MONDAY 11 MARCH 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 UK’S POLL BUDGET JAGAN MOHAN SLAMS TRIPARTITE ALLIANCE P4 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 29 AND 12 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 84 % P6 P10 PM inaugurates 12 airport terminals across country Projects worth ` 34,000 crore dedicated to UP’s Azamgarh Min. 29 % TEMPERATURE Max: 28.4 °C (0) SUN RISES 6:34 hrs MOON RISES 7:47 hrs ‘CHH’GARH HAS POTENTIAL TO BE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND INDIA’S GROWTH’ Min: 10.0 °C (-4) SUN SETS 18:27 hrs MOON SETS 19:41 hrs THUMBNAILS Farmers from Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee block the railway track as they stage a nationwide 'Rail Roko Andolan', at Devidaspura, in Amritsar on Sunday. ANI (P 2) Kerala veterinary student died of brutal assault, says anti-ragging squad report: A r critical report of the anti-ragging squad regarding the suspected suicide death of JS Sidharth, a second-year student of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus at Pookode in Wayanad, has come to light. The interim report of the anti-ragging squad reveals details of the brutal physical assault and public trial Sidharth faced at the hands of his batchmates and seniors on February 16, 17, and 18. Pg4 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 MARCH P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth more than Rs 34,000 crore in an event held at Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi noted the change of such programmes happening at places like Azamgarh instead of being held in Delhi. “Azamgarh, which was counted among the backward areas, is writing a new chapter of development today,” he said. Mr Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 15 airport projects across the country worth more than Rs 9800 crore. He inaugurated 12 new Terminal Buildings of Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti and Adampur Airports. The PM laid the foundation stone of three new Terminal Buildings of Kadapa, Hubli and Belagavi airports. To illustrate the speed of the completion of airports, the Prime Minis- ter informed that Gwalior terminal was completed in just 16 months. “This initiative will make air travel easier and accessible for the common citizens of the country,” he said. Mr Modi emphasised that the record of the government of completing announced projects in time repudiates the allegation of these projects being election gimmicks. “People are seeing that Modi is made of different material. I am working relentlessly to create a Viksit Bharat,” the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that along with airport, highway and railway infrastructure, projects related to education, water and environment received a new push today. Giving a new guarantee to the people of Azamgarh, the Prime Minister said that ‘Azamgarh will remain ‘Aajanm’ a ‘Vikas ka Garh’ (bastion of development forever). Breaking into local dialect, the Prime Minister said with airport, hospital and medical college, Azamgarh is no longer dependent on the neighbouring big cities. The Prime Minister said that in the last 10 years, the region is seeing politics of India signs free trade pact with EFTA nations After 10-hr rescue operation, man’s body pulled out from borewell STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE development in place of the earlier politics of appeasement and dynasty. This trend got a new momentum under the leadership of Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, Mr Modi said. He said cities like Aligarh, Moradabad, Azamgarh, Shravasti which were ignored as backward areas of Uttar Pradesh are getting air connectivity due to rapid overall development. Mr Modi said just like welfare schemes, modern infrastructure is moving beyond metro cities to small towns and villages. “Small cities have equal rights to airports and good CHIRAG-SATWIK BEAT WORLD CHAMPIONS P12 New election panel members likely to be appointed by 15 Mar AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 10 MARCH highways as big metro cities,” he emphasised. “We are increasing the strength of the Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities so that urbanization continues unabated,” said the Prime Minister. Mr Modi emphasized the importance of connectivity and infrastructure development in the region. He referred to the inauguration and foundation laying ceremonies of several railway projects, including those connecting districts like Sitapur, Shahjahanpur, Gazipur, and Prayagraj. Azamgarh, Mau and Balia received the gift of many railway projects. In addition to railway projects, Prime Minister Modi underscored the government's commitment to rural infrastructure development through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. He stated: “More than 5,000 kilometres of roads have been inaugurated under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, aiming to improve connectivity for the farmers and youth of Eastern Uttar Pradesh." Mr Modi also highlighted the government's focus on ensuring fair prices for farmers' produce. Two election commissioners are likely to be appointed by 15 March to fill the vacancies created by the retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey and the surprise resignation of Arun Goel, news portals reported on Sunda. Days before the poll panel was expected to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Goel resigned on Friday His resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday. This leaves Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as the sole member of the poll authority. Mr Pandey had demitted office on 14 February on attaining the age of 65 years. A search committee under Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and comprising the Home Secretary and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) Secretary will first prepare two separate panels of five names each for the two posts. Later, a selection committee headed by the prime minister and comprising a Union minister and Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will then name two persons for appointment as election commissioners. The election commissioners will be appointed by the President. Sources said the selection committee could meet either on 13 or 14 March depending on the convenience of the members and the appointments are likely to be made by 15 March. Before a new law on the appointment of CEC and ECs came into force recently, the election commissioners were appointed by the President on the government's recommendation and as per custom, the senior-most was appointed as CEC. While the reasons behind Mr Goel's resignation are still not clear, sources were quoted as saying he might have resigned due to personal reasons. They also rejected suggestions that there were differences between Mr Goel and Mr Kumar. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 MARCH India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States ~ Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland ~ on Sunday signed a landmark Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) which promises to bring significant economic benefits, such as better integrated and more resilient supply chains, new opportunities for businesses and individuals on both sides leading to increased trade and investment flows, job creation, and economic growth. Speaking on behalf of the EFTA Member States at the signing ceremony, Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin stated that “EFTA countries gain market access to a major growth market. Our companies strive to diversify their supply chains while rendering them more resilient. India, in return, will attract more for- The agreement enhances market access and simplifies customs procedures making it easier for Indian and EFTA businesses to expand their operations in the respective markets. eign investment from EFTA, which will ultimately translate into an increase in good jobs.” “All in all, the TEPA will allow us to make\ better use of our economic potential and create additional opportunities for both India and the EFTA States”. The agreement enhances market access and simplifies customs procedures making it easier for Indian and EFTA businesses to expand their operations in the respective markets. The agreement further aims to facilitate and promote investment opportunities between the Parties. The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement was signed by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Guy Parmelin, Iceland Minister of Foreign Affairs Bjarni Benediktsson, Liechtenstein Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liechtenstein Dominique Hasler and Norway Trade and Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre. The agreement marks a significant milestone in the relationships between the EFTA states and India. It reflects the culmination of dedicated efforts to foster a deeper economic partnership, underscoring the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding, a press release from EFTA said. CRY FOR FREEDOM NEW DELHI, 10 MARCH A man died after falling into an unused borewell in Delhi's Keshopur, the police said on Sunday. The body of the deceased was extracted in a more than 10-hour-long rescue operation by civic agencies including the NDRF and the DFS. The rescue operation was assiduously carried out by digging a hole parallel to the borewell in a bid to reach out to the victim while avoiding any harm to him. The man, who is said to be around 30 years of age, fell into the abandoned borewell on Saturday night. But his identity is yet to be established, according to information received by the police. The borewell, about 40 feet deep with a width of around 12 inches, is located at a Delhi Jal Board facility, a STP in Keshopur, West Delhi. (Details on page 2) Tibetan Youth Congress members take out a march on the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on SUBRATA DUTTA Sunday. Bengal: 6 sitting MPs dropped as TMC announces list in rally ‘PM’s outreach to Putin helped prevent STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 10 MARCH The Trinamul Congress’s list of 42 candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha election contains a few surprises, some new faces and ensured representation of the old guard while six sitting MPs were dropped. The list of candidates was announced from the podium at the mammoth Janagarjan Sabha gathering at Brigade Parade Ground this afternoon. The announcement, for all Lok Sabha seats from Bengal, also put paid to any lingering hopes on the part of the Congress for a seat-sharing arrangement in Bengal. Eleven women candidates have been nominated for the Lok Sabha election. They are Mala Roy, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Shatabdi Roy, Mahua Moitra, Pratima Mon- dol, Shaoni Ghosh, June Malliah, Mitali Bag, Sujata Khan, Dr Sharmila Sarkar and Rachana Banerjee. Abhishek Banerjee, party’s national general secretary read out the list at the instruction of party’s chairperson Mamata Banerjee. Six sitting party MPs were not given tickets. They are Mimi Chakraborty ( Jadavpur), Nusrat Jahan (Basirhat), Aparupa Poddar (Arambag), Arjun Singh (Barrackpore) and CM Jatua from Mathurapur and Sunil Mondol from East Burdwan. Actor-turned-politician Shaoni Ghosh, who is the president of the Trinamul Youth Congress will fight from Jadavpur Parliamentary seat. She replaces another actor Mimi Chakraborty. Actor Rachana Banerjee will make her political debut contesting against sitting BJP MP Locket Chatterjee from Hooghly. The other actors who will be contesting are June Malliah from Midnapore, Satabdi Roy in Birbhum, Dipak Adhikari (Deb) from Ghatal and Bollywood veteran Shatrughan Sinha,who will contest from Asansol. Two popular cricketers, Kriti Azad and Yusuf Pathan, will contest from Burdwan-Durgapur and Behrampur, respectively. Of the old guard who were renewed their tickets, Abhishek Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour, Professor Saugata Roy will contest from Dum Dum, Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar will contest from Barasat, Mala Roy and Sudip Bandyopadhyay will contest from Kolkata South and Kolkata North. Kalyan Bandyopadhyay will contest from Srirampur while Prasun Banerjee, former India football skipper will contest from Howrah. Brushing aside all speculation that she will not be given ticket, Mohua Moitra will contest from Krishnagar. Partha Bhowmick, state minister for Irrigation and Waterways department will fight from Barrackpore in place of Arjun Singh. Four MLAs who joined TMC from BJP have been given tickets. Biplab Mitra will take on BJP’s state president Sukanta Mazumdar in Balurghat. Krishna Kalyani will contest from Raigunj, Biswajit Das from Bongaon and Mukutmani Adhikari will contest from Ranaghat. Prakash Chik Baraik, Rajya Sabha MP will contest from Alipurduar. PHOTO: BISWAJIT GHOSHAL potential N-attack on Kyiv in late 2022’ AGENCIES WASHINGTON DC, 10 MARCH As the Russia-Ukraine conflict raged in 2022, the United States started "preparing rigorously" for a potential nuclear strike by Moscow against Kyiv, in what would have been the first nuclear attack since the US dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly eighty years before, CNN reported citing two senior administration officials. The report stated that outreach from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other countries also played an important role in averting the crisis. The Biden administration was specifically concerned Russia might use a tactical or battlefield nuclear weapon, the officials said. Amid the fears, the US sought to enlist the help of non-allies including India, to discourage Russia from such an attack, as reported by CNN. “One of the things we did was not only message them directly but strongly urge, press, encourage other countries, to whom they might be more attentive, to do the same thing," the senior administration official said. US officials say that outreach and public statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others helped avert a crisis. "I think we believe showing the international community the concern about this, particularly the concern from key countries for Russia and the Global South, was also a helpful, persuasive factor and showed them what the cost of all this could be," CNN quoted a senior administration official as saying. “I think the fact that we know, India weighed in, China weighed in, others weighed in, may have had some effect on their thinking," the senior administration official added. "I can't demonstrate this positively, but I think that's our assessment."