THURSDAY 08 FEBRUARY 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 with mist/fog in the morning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 27 °C and 18 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Chief minister emphasised the need for state autonomy and financial independence Max. 92 % Min. 66 % Max: 28.7°C (0) SUN RISES 06:13 hrs MOON RISES 03:50 hrs Min: 20.0°C (+3) SUN SETS 17:28 hrs MOON SETS 14:33 hrs TEMPERATURE Mamata slams Centre for funding discrimination New Moon on 10 February THUMBNAILS President Droupadi Murmu interacts with students while taking a ride in the Metro, in New Delhi on Wednesday.  ANI Sharad Pawar's faction gets a new party name: A day after the Election Commission (EC) settled the dispute in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in favour of the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the poll panel on Wednesday allotted Sharad Pawar faction the party name “Nationalist Congress Party - Sharadchandra Pawar". (PG5) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 7 FEBRUARY n a fiery speech, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday attacked the central government, alleging discrimination in financial assistance. During the inauguration of several state-sponsored projects in Howrah, Miss Banerjee also spoke of the state’s independent initiatives to clear the dues of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) workers. She stated: “Despite not receiving funds from the Centre, we have initiated our own financial programmes. In the last three years, the state hasn't received its due share for various projects, affecting over 21 lakh workers. MP Abhishek Banerjee staged a dharna in Delhi over the deprivation of Central funds but it got no result. The Central government even tried I to sabotage it by cancelling the trains carrying the state’s MGNREGA workers, who were heading to Delhi for the dharna.” She specifically targeted the Central government regarding the funding of new healthcare centres in the state and using them for political purposes. The Modi government's directive to paint the walls of these centres in saffron colour had evoked strong opposition from Miss Banerjee, who retierated her disapproval at the public event. Addressing the crowd, she emphasised the need for state autonomy and financial independence, stating: "We have started sending funds (to beneficiaries) even without the Central government's support.” She said that the Centre is also plotting to stop funds for the state government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, but the state will fight hard to provide the funds for the mother and sisters of Bengal. “I know very well how mothers and sisters of Bengal face K’taka govt stages protest against Centre at Jantar Mantar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 FEBRUARY The Congress-led Karnataka government staged a protest here on Wednesday against the Centre, accusing it of disparity in allocation of grants to the Southern state. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, state ministers, MLAs and party leaders and workers under the “Chalo Delhi’’ movement, held the demonstration at the Jantar Mantar and demanded a judicious share of resources and funds for the state. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said, “We are raising the issue of discrimination meted out by the Government of India against the state of Karnataka. The state is number two as far as tax collection is concerned. Maharashtra is number one. As a matter of fact this year, Karnataka is contributing more than Rs 4.30 lakh crore as tax. If we collect Rs 100 and give it to the Government of India, we are only getting Rs 12 to 13 back.” “Is this not an injustice to the people of Karnataka ? That is why we are here (in Delhi),” Siddaramaiah said. Uttarakhand becomes first state to pass UCC Bill STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE DEHRADUN, 7 FEBRUARY The Uttarakhand assembly on Wednesday enacted the much-talked-about Unifom Civil Code (UCC) amidst a demand by the Opposition to recommend it for a select committee of the state legislature. After the enactment of the law, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared that Uttarakhand has taken the lead in taking the nation across a new threshold in legislation. The UCC Bill tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday was made a law with a thumping majority following a debate in the House even as a demand was raised by the Opposition for referring it to the select committee, claiming that the Bill needed review for certain anomalies in it. During the discussion in the House, Mr Dhami said: “The state has taken a big leap in the direction of leading the country to a new domain of social and legal justice." According to Mr Dhami, the UCC not only guarantees constitutional rights to the people of Uttarakhand but also ensures their implementation. He said, "UCC will end evil practices in the communities assuring sociolegal justice to the people. It's a historic law made rising above the castes, religions, sects and all other barriers to provide equal rights with no discrimination." Mr Dhami further said, "The new law guarantees equality to about 50 per cent of the population of India starting from Uttarakhand." CMYK austerity and struggle to maintain their families. They have to borrow from groceries and other shops to feed their family members. Often, they only eat only boiled potatoes and rice. Bengal will see how the Centre can deprive the people of Bengal for a prolonged period of time,” she said. Furthermore, the chief minister revealed plans for creation of three industrial corridors, promoting economic growth and job creation. She also addressed issues related to teacher recruitments and emphasized the importance of filling vacant positions to ensure quality education. Miss Banerjee also made a significant announcement, extending the 'Yogayshree Project' benefits to candidates from the general category. Until now, this initiative was exclusively available for SC-ST candidates, but Mamata Banerjee has broadened its scope to include general category aspirants seeking coaching for competitive exams such as WBCS and the UPSC civil services examination. “ Our focus is on creating a conducive environment for aspirants, whether they are from SC-ST categories or the general category,” Miss Banerjee said. This move aims to provide free training facilities to aspiring IAS, IPS, doctors, WBCS, WBPS engineers, and teachers, eliminating financial barriers they may face during their preparation. Miss Banerjee highlighted that many individuals from the general category also dream of becoming IAS, IPS officers, doctors, engineers, and educators. Already, there are 51 such training centres in the state under the Yogayshree Project. Mss Banerjee directed the chief secretary to establish an additional 50 such centres, specifically catering to candidates from the general category across different districts. ‘Cong warranty over, nation believes in Modi’s Guarantee’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi onWednesday said the Congress is steeped in negativity and incapable of giving hope to the country, while his government looks forward to its third term in office shortly, focusing on better quality of life for the country’s 80 crore people. “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is not just a slogan, it is Modi’s Guarantee,” he said, replying to the Rajya Sabha debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament. The Motion was later adopted by the House. Mr Modi said in its third term, his government will continue to support the 25 crore people who have come out of poverty, giving the neo-middle class the “Modi kavach” shield. The Prime Minister said he can read the mood of the people; the Congress “warranty” is over and people will believe in the guarantee given by his government, seeing the changes in every part of life across the country. Amidst shouts of “Modi, Modi” from BJP benches, the Prime Minister said Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 is a commitment of his government and no “wordcoinage,” and will mark the beginning of a golden period for India. The Prime Minister told the Congress members they cannot suppress his voice; people had given him energy to speak. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge had “blessed him with 400 seats in the next election,” he said. The Congress should know reality, it is “outdated,” and the West Bengal Chief Minister had said the Congress will not get more than 40 seats, the Prime Minister said.