THURSDAY 28 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 WILL UNSC RESOLUTION BRING GAZA PEACE? ‘AFSPA REVOCATION PROMISE MADE WITH POLLS IN MIND’ P5 SENSEX 72,996.31526.02 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Rain/thundershower likely to occur in some areas towards afternoon/ evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 34 °C and 26 °C respectively. P7 NIFTY 22,123.65118.95 Union HM also says Centre looking at revoking AFSPA in some parts of J&K Max. 92 % NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH Max: 32.7°C (-2) Min: 25.8°C (+1) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:34 hrs 17:50 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 19:38 hrs 06:33 hrs New Moon on 08 April THUMBNAILS The last rites of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission President Swami Smaranananda ji Maharaj were held at Belur Math, in Howrah on Wednesday.  ANI ED issues third summons to Mahua in FEMA violation case: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a third summons to Trinamul Congress leader Mahua Moitra for questioning in connection with a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violation case, a source said on Wednesday. Moitra has been asked to appear before the ED on Thursday at the ED Headquarters in Delhi, according to sources. (PG3) Sadanand Date appointed NIA chief: Sadanand V. Date, an IPS officer decorated with the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and one of the heroes of the 2008 Mumbai terror strikes (26/11), has been named as the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Wednesday. Presently, Date is the DG, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. GOLD 66,930220 ` vs $ 82.89 AGENCIES Min. 53 % P4 Shah moots troops reduction in Kashmir RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE ED REGISTERS PMLA CASE AGAINST VIJAYAN'S DAUGHTER, HER FIRM head of the Lok Sabha elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the central government is considering cutting back on the number of troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and leaving law and order to the state police. In an interview with Jammu and Kashmir-based Gulistan News, Mr Shah said the government will leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police. "We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone. We are strengthening the police, who are at the forefront during the encounter," Mr Shah said. “The troops will slowly and slowly go to the barracks. Such a design has already been formed. We have made a blue print We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone. We are strengthening the police, who are at the forefront during the encounter A AMIT SHAH UNION HOME MINISTER of seven years," he added.The Home Minister also indicated that the government is considering revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in parts of Kashmir. “We will definitely consider this proposal (revoke the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The situation is being normalised. We are speedily considering this proposal," he said. The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas. An area or district is notified as disturbed under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces. Reacting to the announcement, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, in a message on social media platform X said: “PDP has consistently demanded the revocation of draconian AFSPA along with a gradual removal of troops. It also formulated an important part of our agenda of alliance, which was wholeheartedly agreed upon by BJP Der aayee durust aaye". . Mr Shah also said that under the garb of Article 370, the youth were "pushed down the path of terrorism" in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is marching ahead with "peace" since its abrogation nearly five years ago. “In Jammu and Kashmir, under the garb of Article 370, which was a catalyst for separatist ideology, the youth were pushed down the path of terrorism and were misused by Pakistan," he said. Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir by 30 September 2024. The last elections for the region's legislative assembly were held in 2014. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH India onWednesday lodged a strong protest with the United States over its remarks on the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying nations are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. The US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission was summoned to the foreign office and firmly told that India’s In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS legal processes are based on an independent judiciary that is committed to objective and timely outcomes. Casting aspersions on that is unwarranted. In a statement later, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said: “We take strong objection to the remarks of the Spokesperson of the US State Department about certain legal proceedings in India. In diplomacy, states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others. This responsibility is even more so in the case of fellow democracies. It could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.” A US State Department spokesperson, while answering a query on India summoning the German envoy over his government’s comments on Mr Kejriwal’s arrest, had said Washington had been closely following the reports. “We encourage a fair, transparent, and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal,” he said. The remarks by the US came days after a German foreign ministry spokesperson commented on the Delhi CM's arrest. Modi dials ‘Rajmata’Amrita Roy, BJP candidate from Krishnanagar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The overall security situation, particularly on the borders with China and Pakistan, and the lessons to be learnt from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas conflicts will be high on the agenda of the upcoming Army Commanders' Conference here. The conference, the first for the year 2024, will be organised in virtual mode on 28 March and thereafter in physical mode on 1-2 April. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also address and interact with senior military leadership during the conference. The conference serves as a pivotal forum for apex leadership of the Indian Army to brainstorm conceptual issues, review and assess the overall security situation. It will lay down key priorities facilitating important policy decisions, to chart the course for future direction. The conference will be chaired by the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Manoj Pande at New Delhi with Army commanders' participating in virtual mode from their respective command headquarters. KOLKATA, 27 MARCH After making a call to Rekha Patra, the BJP-nominated candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in North 24-Parganas on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi onWednesday dialled ‘Rajmata’ Amrita Roy, who is contesting from Krishnanagar LS constituency in Nadia on a BJP ticket. Mr Modi told Ms Roy that he is exploring legal options to ensure that the money "looted" from poor people in West Bengal and attached by the Enforcement Directorate, is returned to them, along with the attached assets. “BJP is committed to uprooting corruption in the country at a time when all the corrupt come together to save each other. West Bengal will vote for a change (parivartan) in the state,” Mr Modi is reported to have said. Ms Roy, who belongs to the royal family of Maharaja Krishnachandra in Krishnagar has been fielded by BJP to take on rival TMC candidate Mahua Moitra. The TMC, meanwhile, is contemplating to go to the ECI against Mr Modi for his statement that the Centre has proposed to return more than Rs 3,000 crore which the Enforcement Directorate had seized in different cases to the public. Calling Mr Modi’s statement yet another blatant lie, veteran Trinamul Congress leader Mr Sukhendu Shekhar Ray asked whether he would return the money seized by the ED in Gujarat, Maharastra, Delhi and other places to the public. Housing sales in top seven cities record 14 pc rise: ANAROCK data Indigo aircraft hits another at city airport, probe ordered STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 27 MARCH NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH The housing market continued its domination in the first quarter of the year as sales are at an all-time decadal high, with approximately 1,30,170 units sold in Q1 of the Calendar Year 2024 across the top seven cities, said ANAROCK data. This marks a 14 per cent yearly rise against approximately 1,13,775 units sold back in the first quarter of 2023. Hyderabad saw a 57 per cent yearly increase in new supply in Q1 2024 while Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) saw its new supply decline by 9 per cent in the period, the report by the leading Indian real estate services company said. The quarter has recorded P12 SILVER 77,200300 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 85.030.58 ECI issues show-cause notices to Supriya Shrinate, Dilip Ghosh STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday issued show-cause notices to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate and BJP MP Dilip Ghosh for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in effect for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The ECI’s action against Ms Shrinate came a day after the poll panel received complaints from the BJP against her objectionable remarks against its Lok Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi Kangana Ranaut and against Mr Ghosh from the Trinamul Congress (TMC). Mr Ghosh had allegedly passed some derogatory remarks against Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The ECI has sought the responses from the two leaders by 5 p.m. on 29 March. In the notice issued to Ms Shrinate, chairperson of Congress’ Social Media, the poll panel said it received a complaint on Wednesday from the BJP alleging that she posted a picture of Kangana Ranaut along with a derogatory remark on microblogging platform X on 25th March from her media handle. It was also alleged that she posted derogatory remarks on her Instagram account as well. “Whereas, on careful examination, the comment has been found to be 'undignified and in bad taste' and to be prima facie violative of the provisions of the MCC and Commission's advisory dated 1st March 2024. Now, therefore, you are hereby called upon to show cause by 5 pm of 29th March as to why appropriate action for violation of MCC should not be taken against you,” the ECI said. The poll panel further said, “In the event of no response from your side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to you.” Ms Shrinate claimed that her social media account was accessible to several people and that she is trying to find out the culprit responsible for it. In a separate notice issued to Mr Ghosh, the ECI said it received a complaint against him on 26th March from TMC wherein it was alleged that he made the disrespectful comment against Miss Banerjee while addressing the Press. India lodges protest with USA over remarks on Kejriwal’s arrest Army commanders’ meet from today NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH IPL: CAPITALS ALL SET TO FACE CONFIDENT ROYALS Hyderabad saw a 57 pc yearly increase in new supply in Q1 2024 while Mumbai Metropolitan Region saw its new supply decline by 9 pc in the period, the report by the leading Indian real estate services company said. the highest ever sales in the last decade amid a significant rise in demand for high-ticket homes priced Rs 1.5 crore and above, it added. The report highlighted that despite new launches remaining above the one lakh mark in this quarter, available inventory in the top seven cities dropped by 7 per cent annually. It dropped to approx- imately 5,80,890 units by Q1 2024-end from approximately 6,26,750 units by Q1 2023-end. Among the top cities, NCR saw the highest decline of 27 per cent in its unsold stock in Q1 2024. NCR’s unsold stock is currently lower than in other prominent cities like MMR, Pune, and Hyderabad, the report said. ANAROCK Group chairman Anuj Puri, said: “MMR and Pune accounted for over 51 per cent of the total sales in the top 7 cities, with MMR recording a 24 per cent yearly jump and Pune witnessing an over 15 per cent yearly rise. New launches across the top seven cities continued above the one lakh mark but witnessed a mere 1 per cent yearly rise – from 1,09,570 units in Q1 2023 to over 1,10,865 units in Q1 2024.” STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Two aircraft came dangerously close to each other on the runway at Kolkata airport this morning, in a narrow escape for hundreds of passengers. A Darbhanga-bound IndiGo aircraft, taxiing at the airport, hit a stationary Air India Express flight waiting for clearance to enter the runway. A part of the Air India Express aircraft's wing that was hit fell on the runway, while the IndiGo aircraft's wing was dented. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has off-rostered both the IndiGo A320VT-ISS pilots and ordered a detailed probe. Both flights were carrying passengers at the time of the incident. “We have ordered a detailed investigation into the matter and both the pilots of IndiGo airlines have been off-rostered. The ground staff will also be questioned during the investigation. Both the aircraft have been grounded for detailed inspection," a DGCA official said. The IndiGo aircraft had 135 passengers on board, including four infants. "A minor graze between a taxiing IndiGo aircraft and that of another carrier was reported from Kolkata Airport. The aircraft returned to the bay for inspection and necessary action, per protocol," the low-cost carrier said, adding that an incident report has been filed with the aviation regulator DGCA. "Consequently, IndiGo flight 6E 6152 between Kolkata and Darbhanga has been delayed," it added. CMYK Kejriwal gets no interim relief from Delhi HC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 MARCH Delhi High Court did not provide any interim relief to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday on his arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the Delhi liquor policy case. The AAP chief is in ED custody after his arrest in the money laundering case linked to the excise policy. The court has given the ED till 2 April to file its response to Mr Kejriwal’s inter- im relief application seeking immediate release from ED custody as also on the main petition. The next hearing is fixed for 3 April. Mr Kejriwal had moved the high court on 23 March, challenging his arrest by the ED and the remand order passed by a trial court in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.