June 2023 - Page 6 of 6 -

Shah’s stern warning sends shivers, 144 weapons recovered in Manipur

Home Minister Amit Shah is a person with a Midas touch. He has an uncanny ability to turn things around and bring solutions to every problem. Given the gravity of the situation in Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his most trusted companion the onus of mediating with the warring communities and fostering peace and stability in the violence-hit state. And, he delivered in the way, possibly only he can. Shah is the ray of hope in these trying circumstances.

The Home Minister embarked on a four-day tour to the trouble-torn state Monday and in the subsequent days, he deliberated with the warring groups, the civil societies, administration and with all directly or indirectly affected. While things came under control almost instantaneously, Shah gave an ultimatum to miscreants possessing arms, asking them to surrender the weapons before the police without delay or face stern actions.

“Those carrying weapons must surrender before the police. Combing operations will start tomorrow, and if weapons are found with anyone, strict actions will follow,” Shah said on the last day of his tour on Thursday.

The warning worked as a miracle and started yielding results almost immediately. Within a few hours of airing angst, about 150 weapons were surrendered. The rapid response only brightens the prospect of recovering more in the coming days. There are instances galore of Shah’s such acts in the past.

The entire episode bears the imprint of Shah’s leadership quality and his administrative acumen. There is hardly anyone who comes closer to his fabled mediating capacity that has solved many such situations in the past. He finds simple solutions to the most delicate problems.

The recovery of the arms also reflects the belief and faith the warring groups repose on the mastermind. They pay heed to his promises. The representatives of both sides also showed trust in Shah, who successfully changed their outlook and views on the situation.

However, Shah did not only act as a tough administrator in this whole episode. His softer side also came to the fore. Shah addressed their concerns about livelihood and security. Appropriate steps would be taken to help the students. Family members of those deceased will be given Rs 10 lakh as compensation. Special medical officers will ensure medical facilities in areas hit by violence.

Shah has already announced the formation of a probe committee, headed by a retired judge. A special team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be assigned to investigate the cases of violence in Manipur. A peace committee headed by the Governor would also be formed. Investigations would be carried out without bias and discrimination. Those guilty will be punished. No one should have any doubt that Manipur would again march towards the path of peace and prosperity in no time. (ends)

Amit Shah weaves strategies to foster peace in Manipur

As a Home Minister, Amit Shah is poles apart from his predecessors. Rather than sitting in his comfort zone, Shah has made it a habit of taking any conflict head-on and leading from the front – be it in Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir or lately in Manipur.

Soon as the Manipur violence broke out, resulting from an “obnoxious” single-bench Manipur High Court order, between two communities, the Home Minister plunged into action initially from Delhi, skipping important election rallies in poll-bound Karnataka. As the tension refused to defuse, Shah embarked on a four-day visit to the state, defying all odds. And, as expected, peace gets restored during his stay in the conflict-hit Manipur.

Immediately after landing on Monday evening in Manipur, Shah met with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, senior members of the state cabinet and senior security officers to understand the gravity of the matter.

Spending a nearly sleepless night, he set out the very next morning to hold wide-ranging discussions with over a dozen civil society organisations, met delegations of Forum for Restoration of Peace, student organisations and also one of the Women leaders (Meira Paibis) in Imphal, while reiterating Centre’s commitment to restoring peace in the state.

Before leaving for Churachandpur, the centre of the conflict, Shah interacted with a group of prominent personalities, intellectuals, retired Army officers and civil servants. Later in the evening, Shah held an all-party meeting in Imphal. Home Minister also reviewed the security situation with senior officials of the Manipur Police, CAPFs and the Indian Army. Stating that restoring the peace and prosperity of Manipur was the top priority of the government, he instructed officials to strictly deal with any activities that could disturb the peace.

On the third day of his visit to Manipur, Shah visited Moreh and Kangpokpi and had a discussion with civil society organisations. He met a delegation of the Hill tribal council, Kuki Students Organisation, Kuki Chiefs Association, Tamil Sangam, Gorkha Samaj and Manipuri Muslim council in Moreh. Shah also took briefings on security situations from senior officials. Shah also visited a relief camp in Imphal where the members of the Meitei community were residing. He left no community untouched.

Having faith in Shah, the central government entrusted the Home Minister with the delicate task of mediating with the warring communities. Shah is seen as the ray of hope in these trying circumstances. There are instances galore of Shah’s such acts in the past. Representatives of both sides also showed trust in Shah, who successfully changed their outlook and views on the situation. Shah also addressed their concerns on livelihood and security. Even under these circumstances finer issues like education, court etc did not miss Shah’s people-oriented administrative skill.

While during his stay, his focus was on restoring peace and ensuring prosperity to the state through discussion with various sections of the society and the administration; on the last day of his tour, he gave a stern warning to the miscreants, announcing the commencement of combing operations in the violence-affected regions of the state and warned strict action against those who violate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.

“Those carrying weapons must surrender before the police. Combing operations will start tomorrow and if weapons are found with anyone, strict actions will be taken,” Shah said at a press conference on Thursday.

Shah also announced the formation of a probe committee, headed by a retired judge, by the Central government to investigate incidents of violence and revealed that a special team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be assigned to investigate the cases of violence in Manipur.

A peace committee headed by the Governor will be formed. Investigations are to be carried out without bias and discrimination. The guilty will be punished.

Appropriate steps will be taken to help the students. Family members of those deceased will be given Rs 10 lakh as compensation. Special medical officers will ensure medical facilities in areas hit by violence. (Ends)

ICICI Bank commits a contribution of Rs 1,200 crore to Tata Memorial Centre

ICICI Bank today announced a commitment to contribute Rs 1,200 crore towards Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a premier institution that runs cancer treatment and research centres across the country.

ICICI Bank will donate the money from its CSR funds to set up three new buildings spanning over a combined area of 7.5 lakh square feet and equip them with state-of-the-art machines at TMCs centres at Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Mullanpur in Punjab and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

With the largest contribution from any institution to TMC, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth (ICICI Foundation), the CSR arm of ICICI Bank, will implement the initiative, which is likely to be completed by 2027.

With modern equipment and specialised multidisciplinary teams, these new centres of excellence in oncology treatment will provide advanced and evidence based therapies to nearly 25,000 new patients a year, doubling the present capacity and providing a significant boost to the countrys cancer treatment infrastructure.

ICICI Foundation has signed an agreement with TMC to express this commitment. Mr. Sanjay Datta, President, ICICI Foundation and Dr. R. A. Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre signed the agreement in the presence of Mr. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi, Chairman, ICICI Bank and Mr. Sandeep Batra, Executive Director, ICICI Bank.

Mr. Chaturvedi also inaugurated the ICICI MRI Facility today at Tata Memorial Hospital at Parel in Mumbai in the presence of Dr. Badwe and Mr. Batra. This facility is equipped with an advanced MRI machine supported by ICICI Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Girish Chandra Chaturvedi, Chairman, ICICI Bank, said: ICICI Bank has a long-standing legacy of being in service of the nation. In line with this philosophy, ICICI Foundation has been working continuously to improve the well-being of citizens through its various initiatives in the areas of environmental conservation, skill development for sustainable livelihood, affordable healthcare and community development projects. Over the years, ICICI Foundation has planted over 2.6 million trees across the country, created capacity of harvesting 17.1 billion litres annually of rainwater at 5000 rural schools and watershed structures, implemented rooftop solar panel for rural schools, benefitted more than 2.9 million lives through skilling initiatives, with more than half being women. It has also benefitted over 6.5 million individuals through its social initiatives and over 1.5 million lives through its healthcare initiatives. Overall, ICICI Foundation has positively impacted more than 10.9 million beneficiaries through its various initiatives.

RBL Bank introduces ACE Fixed Deposit, offering up to 8.50% Interest Rate

· Tenure options ranging from 12 months to 240 months

· Deposit value of Rs. 50 Lakh to less than Rs. 2 Crore

RBL Bank, one of India’s leading private sector bank in India – today announced the launch of its new Fixed Deposit – ACE. In a significant move to enhance customer offerings and reward long-term commitment, the Bank is offering 20 bps higher rate of interest, over and above the regular callable deposits (Fixed Deposit which allows premature withdrawal), with senior citizens and super senior citizens getting 50 bps and 75 bps higher interest rate respectively.

With a minimum deposit value of Rs 50 Lakh and a maximum deposit value of less than Rs 2 Crore, customers can choose a tenure ranging from 12 to 240 months and enjoy the benefits on maturity, allowing them to align their investment strategy with long-term financial goals. The product is available to both resident and non-resident Indians, allowing a wider audience to benefit from this exclusive offering.

Deepak Gaddhyan, Branch & Business Banking Head, RBL Bank, said, “Traditionally, a higher interest proposition is offered for non-callable deposits with a value of Rs. 2 Crore and above. However, at RBL Bank we believe in empowering our customers and wanted to extend this offering to a wider range of client segments. This innovative product offers a higher interest rate compared to regular Fixed Deposit, enabling customers to benefit from the power of compounding to meet their financial aspirations.”

Following are the interest rates offered:

Non-Callable (Without Premature Withdrawal Option) Deposits 50 lakhs to below Rs. 2 Crore
Period of Deposit	FD Interest Rates p.a.	Senior Citizen Interest Rates p.a.	Super Senior Citizen Rates p.a.
12 months to less than 15 months	7.20%	7.70%	7.95%
453 days to less than 24 months (15 months to less than 24 months)	8.00%	8.50%	8.75%
24 months < 36 months	7.70%	8.20%	8.45%
36 months to 60 months 1 day	7.30%	7.80%	8.05%
60 months 2 days to 240 months	7.20%	7.70%	7.95%

IIFL Finance’s ‘Gold Loan Mela’ Offers Gifts to All Customers Taking Gold Loan until June 30

IIFL Finance, is one of India’s largest non-banking financial companies with over 2,600 dedicated gold loan branches across India. IIFL Finance is back with its flagship campaign, the Gold Loan Mela, which will be held between May 15, 2023 until June 30, 2023. Lucky customers can win mega prizes like a car, electric scooters, 32 inch LED TVs, refrigerators, smartphones and many more by availing a gold loan until June 30.

Speaking on the launch of ‘‘Gold Loan Mela’ Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Head Gold Loans at IIFL Finance said, “Customer loyalty is what has helped IIFL Finance to become India’s most preferred gold loan brand. IIFL Gold Loan Mela is a large event with offers for everyone. We request gold loan customers to walk into any of our branches and make the best use of the offers.”

Along with attractive gifts, IIFL Finance offers gold loan at one of the most attractive interest rates per month with a commitment of quick processing, maximum loan value and easy digital payment options.

To participate in the Gold Loan Mela, customers can visit any of IIFL Finance’s branches or apply online on the company’s website. The eligibility criteria and terms and conditions of the contest can be found on the website.

IIFL Finance is one of the fastest growing and most retail-focused finance companies in India with about Rs 64,638 crore of loan assets under management and is known for #SeedhiBaat with customers by offering loans without any hidden charges and at low interest rates.

Unveiling the Perfect Wedding Gifts: Thoughtful and Functional Picks for the Happy Couple

Wedding season is upon us, and it's time to find the perfect gift for the happy couple! Whether you're attending the wedding or sending your love from afar, a thoughtful gift that they'll truly use and appreciate is a great way to celebrate this special occasion. We have curated a list of the best wedding gift ideas from different brands, ranging from traditional to modern, to help you find that unforgettable present. So, without further ado, here are our top picks for practical and stylish wedding gifts that will make the couple's day even more special.

MMTC-PAMP ROSE PENDANT GOLD (24K) 2 GM (999.9): Introducing the ideal gift for the upcoming wedding season – the Rose Pendant in pure 24K gold. This meticulously crafted pendant showcases a beautiful Rose design with cultural significance across various religions, symbolizing love and affection. With its timeless beauty and craftsmanship, this pendant will become a precious keepsake and a symbol of the couple's love for years to come.

Taneira's Lightweight Celebration Sarees: Taneira's Summer Wedding '23 line features masterfully crafted sarees that are not only light and breezy but also versatile enough to suit all wedding functions. These sarees blend fashion, style, practicality, and comfort, making them the perfect statement pieces for the summer season. Brides and wedding guests alike will appreciate the elegance and ease these sarees bring to their celebrations.

Lucaris Lavish Collection of Glasses: For those who appreciate the finer things in life, the Lavish collection of glasses offers the highest quality crystals for a visually stunning presentation of favorite wines and beverages. With their timeless rounded shape and sleek design, these glasses add an air of sophistication to any table setting. Whether as a gift for the newlyweds or a special addition to your wedding registry, the Lavish collection is sure to impress.

Colorbar's 12-in-1 Eyeshadow Palette: This exquisite eyeshadow palette is the perfect addition to any bride-to-be's makeup collection. With shimmering shades and versatile colors, this palette allows for endless possibilities, from soft and romantic looks to bold and glamorous statements. Designed to enhance natural beauty, this palette guarantees a stunning finish that will add that extra sparkle to the bride's overall look.

Colorbar's Sinful Matte Lipcolor: Accentuate and add glamour to the special day with Colorbar's Sinful Matte Lipcolor. This rich and silky matte lipstick delivers intense and long-lasting color, ensuring it stays put throughout the festivities. Infused with sea fennel wax, this lipstick also provides a luxurious and ultra-soft touch to the lips. With 24 stunning shades to choose from, every bride will find their perfect match.

We hope this curated list of practical and stylish wedding gift ideas inspires you to find the ideal present for the happy couple. These gifts are not only thoughtful but also highly functional, making them truly valuable additions to their new journey together. Let your gift be a symbol of your love and well-wishes as they embark on this beautiful chapter of their lives.