18 WOMEN POWER SHOWCASED AT 75TH REPUBLIC DAY PARADE AT KARTAVYA PATH NITISH SWITCH LIKELY ON SUNDAY India celebrated its 75th Republic Day on Friday with a grand display of 'Nari Shakti', rich cultural heritage and military might with French President Emmanuel Macron gracing the occasion as the chief guest. For the first time, an all-women tri-services contingent marched down the ceremonial boulevard reflecting the country's growing 'Nari Shakti' (women power). In another first, the parade was heralded by over 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments such as 'shankh' and 'nagada' instead of traditional military bands. The all-women triservices contingent, led by Captain Sandhya of the Army Military Police, with three supernumerary officers Captain Sharanya Rao, Sub Lieutenant Anshu Yadav and Flight Lieutenant Shrishti Rao, drew huge applause. Another all-women Armed Forces Medical Services contingent, headed by Major Srishti Khullar with Captain Amba Samant of the Army Dental Corps, Surgeon Lieutenant Kanchana of the Indian Navy and Flight Lieutenant Dhivya Priya of the Indian Air Force also marching down the majestic avenue NEWS BRIEF SC takes suo moto cognisance NEW DELH:The Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognisance of the unprecedented differences arisen between a division bench and a single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court over a CBI probe into alleged irregularities pertaining to admissions in medical colleges in West Bengal. Tata-Airbus pact historic: Scindia NEW DELHI: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said that the partnership between Tata Group and Airbus marks a significant milestone in promoting indigenous manufacturing and will also give a major boost to the economy. Websites blocked claims Imran’s PTI ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the general elections on February 8, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday said its websites were 'blocked' in Pakistan as it called for a response from the federal authorities, Dawn reported. Deprived of its 'bat' symbol for the upcoming elections, the PTI has fielded its leaders as independent candidates with different electoral symbols, according to the report. To tackle confusion among voters and to ease access to polls-related information, the PTI launched an online portal on its website and a backup site. Maruti fined after 20 years NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Limited, a leading carmaker in India, has been ordered by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to pay Rs 1 lakh to a customer for providing misleading information about the fuel efficiency of his car. In a ruling last week, the NCDRC bench, led by Dr Inder Jit Singh as the presiding member, stated, "Normally, a prospective purchaser of a car enquires into the fuel efficiency feature of the car as an important aspect and makes a comparative study of different brands/cars in the same segment with respect to their respective fuel efficiency...We have carefully gone through the advertisement dated 20 October 2004 in this regard, and are of the considered view that it is a misleading advertisement. Issuance of such advertisement amounts to unfair trade practice on the part of manufacturer and dealer." TO REMAIN CM, TWO DY CMS FROM BJP FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICE Patna Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is likely to retain the CM post if a new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is formed in the state. Sources claimed that there would be two deputy chief ministers from BJP quota as a new government is likely to be sworn in on January 28. Sources claimed that Nitish might submit his resignation to the Governor on Sunday and then stake claim to form a new government with the support of BJP and allies. Meanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad also held a meeting with senior party leaders on Friday reportedly to explore possibilities of forming a new grand alliance government to be headed by his son Tejashwi Yadav, who is currently deputy chief minister. The RJD along with Congress and three left parties have 114 MLAs, short of only eight MLAs to reach magic number of 122 in the 243-member as- FAA restrictions on Boeing 737 MAX cast uncertainty for Indian carriers NEW DELHI: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions on the expansion of manufacturing of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have raised uncertainties about the future course of action for the Indian carriers. However, the FAA's decision came in the wake of ongoing concerns about quality control issues related to the 737 MAX. In a statement, the FAA said: "We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 MAX until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved." As per experts, this restriction could pose a substantial challenge for several Indian airlines, including Air India Express, SpiceJet, and the newly established Akasa Air, all of which have placed substantial orders for the Boeing 737 MAX. CONTD. ON NATION RJD URGES NITISH TO CLEAR 'CONFUSION' LITTLE IMPACT IF NITISH QUITS: MAMATA Amid strong rumours of Nitish Kumar quitting the INDIA bloc and reuniting with the BJP in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that the eventuality of Kumar’s exit will not affect the opposition bloc much. “I think Nitish Kumar has lost his credibility in the eyes of the people of Bihar. If he quits, it will be easier for Tejashwi Yadav to operate smoothly in Bihar,” Banerjee said. sembly On the other hand, . JD (U) with 45 MLAs, BJP`s 78 MLAS and support of one Independent MLA have 124 MLAs. Meanwhile, the JD (U) legislature party`s meeting will be held in the state capital on January 28, to decide future course of action. Former deputy chief minister and BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi while responding to a media query on the possibility of Nitish's return to NDA, said, "Doors are not permanently closed for anybody in politics. If necessary, doors can also be opened but I cannot say whether doors will be opened for him (Nitish)." On the other hand, RJD Bengal Guv comes to Rahul’s rescue PROMISES intervention after police deny nod to Nyay Yatra in Siliguri AGENCIES Kolkata Bengal Guv promises to intervene after police deny permission to Rahul’s Nyay Yatra event Kolkata West Bengal Governor C.V Ananda Bose on Fri. day promised to intervene in the matter of denial of police permission for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed public meeting in Siliguri in Darjeeling district on Sunday as a part of the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. “The matter is being looked into by the administration. If the administration fails to act, I will per- sonally look into the matter,” the Governor told mediapersons, hours after it surfaced that the police have denied permission for the proposed public meeting. As per the plans of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), a meeting was scheduled in Siliguri on Sunday, followed by Rahul Gandhi addressing a gathering. However, according to state Congress leaders, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police have denied permission for the public meeting at the last moment citing certain examination to be held in Siliguri on that day. The Congress leadership has now decided to go ahead with the proposed rally and cancel the meeting. CONTD. ON NATION Kashmir gets snow after two months SRINAGAR: Light snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir brought to an end nearly twomonth long dry spell in the valley as minimum temperatures rose significantly on Thursday night, officials said. Snowfall was reported from Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Gurez, Macchil, Karnah Doodpathri and Shopian areas of the valley and was going on intermit- tently the officials said. There , was slight drizzle in some parts of Srinagar city before day-break but bright sunshine followed after dawn. Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.5 degree Celsius on Thursday night, up three degrees from the previous night's minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, the officials said. CONTD. ON NATION The RJD on Thursday urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to "clear the confusion" that was casting a shadow on the ruling Mahagathbandhan in the state. RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Kumar Jha told reporters here that he expected Kumar, to make a clean breast of rumours that he was planning to vault back to the BJP-led NDA. "We formed a government together for the welfare of the people and to defeat the BJP. The prevailing confusion is affecting public life in Bihar.” CONTD. ON NATION Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha said that there was no problem in the grand alliance but confusion was being created by the media. He also requested Nitish to clear all confusions by Friday evening as everybody was perturbed due to these rumours about the grand alliance. CONTD. ON NATION Delhi HC upholds 10-yr sentence for bro of ex-BJP MLA NEW DELHI The Delhi High Court has rejected the plea to suspend the 10-year sentence of Jaideep Singh Sengar, the brother of expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Jaideep was convicted in March 2020 for his involvement in the death of the father of the 2018 Unnao rape victim. The court, led by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, dismissed Jaideep's application seeking suspension of his sentence during the pendency of his appeal. The decision was made considering factors such as his medical condition, the severity of the offence, and public confidence in the judiciary. While in custody, Jaideep claimed to be diagnosed with oral cancer and received interim bail in November 2020, extended until January 18 last year. The court had temporarily suspended his sentence in June, citing his fragile health, a measure that was subsequently extended. Despite arguments for parity with the five co-accused persons whose sentences were suspended, the court found no merit in Jaideep's plea. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed the plea, saying that he had served only about 30 per cent of his ten-year sentence. CONTD. ON NATION On R-Day, Marathas troop into Mumbai in final battle for quotas MUMBAI On Republic Day, lakhs of Marathas waving the Tricolour and saffron flags, marched into Mumbai from different entry points in what is considered as the "final battle" for reservation in education and jobs for the community, here on Friday . The Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj JarangePatil, who marched for six days from Jalna to Mumbai and is presently stationed in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, said that he has started an indefinite hunger strike from today to press for the qoutas. Simultaneously, he held rounds of negotiations with government officials and emissaries of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on a new set of proposals. Later, Jarange-Patil said that the delegations have submitted a fresh proposal which he will study, consult his expert team and then take a final decision today, as he prepared to address a rally this afternoon. Rattled by the massive crowds virtually at Mumbai's doorsteps, the government is making last-ditch efforts to convince Jarange-Patil that the reservation will be given but he should take back his sea of Maratha humanity that can paralyse the country's commercial capital besides posing administrative, logistics and law-andorder issues. The Opposition Congress President Nana Patole warned that "even if Jarange-Patil is touched, we will not spare the state government", and demanded full security to the Shivba Sanghatana leader. Many of the Marathas who entered the city were from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, who commuted by suburban trains from places in Palghar, Thane, Raigad and also residents of Mumbai to join the last war for quotas, reaching either Dadar, Churchgate or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and thousands came by road. India, France adopt roadmap on defence industrial ties NEW DELHI: India and France have adopted a roadmap on defence industrial cooperation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with the visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday and Friday . Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra underlined that the roadmap would identify opportunities in co-design, co-development and co-production in the defence industrial sector, and cover domains — air and space technology, maritime tech, underwater domain awareness, land warfare, robotics, artificial intelligence and cyber defence. Kwatra, while briefing on the key takeaways, said, “Production itself is the focus and priority of defence cooperation This roadmap is to actually identify opportunities for partnership in the defence industrial sector that prioritizes co-designing, co-development and co-production. The whole idea and also building the defence supply chains between two countries so that they can not only fulfil the defence needs in India but also can be a useful contributor for the security partnership with other countries.” CONTD. ON NATION JADEJA, KL RAHUL PUT TEAM INDIA ON TOP Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel walk towards the pavilion after the end of play on the second day of the first cricket test match between India and England, at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, in Hyderabad on Friday