An Ahmedabad-based businessman who embarked on a special unity tour in a cherished UK-made vintage car to mark 76 years of India’s independence back in August has completed his mission to bring the 1950 MG YT back to its birthplace in England.

Daman Thakore, 50, accompanied by his 75-year-old father, 21-year-old daughter and a close-knit group of friends and family covered over 11,000 kilometres across 14 countries to drive up their car named “Lal Pari” to the MG factory in Abingdon, south-east England, on Tuesday.

The tour concluded on National Unity Day, celebrated in India on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, with Thakore handing over a replica of Gujarat’s Statue of Unity to a representative of King Charles III.

“Lal Pari embarked on this journey with the motive of spreading smiles and the message of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam – One World, One Family,” said Thakore.

“A replica of the Statue of Unity travelled with us as a hood ornament made in sterling silver with the Indian and British national flag, which was handed over to Deputy Lieutenant Felicity Dick – a representative of His Majesty the King in Oxfordhsire. The MG factory building there is defunct now but we wanted to make this symbolic stop on Rashtriya Ekta Divas,” he said.

The intrepid traveller said that it was the values of Sardar Patel of self-reliance and confidence that motivated “Team Lal Pari” to continue the extreme journey through the scorching heat of Dubai and Iran, the desert of Iran, a sandstorm and daunting mountainous terrain in Turkey, the canals in Venice, the Gotthard Pass in Switzerland and the serene, beautiful roads of France.

“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, one of the most influential personalities in the history of free India and a symbol of unity who integrated more than 560 princely states into the Union of India within a remarkably short span of time, was one of the motivating factors for the remarkable journey in a 73-year-old classic car from India to London,” added Thakore.

The expedition was symbolically flagged off by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the government of Maharashtra, on Independence Day in August in Mumbai.

Thakore, Managing Partner at Amin Equipment which specialises in large construction equipment, says the road trip is a heartfelt homage to his parents who nurtured his love for adventure through extensive car journeys during Diwali holidays. 

Delhi BJP leaders distributed face masks at Connaught Place on Wednesday, slamming the Arvind Kejriwal government over rising air pollution in the city.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the masks were distributed not to create fear among people but to help them avoid pollution in Delhi.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari claimed that there is a rush of people at the city’s hospitals which revealed that the state of pollution in the city was “very bad”.

Mr Sachdeva said people in Delhi are facing respiratory diseases. “But the Kejriwal government is running away from its responsibilities,” he charged.

State President Shri @Virend_Sachdeva & MP Shri @ManojTiwariMP are Distributeing Mask to People in view of Pollution https://t.co/ChiIqQuJBv

— BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) November 1, 2023

The air pollution problem of Delhi is not limited to two months in the winter and it requires work throughout the year to solve it, the Delhi BJP chief said.

“The biggest reason behind air pollution in Delhi is road dust and stubble burning in Punjab, but instead of working on these issues, the government has imposed various types of controls to trouble people without any reason,” he said.

Mr Tiwari, who claimed pollution is reducing the lifespan of the people, also targeted Mr Kejriwal.

He said earlier Mr Kejriwal used to blame crop stubble burning in Punjab for air pollution in Delhi. After the AAP formed the government in Punjab, now he is blaming the governments of Haryana and UP, Mr Tiwari said.

The income tax department on Wednesday said a record number of over 7.85 crore ITRs were filed till October 31.

The total number of ITRs (income tax returns) filed in FY 2023-24 for all assessment years up to October 31, 2023 stands at 7.85 crore, an all-time high when compared to total number of ITRs of 7.78 crore filed in FY 2022-23, the I-T department said.

October 31 was the due date for filing of ITRs (other than ITR 7), for taxpayers (not having any international or specified domestic transaction), in whose case books of account were required to be audited.

“The total number of ITRs for AY 2023-24 filed till 31st October, 2023 is more than 7.65 crore, which is 11.7 per cent higher compared to the total number of ITRs of 6.85 crore for AY 2022-23 filed till November 7, 2022, the due date for filing such ITRs in the preceding year, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said in a statement.

Out of the 7.65 crore ITRs filed for AY 23-24, more than 7.51 crore ITRs have already been verified. Further, out of 7.51 crore verified ITRs, 7.19 crore have already been processed till October 31, 2023, almost 96 per cent of the verified ITRs stand processed.

October 31, 2023 was also the due date for filing of some crucial statutory forms like Form 10B, 10BB and Form 3CEB. Total number of various types of statutory forms filed up to 31st October, 2023 stands more than 1.44 crore.

During the peak filing days the e-filing portal successfully handled the traffic, providing a seamless experience to the taxpayers and tax professionals for filing of Forms and ITRs.