MONDAY 15 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. DENSE TO VERY DENSE FOG IN THE MORNING. COLD WAVE CONDITIONS AT A FEW PLACES. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 20 AND 04 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY The two sides holding talks to find mutually workable solutions: MEA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 JANUARY Max. 100 % Min. 50 % Max: 20.6 °C (+1) SUN RISES 7:15 hrs MOON RISES 10:48 hrs Min: 03.5 °C (-4) SUN SETS 17:46 hrs MOON SETS 22:08 hrs TEMPERATURE Pull back troops by 15 Mar: Male to India THUMBNAILS The Indian Air Force's Surya Kiran perform during the Mumbai Air Show as part of an outreach programme to create awareness and foster a deeper connection between the IAF and the local community, in MumANI bai on Sunday. Dense fog conditions likely to continue over North India for 4-5 days, says IMD: The India 5 Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to prevail over North India during the next 4-5 days. (PG5) I ndia and the Maldives on Sunday held the first meeting of their high-level core group in Male amidst reports that Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its troops stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago before 15 March. During the meeting, the two sides held discussions on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac (medical evacu- ation) services to the people of the Maldives,” the MEA said, while not directly commenting on the reports that Mr Muizzu has sought the Indian troops’ withdrawal by 15 March. Local media reports quoted Mr Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, as saying during a Press briefing, that President Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its troops by 15 March. “During the meeting, ‘We adopted humanitarian attitude towards Pak soldiers after 1971 war’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 JANUARY Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described India's treatment of 90,000 Pakistani soldiers, who surrendered in the 1971 war, as one of the golden chapters of humanity. “We, Indians, not only respect our own soldiers, but also those of other countries. In the 1971 war, more than 90,000 soldiers of Pakistan surrendered to India. We could have treated them in any way we wanted; but such is our culture and tradition that we adopted a completely humanitarian attitude and sent them back to their country with full respect. Such treatment to enemy soldiers is one of the golden chapters of humanity,” he said. Mr Singh said the bravery of Indian soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars is also remembered with respect across the globe. He was addressing a “Veterans’ Rally” at the Air Force Station, Kanpur on the occa- Defence minister Rajnath Singh takes part in the 8th Armed Forces Veterans’ Day 2024 celebrations at an Air Force Station, ANI in Kanpur on Sunday. sion of the eighth Armed Forces Veterans’ Day which is being celebrated across the country to pay homage to the ex-servicemen for their selfless duty and sacrifices and to reinforce solidarity towards the next of kin of these bravehearts. Wreath-laying ceremonies and veterans’ rallies are being organised in Srinagar, Pathankot, Delhi, Kanpur, Alwar, Jodhpur, Guwahati, Mumbai, Secunderabad, Kochi and several other places to mark the day. The defence minister hailed the troops for their selfless service to the nation and ensuring the safety and security of the borders. “Our soldiers rise above family, caste and creed and only think about the nation. They effectively carry out their duties as they know for a fact that if the nation is secure, everything is safe. This gives them the moral strength to face every challenge,” he added. He emphasised that the veterans hold a special place in the heart of every Indian. the President proposed the removal of Indian troops before March 15. The government, the President's Office and the President have proposed this date for the agenda of the meeting. Those discussions are now underway," local media outlets quoted Mr Nazim as saying at the Press conference. Mr Nazim further said that Indian troops cannot stay in Maldives and that is "what the people want," the newspaper reported. “The most important point is that Indian troops cannot stay in this country. That is the policy of this government. That is the promise of President Mohammed Muizzu and what the people want," he said. Currently, there are around 80 Indian troops in the Maldives, along with Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and two Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. The Maldives official Deora quits Cong, joins Eknath Shinde’s Sena STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 JANUARY Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Sunday after resigning from the grand old party saying it has just one goal to speak against whatever Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks or does. Deora, who severed ties with the Congress after a prolonged association with the party, joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai. (PG5) Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra takes off from Manipur STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IMPHAL, 14 JANUARY The Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was officially inaugurated today in Thoubal, Manipur, with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi leading the event at Khongjom. Rahul Gandhi, while addressing the gathering, expressed concern about the situation in Manipur and criticised the BJP government's handling of the state. Reflecting on his recent visit to Manipur amidst the troubled scenario, Mr Gandhi highlighted the collapse of governance infrastructure, division, and widespread hatred prevailing in the state. He criticised Prime Minister Modi for not personally addressing the suffering of the people, suggesting that Manipur may not be a priority for the BJP and RSS. Characterising Manipur as a symbol of the BJP's hate Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi wave the National Flag during the launch of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, in Thoubal, ANI Manipur, on Sunday. politics, Rahul Gandhi pledged that the Congress party would work towards restoring peace in the troubled state. He emphasised the party's commitment to bringing back the values and harmony that Manipur has been known for. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the Yatra after paying tributes at Thoubal district’s Khongjom War Memorial, which was built in memory of those killed in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. Mr Kharge criticising Prime Minister Modi in his speech, , said that in the name of vote bank politics he is now ‘chanting ram nam’ and visiting everywhere but staying away from violence-ravaged Manipur. “The BJP before the 2019 election promised to give two crore jobs every year... where are the jobs... injustice has been done with all sections of people. Through Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we promised to return justice to every one ~ Dalit, tribals, women, youths,” Mr Kharge said. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Con- gress leader YS Sharmila, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and former deputy chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot; Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Pramod Tiwari, Gaurav Gogoi, Salman Khurshid, Digvijaya Singh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Karti Chidambaram among other leaders participated in the Yatra. The yatra's schedule for the day includes a break at Koirengei Bazar in Imphal at 5:30 p.m. and an overnight stay at the Koujengleima Sports Association Football Ground in Sekmai. The Congress clarified that the Yatra aims to end the Anyay Kaal (era of injustice) under the Narendra Modi-led government ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi, leading the yatra over 67 days, intends to engage with various societal groups, including farmers, labourers, Dalits, tribals, among others. said Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar and some senior officials are attending the meeting, while senior officials from the Maldives Foreign Ministry and the President's Office represented the Maldives. The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu's party. On the second day after he assumed office, Mr Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives. In December last year, President Muizzu claimed that, after dialogue with the Indian government, an agreement was reached to withdraw Indian military personnel. Recently, a row erupted between the two countries after three now suspended Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to Lakshadweep. Modi to release 1st instalment for PM Awas Yojana-Gramin today STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the first instalment to one lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAYG) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) on Monday via video conferencing. The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of PM-JANMAN on the occasion. In line with the PM's efforts towards the vision of Antyodaya to empower the last person at the last mile, PMJANMAN was launched for the socio-economic welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on 15 November, 2023, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The PM-JANMAN, with a budget of about Rs 24,000 crore, focuses on 11 critical interventions through nine ministries and is aimed at improving socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health, electricity, road and sustainable livelihood opportunities. PM gifts his shawl to girl during Pongal celebrations AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 14 JANUARY In an overwhelming gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gifted his shawl to a young girl who performed during the Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister of State L Murugan in the national capital. A young singer performed at the event and later touched PM Modi's feet after which the PM gifted her his shawl as a special gesture. Earlier today while extending greetings on Pongal, PM Modi said that the festival depicts the emotion of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.' The PM said this while attending the Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister of State (MoS) L Murugan in the national capital. PM Modi further said that he felt like celebrating Pongal with his kith and kin. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was also present on the occasion.