THURSDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME & MY DAUGHTER FALSE’ GENERAL'S MEMOIR P6 SENSEX 71,752.11612.21 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. DENSE TO VERY DENSE FOG IN THE MORNING. POSSIBILITY OF VERY LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 19 AND 08 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE Max: 18.6 °C (-4) SUN RISES 7:09 hrs MOON RISES 23:48 hrs Min: 07.3 °C (-1) SUN SETS 18:00 hrs MOON SETS 11:08 hrs THUMBNAILS A view of the blooming flowers at the Amrit Udyan that will be thrown open to the general public from 2 February (except on Mondays) at Rashtrapati Bhavan on SUBRATA DUTTA Wednesday. Govt appoints four members of 16th Finance Commission : The government appointed four members of the newly-constituted 16th Finance Commission on Wednesday. The Commission, chaired by former Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya, will have 4 members, who will be assisted by Secretary Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey. Retired bureaucrat Annie George Mathew and Artha Global Executive Director Niranjan Rajadhyaksha have been appointed as full-time members. Soumya Kanti Ghosh will be a parttime member, the Finance Ministry said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 JANUARY “Everything is good,” Maldives Envoy to India Ibrahim Shaheeb remarked on Wednesday when asked about ties between India and the island nation in the wake of controversial remarks made by three now-suspended Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his visit to Lakshadweep. The Maldives envoy was approached by reporters when he was alighting from his car at the Parliament House where he was invited to attend President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on the opening day of the Budget Session. This came a day after Maldives Opposition leader Qasim Ibrahim asked President Mohammed Muizzu to formally apologise to PM Modi and the people of India for certain remarks made by Mr Muizzu as part of his government's 'India Out' campaign during his recent China trip. A huge diplomatic row erupted between India and the Maldives earlier this month after three junior ministers made unsavoury references to PM Modi after he wrote about Lakshadweep in a social media post. The Maldives government distanced itself from the remarks and suspended the three ministers. Meanwhile in the Maldives, the main opposition MDP~ which holds a majority in Parliament - has gathered enough signatures to submit a motion to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu but is yet to submit it. The Maldives has been passing through a tumultuous time ever since the Muizzu government, which is considered ‘pro-China’, assumed office in the island. P5 ` vs $ 83.046 PAISE P12 SILVER 76,500 GOLD 63,270 PM slams Opposition MPs for disrupting Parliament BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 80.880.87 Hemant Soren quits; Champai Soren set to be next J’khand CM Modi expresses confidence of presenting full Budget after the Lok Sabha elections STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 JANUARY Min. 87 % Everything OK, says Maldives envoy on ties with India P4 NIFTY 21,725.70203.60 BCCI SECY GETS ANOTHER TERM AS ACC CHIEF KHARGE HITS BACK AT PM FOR REMARKS AGAINST OPPOSITION P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hit out at those Opposition MPs who, he said, have become accustomed to creating disruptions in Parliament and habitually undermining democratic values during the last ten years. The prime minister expressed confidence that his government will present a full Budget in Parliament after the Lok Sabha polls. Talking to reporters ahead of the opening of the Budget Session of Parliament, he said these MPs should ponder over what they have achieved in the last decade as they gather for the final session of the current Lok Sabha. “If you ask 100 people in your Parliamentary constituency, none will remember or even know the names of those who consistently created ruckus. Despite the sharpness of the Opposition's voice and the severity of criticism, a significant portion of the public still remembers those who enriched the House with construc- PM Narendra Modi addresses the media on the first day of the interim Budget Session at Hans Dwar of the New Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. SUBRATA DUTTA tive ideas,” the PM said. He observed that even in the coming days, when people witness the discussions in the House, every uttered word by the members will be etched into the annals of history. “Hence, despite the Opposition, displays of intellectual prowess, concern for the common man's interests, or sharp reactions against us, I firmly believe that a substantial part of the country ~ comprising democracy enthusiasts and society at large ~ will appreciate such conduct,” he added. Conversely, individuals who contribute nothing but negativity, hooliganism, and mischief are seldom remembered, he observed, adding that the Budget Session presents an opportunity for redemption and leaving a positive impact. “I urge all honourable MPs not to let this chance slip away, to act in the best interest of the country, contribute their most valuable ideas to the House, and infuse the nation with enthusiasm and excitement. As you know, tra- ditionally, when elections are imminent, the complete Budget is not presented. We will adhere to this tradition and present the full Budget after the formation of the new government. This time, the country's Finance Minister, Nirmala Ji, will be presenting her budget tomorrow with some guiding points,” he added. Mr Modi said he is confident that the country is consistently progressing, reaching new heights of development, and undergoing comprehensive and Varanasi court allows Hindus to worship inside Vyas Ka Tehkhana in Gyanvapi complex cellar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VARANASI, 31 JANUARY In a significant verdict, the Varanasi district court has allowed Hindus to worship at the basement within the Gyanvapi complex called the 'Vyas Ka Tehkhana', declaring that Hindus have the right to worship there. Adjudicating an application in this regard, District Judge Dr Ajay Krishna Vishwesh gave the verdict on Wednesday allowing worship in the sealed basement in the Gyanvapi complex. The arguments from both sides were completed in the court on Tuesday. The Hindu side's lawyer Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said the right to worship in the basement has been granted and the court has ordered the district officer to comply with the order within a week’s time. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, also representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi case, said: "The Hindu side has been allowed to worship in the 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana'. The district administration will have to make arrangements within seven days." He said the puja would start within seven days and everyone would have the right to perform the puja. In their reaction to the ver- dict, lawyers of the Anjuman Intejamia Masjid Committee said they would move the high court against the district court’s verdict. On the other hand, Mr Jain said: "We will file a caveat in the Allahabad High Court. If the court hears the the plea of the Muslim side, we will be ready there." According to the plaintiff's lawyers, the basement has been handed over to the district magistrate. On the advocates' request, the IMF raises India’s growth projection for FY25 to 6.5 pc STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 JANUARY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India’s growth projection for the Financial Year 2025 by 20 basis points (bps) to 6.5 per cent in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) update. The data cited the buoyant domestic spending and improved global growth prospects. For FY24, the IMF raised India’s growth estimate by 40 bps to 6.7 per cent compared to its October report, which is still lower than the 7.3 per cent growth projected by the National Statistical Office earlier this month. “Growth in India is projected to remain strong at 6.5 per cent in both 2024 (FY25) and 2025 (FY26), with an upgrade from October of 0.2 per cent point for both years, reflecting resilience in domestic demand,” the IMF said in its report. The estimate, however, falls below the 7 per cent growth projection by the Ministry of Finance. The Union Finance Ministry has released a report titled ‘Indian Economy -- A Review’ saying the Indian economy is expected to grow at a rate above 7 per cent in coming years. It said the growth will be riding on the strength of its financial sector and other recent and future structural reforms and can aspire to become a USD 7 trillion economy by 2030. For the global economic projection, the IMF raised it for 2024 by 20 bps to 3.1 per cent , compared to its October report, citing greater-than-expected resilience in the United States and several large emerging market and developing economies, as well as fiscal support in China. This is still below the historical average global growth of 3.8 per cent , with elevated central bank policy rates to fight inflation, withdrawal of fiscal support amid high debt weighing on economic activity, and low underlying productivity growth. For China, the IMF increased its growth forecast for 2024 by 40 bps to 4.6 per cent. court has given permission to open the barricades in front of the Nandi statue. In such a situation, people will now be allowed to come and go for worship in the basement as done before 1993, they said. On Tuesday, in the court, advocates Mumtaz Ahmed and Ikhlaq Ahmed, on behalf of the Anjuman Intejamia Masjid Committee, said the basement is a part of the mosque. Worship cannot be allowed there. This is prohibited by the Places of Worship Act. The basement is the property of the Waqf Board and therefore, worship should not be allowed there. The case was filed by Shailendra Pathak, grandson of the late priest Somnath Vyas, demanding the handing over of the basement of Vyasji located in Gyanvapi to the district magistrate and to allow him to perform puja in it. Land dispute: Court rules in favour of Amartya Sen STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BIRBHUM, 31 JANUARY In a win for Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, a district court has cancelled the notification issued by the Visva Bharati University asking him to vacate 13 decimals of land that the university authorities claimed had been illegally occupied. Exactly a year ago, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has handed over the papers at his house in Shantiniketan. Prof Sen’s counsel said that the Suri district court has cancelled the eviction notification issued to him by the Visva Bharati University earlier in a judgment today. all-encompassing growth. “A journey of inclusive development is underway. I hope this trajectory continues with the blessings of the public,” he added. The PM also spoke about women power recalling that towards the conclusion of the inaugural session in the new Parliament building, a highly dignified decision was made - the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. “Subsequently, on January 26, the nation witnessed the strength, courage, and determination of women on the 'Kartavya Path'.” “Today, the guidance provided by President Droupadi Murmu ji at the commencement of this Budget Session and the Interim Budget to be presented by Nirmala Sitharaman exemplify the power of women. In essence, this is a celebration showcasing the strength of women,” he added. President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday opened the Budget session of Parliament, the last of the 17th Lok Sabha, with an address to a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament. AGENCIES RANCHI, 31 JANUARY Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday went to the Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation to the Governor, while members of the ruling coalition were reaching there to stake claim for a new government to be headed by senior JMM leader Champai Soren. Champai Soren is currently the Transport Minister. The fast-paced developments came as the Enforcement Directorate, which was questioning Hemant Soren at his residence since the afternoon in a money laundering case probe linked to an alleged land scam, informed him that it was arresting him as it was not satisfied with his answers to their queries. Meanwhile, chief secretary L. Khiangte, DGP Ajay Kumar Singh, and other top officials reached the CM's residence and security there was tightened. Indications of Heman Soren's likely arrest came to be known from around 5 p.m. and the ruling coalition intensified its discussions to select his successor. Several MLAs were present at the chief minister’s house since morning. A meeting on Tuesday evening of the JMM legislators, chaired by Hemant Soren, who returned to the state capital from New Delhi, had decided that in the event he was arrested, a new government should be formed under a new leader and an appointment was taken with the Governor on Wednesday night for this purpose. Mr Soren reached his Kanke Road residence at around 1:50 p.m on Tuesday along with a security guard amidst uncertainty about his location. The ED had been on the lookout for Mr Soren in Delhi since Monday morning. They searched for him at several places including his Delhi residence and Jharkhand Bhawan, but he was not found. (Earlier report on Page 5) Murmu: Ram Temple a matter of aspirations & faith for crores NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 31 JANUARY President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday that the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya was a matter of aspirations and faith for crores of people of the country and the resolution of this has been accomplished in a harmonious manner. Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, the President, while making a mention of the Ram Temple, said: “For centuries, there was an aspiration to construct the Ram Mandir. Today it is a reality.” “After waiting for centuries, Ram Lalla has now been enshrined in his grand temple in Ayodhya,” she added. Speaking about the recent consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the President said: "There come junctures in the history of civilisations, which shape the future for the coming centuries. There have been many such defining moments in the history of India. This year, on January 22, the country witnessed a similar epochal moment." She noted that in the five days of “Pran Pratishtha”, 13 lakh devotees visited Ayodhya Dham itself. In her address, the President said the Union government has emphasised the development of pilgrimage destinations and historical sites across the country. “This has now made a pilgrimage in India easier. At the same time, there is a growing interest in the world towards heritage tourism in India. In the last year, 8.5 crore people have visited Kashi. More than five crore people have visited Mahakaal. More than 19 lakh people have visited Kedar Dham,” she pointed out. President Murmu said there is an unprecedented expansion of facilities at pilgrimage sites in every part of India, East-West-NorthSouth giving a boost to tourism which employing the youth as a big sector. TMC will not give up a single seat to Congress, says Mamata STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 31 JANUARY Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Trinamul Congress chairperson, on Wednesday again made it clear there will be no seatsharing with the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in Bengal. Addressing a programme at English Bazaar in Malda, Miss Banerjee said: “We will not give up a single seat to the Congress. Let the Congress fight in association with the CPI-M to help the BJP.” “I had agreed to give two seats, Maldah Uttar and Maldah Dakshin in the Lok Sabha polls. Congress refused though they do not have any MLA. As they have refused to accept my proposal, we will not give up a single seat to the Congress. Only the TMC can take on the BJP in Bengal,” Miss Banerjee said. “Let the Congress fight elections with the CPI-M, that CPI-M which had attempted to kill me and murdered many even in Malda,” she added. Miss Banerjee said: “Congress candidates were elected from Malda and both North and South Malda Lok Sabha constituencies for long. I do not have any objections if they nominate family members of the late ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury in both the seats. But my question is what they have done for Malda. Barkat da had built a guest house named Gour Bhawan. Now it is in an almost broken state.” The TMC chief said: “Bengal will show the way to the country. Those who cannot show the direction, talk more and spread slander. We do our job seriously. We keep our words. We talk less, work more. We are with the people throughout 365 days. People support those who work.” Miss Banerjee also came down heavily on the Centre on various issues, including non-disbursement of Central funds for various schemes including the MGNREGA and housing schemes. Miss Banerjee also also announced that she would stage a dharna in front of Baba Ambedkar’s statue on Red Road in Kolkata demanding disbursement of Central funds from 2 February, if the Centre does not release the funds on 1 February. She also urged the deprived beneficiaries to join her dharna and asked people’s representatives belonging to her party to ferry them to Kolkata from all districts.