MONDAY 19 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 PPP PML-N UNABLE TO , FINALISE ‘GIVE & TAKE’ IN COALITION TALKS ‘PM ESTABLISHED THE POLITICS OF PERFORMANCE’ P5 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS TOWARDS NIGHT. GUSTY WINDS (SPEED 30-40 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 27 AND 11 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. Min. 33 % Max: 29.7 °C+5) SUN RISES 6:56 hrs MOON RISES 13:29 hrs Min: 08.6 °C (-2) SUN SETS 18:14 hrs MOON SETS 04:16 hrs THUMBNAILS A child at the Delhi Tulip Festival on SUBRATA DUTTA Sunday. Shervani resigns as General Secretary of SP: Principal opposition Samajwadi Party's troubles are increasing by the day after candidates were announced for the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. On Sunday, another national general secretary of the party, Saleem Sherwani, resigned from his post. It is being reported that he was upset at not getting the Rajya Sabha ticket. Earlier, Swami Prasad Maurya, general secretary of the party had resigned from the post while party MLA Pallavi Patel had announced not to vote for SP candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on 27 February. (PG10) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday.  ANI NEW DELHI, 18 FEBRUARY Rebuffing rumours about all not being well in Opposition bloc INDIA, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that it is “mutual decision” of the AAP and Congress to go solo in Punjab for the Lok Sabha elections, and there are no differences between them. Talking to reporters about AAP's decision to go it alone in Punjab, Mr Kejriwal, who met Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi for lunch, said that the decision was mutual and there is no hostility over this. The chief minister said that the AAP is holding seatsharing talks with the Congress in Delhi as not going for it will make things easy for the BJP. Since a decade, the BJP has been winning all seven parliamentary seats in the national capital. Earlier, when Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced AAP's decision contest all 13 seats in the state, Punjab Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa had said that is exactly what the grand old party wants. Recently in an interview to a private TV channel, Mr Bajwa had said: "We cannot go with AAP in Punjab, as AAP is the ruling party and Congress is in opposition." Reacting to the development, the BJP termed the opposition alliance as "opporAGENCIES tunist". P4 P12 BJP must secure over Centre holds 4th round of talks with farmer leaders 370 seats in polls: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Asks BJP workers, leaders to reach out to every new voter to win trust NEW DELHI, 18 FEBRUARY The fourth round of talks between Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, Nityanand Rai and a delegation of farmer leaders representing the of protesting farmer unions was held in Chandigarh on Sunday evening to further discuss their demands related to the Minimum Support Price, loan waivers and others. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also attended the meeting. Earlier in the day, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, while speaking to media with regard to the meeting, said that they will go with a positive mindset and put our demands forward in front of the ministers. Addressing a Press conference at Shambhu border earlier on Sunday ahead of the meeting between Union Ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dalewal said that solutions can be found by ordinance on MSP guarantee law and a notification on the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan Commission. The farmers' protest entered its sixth day at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders where the protesting farmers have been camping since February 13. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi NEW DELHI, 18 FEBRUARY Max. 95 % Kejriwal: AAP, Cong mutually decided to go solo in Punjab P9 NIKHIL VYAS RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE INDIAN WOMEN PIP THAILAND 3-2 TO WIN MAIDEN TITLE ‘MY CREDIBILITY VS NAIDU'S DECEPTION’ P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked all BJP workers, members and leaders to reach out to every new voter and win everyone's trust in next 100 days, adding that the party must win over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections so that the NDA crosses 400 mark. In his valedictory address to party cadres and leaders on the concluding day of the BJP's two-day National Convention at the Bharat Mandapam here, Mr Modi said: "Over the next 100 days, our goal is to unite and engage with every new voter, every beneficiary, every sector, and every community. It is essential to earn the trust of the people, and with collective efforts, the BJP will have the opportunity to serve the nation with the highest mandate ever." The saffron party’s national convention was held to formulate a strategy to secure over 370 seats for the party in the Lok Sabha elections. In his address, the Prime Minister said a BJP 'Karyakarta', committed to serving the nation, dedicates every hour throughout the PM Narendra Modi being garlanded by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda during the BJP National Convention 2024, in New Delhi on Sunday.  ANI year to this cause. “As we approach the next 100 days, it is imperative that we work with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and faith,” he said. Today is 18th February and the youth who have turned 18 during this period are going to elect the 18th Lok Sabha of the country, the PM said. “We all have to work together for the next 100 days. Every new voter, every beneficiary, every class, society, creed, tradition has to be reached,” Mr Modi stressed. The PM said now was the time to realise the dream and vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India). “The country's dreams and resolve have gotten bigger. Our dream and resolution today is to make a Viksit Bharat and the next five years will be crucial to taking our country there. Over the next five years, we have to take a giant leap towards a Viksit Bharat,” he said. Without naming anyone, the PM took a dig at the Opposition, saying, "Today, even some leaders in the Opposition are chanting 'NDA sarkar 400 paar'. However, to take the NDA past 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP must Jaishankar meets Palestinian FM, discusses Gaza situation AGENCIES MUNICH , 18 FEBRUARY External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the foreign minister of Palestine, Riyad alMaliki, in Munich on Sunday and discussed the situation in Gaza. In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar wrote, "Nice to see Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.""Exchanged views on the current situation in Gaza," he added. The External Affairs Minister is currently in Munich, Germany, to attend the prestigious security conference there. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 offers a unique opportunity for highlevel debates on the world's most pressing security challenges. Six decades after its foundation by Ewald von Kleist, the MSC has assembled senior decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world for discussions on the most pressing international security concerns in February 2024, according to the conference's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024, in ANI Munich on Sunday. official statement. This year's conference was held under the chairmanship of the German Ambassador to the US, Christoph Heusgen. Speaking at a panel discussion at the ongoing Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Jaishankar said there was no justification for the 'terrorism' that was unleashed on the kibbutzes of southern Israel on Octo- ber 7, last year. "All of us follow enormous efforts which Tony (Antony Blinken) is putting in right now,but look the way we look at it has different dimensions, different elements to this," Jaishankar said. "We must be clear that what happened on October 7 was terrorism. No justification, no explanation, it was terrorism," the EAM added. As he went on to speak, the EAM also stated that a large number of countries " strongly believe in two-state solution." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on February 17 to rising appeals from world leaders to avoid a ground operation in Rafah, remarking that doing so would mean "losing the war against Hamas," as reported by The Times of Israel. “Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are essentially telling us: 'Lose the war.' I won't let that happen," he vowed at an evening press conference in Jerusalem. “We won't capitulate to any pressure," he said. secure over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections." Mr Modi further said the next five years are going to play a crucial role in realising "our dream of a developed India". India must work tirelessly to take a giant leap towards becoming a developed nation, he said. “I am not someone who lives for my own happiness. I am advocating for a third term for BJP not for political gains, but for the benefit of India. My efforts are dedicated to the people of India. The dreams of Indians are my commitments," the Prime Minister said. Farmer leaders arrived at Mahatma Gandhi Institute ahead of the meeting with Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in connection with the ongoing protest, in Chandigarh on Sunday.  ANI Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, speaking about the fourth meeting, has said that he hopes both parties come out with a solution. The Delhi CM remarked: "I hope they reach a solution," on being asked about the meeting of the farmer leaders and the Union Ministers. The third round of talks largely remained inconclusive as the farmers' demands were not addressed and asked for a legal guarantee of the MSP. Protests have been going on as the farmers are staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, while farmers leaders had on Saturday said that they had not The farmers' protest entered its sixth day at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders where the protesting farmers have been camping since 13 February stepped back. On 16 February, after the talks, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda had said that the discussions were held in a positive manner. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had given "Delhi Chalo" call, urging the Central government to fulfill their demands. After beginning their march on Tuesday towards the national farmers from Punjab were stopped by the security personnel at Punjab-Haryana's Shambhu and Khanauri border points. India hammer England by 434 runs for its biggest win in Tests Yashasvi Jaiswal (R) scored a phenomenal unbeaten double-century while local lad Ravindra Jadeja followed up his first-innings century with a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings as India hammered England by 434 runs in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. Jaiswal, who retired hurt on 104 due to back cramps on Day Three, remained unbeaten on a career-best score of 214 off 236 balls. India declared on 430/4, giving England a mammoth 557 to chase. The English batters crumbled under the pressure of runs and were skittled out for 122 in 39.4 overs, with Jadeja taking 5-41. The result gave India their biggest win by runs in Tests to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. (Match report on Page 12) Indian Navy to carry out major twin aircraft PM to address rally in Bengal on 7 Mar carrier operations off west coast in March AGENCIES KOLKATA, 18 FEBRUARY AGENCIES VISAKHAPATNAM, 18 FEBRUARY The Indian Navy is going to carry out major operations involving the fleets of both of its aircraft carriers off the west coast in the next ten days, Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Sunday. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, he said both aircraft carriers, including the INS Vikramaditya and made-inIndia INS Vikrant, would be present in Vishakhpatnam during the ‘Exercise Milan’ but the twin carrier operations would be seen only after 10 days. “Both the carriers are going to be there for Exercise Milan. However, the operationalisation of the carriers, the integration to the fleet and participation of the fleet is going to happen in ten days," the Navy chief said. He further said on completion of Exercise Milan, "the carriers as well as the escort ships will all go to the western seaboard. We are going to integrate them". "The tempo of operation is quite high in the western seaboard right now because 10 of our ships are deployed for anti-drone measures and another 3-4 ships are deployed for anti-piracy operations, which is unprecedented. This wasn't the case earlier," the Navy chief said. He added that INS Vikrant would be positioned on the east coast only after the infrastructure for it is created there. On the clearance of C295 aircraft based surveillamce planes for the force, Admiral Hari Kumar said, "The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) approved it yesterday. There are nine aircraft for the Navy and six for the Coast Guard. So, a total of 15 aircraft." The Navy chief added that the C295 aircraft now is going to be built in India, in line with the push for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India). "The key thing is that the sensor suite and the information management system, all that is going to be developed jointly by DRDO and Tata Advanced Systems Limited. it will take probably at least 4-5 years before we get the delivery of the first aircraft because it's a developmental project for this," the Navy chief said. West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state on March 7 and will address a rally at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. The trouble-hit Sandeshkhali falls in North 24 Parganas district. He said that although the state BJP unit wanted a rally to be addressed by the Prime Minister at Sandeshkhali North 24 Parganas district, but later the plan was called off in anticipation that the state administration and the ruling Trinamool Congress might create hurdles for that. “Instead it has been decided that the rally will be con- ducted at Barasat in the same district which will be addressed by the Prime Minister,” Majumdar told newspersons here from New Delhi, where he is now to attend the party’s National Convention. Meanwhile, state BJP sources said that the proposed rally will be extremely crucial for them since the Prime Minister is expected to refer to the recent incidents of the protest by local women at Sandeshkhali. Majumdar said that the Prime Minister is coming to the state to ensure the protection of the women of Sandeshkhali. He claimed that the common women throughout the state have been shaken by the reports of sexual harassment against the local women at Sandeshkhali. “Earlier my mother used to call me and only ask whether I am physically fine and whether I have taken my meals in time. These days she is always asking me how Sandeshkhali is,” Majumdar said. Meanwhile, the North 24 Parganas, on Sunday evening, announced the withdrawal of Section 144 from four out of the 19 places at Sandeshkhali. The restrictions will continue in the remaining 15 places for some more time.