FRIDAY 16 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 CAG PULLS UP KERALA AGAIN FOR OFF-BUDGET BORROWINGS IS ARMY THE WINNER IN PAKISTAN POLLS? P7 SENSEX 72,050.38227.55 WEATHER CONG TARGETS PM AS SC STRIKES DOWN ELECTORAL BONDS SCHEME P4 NIFTY 21,910.7570.70 P5 ` vs $ 83.202 PAISE GOLD 62,070110 RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY TEMPERATURE Max: 26.0 °C+2) SUN RISES 6:58 hrs MOON RISES 11:06 hrs Min: 08.8 °C (-2) SUN SETS 18:12 hrs MOON SETS 01:19 hrs THUMBNAILS Candidates leave the examination centre after appearing for their Bihar Board class 10th exams, in Patna on Thursday. ANI ED summons Mahua Moitra in FEMA case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday issued a summons to Trinamul Congress leader Mahua Moitra for questioning in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case. Sources in the know of things said that Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha over the "cash-for-que- ry" matter, has been asked to be present at ED's headquarters in Delhi on 19 February. There was, however, no official reaction or response from Moitra on the matter till the time of filing the report. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 80.200.28 Visit to Qatar added new Supreme Court strikes down Electoral Bond Scheme as vigour to friendship: PM unconstitutional, arbitrary Modi expressed his deep appreciation for the release of eight Indian nationals Min. 34 % P12 SILVER 74,500500 MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SHALLOW TO MODERATE FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 26 AND 09 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. Max. 100 % TEST: ROHIT, JADEJA SMASH TONS P rime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that his visit to Qatar had added “new vigour” to India-Qatar friendship and that India looks forward to scaling up cooperation in trade, investment, technology and culture. In a post on X, the prime minister thanked the government and the people of Qatar for their hospitality during his visit. Modi met the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Amiri Palace in Doha. He thanked the Amir for taking care of the Indian community in Qatar and expressed his deep appreciation for the release of eight Indian nationals who were detained in Qatar. The eight, former Indian Navy veterans were arrested and sentenced to death after their conviction, which was later commuted to jail terms, before they were released earlier this week after 18 months of detention following a pardon by the Amir of Qatar. The prime minister invited the Amir to pay an early visit to India and conveyed India’s commitment to further expanding and deepening bilateral coopera- Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during a meeting in Doha on Thursday.  ANI tion with Qatar. The Amir reciprocated the prime minister’s sentiments and expressed appreciation for India's role as a valued partner in the Gulf region. He appreciated the contributions of the vibrant Indian community in Qatar’s development and their enthusiastic participation in various international events held in Qatar. The meeting was followed by a banquet lunch hosted by the Amir at the Amiri Palace in honour of the prime minister. Mr Modi was given a ceremonial welcome at the Amiri Palace on arrival. The two sides held delegation-level and restricted talks. The prime minister later met Father Amir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha in the afternoon. He congratulated Father Amir on his visionary leadership that paved the way for Qatar’s development over the past decades. The two leaders held discussions on India-Qatar relations. Mr Modi conveyed his appreciation for the insightful observations of Father Amir on regional and global developments. Father Amir affirmed that India and Qatar share an unwavering bond, epitomised by mutual trust and cooperation. He appreciated the role of Indian community in Qatar’s development and in nourishing the bilateral partnership. In a post on his meeting with the Amir on X, the PM said: “Had a wonderful meeting with HH Sheikh @TamimBinHamad. We reviewed the full range of India-Qatar relations and discussed ways to deepen cooperation across various sectors. Our nations also look forward to collaborating in futuristic sectors which will benefit our planet.” The discussions covered economic cooperation, investments, energy partnership, space collaboration, urban infrastructure, cultural bonds and peopleto-people ties. The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues. In his briefing on the conclusion of the Prime Minister’s Qatar visit, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Prime Minister had a successful visit. PARMOD KUMAR FAR-REACHING VERDICT NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY In a landmark judgment that comes as a jolt to the Modi government, the Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the Electoral Bond scheme intended to fund political parties. The court ruled that the scheme, and the amendments made to the Representation of People Act, the Income Tax Act, and the Companies Act to facilitate the scheme, were unconstitutional and arbitrary. Striking down the electoral bond scheme, which gave anonymity to corporate entities buying the bonds and the political parties receiving them, and holding that it was violative of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, a five-judge Constitution Bench in two concurrent judgments authored by CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, ruled that, “the Electoral Bond Scheme, along with provisions in Section 29C (1) of the Representation of the People Act 1951 (as amended by Section 137 of Finance Act 2017), Section 182(3) of the Companies Act (as amended by Section 154 of the Finance Act 2017), and Section 13A(b) (as amended by Section 11 of Finance Act 2017) are violative of  The SC held that the electoral bonds scheme by anonymizing contributions to political parties, infringe upon the right to information of the voter provided under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.  The court noted that financial contribution to a political party may potentially lead to quid pro quo arrangements, and said such contributions give a seat at the table to the contributor, i.e., it enhances access to legislators and this access also translates into influence over policy making,  The SC held it “man- ifestly arbitrary” to permit unlimited political contribution by companies, saying that contributions made by companies are purely business transactions made with the intent of securing benefits in return.  The court also held that the infringement of the right to information of voters cannot be justified for the purpose of curbing black money in the electoral process, which was one of the rationales cited by the Central govt for the electoral bond scheme. Article 19(1)(a) and unconstitutional.” The Constitution Bench further held that the “deletion of the provision to Section 182(1) of the Companies Act permitting unlimited corporate contributions to political parties is arbitrary and violative of Article 14". The court directed that the State Bank of India to stop issuing Electoral Bonds and asked it to submit to the Election Commission of India the details of the Electoral Bonds purchased since 12 April 2019, when it had passed an interim order. The Constitution Bench said the ECI shall publish the information on its official website by 13 March 2024. The court’s judgment came on a batch of petitions, including by the NGO Association for Democratic Reforms, challenging the electoral bond scheme. After NC chief’s exit comment, Omar says ‘still with INDIA bloc’ Centre holds third round of meeting with farmers STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NIKHIL VYAS JAMMU, 15 FEBRUARY Moments after NC chief Farooq Abdullah said that the party would go solo in Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha elections, party vice-president Omar Abdullah clarified on Thursday that the NC continues to be with the opposition alliance and there was no question of going with the BJP-led NDA. In a hurriedly convened media interaction in Srinagar, Omar with his father Farooq Abdullah by his side said, “We were a part of the INDIA alliance and we still are. Things have been taken out of context by the media. The main idea of the grouping is to defeat the BJP for there is no point in sailing in two boats.” “I would like to make it very clear that our commitment to the INDIA alliance remains even though some founding members of the alliance have quit in the past few days. We have been targeting the BJP for what they have done with J&K. Not even our single door or window is open for NDA. “On the seat sharing, we have been very clear for the last few months, the seats that will be discussed are those three that are held with BJP, we are firm on that position. These seats are two in Jammu and one in Ladakh," he said. There will be no discussion on the three LS seats that the NC is holding in Kashmir. These seats are already with the INDIA alliance and we have to chalk out the strategy to win the three seats that the BJP won in the last elections. “What Party chief Farooq Abdullah said was a reflection of what the party cadre feels. NC has made no secrets about the fact that they would rather fight elections on all seats, but the truth is that sometimes for a bigger objective, small sacrifices have to be made.” “If the bigger objective is to win seats back from the BJP, then if it is necessary for NC to enter into seat sharing with Congress, our doors are open. We have not yet had any formal discussion with Congress (on seat sharing), informally some dialogues have taken place. "There is scope for further discussions. As far as NDA is concerned, we are not the sort of a party that has our feet in multiple boats, once we make friends, we stick to those friends," he said. He said the NC is in talks with the Congress for an arrangement in three of the six Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Omar Abdullah’s statement came shortly after NC chief Farooq Abdullah told reporters that the party would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and possible assembly polls in the Union Territory on its own. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu next week, he said, “We will also get to know how much development has happened in Jammu and Kashmir.” He said the Prime Minister should start his theory of one nation, one election from Jammu and Kashmir by holding the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously. NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY A third round of meeting between three Union ministers ~ Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai and leaders of protesting farmer unions was held in Chandigarh late Thursday evening to discuss the issues. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attended the meeting. Earlier, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, while talking to the media about the meeting, said: “We will attend with a positive mindset. We will again put forward our demands in front of the ministers.” “We are confident that a solution will emerge as well. After the meeting we will decide the next course of action," he said, adding "we want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have a conversation with them (ministers) so that we can reach a solution for our demands. Or else, we should be allowed to protest peacefully in Delhi," the farmer leader said. Rohit Sharma to remain captain for T20 World Cup TRIDIP BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY As India prepares for yet another attempt to end the decade-long title drought in a major ICC tournament, BCCI secretary Jay Shah has confirmed that the combination of captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul David will continue to spearhead the side at the forthcoming 2024 men’s T20 World Cup. Speaking to the media at an event in Rajkot, Shah backed the duo’s leadership skills while expressing confidence in the Indian team to lift the T20 World Cup, to be jointly staged by the West Indies and the USA. “The fact that he (Rohit) was returning after a year to lead in the Afghanistan series recently meant he was obviously going to (lead in the T20 World Cup),” Shah said at an event to rename the Saurash- tra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium. This will be the second time Rohit Sharma leads India at a T20 World Cup, having done it in 2022 as well. In that tournament, played in Australia, India lost the semifinal to eventual champions England. Rohit did not feature in T20Is after that, not playing a single T20I in 2023, but was recalled to lead the side in last month’s three-game series against Afghanistan, in which the Mumbai right-hander slammed 121 not out in the final game, after a series of ducks in the first two matches. Under Rohit, India lost last year’s ODI World Cup final at home, after a spectacular run throughout the tournament in which India notched up 10 consecutive victories. Shah said that while Rohit will lead India at the World Cup, Hardik Pandya, who had led India in the shortest format in several series in 2023, remains the primary long-term option. “In T20s, Hardik will be the captain for certain (in the future). Rohit has the ability, we know. As he showed in the ODI World Cup where we won 10 matches in a row until the final. I am confident that India will lift the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in Barbados,” he said. Shah also confirmed that head coach Rahul Dravid will continue till the T20 World Cup. David’s contract had ended after the ODI World Cup final last year, but he was asked to continue in his role along with other support staff for the December-January tour to South Africa without finalising the tenure. “After the (2023 ODI) World Cup, Rahul bhai had to leave for the South Africa tour immediately. We did not get to meet in between which finally happened today,” Shah said. “Why are you worried about a contract for such a senior person like Rahul Dravid? Rahul bhai will remain the coach in the T20 World Cup.” The BCCI secretary further said that the board will hold a few more rounds of discussions with Dravid once he is free from the England series. As the 'Delhi Chalo' march of the farmers from Punjab against the central government entered its third day, farmers continued their protest on interstate borders between Punjab and Haryana demanding higher minimum crop prices and waiver of loans. Rail traffic on the Ambala division of the Northern Railway was affected due to the ongoing farmers’ stir. Protesting farmers from Rajpura in Punjab's Patiala were sitting on rail tracks and blocking trains at Rajpura Railway Station. Speaking on the ongoing farmers’ protest and the 'Bharat Bandh' called for 16 February, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said: "We have spoken about 'Gramin Bharat Bandh' - that farmers do not go to their farms tomorrow. This will send a big message tomorrow.This agitation has a new ideology, a new method. Highways will not be shut. But meetings will continue at our meeting points and we will take decisions there. Monthly panchayat will take place in Sisauli on 17 February.” “We do have the demand on MSP but a strategy will have to be built on incidents that are taking place in Punjab and Haryana - we hope for this. We have told not to gather as a crowd for it. As far as the Bandh is concerned, we have urged people to participate voluntarily," he said. Meanwhile, Gurnam Singh Charuni, head of Bharatiya Kisan Union, announced that they will not pay toll in Haryana for three hours on Friday, which will be followed by a tractor parade in every Tehsil the next day and a joint meeting of all farmers' and labour organisations on Saturday. The decision was taken at a meeting of office-bearers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union called by Charuni earlier today. "Three decisions were taken today: first is that we will keep Haryana toll free for 3 hours tomorrow, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.; the day after tomorrow, there will be a tractor parade in every Tehsil, from 12 pm; on February 18, there will be a joint meeting of all farmers' and labour organisations," Charuni told reporters. Maharashtra Speaker rules in favour of Ajit Pawar faction STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 15 FEBRUARY Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Thursday said the Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party substantially outnumbered the Sharad Pawar group in the state legislature. The two factions had filed disqualification petitions against each other. The Election Commission had ruled in favour of Ajit Pawar (photo), who rebelled against his uncle and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and handed him the party symbol. The EC also allowed the senior Pawar to have an independent identity for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls. “I hold that the Ajit Pawar faction enjoys an overwhelming majority within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP),” Narwekar declared. Reading out the verdict, he said the development in NCP was intra-party dissent and cannot be held as an act of leaving the party. "...the provision of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which deals with the dis- qualification of legislators on grounds of defection, should not be used to silence the members or to crush the opposition. That would be a complete abuse of the law and contrary to the contention of the law," the Speaker added. There are a total of 53 NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. While Ajit Pawar-led faction holds the majority with 41 MLAs, the NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar holds the support of 12 MLAs. Ajit Pawar had walked away with a majority of NCP MLAs in July last year and supported the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by CM Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra.