VIEWS & VISION OF CITY

www.afternoonvoice.com FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2021, MUMBAI RNI No. MAHENG/2009/2933210 Pages, ₹2 /-Volume: 13, Issue: 71

<<PG 05

ITD seizes crores of black money

Dr.Vaidehi

Lack of awareness among buyers flopped Green Crackersn every Diwali the government is hell bent on controlling the Opollution level, by asking people to refrain from crackers. The government launched 'green crackers' as a low-pollutant

alternative but Green crackers failed to grab market due to lack of awareness among buyers, shortage of supply, lack of variety and implementation challenges dampening the sale of environment-friendly fireworks. In the absence of high-quality holograms and lack of advanced security features in the green crackers, they will have a tough time identifying duplicate ones.

Though there are permanent shops selling crackers round the year, they are less in number and every year the Delhi police issue

temporary licenses to people to sell crackers on the two days of Diwali. After the strict guidelines of the Supreme Court on green firecrackers, there is a significant fall in applications for temporary licences for firecrackers and explosives. In 2016, there were 968 licences granted for sale of firecrackers and in 2017 it was capped at just 500 temporary licences. In 2018, conventional firecrackers were banned but green firecrackers were not available. This year in 2019, around 50 licence holders will be allowed to sell firecrackers for two days on Diwali. Due to strict norms and dip in supply of firecrackers from manufacturers, there is significant downfall in applications for licence..

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

<<PG 04

Raut hits out at the Centre says, “BJP...

Jacqueline Fernandez

joins ...

<<PG 10 On November 10 Arrives With Restricted Gatherings

Chhath Puja Chhath Puja Chhath Puja Dr.VaidehiTaman

afternoon_voice

Ahead of Chhath puja on November 10, the BMC has issued

guidelines restrict ing gatherings near beaches, riverbanks, and ponds to perform rituals. The civic body has allowed pu ja a round a r t i f i c i a l ponds a t the ward level and s o u g h t help from

the local police to ensure social distancing. On Tuesday, ward offices were also directed to set up health camps

near these ponds and conduct a Covid test for devotees visiting the puja.

Similar protocols were followed last year, too, amid t h e r a g i n g C o v i d - 1 9 pandemic. Chhath puja is observed with fervor in Mumbai, with lakhs of d e v o t e e s t h r o n g i n g beaches/water bodies for rituals. “There's always the fear of the next wave during festivals. We do not want to take any chances,” said a senior BMC official, adding that like last year, requests

were rejected from various organizations to allow gatherings.

“We have instead

a l l o w e d p u j a t o b e performed at artificial ponds. Groups organizing f u n c t i o n s c a n s e e k permission from local municipal ward offices,” the official said.

BMC commiss ioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said the civic body is reporting nearly 13,000 Covid cases on an average every month. “The situation is better but the fear of outbreak is still there. In such a situation, Chhath puja has been approved but only with strict safety protocols,” he said.

<<

PAGE 1

editornbc@gmail.comvaidehitaman

vaidehisachin

Editoritis 02contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com/editorial

AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2021

EditorDr. Vaidehi

Email- afternoonvoicedesk@gmail.com • SMS -9820199881

www.afternoonvoice.comwww.beyondthenews.biz

www.mumbaimanoos.com

www.newsmakers.co.inwww.nbcaward.comwww.hackers5.comShop No 17, Bldg. No. K-3, Hilton Society, Ram Nagar,

Near Kalyan Jewellers,Boriwali (West), Mumbai 400 092.

Printer and PublisherNewsmakers Publications Pvt. Ltd.

Printed at S R Publication & Printing Press

Vaishali Nagar, Dahisar (E), Mumbai - 68.

Disclaimer : The views expressed in the edit are solely of the editor. The publication do not necessarily share the opinions expressed. Any litigation against the content or publication will be entertained under the Jurisdiction of Mumbai only.For any queries regarding the editorial desk, contact - 7506760610

Volume No. 13 | Issue No. 71

Lack of awareness among buyers flopped Green Crackers

Very few people know that there is no blanket ban on crackers. However, I complained about the lack of variety. Green crackers do not contain harmful chemicals that would cause air pollution. Components in firecrackers are replaced with others that are “less dangerous” and “less harmful.” The scientists at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) invented this.

Crackers are available in the market, the festive season has run into several dampeners and implementation challenges — from the lack of multiple varieties to a shortage of crackers and difficulty for the police in identifying green crackers. It wasn't an overreaction. Barium, used as an oxidizer and to emit green light, is a crucial component of crackers. Due to its low prices and ready availability, it is used across a range of products, including ladi, anaar and chakkars. A ban on barium indirectly meant a ban on nearly three-fourths of the crackers produced.

The use of crackers on Diwali is so widespread that enforcement authorities simply can't keep up with the violations. The Delhi Police arrested 300 people for violating the SC's ban on commercial crackers last year. Yet, air pollution levels in the city exceeded 66 times the safe limit. Media reports this year suggest traditional firecrackers are being sold in shops across the country, including banned items like ladis and barium formulations. PESO has ratified only four varieties of green crackers till date. A PESO official, on condition of anonymity, explains that they are guided by considerations of the festive season and workers' livelihood.

When the fireworks industry shut shop last year, the official says, there were protests across Tamil Nadu. In

Sivakasi, reportedly, nearly 4,000-5,000 people surrounded the sub-collector's office on one occasion. According to this official, the state and Union governments and agencies like Neeri “banded together" and claimed to have found a solution.

The Firecracker Industry that provides livelihood to thousands of people from underprivileged sections of our society may have thought time, such a ban is definitely going to affect them. In fact, this one particular aspect is never given its due weightage while making decisions. A ban on Victoria (a type of horse carriage) in Mumbai led to destruction of livelihood for around 200 families. Something similar happened when SC banned Jallikattu. A happy animal at the cost of the livelihood of humans is not such a great practice for our country. Our recent position (100 out of 119 countries) in the Hunger Index indicates how critical it is to save the livelihoods of people in our country.

Effectiveness of such a ban is rarely noticed, in a

region with numerous industries and millions of personal and commercial vehicles, crackers on Diwali couldn't be a major factor behind pollution. Add to it the burning of crop fields in nearby states (Haryana and Punjab) and the contribution towards air pollution by Diwali crackers will even be lower. Banning them isn't really going to achieve much. Unless SC is making its decision in a vacuum, it has to know that such a decision will be read through religious lenses. Judges in the past have taken cognizance of the social realities and have weighed them in their past decisions. Such a decision, when its impact on curbing pollution could be symbolic at best required greater scrutiny and even greater care. The ban is on sale not on bursting the crackers. In Mumbai it is really not difficult to get firecrackers. Overall a decision which have looked too deeply into the technical issues of air / noise pollution and seemed to have completed overlooked the big picture.

Crackers are available in the

market, the festive season has run into

several dampeners and implementation

challenges — from the lack of multiple

varieties to a shortage of crackers and

difficulty for the police in identifying green

crackers.

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com/opinion

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 03Voices

Letters to the

editor'Black Diwali' for

Reliance customersReliance Jio fiber services are down in

Goregaon since Sunday & really surprised that India's top internet company is unable to resolve the issue in spite of several complaints to the service provider. A standard monotonous reply that the services will resume in 2 hrs is all we hear & nothing seems to be happening as far as restoring the services are concerned.

Internet service is the lifeline of today's age where every activity from office work to children's studies depends on it. Even entertainment that includes television viewing is done on internet & Reliance should issue a notification as to when the services will be restored. It is turning out to be a 'Black Diwali' for Reliance customers & hope India's top corporate house is able to resolve the issue soon!

- S. N. Kabra

Destruction caused by firecrackersBillions of rupees are spent on

firecrackers alone across the country every year. It is treason to play firecrackers when the country is on the verge of bankruptcy and the firecrackers are not doing any good but harming the country. Firecrackers have become an integral part of Shri Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, victory in cricket matches and religious or political processions. Why do we insist on taking the destruction caused by firecrackers? Firecrackers cause fires and accidents; But there are even more detrimental effects of these ear-splitting firecrackers. The need for guns and real bombs on the country's borders, rather than a free bar of firecrackers here, would be more rewarding to divert the money to the defense department.

- Sagar Shirodkar

Wake up call to the nationWe have many rules and regulations in

each state, for converting the land use from agricultural use to non agricultural land. Inspite of the sevetal rules and fee to be paid , there are many cases where agricultural lands were converted for non agricultural use. If this continues unchecked, the agriculture land in the country will gradually get reduced , in course of time. Farmers struggle in hot sun and cold weather, and produce food for us. But they are not getting their right amount of return for their hardwork throughout the year. Their financial position is not sound. That is how we hear farmers committing suicide , quite often than not. There is no support to farmers from government.

Agriculture is back bone of our economy and villages play important role. But villagers started migrating to towns and cities for work. Their children do not show interest in farming and choose alternative profession as they witnessed how their fathers suffered.

Under these circumstances , we find

farming profession fading away right in front of our eyes. Land for harvesting too getting reduced gradually.

If government does not take suitable measures for reviving farming supporting farmers , the day is not far off , when the nation will suffer for want of food . More over the conversion of agricultural land to non agricultural purposes should not be done as a matter of routine. The farmers are protesting the laws newly made which are not in favour of them , for considerablly long time.But the whole nation is watching without much support. This leads to great national disaster.

I earnestly request public , press and government to focus on this issue and resolve immediately.

- K L Rao

“The religious festivals are one of the most famous festivals, not only throughout India, but all over the world. Some of the most prominent religious festivals are Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Dussehra, Eid-ul-fitr, Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Holi.

Jubel D'Cruz

estivals are the carriers of peace Fand joy in all communities. All nations of the world have certain

religious and cultural festivals. However, India is one of the largest countries to celebrate numerous festivals. As India is a very cultural and diverse country, so are the festivals. They divide into three general categories of national, religious and seasonal. As we can divide the Indian festivals into national, religious and seasonal, we see how they differ from each other. In general, national festivals are celebrated in honor of reputable people and events. The religious ones follow legends of faiths and their beliefs. The seasonal ones are celebrated with each season that we experience that varies from region to region. The national festivals include Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and many more. These festivals are celebrated all over India. All the citizens of the country celebrate them irrespective of the religion, caste, creed, colour and sex. Everyone celebrates them with great patriotism. These festivals are gazetted holidays all over the country and are enjoyed with great enthusiasm. Moreover, they help in setting aside the differences of the countrymen and unite each other like never before. The capital

Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrates the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. Bihu is a festival of Assam. Likewise, Tamil Nadu celebrates Pongal and Kerala celebrates Onam. In addition, there is Basant Panchami which people celebrate throughout North India and West Bengal as well. Festivals are very important. They make us forget our cultural and religious differences. They unite people and they come together for the sole purpose of celebration and happiness. Other than that, festivals also help us embrace our culture and religion. They are very helpful in breaking the monotony of life. Moreover, people look forward to festivals all around the year. Festivals spark joy and give people something to look forward to. In addition, people also repair their homes and paint them that look like brand new. It beautifies the look of the locality. In short, festivals fill our lives with colours and enthusiasm. They bring us closer every year and eliminate any feelings of communal hatred. They also strengthen the bonds of the community and remove the malice from people’s hearts. Therefore, festivals are quite important and must be celebrated with great joy and passion.

of India, New Delhi, is the seat of national festivals. For instance, it witnesses the grand parade of the Republic Day. The flag hoisting takes place in New Delhi, which is broadcasted live on national television for the whole country to see. The religious festivals are one of the most famous festivals, not only throughout India, but all over the world. Some of the most prominent religious festivals are Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Dussehra, Eid-ul-fitr, Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Holi. Diwali and Holi are the most prominent festivals in Hinduism.They are very colourful and full of lights. Eid-ul-fitr is an Islamic festival which celebrates the end of Ramadan. It is about delectable dishes and family gatherings. Christmas celebrates the birthday of Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity. It is also about Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

Festivals are the carriers of peace and joy

Readers are requested to mailLetters to the Editor only at

afternoonvoicedesk@gmail.comNo postal letters will be entertained

(The views expressed are authors' own.)

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com/citynews

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 04City

Maharashtra Governor extends Diwali greetings to people

T h e G o v e r n o r o f Maharashtra Bhagat S ingh Koshyar i has

conveyed his greetings to the people on the eve of Diwali. In a message to the people, the Governor has said:

“The festival of Deepawali has come at a time when the dark clouds of COVID-19 p a n d e m i c a r e g e t t i n g dispersed. May the festival of lights bring new hope, vitality, prosperity and peace in the lives of all the people. Let us try to share happiness with the less

privileged ones. I extend my warmest greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.”

Raut hits out at the Centre says, “BJP has to be defeated complete to bring down fuel prices”

A day after the Centre slashed the excise duty on petrol and diesel by

Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre, respectively, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said the BJP has to be defeated completely if the fuel prices have to be brought down by Rs 50.

Slamming the Centre, Raut, whose party shares power with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra, told reporters that one really needs to be harsh to raise the fuel prices to over Rs 100. Petrol prices in the country were over Rs 100 for some time now.

On Wednesday, the central government cut the excise duty on petrol and diesel by a record Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre,

respectively, to help bring down rates from their highest-ever levels the move came a day after the BJP lost bypolls in some states controlled by it. Raut said the reduction of price by Rs 5 is not going to serve any purpose and it should have been brought down first by at least Rs 25, and then Rs 50.

“After the BJP's defeat in the bypolls, the Centre reduced the

fuel prices by Rs 5. If the price has to be brought down by Rs 50, then the BJP must be defeated completely,” he added.

The Rajya Sabha member c la imed people have to celebrate Diwali after taking a loan and there is no atmosphere of festivity because of the inflation.

Fol lowing the Centre's decision to reduce the excise duty, many states, especially those ruled by the BJP, also slashed the Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuels. The BJP lost all the three Assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh and Mandi Lok Sabha seat in the northern state, bypolls for which were held on October 30. It also failed to win Delgur Assembly bypoll in Maharashtra and the neighbouring Dadra and Nagar Haveli Lok Sabha seat by-election.

Special Correspondentafternoonvoicedesk@gmail.com

Adopt Maharashtra model in Uttarakhand to fight unemployment: Guv Koshyari

Uttarakhand's problem of unemployment can be resolved by adopting

the Maharashtra model that promotes agriculture and handicrafts, Maharashtra Gover nor Bhagat S ingh Koshyari has said.

''Farmers in Maharashtra earn wel l by patent ing agricultural products that are unique to the state. Working on the same lines, we too can fetch

high prices for rajma and herbs that are produced exclusively in the Himalayan reg ion, ' ' Koshyari, who originally hails f rom Ut ta rakhand, to ld reporters.

The issue of unemployment in Ut ta rakhand can be addressed if the onus is laid on rare and organic agricultural produce cultivated here and the Himalayan crafts, he added.

Koshyari also praised the work

done by some NGOs and youths of the state in this direction.

''We have some highly qualified youths in the state who have shown ways to reduce unemployment by creating a market for Himalayan agri crafts and horticulture produce,'' he said.

The veteran leader denied rumors of him getting back to active politics in the state, saying he has grown old.

MSRTC strike: Despite HC directive, over 40 ST bus depots still shut

Employees at more than 40 b u s d e p o t s o f t h e Maharashtra State Road

Transport Corporation (MSRTC) continued their strike on Thursday, even as the Bombay High Court has directed them to refrain from doing so, officials said.

Till 10 am, over 40 of the 250 depots of the MSRTC were shut due to the employees' strike over their main demand for the merger of the transport undertaking with the state government, they said. A section of the MSRTC employees is on an unannounced strike since October 28 seeking a merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government,

according to union sources. A union leader, who did not

wish to be named, told PTI that 59 depots were shut on Thursday morning, but later some of them resumed work and at around 10 am, 45 depots were closed. The high court, while hearing an urgent leave petition filed by the M S R T C o n W e d n e s d a y e v e n i n g , d i r e c t e d t h e corporation's employees to refrain from going on strike. The HC will hear the plea on Thursday.

Maharashtra transport minister Anil Parab on Wednesday said a discussion on the demand for the merger of the MSRTC with the

state government and other issues related to the loss-making corporation will take place after Diwali. Parab gave the assurance after a meeting with Pravin Darekar, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, the MSRTC earlier said in a release. according to a release issued by the MRSRTC.

Last week, MSRTC employees started a ''spontaneous'' agitation over their various demands, including those related to salary. A majority of them returned to work after the state government accepted most of their demands, but the issue of the merger remains unresolved.

Drugs-on-cruise case: HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of suspect Sam D'souza

The Bombay High Court h a s r e j e c t e d t h e a n t i c i p a t o r y b a i l

application of Sam D'souza, who is facing allegations of extortion in the drugs-on-cruise case. The vacation bench of Bombay High Court while hearing the plea on Wednesday asked him to approach Sessions Court instead.

Earlier, Prabhakar Sail, a witness, alleged that a deal of Rs 18 crore was made for the release of Aryan Khan, son of Shah Rukh Khan. Sail had also

named D'souza as a beneficiary. In D'Souza's plea, he claimed that Kiran Gosavi, a witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the drug-on-cruise case, had taken Rs 50 lakh from Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani to get Aryan Khan released.

Aryan, who was arrest on ctober 3, was recently granted bail after Bombay High Court issued a detailed bail order which stated that the accused should appear before NCB every Friday. He was also asked to surrender his passport. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. A total of 20 people, i n c lud ing two N ige r i an nationals, have been arrested so far in the case.

Diwali gift to ladies: BEST to launch special service for women

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), the civic transport

undertaking in Mumbai, on Wednesday announced that it would launch a dedicated bus service for women from November 6.

The service will start on 70 routes in the metropolis with a fleet of 100 buses, it said in a release.

Of 70 routes, 10 will be ''ladies special'', which means only women passengers will be able to board the buses dedicated for this service.

The remaining 60 routes will be ''ladies first'' ones, where women passengers will be

given priority at the first bus stop.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had directed it to start a ''ladies special'' and ''ladies first'' service for easing the commute of women passengers in the metropolis, BEST said. As many as 90 per cent of these routes will have air conditioned buses. BEST operated some women-only services earlier but they were discontinued after a recent route rationalization, the release said. The undertaking has a fleet of over 4,000 buses. Before the pandemic, nearly 35 lakh passengers used to travel by BEST buses every day.

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 05Nation

45k crores excise cut by GovtThe excise duty cuts on

diesel and petrol will cost Rs 45,000 crore and lead

to a 0.3 percentage point widening on the Centre's fiscal deficit, a foreign brokerage said on Thursday.

Go ing by the ove ra l l consumption, the costs of the surprise move -- which came after months of concerns over high payouts at filling stations -- for the entire fiscal will come at Rs 1 lakh crore or 0.45 per cent of GDP, economists at Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a report. For the remaining months of the ongoing FY22, the cost will come at Rs 45,000 crore, which leads to an upward review of the fiscal deficit target.

The brokerage said it now expects the fiscal deficit to come at 6.5 per cent as against the earlier expectation of 6.2 per cent and underlined that it will still be lower than the budgeted 6.8 per cent target. The central government on Wednesday announced a cut in excise duty on petrol by Rs 5 per litre and diesel by Rs 10 per litre on the eve of Diwali. The move only partly reverses the hike in duties in 2020 by Rs 13 per litre for petrol and Rs 16 per litre on

diesel, following a steep drop in oil prices, and comes on the heels of higher crude prices pushing retail prices to record highs, it said. The brokerage said "parsimonious" spending by the government so far this fiscal has helped limit fiscal deficit in H1FY22 to 35 per cent of the budgeted target, compared with a 15 per cent overspend of budget in H1FY21.

The tax cuts should lower headline CPI inflation by 0.14 percentage points due to direct e f f e c t s and up to 0 .3 percentage points, if indirect effects are included. Although, there are offsets from elevated

i n p u t c o s t s , re o p e n i n g pressures and an ongoing energy c runch, i t sa id . Pol it ical ly, high inflat ion remains one of the top concerns on the minds of voters, it said adding that the moves will help keep voter discontent at bay. The timing ahead of the move will also help consumption, the brokerage said, retaining its 9.2 per cent real GDP growth for FY22.It will also reduce the burden on monetary policy at the margin but with inflationary pressures broadening amid the continued growth recovery, the central bank will continue with its normalisation efforts, it said.

ITD seizes crores of black money

The Income Tax (I-T) department has detected unaccounted income of

more than Rs 50 crore following raids on sand mining, liquor and real estate businesses in the border towns of Rajasthan recently, the CBDT said on Thursday.Thirty-three premises were covered during the searches that were carried out on October 28, it said.

"Documentary evidences were found and se ized i n d i c a t i n g r e c e i p t ofunaccounted cash as well as utilisation of the same towards purchase of land."Evidence of

cash sales of sand has been found...the analysis of the same reveals that part of these cash sales have not been recorded in the books of accounts," the CBDT said in a statement.

Unaccounted cash of Rs 2.31 crore and jewellery worth Rs 2.48 crore have been seized, it said.”The action has led to the detection of total unaccounted income exceeding Rs 50 crore," the CBDT said."Out of the above, the assessees have admitted unaccounted income exceeding Rs 35 crores and offered to pay due taxes on the same," the statement said.

We Will Support Mukhtar Ansari - RajbharSuheldev Bhartiya Samaj

Party (SBSP) president Om P r a k s h R a j b h a r o n

Thursday said his alliance with the SP will support jailed BSP MLA Mukhtar Ansari in the upcoming 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

Rajbhar, who forged a tie-up recently with the Samajwadi Party for the UP assembly polls, had met Ansari in Banda jail, prompting the ruling BJP to accuse him of practising the "politics. Of appeasement. “I

have met Mukhtar in Banda jail two days ago. During the meeting, his son Abbas Ansari was also present. The SP and the SBSP alliance will support him in the assembly polls,” Rajbhar told UNI.

“It depends on Mukhtar whether he contests in alliance with the SP and the SBSP or as an independent candidate,” h e a d d e d . W h e n a s k e d whether Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav will be ready to support him,

Rajbhar said, “If he has to form a government, he should not have any problem in giving support. When he can forge an alliance with Mayawati, then there will be no problem in supporting Mukhtar.”Rajbhar had earlier termed Mukhtar as an “old friend”. He used to go to meet him in Punjab jail, even as a minister in the Uttar P r a d e s h ' s B J P government.“Mukhtar is an old friend whom I have known for the past 19 years,” Rajbhar

had said.In a statement on Rajbhar's

meeting with Ansari, Uttar P r a d e s h g o v e r n m e n t spokesperson and Cabinet minister SiddharthNath Singh on Wednesday said, “It was not just a meeting between Rajbhar and mafia Mukhtar Ansari but an evidence of the politics of appeasement that the BJP often talks about.” The SBSP had held a rally in Mau on October 27 with SP president Yadav too participating in it

and announcing a poll alliance with Rajbhar's party, which is said to have a considerable influence over his community voters in eastern Uttar Pradesh.The SBSP, which had contested the 2017 assembly elections in alliance with the BJP, has four MLAs at present. Rajbhar was also made a Cabinet minister in the Adityanath government but due to differences with the Chief minister he quit the government.

We should enhance military capabilitiesIndia must enhance its military

capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of

war, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday and noted that modern border infrastructure has been built to augment connectivity and troop deployment. Modi made the remarks while addressing soldiers on the occasion of Diwali at Nowshera sector in the border district of Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi said many attempts were made to spread terrorism here after the surgical strike but they were

given a befitting reply. India must enhance its military capabilities in line with the changing world and modes of war, the prime minister said. He said that connectivity in border areas has improved -- be it from Ladakhto Arunachal Pradesh, Jaisalmer to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Borders and coastal areas lacking normal connectivity now have roads and optical fibres, and this boosts deployment capabilities as well as facilities for soldiers, the prime minister said. Modi also said that earlier the

country had to depend mostly on imports in the defence sector but with his government's attempts indigenous capabilities have gotten a boost. He hailed the courage of soldiers and said their capability and strength has ensured peace and security for the country. "I want to spend Diwali with family members, so I join you on this festival," he said. Since taking over as prime minister, Modi has made it a point to meet troops in a border region on Diwali, starting from a visit to Siachen in 2014.

Goa Hindu Association & Sanatan society ones up against

Mamta didi by Cartoon Campaign.

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 06World

Syria's serious strike Turk's out Turkey

For months now Turkey's leadership has promised to carry out a new military

operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria. But Ankara has found itself having to tiptoe around the presence of US and Russian forces there, confronting a Gordian knot that is likely to dampen its ambitions and delay any large scale offensive, analysts say.

“An operation is inevitable, but the timing will depend on diplomacy, rather than the

military aspects in the area,” Omer Ozkizilcik, a researcher at the Ankara-based Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research.

US Escorts started from EthiopiaThe US embassy in Ethiopia

has au thor i zed the voluntary departure of

non-emergency government staff and family members because of armed conflict, it said on its website, as rebel forces in the country's north make advances.

The decision came after the U n i t e d S t a t e s s a i d o n Wednesday it was “gravely c o n c e r n e d ” a b o u t t h e esca la t ing v io lence and expansion of host i l i t ies , repeating a call for a halt to military operations in favour of ceasefire talks. “The (State) Department authorised the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and family members

of emergency and non-emergency employees from Ethiopia due to armed conflict, civil unrest, and possible supply shortages,” the embassy said in a statement.

Travel to Ethiopia is unsafe and further escalation is likely, it said, adding “the government of Ethiopia has previously restr icted or shut down internet, cellular data, and

phone services during and after civil unrest”. Government spokesman Legesse Tulu did not immediately respond to a t e l e p h o n e c a l l s e e k i n g comment on the US embassy statement. Speaking from Addis Ababa, independent journalist Samuel Getachew told Al Jazeera that US-Ethiopian relations have US soured in recent weeks as the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have made advances.“The Ethiopian government continues to accuse the US of siding with the TPLF. This comes in addition to plans to cancel a US-Ethiopia trade agreement that creates thousands of jobs in Ethiopia's industrial parts,” he said.

US: China could have 1K nuclear warheads

China is expanding its nuclear arsenal much q u i c k e r t h a n

anticipated, narrowing the gap with the United States, the Pentagon said in a report published. China could have 700 de l i verab le nuc lear warheads by 2027, and could top 1,000 by 2030 an arsenal two-and-a-half times the size of what the Pentagon predicted only a year ago, according to the report published on Wednesday. By comparison, the United States has about 3,750 nuclear weapons and has no plans to increase. As recently as 2003 the US total was about 10,000.China is investing in, and expanding, the number of its land-, sea-, and air-based nuclear delivery platforms and building the infrastructure necessary to support this major expansion of its nuclear forces. The assessment came in the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments.

Like the US and Russia, the two leading nuclear powers, China is building a “nuclear

triad”, with capabilities to deliver nuclear weapons from land-based ballistic missiles, from missiles launched from the air, and from submarines, it said.The report said China is likely not seeking a capability to launch an unprovoked nuclear strike on a nuclear-armed adversary – primarily the US – but wanted to deter attacks from others by maintaining a credible threat of nuclear retaliation. A year ago, the Pentagon's China report said the country had about 200 deliverable warheads and w o u l d d o u b l e t h a t b y 2030.Independent researchers have in recent months

published satellite photographs of new nuclear missile silos in western China.

In a rebuke on Thursday, China said Washington's report on its nuclear stockpi le expansion was overblown.“The report released by the US Department of Defense, like previous similar reports, ignores facts and is full of prejudice,” said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. He added that Washington was using the report to “hype up talk of the China nuclear threat”, and described the United States as the “world's largest source of nuclear threat”.

UK Govt: End of Coal in sight

The British government says the “end of coal is in s ight” after Poland,

Vietnam and Chile and other countries pledged for the first time to phase out coal-based power generation and stop building new plants.

The COP26's British hosts, in a statement issued late on Wednesday, said the new signatories mean 190 nations a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n s a r e committing to quit the fuel. Coal is the most polluting fossil fuel, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning it are the single-biggest contributor to climate change.Weaning the world off coal is seen as vital to achieving globally agreed climate targets, including limiting global warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius (34.7 Fahrenheit) threshold to avert disaster. The British government said signatories of the COP26 agreement are committing to ending all investment in new c o a l p o w e r g e n e r a t i o n d o m e s t i c a l l y a n d internationally, as well as rapidly s c a l e u p c l e a n p o w e r generat ion. Part ic ipat ing nations also committed to phasing out coal power in the 2030s for large economies, and t h e 2 0 4 0 s f o r s m a l l e r economies.

“The end of coal is in sight,” said Kwasi Kwarteng, the British business and energy secretary. “The world is moving in the right direction, standing ready to seal coal's fate and embrace the environmental and economic benefits of building a future that is powered by clean energy.” Separately, the Powering Past Coal Alliance – an international campaign aimed at phasing out the material – said it had secured 28 new members, including Ukraine, which pledged to quit the fuel by 2035.Factors including concerns over planet-warming pollution and a worsening economic profile for coal-based power generation have curbed its share in wealthy western countries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland over the last few decades. But coal still produced approximately 37 percent of the world's electricity in 2019, and a cheap, abundant local supply means the fuel dominates power production in countries including South Africa, Poland and India. These countries will require huge investments to shift their industries and energy sectors onto cleaner sources. The global pipeline for new coal power projects has shrivelled in recent years, although China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia are among those planning to build new coal plants. The UK did not confirm if those countries would be involved in the COP26 coal phase-out pledge, or if Vietnam's promise would affect its pipeline of coal projects already in the pre-construction stage. China said in September it would stop funding overseas coal plants, although the pledge did not cover domestic projects.

Talib leader warns against infiltrators The Taliban's reclusive

s u p r e m e l e a d e r Haibatullah Akhundzada

r a r e l y m a k e s p u b l i c statements, but made an exception to warn of extremist infiltrators . Reflecting the seriousness of the threat, the r e c l u s i v e H a i b a t u l l a h

Akhundzada issued a rare written public statement to urge Taliban commanders to purge their ranks.

In it he says "all those elders of their groups must look inside their ranks and see if there is any unknown entity working against the will of the

government, which must be erad icated as soon as possible."Whatever wrong happens, the elder will be responsible for the consequences of the actions in this world and in the afterlife," he warned, in a statement tweeted out by multiple Taliban accounts.

AI Engineering Services Limited Jobs 2021:

Accounts Officer Vacancies

Job Role

Education Requirement

Total Vacancy

Job Locations

Age Limit

Experience

Salary

Posted on

Last DateTo Apply

AI Engineering Services Limited Recruitment 2021

Details

Accounts Officer

MBA/PGDM

6 Posts

Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad

Upto 30 years as on 1st August, 2021.

3 - 7 years

80000(Per Month)

04-08-2021

23-11-2021

Qualification in Details:Sub: Advertisement for the post of Accounts Officer and Accounts Assistant AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India operating in the MRO space, invites applications from eligible candidates for filling up the following post:1. Name of the Post: Accounts Officer2. No of Post: 063. Place of Posting: Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai.4. Consolidated Monthly Salary: Rs. 80,000/- (All inclusive)5. Qualification: Candidates should be an Inter Chartered Accountant / Inter cost and management Accountant or MBA in Finance.6. Experience: Candidate should have minimum 03 years post qualification

experience with an airline. Proficiency is must in statutory payments like ESIC, PF, welfare fund, Professional Tax, GST etc. The candidate with working experience in Aviation industry, preferably in MRO will be given preference.7. Job Description: The post carries the duties and responsibilities as related to all the finance activities of the Company.

Age Limit:Upto 30 years as on 1st August, 2021.

Application Fees:Rs.1,500/- (Rupees One Thousand Five Hundred only) drawn in favour of Air India Engineering Services Limited, payable at New Delhi (Not Applicable for SC/ST).

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 07Classified

IDBI Bank recruitment 2021: 920 executive posts on offerIDBI Bank has put out a job vacancy

advertisement for multiple contract-based executive posts for many of its branches and offices. Interested and eligible candidates should note that the online application process for these posts has started on August 4 and the last date to apply is August 18, 2021. Candidates can check the latest notification and also submit their applications by visiting their official website idbibank.in.

There is a possibility of the one-year job contract likely to be extended to two years., subject to good performance of candidates and availability of vacancies. The online examination for these posts will be held on September 5. IDBI will recruit for 920 vacant posts through this recruitment drive.

IDBI Recruitment 2021- Age Limit: The candidates applying for these vacancies should be aged between 20 and 25 years.

IDBI Recruitment 2021- Educational Qualifications: General category applicants should have graduated with a minimum of 55% from a recognized university. SC/ST/PWC candidates must have scored a minimum of 50% in graduation.

IDBI Recruitment 2021- Application Fee: General Category candidates will have to pay Rs. 1000 as an application fee. SC/ST/PWC candidates have to pay Rs. 200 as an application fee.

IDBI Recruitment 2021 for How to apply:

First, you need to visit their official website www.idbibank.in.

Click on the Career tab on the homepage.Click on the link that reads "Requirement of

Executives on Contract 2021."Click on the online application instead of new

registration.Register yourself and fill in all the necessary details.The registration number and password will be

sent through email and SMS after registration.Now fill in the application form and upload all the

necessary documents.Then, pay the application fee.Keep a hard copy of the same for further reference.Selection Process: The candidates will be selected

on the basis of an online examination.

SFIOAnnounced Job Notification For Joint / Additional Director Vacancies

Job Role

Education Requirement

Total Vacancy

Job Locations

Experience

Salary

Posted on

Last DateTo Apply

SFIO Recruitment 2021 Details

Joint / Additional Director

N/A

3 Posts

Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad

10 - 15 years

78800 - 215930(Per Month)

30-07-2021

30-11-2021

Qualification in Details:No. 2/1/2021-Admn. SFIO

1. Name of the Post: Joint / Additional Director (Investigation)

2. No of Post: 03 (Three)

3. Tentative Place of posting: Delhi/ Mumbai/ Kolkata/ Hyderabad/ Chennai

4. Level in the pay matrix or pay scale: Level 12 in pay matrix (Rs. 78800-209200)/ Level 13 in pay matrix (Rs, 123100-215930)

Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) invites application for the position Joint / Additional Director etc. Read details, eligibility criteria mentioned below for the vacancy and eligible candidates can submit their application directly to SFIO before 31-08-2021.

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com/opinion

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 08Opinion

Special online discussions on the topic of ‘False propaganda about Hindus’

festivals and scientific importance of the festivals’!Hindus should resort to financial boycotting of

the companies which are spreading disinformation through advertisements released during Hindus’ festivals!– Mr Chetan Rajhans, the spokesperson, Sanatan Sanstha

ll festivals, religious Aor non-religious, under Sanatan

Hindu Dharma are eco-friendly and benefit mankind, but the communists, jihadis, missionaries, film stars, secular and atheists purposely start campaigns targeting Hindu Dharma. In the ‘PK’ film, Amir Khan says that a stone (Shiva-pindi)’ doesn’t drink milk and it should be given to the poor. He, however, doesn’t advise to donate a ‘Chadar’ to the poor instead of on ‘Majar’ as dead bodies don’t feel cold. It is advised to save water when the ‘Holi’ festival is to be celebrated and it is advised to avoid air pollution as Diwali approaches. At the time of every Hindu festival, such propaganda is made. ‘PETA’ activists advise not to fly kites on the occasion of Makar-Sankranti because birds die due to kites, but they don’t say anything about maximum birds dying during the whole year due

to the use of mobile phones/ towers. Hindus should unite and rebuke the objections raised by anti-Hindu Dharma factions on social media at an ideological level. Hindus should financially boycott those who are spreading disinformation through advertisements. Only then, nobody would dare to ridicule and defame Hindu Dharma, stated Mr Chetan Rajhans, the national spokesperson of Sanatan Sanstha. He was speaking in an online program organised by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) on the topic of ‘False propaganda about Hindus’ festivals and scientific importance of the festivals’.

Mr Deepak Goswami, the founder of ‘Gyanam Foundation’ from Jaipur said that Hindu Dharma is targeted in films. A priest is shown as a rapist while a notorious criminal is shown as saying ‘Jai Bhavani’; therefore, Hindus are

confused, misled and they drift away from Dharma. Hindus will not fall prey to such false propaganda if proper education on Dharma is imparted to them. Hindus should boycott films that attack Hindu Dharma. Our Hindu Dharma, culture and festivals are based on science; therefore, even western countries are trying to adopt them. If Hindus realise it, they would not get drawn to other sects.

Mr Ishwarprasad Khandelwal, the national President of ‘Lashkar-e-Hind’ said on the occasion that people lack true knowledge of Hindu Dharma when they claim that animals are harmed during festivals like ‘Jalikattu’, ‘Nag-Panchmai’, etc. Not only Deities but animals, birds, nature, etc are also worshipped in Hindu Dharma; so, how will the animals be harmed? Secularism and the Judicial system exist in India only because of Hindu Dharma.

Why is nothing ever said about the harm caused to animals during festivals of non-Hindus? Ban is imposed on bursting crackers during Diwali festival, but did anyone object when crackers were burst during IPL matches or when Aryan

Khan was released on bail? Only Hindus’ customs and traditions followed in ‘Dahi-handi’ and Shri Sabarimala Temple etc are objected to. All these things are happening systematically. Hindus should unite and oppose such things.

Mr. Ramesh Shinde✍

National Spokesperson, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com/opinion

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 09Gadget

JBL Go wireless portable Bluetooth speaker: Available at Rs 1,699 (original price Rs 2,699)

JBL Go wireless portable Bluetooth speaker is said to have a battery life of up to 5 hours. The speaker is compatible with Google Assistant and other voice assistants. It also features a noise-cancelling microphone as well.

Boat Flash Edition Smartwatch: Available at Rs 1,999 (original price Rs 6,999)

Boat Flash Edition Smartwatch has a 1.3-inch LCD display and is claimed to have a battery life of up to 7 days. It is equipped with 10 active sports modes and comes with features such as sleep monitor, Find my phone, reminders, social media, and heart rate monitor.

Noise Air Buds+: Available at Rs 1,799 (original price Rs 5,999)

Noise Air Buds+ wireless earbuds are said to offer a battery life of up to 20 hours. The earbuds feature IPX4 water-resistant design and can also be used to answer calls.

Belkin KAKAO and Friends Official Edition 10W Fast Wireless Charging Pad: Available at Rs 1,799 (original price Rs 4,999)

Belkin Kakao and friends official edition 10watt fast wireless charging pad is compatible with all devices that are Qi-certified. The charger offers wireless charging speed for iPhone at 7.5W and Samsung at 9W. There is an LED on the device to indicate charging.

VEGA Miss Versatile Styling Set: Available at Rs 1,698 (original price Rs 2,850)

This Vega styling set consists of straightener, curler & dryer. It is available at a discount of 40% in the ongoing Amazon sale.

PANSHUL FAB & TEX Bluetooth Plain Flower Pot, Mini Speakers & Night Lamps with Touch Sensor: Available at Rs 850 (original price Rs 2,500)

This smart flower pot comes with LED light and a mini speaker. The plan features touch sensors that can help control music. The device can also be paired with a tablet or a smartphone via Bluetooth.

Tag8 Black Dolphin Smart Tracker: Available at Rs 1,499

This Bluetooth-enabled smart tracker comes with anti-theft and anti-lost features. GPS location of the tracker is available realtime. It can show the last seen location of the device even when the phone is disconnected.

Heng Balance Lamp: Available at Rs 1,989 (original price Rs 4,000)

This night light shell is made of high quality ABS material with rich texture. It is equipped with silicone bottom cushions so that it does not slip easily. The balance lamp has 4 types of lights and will be ideal for bedrooms.

Inalsa Frappe coffee maker: Available at Rs 1,663 (original price Rs 2,395)

Inalsa Frappe coffee maker comes with 650 watt of power. It is ideal for family gatherings and can make 5 cups of coffee. It is equipped with an anti-drip function with detachable coffee filter.

Portronics iLUMI, a Portable LED Lamp with Bluetooth Speaker: Available at Rs 1,490 (original price Rs 2,999)

This colour changing mood light lamp is equipped with a 2,000mAh battery. The device has a built-in mic to answer calls and offers a one-touch operation. The lamp has a 3watt speaker as well.

Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo: Available at Rs 1,299 (original price Rs 2,499)

Realme Buds Wireless 2 Neo features a USB Type-C port for charging. The earphone offers quick charging and is said to last up to 17 hours on single charge. It comes with IPX4 water-resistant design.

contact@afternoonvoice.com afternoon_voice afternoonvoicenewsafternoonvoice.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 05, 2021AFTERNOON VOICE, MUMBAI 10Gossip

Priyanka Chopra celebrates Diwali in Los Angeles

It's undoubtedly a Happy Diwali for actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas as she is

celebrating the festival with her loved ones in Los Angeles. Taking to Instagram, Priyanka posted a string of images from her Diwali celebrations.

In the pictures, she can be seen flaunting her ethnic lehenga. "Happy Diwali eve... love, light and happiness to everyone. Kicking off the festivities with much gratitude and surrounded by love," she captioned the post.

Priyanka's Diwali look has left netizens in awe of her beauty. "Beautiful. Love your smile," a fan commented.

"Stunning. Happy Diwali PC," another one wrote. Priyanka was away from home as she was shooting in Europe for her web series 'Citadel'. A few days ago only, she arrived in the US and reunited with her family.

Jacqueline Fernandez joins 'Manike Mage Hithe' bandwagon, grooves with singer Yohani

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez is in her hometown where she

ran into 'Manike Mage Hithe' singing sensation Yohani and what followed sent her fans into a frenzy! Jacqueline took to her Instagram handle to share a video of herself dancing with 'Manika Mage Hithe' singer, Yohani. The singing sensation, who is also from Sri Lanka like Jacqueline, had a fun time dancing to her own song as the duo sent the fans into a meltdown with their cute little performance.

"When in Sri Lanka do #manikemagehithe with @yohanimusic if you are lucky enough to get hold of her, This song is love !!! Kudos

@yohanimusic @chamath_sangeeth and @satheeshan_official @shaziasamji and @piyush_bhagat I love the hook step!!" the 'Kick' actor wrote in the caption. The cute reel video garnered more than three lakh likes with a string of heartfelt comments from fans and celebrity followers.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Jacqueline was recently seen in the horror-comedy film, 'Bhoot Police'. She has multiple projects in the pipeline including 'Kick 2', 'Bachchan Pandey', and 'Ram Setu'. She will also be featured in a special project with '365 Days' actor Michele Morrone.

Sabotage could be behind tragedy on Baldwin movie set, lawyer says

A Lawyer for the armorer who oversaw weapons used on the "Rust"

movie set suggested on Wednesday that someone deliberately put a live round into the gun used by Alec Baldwin when he accidentally shot dead a cinematographer. Jason Bowles said his client, Hannah Gutierrez, had pulled ammunition from a box that she believed contained only dummy rounds that we're incapable of firing. He said he thought it was possible that someone purposely placed real bullets, which look similar to dummies, in the box.

"We're afraid that could have been what happened here, that somebody intended to sabotage this set with a live

round intentionally placed in a box of dummies," Bowles said on ABC television's "Good Morning America." "We're not saying anybody had any

intent there was going to be a tragedy of homicide," he added, "but they wanted to do something to cause a safety incident

on set. That's what we believe happened."

A spokeswoman for producers Rust Movie Productions had no comment on Bowles' remarks. The company has said it is investigating the incident and had received no official complaints about safety on the set in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Authorities are investigating the matter and no charges have been filed against anyone involved.

Balakrishna's Royal Mass FeastOn the occasion of

Diwali team 'Akhanda' dropped a surprise by

unveiling the title song promo. Close to a minute, the promo is an out-and-out feat for Balakrishna fans as we get to see the look of Balakrishna. Clad in black robes and putting on Rudraksha around his neck and vibhuti and holding a trident, Balakrishna has surprised in this sage avatar.

Right from the opening visuals of Balakrishna, his intensity in his eyes to his powerful walk, everything is catchy and ferocious about Balakrishna. Akhanda will have Balakrishna seen in two getups – Aghora and a farmer. In both the glimpses, Balakrishna

shines. Akhanda carries Thaman's music and the title promo is upbeat with heavy lyrics. As Boyapati Srinu has wielded the megaphone, it carries huge hype as the

combination (Simha, Legend) has always waved magic at the box-office. Akhanda shoot got completed long back but the makers are yet to finalize the release date.

'Triple Seat' fame Shivani Surve all set to work with

Producer Deepak Rane.