THURSDAY 29 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 SC EXTENDS PROTECTION TO KAVITHA FROM ED PROPOSED TRUCE P6 SENSEX 73,095.22305.09 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY SKY TOWARDS AFTERNOON/EVENING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 27 AND 11 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 93 % Max: 25.5 °C-1) SUN RISES 6:46 hrs MOON RISES 22:37 hrs ` vs $ 82.923 PAISE Min: 10.7 °C (-2) SUN SETS 18:20 hrs MOON SETS 09:40 hrs THUMBNAILS BJP supporters attend a public meeting being addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, on ANI Wednesday. Akhilesh Yadav summoned by CBI in illegal mining case: Samajwadi Party national president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the illegal mining case in New Delhi tomorrow. According to sources here, Mr Yadav has been asked to appear as a witness in the case. Akhilesh Yadav himself disclosed this in the programme of a private news channel in the (P10) capital. PM Modi said the truth is bitter but had to be shared with great regret P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched projects worth Rs 17,300 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, and said the state’s ruling DMK enjoyed power in the UPA government in Delhi for years but only talked about the state and did nothing for its development. Addressing a massive gathering, he said the truth is bitter but had to be shared with great regret. Coming down heavily on the UPA government, he said that the projects he is privileged to launch now are the longstanding demands of the Tamil people. Despite holding big portfolios in the UPA government, the DMK lacked the courage to push for their acceptance, he added. The Prime Minister said: “This servant of yours has come to the land of Tamil Nadu today to write a new chapter in the state's history.” Two years ago, he said, he had promised to make the Chidambara- nar Port a major hub for shipping by starting projects to raise its cargo capacity. That guarantee had been fulfilled on Wednesday, he said. Mr Modi said he had laid the foundation stone for the Outer Harbor Container Terminal needed for the VO Chidambaranar Port for a long time. He launched India's first indigenous green hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel under the Harit Nauka initiative and dedicated tourist facilities in 75 lighthouses across 10 states and Union Territories. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation rail projects for doubling the Vanchi ManiyachchiNagercoil rail line, including the Vanchi Maniyachchi-Tirunelveli section and MelappalayamAralvaymoli section. He launched four road projects in the state, completed at a total cost of about Rs 4,586 crore. “One can witness the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat in today's development projects,” he said. Even though the projects may be in Thoothukudi, the Prime Minister said they will give momentum to development in multiple places TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 28 FEBRUARY The top tier remained unchanged in the BCCI’s latest annual central contracts list, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja included in the A+ category. In all, 30 senior men's cricketers have been included in the contracts' list, up from 26 in 2023. The notable omissions from last year’s list were Iyer and Kishan. Both Iyer and Kishan have been the central figures in the BCCI’s recent shake-up, in which the national cricket board asked the players not to skip domestic cricket in favour of IPL preparation. According to a BCCI statement on Wednesday, Iyer and Kishan “were not considered for the annual contracts in this round of recommendations” along with a reiteration of its recent stance that “all athletes give precedence to participating in domestic cricket during periods when they are not representing the national team.” The second tier of the central contracts (Grade A) has Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. Grade B has a new entrant in 23-year old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was given his first BCCI central contract, recognising his work in Test cricket since debuting in July 2023. He had struck back-toback double-centuries in the ongoing series against England. Along with Jaiswal, the other members of Grade B are Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Indian Navy, NCB seize 3,300 kg of contraband on high seas STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 FEBRUARY In a coordinated operation at sea, the Indian Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) apprehended a suspicious vessel carrying almost 3300 Kgs of contraband (3089 Kgs Charas, 158 Kgs Methamphetamine 25 Kgs Morphine). Based on intelligence received from the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance aircraft which was corroborated with inputs from the NCB, a missiondeployed IN warship was pressed into action to intercept a suspicious dhow en route to the Indian waters with sizable contraband. IN units successfully located, tracked, and intercepted the suspicious boat at sea. The Boarding Operations on the dhow resulted in the largest seizure of narcotics, in quantity, in recent times. Subsequently, the boat was towed by the IN warship to the nearest Indian port for handing over the crew and contraband to the Law Enforcement Agencies. CMYK across India. The Prime Minister said the nation is today working to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat and a Viksit Tamil Nadu will have its due place in Viksit Bharat (developed India). He said the Outer Harbor Container Terminal at VO Chidambaranar Port will receive an investment of Rs 7,000 crore. Projects worth Rs 900 crore have been dedicated today and foundation stones laid for projects worth Rs 2,500 crore at 13 ports simultaneously. These projects will benefit Tamil Nadu and create employment opportunities in the state, he said. Talking about India's first hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel under the Harit Nauka initiative, PM Modi called it a gift of the people of Tamil Nadu for Kashi. He said that he had witnessed the enthusiasm and affection of the people of Tamil Nadu at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam. The Prime Minister inaugurated various projects aimed at making the VO Chidambaranar Port the first Green Hydrogen P12 SILVER 73,900 ‘DMK enjoyed power at Centre, did nothing for TN’s progress’ Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan axed from BCCI’s annual contracts The impact of BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s warning to players that they will face “severe implications” for skipping international and domestic red ball games to keep themselves fit for the Indian Premier League (IPL) was felt when the board released a list of 30 players included in the BCCI’s annual central contracts, with the axe falling on Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan. The development came a couple of days after India skipper Rohit Sharma issued another stern reminder, suggesting that players showing “hunger” for red-ball cricket will be given preference for Test selection. P8 GOLD 63,995.00 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 FEBRUARY Min. 42 % TEMPERATURE P4 NIFTY 22,198.3576.30 HI DISMISSES CLAIMS MADE BY SCHOPMAN & NORMAN ‘CENTRE HAS NO ROLE EXCEPT OBEYING FINANCE COMMISSION’ Hub Port of the country. These projects include a desalination plant, hydrogen production, and a bunkering facility. “Tamil Nadu will go a long way with regard to the alternatives that the world is exploring today,” he said. Mr Modi said that the nation is today working with the ‘whole of government’ approach. Railways, highways and waterways may be different areas but all three aim at enhancing connectivity, providing more facilities and fostering better opportunities for industries. This multi-modal approach of connectivity will give a good push to the development of the state, he said. The Prime Minister said the electrification and doubling of rail lines will further improve connectivity between South Tamil Nadu and Kerala, while also easing congestion in Tirunelveli and Nagercoil sectors. In the last 10 years, 1,300 km of rail projects were undertaken in Tamil Nadu, while 2,000 km of railway electrification was achieved. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 81.750.27 Congress rushes observers to Himachal, Sukhu says not quitting STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SHIMLA, 28 FEBRUARY As the political crisis deepened in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh after crossvoting by several party MLAs in Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha election, and the resignation of works minister Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday, the party leadership on Wednesday rushed observers to Shimla in a bid to save the government. Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivkumar and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda reached Shimla on Wednesday and held discussions with Mr Sukhu and several party leaders and MLAs. After rounds of meetings between the observers and Mr Sukhu, Congress president Pratibha Singh and cabinet ministers and other MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajeev Shukla told mediapersons that Vikramaditya Singh will not press his resignation. Mr Singh has withdrawn his resignation after it was refused by the Chief Minister. “For the larger interest of the party and for the unity of the party, I will not press my resignation. My objective is to strengthen the party and to Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivkumar and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda reached Shimla on Wednesday and held discussions with Sukhu and other party leaders and MLAs. serve the people of the state,” said Singh, adding that there was no danger to the government. Meanwhile, the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted are said to have claimed that some legislators are disenchanted with the functioning of Mr Sukhu and wanted his removal from the post of Chief Minister. The observers sent to Shimla were expected to talk to the disgruntled rebels; however, the six Congress MLAs and three Independent MLAs who backed the BJP candidate in Tuesday’s Rajya Sabha election have been shifted to some location in Panchkula. Speculation was rife during the day of Mr Sukhu having resigned. However it was put to rest when he spoke to the media and dismissed the rumours.