28 JANUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘TRUMP MUST PAY AN ADDITIONAL $83.3 MN TO E. JEAN CARROLL’ KERALA GOVERNOR KHAN STAGES PROTEST IN KOLLAM P4 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. MIST/ SHALLOW FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 24 AND 05 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Min. 60 % Max: 24.0 °C (+2) SUN RISES 7:11 hrs MOON RISES 20:18 hrs Min: 04.3 °C (-4) SUN SETS 17:57 hrs MOON SETS 09:20 hrs TEMPERATURE P9 P5 'Not good for Parl, state legislatures' PM flags concern as political parties defend members violating House norms STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JANUARY Max. 97 % THUMBNAILS A huge crowd of people witness lighting at Raisina Hills after beating retreat rehearsal at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on Saturday.  ANI INS Visakhapats p nam responds to distress call from merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden: Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam deployed in the Gulf of Aden responded to a distress call from MV Merlin Luanda on Friday night. The MV has 22 Indian and 01 Bangladeshi crew onboard, according to the Indian Navy. Based on the request from the MV Merlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has deployed the Ship's NBCD team along with firefighting equipment to provide assistance to the crew towards augmenting firefighting efforts onboard the distressed MV Merlin Luanda, according to the Indian Navy. P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed concern over trends in legislatures where some political parties come out in defence of members punished for violating House dignity, and members convicted of corruption are glorified publically. He was addressing the 84th All-India Presiding Officers’ conference being held in Mumbai, via video message. The Prime Minister said the conference had come just after celebrations of the 75th Republic Day, and 75 years of framing of the Constitution. He paid tributes to members of the Constituent Assembly, and said presiding officers of the country’s legislature had much to learn from them. Mr Modi said the Constituent Assembly members had to contend with so many views, subjects and opinions and yet they were able to arrive at a consensus. The Prime Minister said the presiding officers could take inspiration from the Constituent Assembly members and take such steps which become a legacy for generations to come. He said the conference was to deliberate on making work culture of the legislatures more productive and this was important, considering the manner people were judging the work of their representatives. How a public representative conducts himself in a legislature, determines the standing of the country’s legislative system before the world, he said. “This conference can help by its suggestions in ensuring positivity in public representatives’ conduct and atmosphere in the House, along with its productivity,” he said. There was a time, if action was taken against a member for violating norms of the House, other members used to persuade him not to repeat the mistake and hurt the dignity of the House, he said. “Today, we see some parties stand in support of such members and defend their mistakes,” the Prime Minister said. This situation, he said, was not right for national Parliament or any State Assembly. The conference should discuss how to maintain dignity of the legislatures. Mr Modi said at one time, people used to distance themselves, even in public, from members facing corruption charges. “Today, we see even people convicted by courts being glorified in public. This is an insult to the Executive, the Judiciary and the country’s great Constitution. The conference should deliberate on this and give concrete suggestions,” he said. The Prime Minister said State Governments and Assemblies had a great role in the achievement of goals set by the nation before itself. India will progress only when States develop and the States’ development will be determined how State Assemblies and Executives work for achieving the targets of progress. The empowerment of House committees was relevant in this context too. He said the State assemblies should consider abolishing laws which were obsolete and were a burden on the system. The Centre had abolished 2000 such laws in the last 10 years which had facilitated ease of living for people. The presiding officers should get studies done on this. The Prime Minister said Parliament had last year passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to improve women's participation and representation. In a country of young people like India, the youth should get a greater say in House committees. They should get opportunity to express themselves in the legislature and participate in decision-making, he said. Mr Modi said in the 2021 conference, he had mentioned the concept of One Nation-One Legislative Platform, and he was happy to note that Parliament and State Assemblies are working on this goal through EVidhan and the Digital Sansad Platform. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh, Mahrashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, State Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rahul Narwekar, and presiding officers of State Assemblies attended the conference. Bihar in a churn: Stakeholders meet as rumours swirl of CM ’s return to NDA AGENCIES PATNA/NEW DELHI, 27 JANUARY Amidst hectic political activity, rumours were rife on Saturday evening that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar would resign soon from his post, possibly on Sunday, ahead of another political volte-face less than 18 months after he abandoned the NDA to form a government in the state with the RJD-Congress-led Grand Alliance. ‘Highly-placed’ sources were quoted by news agencies as saying that though there was a possibility of Kumar resigning by late Saturday evening,"It would definitely take place by Sunday morning". Top leaders of the JD(U) also gathered at the official residence of the party president amidst indications that the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar being felicitated after offering prayers at the Brahmeshwarnath Temple in Buxar on Saturday.  ANI chief minister would put in his papers and stake claim to form the government with the BJP’s support. RJD leaders, meanwhile, held extensive deliberations over the course of action to be followed in the event of Mr Kumar calling off the alliance and returning to the BJP-led NDA. Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United)'s political adviser and spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters in Delhi that the Grand Alliance government in Bihar is on the verge of collapse, and accused a section of the Congress leadership of repeatedly “insulting” Mr Kumar. “The INDIA bloc is on AUSTRALIAN OPEN: SABALENKA RETAINS TITLE ‘ENOUGH SPACE TO GIVE VOICE TO DISSENT IN LEGISLATURES’ the verge of collapse. The alliance of INDIA bloc parties is almost over in Punjab, West Bengal and Bihar,” he said, adding: “INDIA alliance is on the verge of breaking due to the irresponsible and obstinate attitude of Congress.” State BJP leaders held a meeting in Patna but stopped short of making any formal announcement of support to Mr Kumar in the event of his pulling out of the Mahagathbandhan. Mr Kumar himself has maintained a deafening silence over the turmoil in the Mahagathbandhan, ignoring pleas from allies RJD, Congress and the Left to clear the air about the intense political speculation on his future course of action. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday that party president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to Mr Kumar but the latter was “busy”. “Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tried to talk to the Chief Minister of Bihar. He tried not just once, but several times. The Bihar Chief Minister is busy,” said Mr Ramesh at the party headquarters. BJP state in-charge Vinod Tawde, who was in Patna to attend the meeting, blamed the Congress for the imminent “break up” of Nitish Kumar with the Opposition INDIA bloc of which the JD (U) leader was one of the architects. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is reported to have decided not to withdraw support from the Nitish Kumar government. The decision was taken in a meeting held at the official residence of deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav located at 5 Circular Road in Patna where all MLAs unanimously decided not to withdraw support from Mr Kumar. P12 Aus Open: Bopanna wins men’s doubles title; oldest major winner AGENCIES MELBOURNE, 27 JANUARY India's Rohan Bopanna made history on Saturday, becoming the oldest man in the Open Era to win a major men’s doubles title on Saturday, teaming up with Australian Matthew Ebden to win the Australian Open. (Photo) The 43-year-old Bopanna and Ebden overcame Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 to clinch the crown at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. Bopanna, who was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government for becoming the oldest firsttime World No.1 in men's doubles recently, completed his mission to win his first Grand Slam men's doubles title. Bopanna and Ebden were dominant on serve throughout the one-hour, 40-minute clash, winning 80 per cent (40/50) of points behind their first delivery and not facing a break point to cap a dream week. Bopanna, who had won his first Grand Slam title, the mixed doubles title alongside Gabriela Dabrowski at the French Open in 2017, and Ebden produced their best tennis at the crucial stages. They found great depth on return in the first-set tiebreak to storm ahead before they gained the crucial break of the second set in the 11th game. The second seeds Bopanna and Ebden won all seven tie-breaks they played at the hard-court major. The Indian-Australian team bumped chests following match point, a celebration associated with Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi and also American greats Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan before they sunk to the ground. Bopanna and Ebden then returned to their feet to soak in the roars from the crowd. It is the first time Bopanna has won a major men's doubles title, having lost in finals at the US Open in 2010 and 2023. The 43-year-old is the third Indian man in the Open Era to win a major men’s doubles title, joining Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi. He will also become the oldest No. 1 in the ATP Doubles Rankings on Monday. Ebden, 36, has now won two major men’s doubles titles, having won Wimbledon in 2022 with Max Purcell. He is the 28th Australian man to win the Australian Open men’s doubles crown. Bopanna is overall the fourth Indi- an to win a Grand Slam title after Paes, Bhupathi and Mirza and is now on the list of the star tennis players who have also been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award on Thursday. Born on 4 March 1980, in Bangalore, Karnataka, to M. G. Bopanna, a coffee planter in Kodagu district, and Malika Bopanna, a housewife, Bopanna started playing tennis at the age of 11 because his father wanted him to pursue the sport. Though he also enjoyed sports like hockey and football, by the age of 19, tennis became young Rohan's calling as won his first ITF Junior singles title in 1997 at the age of 17. After gaining experience in both singles and doubles at the junior and senior ITF levels, Bopanna turned professional in 2003. Kejriwal accuses BJP of trying to buy AAP MLAs, topple Delhi govt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JANUARY In a fresh attack on the central dispensation, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring to topple his government by offering money to the tune of crores to AAP MLAs. Taking to microblogging site X, he claimed seven legislators of his party were contacted and told that he would be arrested shortly and the AAP government would fall. They were also told that the entire plan has been discussed with 21 other MLAs, while others are being approached. He said the seven MLAs were offered a sum of Rs 25 crore each along with a chance to fight the election on a BJP ticket. The AAP chief further alleged during the past nine years, the BJP has conspired several times to overturn the AAP government, but did not succeed. He said his party has done a lot for the people of Delhi, and it was difficult for the BJP to defeat AAP in the elections, adding that they wanted to get all the AAP leaders behind the bars with the help of the ‘doctored’ liquor policy scam. Delhi minister Atishi claimed if the chief minister is sent behind the bars, the city residents will give a befitting reply and this time, the BJP will not secure even a single seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha. “This ‘Operation Lotus’ is not being done for the first time by the BJP. Operation Lotus is the way of the BJP to bring down elected governments in the non-BJP-ruled states. They buy MLAs and threaten them with CBI and ED to bring down the elected governments,” she said. She said the saffron party had tried to topple the AAP dispensation in 2013, but the AAP conducted a counter sting and exposed BJP vice president Sher Singh Dagar. NCC cadets highlight idea of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, says PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 JANUARY Expressing happiness that the sphere of NCC is constantly growing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said NCC cadets highlight the idea of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. Addressing the annual NCC PM rally at the Cariappa Parade Ground in the national capital, the Prime Minister said as a former NCC cadet himself, it is natural to recall the memories when he is present among NCC cadets. “Being present among NCC cadets highlights the idea of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” the Prime Minister said as he observed the presence of cadets from different parts of the country. Mr Modi expressed hap- piness that the sphere of NCC is constantly growing and said today's occasion marks a new beginning. The Prime Minister also noted the presence of more than 400 sarpanches of the villages from border areas which are being developed by the government under the Vibrant Vil- lages scheme, and more than 100 women from self-help groups across the country. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister pointed out that the rally is strengthening the spirit of ‘one world, one family, one future’. He pointed out that in 2014 there were cadets from 10 countries in this rally, today the number has gone up to 24. Noting that the historic 75th Republic Day was dedicated to Nari Shakti, PM Modi said the country showcased the strides made by the daughters of India in every walk of life. He praised the cadets who were awarded on the occasion. Mr Modi acknowledged the cycle groups from Vadodara and Kashi and mentioned him being MP from both places. Recalling the times when the role of women in society was limited to cultural arrangements and organizations, the Prime Minister said that the world today is witnessing the daughters of India proving their mettle in every field, be it land, sea, air or space. He highlighted the determination of the women participants in the Republic Day parade and said that it is not a result of overnight success but the dedicated efforts of the last 10 years. In the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said the government has continuously strengthened this energy of Nari Shakti in the country. He mentioned removing all obstacles in the entry of women into sectors which were once barred or limited and gave examples of opening up the front line of all three defence forces, permanent commission for women in defence, and command roles and combat positions. “Be it Agniveer or fighter pilots, the participation of women is only increasing," the Prime Minister said. He also mentioned opening up admission of girl students in Sainik Schools. Mr Modi informed that the number of women in Central Armed Forces has more than doubled in the last 10 years, while states are being encouraged to recruit more women in the state police force. Referring to the impact of these steps on the mentality of society, the Prime Minister mentioned that women participation is increasing in other sectors also. He pointed out the great number of women in ensuring banking and insurance in rural areas. "The story is the same in sectors like startups or self-help groups," he added. He said that increasing the talent pool due to women participation is marking the creation of a Viksit Bharat. “Entire world is looking towards India as a "Vishwa Mitra,” said PM Modi pointing to the increasing strength of India’s passport. “Many countries are seeing an opportunity in the talent and skill of the youth of India," he said. Mr Modi outlined his vision for India's youth, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping the nation's future over the next 25 years. Speaking from the heart, Prime Minister Modi declared, "This transformative era, the upcoming 25 years, will not only witness the creation of a developed India but will primarily benefit the youth, not Modi." Highlighting the youth as the primary beneficiaries of India's development journey, the Prime Minister remarked, "The biggest beneficiaries of this era are young individuals like you." He underscored the significance of continuous hard work, stating, "It will be imperative for all of you to consistently strive for excellence." Reflecting on the strides made in various sectors over the past decade, Prime Minister Modi noted, "In the past 10 years, significant efforts have been made in every sector towards skill development, employment, and entrepreneurship on a large scale." He emphasized harnessing the talent and skills of the youth for maximum impact in driving India's progress.