SATURDAY 16 MARCH 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 THE REMATCH ‘RAY’S FILMS CAN’T BE REMADE’ P7 SENSEX 72,643.43453.85 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY BECOMING MAINLY CLEAR SKY TOWARDS AFTERNOON. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 30 AND 12 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 79 % TEMPERATURE Max: 28.7°C (0) SUN RISES 06:28 hrs MOON RISES 10:30 hrs P6 NIFTY 22,023.35123.30 THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH T Nitish Kumar expands Cabinet: The Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar on Friday expanded its Cabinet by inducting 21 legislators who were sworn-in as ministers here at a programme in Raj Bhavan. Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, two Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and other leaders were present at the swearing-in programme. PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH SC refuses to stay fresh appointments to ECI The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the fresh appointments to the Election Commission of India, made under the legislation which excludes the Chief Justice of India from the process of appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners. "Normally, we don’t stay a legislation by an interim order," observed a Bench, headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, as it heard a bunch of applications seeking to restrain the Centre from filling the vacancies in the poll panel in accordance with the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The Act provides that the CEC and the ECs will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the PM, the Leader of the Opposition (or the largest opposition party) in the LS, and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the PM. his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The BJP has already announced its candidates for 267 seats, while the Congress has declared its nominees for 82 seats. Some other parties have also named their candidates. Earlier today, the two new election commissioners were welcomed by CEC Rajiv Kumar at Nirvachan Sadan to “the action packed and intense 12 weeks ahead”. He emphasised the significance of their joining at this historic point, when the ECI is all set to conduct the general elections 2024. A notification regarding the appointment of the Election Commissioners was published in the Gazette on Thursday. NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH he Election Commission will announce the schedule for elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim on Saturday. In a post on 'X', a spokesperson of the EC on Friday said: "Press Conference by Election Commission to announce schedule for #GeneralElections2024 & some State Assemblies will be held at 3 pm tomorrow i.e. Saturday, 16th March. It will be live streamed on social media platforms of the ECI." The dates were finalised at a meeting of the three-member panel, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, soon after new election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu assumed charge. The term of the present (17th) Lok Sabha is ending on 16 June. In 2019, the Lok Sabha polls were held in seven phases from 11 April to 19 Ma. This time too, it is expected that the polling to elect the 18th Lok Sabha will be held in a number of phases. The model code of conduct (MCC) will come into force soon after the poll schedule is announced. Major political parties have already launched their election campaigns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing public meetings across the nation and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi continuing Questioning the State Bank of India for not disclosing the hidden alphanumeric numbers of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court on Friday issued yet another notice to the state-owned bank to explain the holding back of the data to the poll panel in contravention of the court's orders. On 15 February, the constitution bench of the Supreme Court had directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to furnish to the Election Commission (EC) all the details relating to the 22,217 electoral bonds purchased from it during the period 1 April 2019 to 15 February 2024 including their date of purchase, name of purchaser, their denomination and their redemption by the various political parties, including date of redemption and the denomination. Referring to the directions issued on 15 February 2024, by a five-judge Constitution Bench directing State Bank of India to disclose all the information relating to Electoral Bonds, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heading a Bench also comprising Justice Sanjiv Khan- ED arrests BRS leader K Kavitha in Delhi liquor scam case India rejects US statement on implementation of CAA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE HYDERABAD, 15 MARCH The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with the Delhi liquor scam. Sources said she is being taken to Delhi for further questioning. The development comes on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the city, conducting a road show in the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat. Meanwhile, members of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) gathered outside Ms Kavitha’s residence and shouted slogans against Mr Modi. Senior BRS leaders K T Rama Rao and T Harish Rao also reached her residence. The ED officials and BRS working president K T Rama Rao also entered into a spat after the former reached Ms Kavitha's residence. While the officials demanded to know how Mr Rao gained entry into the residence, the BRS leader sought to see the transit warrant to arrest Ms Kavitha. Mr Rao also accused the ED of deliberately arresting her on a Friday. Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at Kavitha's Banjara Hills residence. The ED teams from Delhi arrived at her doorstep around the lunch hour. The raids also come on the eve of the announcement of the poll schedule. The Congress had cornered the BJP in the past accusing it of working out a deal with the BRS and pointing out that though most of the AAP leaders named in the case were incarcerated, Ms Kavitha was still free. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on Ms Kavitha’s pleas against the summons issued by ED in connection with the Delhi Liquor scam till 19 March. Ms Kavitha had refused to appear before the CBI despite summons after she was designated as an accused in the case. The BRS has alleged that it was preplanned by the BJP to demoralise BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. Party leader T Harish Rao questioned the timing of the arrest, claiming that the SC had ordered that no coercive action should be taken against her. She was arrested on Friday evening deliberately so that she could not move court, he alleged. The party will move the Supreme Court against her arrest. NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH India on Friday rejected the US State Department’s statement on the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment ACT (CAA), terming it as misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted. “India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens. There are no grounds for any concern on treatment of minorities. Vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress,'' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. He was reacting to US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller's statement that Washington is concerned about the notification of the CAA rules in India and is closely monitoring the act's implementation. “Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post Partition history are best not attempted,'' the Indian spokesperson said, adding partners and wellwishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken. He made it clear that the CAA is an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and its long-standing commitment to human rights. The Act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31 December 2014. ''The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights,'' the spokesperson added. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 84.350.39 Electoral bonds: Apex court pulls up SBI for furnishing incomplete information The term of the present (17th) Lok Sabha is ending on 16 June AGENCIES P12 SILVER 77,000 GOLD 66,110 ECI to announce LS poll schedule today Min: 13.9°C (-1) SUN SETS 18:30 hrs MOON SETS 01:15 hrs Passengers wait to board a Metro running from Esplanade to Howrah, which would pass under the Hooghly, on the first day of commercial services.  BISWAJIT GHOSHAL P11 ` vs $ 82.89 Min. 22 % FIFA WC: INDIAN TEAM LEAVES FOR SAUDI ARABIA ‘ELECTORAL BONDS BIGGEST SCAM IN INDEPENDENT INDIA’ SC to hear pleas seeking stay on CAA Rules, 2024 PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on 19 March a batch of petitions seeking stay on the operation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, that paves the way for the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 for the grant of Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Buddhist, Jains, who had come to India on or before 31 December 2014, to escape religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. (PG10) Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud in a hearing with a bench of senior judges on the Electoral Bonds issue, in New Delhi on Friday. ANI na, Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra said, “Really speaking we can take exception to what they (SBI) have disclosed, They were duty bound to …”, As the bench said that the disclosure of information relating to the Electoral Bonds also included the disclosure of the alphanumeric numbers of each bond, senior advocate Kapil Sibal read out the directions passed by the Constitution bench on 15 February and stated that “It is an inclusive order.” It also includes the disclosure of the hidden alphanumeric numbers, Mr Sibal told the bench. Issuing notice to the State Bank of India, the court posted the matter for Mon- day 18 March, for further hearing. The court directed its registry to serve the notice on the lawyer representing the SBI in the Supreme Court. The court also directed its Registrar (Judicial) to hand over to the Election Commission of India the “original” papers with data on the electoral bonds purchased by private entities and redeemed by various political parties that was submitted to the top court in a sealed cover in pursuance to the 14 April 2019, interim order of the court. However, the bench said that the registry would retain scanned and digitised copies of the original data furnished by the poll panel to the top court. Govt pressing Moscow hard for discharge of Indians working for Russian Army STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH The government is pressing very hard with the Russian authorities for an early discharge of Indian nationals who have been duped to work in the Russian Army, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.(Photo) At a media briefing here, he said there are about 20 Indians who have approached the Indian authorities. There are two Indians who have passed away. “The paperwork regarding their mortal remains has been done. The funeral agency, which we have engaged, has handed over the bodies.” “We are in touch with the families. We are also in touch with the Russian authorities. And hopefully, we will have the mortal remains in India by the end of this week, that is on Sunday or thereabout,” the spokesperson said. Asked about India's current stand on the RussiaUkraine conflict, he said: “We have been very consistent in our position on the war. We continue to encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy which is our standard position and we remain open to engaging all ways and means that could help achieve this objective." BJP’s performance in TN will shatter DMK, Cong: PM Rajnath inaugurates Nausena PM to visit Bhavan, Naval HQ, in Delhi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH In an all-out attack on the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that BJP's performance in the general elections would shatter the DMK-Congress alliance, which was identified only with 'scams' during 2004-2014. “I had begun the ‘Ekta Yatra’ in 1991 from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, and in 2024, I came to Kanyakumari from Kashmir. J&K has rejected the dreams of people who wanted to break the country and now the people of Tamil Nadu will do the same. The performance of BJP in Tamil Nadu in this election will shatter the DMK and Congress,” he said during a public rally in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. He said the DMK is the enemy of the future and the culture of Tamil Nadu. Recalling his previous visit to the state, Mr Modi said: “Before the Ayodhya Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, I came to Tamil Nadu and visited the prominent temples in the state. But the DMK government tried to stop the telecast of the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony. On this, the Supreme Court had to reprimand the Tamil Nadu government.” They also didn't like the installation of the Sengol in the new Parliament, Mr Modi said. The PM said the DMKCongress alliance would never make Tamil Nadu a developed state as its history is of scams and corruption. He asked the people to see the difference between the “scam-tainted” DMK and Congress and the BJP which he said is identified only with development.Earlier, women BJP leaders felicitated Mr Modi in the rally. Mr Modi said the Congress and DMK only know how to misbehave with women and both were anti-women. “Everyone remembers what the DMK leaders did to Jayalalithaa ji. Their attitude towards women has still remained the same. Crimes against women have increased in Tamil Nadu...When we brought the reservation bill for women in Parliament, neither Congress nor DMK supported it,” he said. The prime minister said, “Our fishermen were given capital punishment in Sri Lanka... I left no stone unturned to bring our fishermen back.” He also said his government cleared the way for the practice of Jallikattu to continue. “Jallikattu is the pride of Tamil Nadu and is an integral part of Tamil culture. As long as Modi is there, he won’t let anyone touch Tamil traditions and culture. Jallikattu will continue to take place in Tamil Nadu. We are not like DMK and Congress which wanted to destroy Tamil culture,” he said. Bhutan next week STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bhutan next week on what is expected to be his last trip abroad before the Lok Sabha elections. The visit is expected to take place on 21-22 March, official sources said on Friday. Mr Modi accepted an invitation to visit the neighbouring country when Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay met him here last night. Mr Tobgay is in India on an official visit, his first overseas trip after assuming office in February 2024. Both leaders reviewed the progress in various areas of bilateral partnership. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 MARCH Nausena Bhawan, the newlyconstructed Headquarters of the Indian Navy located at Delhi Cantonment, was officially inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday. The inauguration marks a significant milestone for the Indian Navy as it establishes its first independent headquarters in Delhi. Previously, the Navy operated from 13 different locations, necessitating a consolidated and purpose-built facility such as Nausena Bhawan. The architectural design of Nausena Bhawan was selected through a rigorous all-India Competition process, ensuring the building's functionality and aesthetic appeal. Comprising three wings across four stories, the building incor- Nausena Bhawan is equipped with extensive IT infrastructure supported by UPS systems, promoting a paperless work environment and meeting the stringent network requirements of the Navy porates innovative construction technologies to optimise efficiency and sustainability. Efforts toward energy and water conservation are evident throughout the complex with the integration of solar generation systems and advanced building materials. The Hybrid Reinforced Cement Concrete Construction system enables the construction of large spans with maximum speed, while the building's design emphasises integration with natural elements through landscaped gardens and internal court- yards. Internally, Nausena Bhawan boasts of a comfortable and congenial atmosphere facilitated by a Central Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning system utilising Advanced Oxidation Plasma technology. Moreover, the complex is equipped with a state-of-the-art Integrated Building Management System. The building has achieved a Green Rating IV under the Integrated Habitability Assessment underscoring its commitment to sustainable practices.