FRIDAY 05 APRIL 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 NOT CHANGE PARTY ANYMORE: NITISH KUMAR TURKEY IS PAYING FOR ERDOGAN’S MISSTEPS P7 SENSEX 74,227.63350.81 WEATHER Hot and discomfort Weather very likely. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 37 °C and 28 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL P5 NIFTY 22,514.6580.00 P10 GOLD 70,470600 ` vs $ 83.37 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 4 APRIL Min. 55 % Max: 35.8°C (+1) Min: 27.7°C (+3) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:26 hrs 17:53 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 02:10 hrs 13:16 hrs New Moon on 08 April THUMBNAILS A pair of chinkara drink water during a summer day inside an enclosure, at the Bikaner Zoo on Thursday.  ANI Govt issues advisory for Indian nationals travelling to Cambodia for employment: The government on Thursday advised Indian nationals intending to visit Cambodia for employment to do so only through authorised agents. It also advised them to thoroughly check the background of the prospective employer in Cambodia. hief Minister Mamata Banerjee charged on Thursday the BJP is not observing the electoral model code of conduct. Addressing a public meeting at Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar today, Mamata Banerjee said: “The BJP does not obey the election code of conduct. BJP is contesting elections with the help of Central agencies. They are campaigning door to door asking the people to vote for BJP and avoid trouble. Don’t bow your head. They need to be taught a good lesson.” “The BJP is trying to establish the system of ‘one nation, one political party’. That is the BJP’s sole aim and policy,” Miss Banerjee said. Charging that the BJP is anti-Bengal and deprived it of Rs 1.74 lakh crores, she said: “You can trust a snake but not the BJP .” Miss Banerjee, who C addressed a second public meeting at Malbazar, in Jalpaiguri, also came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“I have come to know Prime Minister said Election Commission is keeping a close eye on the overall situation in Bengal. Have you bought the Election Commission?” she asked. Miss Banerjee added: “BJP has nominated candidates who are accused in several criminal and murder cases.”Without naming former Superintendent of Police in Cooch Behar, Debashis Dhar directly, Miss Banerjee said: “The BJP has fielded a candidate who killed five minority and Rajbanshi people in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar in the last Assembly polls from Birbhum Lok Sabha seat though vigilance clearance has not yet been granted.The state government registered two cases against him. Despite objections, the Centre has granted clearance and BJP has fielded him paying no heed to the law.” Attacking the BJP candidate for Cooch Behar, STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 4 APRIL Nisith Pramanik without naming him, she said: “He is a gangster babu. Thousands of criminal cases were registered against a man, who is Union Minister of Home Affairs. In my party he was an aapod (disaster), now he is an asset in BJP Shame . shame shame. Shame of the country, constitution and democracy. Why can’t BJP nominate gentlemen! On the issue of relief for the victims of storm-hit Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri, Miss Banerjee said the administration sought permission from the Election Commission for the construction of homes for the victims who were rendered homeless, but the EC was delaying in giving permission. “When the Model Code of Conduct is there, Prime Minister has claimed that he would ‘repay’ money collected by ED. If you can announce this amidst election why can’t I assure the homeless people about their homes,” she asked. Indian workers have gone to Israel as part of mobility agreement: MEA New-gen ballistic missile successfully flight-tested STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BALASORE, 4 APRIL The Mobility Agreement predates the conflict. We are conscious of their (Indian workers) safety and have urged the Israeli authorities to ensure their safety and well-being NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL The first batch of Indian workers has gone to Israel in the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war as part of a mobility agreement India has signed with the West Asian nation, the government confirmed on Thursday. “The Mobility Agreement predates the conflict. We are conscious of their (Indian workers) safety and have urged the Israeli authorities to ensure their safety and well-being,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing here. Asked if there was any possibility of these workers being sent to areas affected RANDHIR JAISWAL MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON by the conflict, the spokesperson said: “They are mainly construction workers...you know construction happens where economic activity takes place.” The MEA spokesperson’s statement came two days after the Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, posted on microblogging site 'X' a picture of the first batch of Indian workers who were to leave for Israel. “Today we had a farewell event from the first batch of 60+ Indian construction workers going to Israel under the G2G agreement.” “This is an outcome of the hard work of many, including @NSDCINDIA. I’m sure that the workers become ‘ambassadors’ of the great P2P relations between India and Israel,” Mr Gilon wrote. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday launched India’s first homegrown gene therapy for cancer at IIT Bombay(photo), calling it a shining example of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The launch of India’s first gene therapy is a major breakthrough in the battle against cancer, Ms Murmu said. As this line of treatment, named “CART cell therapy”, is accessible and affordable, it provides a new hope for the whole of humankind, she said and expressed confidence that it will be successful in giving new lives to countless patients. The President said CART cell therapy is considered one of the most phenomenal advances in medical Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that a strong government is needed to make the country the world’s third largest economy. Addressing a mammoth election rally at Raas Mela ground in Cooch Behar Mr Modi today said: “ We need to bring India's economy to third position globally. For that a strong and stable government should be formed at the Centre. Delhi needs a strong government, not a weak government.” “Keep in mind while voting that this is the country's election,” Mr Modi added. “Today, the whole world says Modi is the world leader, can take big decisions. But I am just a public servant,” the Prime Minister said. Showcasing his dream Viksit Bharat, Narendra Modi said: “People's dreams are Modi's guarantee. Where others' hopes end, Modi's guarantee begins. Fulfilling the dream of 140 crore people Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with BJP candidate from Balurghat constituency, Sukanta Majumdar, during a public rally in Cooch Behar on Thursday.  ANI is Modi guarantee.” “Congress had given the slogan of eradicating poverty. But the BJP government has lifted 32 crore people out of poverty in ten years. After five hundred years, the Ram temple has been built in Ayodhya. BJP government has taken tough steps to prevent corruption and terrorism. Abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir was possible because the intention was right,” Mr Modi said. “The progress that has been made in ten years is a trailer, there is still a lot left. There’s a lot for Bengal to look forward to,” he NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), working with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted a successful flight test of the New Generation Ballistic Missile Agni-Prime from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The test met all the trial objectives validating its reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by a number of range sensors deployed at different locations, including two downrange ships placed at the terminal point. The launch was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Strategic Forces Command and senior officials from DRDO & the Indian Army. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, SFC and the Armed Forces for the successful test. He stated that the successful development and induction of the missile will be an excellent force multiplier for the Armed Forces. science. It has been available in the developed nations for some time, but it is extremely costly, and beyond the reach of most patients around the world. She noted the therapy being launched today is the world’s most affordable CAR-T cell therapy. The President observed that India’s first CAR-T cell therapy was developed through collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and Tata Memorial Hospital in association with industry partner ImmunoACT. She said that this is a praiseworthy example of academiaindustry partnership, which should inspire many more similar efforts. The President said IIT Bombay is renowned, not only in India but across the world, as a model of technology education. In the development of CAR-T cell therapy, technology is not only being put in the service of humanity, but partnerships have been with an eminent institution from another field as well as with industry. CMYK said. Attacking the Trinamul Congress over the Sandeshkhali issue, the Prime Minister said: “A desperate TMC is trying to save the culprits in Sandeshkhali. The culprits will be punished and they will be in jail for life.” The Prime Minister also said: “INDIA alliance is doing false politics and spreading false propaganda about CAA. Citizenship to all is Modi’s guarantee. TMC, Congress and Left will try to scare you, don’t worry, trust me.” “They fight each other here but work together in Delhi,” he added. Delhiites shouldn’t face any trouble: Kejriwal’s latest message from Tihar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Murmu launches first home-grown therapy for cancer STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 4 APRIL BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 89.060.29 ‘Strong govt needed to make India third largest economy’ BJP’s objective is one nation, one political party, says Mamata Banerjee TEMPERATURE P12 SILVER 85,3004,300 BJP ignoring Model Code of Conduct: CM RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94 % SRH READY FOR ANOTHER CLINICAL SHOW AGAINST CSK CONGRESS SILENT ON CANDIDATES FOR RAE BARELI, AMETHI Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has issued a message to his MLAs through his wife Sunita Kejriwal, exhorting them to visit their respective areas regularly and solve the problems of the denizens pertaining to various government departments besides other problems faced by them. Mr Kejriwal, who is the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said that the people of Delhi should not face any trouble because he is in jail. Addressing a virtual press conference on Thursday, Sunita Kejriwal read out a message sent from Tihar jail by the Chief Minister that is addressed to all the AAP MLAs. “I am in jail. Because of this none of my fellow Delhiites should face any kind of trouble. Every MLA should visit the area daily and ask people whether they are facing any problem. Whatever problem someone has, solve it,” she quoted the Chief Minister as saying. Urging the party MLAs to extend their full support in solving all the problems of the people of Delhi, Sunita stated the Chief Minister in his message said: "I am not talking about solving only the problems of government departments, we have to try to solve other problems of the people as well. The two crore people of Delhi are my family, no one in my family should be sad for any reason. God bless everyone. Jai Hind.” Chief Minister Kejriwal has sent several messages from jail after his arrest on 21 March by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the liquor policy case. In all his messages, he has reiterated his resolve to serve the people of Delhi.