a former govt em- munity on a broader stage.
ployee turned firebrand com- of slowing down Tuesday, reports Proshun Chakraborty. He crafted an image as an
mentator, is back in the spot- Though Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) put demolitions anti-terrorism crusader. But it
light after his alleged role in on hold, officials kept digging into alleged irregularities in 51 didn’t take long for him to
mentoring key riot accused flagged properties from a list of riots accused provided by police. switch from whistle-blower to
Fahim Khan. Security agen- A preliminary probe has revealed discrepancies, with many wanted man. His entangle-
cies, long familiar with Engi- assets registered under different names, complicating efforts to ment in sectarian conflicts
neer’s involvement in commu- establish direct ownership links, according to officials. brought legal trouble.
nity affairs, have turned their In 2011, Engineer found
attention to his social media Engineer first gained at- shed over control of religious himself in custody after mob
activity following the Nagpur tention over 15 years ago when shrines. violence erupted in Nagpur’s
riots on the night of March 17. his tabloid Iman Ki Awaz fore- Sources said his writings Mominpura neighbourhood
Engineer, president of Mi- shadowed serial blasts in Guj- exposed the influence of a over the controversial burial
norities Democratic Party, arat and later in Jaipur. hard-line sect allegedly be- of Baba Mustafa, a Sufi saint
was arrested on March 21 for Copies of the publication hind acts of violence. Some se- who died on June 28 that year.
allegedly inciting the riots and were sent to top Gujarat
charged with sedition. A long- police officers, with Engineer
time figure in minority poli- later claiming he had merely
tics, he had allegedly flooded pointed out a growing faction-
social media with inflammato- al dispute within his commu-
ry posts before the riots. nity that could lead to blood-
PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pradeep.kamalasanan T: 03-25-2025 23:39

8 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

5.6 lakh centenarians eligible for

‘No leak of any health
data of citizens to USAID’

G ovt on Tuesday denied any

food security scheme, says govt

leak of health data of
citizens to United States Agency
for International Development
(USAID).
In a written reply to a [email protected] lakh AAY ration cards have While under PMGKAY, each
Parliament question, minister of been issued to families that beneficiary gets 5 kg free
state in health ministry New Delhi: Govt has identi- have only two members and foodgrain per month, fam-
Anupriya Patel said govt’s fied around 5.6 lakh benefici- there were 33.2 lakh dupli- ilies covered under Antyo-
collaborations with various aries under the food security cate beneficiaries as well. daya Anna Yojana (AAY) get
international organisations are scheme who are more than Moreover, around 2.2 crore 35 kg each. Joshi said in
governed by data security 100 years old, while conduct- Over 30.6 lakh AAY ration cards
beneficiaries were in the ‘si- these cases families having a
measures. TNN ing a verification through e- have been issued to poorest
lent ration card’ category, single member is entitled to
KYC. While informing Rajya families that have only one member
which meant that they did 35 kg free foodgrain per
Sabha about this astonish- not avail ration for 3-12 month.
ing data on Tuesday, food and Sources said the exercise months. The minister also said
consumer affairs minister carried out by the food de- Replying to a question that the e-KYC exercise car-
Pralhad Joshi also high- partment also found that, as from BJD’s Niranjan Bishi ried out by his department
lighted that over 30.6 lakh per Aadhaar data, nearly 34 on the e-KYC of PMGKAY using IT and AI showed that
Antyodaya Anna Yojana lakh beneficiaries of the PM beneficiaries, Joshi said around 2.1 lakh ration cards
(AAY) ration cards have been Garib Kalyan Ann Yojna govt has so far completed have been issued to families
issued to poorest families (PMGKAY) have died. TOI this exercise for 74% of the having a single member be-
that have only one member. has learnt that around 45 total 80 crore beneficiaries. low 18 years.

Disha dad to cops: Lodge

case against Aaditya:
Satish Salian, father of Disha
Salian, submitted a complaint
to the joint commissioner of
police, demanding the
registration of a case against
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya
Thackeray and some others in
connection with the death of
his daughter in 2020. PTI
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: vikram.vishal T: 03-25-2025 23:54

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES NATION 9

AG says ONOE bills India, China hold talks for border management
don’t breach statute; Sachin.Parashar
@timesofindia.com
that India will host later this
year.
proach” and both sides
agreed to take “concrete and
es, something which India
had agreed to “in principle”
cisions taken during 23rd
meeting of the Special Repre-

JPC tenure extended New Delhi: As India and Chi-

na look to reboot ties, build-
ing upon a spell of relative
A team led by MEA joint
secretary (East Asia) Gou-
rangalal Das, which travelled
effective” measures for main-
taining peace and tranquilli-
ty in the border areas.
during foreign secretary Vik-
ram Misri’s visit to Beijing in
Jan. China is keen on resump-
sentatives on the India-China
boundary question in Beijing
in Dec 2024 and to advance ef-
TIMES NEWS NETWORK calm in the border areas, they to Beijing this week for the According to the Indian tion of direct flights, but In- fective border management.
held another round of diplo- 33rd meeting of Working readout, they exchanged dia apparently doesn’t want The two sides agreed to main-
New Delhi: On the day in matic talks in a “positive and Mechanism for Consultation views on early resumption of to rush into it. Official sourc- tain and strengthen relevant
which Lok Sabha passed a constructive” atmosphere, & Coordination on India-Chi- The talks also prepared ground cross-border cooperation and es, however, said technical au- diplomatic and military
resolution extending the ten- seeking ways to advance ef- na Border Affairs (WMCC), for another meeting of Ajit Doval exchanges, including on thorities are working to reach mechanisms towards this
ure of the joint parliamen- fective border management. comprehensively reviewed and Wang Yi trans-border rivers and Kai- an updated framework for the end,’’ said the Indian govt,
tary committee (JPC) till the The talks also prepared the LAC situation, stressing lash-Mansarovar Yatra. In- resumption. adding that both sides will
Monsoon session of Parlia- ground for another meeting peace and tranquillity on the all bilateral relations. China terestingly, the Indian read- “The two sides explored work to make “substantial
ment, Attorney General R of the Special Representa- border is critical for the said the meeting was held out did not mention the re- various measures and pro- preparation” for the Special
Venkatramani is said to have tives, Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, smooth development of over- with a “forward-looking ap- sumption of direct air servic- posals to give effect to the de- Representatives’ meeting.
told its members on Tuesday
that the bills for simultane-
ous elections do not trample
on any feature of the Consti-
tution and are good in law.
Opposition parties
have slammed the Allahabad HC lawyers strike work
With a few of the legal ex- bills as violative of
perts who have appeared be-
fore the panel sharing con-
cerns of some members over
the Constitution
with a focus on long-term
over transfer of Justice Varma
Rajesh Kumar Pandey TNN
certain aspects of the Consti- policies, informed voting
tution Amendment Bill, Ven- with people in a position for Prayagraj: Lawyers at Allahabad high court
katramani asserted that the better assessment of the per- shut down judicial work indefinitely Tuesday,
proposed laws do not require formance of political parties launching a protest against Supreme Court
any amendment, sources and cost reductions as posi- collegium’s decision to transfer Delhi HC
said. Opposition parties tives. judge Justice Yashwant Varma to their court.
have slammed the bills as vi- He, however, noted “fed- Allahabad HC Bar Association accused
olative of the Constitution. eralism concerns with po- the judiciary’s top decision-makers of betray-
Former Delhi HC chief tential impact on state auton- ing the system by repatriating a judge facing
justice D N Patel, who is cur- omy”, a risk of national is- corruption allegations. Lawyers during their strike in Prayagraj on Tuesday
rently serving as Telecom sues overshadowing region- “This fight is not against any court or
Disputes Settlement and Ap- al ones besides the judge — it’s against those who have compro- his official residence following a fire in a
pellate Tribunal chairman, constitutional hurdles of the mised the integrity of the judiciary,” bar asso- storeroom on March 14, triggering a Supreme
in his presentation dwelt on need to amend some of the ciation president Anil Tiwari said. “Repa- Court-ordered in-house inquiry. He has de-
the positives as well as chal- Articles as among the chal- triating a judge accused of corruption to his nied any wrongdoing and alleged a conspir-
lenges facing the ‘One Na- lenges facing the proposals. parent HC is no punishment, it’s a reward.” acy to frame him.
tion, One Election’ proposal, He said the tenures of The bar association passed a resolution The lawyers called on Union govt to reject
noting the concept is good for some of the assemblies could Monday calling for Justice Varma’s impeach- the SC collegium’s recommendation out-
the nation but adding any be extended in a step towards ment and has now escalated its demand, urg- right. “Allahabad HC is not a dumping ground
proposed law can always be synchronisation of state ing CJI Sanjiv Khanna to order an FIR and in- for corrupt and tainted judges,” the associ-
improved on. polls with the Lok Sabha vestigations by CBI, ED, and other agencies. ation said in a statement, vowing to continue
Patel cited policy conti- elections, an idea not part of Justice Varma is at the centre of a fire- their strike until the transfer order is
nuity, enhanced governance the current bills. storm after a stash of cash was discovered at scrapped.

‘Ranya has admitted to using hawala

channels in gold smuggling case’
Bengaluru: Kannada actress the prosecution. According to
Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ra- the prosecution, Rao admitted to
nya Rao who was arrested in a using hawala channels to facili-
gold smuggling case, has admit- tate gold purchases, a claim that
ted to using hawala channels for strengthens the case against her.
purchases, the prosecution ar- During the proceedings,
gued before a special court on Rao's counsel Kiran Jawali ar-
Tuesday. Meanwhile, the court gued for her release, while the
reserved its order on the actress' counsel appearing for the DRI,
bail plea until March 27, follow- Madhu Rao, presented evidence
ing a detailed hearing of argu- suggesting her direct role in the
ments from both the defence and illicit transfer of funds. PTI
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: arunima.srivastava T: 03-25-2025 23:51

TIMES GLOBAL
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS
IDEAS; AVERAGE MINDS
DISCUSS EVENTS; SMALL
MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 — ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

MARIA SHRIVER SAYS SHE TURNED TO ‘SHAMANS & PSYCHICS’ GEORGE CLOONEY, 63, TALKS OF REASON HE QUIT STARRING IN
TO COPE WITH REVELATIONS OF ARNIE’S HUMILIATING AFFAIR ROMCOMS: ‘I’M NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH 25-YR-OLD MEN’

NSA mistakenly shares Yemen war We have been

ripped off by US: Russia & Ukraine agree
every country:
plans with journo, Trump backs him Trump on tariffs
Continued from P 1
to stop fighting in Black Sea
Security Breach Shows How Washington Believes Its European Allies Are ‘Free-Loading’ Washington/Moscow/Ky- had previously endorsed.

Reuters
T
he auto tariffs would iv: US reached separate agree- Ukrainian defence mini-
Off US Efforts To Go After Houthis & Their Expectations Of Reimbursements For Raids come in the next few ments on Tuesday with Ukrai- ster Rustem Umerov said Ky-
days, US prez Donald ne and Russia to ensure safe iv would regard any move-
Chidanand Rajghatta TNN pe what we expect in return,” Trump said later in the day, navigation in the Black Sea ment of Russian military

Bloomberg
he says, adding, “We also need adding that tariffs on lumber and to implement a ban on at- vessels outside the eastern
Washington: US President to figure out how to enforce and semiconductor chips tacks by the two countries on part of the Black Sea as a vio-
Donald Trump on Tuesday re- such a requirement.” would follow “down the road”. each other’s energy facilities. lation and a threat, in which
jected calls to fire his National “If the US successfully res- “We've been ripped off by The agreements, if imple- The agreements, if implemented, case Ukraine would have the
Security Advisor Michael tores freedom of navigation at every country,” Trump said af- mented, would represent the would be progress towards a full right to self defence.
Waltz after a major security great cost there needs to be so- ter a meeting of his cabinet, clearest progress yet towards wider ceasefire in Ukraine Russia has attacked Ukrai-
flub where senior administra- me further economic gain ex- predicting that the sectoral tar- a wider ceasefire that Was- ne’s power grid with missiles
tion officials used an unsecu- tracted in return,” SM adds. iffs and reciprocal tariffs ex- hington sees as a stepping not the other.” and drones throughout the
red commercial app to coordi- There is no mention of India, a pected on April 2 would raise stone towards peace talks to The agreements, reached war, arguing that civil energy
nate military strikes on Houthi major player in the region “rather astronomical” bring an end to Russia’s in Saudi Arabia, follow talks infrastructure is a legitimate
targets in Ye- which also shares with Was- amounts of money for US coff- three-year-old war in Ukrai- initiated by US President Do- target because it helps Ukrai-
men last week. hington the goal of keeping ers, allowing tax rates to re- ne. Both countries said they nald Trump, who has vowed ne’s warfighting capability.
Waltz acci- shipping lanes safe and secure. main low or come down. would rely on Washington to to swiftly end the war and has More recently, Ukraine has be-
dentally looped Vice-president JD Vance (R), who was among the 18 principals in the The exchange was in line Trump said the April 2 an- enforce the deals. shifted Washington’s posi- en launching long-range stri-
in a journalist discussion, expressed reservations about the bombing and its fallout, with Trump’s view that Euro- nouncement will be a “liber- “If the Russians violate tion from firmly backing Ky- kes on Russian oil and gas tar-
into a Signal telling defence secretary Pete Hegseth, ‘If you think we should do it, let pean Nato partners are not ation day” for the US econo- this, I have a direct question iv to a stance more sympathe- gets, which it says provide fuel
chat titled “Ho- go ahead. I just hate bailing Europe out again.’ Hegseth: ‘I fully share spending enough money on de- my. The tariffs are aimed at for President Trump. If they tic with Moscow. Under the for Russian troops and income
Michael Waltz
uthi PC small your loathing of European freeloading. It’s PATHETIC’ fence, which in turn discounts shrinking a $1.2 trillion glob- violate, here is the evidence — agreement with Moscow, to fund its war effort.
group” to discuss the bombing the fact that a victorious US al goods trade deficit by rais- we ask for sanctions, we ask Washington promised to help Maritime battles have be-
two hours before it took place pressured its allies to largely ing US levies to levels charged for weapons, etc,” Ukrainian restore Russian access to en only a comparatively small
on March 13, giving the world a Intel officials deny classified material shared disarm in return for a security by other countries and coun- President Volodymyr Zelens- markets for its agricultural part of the war since 2023,
stunning inside look into the
operation aimed at establis-
hing US control over shipping
T wo of the Trump administration’s top intelligence officials denied
in a contentious Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tues-
day that classified information was shared in an encrypted group
umbrella it would provide. A
shocked Europe is now on
track to re-militarise and not
teracting their non-tariff
trade barriers. Trump said in
Feb he intended to impose au-
kiy told reporters in Kyiv.
Russian foreign minister
Sergei Lavrov said: “We will
and fertiliser exports. The
Kremlin said this would re-
quire lifting some sanctions.
when Russia withdrew its na-
val forces from the eastern
Black Sea after a number of
lanes in the Gulf. chat. Pressed repeatedly about the security breach in the previously depend on US security guaran- to tariffs “in the neighbour- need clear guarantees. And The talks followed separa- successful Ukrainian attacks.
The journalist, the Atlantic scheduled hearing, Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intellig- tees under the Trump regime. hood of 25%” and similar du- given the sad experience of te phone calls last week betwe- Kyiv was able to reopen its
magazine’s Jeffrey Goldberg, ence, and John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, both denied that classified Democrats and national se- ties on semiconductors and agreements with just Kyiv, en Trump and the two Presi- ports and resume exports at
subsequently wrote an account material had been shared in the chat in which they were included. NYT curity pundits jumped on the pharmaceutical imports, but the guarantees can only be dents, Zelenskiy and Vladimir around pre-war levels, despi-
revealing how shocked he was security flub relishing the he later agreed to delay some the result of an order from Putin. Putin rejected Trump’s te the collapse of a previous
to be included in the group dis- As much as the security sed reservations about the Trump White House’s discom- auto tariffs after the three Washington to Zelenskiy and proposal for a full ceasefire UN-brokered Black Sea ship-
cussion, an inadvertent flub breach, the big takeaway for bombing and its fallout, but fiture and demanding Waltz largest US automakers his team to do one thing and lasting 30 days, which Ukraine ping agreement. REUTERS
when Waltz likely intended to the rest of the world and the re- went along with the consensus, and Hegseth resign. Brutal me- pushed for a waiver.
loop in US trade representative gion was the Trump admini- telling defence secretary Pete mes, including one showing
Jamieson Lee Greer, who has
similar initials.
Amid growing questions
stration’s expectation that
Washington would be reimbur-
sed for its bombing of Houthis,
Hegseth, “if you think we sho-
uld do it, let go ahead. I just hate
bailing Europe out again.”
Putin looking at his cell phone
and telling his colleagues, “Wa-
it guys...P.Hegseth is typing...”
US may now make immigration policy changes overnight,
about why Trump principals
were using a commercial app to
ostensibly aimed at keeping
the sea lanes open and secure.
Hegseth: “I fully share your lo-
athing of European freeloa-
and “Txt STOP to opt out of up-
date on war plans” followed.
public comments on draft no longer required: Attorneys
discuss national security issu- In the exchange, Trump aides ding. It’s PATHETIC.” Hillary Clinton, who was Lubna Kably TNN wer grab will inevitably face fi- norms for H-1B visas and redu- who are Indian nationals, this
es and why Waltz would have disparaged European allies, At this point, a person going crucified by Trump and his ai- erce legal pushback, the imme- ce the visa tenure to 1-year in ca- represents a dramatic reduc-

L
Goldberg, a journalist from a suggesting they were freeloa- by the initials SM (likely des, including Hegseth and ast month the US secretary diate impact could still be de- se of placement of H-1B emplo- tion in procedural protections
publication loathed by Trump ders and discussed extracting Trump aide Stephen Miller) in- Waltz, for her alleged mishand- of state Marco Rubio see- vastating, especially for Indian yees at client sites. and predictability.”
among his contacts, the US pre- reimbursement for the bom- tervenes to say the president ling of classified info and thre- mingly published an inno- nationals.” Sharma foresees, Greg Siskind, co-founder Kripa Upadhyay, immigra-
sident stood by his NSA, telling bing. has been clear that the US has atened with jail time, had the cuous notice about reclassify- “Renewed and relentless at- of Siskind Susser, an immig- tion attorney at Buchalter, said,
NBC News “Michael Waltz has Vice-president JD Vance, to be reimbursed for the bom- last laugh on the security bre- ing immigration and bord- tacks on H-1Bs: tightened eligi- ration law firm, told TOI, “By framing immigration as
learned a lesson, and he’s a go- who was among the 18 princi- bing. “Green light, but we soon ach. “You’ve got to be kidding er-related regulations as “fore- bility standards, skyrocketing “The Trump administration part of broader foreign policy, it
od man.” pals in the discussion, expres- make clear to Egypt and Euro- me,” she posted on X. ign-affairs functions”. This denials, and crushing requests wants to make rules without allows the secretary of state to
notice, however, is likely to ha- for evidence during ap- any of the public fa- drastically reduce procedural

Columbia pupil hunted by ICE sues to prevent deportation ve a wide ranging impact on im-
migrants in the US or on those
aspiring to work or study in US.
plication-processing.
As also elimination of
H-4 work permits, strip-
cing protections requi-
red by the APA.”
Rajiv S Khanna, ma-
safeguards, and potential chal-
lenges for visa applicants see-
king redress.”

A
Columbia University ficials, including secretary of with her family from South But federal agents belie- The move means that the ping thousands of Indi- naging attorney at Im- He explained, “Consular of-
student, 21,who has li- state, Marco Rubio, cited the Korea when she was 7, has not ved that those efforts were me- immigration policies can now an families (especially migraiton.com said, ficers may be granted wider
ved in the US since she same rationale in explaining been detained by ICE. She re- rited in the case of Chung, ac- bypass the public notice and highly educated spou- “This foreign affairs de- discretion in deciding whether
was a child sued President Do- the arrest this month of Mah- mains in the country, but her cording to her lawyers at CLE- comment rulemaking process ses) of livelihoods. We need to termination creates an unpre- to approve or deny visa applica-
nald Trump and other high- moud Khalil, a graduate of lawyers would not comment AR, a legal clinic at the City required under the Admini- brace for crippling new restric- cedented situation. Previously, tions. This could lead to increa-
ranking administration offi- the university and permanent on her whereabouts. University of New York. ICE strative Procedure Act (APA). tions on the extended 2-year te- the IT industry, universities, sed subjectivity in interviews
cials Monday after immigra- resident who is being Her lawsuit in fede- officials visited several resi- Under the APA, the public nure for OPTcurrently availab- and advocacy groups had 30-60 and decisions. It is now entirely
tion officials tried to arrest held in Louisiana. ral court in Manhat- dences, called for help from fe- can give its opinion on a draft le to international students days to analyze proposed im- possible that an L-1A (intra-
and deport her. Unlike Khalil, tan shows the extensi- deral prosecutors and sear- regulation during a 30-60 day from the STEM field.” migration rules, identify pro- company transfer) visa for an
The student, Yunseo Ch- Chung does not appear ve, if so far unsuccess- ched Chung’s university hou- period and the concerned agen- In Trump’s earlier regime, blematic provisions, and sub- executive may be approved by
ung, is a legal permanent resi- to have been a promi- ful, efforts by US im- sing on March 13. cy has to consider these com- various policy changes had be- mit substantive comments that USCIS officer, but rejected by a
dent and junior who has parti- nent figure in the de- migration officials to According to Chung’s law- ments while drafting a final en overturned by courts as they agencies were legally obligated consular officer who now gets
cipated in pro-Palestinian de- monstrations that sho- arrest her. Agents his- suit, agents apparently seeking version of the regulation. had violated the APA. For in- to address. Now, the first time to use national security and US
monstrations at the school. ok the school last year. Yunseo Chung torically prefer to pick her searched two residences on Florida-based attorney stance, Stanford University, these stakeholders might learn foreign policy concerns as a de-
The Trump administration is But she was one of se- up immigrants in jail Columbia campus with war- Ashwin Sharma, said, “Ru- Cornell University, and various about a new H-1B or F-1 policy, cision making factor which is
arguing that her presence in veral students arrested this or prisons. Other types of ar- rants that cited a criminal law bio’s memo is a procedural Tro- chambers of commerce, had when it’s published as a final subjective and has very little to
the US hinders the admini- year in connection with a pro- rests are more difficult, often known as harbouring statute, jan horse. It quietly grants successfully challenged polici- rule and already in effect. For do with the objective require-
stration’s foreign policy agen- test at Barnard College. requiring hours of research, aimed at those who give shelter Trump 2.0 unchecked freedom es that had proposed to hike wa- Indian IT companies with sig- ments that an applicant must
da of halting spread of anti- Chung, a high school valedic- surveillance and other inves- to non-citizens present in the to reshape immigration law at ges of H-1B workers by as much nificant US operations and the meet per the Immigration and
semitism. Administration of- torian who moved to the US tigative resources. US illegally. NYT will. While this sweeping po- as 40-100%; narrow eligibility nearly 75% of H-1B visa holders Nationality Act.”

DAILY PLANET
Eye on polls, BNP worries over B’desh witnessing Canada just made getting Gerard Depardieu
festivity of rumours admits in court he Reuters

bid to erase legacy of 1971 war against interim

a PR much more difficult grabbed woman,
Dhaka: In a U-turn, BNP secre- Lubna Kably
Still waiting for India to TNN
tary general Mirza Fakhrul Is-
respond to Yunus-Modi
govt, says Yunus From March 25, those but denies assault
I
lam Alamgir raised “serious t is now final. A ministeri-
concerns” on Tuesday about ri- Dhaka/New Delhi: Chief al instruction issued on
applying for PR in Paris: French actor Gerard
sing efforts to downplay signifi-
meet proposal: B’desh Adviser Muhammad Yunus Tuesday said that effecti- Canada via the Express Depardieu, 76, admitted in
Entry system will no
cance of the 1971 Liberation
War, while cautioning that such
attempts not only undermine
B angladesh Tuesday said it
was awaiting a response
from New Delhi to its proposal
Tuesday said Bangladesh was
witnessing a “festivity of ru-
mours” against his admini-
ve from March 25, those app-
lying for permanent residen-
cy in Canada through the Ex-
longer receive additional
court on Tuesday to grabbing
by the hips a woman who ac-
cuses him of sexual assault,
the sacrifices made by count- for a meeting stration, blaming it on “the de- press Entry system will no lo- points for job offers but denied this was assault
less individuals during the war between Chief feated force” — an apparent nger receive additional and said any crude com-
but also threaten the founda- Adviser reference to deposed premier points for job offers. The pro- tions, but also impacts the ments he made were “just be-
tion of Bangladesh’s indepen- Muhammad Sheikh Hasina’s regime. posal was announced last Dec CRS scores of all candidates cause of his bad mood”. IN FULL BLOOM: Joggers pass cherry blossoms in Washington DC
dence, reports Ahsan Tasnim. Yunus and PM “The rumours are big in- by Marc Miller, who was then currently in the Express Ent- Plaintiff, Amelie K, who
“Some people, parties, and Narendra Modi struments of the defeated for- the immigration minister. ry pool. In fact, for candidates spoke in court after Depardi- ‘Don’t panic, it’s not a Japan awards man wrongly
groups are trying to make it se- on the sidelines ces against the July-Aug Candidates earlier got an currently in the Express Ent- eu, said he had touched her
accused of murder $1.4m: A
em as if 1971 never happened… of BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok (2024) Uprising,” he said in a extra 50 or 200 Comprehensive ry selection pool, their CRS all over her body as he trap-
UFO’: SpaceX rocket Japanese man wrongly convic-
ted of murder who was the
trying to erase it from memory. next week, reports Ahsan nationwide televised address Ranking System (CRS) points scores will be recalibrated to ped her between his legs, wh- fuel makes stunning world’s longest-serving death
My friends, those who once col- Tasnim. Foreign secretary Md on the eve of Bangladesh’s for holding a valid job offer, account for this change. ile making explicit sexual co-
laborated in the massacre, are Jashim Uddin said the strain in 53rd Independence Day. Un- significantly increasing their A valid job offer continues mments, in an assault on a swirl in European sky row inmate has
been awarded
now speaking louder than relations between the countries like in past years, there would chances of receiving an invi- to be an eligibility require- film set in 2021.
$1.4 million in
ever,” Fakhrul said in Dhaka. could be overcome if the bila- be no National Day military tation to apply for permanent ment for several streams un- “I grabbed her hips,” De-
compensation,
The statement, purportedly teral meeting is held. parade in the capital. Home residence through the point- der the Express Entry route. pardieu said, admitting to
an official said
made with an eye on national Ministry Senior Secretary based Express Entry system. Thus, Immigration, Refugees physical contact with set de-
on Tuesday. The
elections expected be held du- Fakhrul said people invol- Nasimul Ghani said the co- Candidates who have alre- and Citizenship Canada emp- corator Amelie K and saying
payout repre-
ring the year-end, seems to hint ved in mass killings during untry is in a wartime mode. ady been successful in earlier hasised that candidates sho- he had not told police about it
sents 12,500 yen ($83) for each
at change of stance of the party war of independence are now Yunus called upon the co- draws and have received invi- uld continue including job of- when being interrogated.
day of the more than four dec-
whose cadres have been active speaking openly and attemp- untrymen to resist rumour tations to apply for permanent fer details in their profiles. The But he added: “I grabbed her
participants in anti-Mujib pro-
tests across country and abro-
ting to distort history. Fakh-
rul stressed the importance of
through awareness and unity.
He said as upcoming election,
residence will not be impac-
ted. Nor will those whose per-
main objective of the move is
to reduce fraud by removing
hip so as not to slip because I
was so upset by her, by the he-
A stunning blue and white
spiral spotted in skies acr-
oss Europe was created by
ades that Iwao Hakamada
spent in detention, most of it
on death row. It is a record for
ad, including removing his por- preserving the nation’s histo- the date of which is yet to be manent residency applica- the incentive to illegally buy or at... I was very tired.” Depar-
frozen fuel tumbling from a compensation of this kind, Jap-
trait from Darbar Hall of the ry, noting that many younger decided, would come near, the tions are being processed. sell labour market impact as- dieu said in court that he had
SpaceX rocket, according to anese media said. The former
President’s office & destroying generations are unaware of rumours would take more However, this change af- sessments to improve a candi- been upset at Amelie K over
weather forecasters and scie- boxer, now 89, was exonerated
his residence at Dhanmondi 32. significant historical events. dangerous shape. PTI fects not only future applica- date’s chances of getting a PR. her work. REUTERS
ntists. The UK’s Met Office said last year of a 1966 quadruple
on X it had received many rep- murder after a tireless campa-
orts of an “illuminated swirl” in ign by his sister and others. The

Oscar-winning Palestinian director injured in attack by Israeli settlers & arrested the sky on Monday evening
likely caused by a rocket that
had earlier blasted off from
court ruled in Sept that Haka-
mada was not guilty and police
had tampered with evidence.
Susiya, West Bank: Oscar- “The young men came out violence, said her group had be- lal’s condition and status on
AP

Cape Canaveral in Florida.

winning director of a docu- to prevent the Iftar gathering, en attacked by settlers after ar- Tuesday, the Israeli police sent
mentary on the Israel-Palesti- and there were about eight in- riving in the village around 15 the statement first issued by “Don’t panic! No, it wasn’t a AROUND THE WORLD
UFO but the degassing of a
nian conflict was arrested late juries on our side,” Nawajaa sa- minutes after the attack began. the army the previous night. In the US, the first successful
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,” said
on Monday after being injured id. Israeli police arrested three “Shortly after we were attack- ‘No Other Land’ is a film electric car made its debut
the state weather forecaster
during a raid by Israeli men, including Ballal, ed, Hamdan was blindfolded about Israeli displacement of a around 1890 thanks to
Meteo France in the country’s
settlers on his village in who was injured during and handcuffed,” she said. Palestinian community. William Morrison, a chemist
central Loire Valley. Pictures
the occupied West Ba- the standoff, he said. The Israeli military said po- Basel Adra, one of the film’s who lived in Iowa. His
of the vivid swirl were also
nk, a local official said. “This is not the first lice and soldiers intervened af- other co-directors, said he beli- 6-passenger
posted by social media users vehicle
Hamdan Ballal, co- time that the settlers at- ter Palestinians threw rocks at eved the settlers had taken the
in countries including Swed- capable of a
director of the award- tacked our gathering, the vehicles of Israeli citizens army to the family house as re-
en, Poland, Hungary and Croa- top speed of
winning documentary, but in the recent period and later at Israeli security for- venge for the film’s depiction
tia. People across Europe may 14 miles per hour was little
‘No Other Land’, was at- Hamdan Ballal the attacks have increa- ces. “In response, the forces of Masafer Yatta area near to
have had the chance to see more than an electrified wagon,
tending a gathering for sed,” he said. apprehended 3 Palestinians su- where Monday’s incident oc-
the phenomenon — as long as but it helped spark interest
Iftar, at Susiya village near He- Lamia Ballal, the filmma- Ballal is detained by the Israeli military from his home in West Bank on Monday spected of hurling rocks at th- curred. “Because he carries his
it was not obscured by clouds, in electric vehicles
bron, when a group of settlers ker’s wife, said settlers gathe- em, as well as an Israeli civilian camera and documents what is
planetary scientist James O’D-
attacked the gathering, said Ji- red around the family house & in. “The settlers attacked him Anna Lippman, an Ameri- involved in the violent confron- going on, I think he is targeted The Times of India is the world’s
onoghue of the UK’s Universi-
had Nawajaa, head of Susiya her husband had gone outside & started beating him. Then, can-Canadian from a group cal- tation,” it said in a statement. and he was avenged this way at largest-selling English daily
ty of Reading told AFP.
local council. to prevent them from breaking they arrested him,” she said. led the Center for Jewish Non- Asked for an update on Bal- night,” he said. REUTERS
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: vikram.vishal T: 03-25-2025 23:48

Why early dinners are back on table for health-conscious Indians

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
TOI Which foods have more protein and less calories?
Read these and many more: toi.in/healthplus 11
NUT RITION PR EVENTION WE L L NES S BO DY T I PS, T RE ND S & T EC H

Doctors say most tumbles

Why older Indians are more
LATEST IN HEALTH RESEARCH

happen at home but there No more waxing or shaving.

are ways to prevent Sweet solution may be here
them or, at least, Smearing a stevia-like

minimise injury
prone to dangerous falls and anti-slip tiles. “Even healthy senior
sweetener on hair
follicles could stop
hair growth in lab
settings, according to
a study published in the
British Journal of Dermatology.
Feet apart: Stand with feet about shoulder- Researchers found that taste buds in
1 width apart, eyes open, and hold steady for 4
Eyes closed:
If you can perform
citizens are susceptible to accidents. When
the elderly fall, fear sets in and there is de- hair follicles can be stimulated with a
FOUR 10 seconds, working your way up to 30 sec the first three creased mobility. This can be even more natural sweetener to prevent hair
growth by reducing cell division.
Pushpa Narayan, Anuja Jaiswal
EXERCISES TO Feet together: Stand with feet together,
exercises safely and dangerous,” says Dr AB Govindaraj, a sen-
ior orthopaedic from MGM Healthcare, “Our study introduces an innovative
IMPROVE 2 eyes open, and hold steady for 10 sec,
& Srirupa Ray | TNN
with little support, try Chennai. In fact, many older adults fear drug-free strategy for suppressing
Ramachandran R was an active to do each one with falling even if they haven’t fallen before, unwanted hair growth,” the study
82-year-old doing brisk morning BALANCE working your way up to 30 sec. Once you can do your eyes closed. Hold says Kishore. “This fear may make them authors told The Independent.
walks and gardening in the evenings. this for 30 sec, move on to the next one avoid basic activities such as walking, shop-
Stand in a corner for 10 sec, working
Till he tripped over his sleeping Lha- or have a kitchen One foot: Stand on one foot, eyes open, up to 30 sec. Aim for ping, or having an active social life. But Air pollution ups risk of
sa Apso during a midnight bathroom
visit and suffered a fractured hip in counter in front to 3 and hold steady for 10 sec, working up to five repetitions
staying active is crucial to keep your body
healthy, and it actually helps prevent falls.”
Parkinson’s threefold
August last year. After surgery and reach out to 30 sec. Switch to the other foot twice a day People with a genetic
many sessions of physiotherapy, he The importance of exercise disposition to
quit all outdoor activities. centre of gravity, with weakened reflexes ularly review medications of seniors to As muscles atrophy with age, physical Parkinson’s disease
Saradha, 84, was cleaning her din- compromising balance,” she points out. identify those that might cause dizziness activity is imperative for senior citizens living in heavily
ing table when she fell and fractured Other risks include a slower walking or affect balance. “They must wear non-slip to prevent falls, says Dr Chatterjee, adding, polluted cities are at a
her femur. Though the bone has healed pace and neurodegenerative conditions like footwear. Unstable surfaces should be avoid- “One should focus on improving strength, three times higher risk
since, she refuses to walk without a Parkinson’s disease, decreased bone den- ed. Educating both seniors and carers about balance and flexibility through yoga and of developing the progressive
walker even within the house. TAKE THIS sity and diminished muscle strength, fall prevention, and prompt reporting of chair exercises. Leg and core strengthen- neurodegenerative disorder, a

F
study by US scientists published
or older folks, falls are serious
30-SEC TEST particularly in women’s quadriceps,
leading to unstable walking patterns.
balance issues, weakness or dizziness, is
crucial for reducing incidents,” he says.
ing routines are particularly beneficial.”
Dr R K Pathak, a 73-year-old orthopaedic in the JAMA Network Open journal
and even when the injuries heal, Time how long you can “Apart from balance and gait prob- surgeon based in Mumbai, began pilates has found.
they can lead to a confidence stand on one leg. If you can lems, the main cause of frequent falls classes with Kishore a little more than a
crisis. According to the US Cen- last for 30 seconds, your is age-related loss of muscle mass Physical strength year ago, egged on by his daughter. “I did How your dahi habit wards
tres for Disease Control and (known as sarcopenia) and blood pres- balance routines which I found to be very
Prevention, more than one out of four
balance is good. People in
sure that drops too much when you get reduces as good. I had begun to slouch a bit and pi- off deadly colon cancer
adults who are 65 and above suffers a the 5-10 second range up from a lying down or sitting position we age and posture lates helped improve my posture. It also Researchers at
Getty Images

fall every year, and falling once doubles have a serious risk (called postural hypotension),” says changes shift the increased my mobility, muscle power Massachusetts
the chances of falling again. In India, of falling Ruchi Kishore, a Mumbai-based pilates and stamina. As a doctor, I would rec- General Brigham
most hospital records show fall cases instructor and wellness coach who has a
body’s centre of ommend pilates to all senior citizens as have found that
among senior citizens are growing by lot of senior citizens among her clientele. gravity. This, along it’s an excellent routine for the four regular yogurt
the year. Why do older folks fall? with weak reflexes, things we need the most — posture, reflex- consumption may lower
“Even a minor fall can put them at “Multiple chronic conditions such as di- Making homes senior-friendly compromises balance es, balance and muscle power,” he says. risk of colorectal cancer. Their study,
great risk of injury, immobilise them, abetes, hypertension, cardiac or kidney How do they keep their balance then? published in Gut Microbes, analysed
and cause serious health issues. It’s the disease, and the use of multiple medica- “One can install parallel steel bars at Manjari Tripathi, HEAD OF Lessons on fall management decades of dietary data and found
second leading cause of unintentional tions are among the highest contributing hand-holding height along walls at 1ft NEUROLOGY, AIIMS DELHI What if you still fall? “If a fall is una- that two or more servings of yogurt
injury deaths worldwide,” says geriatri- factors,” says Dr Deepa. With increasing intervals for the person to hold on to voidable, try to let your body go limp, per week led to a significant
cian Dr S Deepa, director of the Nation- age, the risk of falls also rises — around while walking,” says Dr Tripathi. For and keep your knees, wrists, and elbows reduction in a particularly deadly
al Institute of Ageing in Guindy, Chen- 25-30% of people aged 60 have accidental severe balance issues, she recommends Rise of fall clinics loose and bent. Drop whatever you have type of colorectal cancer.
nai. In the past year, it has reported 237 falls, and the figure rises to 35% for those using a tripod stick for walking. Many hospitals treating elderly patients in hand. Tuck in your chin and throw
fracture cases due to falls in those over aged 70-80 — says Dr Manjari Tripathi, Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consult- now have fall clinics, some even offering your arms up around your ears to pro-
60. “All these people fell inside homes,” head of neurology at the All India Insti- ant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, services to screen for ‘dark or danger spots’ tect your head,” says Dr Govindaraj. Email your feedback to
she says, adding that generally 6 out of tute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New believes frequent vision and hearing tests at home. They typically suggest handrails After the fall, one must stay calm, take [email protected]
10 falls in the elderly happen at home — Delhi. “Physical strength reduces as we can identify spatial orientation issues that on staircases and inside bathrooms, elder- deep breaths, and call for help if the pain with Health Plus in the subject line.
in bathrooms, kitchens, or balconies. age and posture changes shift the body’s might cause falls. Also, doctors should reg- ly-friendly toilets, path lights in bedrooms, is severe or if they are dizzy. Please mention your name and city

WHICH ONE IS HEALTHIER?

Cookies are a favourite snack
for kids and adults alike,
Oatmeal cookie 1 serving Choco-chip cookie whether made from oatmeal
or chocolate chips. But
91 CALORIES 91 homemade is best as oatmeal
2.1gm PROTEIN 1gm cookies from the store are
often loaded with sugar,
11.9gm CARBS 10.1gm
butter, additives, colouring
4.7gm SUGAR 6gm agents and emulsifiers. high on sugar and fat, with no
0.9gm FIBRE Negligible Always check the label before healthy nutrients. So,
buying. Choco-chip cookies controlling portion size is
4.1gm FAT 5.2gm taste yummy alright but are important.
46.7mg SODIUM 24mg Source: Ritika Samaddar, chief clinical nutritionist, Max Healthcare

SURVIVOR STORIES

I kept fainting until a tiny implant

caught my silent heart problem
Manju Kabra Dr Annu Aggarwal, consultant neu- everything appeared normal. Yet, when

T
rologist and specialist in cognitive and Dr Nagarajan examined the loop record-
he knife I was holding hit the floor behavioural psychology at Mumbai’s er data, it showed my heart had stopped
first. My head soon followed. The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, for 18 seconds during the episode. In oth-
collapse was sudden and dramat- referred us to Dr Venkat Nagarajan, a er words, I had had a cardiac arrest.
ic, as if I were a character in a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Even a three-second pause in heart
saas-bahu serial. When I regained con- the same hospital. Also a heart rhythm activity can cause loss of consciousness
sciousness, three panicked faces hovered expert, we were told Dr Nagarajan would in some patients. An 18-second pause
over me. My son, my daughter-in-law and be able to tell if the fainting was caused meant my heart rate had dropped dra-
my husband had all assumed the worst. by an underlying cardiac disorder. The matically, cutting off blood supply to the
It seems I was gone for at least 20 seconds brain and the heart are inextricably brain. The condition is called Bradycar-
that day in the summer of 2020 when I linked, and it isn’t uncommon for heart dia, which means my heart was beating
had the first of many falls. issues to take on the guise of nervous fewer than 60 beats per minute (bpm).
Weeks after Covid-19 locked much of The normal rate for adults is between 60
the world indoors, I had been cutting and 100 bpm. Some people with a high
vegetables at our home in Ayodhya’s A loop recorder cardiovascular fitness, such as athletes,
Ambedkar Nagar village when my body under my skin may have a slow heart rate without any
went limp and dropped to the floor. I had issue. But in my case, the heart wasn’t
never fainted before, and didn’t have a
diagnosed me with pumping enough blood. This could hap-
history of BP issues or diabetes. A few Bradycardia, where the pen owing to infections or inflammation.
minutes after I regained consciousness, heart has fewer beats per Dr Nagarajan advised a pacemaker.
I felt completely fine. Surgical masks on, Sending electrical pulses to the heart
we visited our family doctor in Ayodhya
minute than normal. through wires, the pacemaker has en-
who suggested I consult a neurologist. Without the right sured my heart doesn’t stop pumping.
I travelled 200 km to the nearest top monitoring tech, such I have had no more fainting episodes.
hospital in Lucknow during peak-Covid to Looking back, the heart-brain con-
undergo a series of tests including MRI,
conditions can go nection has filled me with awe. Tran-
ECG and angiogram without growing tired undiagnosed, sient and infrequent heart rhythm
at age 58. Suspecting epilepsy, the neurol- even proving fatal abnormalities can often mimic neu-
ogist prescribed a few medicines. Days rological conditions like epilep-
later, my son Himanshu would be baffled sy. The real challenge is when
to find me repeating what I had told him system problems. To identi- the patient is at the clinic
earlier, as if I were saying it for the first fy the root cause, he ad- and feeling fine, the heart
time. He feared Alzheimer’s, but the mem- vised me to go for an im- rhythm appearing nor-
ory loss was seemingly temporary, perhaps plantable loop recorder. mal. Without the right
a medication side-effect. Meanwhile, the Smaller than a pen monitoring technology,
fainting episodes became more frequent. drive, this device worth these conditions can go
I was told to do an angiography to rule Rs 1 lakh is implanted undiagnosed, potentially
out blocked arteries. By then, I had grown under the skin to mon- leading to death. If not
weary of being probed and scanned in itor the heart’s electri- for the loop recorder jut-
vain. We had spent Rs 5 to 6 lakh on con- cal activity. Merely a ting out from the neck of
sultations, tests, procedures and medicines few days after the loop my blouse for a few
that had yielded little. The fear of fainting recorder was im- months, my diagnosis
made stepping out of home without com- planted, we were would have been impos-
pany nerve-wracking. After visiting every waiting to board a sible. Today, on the other
doctor possible — including an ENT to rule flight back home side of 60, I feel grateful
out a “hole in the eardrum” and a psycholo- wh e n I f a i n t e d to science for restoring
gist who assured my falls weren’t owing to again at the Mumbai Manju Kabra not just the rhythm of my
a mental health issue — I almost gave up air por t. A doctor heart but also of my life.
when my son suggested we seek the opin- checked my blood pres- As told to to
ion of experts in Mumbai, where he works. sure and heart rate but Sharmila Ganesan Ram
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pradeep.kamalasanan T: 03-26-2025 00:00

India’s Data Rush:

Powering The Future with AI THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
Others AI Demand Drivers
1,400 4%
Data 6 Investment 8% AI workloads
I ndia's data centre
sector is witness-
ing unprecedented
Data centre capacity
surged 139% from
capacity
growth
Inflow
5 Growth
CITY-WISE
5%
4%
Bengaluru
Pune
Cloud services
OTT platforms
4

$Bn
2019 to 2024 Social media

Mumbai
expansion, driven (MW) DATA
(590 MW to 1.4 GW) 3 CENTRE 9% Hyderabad Future Market Size
by the surge in AI, 48%
600 2 DISTRIBUTION Noida Data centre market expected
cloud-based services Over $6.5bn committed
via PE investments, JVs 1 Chennai to grow from $1.4bn (2025) to
and digitalisation 24% $6.4bn (2030), a 42% CAGR
initiatives & acquisitions (2014-24)
2019 2024 2019 2024 Source: Anarock

Axis MF, 5 others

settle case of front ‘Goal is to offer more
Pre-IPO Fundraise In Focus Amid Rising Investor Confidence
running with Sebi
Mumbai: Axis Mutual fund,
along with five other entities,
Groww to raise $250mn led innovative medicines’
by GIC at $6.8bn valuation
has settled a case of front
running by its former head of
dealing Viresh Joshi by paying
Rs 6.3 crore to markets regulator India Is One Of The Most Exciting Economic
Sebi. Along with the fund house,
the trustee company, Chandesh
Nigam, its former MD, and three
[email protected]
Valuation More Than Doubles Since 2021
en $6 billion and $8 billion.
Groww is set to raise about
Stories Globally: Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks
others were involved in the Bengaluru: Investment plat- $600-800 million through the RupaliMukherjee
settlement process. They had form Groww is in the process  Groww raised $251 million  Other investors in the round offering, with the issue of new @timesofindia.com We expect to expand significantly (in India) with more
filed the settlement application of raising a pre-IPO funding in 2021 and was valued at may include Tiger Global shares and offers for sale by access to life-saving treatments
$3.1 billion Management, among existing

E
on a ‘suo motu’ basis. TNN of about $250 million, from a existing shareholders split li Lilly, the $45 billion US  Rise in diabetes, driven by obesity, is a major
bunch of investors led by  Since inception, it has investors in the company nearly equally. pharmaceutical giant concern. We have a number of oral medications
Singapore’s sovereign wealth raised $393 million  Groww offers stock The company raised $251 known globally for its in development
fund GIC, at a valuation of  The latest round trading, mutual fund million in 2021 and was valued blockbuster weight-loss tre-
$6.8 billion, said sources fami- at $3.1 billion. Since inception, atment Mounjaro (tirzepati-  India is now our second-largest market for
signals growing investor investments and other
liar with the matter. Groww has raised $393 mil- de), aims to transform India employment (after US)
confidence in Groww’s financial services
The latest funding round, business ahead of going public lion. Last year, its private- from an underperforming  We use AI to improve efficiency in clinical trials
 It has seen rapid expansion
more than doubling the com- market value reportedly dip- market into a growth engine and drug development. AI helps us scale and
 Participation of Singapore- in recent years and
pany’s last recorded valua- ped below $2 billion after it by addressing the country’s speed up processes
based GIC sovereign wealth is positioning itself as a rising diabetes and obesity
tion in an equity-based fund- merged its US-based holding —DAVID RICKS | CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
raise, comes as the Bengalu- fund shows its continued key player in online company with its Indian pa- challenges. Just days after OF ELI LILLY AND COMPANY
ru-based company prepares interest in India’s fintech sector investing space rent Billionbrains Garage the India launch of Mounja-
for its public listing. Ventures. Founded in 2016 by ro, which targets type 2 diabe- alth. Our goal is to introduce APIs (active pharmaceutical
The development signals pany. GIC’s participation un- trading, mutual fund invest- former Flipkart executives tes and obesity, at a fraction more innovative medicines to ingredients) and drug pro-
growing investor confidence derscores its continued inter- ments, and other financial Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Nee- of its US price of over $1,000 the market, while maintaining duct. We have a flexible supp-
in Groww’s business ahead of est in India’s fintech sector. services, has seen rapid ex- raj Singh, and Ishan Bansal, per month, David Ricks, cha- the importance of generics. ly chain and multiple manu-
going public. Spokespersons The sovereign wealth fund pansion in recent years and is Groww is backed by investors ir and chief executive officer facturing hubs around the
for Groww and GIC did not re- previously backed several positioning itself as a key pla- like Y Combinator, Peak XV of Eli Lilly and Company, This is your third visit to world, including in the US,
spond to TOI’s requests for high-growth Indian startups yer in India’s online investing Partners (formerly Sequoia highlighted India as one of India as CEO. How do you Europe, and Asia.
comment. Other investors in across sectors, including Flip- space. TOI reported in Jan Capital India) and Ribbit Ca- the most “exciting economic assess the Indian market
the round may include Tiger kart, Delhivery, Swiggy, Ra- that Groww is charting a cour- pital. For FY24, Groww’s reve- stories globally.” Excerpts over the years ? As regards diabetes, how
Global Management, among zorpay, and Cred. se for an IPO by Dec this year, nue rose 119% to Rs 3,145 crore from an interview with TOI. India is one of the most ex- do you see the future evol-
existing investors in the com- Groww, which offers stock aiming for a valuation betwe- from Rs 1,435 crore a year ago. citing economic stories global- ving with new treatments?
It must be an exciting time ly. It’s a vast country and achie- We’ve been serving people

Secondary sale: Zepto to raise $200mn

to be here just days after ving scale can be challenging, with diabetes for over 100 years.
the launch of Mounjaro. but the pace of progress here is And, insulin still is a backbone
How do you see Indian remarkable. Lilly has expan- of glucose management for ty-
market evolving? ded operations here and India pe 1 and type 2 diabetes. The ri-
Sensex, Nifty rise for [email protected] is favourable for the busi- at $5 billion and having The therapy is really trans- is now our second-largest mar- se in diabetes, driven by obesi-
VALUATION: $5BN ness as it prepares to go pub- shown growth in its annua- formative, and many people ket for employment (after US). ty, is a major concern. We have
seventh straight day Mumbai: Zepto is underta- Zepto being valued at $5 lic,” a source told TOI. Zepto lised gross order value were already seeking it in In- We’ve opened a new service a number of oral medications
king a secondary share sale billion for secondary share sale declined to comment. (GOV) which it claims tou- dia. It highlights the power of centre at Hyderabad, and are in development, including an
Mumbai: Sensex and Nifty rose worth over $200 million at The startup has been try- ched $3 billion, the startup innovation and what Mounja- leveraging Indian talent for oral GLP-1 one, with results an-
for the seventh consecutive the same valuation of $5 bil- Move aimed at boosting ing to raise participation of will seek a higher valuation, ro is doing for millions world- global performance. We have a ticipated in the second quarter.
session on Tuesday. Sensex was lion to boost domestic ow- domestic ownership ahead of local investors. Zepto’s last potentially looking at close wide. Tirzepatide is a first-in- good history here and are ex- We also have data from Moun-
up 33 points at 78,017 points nership ahead of its planned planned IPO $350 million funding round to $10 billion. class treatment that activates panding here (Hyderabad jaro showing a dramatic reduc-
while Nifty was up 10 points at initial public offering (IPO), PE arms of Edelweiss in Nov led by Motilal Os- Zepto rivals publicly lis- two hormone receptors —glu- GCC). Part of my visit is to tion in the risk of developing
23,669 points. In the last seven preparations for which have Financial Services and Motilal wal’s private wealth divi- ted Zomato (now Eternal cose-dependent insulinotropic check progress on a number of diabetes. If we can scale these
sessions, the sensex has added a picked up pace with the com- Oswal Financial Services jointly sion was entirely backed by Ltd) and Swiggy in the quick polypeptide (GIP) and gluca- initiatives put in place last ye- treatments, we could slow rise
little over 4,100 points while Nifty pany planning to file draft buying bulk of shares domestic investors inclu- commerce sector and is also gon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) ar, discuss partnerships that of diabetes significantly.
is up nearly 1,300 points. TNN IPO papers in a month’s ti- Zepto’s last $350 million ding a clutch of Indian fami- competing with them in the —which play key roles in regu- we’re forming here to reach
me, sources said. funding round in Nov led by ly offices. The company rapid food delivery space by lating blood sugar and appeti- more patients. The consumer How is AI is being utilised in
ATM charges to be As part of the secondary Motilal Oswal’s private wealth which recently completed launching a separate app for te. We’re optimistic about Indi- nature of obesity treatments the pharma industry ?
transaction, the private equ- division was entirely backed by the process of shifting its do- its food service Zepto Café. a’s growth and expect to ex- makes partnerships with large We use artificial intelli-
revised from May 1 ity arms of Edelweiss Fi- domestic investors micile to India from Singa- Investor appetite for the pand significantly with more tech players even more crucial. gence to improve efficiency
nancial Services and Moti- pore is firming up its draft instant delivery space has access to life-saving treat- in clinical trials, manufactu-
Mumbai: The National lal Oswal Financial Services IPO papers in consultation surged amid increasing con- ments. India is the 14th largest How does Trump’s policies ring, and drug development.
Payments Corporation of India are jointly buying the bulk least 40% from the current with bankers, sources said. sumer adoption, particular- market, but most of it is domi- and reshoring impact AI helps us scale and speed up
has announced a revision in of the shares from some of 33%. “The company intends The IPO size and valuation ly in metros, with Zepto nated by generics rather than supply chain for compani- processes. We’re also using
interchange fees for ATM the startup’s global inves- to eventually shore up do- are still being discussed but alone bagging $1.3billion innovative medicines. We beli- es like yours? AI in our research and deve-
transactions. The fees will tors. The idea is to increase mestic shareholding to 50%. sources indicated that with in funding from investors eve both can coexist and gene- It’s a modest effect for us. lopment, collaborating with
increase by Rs 2—from Rs 17 to domestic shareholding to at Strong domestic ownership Zepto already being valued last year. rics play a key role in public he- We tend to make our own external partners.
Rs 19—effective May 1. TNN

Revamped Bhim app

works in 15 languages Samsung, execs face Unprecedented tax relief to ‘Indian EV cos can
Mumbai: The revamped Bhim
app, launched on Tuesday,
supports 15+ languages, works in
$601mn tax demand taxpayers in budget, says FM easily take on Tesla’
low connectivity, and adds TIMES NEWS NETWORK TIMES NEWS NETWORK the third largest automobile
expense tracking, bill splitting, New Delhi: Tax authorities ha- reviewed by Reuters. LS CLEARS FINANCE BILL market in the world at Rs 22
and family mode. The app, now ve ordered Samsung and its ex- Samsung “violated” Indian New Delhi: Finance mini- Chennai: Will Tesla’s entry lakh crore with the US (Rs 78
under a separate company, has a ecutives in the country to pay laws and “knowingly and inten- ster Nirmala Sitharaman We aim to boost domestic production and enhance into India charge up the local lakh crore) at number 1 and
spends analytics dashboard. TNN $601 million in back taxes and tionally presented false docu- on Tuesday said the Budget export competitiveness by reducing duties EV market? China (Rs 49 lakh crore) at
penalties for dodging tariffs on ments before the customs aut- has provided “unpreceden- on raw materials and inputs, making domestic Transport mi- number 2. In five years, becau-
import of key telecoms equip- hority for clearance”, Sonal Ba- ted tax relief to honest tax- products more cost-effective nister Nitin se of the increase in alternati-

S&P trims ment, a govt order showed, for

one of the biggest such de-
jaj, a commissioner of customs,
said in the order.
payers” and is aimed at bo-
osting domestic production
So, digital becomes an issue. What prevails now
with the gap and that gap is getting filled up in
Gadkari is
confident that
ve fuel usage, improved cost
and quality and electrifica-
mands in recent years. Samsung was ordered to pay and enhancing export com- the new Income Tax Bill, which is before the India’s ho- tion, we should be No. 1.”
India’s growth The demand represents a
substantial chunk of last year’s
Rs 4,460 crore ($520 million),
consisting of unpaid taxes and
petitiveness, while indica-
ting that the Income Tax
select committee megrown EV
brands will be able to more
Both industry and govt
are already working towards
Nirmala Sitharaman | FINANCE MINISTER
forecast to 6.5% net profit of $955 million for
Samsung in India. It can be
a penalty of 100%.
Seven India executives face
Bill to replace the 63-year-
old law will be taken up for als and inputs, making do- tection from not sharing
than hold their own in compa-
rison. “India is an open mar-
a flexi-fuel future. “Already
seven or eight companies, in-
New Delhi: Ratings agency challenged in a tax tribunal or fines of $81 million, among discussion during the mon- mestic products more cost- passcode, she said. “So, di- ket and you’re free to come he- cluding the Tatas, Mahind-
S&P Global on Tuesday trim- the courts. them the network division’s vi- soon session of Parliament. effective,” she said. gital becomes an issue. re, manufacture and compete ras, Suzuki, Hyundai, among
med India’s GDP growth fore- The company, which also ce president, Sung Beam Hong, In Budget, FM had pro- She also sought to add- What prevails now with the on cost. But our Indian elec- others, have lined up flex fuel
cast for 2025-26 and asserted imports telecom equipment chief financial officer Dong posed a relief of up to Rs 1.1 ress some concerns over po- gap and that gap is getting tric car makers are no less and vehicles while companies
that Asia-Pacific economies through its network division, Won Chu and Sheetal Jain, a ge- lakh for taxpayers, hoping wer to access digital records filled up in the new Income we have the best in terms of like Adani, Tata, Maruti, LG,
will feel the strain of rising US received a warning in 2023 for neral manager for finance, as that more money in hands proposed in the I-T Bill, said Tax Bill, which is before the design, quality and technolo- Samsung have been cleared
tariffs specifically and a push- misclassifying imports to eva- well as Nikhil Aggarwal, Sam- of people will spur demand. the records will also be taken select committee,” she said. gy right here today,” he said at to make lithium ion batteries
back on globalisation. de tariffs of 10% or 20% on a cri- sung’s general manager for in- On Tuesday, the Lok Sab- into account. The current The new Bill gives tax of- HPCL presents Times Drive under a special scheme,” he
It said domestic demand tical transmission component direct taxes, the order showed. ha passed the Finance Bill law permits the examina- ficers powers to override the Auto Summit & Awards. said. Battery prices have co-
momentum should broadly used in mobile towers. “The issue involves the 2025 incorporating 35 tion of books of account, access code of computer sy- That confidence, he added, me down to $100 per kilo watt
hold up, especially in the re- Samsung pushed tax autho- interpretation of classifica- amendments. In her reply to physically kept or every ma- stems and virtual digital was based on how the Indian hour and in “six to seven
gion’s emerging-market eco- rity to drop the scrutiny, saying tion of goods by customs,” the discussion on the Bill, nual record, which shows in- space, including online tra- automobile industry has months EVs and petrol/die-
nomies. “India’s GDP will the component did not attract Samsung said in a state- Sitharaman highlighted the come expenditure. ding and investment acco- changed from a “cost-based sel vehicles will cost the
grow 6.5% in the fiscal year tariffs and officials had known ment, adding that it compli- changes in customs duties. Since the 1961 Act does unts as well as cloud servers, sector to a quality-based in- same,” he added.
ending March 31, 2026, we ex- its classification practice for ye- ed with Indian laws. “We “We aim to boost domestic not mention the digital re- in search and seizure cases. dustry”. In the near future, he The NHAI, he said, is buil-
pect...less than our earlier fo- ars. But customs authorities are assessing legal options production and enhance ex- cords, most often it beco- Now, the Budget will be added, this will make India ding 670 roadside amenities,
recast of 6.7%,” S&P Global disagreed in a confidential Jan to ensure our rights are ful- port competitiveness by re- mes contentious and people taken up for discussion by the top automobile market in including charging stations
said in its report. TNN 8order that is not public but was ly protected.” REUTERS ducing duties on raw materi- go to the court and seek pro- the Rajya Sabha. the world. “Currently, we are for electric vehicles.

Are Trump’s Policies Pushing US Towards a Global Recession?

I THIS IS WHAT KEY INDICATORS SIGNAL...
sthe US economy headed for Most forecasters still don’t disregarded the selloff and re- re saving less to maintain their
a recession? Stocks have expect a recession. But they fused to back down. “Markets spending.
plunged. So have measures say the chances of one have ri- are going to go up and they’re “All of these things were
of consumer and business con- sen sharply — a turnabout Economic policy uncertainty index Consumer sentiment index S&P 500 since the election going to go down,” he told repor- pretty obvious even in Dec,”
Peak
fidence. Fore- from when Trump took office. ters last week. He and members said Neil Dutta of Renaissan-
500 100 6,100
casters expect How likely is a downturn? He- More
of his administration now sug- ce Macro Research, a financi-
slower growth, re are three big questions abo- 400 More uncertainty
Recessions
80 confident gest that a period of economic al firm. He argues that a
higher unemp- ut the Trump economy. pain is necessary to balance the slowdown in growth was in-
loyment and Covid 5,900 economy. (Hardly any econo- evitable this year, regardless
300 60 declared –7.6%
faster inflation Actions versus feelings? Less a national since
mists agree.) of who won the election —
Election
than they did The evidence of a slow- 200 40 emergency Day peak Still, Trump could change which would mean that
just a few months ago — and down comes mostly from “soft” 5,700 tactics if the slump worsened. Trump is operating with less
Wednesday, policymakers at indicators. These are surveys Less of an economic buffer than
100 20
the Federal Reserve said they showing that businesses are Is there a cushion? most people believe.
OBAMA TRUMP BIDEN
agreed. more reluctant to hire and in- 5,500 Coming into this year, most The economy has repea-
The administration has vest, and that workers are more 1990 2000 2010 2020 2025 2010 2014 2018 2022 2024 Dec Jan Feb March
forecasters expected economic tedly proved doubters wrong
announced and then delayed worried about losing their Note: Data is a biweekly average and is through March Note: Data is monthly through March 2025; data for 2024 2025 output to grow about 2%, adjus- in recent years, and it may do
tariffs; it has ended and then jobs. 19, 2025. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis March is preliminary. Source: University of Michigan Source: LSEG Data & Analytics ted for inflation. That’s slower so again. But it doesn’t take a
restored programmes. Even “Hard” indicators — mea- than the 2.5% it grew last year, recession to cause real hard-
some experts who are sympat- sures of actual activity — ha- ur does. A company that loses a But it is also possible that have become less reliable in an se if he did, stocks would fall but it’s a long way from a reces- ship. Even a mere slowdown in
hetic to President Donald ven’t shown the same weak- contract today probably won’t falling confidence won’t ever era of extreme partisanship. and Trump would reverse cour- sion. Yet even before Trump to- growth could leave hundreds
Trump’s aims worry that busi- ness. Job growth was solid in lay off its staff tomorrow; an translate into real-world deci- se. ok office, some forecasters war- of thousands out of work —
nesses will pull back on hiring Feb, for example. Retail sales employee who hears a rumour sions. Consumer confidence How determined is Trump? So far, that has been a losing ned that the economy was not and, if history is any guide,
and investing in the face of so slumped in Jan but rebounded of job cuts might not immedia- was low through much of the Trump made tariffs a cen- bet. In his first term, Trump as strong as well-known indica- send Trump’s approval ra-
much uncertainty — a word last month, although less than tely cancel a long-planned vaca- Biden administration, for ex- terpiece of his campaign last worried when markets fell and tors like the unemployment ra- tings through the floor. That’s
that the Fed chair used repea- forecasters had expected. tion. And even when behaviour ample, but actual spending ne- year. But many people on Wall bragged when they rose. But te suggested. Hiring was slo- the kind of outcome presi-
tedly in a news conference on Attitudes almost always does shift, it takes time to show ver faltered. And evidence sug- Street didn’t believe he would when stocks fell after tariff an- wing; the housing market was dents usually do everything in
Wednesday. change before actual behavio- up clearly in the economic data. gests that sentiment measures follow through — in part becau- nouncements this month, he frozen in place; consumers we- their power to avoid. NYT
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pradipkumar.deshmukh T: 03-25-2025 23:22

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | Ahmedabad

Employee-driven giving is
key to Gen-Z engagement
M Muneer
Ram
tures, like granting a few hours of paid
volunteer time each month can boost

I
ndia’s workforce is uniquely evolving, employee satisfaction and morale.
with Gen-Z and millennials now com-
prising over half the population. They Levarage technology
demand more than competitive salaries; Technology plays a major role in simpli-
they seek alignment fying the execution of these program-
with values that promo- mes. Subscription-based platforms stre-
te sustainability and so- amline administrative tasks, such as
cial impact. They want tracking donations and managing volun-
employers who actively teer hours. These tools also allow employ-
drive positive change, ees to see the immediate impact of their
not just reflect their ide- ughtful planning for determining how to contributions, driving a sense of ac-
als. In this paradigm, companies must re- fund initiatives. Whether it involves allo- complishment and trust.
imagine engagement strategies to con- cating a percentage of profits or setting
nect with both employees and the com- aside a specific budget, transparency is Transparent communication
munity. Employee-driven philanthropy critical. Employees and stakeholders Clear and consistent communication is
offers a powerful way to strengthen should understand the financial fram- essential for the success of any philanth-
brand reputation while tackling critical ework, reinforcing the company’s genui- ropy initiative. Companies should ensu-
social challenges. ne commitment to social impact. re that information about their program-
When employees see their values re- mes is easily accessible through internal
flected in the organisation’s actions, the- Be an equal partner newsletters, team meetings, or dedicated
ir connection to work deepens and incre- Flexibility is crucial in designing pro- portals. Leadership involvement is equ-
ases loyalty. This alignment is vital in to- grammes that connect with a diverse ally important. When executives actively
day’s competitive job market, where sus- workforce. Companies can adopt approa- participate in and advocate for philanth-
tainability and social impact influence ches such as donation matching, in-kind ropic efforts, they inspire others to join
career choices. contributions, or team volunteer activiti- in. Employee-driven philanthropy trans-
es. Allowing employees to vote on the cau- cends being a tool for social good.
Funding initiatives ses or NGOs they wish to support increa- (The author is start-up investor
Creating an effective employee-led phi- ses engagement and ensures the pro- and co-founder of the non-profit
lanthropy programme starts with tho- gramme reflects their values. Small ges- Medici Institute for Innovation)
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: vikram.vishal T: 03-25-2025 23:53

14 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

Panel identifies those to be BMC says examining ‘Mandarin teaching project

called to record statements permissions for hotel began on a pilot basis in 2023’
Continued from P1 would take approximately a
Continued from P1 Besides Justice Varma, the prime witnesses week. Kamra faces charges of Continued from P1
U’khand plans to make Sanskrit spoken language
T I
he panel has identified who will be examined by the panel are the first n his Feb 2 show, Kunal defamation and creating mis-

S
those who would be Kamra had sung “Hum chief through his show. hanky Chandra, head of Dehradun/Haridwar: The picturesque Dimar village, a
called to record state-
responders to the distress call about the fire in honge kangaal... (We’ll be A police officer said notice the department (Chinese centuries-old hub of Sanskrit learning and home to the Dimri
ments, including the Delhi the outhouse storeroom of the judge’s reduced to poverty)” set to the was delivered to Kamra’s Ma- Studies) at Doon Univer- Brahmins who oversee worship and religious activities at
fire department chief whose residence on the night of March 14 tune of the popular song him residence, where his fa- sity’s School of Languages, Badrinath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, is all set for a linguistic
initial “no cash was found at ‘Hum honge kamyab’. In ther accepted it after attempts told TOI, “This is the first revival. The State Sanskrit Academy is preparing to deploy trainers
the judge’s residence” state- As per the fire report de- Upadhyay that as per the Tuesday’s video, he used the to reach Kamra directly were time in India that Mandarin in April to encourage locals to embrace Sanskrit as a spoken
ment was cited by Justice tails dated March 21, Safdar- guards posted at Justice Var- same song. One of the lines in unsuccessful. The officer is being taught in govt language, report Kautilya Singh & Sheo Jaiswal. Selected as one of
Varma in his explanation to jung fire station received a ma’s residence, “some debris the song was “Mann mein said, “Kamra’s mobile was schools under such an initia- the Aadarsh Sanskrit Villages, Dimar has had a Sanskrit school
Delhi HC Chief Justice D K call about the fire at the judg- and half burnt articles were Nathuram, harkate Asaram found to be switched off. We tive. The project began on a since 1910. However, the language largely remained confined to
Upadhyay. The fire chief had e’s residence at 11.35pm on removed in the morning of (Nathuram on the mind, and asked his father to alert him pilot basis in 2023, and the religious and academic settings rather than daily conversations.
subsequently denied mak- March 14 and firefighters ar- March 15”. acts like Asaram)”. to reply as soon as possible.” positive response from stu-
ing any such statement. rived at the site at 11.43pm. HC staff, including per- BMC, which demolished a DCP (zone IX) Dikshit Ge- dents encouraged us to con- quires mastery of at least is one of India’s largest trade
Besides Justice Varma, They left the place after two sonal assistants, attached to shed at the hotel Unicontinen- dam said the police will de- tinue.” 3,000 to 5,000 characters, and partners. Last year, three of
the prime witnesses who will hours, at 1.56 am. Justice Varma’s residence tal in which the studio is lo- cide about whether to remove Chandra added: “Cur- the intricate writing system our students who passed
be examined by the panel are Delhi police commission- will also be questioned by the cated, said Tuesday it is exam- the show from the online plat- rently, the programme runs and tonal nature of it make it Class 12 secured well-paying
the first responders to the er Sanjay Arora had in- inquiry panel to understand ining permissions for the ho- form. On potential threats, in 15 PM SHRI (Pradhan Man- one of the most challenging jobs in the neighbouring
distress call about the fire in formed Justice Upadhyay, the nature of the fire and the tel. Kamra told TOI that he has tri Schools for Rising India) languages to learn. country solely due to their
the outhouse storeroom of who was in Lucknow, about presence of cash. A critical Kamra’s lawyer on Tues- been avoiding calls and mess- schools, which have online Chandra, an alumnus of language skills.”
the judge’s residence on the cash being burned at Justice part of the inquiry will be to day morning submitted a let- ages from unknown people, teaching facilities, as we lack, Harvard University, empha- He said, “Many other op-
night of March 14. Amond Varma’s residence around examine call data records of ter to Khar police, explaining noting that “the threat is as of now, the required re- sised the project’s potential portunities open up as inter-
these responders are fire- 4.50pm on March 15 and Justice Varma for the last six the comedian’s absence due to openly made by politicians sources for physical classes.” for creating employment op- preters and translators are
fighters from Safdarjung fire shared photographs and vid- months. He has been told not professional commitments in through the media. What can Fluency in Mandarin — a portunities. “Learning Man- hired by the ministry of ex-
station and police personnel eo of the incident. The police to delete any information Pondicherry and indicating I say when they are making an language with over 50,000 darin will significantly im- ternal affairs and private
from Tughlaq Road PS. chief also informed Justice from his phone(s). that his return to Mumbai open threat?” characters — typically re- prove job prospects as China firms.”
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: pradeep.kamalasanan T: 03-26-2025 00:17

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 15

TECH I’D LIKE TO SEE SYSTEM GLOSSARY OF

INTEGRATORS IN-GROUP
HOW JOBS COULD FIND PEOPLE ystem integrators are companies TERMS USED

A decade ago, finding a job meant scanning newspaper

classifieds or asking around for referrals. Today, job
everything from job applications to salary
negotiations, freeing people up to focus on what
S or professionals who design,
assemble, and implement complex IT ON THIS PAGE
platforms and AI-driven recommendations have made they do best – building their careers, connections systems by combining hardware, software,
the process faster. But what if the job search itself and relationships. For employers, this technology networking, and storage solutions from
became obsolete? In the future, I’d like to see AI flip could transform hiring into a proactive, data-driven multiple vendors. Their goal is to ensure all
this process entirely. Instead of people searching for process. Instead of sifting through endless components work seamlessly together to meet
jobs, jobs should find people. I foresee a future when resumes, companies would effortlessly be a client’s specific needs. They often provide consultancy, installation,
AI understands your skills, tracks industry matched with future-ready talent that is testing, and ongoing support services. System integrators play a key role
trends, and nudges you towards the right primed for the change. No more in enterprise IT projects, helping businesses streamline operations,
opportunities before you even realise you mismatched expectations – just the right improve efficiency, and reduce costs. They may specialise in particular
need a change. AI agents could handle people in the right roles at the right time. industries or technologies, such as cloud computing or cybersecurity.
Ultimately, they bridge the gap between technology providers and end-
Madhu Kurup | VP, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, INDEED users with tailored, cohesive solutions.

IT SERVICES & GCCs:

‘WATCHING SIRISHA NOW
WARMS MY HEART’
MENTOR
It’s been a pleasure
MENTORSHIP Cornerstone of
career growth
Continuing with
watching Sirisha grow
our Women’s

Indifference to alliance
through her years at
Uber. She started out Day special page
quite reserved, hesitant theme, we look
to claim the spotlight for
herself. Watching her
at some more
mentor-mentee
IT firms finally LOVE’S IN THE AIR: ‘IT’S IN
THE DNA OF IT SERVICES
now, confidently leading
her team and fostering stories
accept that GCCs TO TEAM UP TO WIN’
the same collaborative
spirit we discussed, ‘SRIRAM HELPED ME TRANSITION
really warms my heart. She’s not just managing;
BEYOND RESEARCH’
aren’t going away. GCCs are not
adversaries. Cognizant she’s leading with empathy and strength.
MEGHA YETHADKA, SENIOR DIRECTOR, MENTOR
is beginning to work actively
They now want to with them. We are setting up PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, TECH, UBER
MENTEE
As a mentor, witnessing Ritu Garg’s journey from research
to product innovation in AI client computing has been truly
GCCs for companies and
work with them developing microservices for
them. Many GCCs are in
In my early career, Megha, my manager at the
time, became more than a mentor – she was my
inspiring. Her transition from ideas to execution was a piv-
otal shift, driven by curiosity and perseverance. Guiding her
through this evolution and seeing her grow into a problem-
engineering and in career’s catalyst. Initially believing that hard work
Shelley Singh solver has been incredibly rewarding. Ritu’s ability to

F
operations, which was alone would propel me, there was a time when I
bridge research and real-world impact reflects not only her
not outsourced for a saw peers get promoted
or some time, IT services dedication but also her openness to learning and embracing
long time. Now that it while I didn’t. It was at
companies looked to be new perspectives.
is coming all the way that point that Megha
indifferent to the ex- SRIRAM RANGANATHAN, SENIOR PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, INTEL INDIA

GCC
to India, it is open taught me a crucial les-
pansion of global ca- son: “You have to repre- MENTEE
for partners to be a
pability centres sent your work – ask for Sriram’s mentorship helped me transition beyond research,
part of it.
(GCCs, the tech & operations

ITservices
Which collaboration.” Her trust shaping my ability to understand problems and pursue high
arms of MNCs) in India. Pre- in me surpassed my impact solutions with customers’ needs in mind. His guid-
means the
sented with evidence that the own, encouraging me to ance instilled confidence to navigate complexities, foster
addressable
world’s biggest companies were embrace opportunities innovation, and embrace collaboration. His philosophy of
spend is going
insourcing more and more of I wouldn’t have pursued ‘Look deeper into the data, and the solution will present
to change.
their IT and engineering work – independently. Now a itself’, reshaped my approach to problem-solving. More
Ravi Kumar |
preferring to do them in their than technical growth, his mentorship instilled a culture of
CEO, COGNIZANT senior manager, I impart this wisdom about the
GCCs rather than through third- power of collaboration to my team. excellence, collaboration, and the pursuit of innovation that
party vendors – the typical response SIRISHA CHADALAWADA, MANAGER, propels thez future.
from IT services was that the impact on PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, TECH, UBER RITU GARG, AI SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIST, INTEL INDIA
Our involvement spans
their business was negligible, and that
a range of
GCCs will eventually sell themselves off
transactions, helping
to IT services vendors. That attitude’s
customers establish hybrid
‘SOWMYA CONFIDENTLY TACKLES COMPLEX PROJECTS TODAY’
now changed dramatically.
Apart from the traditional models of operating models that MENTOR umphs associated with the role. I MENTEE
As Ramkumar Ramamoorthy, part-
GCC setup, hybrid BOT (build-operate- integrate GCCs with WNS have witnessed Soumya’s passion
ner at consulting firm Catalincs, and Mentorship and coaching have Nidhi’s leadership is hands-on and
transfer) and assisted BOT models are operations. for technology, coupled with a
former CMD of Cognizant India, says: been the cornerstone of my practical. Her hands-on approach,
emerging as popular alternatives. These Keshav R Murugesh | strong desire to excel in
“From pooh-poohing the GCC phenom- growth in the tech industry. like personally dissecting customer
emerging models offer greater flexibility and GROUP CEO, WNS
enon and calling it a cyclical phenome- I am committed to pay her role as a manager. feedback, drives team understand-
non, IT companies are today building faster time-to-value by allowing companies to it forward to the com- By providing targeted ing. Her meetings are models of
start with a seeding team – a pre-formed GCCs have transformed into hubs guidance and ena-
out strategic business units and teams munity, and one such inclusive decision-making, valuing
group of skilled, domain-ready professionals of digital maturity and innovation, bling her to foster a
to win GCC business.” individual whom I have every stakeholder’s voice. Her daily energy
who can begin delivering results swiftly and playing a crucial role in growth mindset, I’ve
One of the first big signs of that came been closely working is infectious; each interaction is a learning experience. She
cost effectively, often faster than shaping the future of seen her confidently
last year when Accenture invested near- with is Soumya Goud. provides clarity and pushes for excellence. Personally, she’s a
the typical hiring cycle. Over business. The tackle complex
ly $170 million (Rs 1,400 crore) in ANSR, In her over three years mentor, guiding me through tough situations and boosting my
time, companies have the option synergy between IT projects and make a
a company that helps MNCs establish as a technical leader, motivation. She’s helped me become a better people manager,
to gradually absorb the seed service providers significant impact.
GCCs in India. Soumya has demonstrated by guiding me on better decision-making. She inspires through
team into the GCC or transfer and GCCs will
Today, there probably isn’t an IT ser- determination and resilience, NIDHI JAIN, DIRECTOR, PRODUCT her relentless pursuit of excellence.
them at any point, risk-free, unlock a wave of
vices company that doesn’t want to en- navigating the challenges and tri- DEVELOPMENT, INTUIT SOUMYA GOUD, ENGINEERING MANAGER, INTUIT
ensuring a smooth transition. opportunities.
gage with GCCs. About 10% of Noida-
Lalit Ahuja | Swapan Johri | PRESIDENT,
based Coforge’s $1.6-billion revenue now
FOUNDER & CEO, ANSR GROWTH MARKETS, HCLTECH
comes from GCCs, while WNS is pursu-
ing opportunities with at least 25 GCCs.
Because of cannibalisation in revenue and opportunity loss, IT
Keshav R Murugesh, group CEO at
companies have consciously pivoted their narrative on GCCs – from
WNS, says they “anticipate this number
denial to acceptance to rational exuberance. IT companies are today building
will continue to rise as many enterpris-
out strategic business units and teams to win GCC business, using newer
es adopt and benefit from hybrid mod-
business models. As IT companies have historically embraced collaborative
els.” Hybrid models combine in-house
models with clients and partners, they are well positioned to win this new
control of GCCs with external IT ser-
game as it is in their DNA to team up to win.
vices expertise to accelerate readiness
Ramkumar Ramamoorthy | PARTNER, CATALINCS, AND FORMER CMD, COGNIZANT INDIA
and access specialised skills.
Consulting firm Everest Group esti-
mates that nearly half of the new GCC We are witnessing GCCs are an Service providers
setups in India engage a service provider. demand for next-gen integral part of the play a critical role
Sudhir Singh, CEO of Coforge (earlier services including AI, GenAI future enterprise IT across the entire lifecycle
called NIIT Technologies), says they offer and cognitive AI, as GCCs operations, and we expect of a GCC, helping
flexible engagement models to set up and begin to identify relevant use these collaborations enterprises accelerate
scale GCCs across industries like bank- cases. We are to grow as more time-to-market,
ing, insurance, travel, healthcare, and also involved in organisations leverage local
retail. The company has established a talent leverage GCCs expertise
GCC centre of excellence to help clients development for digital and drive
build and expand their centres as strate- for GCCs. transformation. efficiency.
gic parts of their business. Atul Soneja | Sudhir Singh | Jimit Arora |
COO, TECH MAHINDRA CEO, COFORGE CEO,
Coforge recently assisted a leading
EVEREST
US wealth management firm, managing
GROUP
$1.5 trillion in assets, in setting up a
GCC. It helped another enterprise grow
its GCC to 500 employees in three nies help GCCs in setting up the legal model a couple of years ago, that figure
months, with further expansion in the entity, fitting out the infrastructure, is now closer to 40%.
pipeline. ensuring governance and compliance, But some believe the BOT model does
building out the leadership team, across- not fit into the emerging trend of MNCs
Inflection point the-board hiring and upskilling, and seeing GCCs as strategic assets. Pari
Tech Mahindra sees the rise of GCCs as driving delivery management, with the Natarajan, CEO of consulting firm Zin-
an opportunity to collaborate and co- option to transfer the legal entity to the nov, cautions MNCs that leadership, ac-
create innovative solutions with a focus client in a pre-agreed time-frame. Ever- countability, and innovation cannot be
on AI, engineering, R&D, application est estimates that while less than 10% outsourced – “they must be owned from
development and process outsourcing. of GCCs were set up using the BOT day one.” He says MNCs that rely on
This is an inflection point,” says Atul BOT risk losing agility, cultural integra-
Soneja, COO at Tech Mahindra, “And we The debate around which model for tion, and long-term strategic control.
are responding by enhancing our ser- GCCs – BOT, majority stake The most forward-thinking enterprises,
vice lines and capabilities.” acquisitions, or carve-outs – works best is he says, are embracing a hybrid GCC
Singh of Coforge believes engaging missing the bigger picture. The real focus strategy – one that prioritises core work-
with GCCs strengthens long-term enter- should be on how enterprises can build streams in-house while leveraging spe-
prise relationships (with parent MNCs). future-ready GCCs that drive long-term cialised partners for context-heavy func-
In fact, even conversations on IT ser- business impact. The days of viewing tions. “It’s not about outsourcing com-
vices deals that were previously driven GCCs as transactional hubs are over. The plexity; it’s about ensuring that GCCs
by MNCs from their headquarters, are most successful companies are those that focus on high-value, differentiating ca-
increasingly being driven by the India treat GCCs as strategic assets, designed pabilities, while contextual functions –
GCCs. for agility, innovation, and deep such as IT infrastructure, application
specialisation. The idea that maintenance, or process automation –
BOT or Not companies can ‘build, operate, and are handled by system integrators and
Multiple models of engagement be- transfer’ their strategic hubs no niche players. “These partnerships
tween GCCs and IT services have longer aligns with today’s aren’t about cost arbitrage; they are
emerged. The most popular is the business realities. Leadership, about unlocking domain expertise, geo-
assisted model, where IT services accountability, and innovation specific advantages, and operational
companies assist GCCs to quickly cannot be outsourced – they must scalability,” he says.
start by providing space and tal- be owned from day one. If more MNCs think along these lines
ent. Then there’s the in- Pari Natarajan | CO- for their GCCs, IT services will have to
creasingly popular BOT FOUNDER & CEO, ZINNOV rethink the nature of partnerships.
(build-operate transfer)
model. Here, IT compa- (With inputs from Shilpa Phadnis)

AROUND THE WORLD THIS WEEK CHINESE FIRMS ARE

GOOGLE’S AI CAN READ PHONE SCREENS NOW SLASHING AI COSTS
G oogle has started introducing new artificial intelligence features to its Gemini Live
platform, enabling real-time interpretation of smartphone screens and camera feeds. A libaba-affiliate Ant Group is using both Chinese
and US-made semiconductors for building
more efficient artificial intelligence models,
These enhancements, part of the broader “Project Astra” initiative, were confirmed by
company spokesperson Alex Joseph. Among the upgrades are screen-reading and live according to media reports.
video analysis tools. These allow users to ask questions The combination of chips not
about what’s currently visible on their screen or through only reduces the time and
the camera lens, receiving context-aware responses. The cost of training AI models,
features are being made available exclusively to Gemini but also limits reliance on a
Advanced users subscribed to the Google One AI single supplier such as
Premium plan, with a gradual rollout expected over the Nvidia, the reports said, noting the industry trend
month. Joseph explained that the screen-reading function of tapping multiple networks, known as mixture of
helps users interact with any visible on-screen content, while the live video tool can experts — a technique that allows models to be
identify objects, offer design advice, or assist with tasks such as selecting paint colours. trained with much less compute.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: cci T: 03-25-2025 22:25

16 MONEY FOR NOTHING CHEQUES FOR FREE THE TIMES OF INDIA

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

CONTRAPUNTO
What’s the use you learning to do right when it’s
troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong?
Burning Cash, Burning Question
MARK TWAIN, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Post-Justice Varma controversy, judicial accountability is back in focus. A direct role for politicians puts
judges’ independence at risk. But courts must admit that in-house procedures haven’t inspired confidence
Delhi & Elsewhere Rohin Bhatt & Harshit Anand

It’s a case that’s set

the bar, the country
disgust than other forms like ideological impropriety.
Justice Varma has received far more whiplash than
Abhijit Gangopadhyay who while a sitting judge of
Calcutta HC resigned and contested a Lok Sabha seat
Bill, 2010. The oversight committee, complaints scrutiny
committee, and investigative committee recommended
by the standing committee for the bill, chaired by
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, might be necessary as well.
Funding cash handouts, especially the rash of schemes and even Parliament on a BJP ticket. All cases may not warrant a removal. Transfers may
for women, is a recipe for fiscal emergency for states abuzz. Starting with While the Allahabad HC Bar Association has passed not be sufficient in some cases and in others they may
Friday morning, a resolution calling for the impeachment of Justice not be warranted. A public reprimand to a judge and/or

P
resenting her debut budget, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta allocated when TOI reported Varma, it has failed to pass similar resolutions for an apology by the judge are intermediate solutions that
`5,100cr to fund women’s cash scheme `2,500 per month – a poll that Delhi Police had recovered “a huge pile of cash” Justice Shekhar Yadav who used “unpardonable” slurs Parliament must look into as well.
from the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma. Later against Muslims on HC premises. An unaccountable judiciary would spell disaster.
promise. This is less than half of what may be required to service
reports suggested that “jute sacks full of On the other hand, there is a clear and immi-
beneficiaries of the scheme, estimated at 38L if beneficiaries are cash” were found “stashed in a corner of the nent danger to judicial independence, with
women whose household income is less than `3L per annum. The outhouse” of the residence. several voices jumping the gun and expecting
budget already shows the strain of financing freebies – it includes SC collegium has recommended Justice instant justice, egged on by loudmouth prime-
dipping into small savings (NSSF) to the tune of `15k cr. Last year, Union Varma be repatriated from Delhi HC to his time anchors or social media influencers.
finance ministry had frowned upon such practice, saying it disrupts parent high court, of Allahabad. The Allahabad That cannot be the solution either.
HC Bar Association came out with an unusually What’s needed is judicial accountability
the broader borrowing framework. Kejriwal had proposed it in order
strong statement, declaring they were “not a alongside fierce protection of judicial inde-
to continue AAP govt’s welfare schemes of free electricity etc. trash bin”. Meanwhile the Supreme Court, in pendence. For this, to repeat, accountability
Fact is, all states with similar cash transfers to women are under a nondescript press note, said that there has to come from within the institution, rather
severe financial strain. From Maharashtra’s BJP-led govt to Karnataka was misinformation going around, even as it than from an executive-controlled legislature,
and Telangana’s Congress govts, and former AAP govt in Delhi, admitted to initiating an in-house inquiry. which has a lot to gain from a compromised
finances of the richest states are stressed over polltime’s unrestrained We do not wish to enter the debates about the judiciary.
specifics of the case but to respond to certain We already have the executive interfering
largesse. It’s not about breaking promises – if poll promises were kept,
concerns. TMC MP Mahua Moitra has sugges- with justice administration by exercising a
India would’ve been ‘developed’ by now. The ted in Lok Sabha that the current uproar is “an pocket veto in judicial appointments. Any
issue is far more grave – freebie culture has effort to bring back NJAC”. And Congress further interference in the administration of
no winners. Funding freebies will eventually MP Jairam Ramesh has raised the issue of justice would be disastrous.
make the state broke; not servicing the judicial accountability in Rajya Sabha. In this Along with rigorous investigation and
promise may have electoral fallout. In context, we write to caution Parliament and disciplinary mechanisms, rooted in impartial
opposition – tread carefully with the legislations, the apex court also has to work
Maharashtra, since June 2024, fiscal deficit
debate of judicial corruption, for a free on how a lay Indian – with no training or
has nearly doubled from `1.1L cr to `2.2L cr. and independent judiciary is all that initiation in law – views our judicial system.
The state spent `87k cr more than budget stands between fundamental rights Whether it is the latest case, or other sensational
estimates 2024-25 – much of it to fund earlier and an elected autocracy. bits reported about our courts from time to
Mahayuti govt’s poll year sops. Both the There are rhetorical passages time, public faith in the judicial process
women’s handout scheme and the monthly in several judgments of the We hold no brief for Justice Varma hangs in the balance. To improve how common people
Supreme Court about what but only call for a more nuanced perceive the legal system, courts have to open their
stipend for jobless youth are costly affairs –
qualities a judge ought to possess, dialogue. We also do not doubt that the doors to the public like never before.
but just placebos to dull the pain of jobless youth and destitute women. and by implication, all sitting slightest hint of corruption casts a long The lack of redressal of bona fide complaints about
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has admitted his state’s financial judges possess said values. Consti- shadow on public trust in the judicial judicial corruption has led to a situation where faith in
crunch, that after paying salaries, pensions, debt and interest, most tutional scholar HM Seervai has process, and thus, there is a need for the system is visibly eroding. Judicial independence
of the rest of the money – `5k cr – goes to ‘welfare’. The state is left summed up this discussion of values reforms. The question that must then be cannot also become a tool for judicial misbehaviour,
with almost nothing to spend on capex. RBI has cautioned that the best. In the third edition of his tome answered is, what should such reforms for as it has been perceived to be in the past with Justice
Constitutional Law of India he writes that judicial accountability look like? Soumitra Sen, to take just one example.
spend on sops could crowd out resources critical for social and
this “is not justified by the materials on record”. The impeachment process has fallen short and is We end with the hope that Parliament treads with
economic infra. States don’t have money to invest in creating public But one must be clear – judicial accountability must inherently a political process. It is also reserved for moderation, and with the words of Justice Albie Sachs
goods. Private investment is not an answer. GOI’s capex levels are come from the judiciary itself and not from political perhaps the most deviant of our judges. A middle path of the South African constitutional court, “If respect for
down. India can’t upgrade unless its states invest in creating players. Otherwise, we risk independent judges being could begin with the mandatory public disclosure of the judiciary is to be regarded as integral to maintenance
enabling economic conditions. targeted. Is the in-house procedure perfect? Perhaps income of each judge, along with explicit disclosures of of the rule of law…such respect will be spontaneous,
Kharge has called for state units to make only financially viable not. But it is also the best that we have. financial, professional and personal conflicts of interests. enduring and real to the degree that it is earned rather
We have argued elsewhere that certain forms of Further, a judicial ombudsman needs to be created to the extent that it is commanded.”
promises. Reddy recently called for all political parties to deliberate
corruption such as financial corruption attract more in line with the Judicial Standards and Accountability The writers are advocates, Supreme Court
and arrive at a national consensus on such guarantees/freebies, in a
bid to rationalise, move away from the ill-conceived practice. It is
the need of the hour.
How To Bake A Pie With Washington Apple
No Turkish Delight To make hay while Trump tariffs, New Delhi can lower duties on farm produce like walnuts,
get Washington to open its markets for Indian veggies & fruits, and increase import of crude
By cracking down on opposition supporters Erdogan
reinforces his image as an electoral autocrat
& gas and defence buys to reduce trade imbalance that currently favours India
Ashok Gulati, Sulakshana Rao & Tanay Suntwal Türkiye has a 40% tax, per WTO. varieties of rice and food preparations can make major

E
rdogan is once again proving why Türkiye often gets described US’s interest would be in other commodities such as inroads. Onus lies on us to build effective export lines
as an electoral autocracy. Although presidential elections in rump’s policy of reciprocal tariffs kicks in soybean, corn, and even wheat. India bans soybean and for US, taking care of their Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Türkiye are a couple of years away – there’s chatter about early
polls – the long-time Turkish leader appears to be putting obstacles
in the path of his potential political opponent. And that challenger
is the hugely popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the
T from April 2. The big question for India is how
to navigate this tariff turbulence…Can India
make a win-win of it? Answer’s yes, if India
smartly plays its cards. Agriculture will be slightly
difficult to tackle, but even here, India can drive a
corn imports on the pretext of these being GM crops. But
reality is that India’s own food system already has GM
cotton, and its seed and seed oil is sold for both human and
non-human consumption. So, India will have to shed its
hypocrisy of banning GM crops.
Standards (SPS). This is critical to ensure food safety,
and can easily be negotiated on, and regulatory
procedures streamlined.
India’s approach to Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy
must not be combative, but constructive. The
opposition Republican People’s Party. Imamoglu was detained bargain. How does India do this? Corn can be imported prima- Trump-Modi meet resulted in Mission
and arrested last week over alleged corruption charges – which he First, India’s agricultural tariffs (39%) on average rily to make ethanol as well 500 – more than doubling bilateral
describes as fabricated – leading to days of widespread protests. are 7.8 times US’s agri-tariffs of 5%, way higher than as feed for poultry. Cur- trade to $500bn by 2030. Achie-
Turkish authorities have detained 1,133 people since March 19, making what Indian agriculture really needs. It makes India rent duty of 50% can be ving this requires a balanced
these the largest demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi uprising. an outlier. It prompts Trump to call India “tariff king”. gradually reduced to approach, opening trade
Take the case of rice for instance. India is world’s 15-20%. Similarly, flows both ways.
But such crackdowns have taken place largest exporter of rice but imposes a 70% tariff on its soybean is basically A starting point for
periodically under Erdogan’s two-decade-old import. This can simply be slashed to 10-15% without a protein crop for India could be to go
leadership that has been marked by the harming farmers here. feed. Its current beyond agriculture and
vilification of opposition – whom Erdogan has Shrimp is India’s largest agri-export to US. India duty of 45% can be increase energy imports
often equated with terrorists – purges of critics, has a net surplus of agri-trade with US. US imposes a reduced and made of crude oil and gas,
and malleability of democratic institutions. 0-5% duty on shrimp and other marine products from equal to the duty on which India already
India. If India wants to protect this market, critical for soya oil, 20%. Wheat is purchases from
Even in the last Turkish presidential polls in its fishery sector, it’ll have to open its own agri-markets more sensitive, and its various countries.
2023, Erdogan employed divisive rhetoric and in which US shows interest. current duty of 40% can be India can top this
labelled his then main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu India’s largest agri-import item from US is almonds, negotiated to be halved to up with defence purchases. That’ll
as being pro-LGBTQ and hand in glove with terrorists. and attract 10% import duty. Washington apples attract 20% in stages. If New Delhi is yet help correct the trade imbalance that’s
All of these are classic tactics of an electoral autocrat for whom 15% duty. So why, one can ask, does India impose 100% uncomfortable, this can be placed under currently in favour of India.
winning polls by any means necessary is more important than duty on walnuts? This too can be reduced to 10-15%. tariff rate quota. A similar approach may be called India need not retaliate to reciprocal tariffs, can lower
Similarly cranberries, blueberries, all can be opened for in import of Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP), where them where feasible, and negotiate for better market
upholding the values and sanctity of democratic institutions. But for import. The basic principle for negotiating is to current duty is 60%. access for Indian products, particularly labour-intensive
in Imamoglu – who has been nominated as his party’s presidential reduce tariffs on those commodities that India doesn’t In return, India can ask for easier market access for ones, like textiles and leather products, and agri-products.
candidate – Erdogan may face his toughest challenge yet. There are produce or produces in very small quantities. This’ll fruits and vegetables, from pomegranate, mangoes, India can thus secure its place in global trade, especially
clear parallels between the two – Erdogan was also once Istanbul not only placate US in trade negotiation, India will also grapes and bananas to all sorts of vegetables. This where China will vacate some space in US markets.
mayor before being arrested and then going on to dominate Turkish no longer be crowned tariff king. South Korea’s agri- segment can easily compete in US markets, provided Gulati is distinguished professor, Rao senior fellow &
national politics. But years of anti-incumbency may finally be crys- tariffs are even higher (57%) than India’s 39% and export value chains are streamlined. Similarly, multiple Suntwal research assistant at ICRIER. Views are personal

tallising against Erdogan and he may not be able to leverage Türkiye’s

crucial geopolitical position to ward off international proscription. Calvin & Hobbes Sacredspace
That may explain his recent surprising outreach to the Kurds – long
victims of Ankara’s policies. All of this also means that Erdogan God can be
fears being out of power, a hallmark of electoral autocrats. realised
through all
paths. All

War of words religions are

true. The
important thing is to reach the roof.
Tamil Nadu’s replacing the rupee symbol with ‘ru’ You can reach it by stone stairs or
could lead to a Babel-like verbal battlefield by wooden stairs or by bamboo
steps or by a rope.
Jug Suraiya Ramakrishna Paramhans

Does the rupee by another name have the same nominal value?

Be Your Own Devil’s Advocate, Eliminate Bias

That’s the linguistic, if not the economic, question posed by
Tamil Nadu’s DMK govt having used the initial letter of the
Tamil word for rupee, which is ‘rubaai’ or ‘ru’, instead of the
Devanagari-based rupee symbol in its presentation of the
state budget’s logo. Deepak Ranade visual cortex that integrate and mediate out only information that supports the of the chosen option.
The symbolic move is reportedly a retaliatory response to what is seen by our vision, only 20% of neural pathways decision. A stance, that the premise, decision,

H
Tamil Nadu to be the BJP-led central govt’s attempt to foist Hindi as the lingual uman brain has some rather come from the eyes; 80% come from It is a kind of self-propagating or option taken is wrong. One has to
currency of the country onto the state through the three-language formula of unique features to be able to other areas of the brain, such as those mechanism, which paradoxically investigate thereafter and find inherent
the National Educational Policy. make quick decisions based on in charge of memory. It is focuses on factors that lend flaws, possible misjudgements or
The hoisting of the flag of linguistic revolt has provoked a sharp reaction past experiences. This decision-making now estimated that visual credibility to whatever position miscalculations. An ‘autocorrection’ of
from the Centre, with the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, decrying it as comes with some limitations. We are perception is 80% memory one has taken. sorts that splits the Self into two. One
a “completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism”. more likely to see what we expect to see, and 20% input through the Decision-making is that has made the decision and another
However, it’s not just Tamil Nadu and other southern states rather than what is actually there. This eyes. Sensory information fraught with another peril – that questions the former.
that see Hindi as a stalking horse of the Centre in its bid to gain lingual phenomenon is known as ‘perceptual is not transmitted to the the powerful undercurrent The kicking in of this autocorrection
dominance at the expense of regional autonomy as expressed set’. It, therefore, has the potential to brain; it comes from it. This of emotions that short charge mechanism introduces a delay that
through speech and script. lead to biased, erroneous perception infill, or fill-in-the-blanks, reason and blur reality. A differentiates an instinctive impulsive
What is increasingly seen as a forcible ‘Hindi- and subsequently wrong decisions. A is sourced from memory and combination of cognitive act from an act suffused with conscious
fication’ of the country is viewed with suspicion familiar example is we being able to other sensory modalities bias garnished with generous deliberation – an ability to transcend
secondopinion by the other states, such as Bengal, which are read a misspelt word correctly because and experiences. emotional toppings has often from being merely a decision-maker to
justly proud of their rich linguistic heritage. our brains expect it to be spelt that way. Therefore, any decision, or been the recipe for disastrous simultaneously being an unbiased
The Newtonian principle that every action has an equal and opposite It’s a unique ability to selectively ignore chosen option that’s based on judgements and decisions. observer. An independent observer is no
reaction is applicable not only in the realm of physics, but also in the domain of what does not conform to established our perception is strongly Human intelligence longer subservient to presumptions and
cultural identity as expressed in the written and spoken word. patterns and eliminate any confusion. impacted by a well-defined perhaps is unique in that it biases and has a self-indulgent ego that
In the Bible story, a humankind united by a common language began The cognitive apparatus selectively phenomenon called can effect its own appraisal. refuses to accept one’s limitations. To
building a Tower of Babel to reach heaven, a project which irked God who mutes the discordant notes to maintain confirmation bias. A blessing that’s ironically err is human; to review is divine.
confounded humans by making them speak a multiplicity of tongues and harmony of perception. Confirmation bias is a called ‘Devil’s Advocacy’. Eliminating cognitive bias plays a
thereby scattering them across the face of the Earth. There is evidence to suggest that at psychological term for the Being one’s own Devil’s crucial role in making correct decisions.
Thanks not to the Almighty, but to the lesser god of language politics, are we any given moment, one sees only 20% of human tendency to selectively Advocate is a discipline that This endeavour is particularly
creating our own lingual Babel to sunder our unity? what one is seeing; 80% of what appears glean information that supports one’s can yield rich dividends. This involves important when making critical,
As a preventive stratagem we might adopt a one-language formula based on in our visual field is being ‘generated’ position. This causes a bias towards challenging and if required negating irreversible, life-changing decisions.
a single, region-neutral, politics-neutral lingua franca. Esperanto? by our brain. Of the total inputs to the confirming the decision made, seeking assumptions, arguments, and evidence The writer is a neurosurgeon
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: vikram.vishal T: 03-25-2025 23:39

THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES Special 17
The ancient Nalanda academy has inspired the colour and brickwork

A Sports Revolution
Arnab.Seal of structures at the sports academy and also the design, which is
@timesofindia.com intended to ensure air circulation and keep the interiors cool

O
nce upon a time,
L o rd B u d d h a
spent some time
here, teaching.
The first Bud-

In The Middle Of
dhist council was also held
here. And then, in the fifth
century CE, possibly the
world’s oldest residential uni-
versity, Nalanda, came up
here. The university flour-
ished for seven centuries, and
then was destroyed in the 12

Bihar
century. Rajgir, about 100 km Not too far from the ancient academic complex at Nalanda,
south of Patna, still remains
a major draw for its many a new sports centre in Rajgir is driving the state’s bid to
Buddhist attractions. But
now, this ancient Buddhist
university town has a new
emerge as India’s next sporting powerhouse
calling card.
About 20 km away from
the ruins of Nalanda, a new Chapra
Samastipur
landmark looks all set to steal which was air circulation to
the spotlight from the ancient ensure that the temperature
academic centre: a state-of- always remained at a particu-
the-art sports complex spread Patna lar level,” said Sankaran.
across 97.9 acres and built at Locals though are espe-
Begusarai
a cost of about Rs 770 crore. cially looking forward to the
Dedicated centres — like completion of the 45,000-seat-
Haryana’s wrestling or box- er cricket stadium that is be-
ing hubs, or Hyderabad’s bad- B I H A R ing built inside the complex.
minton academies — have The prospect of seeing the
Nalanda
fuelled India’s sporting Jehanabad likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit
dreams and achievements in Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah
recent years and minted a in action only adding to the
new generation of sporting buzz around it.
heroes. The hope is for the RAJGIR “The cricket stadium is
Rajgir Sports Complex to do 10km 75% complete and being built
Gaya
the same for Bihar. according to BCCI standards.
It will be inaugurated by
23 Different Sports ALL TO PLAY FOR: Coach Harendra Singh with the Nalanda ruins
The most interesting facet June 2025,” Sankaran had
Indian women’s hockey team of the centre in Rajgir is the said last year. “I believe that
coach Harendra Singh
Indian women’s national hockey team, which sports university that it’ll domestic matches will start
couldn’t hide his excitement WHAT IT’LL won the Asian Champions Trophy last year in house, which has already re- after that. Hosting interna-
when he saw the complex for TEACH... Rajgir. He said the complex in Rajgir reminded ceived recognition from the tional matches will then de-
the first time. He said it re- Athletics, football, hockey, him of sports facilities in Colorado, US University Grants Commis- pend on the schedule of the
minded him of the sports swimming, basketball, sion (UGC). A unique facility, IPL and other international
facilities in Colorado in the volleyball, wrestling, such batch came down to- markable sports complex, who is quite pleased with it’s expected to draw people tournaments.”
US. That he got a chance to weightlifting, kabaddi, wards the end of last year. including a state-of-the-art how the women’s Asian who are interested in sports The general view is that
coach his team in the state badminton, archery, For now, though, the focus hockey arena. Surrounded by Champions Trophy was con- even if they might not play Rajgir is ready to take its
where he was born and took shooting, table tennis, is on successfully hosting the scenic hills, it is one of the ducted. “It was also great to themselves. place on India’s sporting
them to the Asian Champions fencing, judo, taekwondo, men’s Hockey Asia Cup, most picturesque stadiums in see the reception from fans at “We will be running map. “Interest in sports will
Trophy title last year, beating cycling, cricket, boxing, which is likely to be held in the country,” said Hockey In- these venues with every game courses on sports psychology, surely increase in the coming
China 1-0 in the final, made sepak takraw, wushu, August and feature India and dia president Dilip Tirkey, getting a packed house. That sports science, and sports days, thanks to the sports fa-
the venue and the vociferous rugby, yogasana seven other teams, in- Photo: Arnab Seal nutrition. We will also launch cility in Rajgir. There’s a lot
crowds even more special. cluding Pakistan. The motivates players to go above development programmes for of work going on and, in a
“I’ve always wanted to planning for the event and beyond to make fans coaches and build strong matter of two years, people
coach in Bihar. So, to get the ...GOES BEYOND has already started. happy with their perfor- sports science specialists,” will see even more develop-
opportunity finally here in Ra- THE GAME “A second hockey mance,” he added. said Sankaran, who also talks ment,” said Kanchan Gupta,
jgir and that too with the na- The sports complex has pitch is being laid out of using artificial intelli- a resident of Patna who’d
tional team at an international a sports university within in fast-track mode and A Cricket Stadium, Too gence (AI) to unearth talent come down to Rajgir to watch
event was indeed a dream the facility that will pro- will be completed in But the Sports Complex is in the state. the Asian Champions Trophy.
come true,” said the coach who vide academic courses, April. The hostels are about much more than just But this launchpad for fu- With Bihar govt doing all
was born in Chapra in including undergraduate, getting air-condition- hosting big-ticket events. ture sports stars has not ig- it can to see a player from the
Saran district. diploma and PG diploma ers to house the teams nored the region’s rich past. state represent the country at
Once fully ready, courses in physical educa- and we will also be con- The main building of the the Olympics in 2036, the Ra-
the world-class sports tion and sports sciences. structing temporary The remarkable sports complex pays tribute to the jgir sports complex appears
complex will boast a galleries to hold more complex has a old Nalanda academy in its as a key ingredient for rus-
state-of-the-art hockey
roster of 23 diverse disci- UPCOMING spectators,” said
arena... Surrounded by hills, it
design and architecture, bor- tling up that winning recipe.
plines, cutting across indoor Raveendran Sankaran, rowing key elements. “The It isn’t going to be easy but
and outdoor sports. Most im-
EVENTS director general-cum- is one of the most picturesque colour, design and even brick- with the right kind of sup-
portantly, students and bud- Women’s Kabaddi CEO of the Bihar State stadiums in the country work was based on the old port and ecosystem the state
ding sportspersons will be World Cup in June, Men’s S p o r t s Au t h o r i t y Nalanda university. We took just might produce the next
Spread over around 100 acres, the new complex — DILIP TIRKEY
able to reside and train at Hockey Asia Cup in Aug (BSSA). PRESIDENT, HOCKEY INDIA into account a salient feature Manu Bhaker or Neeraj
has extensive sports and residential facilities
the academies. The first “Rajgir has got a re- of the old Nalanda university, Chopra in the coming days.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: trishul.sinha T: 03-25-2025 23:44

18 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

78% of judges picked for HC from UC K’taka mantri

files honeytrap
Why delay on MLAs’
12% OBCs While Minorities & SC/STs Accounted For 5% Each, Govt Tells LS complaint, puts disqualification plea:
govt in a spot
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: On a question

Responding to a question raised by Manoj Jha
of RJD in Lok Sabha, law minister Arjun Ram
ment of judges, due consid-
eration be given to suitable
candidates belonging to SCs,
TIMES NEWS NETWORK SC to T’gana Speaker
related to social diversity in Meghwal said that out of 715 high court judges STs, OBCs, minorities and Bengaluru: Five days after AmitAnand.Choudhary
higher judicial appoint- appointed since 2018, 22 belong to SC category, women to ensure social di- making explosive claims in @timesofindia.com SC SAYS
ments, the law ministry in- versity,” the minister said. the Karnataka legislative as-
formed Parliament last
16 to ST, 89 to OBC and 37 from minorities. The However, he said that sembly that he and 48 other New Delhi: Noting that dis- As on today, how
week that about 78% judges law minister emphasised that the govt was there was little the govt political functionaries cut- qualification application of much time has
appointed to different high committed to enhancing social diversity could do since only those per- ting across party lines had three BRS MLAs who alleged- passed since the first
courts in the last seven sons who are recommended been honey-trapped, cooper- ly defected to Congress party application? It
years, since 2018, were from OBC and 37 from minorities. and, if the govt had ap- The law minister said the by the SC collegium are ap- ation minister K N Rajanna is pending for almost a year appears to be a year.
the upper castes, while mi- Jha pointed out that the proached the Supreme Court govt was committed to en- pointed as judges of the con- Tuesday formally submitted before Telangana assembly Why has not the
norities and SCs & STs com- representation of SCs, STs, (SC) to incorporate social di- hancing social diversity and stitutional courts. a petition with home minis- speaker, Supreme Court on
Tuesday raised the question
Speaker’s office set a
prised 5% each. Those from OBCs, women and minori- versity in memorandum of since 2018, those recom- As per the MoP, the re- ter G Parameshwara, seek-
the OBC category were ties in the higher judiciary procedure (MoP) for judicial mended for the post of HC sponsibility for initiation of ing legal action against those why there has been no deci- deadline for deciding
around 12%. remains far below the desir- appointments. judges are required to pro- proposals for appointment involved. sion one way or another. Tak- these petitions?
Responding to a question ed level, and sought a state- “Appointment of judges vide details regarding their of judges in the SC vests with Clarifying his earlier ing a swipe at him, the court
raised by Manoj Jha of RJD ment from the minister if to the SC and high courts is social background in the the Chief Justice of India, statement in the assembly, remarked whether the deci-
in Lok Sabha on Thursday the govt has taken it up with made under Articles 124, 217 prescribed format (prepared while the responsibility for Rajanna denied ever saying sion would be taken after the Naidu, appearing for BRS
last, law minister Arjun the apex court. He said that and 224 of the Constitution, in consultation with the SC). initiation of proposals for that judges were among the term of the assembly ends. MLAs seeking disqualifica-
Ram Meghwal said that out there was a declining trend which do not provide for res- “The govt has been request- appointment of judges in the victims. Hearing a plea seeking tion pleas, told the bench the
of 715 high court judges ap- in the appointment of judges ervation for any caste or ing the Chief Justices of high courts vests with the Rajanna handed over a court’s direction to the Speak- HC had in Sep 2024 asked the
pointed since 2018, 22 belong from the marginalised com- class of persons,” Meghwal high courts that while send- Chief Justice of the con- three-page petition detailing er to take a decision within Speaker to fix a hearing
to SC category, 16 to ST, 89 to munities in recent years said in a written reply. ing proposals for appoint- cerned high court, he said. the sequence of events. Shar- four week, a bench of Justices schedule within four weeks
ing details of the alleged hon- B R Gavai and A G Masih said but no notice was issued un-
eytrap attempt targeted at that it is prima facie of the til Jan this year.

Not even 1% of `858cr for central SC: Cutting large no. of him, Rajanna said at a joint
press conference with Para-
meshwara: “I received a
view that the court can inter-
fere if the decision is not tak-
en within a reasonable time.
They said that one of the
defected MLAs had even
contested Lok Sabha polls

pollution plan spent: Parl panel trees worse than murder

woman twice in my Bengalu- The Supreme Court on a Congress ticket and lost
ru office, along with a man. bench said that certain obser- and continues to be MLA.
The woman claimed she was vations passed by SC in the They said the Speaker
AmitAnand.Choudhary a lawyer and wanted to speak Subhash Desai case (Shiv Se- came into action only after
Vishwa.Mohan Representational pic of the ministry, remained un- @timesofindia.com in person on some issues.” na matter) support the case of Supreme Court passed ob-
@timesofindia.com utilised since approval for con- “I cannot recall her name BRS which seeks disqualifi- servation in an earlier hear-
tinuation of the scheme till New Delhi: Observing that but if paraded before me, I cation of its MLAs. ing and issued notices on
New Delhi: Amid the “very 2025-26, was awaited “even at the act of cutting a large num- will be able to identify her,” “As on today, how much Feb 13 to MLAs and granted
grim” air pollution scenario the fag end of the financial ber of trees was worse than he said, adding that his resi- time has passed since the them three weeks time to re-
in the country, a parliamen- year”. killing a human being, Su- dence lacked CCTV cameras. first application? It appears spond. But that deadline has
tary panel on Tuesday flagged Underlining the grim air preme Court on Tuesday said However, Parameshwa- to be a year. Why has not the passed and there is no clar-
that not even 1% of the Rs 858 pollution situation in the no mercy should be shown to No mercy for those damaging ra, who had promised in the Speaker’s office set a dead- ity on the status of disquali-
crore allocated to environ- country that has been impact- people who damage the envi- environment, said the top court assembly a high-level inqui- line for deciding these pet- fication petitions, they told
ment ministry for a central ing one and all, the panel said, ronment and approved im- while imposing fine of `1 lakh for ry after a formal complaint itions?” the court observed. the bench. The hearing re-
pollution control scheme had “At a time when the ministry is posing a fine of Rs 1 lakh for each of 454 illegally cut trees was filed, was evasive on Senior advocates C A mained inconclusive and
been utilised till the fag end of required to address the grave each illegally cut tree. Tuesday. Sundaram and D Seshadri would resume on April 3.
this fiscal year. and critical challenge of dete- Sending out a clear mess- should be imposed in such
The scheme aims to moni- GRIM SCENARIO riorating air quality, the min- age that those indulging in il- cases.
tor air quality across India and
take appropriate mitigation
measures, besides monitoring
uation of the ‘control of pollu-
tion’ scheme till FY 2025-26 is
istry has not been able to de-
cide the continuation of the
scheme concerned, as a result
legal cutting of trees without
approval from the authority
concerned and damaging the
“No mercy in environ-
mental case. Felling a large
number of trees is worse than
Telangana tunnel collapse: Second
water quality and noise levels. awaited. of which not even 1% of the environment must be dealt killing a human. It will take at
“The committee was sur-
prised to observe that out of
It said, “Planning for dis-
bursement and utilisation of
funds allocated for the scheme
have been utilised so far.”
with an iron hand, a bench of
Justices Abhay S Oka and Uj-
least 100 years minimum to
again regenerate or recreate
body of missing engineer found
the 2024-25 allocation of Rs 858 the funds are already in place The panel noted that jal Bhuyan rejected the plea the green cover created by 454 Koride.Mahesh ied in debris 180 to 200 metres his photographs to them in
crore (revised estimate) for and will be executed as soon as though Delhi has been in the of a man who had cut down trees which were blatantly @timesofindia.com from the impact point, near Lucknow, we received confir-
‘control of pollution’, only an approval is received.” news because of its “ever-dete- 454 trees in the protected Taj cut without permission of the last point of the locomo- mation,” officials said.
amount of Rs 7.2 crore was The panel headed by BJP riorating air quality”, other ci- Trapezium Zone. this court though the embar- Hyderabad: Two weeks after tive and D2 point. Officials The body was transported
spent up to January 31,” said Rajya Sabha member Bhuba- ties in the country are also not The bench accepted the go imposed by this court is the body of a missing worker confirmed that the body re- to Nagarkurnool hospital for
the panel — parliamentary neswar Kalita, however, didn’t far behind and are experienc- suggestion of senior advo- right from the year 2015,” the was found in the collapsed mained largely intact, with medical procedures before be-
standing committee on sci- appear convinced, and asked ing high ‘air quality index’ cate ADN Rao, who is assist- bench said. Srisailam Left Bank Canal the exception of the fingers, ing sent to his hometown, ac-
ence & technology, environ- the ministry to introspect and (AQI) levels. ing the court as amicus cu- The court accepted the tunnel in Telangana, res- which had been damaged by companied by a team from the
ment, forests and climate take serious note of the rea- It said, “The rising envi- riae, that a clear message report of the central empo- cuers made a grim discovery silt mixed with water. “Based revenue, police, and health
change — in its report tabled sons for this “gross under-util- ronmental pollution in the needed to be sent to offenders wered committee (CEC), early Tuesday morning. The on the gold chain around his departments. The state govt
in Parliament Tuesday. isation”. country not only results in a that the law and trees could which recommended a body of Manoj Kumar, a pro- neck, the gold ring, jeans, and has already announced com-
The ministry, however, told The panel expressed its number of pollution-related not, and should not, be taken fine of Rs 1 lakh per tree for ject engineer from UP work- T-shirt, he was identified as pensation of Rs 25 lakh for the
the panel a majority of the shock that the amount (Rs 858 human diseases and health for granted. With its order, 454 trees which were cut last ing for Jaypee Associates, was Manoj Kumar. We compared families of the missing work-
funds couldn’t be utilised in crore), which is more than conditions but negatively im- the court has set a bench- year by one Shiv Shankar recovered inside the tunnel. the descriptions provided by ers.
2024-25 as approval for contin- 27% of the annual allocation pacts our ecology too.” mark on how much fine Agarwal. The body was located bur- his family, and after sending Full report on www.toi.in

Lokpal
Lokpallogjam:
logjam: Ministers are
arefair
fair
game,
game,but
butjudiciary
bench isisoff-limits
off-limits STEEPED IN
FLAVOUR :
Students
As Supreme TROUBLE SUM: A bundle
of cash was found at
display their
brews at Tea
Court Stays Delhi high court judge
Yashwant Varma’s
Crafting
2k25 in
Probe Into The residence recently Coimbatore

Conduct Of A
Sitting Judge,
The Spotlight
Turns To How
300 CUPPAS STIR
Judiciary Is
Protected From UP RECORD BREW
[email protected]
Pics: J Jackson

External

T
hree hundred varieties of tea in 30
Investigation minutes, and a high five at the end
of it! Students from eight colleges,
along with members of the public,
K Chandru in six teams brewed up a storm
that earned them a place in Kalam’s World

W
hen a bundle of Record Book on Monday. The event was or-
cash found at ganised by the Tea Board India, Coonoor, and
Delhi high the department of catering and hotel man-
court judge Yashwant strategies to combat cor- an in-house procedure for in- fore she could complete her agement of Sri Ramakrishna Arts and Sci-
Var ma’s residence ruption. Apart from ena- vestigating complaints against term. ence College, Coimbatore.
made headlines recent- bling the police’s vigilance higher judiciary judges. The Thus, even if allegations of Tea Crafting 2k25, said chief guest M
ly, the Chief Justice of department to track brib- in-house procedure was adopt- corruption against a judge are Muthukumar, executive director of the Tea
India convened an ur- ery, it also provided for a ed in the case of Punjab and proven in an in-house inquiry, Board of India, Coonoor, was a great way to
gent meeting of the col- fictional offence, where Haryana HC judge Nirmal Ya- the maximum the Supreme present the varieties on offer. “Tea exports
legium and recommend- wealth disproportionate to dav and the committee found Court can do is seek the judge’s from India increased from $852 million in the
ed his transfer to Allahabad a govt servant’s known sourc- there was a prima facie case resignation, transferred, or 2023-24 FY to $900 million in 2024-25, driven
HC, his parent high court. It es of income would be pre- against him. However, when recommend impeachment to by the high quality of tea, particularly from
is open to the CJI to order an sumed to result from corrup- the CBI sought permission to Parliament. For criminal pros- South India,” he added.
in-house inquiry and if there tion. The new act also included file a chargesheet before the ecution under the Prevention “India exported nearly 250 million kg of
was a prima facie case of mis- an expanded definition of a special court, CJI K G Bal- of Corruption Act, CJI approv- tea during the 2024-25 FY, primarily
behaviour, the court can recom- ity, raising questions about public servant which does not akrishnan denied it, making al is required. It is unclear why to various Central Asian coun-
mend impeachment. whether judicial independence include only govt servants. the first corruption case under the Lokpal, headed by a retired tries, Russia and Europe. Of
On receiving a complaint is being used to block scrutiny. Contending that the term the new procedure a fiasco. Supreme Court judge and em- this, 100 million kg was ex-
that a high court judge had in- It was Anna Hazare’s anti- public servant will not include When CJI Ranjan Gogoi powered to investigate even the ported from South India.
fluenced an additional district corruption movement, Anna the judges of the high courts, received a complaint Prime Minister, cannot The reason is our
judge and another sitting high Andolan, in 2011 that led to the K Veeraswami, former chief against Madras HC probe allegations minimal use of
court judge, interfering with enactment of the Lokpal Act. justice of Madras HC, filed a chief justice Ta- against a sitting chemical ferti-
the course of justice, Lokpal Kiran Bedi (who later got a gov- case, where the Supreme Court hilramani from EVEN IF high court lisers. It’s al-
Justice Khanwilkar sought to ernor’s post) and Arvind Kejri- ruled that high court judges are Traf fic Ra- ALLEGATIONS OF judge. How m o s t n o n e. Ooty and Valparai, and they
investigate the matter under wal (the first chief minister also covered under the Preven- m a sw a m y, such an in- That’s why our received training to produce
Section 14(1)(f) of the Lokpal arrested for corruption) were tion of Corruption Act, but he referred CORRUPTION AGAINST q u i r y tea is valued.” export-quality tea.”
and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, part of the movement. added that in case of investiga- it to the CBI A JUDGE ARE PROVEN, threatens He also said that Muthukumar also spoke
which covers the conduct of Bribery among govt serv- tion into an accusation of for investi- THE SC CAN ONLY SEEK independ- large estates and farm- about the labour shortage on
the Prime Minister and other ants was rampant even during bribe, one has to get the prior gation and RESIGNATION, TRANSFER ence of the ers have their own estab- tea farms. “The Indian Tea
ministers. colonial times. Prospective permission of the CJI. Thus, r e c o m - judiciary is lished markets, but small tea Board has introduced mechani-
Upon the Lokpal’s intention grooms were asked how much the judges of the higher judici- mended her
OR RECOMMEND hard to see. growers lack such access. To address sation to help with this. The Un-
to proceed with the inquiry they were getting as sambalam ary have an added safeguard transfer out IMPEACHMENT TO This is a ques- this, the Union govt has implemented a ion ministry of commerce and In-
against a sitting high court (salary) and kimbalam (bribe). that ensures even investiga- of Madras. Ta- PARLIAMENT tion the Su- scheme to form Farmer Producer Organisa- dustry allocated `30 crore. We are providing
judge, the Supreme Court took To curb bribery by govt serv- tions into such offences require hilramani re- preme Court will tions (FPOs) for tea. “These FPOs will help training to small farmers on mechanisation
suo motu notice and stayed fur- ants, the Indian Penal Code CJI approval. signed when offered have to answer at the farmers access better markets, improve qual- to help them manage the labour shortage,”
ther proceedings, stating it introduced sections 161 to 165, Corrupt practices by judges a transfer to Meghalaya earliest and in that event, ity and create direct export opportunities. In he said.
would hear all concerned on but prosecution of judges, mag- have long angered the bar. high court, the smallest in the it is the public interest that the 2024-25 FY, 177 FPOs were established in
the issue. While hearing the istrates or public servants re- When the association of law- country. Although this episode must prevail.
matter on Feb 20, the apex court quired govt sanction (Section yers of western Maharashtra is recounted in Gogoi’s biogra- (The writer is a former
stayed the Lokpal order term- 197 CrPC). Unable to control boycotted courts and demand- phy ‘Justice for the judges’, it’s judge of Madras high court)
ing it “disturbing” especially rising corruption, independent ed action against Chief Justice important to note that the CBI
since it concerned the inde- India enacted the Prevention of Bombay HC, A M Bhattacha- director found no prima facie Email your feedback
pendence of the judiciary. of Corruption Act, 1947, later rjee, the Supreme Court disap- case in the complaint. As a re- with name and address to
The case has reignited de- repealed by the 1988 Act. proved their action of closing sult, the Madras HC lost its southpole.toi@
bate over judicial accountabil- The new act introduced courts and instead established woman chief justice even be- timesofindia.com
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: arnab.mukherji T: 03-25-2025 23:50

TIMES SPORT
LAST FIVE MATCHES THE TIMES OF INDIA, AHMEDABAD
TODAY’S PLAYED RR L L W L L WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
FACE-OFF
29 Won by Won by “THERE WAS ENOUGH FOR THE
KKR L W W W W BOWLERS, BUT I THINK IT’S GOOD
RR Royals Knights
VS TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS IN
KKR 14 14
(50%) (50%)
VENUE: GUWAHATI
ODDS
BOWLING. WE FELT THE
PRESSURE AGAINST DC.
TV TIME RR KKR WE’RE STILL SETTLING IN.”
13/10 6/10
7:30 PM No Result: 1
—Rishabh Pant | LSG CAPTAIN
STAR SPORTS / JIOCINEMA

PUNJAB’S
Yogesh Chawda
HOW THEY STAND
TEAM M W L NRR PTS RR, KKR look
SRH
RCB
1
1
1
1
0
0
2.200
2.137
2
2 to bounce back
CSK 1 1 0 0.493 2 [email protected]

IYER-SINGH
DC 1 1 0 0.371 2
Guwahati: Having found themselves in a
LSG 1 0 1 -0.371 0 similar situation after suffering opening-
MI 1 0 1 -0.493 0 round losses, it will be interesting to see
which team feels more at home here on
KKR 1 0 1 -2.137 0 Wednesday as Rajasthan Royals (RR) take
on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their

SHOW
RR 1 0 1 -2.200 0
second-round match at the Assam Cricket
GT 0 0 0 0 0 Association Stadium.
PBKS 0 0 0 0 0 While the Knights suffered a seven-
Updated till Monday’s DC vs LSG match wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengalu-
ru at home, the Royals went down to Sun-
risers Hyderabad by 44 runs. Though it’s
SCOREBOARD too early to be worried at the start of in
Captain Shreyas Scores 97*, Punjab Kings: P Arya c Sudharsan
b Rashid 47, P Singh c Arshad b
such a long season, both sides will be hop-
ing to turn things around at the earliest.
Shashank Too Makes Merry As Rabada 5, S Iyer not out 97, A
Omarzai c Arshad b Sai Kishore
“It’s always good to win the first game,
but there are some lessons to be learnt
16, G Maxwell lbw b Sai Kishore 0,
PBKS Beat GT By 11 Runs M Stoinis c Arshad b Sai Kishore
from there. We could have capitalised (on
the start), we could have got more runs but
20, S Singh not out 44; Extras: (lb8, we lost wickets towards the end of the in-
[email protected] w6) 14; Total: (5 wkts) 243; FoW: nings. Whatever you do, there is always an
1-28, 2-79, 3-105, 4-105, 5-162;
opportunity to bowl better,” KKR bowling
Bowling: Siraj 4-0-54-0, Rabada
Ahmedabad: Punjab Kings’ im- 4-0-41-1, Arshad 1-0-21-0, Rashid coach Bharat Arun said on Tuesday.
pact player Vijaykumar Vyshak 4-0-48-1, Prasidh 3-0-41-0, Sai Though the Knights are the away team
bowled two parsimonious overs, Kishore 4-0-30-3. here, the former India bowling coach is
denying Gujarat Titans’ impact hoping to get some home comfort over the
(Scoreboard incomplete)
player Sherfane Rutherford the Royals. The Jaipur-based franchise uses
ideal length to extend his arms. the Barsapara stadium as their second
Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Marco (46 off 28b; 4x4, 3x6) in the last DC SKIPPER MOVE TO DC LAST DON’T HAVE home ground in addition to their base at

97*
Jensen dismissed Jos Buttler (54 over to put the match in Kings’ Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten knock is Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
off 33b; 4x4, 2x6) in the 18th over favour. his career-best score in the IPL, AXAR HAS BEEN CHAPTER OF MY RESERVES “Guwahati is a short distance from Kolk-
to derail Titans’ spirited chase Earlier, a belligerent knock by bettering the 96 vs Gujarat Lions PRETTY CALM, IPL CAREER, SAYS WITH BALL: ata, (many people) speak the same lan-
and help the visitors claim an 11-
run win at the Narendra Modi
Iyer (97* off 42b; 5x4, 9x6) helped
the visitors amass 243/5. He was
in Kanpur on May 10, 2017. His only other innings
in the 90s is 93* vs KKR at Delhi on April 27, 2018.
SAYS STARC FAF DU PLESSIS KLUSENER guage here, so it’s a second home for us,”
Arun said with a cheeky smile.
Stadium on Tuesday. ably supported by meaningful Mumbai: Delhi Capitals Vizag: South African veteran Faf Visakhapatnam: LSG PTI

243/5
After Titans captain Shub- contributions from middle-order Punjab Kings have pacer Mitchell Starc hailed du Plessis declared he has “lots assistant coach Lance
man Gill (33 off 14; 2x4, 3x6) and batter Shashank Singh (44* off recorded their highest skipper Axar Patel for his of life left” as a franchise player Klusener says his
Sai Sudarshan (74 off 41b; 5x4, 16b; 6x4, 2x6) and opener Pri- total vs Gujarat Titans calmness and but said his latest IPL move injury-hit team has no
6x6) got Titans off to a swift 61- yansh Arya (47 off 23b; 7x4, 2x6). and their second highest in the IPL behind the transformation into a would be the last chapter of his option but to “mix and
run opening stand, the former All-rounder Marcus Stoinis (20 262/2 vs KKR at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on “dominant allrounder” in career. Du Plessis, who led RCB match” until it starts
was scalped by Glenn Maxwell at off 15b; 1x4, 2x6) initially stead- April 26, 2024. international cricket. “He for three years until the end of getting players back.
cover. However, Buttler and Su- ied the ship along with Iyer. The has been pretty calm. This is last season, joined Delhi after Injuries to as many as

2091
darshan added 84 runs in 40 balls duo added 57 for the fifth wicket Runs scored by Shreyas Iyer the first time I’ve shared a the Nov player auction. “Lots of four fast bowlers —
to put Titans on track. After Su- before a reverse sweep by the in the IPL, making him the dressing room with him. life left in the old dog,” Du Avesh Khan, Mayank
darshan’s dismissal, Rutherford Australian resulted in his dis- seventh player to complete Having seen him from the Plessis told commentator and Yadav, Mohsin Khan
smashed 18 off his first seven missal. 2000-plus runs as captain in the IPL, joining Virat other side of the field, it is former England player Graeme and Akash Deep —
balls to reduce the target to 75 off T h e r e a f t e r, i t w a s t h e Kohli (4994), MS Dhoni (4660), Rohit Sharma impressive how he has Swann after Delhi’s nail-biting have dealt a big
36 balls. Shashank-Iyer show. The duo (3986), Gautam Gambhir (3518), David Warner developed into such a win over LSG. “New team, new setback to LSG. “At the ON THE JOB, NEVER MIND INJURY: RR coach
Vyshak bowled fast and out- spared no bowlers and clobbered (3356) & Lokesh Rahul (2691) dominant allrounder in challenge for me. I almost see it moment, we don’t have Rahul Dravid at the team’s training session
side the off stump to stymie Ru- 87 runs off the last five overs to international cricket today. as a new chapter you can look a lot of reserves with

3/30
therford. The West Indian bat- take Kings to the highest total Sai Kishore has produced Even the intent he showed forward to,” he added. “Moving the ball, so we’re going But Riyan Parag, the Royals skipper for
ter’s inability to rotate the strike scored on this ground. Rabada his second-best bowling with the bat played a crucial from Chennai to RCB was a to have to just the first three games, begged to differ. “I’m
also increased the pressure on (1/41), Rashid (1/48), and Prasidh performance in the IPL role in getting us on our way. really good chapter. Now the probably mix and not sure how many Bengalis are there in
Buttler, who was bowled by Jens- Krishna (0/41 in three overs) behind the 4/33 vs Punjab Kings at Mullanpur He has been fantastic,” Starc last chapter of the book, for match until we start KKR (there are none) but being an Assa-
en. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep failed to apply brakes on the run- on April 21, 2024. told JioHotstar after DC’s however long the pages may getting players back,” mese I hope I’ll get more support over
Singh (2/36) castled Rutherford scoring as Kings ran amok. win over LSG on Monday. be.” Klusener said. AGENCIES here,” the 23-year-old said.
Both sides must make some corrections
Sportz Pics if they want to come back to winning ways.
After Breakthrough IPL HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL IPL CHASES BY ONCE RELUCTANT, Rajasthan’s bowlers gave away too many

Season With Punjab Kings NO. 7 BATTERS OR LOWER DHONI NOW FINE runs to the Hyderabad batsmen, which was
marshalled by Ishan Kishan — who scored

Last Year, Ashutosh Sharma

Runs Balls SR Batter For Opponent Venue Date WITH ‘IMPACT a ton — and opener Travis Head.
The Knights, on the other hand, will
68 30 226.66 Dwayne Bravo CSK MI Mumbai (WS) 7-4-2018
PLAYER’ RULE
Looks To Build On His Skills 66* 31 212.90 Ashutosh Sharma DC LSG Vizag 24-3-2025
New Delhi: Former India captain
thus hope that Rinku comes back into the
groove and Varun Chakravarthy weaves
66 36 183.33 Andre Russell KKR Kings XI Pune 18-4-2015
With Delhi Capitals 62* 30 206.66 Yusuf Pathan RR Daredevils Centurion 28-4-2009
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not
quite convinced about the need
his mystery upon the opponent batters.

for the ‘Impact Player’ rule when WEATHER REPORT

FEARLESS taken the positives from there

and worked on myself to improve
whatever weaknesses I had. I’m
rotate strike with tailenders and
pick his moments for aggression
marks him as a rare talent, a
it was first introduced
in the IPL but now
sees it as a part
26 C
0

FINISHER 109
applying here what I did in do- finisher who thrives when the of T20 cricket’s A career-best knock off 56
mestic cricket,” he added. odds are stacked against him. evolution. balls by Sunil Narine, his
Against Lucknow, Sharma’s Sharma’s quick-scoring “When this only hundred in T20s, at
finishing ability shone through. ability is his calling card. In rule was Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 16, 2024,
[email protected] From 113/6 in the 13th over, need- T20s, his career strike-rate hov- implemented, I and the only century by a KKR batter vs
ing 97 off 45, he paced his innings ers around a staggering 184.50. MS felt it wasn’t really Rajasthan Royals.
New Delhi: Ashutosh Sharma is masterfully. He absorbed pressure He has to his credit the fastest DHONI needed at that time. In
ASHUTOSH

5/40
no longer just a prospect. In the early, then exploded when it mat- fifty in T20 cricket by an Indian a way, it helps me, but at the Yuzvendra Chahal’s
Vizag heat on Monday, Sharma, tered. His 47 runs off the last 12 — an 11-ball ef fort against same time, it doesn’t. I still do figures at Brabourne
clad in the navy blue of Delhi balls he faced being a testament Arunachal Pradesh at the 2023 my wicketkeeping, so I am not an Stadium, Mumbai, on
Capitals, stood tall amid a crum- to his nerve. When Kuldeep Yadav Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. impact player,” Dhoni told April 18, 2022, his best and only instance of
bling chase, his bat swinging in minutes,” gushed DC mentor Titans, a 61 off 28 balls against was run out in the penultimate “I think about the shots I’ve JioStar. “I have to be involved in a five-wicket haul in the IPL. He is the only
through chaos and triumph. Kevin Pietersen after the match. Mumbai Indians — but those over, leaving Delhi with one wick- practiced. If I connect one or two, the game. A lot of people say the Rajasthan bowler to record a five-wicket
That’s when, you could say, he Sharma made his IPL debut knocks ended in heartbreak with et, Ashutosh didn’t flinch. A six I keep going,” Sharma under- rule has led to more high-scoring haul vs Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
became a potent force. with the Punjab Kings last season Punjab falling short. and a four off Prince Yadav lined his mantra on Monday. games. I believe it’s more due to

6
With an unbeaten 66 off 31 and was picked by Delhi at the “I learned from last year. brought the equation to six off six, From not being allowed on the the conditions and the comfort matches lost by Rajasthan Royals out
balls, he snatched victory from mega auction for Rs 3.8 crore. The Missed out on finishing the game and he closed it out with flair. It cricket ground by a current IPL level of players,” he added. of 8 played between May 2, 2024 and
the jaws of defeat against Luc- investment looks like a steal. on a couple of occasions in the was Dhoni-esque – calm amid team coach once in his career to Dhoni said the rule does give March 23, 2025 (NR 1). Their only win
know Super Giants, turning a Last season, he made his previous season. The whole year chaos, lethal when unleashed. now being the hero of IPL 2025’s teams the comfort of an extra during this period was by 4 wickets vs RCB
near-certain loss into a thrilling name as an Impact Player, and I focused and visualised it. Had Delhi captain Axar Patel most dramatic run chase, Shar- batter for crunch situations. “The in Ahmedabad on May 22, 2024.
one-wicket victory — a win that along with Shashank Singh he the belief that if I play till the last couldn’t hide his awe. “The way ma has come a long way. Having number of runs being scored isn’t

1
will echo through IPL lore. It helped Punjab pull off a couple over, anything can happen,” he turned it around, it’s some- battled depression at a young age just because of an extra Narine is the first and only allrounder to
wasn’t just a match-winning of wins while chasing. Then Ashutosh reflected after the Luc- thing special,” he said. “We were when his career was at a cross- batsman. It’s about the mindset, post a century as well as pick up a five-
knock. It was a statement. there were some games where he know game on Monday. down and out, but Ashutosh roads, Sharma can now embark teams now have the comfort of wicket haul in the history of the IPL.
“He’s got confidence, raw pow- offered glimpses of his talent – a “Last year was really good, made it happen.” on a career to become the next an extra batter, so they play —Stats: Rajesh Kumar
er and the ability to impact games 31 off 17 balls against Gujarat but that’s history for me. I have His ability to read the game, big ‘chasemaster’. more aggressively,” he said.

TOI

India held 0-0 at

home by B’desh
Veer seeks home course Will be great to have World Athletics
to bring genetic
Sudeshna.Ghosh
@timesofindia.com
to gain confidence a home champion tests for women
Bengaluru: Female athle-
Shillong: The fans came out Veer Ahlawat tes will soon have to undergo
[email protected]
in large numbers, making the- a one-time genetic test to

T
ir presence felt with some lus- Gurugram: Birthday boy Veer Ahla- he field for the 2025 Hero compete in women’s events,
ty cheering. But India, play- wat walked off the 18th green during a Indian Open has a lot of World Athletics president
ing their second internatio- back-nine revisit of his home course home stars with the po- Sebastian Coe said on Tues-
nal match at the JN Stadium with a smile. It was aimed at his wife tential to grab the title on Sun- day, after proposals to tigh-
here, could not give them the Tanya, who was waiting patiently won- day. It has been a while since an ten eligibility rules were dis-
joy they had hoped for as their dering where the 29th-year celebra- Indian won the National Open, cussed at the body’s council.
opening AFC Asian Cup Qua- tions would be. “An official dinner, and so it will be great to have a ho- Coe said regulations wo-
lifier against Bangladesh en- then maybe go out somewhere,” the me champion. We have more uld be drafted soon and the
ded 0-0 on Tuesday. plan wasn’t completely set in stone. Veer Ahlawat than 25 Indians in the field, and global body, which governs
With the other match of I get the feeling there could be track-and-field and road-
Group C between Hong Kong INDIAN OPEN GOLF lawat. “In the past five or six years, we week even during tournaments. I am an Indian making a bid for that running events, would find
and Singapore also ending in a What has been set right last year have not seen too many Indians, but we stronger than last year, and that helps amazing trophy on Sunday. a test provider with the ca-
0-0 draw, all four in the group was the talented Ahlawat’s coming-of- are proud of what Veer did here last ye- my swing to be more stable and fuller.” A home champion does so pacity to conduct the non-
are level on one point each with age with his T2-finish at the Hero Indi- ar. And I really hope that he finishes in- But what do they say? You drive for much for the sport in India. invasive cheek swab or dry
five more games left to decide an Open. With a prize purse of more side 115 this year and remains on the to- show and putt for dough. “At Ras Al Kha- The crowds come in big num- blood spot analysis tests.
the toppers and eventual quali- than 155,000 euros, he carved the bench- ur,” Bhullar said. imah, I felt like I should have been top-fi- bers when an Indian is in con- of good, young players who Athletes would have to ta-
fiers for the tournament to be mark early in the season to end the year This week will provide another op- ve or top-10. My ball striking was very go- tention, and the player feels have all that it takes to win. ke the test once in their care-
held Saudi Arabia in 2027. on top of the PGTI Order of Merit and portunity on the familiar green grass of od, but I didn’t get those chip-putts, and I pumped up to see so much They hit long, have good short ers to show that they do not
The match began on a fru- earn a European Tour card. home. “I think the confidence comes didn’t hold those five, six-footers so the support in the gallery. Also, games and above all, most have the SRY gene, which de-
strating note for India as they Last week, he missed the cut in from doing well on such big stages,” po- short game made the difference. When the youngsters who see it feel play on a PGTI circuit which termines male sex in hu-
could have been two goals be- Singapore and boarded the flight back inted out Ahlawat, the son of a retired we go to a new course, I try to spend more inspired. In short, the whole has become very competitive. mans and most other mam-
hind within the opening 20 mi- to the home comforts of DLF G&CC on colonel who could have been a hoopster time around the chipping area.” golf ecosystem benefits. Even as the PGTI prize purses mals. Like other sports, ath-
nutes — due to silly mistakes Sunday, with food for thought. “I think I had he continued his college pursuit. Unlike his predecessors who took the I recall the Indians who ha- have surged, the scores have letics has spent years deba-
by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith have a lot in my tank, but it may be a ca- “Last year, I proved to myself despite the PGTI route to the bigger Tour -- Manu ve won this event — Ali Sher, become very low. You need to ting eligibility in women’s
and Sandesh Jhingan. While se of confidence, and all the new faces pressure of playing against a top field.” Gandas and Om Prakash Chouhan -- Ah- Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, play well to make the cut. It events, amid questions over
Mojibor Jony failed to slot ho- and courses. The competition is so to- It is also back to the practice grind lawat believes he has more experience to Anirban Lahiri and of course has been a while since a title biological advantages for
me a terrible clearance from ugh on this Tour, you must have an A+ as he reunites with his coach Anitya rewrite the survival story with the Euro- SSP Chawrasia, who was the came India’s way, but I feel it transgender athletes. REUTERS
Kaith in the opening minute, short game,” he said. Chand in the flesh. WhatsApp kept the pean swing around the corner. “I think last Indian star to win it. is only a matter of time.
Shariyar Emon glanced wide Having made four cuts out of seven relationship going but a two-week bre- the only thing that works for me is I have What’s more, he did it back-to- I played the back nine of Road Surcharge of Rs.2.00 will be applicable on this
edition for all locations except Abu,Ahmedabad,A-
a gorgeous cross from Mohd tournaments this season -- a T-27th fi- ak in the schedule affords more time to played a lot more outside, in the wind back. I was told that he also has the DLF Golf and Country nand, Ankleshwar, Baroda, Bhuj, Bharuch,
Ghandhinagar, Gandhidham, Jamnagar.Mun-
Shakil Topu. India managed nish at the Ras Al Khaimah being his reflect and correct. and slightly colder places. It gets uncom- been second as many as four ti- Club on Tuesday after getting dra, Nadiad, , Rajkot, Surat, Udaipur. RNI Regn
No. 15047/68 published by Mr Montoo Jain for the
more possession in the first high -- Veer lies 135th in the long race. “Although I am a long hitter, you have fortable playing with rain jackets and la- mes. That is amazing, two wins a taste of the front nine before proprietor, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. at 139, Ashram
Road, Ahmedabad 9 and printed by him at Vardhaman
half but it was Hamza Choud- Gaganjeet Bhullar, a veteran at 36 now to hit it really far for a low round, as the yers. But you actually have to play in this and four runner-up finishes. that. Publishers Ltd Vejalpur and Plot No. 465, POR-Raman-
gamdi, GIDC Industrial Estate, Village, POR, Taluka &
hury’s game reading in midfi- with 11 international wins, and who guys on Tour do, so my coach decided to weather to learn how far the ball goes One of the reasons why I (Veer Ahlawat is an Indian District : Vadodara. Editor (Ahmedabad Market) :
Harit Mehta Responsible for selection of news under
eld that kept Bangladesh in had four years as a full member in Eu- work on my strength. I’ve been lifting and other things so looking forward to am optimistic about India’s pro who is playing in the 2025 PRB Act ( C ) All rights Reserved. Reproduction of
whole or in part without written permission is Prohib-
the hunt for a breakthrough. rope, is willing to bet on the 6-ft 4-in Ah- weights, going to the gym four times a learning more.” chances is that there are a lot Hero Indian Open) ited.
PD: 26-03-2025 Z: AhmedabadCity E: 1 U: dhaval.patel T: 03-25-2025 21:47
CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTJK1 User: cci Time: 03-25-2025 16:54 Color:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

ADVERTORIAL, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

PARASITE DIRECTOR BONG JOON HO’S FILMS To advertise with us, call 1800 120 5474 OF INDIA
TO HAVE AN EXHIBIT AT ACADEMY MUSEUM
CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTJK2 User: bhaveshkumar.l Time: 03-24-2025 23:56 Color:
 CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTFP User: cci Time: 03-25-2025 17:50 Color:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

ADVERTORIAL, ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

To advertise with us, call 1800 120 5474 OF INDIA

George Clooney’s last

romantic comedy was
2022’s Ticket to
Paradise with Julia
Roberts (below)

Athiya-Rahul
welcome baby girl
Athiya Shetty and KL Rahul have
become parents to a baby girl. Athiya,
on Monday evening, took to Instagram
and announced the arrival of her
daughter with a cute post. She posted a

Not competing
painting of two swans with a message
that read, “Blessed with a baby girl”.
Athiya and Rahul tied the knot
on January 23, 2023, in an intimate
ceremony at Suniel Shetty’s farmhouse

with 25-year-olds:
in Khandala. In November 2024, the
couple announced their pregnancy.

Clooney done with

romantic films A baby boy for
Amy and Ed
Actor-couple Amy Jackson and Ed
Westwick shared pictures on social
media as they welcomed their first

G
eorge Clooney is putting his romance child. Westwick posted a series of
movie days behind him. Speaking to a black and white pictures on Monday,
news channel while promoting his featuring Jackson and their son. He
Broadway debut also revealed the name of the newborn,
Clooney said that he will no longer act in “ro- Oscar Alexander Westwick. “Welcome
mantic films anymore.” “Look, I’m 63 years to the world, baby boy. Oscar Alexander
old. I’m not trying to compete with 25-year-old Westwick,” read the caption of the post.
leading men,” Clooney said, “That’s not my Jackson, 33 and Westwick,37, tied
job. I’m not doing romantic films anymore.” the knot in August last year. Jackson
Across Clooney’s filmography, he previously dated hotelier George
appeared in romance films such as 1996’s Panayiotou, with whom she shares a
One Fine Day with Michelle Pfeiffer son, Andreas.
and 2003’s Intolerable Cruelty with Jackson has been a part of projects
Catherine Zeta-Jones. Clooney’s like Ekk Deewana Tha and Singh Is
last romantic comedy was 2022’s Bliing. Westwick is well known for his
Ticket to Paradise with Julia role in the drama series Gossip Girl.
Roberts, which grossed $168
million at the worldwide box office
and proved buzzy for marking both
Clooney and Roberts’ long-awaited
return to the genre. Agencies

Needed a break: Clooney on doing Ticket to Paradise TRAVIS SCOTT TO MAKE HIS INDIA
While promoting Ticket to Paradise, Clooney told CNN that he returned to the romcom genre because of real- DEBUT WITH DELHI GIG IN OCTOBER
world events. “I got sent the script and you know, we’ve had a lot of dark things going on in the world. And I American rapper and songwriter Travis Scott is coming to India as part
always feel that films try to reflect that, often. They’re usually late because it takes a couple of years to make a of his Circus Maximus World Tour. Taking to his Instagram handle, Scott
film... It felt like we all needed a break. I needed a break,” Clooney had said, “I needed it to be a little carefree.” shared his schedule of performances in Asia as a part of the Maximus
Roberts told The New York Times that she had turned down romance films for 20 years because of bad scripts. World Tour. He will start his Asia tour with India, followed by stops in
“People sometimes misconstrue the amount of time that’s gone by that I haven’t done a romantic comedy as my Korea, China and Japan. Scott has gained notoriety for controversies
not wanting to do one,” Roberts had said, “If I had read something that I thought was that Notting Hill level of as well as the November 2021 mass casualty at his Astroworld
writing or My Best Friend’s Wedding level of madcap fun, I would do it. They didn’t exist until this movie.” concert. He shares two kids with Kylie Jenner.

Prathamesh Bandekar

Feels like I’ve suddenly arrived ‘Collabs are a great way to

after 20 years, says Karan Veer reach a wider audience’ Ancela Jamindar

Neha Maheshwri thing I didn’t feel earlier. I’m humbled PRIYA

and aware that I need to work harder to SARAIYA

W
ith multiple doors of oppor- live up to everyone’s expectations. How- (inset) with
tunities now opening up for ever, I haven’t rushed into taking up Jahnvi
him, Karan Veer Mehra, random opportunities. I know what I’m Shrimankar in a
Karan Veer who won Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khila- looking for – rediscovering the actor in still from
Mehra di 14 and Bigg Boss 18 back to back, is me. For 20 years, I was here and there, Vaarso 2
undoubtedly in the best phase of his ca- and now, suddenly, I’m in demand. But I
reer. He says, “It feels like I’ve sud- know this phase is transient. I’m aware
denly arrived after 20 years that in a few months, a new Bigg Boss
in the industry, some- season will air, and people’s attention
will shift. So, I’m focused on my goals.”
CONTINUED ON 6
Yesha Bhatt
nsient.
I know this phase is tra onths,
P
riya Saraiya, who has
w m
I’m aware that in a fe ,
collaborated with a
wi ll air number of singers and
a new Bigg Boss season ll shift. So, musicians including Shreya
wi
and people’s attention Ghoshal and Shankar Ma-

I’m focused on m y goals hadevan in recent times,

shares, “To reach global audi-
ences – the ones who aren’t
Gujarati and don’t under-
stand the language, I had to
collaborate with someone like
Shreya Ghoshal for Vaarso.
That was a way of bringing
their faithful audiences to
listen to Gujarati music.”
CONTINUED ON 6

To reach global
audiences, I
had to collaborate
with someone like
Shreya Ghoshal for
Vaarso. That was a
way of bringing
their faithful
audiences to listen
to Gujarati music
 CCI NG 3.7 P r o d u c t: T I M SA h m e d a b a dPBuSb D a t e : 2 6 - 0 3 - 2 0 2 5Z o n e : A h m e d a b a dE d i t i o n : 1 Pa g e : A H T N E W S U s e r: s h i va n g . b h a tTt i m e : 0 3 - 2 5 - 2 0 2 5 12 : 3 C
2 o l o r:

2 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA 3
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
 CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTPG4 User: cci Time: 03-25-2025 17:16 Color:

4 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA VARIETY/LEISURE
SUDOKU CHALLENGE TIMES HITORI LOOP THE LOOP
Level: Medium
HOW RULES
TO PLAY
• Connect
1. A number
may appear
just once in
adjacent
dots with
vertical or
Now showing: Rekha,
each row
or column.
Eliminate
horizontal
lines, in and as Rekha
W
creating a
repeat hen Rekha recently stepped out in those dazzling gold
single loop
numbers by sneakers, it wasn’t just a fashion moment – it was a mic
(Fig A).
darkening drop. Her biggest cheerleaders, ironically, were those
• Crossovers
cells. (see who’d draw a blank on her last film role, proof her legend outshines
or
example) her screen time.
branches
2. Darkened In a male-dominated and relentlessly
are not
cells must ageist industry, Rekha has consistently
allowed
never be adja- delivered a masterclass in defiance. In the
(As shown
cent in a row days of film glossies and tabloid column-
by dotted
or column. ists, she made as much a statement with
lines in
3. Unmarked her life choices as her unapologetic head-
Fig B).
cells must gears. Over the years, in her Kanjeevar-
• Numbers in the
create a single continuous area, ams and scarlet lips, dramatic designer
puzzle indicate
undivided by darkened cells. outfits for global fashion shoots, Rekha
the number of
4. Every time you darken a cell, you has in fact perfected this swag as her sig-
lines that should
can automatically circle its vertical nature, cocking a snook to anyone who
HOW TO PLAY and horizontal neighbours, which
surround it, while
thinks women (must) fade past a certain
empty cells may be
Fill in the grid so that every horizontal row, every vertical column and means they cannot be eliminated. age. Or age gracefully (read: quietly). Any-
surrounded by any
every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9, without repeating the numbers in 5. Any cell "sandwiched" between one who has seen her at high-profile wed-
number of lines.
the same row, column or box.You can’t change the digits already given in neighbours of the same value can be dings or red carpet galas, film premieres
• You can’t draw
the grid. Every puzzle has one solution. circled. (e.g. 6 4 6 ) or award functions would know how, in
lines around Not allowed
6. A "triple" is a special case of (Fig A) her 70s, Rekha is not one to step down qui-
zeroes. (Fig B)
sandwich. Circle the centre cells, etly or remain in the shadows.
• Each puzzle has
and darken the ends. (e.g. 6 6 6 ) Example can only be extended in one
For someone who has played characters
just one unique solution.
direction each. Continue, using as diverse as a heartbroken courtesan to a
HOW TO BEGIN: the same logic. sexually abused homemaker, an estranged
EVENTS Example (Fig A) - Begin with Hints: Keep eliminating
wife to a man’s last romance, especially
when the film industry was fixated with
IF IT ISN’T HERE, IT ISN’T HAPPENING the zero next to 3. Since no possibilities by marking crosses
lines can be drawn around the ‘hero ki entry’, it is not a small feat to
in spaces between dots where
Mail your event details to us two Email: ahmedabadtimes@ stand out – and even outshine the bright-
ENJOY A HOST OF days in advance with details, gmail.com
zero, mark crosses around it,
as shown. Now there is a cross
a line isn’t possible, i.e., if
est male actors of the day. But she did.
ENGAGING PUZZLES preferably with a photograph: You can follow us on in one space around 3. So we
you have already completed
Perhaps Rekha’s brand of stardom has
AND GAMES EVERY DAY Events Ahmedabad Times, Facebook: know the three lines of 3 can
required lines or where a line
been a mix of enigma and aura. You will
139, Ashram road, Fadia Cham- @AhmedabadTimesTOI only be drawn in the remaining extension may create a branch
never see her in her pyjamas and T-shirt,
Play now! Scan the QR code or visit toi.in/games bers, Ahmedabad 380009. X(Twitter): @AhmedabadTimes three spaces. Next, these lines or cause a deadend (Fig B).
walking into a salon in her sliders and sipping from a Stanley cup.
In fact, she has once astutely observed, “Stardom is a strange thing
– it’s not about being seen, but about being felt.” You feel Rekha, al-
SCRAMBLE right. Even as old videos of her intense interview with Simi Gare-
SAEOR
wal go viral, songs and scenes from her biggest films do the
Rearrange the letters in the
rounds, as paps get into a tizzy every time she steps out for an
four word jumbles, one let-
GARFIELD

EPNST event: headgear, silks, ruby lips and a lethal, feline gait. It is that
ter to each square/circle, to
kind of stardom that is not circumscribed by social media. Re-
make four ordinary words
NUDNIK minder – It has been more than 10 years that she appeared in a full
HOW TO PLAY length feature film. And we are still talking about her.
Now arrange the letters EESDKW In fact, western editorials once likened Rekha’s old-world glam-
in the circles to form the our to Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn. But Rekha also
answer to the riddle or to knows how to work the crowds, engage with youngsters and stay
fill in the missing word as Those that __, do. Those that ____, teach. - Aristot- relevant – even if it means dialling up the campy sartorial style
indicated le (4,..,10) that made her the darling of the media in the ’80s and ’90s.
There is perhaps no copywriter who would dare to attach the
epithet yesteryear to her name. And that gold sneakers moment?
CALVIN AND HOBBES

ARIES: Don’t pretend LIBRA: Before diving into It’s not just shoes – it’s Rekha staking claim to a spotlight she has
everything is okay if action, take time to never relinquished.
it’s not – bottling up clarify your goals and as-
your emotions will sess whether the effort is Agree? Disagree? Got a POV idea? Write to us at: pov@timesofindia.com
only make things truly worth it. You know
worse. It’s okay to what you need to do, and
acknowledge your success will follow if you
struggles, and com- approach it with charm
fort may come when and grace. THE DAILY CROSSWORD
you least expect it. SCORPIO: Slowing down
TAURUS: There are to a sustainable pace will
no surprises today – See what the stars have in store for help you make the most
most challenges are you – according to your moon sign. of opportunities. Keep
ones you’ve antici- reminding yourself that
pated. Even if things your extra efforts are for
SPELLATHON DENNIS THE MENACE haven’t gone according to plan, this is no reason the benefit of others, but be mindful of time con-
to retreat. Find solace in your dreams and spirit- straints and avoid getting too carried away.
Today’s Ratings: 01-average ual practices, and stay grounded. SAGITTARIUS: Impulsive actions may not serve
02-good 03-outstanding GEMINI: Your lack of commitment may be an issue you well today, even if everything seems fine on
for a family member today. Though you may not the surface. Take care of your own needs before
How many words
show it, you could be struggling emotionally. Take extending yourself to others or you may find your-
time to reflect on what you’ve learned and what self running on empty.
of four or more A changes are needed as you move forward. CAPRICORN: Today, your priorities may differ from
letters can you CANCER: Don’t push too hard for others to like others, but this doesn’t mean you’re avoiding is-
make from T F you today. Allow time for things to smooth over, sues. Use your sombre energy to push yourself
the letters
shown A and focus on rejuvenating your passion before towards necessary changes. Minimise personal
deciding what to do next. You can’t be everything desires, and you’ll be able to make the most of
in today’s
puzzle? In
E T to everyone, and that’s okay. the moment.
LEO: Obstacles may frustrate you today, but don’t AQUARIUS: Patience is key today – don’t be dis-
making a word,
a letter can be
F let them derail your progress. The passion may be heartened if satisfaction doesn’t come quickly.
transforming into a more stable energy, and it’s a Work on letting go of resentment, fear, and inse-
used as many good time to lay a foundation for deeper love and curity, and focus on long-term goals. Progress will
times as it appears commitment. come with persistence.
in the puzzle. Each word must contain the central VIRGO: Today, focus on your real needs, not just PISCES: Happiness fuels productivity today. If
letter. There should be at least one seven letter your desires. If you’ve taken on too much emo- you’re open to embracing a bit of fantasy, op-
tional responsibility, you may struggle to deliver. portunities will flow more easily. Rationally, you By Mark McClain 26/03/2025
word. Plurals, foreign words and proper names are
Take things seriously, but don’t let the weight of know that what’s happening now is for the best. ACROSS Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved
not allowed. British English Dictionary is used as
it all prevent you from honouring your commit- Respect others’ boundaries, and you may find love 1 Philosophy test
reference. component
ments. blossoming in unexpected ways.
6 Water conveyer
10 Royal __: seabird
native to the Americas
FACT OF THE MATTER 14 India’s first prime
minister
Eating dates is a 15 Four or five
16 French god
popular way to break
17 Sticky stuff in a
the fast. It also has a lot dispenser
of health benefits. They 19 Seckel, e.g.
contain natural sugars, 20 Normandy city
are high in fibre, are 21 Competes in a regatta
good for digestion and 22 Out of this world
are high in vitamins 27 Least likely to be seen
and nutrients. 28 Family men
29 Middle East flyer
The start of Ramadan 30 Triangular-stemmed
falls on a different marsh grass ©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC 25/03/2025
date every year. It is
32 __ Dhabi
35 Cause of some DOWN 27 Credit union seizure
because the Islamic springtime 1 34-Down grad 30 North Pole VIP
calendar follows the discomfort 2 “Hold on a __!” 31 Couple of fellows?
literal cycles of the 39 Tunisian tennis pro __ 3 “Your Honor” airer, 32 Singer-songwriter
moon, and each month Jabeur briefly Mann
begins when the new 40 Tied up in knots 4 Museum piece 33 Grins broadly
moon is sighted. 41 Country on the 5 Desert bloomers 34 Annapolis inst.
Arabian Sea 6 Dev of “Hotel Mumbai” 36 Code of conduct
42 Sharpen 7 “Assuming there are 37 “__ a hand?”
43 The movie industry some” 38 Large
45 Fruit from the 8 Frisky feeling percussion instrument
Sunshine State 9 Source of milk for 42 Drops a line
50 Museum piece manchego cheese 43 Beer containers
51 Zero-star reviews 10 Completion worth six 44 Foot part
52 Drop out points, informally 45 Hobbit who inherits the
53 Thoroughfare away 11 “Old MacDonald” One Ring from Bilbo
from the main drag, letters 46 Shade of yellow
or what can be found 12 Monarch’s territory 47 Shade of green
in each set of circled 13 Drink slowly 48 Footnote abbr.
letters 18 Drill command 49 Leaf collectors
59 Symbol of peace 21 Ceremonial feast 53 Weave’s partner
60 Garfield’s housemate during Passover 54 “Without further __
61 Cause for some recalls 22 Hawk’s weapon ... ”
62 Small notes 23 Face-to-face exams 55 Classic TV brand
63 Some imitative 24 Spill the beans 56 Long, long time
software 25 Perplex 57 Arch Manning’s uncle
64 Flip out 26 Minimum __ 58 Start of a pencil game

SOLUTIONS TO GAMES/PUZZLES
TIMES SUDOKU LOOP THE LOOP TIMES HITORI

SPELLATHON SCRAMBLE
fate, feat, TAFFETA stand, teach. - Aristotle
Answer: Those that know, do. Those that under-
Words: Arose, spent, unkind, skewed
 CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTPG5 User: cci Time: 03-25-2025 17:43 Color:

VARIETY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA 5

5
Pics: iStock

‘START ANYTIME,
SHOULD YOU
TRY OUT THE
CHALLENGE?
Fitness challenges
are great, but experts
stress making exercise
a lifestyle, not a trend.
Prathamesh Ghule,
a fitness coach says,
“Fitness isn’t about
following a trend that
goes viral on social
7 A fitness
challenge
Hard
Hard YOU CAN
MODIFY THE
CHALLENGE
75 Medium
O Follow a healthy
diet (with occasional
indulgences)
O Exercise once, daily,
for 45 minutes
EFFECTIVENESS
OF THIS FITNESS
ROUTINE
The challenge can make you
mentally, physically and
emotionally fit. According
BUT STAY media, it’s about a O Drink three litres of

for all
lifestyle choice that to Dr Lunawat, “It can
water daily
CONSISTENT’ one should practise O Read 10 pages of
transform you into a
on a daily basis.” He completely new person
Recently, Indian actress a self-development
suggests seeking and be especially
and television presenter book
beneficial for those

seasons
Mandira Bedi showcased guidance and training O Take a progress
from a certified who have an unhealthy,
how her 75 Hard challenge photo every day
professional. and physically inactive
was coming along, on lifestyle.” Dr Vora, too,
Instagram. Like her,
there are many fitness
75 Soft sees the challenge as
O Eat a generally effective for quick results.
enthusiasts taking up this He says, “The real deal,
challenge. While some
succeed in being consistent,
Social media is currently abuzz with healthy diet
(with occasional however, is to sustain
some find it so tough, they the 75 Hard fitness challenge. Rigorous indulgences) these habits once the
challenge ends.”
give up mid way. O Exercise for 30
workouts, clean diet, hydration and to 45 minutes daily
Participants of the
challenge have shared their
book-reading for 75 days are key (including low-intensity
workouts)
experience on social media. components of this challenge. O Drink three litres of
One X user wrote, “I’m 54 water everyday
days into 75 Hard & there’s
While it is mostly taken in O Read at least 10
21 days left to go. Such a
major challenge & I’m glad
January, experts say it can be pages of a book

I stayed committed even on taken any time during the year

the days I genuinely didn’t
want to,” while another Aakanksha Ahire
user wrote, “I started the 75
Hard challenge on Monday
and I’m already failing.” WHAT
According to Dr Manan IS THE
Vora, an orthopaedic
surgeon and sports
75 HARD FITNESS
medicine expert, “The CHALLENGE? HEALTH RISKS &
challenge can be taken O Working out twice a day for 45 PRECAUTIONS
any time of the year. Such minutes — one of them outdoors O Rigorous and unsupervised
challenges mainly target O Following a healthy diet workouts can cause sports
those who are keen on O Drinking three litres of water injuries and workout fatigue
making fitness their new O Reading 10 pages of a non-
year resolution. However, O The challenge leaves no
fiction book daily time for the human body
health and fitness should O Taking a picture of yourself
be a lifestyle change, to rest and recover causing
for 75 days to track weakness and dehydration
not just a new year’s progress
resolution.” O For those taking up the
Similarly, Dr Vipul challenge, let your body
Lunawat, a fitness expert adjust first, then gradually
opines, “You can start
The challenge requires sufficient calories increase the intensity of it
anytime of the year. The and energy as it involves two 45-minute each week
O Ensure a minimum of seven
challenge only states that workouts. With proper nutrition and ample hours of sound sleep
once you start, you have to
stay consistent for 75 days rest, the risk of injuries and fatigue can be
from the date you begin.” avoided. The challenge can also be modified
as per your age and fitness level
– Dr Vipul Lunawat, a fitness expert

Pics: iStock

Eat like a local, budget stays:

Take breaks, Handy tips to travel smartly
change desk Anagha Sawant
Pics: iStock

setup: Protect A recent study by an online travel

agency found that Gen Z and Mil-
lennials prefer budget-friendly
travel, keeping accommodation costs be-

eyes from low $50 (approx `4,300) per person per

night. Gen Z is more likely to do this
(56%) compared to Millennials (44%).
According to the study, travellers now fo-

digital strain cus on affordable travel while still seek-

ing meaningful experiences.
Experts say travellers are now
smarter about spending. “Flexi-
ble dates, off-season bookings and
loyalty rewards help cut costs.
Budget airlines, no-frills stays, hos-
tels and home rentals are popular

D
igital screens are pervasive, not choices. There’s also a shift towards
only at work but in our homes, Follow the 20-20-20 rule experiential travel, where unique lo-
schools and shops. All that screen Take a break every 20 minutes from sitting at a computer. cal experiences matter more than ex-
time can take a toll. Too much exposure to During the break, focus your eyes on something that’s pensive hotels,” says Jyoti Mayal,
screens can lead to dry or watery eyes, fuzzy about 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Pausing close-up tourism industry expert. LOW-COST EXPERIENCE
vision and headaches. Some even describe work and looking at something in the distance gives Travelling on a budget doesn’t mean
tired, tight muscles time to relax. “Luckily, eye strain
short bouts of vertigo when they look at
screens for too long. is temporary,” said Raj Maturi, an ophthalmologist in COMMON TRAVEL sacrificing comfort – at least, that’s
Price matters, but not at what I discovered on my recent trip with
Here are some tips from eye health Indianapolis. “The best way to avoid these symptoms is MISTAKES TO AVOID the expense of safety, Milo, my dog. Private cabs from Delhi
professionals to reduce eye strain caused by taking breaks from our screens or near work activities  Don’t book popular travel packages to Shangarh cost upwards of ₹10,000.
by devices. AP and using lubricating eye drops, if needed.” without reviewing the itinerary cleanliness, and location. Instead, I took a non-AC public bus to
 Avoid blindly following online or Read reviews, check for Aut for just ₹2,300. From there, I took
hand-me-down itineraries a taxi to Shangarh. For food, I chose
Change your desk setup Be wary of product claims  Carry pet essentials. Pack food, a hidden charges, and ensure home-cooked meals at just ₹150-₹200.
Some people find that using a larger Some products, such as blue light glasses, are marketed
leash and other basics to avoid it is well-connected to Luxury came in simple ways — picnics
last-minute costly or unavailable by streams, walks through pine forests,
computer monitor helps reduce eye with claims that they will reduce digital eye strain, improve
purchases
transport, essential services and avoiding peak season. Using travel
fatigue. You can also increase sleep and prevent eye disease. But several studies have – Jyoti Mayal, chairperson of the Tourism
– Inputs by travellers rewards for bus ticket was a smart hack
the font size on your laptop, found the glasses are not very effective, according to and Hospitality Skill Council
– Delhi-based Mahima shares her cost-conscious
monitor or smartphone the American Academy of Opthalmology. It’s really travel to Himachal Pradesh
screen. Sitting an our behaviour with digital devices that causes
arm’s length away symptoms, not the small amount of blue light. SMART WAYS TO PLAN YOUR TRIP
from your screen and
adjusting it so you’re
looking slightly Flexible travel Budget stays Saving on Eat like a local
Sleeping soundly
downward also can
The blue light that digital screens emit can dates and early Delhi-based transport “Stay with the
help reduce eye traveller locals. Visiting
strain, according increase alertness, so using the phone in bed reservations Yamini Gola Talking to local
drivers and
only tourist
to the American may make it hard to get restful sleep. Doctors shares, “I spots won’t
Hardi Patel, who local booking
Academy of recommend turning off screens one to two hours always cross- give you a
specialises in luxury agents
Opthalmology. before going to sleep. You can also set devices to check with local true cultural
travel, shares, “I have is a great
dark mode to reduce bright light. tour to understand experience. To
often secured the way to save on
best deals on flights what a fair price should immerse yourself in a
transportation costs.
be. When it comes to place’s culture, explore
Extracurricular activities and accommodations
by planning well in advance and accommodations, I make “One can opt for public local markets and dine
transport, explore free
After stepping away from computers at work, many people find themselves reading or scrolling on booking during the off-season. sure to compare prices at local eateries — they
attractions, and maximise
smartphone screens. It’s not just workers: children are using laptops, tablets and smart screens in school Flexible travel dates and early from different sources and offer authentic flavours at
travel credit cards and
settings throughout the day. Anyone streaming shows should do so on a television, instead of a tablet, to reservations can lead to significant call them directly to get a a budget-friendly price,”
rewards programmes to
help relieve eye strain, said Ayesha Malik, a paediatric optometrist in Philadelphia. Children should follow savings, ensuring a cost-effective rate that doesn’t include says Niharika Jain, a
reduce costs,” adds Jyoti
the 20-20-20-2 rule, which includes an extra “2” at the end to encourage playing outdoors for 2 hours a day, and hassle-free trip.” any brokerage fees.” travel influencer.
Mayal.
which helps with eye development, she said.
 CCI NG 3.7 Product: TIMSAhmedabadBS PubDate: 26-03-2025 Zone: Ahmedabad Edition: 1 Page: AHTENT User: cci Time: 03-25-2025 18:03 Color:

6 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

AHMEDABAD TIMES, THE TIMES OF INDIA BACK BEAT

It’s sad that lyricists have ‘20 years later, we are still
to ask for due credit: Priya Ancela Jamindar
talking about My Brother
MARCH 2

Priya
Saraiya
Nikhil – and that’s beautiful’
The film is told through the eyes of
Nikhil’s (Sanjay) sister, played by Juhi.
While Sanjay was always on Onir’s
mind for Nikhil, when it came to
Released in casting Juhi, he says that beyond her
CONTINUED FROM 1 2005, My talent, it was her warmth and
Brother Nikhil innocence that made her perfect
Priya adds, “The beauty of music is starred Sanjay for the role. He says, “I was
that even those who don’t understand Suri, Juhi telling the story of a gay
the language can enjoy and appreciate Chawla and character – one of the first
it. I want to try and bring sounds, Purab Kohli. in mainstream Hindi
dialects, and songs from various The film is cinema – and the
areas to make new music. We based on the audience was still raw
are all interconnected cultural- life of about it. I felt that I
ly and musically, yet very dif- Dominic needed an actor with
ferent from each other.” D’Souza, a certain presence,
whose AIDS someone whose
‘SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE diagnosis warmth and
IT EASIER TO GO GLOBAL’ caused him to be sincerity
In an earlier interview with us, Gram- shunned by could
my Award winner Falu (Falguni Shah) society and resonate
had expressed her willingness to collab- isolated by the with
orate with Priya and Sachin-Jigar. The authorities viewers”
Saibo singer says, “I want to collabo-
rate with every artiste whose music
touches us and where I get to experi-
ment with something new. Because of
social media, people are listening to
varied music and we can reach glob- ‘Queer films
Niharika Lal talking about the film and I feel that is
al audiences.”
beautiful,” says Onir. struggle for
As a lyricist-singer, Priya
The distribution’
I
t’s been two decades since Onir’s debut ‘MAKING THIS FILM
has been very vocal about
audience film My Brother Nikhil hit the theatres.
lyricists not getting
Looking back, the director says the film
WAS NOT EASY’ Looking back, Onir sees
equal importance and shouldn’t listen to The making of My Brother Nikhil was progress but says,“In
continues to trigger conversations about
recognition. She says, not easy, shares Onir, adding that San- 2005, My Brother Nikhil
“It’s sad that lyricists just popular songs or HIV, LGBTQ+ representation and more. “If I
jay, he and their friends pooled person- got a U certificate and
look back 30 years, since I came into the
have to ask for credit what is trending, which industry, and 20 years of My Brother Nikhil,
al savings to form Four Front Films a theatrical release. In
which they deserve and make the movie. Distribution was 2025, I still have to fight
by default on differ-
happens by default I feel an immense sense of gratitude and
also a nightmare, the filmmaker adds. for certification. Queer
when something is happiness,” he says.
ent platforms. When “They had all kinds of weird sugges- films struggle even more
any song is made, the being hammered ‘MY BROTHER NIKHIL HELPED tions and it was humiliating at times. for distribution. People
first creators are a lyr-
into our PARENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR When Sanjay showed the film to talk about progress,
icist and a composer. A It’s sad that lyricists have to ask for CHILDREN BETTER’ Karan (Johar), he was really kind. It but tell me, how many
composer can’t make a heads credit which they deserve by My Brother Nikhil released in 2005 and was touched him. He suggested Aditya queer-themed films did
song without lyrics and considered groundbreaking by critics. It Chopra to watch the film. For my de- you see in cinemas last
vice versa; both are equally default. When any song is made, the first told the story of Nikhil Kapoor, a champion but film to get that big release – I felt year? Very few. Streaming
important in the making of a song.” creators are a lyricist and a composer. A swimmer who was diagnosed with HIV, at a that good energies got together, and has opened doors, but
‘THE AUDIENCE FEELS ATTRACTED TO SONGS composer can’t make a song without time when cinema largely avoided LG- made it possible, but it was not an even there, truly
BTQ+ narratives. The film, inspired by the easy journey. It took us years to re- pathbreaking
THAT ARE TRENDING’ lyrics and vice versa; both are equally cover because it was not easy.” But, Indian films are
In Bollywood, Priya has majorly collaborated with Sachin- life of Dominic D’Souza – India’s first
Jigar. Priya, who is married to Jigar, says they respect important in the making of a song known HIV patient, was deeply personal Onir says, it was rewarding in oth- rare. The last
for Onir. Dominic’s story was so powerful er ways. “The film is now ar- important
each other’s creativity and art. “We understand that each
It takes a lot of effort and money to make a song or an al- that he couldn’t shake it off. “Even now, chived in universities, cited in one I
one brings something new to the table and is irreplaceable.
bum and when it is not received well, it breaks our heart. people message me about the film,” he research. It has become part of remember
Our choices when listening to songs are also very different
No artiste should feel that way and should not have to fight shares, adding, “Teenagers who watched it Indian cinema history.” was Kaathal
and that really helps us in making music,” she says.
to ensure audiences like their work. The audience growing up say they felt seen, represented. - The
On how the audiences decide what they want to listen
shouldn’t listen to just popular songs or what is trending, Parents have told me it helped them under- “I feel that both then and now, queer Core, with
to, Priya says, “It’s mostly based on popularity. Audience’s
which happens by default when something is being ham- stand their children better.” people constantly navigate a world Mammootty
support is very important for any song to do well. As crea-
mered into our heads. We tend to get attracted towards it.” But the reactions were mixed. “At some where finding love and support is not playing a gay
tors, we have a lot of ideas, but not everything works well.
screenings, audiences walked out at the in- always easy due to lingering stigma. man.”
terval when they realised Nikhil was gay. When I was making My Brother
And despite critical acclaim, My Brother Nikhil in 2005, I wanted to
Nikhil never got recognition, which was a explore that reality,” says
Pics: @gaurikhan
little sad. But at the end of the day, 20 years Onir
GAURI KHAN later, we are still
shared a
glimpse of
her vacay in ‘Dominic’s story
ROME with stayed with me’
friends and What did he want to say through the film?
Onir says, “Dominic’s story stayed with
family, writing,
me – the sheer cruelty and unkindness he
”Nature, travel, faced from society. I wanted to tell this story
art, fashion, to show that we all have the power to be
and personal better, to be more loving, understanding,
and accepting. I remember feeling Dominic’s
experiences pain and anguish so deeply while making
are all great My Brother Nikhil that it became internalised
sources of in the film.”
He adds, “At the heart of the stories I tell
inspiration… is this question – Why do we hesitate to offer
My favourite a little love, empathy, and acceptance to
city, Rome (sic)” others? It costs us nothing, yet it enriches our
lives in ways we don’t always realise.”

Black actor Ayesha

Chum & I are taking things one Kapur ties the knot
Prathamesh Bandekar

step at a time: Karan Veer

CONTINUED FROM 1

KARAN VEER MEHRA ‘THE ADULATION WAS THERE,

BUT NEVER TO THIS EXTENT’
Ask Karan if reality shows are the
key to reaching this level of recogni-
tion, and he responds, “I’ve always
been working, and people recognised
me through my characters. The adu-
lation was there, but never as Karan
Veer Mehra and to this extent. Now,
film opportunities and the doors of
big production houses have
opened up. Earlier, I would hear,
‘Haan bataate hain’, but now
I’m having coffee with people,
and it’s making me believe
that opportunities are within
reach.” Karan Veer with Chum Darang in Bigg Boss
He adds, “I continue to give
auditions and ask people to test I’m in talks for a couple of films, and
me with a changed approach. Earli- I’ve already finalised something
er, if I didn’t get a role, I would worth the wait.”
think, ‘They don’t know what ‘MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHUM
they’ve missed’. Now, when I don’t IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
get it, I reflect on what I could have
done better. I’ve missed out on big oppor-
FRIENDSHIP AND ROMANCE
His chemistry with Bigg Boss co-contestant
tunities because I wasn’t mature enough to
Chum Darang became the talk of the town.
understand scripts back then, but I don’t re-
Talking about it, he says, “There’s definitely

A
gret any of it. Those mistakes made me who yesha Kapur, the little girl the knot with her longtime
a relationship. It’s somewhere between
I am today. I’m moving forward with the from the Amitabh boyfriend, Adam Oberoi. The
friendship and romance. Chum and I
same enthusiasm and sincerity.” Bachchan and Rani couple got married over the
decided to start fresh, without the baggage
Mukerji-starrer Black got married weekend at an intimate ceremony
‘I AM NOT TAKING A BREAK FROM of being together 24/7, because we won’t be
recently. Ayesha, who played the in Delhi, which was attended by
ANY MEDIUM’ spending that much time together in the
young Rani Mukerji in Sanjay close family and friends.
Although Karan isn’t opposed to any medi- real world. There’s an age gap as well. We’re
Leela Bhansali’s 2005 film, has tied A NI
um, he prioritises working with good story- taking things one step at a time. At this
tellers and meaningful projects. He says, “I point, we’re focusing on our work and being Reg No GUJENG/2002/7254, Published by Mr Montoo Jain for the proprietor, Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. at 139, Ashram Road,
Ahmedabad 9 and printed by him at Vardhaman Publishers Ltd Vejalpur. Editor ( Ahmedabad Market ) : Somashukla Sinha
am not taking a break from any medium. friends, seeing where it goes. We’re not Walunjkar - Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act ( C ) All rights Reserved. Reproduction of whole or in part without
written permission is prohibited. No. 82 Vol XXIV.
I’m a performer and an entertainer at heart. forcing anything.”