THURSDAY 22 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 CONSENSUS AT MIDNIGHT PAVES WAY FOR ‘PDM 2.0’ ‘INDIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH WORLD IS GROWING’ P5 SENSEX 72,623.09434.30 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 25 AND 11 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95 % TEMPERATURE Max: 26.9 °C1) SUN RISES 6:53 hrs MOON RISES 16:21 hrs P9 NIFTY 22,055.05141.90 Min: 12.2 °C (0) SUN SETS 18:16 hrs MOON SETS 06:22 hrs THUMBNAILS Artistes perform Kathak dance during the inauguration ceremony of the 50th Khajuraho Dance festival, in Khajuraho on Tuesday. ANI CBI summons BRS leader K Kavitha: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in connection with the Delhi (now scrapped) excise policy case, the sources said. The daughter of former Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao has been asked to appear for questioning next week on 26 February. Earlier, the ED had summoned Kavitha in January in Delhi liquor scam case. ` vs $ 82.961 PAISE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY F armer leader from the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarwan Singh Pandher said here on Wednesday that the ‘Dilli Chalo’ march would be on hold for two days as the farmer leaders want to review the situation on the Khanauri border. Addressing the media on Wednesday evening, Mr Pandher said the future course of action with regard to the march to Delhi would be decided after two days. Meanwhile, agitating farmers once again tried to move towards the barricades at the PunjabHaryana Shambhu and Khanauri borders in a bid to march towards Delhi. However, they were once again stopped by the police firing tear-gas shells to disperse the protestors before they could advance towards the barricades. As the farmers’ protest entered its ninth day, Union Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said the Centre was ready to discuss all the issues includ- A huge crowd of agitating farmers gather as they resume their Delhi Chalo march, at the Shambhu border (Punjab-Haryana) in Patiala on Wednesday.  ANI ing the demand for the minimum support price (MSP). Inviting the protesting farmers for a fifth round of talks, the Union agriculture minister urged them to maintain peace and find a solution through ‘dialogue’. The farmer unions had earlier rejected the Centre's proposal given in the fourth round of talks, where the government proposed MSP on pulses, maize and cotton. Meanwhile, the Haryana Police said that the agitating farmers at the Data Singh Khanauri border surrounded the police personnel and set a large quantity of parali (stubble) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY mixed with chilli powder on fire. The protesters also attacked police personnel by pelting stones at them in which 12 of them were injured. Haryana Police have made an appeal to the protesters not to take resort to violence and cooperate with the police in maintaining law and order. The police have strongly denied fake news about the abduction of a farmer named Preet, who hails from Sangrur, from Khanauri border. They informed that he was admitted to PGI Rohtak by the police for treatment and is out of danger. Earlier, in a post on NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY Income Tax department mandated banks to transfer over Rs 65 crores from INC, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government ~ Rs 5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and Rs 60.25 crores from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government.” Attacking the BJP, Maken said: “Is it common for national political parties to pay Income Tax? No. Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No. Why then is the Congress party facing an unprecedented demand of Rs 210 crores?” The senior Congress leader said: “During today’s ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal) proceedings, we presented our case. The hearing is set to continue tomorrow.” He reiterated that the funds in question were raised through grassroots efforts, including crowdfunding and membership drives by the IYC and NSUI. “This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat?,” Mr Maken said. microblogging site X, Mr Munda said: “After the fourth round, the government is ready to discuss all the issues like MSP demand, crop diversification, stubble issue, FIR in the fifth round.” “I again invite the farmer leaders for discussion. It is important for us to maintain peace,” he added. Talking to a news agency, Mr Munda made an appeal to the farmers to maintain peace. "I appeal to them to maintain peace and we should find a solution through dialogue," he said. He, however, informed that the farmers have not yet responded to his invitation. "No information has come yet (from farmers' side). We appeal that we should move forward for talks and present our stand. The government also wants to move forward and find a solution," the Union minister said. Mr Munda is part of a team of Union ministers holding talks with the farmer leaders, including Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai.The four rounds of talks held between the ministers and the farmers so far remained inconclusive. Gaganyaan mission: ISRO successfully tests rocket engine for human spaceflight STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE In a major announcement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday said it has completed the final round of ground qualification tests of the country's 'Gaganyaan' mission on 13 February. In other words, the performance of the key cryogenic engine to be used on board the LVM3 launch vehicles for India’s Gaganyaan has been qualified and now certified for missions that will transport humans into space. "ISRO has accomplished a major milestone in the human rating of its CE20 cryogenic engine that powers the cryogenic stage of the human-rated LVM3 launch vehicle for Gaganyaan missions, with the completion of the final round of ground qualification tests on February 13, 2024," the space agency SILVER 75,700 GOLD 64,185.00 Farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ on hold for two days I-T dept mandated banks to transfer over `65 cr from its accounts, claims Congress The Congress on Wednesday claimed that the Income Tax department ordered banks to transfer more than Rs 65 crore from the accounts of the party, Youth Congress and NSUI to the government. The party reiterated that democracy is under attack from the ruling dispensation. The claim of the Congress came days after it accused the government that it had frozen the accounts of the country’s largest Opposition party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The party said that “the issue was related to 2018-19 for which the Income Tax department asked for a recovery of Rs 210 crore from it". Later, it said it can operate its accounts with a lien of the IT department thereon. In a post on X, Congress’ national treasurer, Ajay Maken said: “Yesterday, the P6 The Centre has invited the protesting farmers for a fifth round of talks Min. 37 % BUMRAH RESTED FROM FOURTH TEST DEMOCRACY ALARMS said in a statement. Gaganyaan is India’s proposed first human flight mission that envisions sending a three-membered crew into an orbit of 400 km for a period of three days and bringing them back to Earth. The first unmanned Gaganyaan–1 mission is scheduled in mid2024. ISRO's heavy lift launcher, the LVM, has been identified as the launch vehicle to be used during the Gaganyaan missions. Comprising solid, liquid and a cryogenic stage, these systems can be configured to ferry humans into space. Life demonstration tests, endurance tests, and performance assessment under nominal operating conditions as well as offnominal conditions, thrust, mixture ratio, and propellant tank pressure are part of the ground qualification tests that were taken for human rating of the CE20 engine. P12 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 82.120.22 SP, Congress strike deal for LS polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE LUCKNOW, 21 FEBRUARY The much-awaited Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls came to fruition with the Congress set to contest 17 seats and the SP the remaining 63 seats in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. Congress' UP in-charge Avinash Pandey said the two parties will together fight to save (SEE PAGE 10) democracy. India, Greece to double bilateral trade by 2030, says PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the visit of Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to India reflects strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries. In a joint Press statement after holding bilateral and delegation level talks here with his Greek counterpart, Mr Modi said that both countries have agreed to double their bilateral trade by 2030. The Prime Minister said that the growing cooperation in defence and security sectors reflects deep mutual trust between the two nations. With the setting up of a working group, the two countries will be able to meet challenges in cyber security, counter-terrorism and maritime security in a coordinated manner. Mr Modi said: “I am happy to welcome PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his delegation to India. After my visit to Greece last year, his visit to India is a symbol of the strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit of the Greek PM to India after 16 years is a historic occasion.” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra were present in the delegation level talks. Teming his discussions with Mr Mitsotakis “meaningful and useful”, Mr Modi expressed happiness that India and Greece are taking steps to implement the agreements on trade reached in this area in 2023. PM Modi said new oppor- I am happy to welcome PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his delegation to India. After my visit to Greece last year, his visit to India is a symbol of the strengthening strategic partnership between the two countries. The visit of the Greek PM to India after 16 years is a historic occasion. PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI tunities were explored during his meeting ranging from agriculture, pharma, medical devices, technologies, innovation, skill development, and space. He said shipping and connectivity are the highest priority areas and he had discussed increasing cooperation in these areas with the Greek PM. Mr Modi noted that India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism. The Prime Minister said "We also discussed connecting the start-ups of both countries. Shipping and connectivity are topics of high priority for both the countries. We also discussed increasing cooperation in these areas." He said: “New opportunities for co-production and co-development are being created in defence manufacturing in India, which can be beneficial for both the countries. We have agreed to connect the defence industries of both the countries.” India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism, he said. The two sides discussed in detail how to further strengthen cooperation in this area. Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis heaped praise on Mr Modi and said that he has found a visionary leader and a true friend in him, adding that the India-Greece relations are beyond bilateral contacts. "In Prime Minister Modi, I have found a visionary, a principal leader, and, dare I say, a true friend. And the importance that we attach to our relations with India is evident not only in the increase of our bilateral contacts over the past year, but also in the partnerships we have developed. Last year we signed a memorandum of understanding in crucial areas such as agriculture and defence," Greek PM said while giving a joint statement with PM Modi. Legendary Radio host Ameen Sayani is no more Legal doyen Fali Sam Nariman passes away at 95 RITA SACHDEVA NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY NEW DELHI, 21 FEBRUARY India has lost its true legend of the airwaves -- Ameen Sayani -- the iconic radio broadcaster who revolutionised the art of radio presentation. Sayani, the iconic radio presenter of the popular show "Binaca Geetmala', died on Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 91. His voice, synonymous with the golden era of radio, and the timeless 'Geetmala', will forever echo in the hearts of crores of people. For 42 years since 1952, Sayani hosted ‘Binaca Geetmala’, a programme of hits over the airwaves of Radio Ceylon, and he addressed the listeners in his unique style as "Behno aur bhaiyo". His style of addressing the crowd with "Behno aur Bhaiyo" (sisters and brothers) as against the traditional "Bhaiyo aur Behno" is still treated as an announcement with a melodious touch. He had produced, compered and spoken for over 54,000 radio programmes and 19,000 spots and jingles since 1951. The news of his demise was confirmed by his son Rajil Sayani, who stated that Ameen Sayani breathed his last at a hospital last night. The cause of his demise has been attributed to heart failure. Condolences are pouring in on social media as the news of the legendary presenter broke out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness and extended his condolences. He wrote that Ameen Sayani Ji’s golden voice on the airwaves had a charm and warmth that endeared him to people across generations. "Through his work, he played an important role in revolutionising Indian broadcasting and nurtured a very special bond with his listeners. Saddened by his passing away. Condolences to his family, admirers and all radio lovers. May his soul rest in peace," he wrote in his post on X. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, too, condoled the demise of Sayani. "Pained to know that Shri Ameen Sayani Ji the voice of the radio is no more. Sayani Ji leaves a void behind that will be difficult to fill. His golden legacy makes him immortal. My sincerest condolences to his near and dear ones and millions of admirers. Om Shanti.," he wrote in his post on X. Born in 1932, Sayani assisted his mother, Kulsum Sayani, in editing, publishing and printing a fortnightly journal for neo-literates, under the instructions of Mahatma Gandhi. It was this grounding in simple communication that helped him in his long career in commercial broadcasting and culminated in his being awarded the "Hindi Ratna Puraskaar" by the prestigious Hindi Bhavan of New Delhi in 2007. He was introduced to All India Radio, Bombay, by his brother Hamid Sayani. Ameen participated in English programmes there for ten years. Some of the better-known radio shows produced and compered by Ameen Sayani include 'Cibaca (formerly Binaca) Geetmala', 'S Kumars Ka Filmi Mukaddama', 'Filmi Mulaqaat', 'Saridon Ke Sathi', 'Bournvita Quiz Contest', 'Shalimar Superlac Zodi' and 'Sangeet Key Sitaron KI Mehfil'. PARMOD KUMAR Eminent jurist and doyen of the legal profession Fali Sam Nariman passed away at the age of 95 on Wednesday morning in New Delhi. An influential figure in India's legal landscape, his contributions have impacted many landmark judgments in the country. He leaves behind a son, a retired Supreme Court judge Rohinton Fali Nariman, daughter Anaheeta Fali Nariman and daughter-in-law Sanaya. His wife Bapsi Nariman passed away in 2020. His burial will take place in New Delhi on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Parsi Aramgah, near Khan Market, and the traditional prayer meeting (Uthamna) in the Parsi Anjuman, opposite Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, at 4 p.m. on Thursday that is allowed only to the Parsis. Nariman was suffering from multiple ailments, including cardiac issues. Born on 10 January 1929, Nariman did his law from Government Law College, Mumbai. Initially he practiced at Bombay High Court before shifting to the Supreme Court after appointment as Additional Solicitor General by the Indira Gandhi government in 1972. He resigned as ADG in 1975 in protest against the imposition of the National Emergency in June 1975. He received the Padma Bhushan in January 1991 and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2007. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his condolences said: “Shri Fali Nariman Ji was among the most outstanding legal minds and intellectuals. He devoted his life to making justice accessible to common citizens. I am pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in his condolence message said: "The passing away of eminent jurist, senior advocate, and a fierce votary of Constitutional Civil Liberties, Fali S Nariman is a huge loss to the legal system. A Padma Vibhushan recipient, his unwavering commitment to his principles remained steadfast and admirable. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and compatriots. May his soul rest in peace."