THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SHALLOW FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 17 AND 06 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94 % PM was inaugurating the 10th edition of the VGGS with ‘Gateway to the Future’ as its theme ASHOK TUTEJA Min. 67 % GANDHINAGAR, 10 JANUARY Min: 07.1 °C (0) SUN SETS 17:43 hrs MOON SETS 17:28 hrs O TEMPERATURE Max: 15.2 °C (-4) SUN RISES 7:15 hrs MOON RISES 08:09 hrs PM vows to make India a Business leaders hail Modi’s vision at Vibrant developed nation by ’47 Gujarat Global Summit THUMBNAILS People during a cold and foggy winter afternoon, at India Gate on Wednesday. SUBRATA DUTTA Review petitions filed in SC on Art 370 verdict: Petitions have been filed in the SC seeking a review of its judgment, which upheld the validity of the Union government's 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which conferred the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Doctor Hussain, president of the J&K People's Movement and Muzzafar Shah, president of the J&K Awami National Conference, told ANI that they have filed review petitions in the apex court. bserving that India has become a ray of hope in the world at a time when it is witnessing multiple geopolitical challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday vowed to make the country the third largest global economy in the next few years and a developed nation by 2047. Noting that various global rating agencies are giving their predictions about India and analysing them, he said, “let experts analyse this but I can guarantee that India will become the third largest economy in the world.” The PM was inaugurating the tenth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) with the “Gateway to the Future” as its theme. UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at the summit which was also attended by President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of Timor Leste José RamosHorta, Prime Minister of Czech Republic Petr Fiala apart and top ministers or officials from nearly 100 countries. Multiple industry captains also addressed the summit. They included Chairman of ArcelorMittal Lakshmi Mittal, Mr Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation Toshihiro Suzuki, Japan, Mr Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Group, Mr Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technologies, USA and Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. The VGGS, conceptualised in 2003 when Mr Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat, has evolved as one of the most reputed global forums for business collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Addressing the gathering at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, PM Modi said the next 25 years of ‘Amrit Kaal’ will be the time for new dreams, new resolutions and continuous accomplishments for the country. India, the PM said, is moving forward in the role of a ‘Vishwa Mitra’ in a fastchanging world. Today India has given the world confidence in achieving common collective goals. India’s commitment, efforts and hard work for global welfare are making the world safer and prosperous. ''The World looks at India as an important pillar of stability. A friend who can be trusted, a partner who believes in people-centric development, a voice that believes in global good, an engine of growth in the global economy, a technology hub for finding solutions, a powerhouse of talented youth and a democracy that delivers ,” he said. Mr Modi said the priorities and aspirations of India’s 1.4 billion citizens and their belief in humancentric development coupled with the government’s commitment to inclusivity and equality is a major aspect of world prosperity and development. The PM elaborated on the government’s focus on structural reforms as the basis of the Indian economy’s resilience and momentum as these reforms have enhanced the country's capacity, capability, and competitiveness. He said the transformations taking place in India are improving Ease of Living and empowering people. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE GANDHINAGAR/NEW DELHI, 10 JANUARY Global business leaders hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision at the 10th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on Wednesday in Gandhinagar. Ranging from the Indian business tycoons, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, to global leaders like Toshihiro Suzuki and DP World’s Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the Summit marked participation from 34 partner countries and 16 partner organisations. The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Gateway to the Future’. Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Group called Vibrant Gujarat the most prestigious investment summit in the world today as no other summit of this kind has continued for 20 long years and is going from strength to strength. “This is a tribute to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and consistency,” he said. Expressing pride in his Gujarati origins, Mr Ambani credited the prime minister for the transformation of Gujarat. He said, “The main reason for this transformation is our leader who has emerged as the greatest leader of the modern times, Narendra Modi the most successful prime minister in India's history. When he speaks, not only the world speaks but applauds him.” He elaborated on how India’s PM makes impossible possible. ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai’ and said the slogan finds resonance in the global audience and they agree. “The coming generations will be thankful to the prime minister for being both a nationalist and an internationalist. You have laid a solid foundation for Viksit Bharat,” Mr Ambani said. Chairman of Adani Group Gautam Adani thanked the prime minister for his extraordinary vision, and lauded his hallmark signatures, grand ambitions, meticulous governance and flawless execution. He credited PM Modi for his appeal which ignited a nationwide movement as the states marched forward competing and cooperating to fundamentally remodel India’s industrial landscape. Mr Adani underlined that since 2014, India’s GDP has grown by 185 per cent andpercapitaincomeby165 per cent, which is remarkable especially in an era markedbygeopoliticalinstability and pandemic challenges. He further lauded the PM’s achievements at the international stage as he highlighted the nation’s journey from a country seeking to put its voice on globalplatformstoonewhichnow creates global platforms. Maharashtra Speaker Narwekar: Shinde Manipur government gives permission to flag off truncated ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ from Imphal faction ‘real Shiv Sena’ following split AGENCIES MUMBAI, 10 JANUARY Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday rejected the disqualification cross-petitions filed by the rival Shiv Sena groups in a crucial verdict and ruled that the Shinde faction was the real Shiv Sena following the June 2022 split in the party.(Photo) “All the petitions seeking disqualifications are rejected and no one is disqualified from any faction of Shiv Sena,” the Speaker said. as he read out in the state Assembly a lengthy verdict that went into the Shiv Sena constitution and changes made to it. He said the “decision of Paksha Pramukh cannot be taken as the decision of the political party” and the “Shinde faction was (the) real Shiv Sena when rival factions emerged" in June 2022. “In my view, the 2018 leadership structure (submitted with ECI) was not as per the Shiv Sena Constitution. Shiv Sena party chief as per the party Constitution cannot remove anyone from the party...Uddhav Thackeray removed Eknath Shinde or any party leader from the party as per the party Constitution. So the removal of Eknath Shinde by Uddhav Thackeray in June 2022 is not accepted based on the Shiv Sena Constitution," the Speaker said. “Also, the will of the members of the leadership structure of 2018 cannot be the will of the political party, as there are contradictory views and claims about the majority in the leadership structure by both factions,” he added. The Speaker said that given the evidence and records before him, prima facie indicates that no elections were held in the year 2013, as well as in the year 2018. “However, I as the Speaker exercising jurisdiction under the 10th Schedule have limited jurisdiction and cannot go beyond the record of the ECI as available on the website and hence I have not considered this aspect while determining the relevant leadership structure. “Thus, given the above conclusions, I find that the leadership structure of Shiv Sena reflected in the letter dated February 27, 2018, available on the website of the ECI is the relevant leadership structure that has to be taken into account to determine which faction is the real political party," he said. Will challenge Speaker’s verdict in SC: SS-UBT MUMBAI, 10 JANUARY The ruling of the Maharashtra Speaker that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was the "real" Shiv Sena after the vertical split in the party in June 2022 was strongly flayed by SS-UBT leaders including Aditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, and other leaders, who described it as “on expected lines” as they had been predicting in the recent past. Aditya Thackeray termed the ruling as a "blatant murder of the Constitution and democracy", and said that the party would challenge it in the Supreme AGENCIES Court. AGENCIES IMPHAL, 10 JANUARY A few hours after the Congress leaders announced Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s decision to turn down the Opposition party’s request to use the Hapta Kangjeibung Palace compound ground in Imphal for launching the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ led by former Congress party President Rahul Gandhi on 14 January, the state Home Department asked the District Magistrate of Imphal East to give limited permission to the Congress to initiate the event. The Imphal East district administration in an order said: “...considering the prevailing law and order situation and circumstances, only flagging off of the yatra with a limited number of participants, is hereby allowed on January, 14, 2024 to prevent Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal release the road map and pamphlet of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra durANI ing a press conference, in New Delhi on Wednesday. any untoward incident and disturbance in law and order. The number and names of the participants shall be provided in advance to this office to enable this office to take all necessary precautionary measures.” Earlier, after meeting the Chief Minister, state Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh said that the party was now considering three other alternative venues to launch the yatra. “The BJP government's refusal to (allow the use of) the public ground for a nonpolitical purpose is very unfortunate and undemocratic. We are now looking for three alternative venues of private lands to launch the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through a big rally,” Meghachandra Singh told the media. Terming the Manipur Government’s decision as murder of democracy and violation of peoples’ right, the Congress leader said that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will be launched as scheduled by the AICC. He said that on 14 January several leaders of the party, including party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Chief Ministers and MPs from across the country will gather in Manipur for a peaceful rally. On Monday, Congress leaders led by Meghachandra Singh met Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi and requested him to provide permission to hold the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra launching meeting at the Hapta Kangjeibung ground. Congress leaders Kharge, Sonia Gandhi , Adhir not to attend Ram temple ceremony on 22 January Our govt must make stronger statement to repair ties with India : Maldives Opp leader STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 JANUARY NEW DELHI, 10 JANUARY Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the party’s Leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, will not attend the upcoming consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in UP’s Ayodhya on 22 January, the party announced on Wednesday. The grand old party also accused the government of inaugurating the “incomplete” temple for “electoral gain”, in an apparent reference to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh said: “Last month, the Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikar- The grand old party also accused the government of inaugurating the “incomplete” temple for “electoral gain”, in an apparent reference to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. jun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury received an invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya to be held on 22nd January. “While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS and BJP event.” Asserting that Lord Ram is worshipped by millions across the country, he said: “Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS and BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya.” Mr Ramesh, who is also a Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha said: “The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain.” The statement comes days after Mr Kharge said he had received the invitation of the consecration ceremony and would take a decision on it at the earliest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the consecration ceremony along with Union Ministers, state chief ministers, VVIPs, leaders from several political parties and celebrities among others. Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a programme informed that the Prime Minister will visit Ayodhya on 22 January and perform the consecration of Ram Lala in the presence of sants. AGENCIES Amidst the ongoing row between India and the Maldives, opposition leader and the chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party, Fayyaz Ismail, has called for a “tougher stand” by the government, saying that the racist comments against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were just isolated individual opinions of these people who were unfortunately given positions in the government. He underlined how the entire matter has reached a lot of Indians as well as Maldivians, due to easy accessibility of social media. “I personally believe the government should take a tougher stand on that because this goes beyond government to government. Now, because of the easy accessibility of social media, this has reached to a lot of Indians and to a lot of Maldivians. And as arguments take over from both side, there has been lot of insults coming back and forth. So the government needs to show that there was no intention on the part of the government. These were just isolated individual opinions of these people who, unfortunately, were given positions in the government. So that needs to be clearly shown to the Indians, to the Maldivians, and to the entire world at large," he said. On being asked if the ongoing spat between the two countries is going to have an impact on the India-Maldives ties, as well the revenue that Indian tourists have generated for the island nation over the years, the Maldivian leader, who was also the former Minister of Economic Development of Maldives, asserted that it is much more than economics or revenue. “This relationship between India and Maldives has been nurtured and fostered over a long period of time by very mature leaders, past leaders of our country and yours as well. So just one or two tweets derailing this entire relationship is very sad,” the minister said. “So, for me, the main problem is that this has gone beyond governments. Governments will always have spats; obviously, with the change of political parties, whether it's in India or Maldives, there will be differences of opinion,” he added.