TUESDAY 16 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 P5 SENSEX 73,399.78 Hot & discomfort weather likely. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely be around 38°C & 28°C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY P10 ` vs $ 83.45 GOLD 72,034.00 P12 SILVER 89,000 Drive out BJP to prevent UCC implementation: CM BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 89.90 Iran to allow Indian officials to meet 17 crew members of seized cargo vessel soon CM also said that if BJP comes to power, there will be no elections in the country Max. 90% Min. 25% Max: 37.9°C (+2) SUN RISES 05:16 hrs MOON RISES 10:38 hrs Min: 27.9°C (+2) SUN SETS 17:57 hrs MOON SETS 17:30 hrs TEMPERATURE RR BRACE FOR SPIN TREAT AS KKR EYE TOP SPOT P9 NIFTY 22,272.50 WEATHER ‘80 BANEGA AADHAR, NDA 400 PAAR’ DPM LAWRENCE WONG TO TAKE OVER FROM PM LEE ON 15 MAY ‘BJP HAS POLITICISED ALL CENTRAL PROBE AGENCIES’ Full Moon on 24 April THUMBNAILS Specially-abled people took out voter public awareness rally ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Rae Bareli on Monday.  ANI India likely to experience above normal cumulative rainfall this monsoon: In the monsoon season of 2024, India is likely to experience above-normal cumulative rainfall with La Nina conditions likely to set in by August-September, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. IMD said the 2024 southwest monsoon season rainfall over the country as a whole to be above normal (>104% of the Long Period Average (LPA)). STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 15 APRIL s the BJP advocates the vision of one nation, one election and views the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as imperative for the nation's welfare, chief minister Mamata Banerjee today urged the people to drive out the BJP so that it cannot implement the UCC. Addressing a public meeting at Raas Mela ground in Cooch Behar, chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said, “The people belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, the minority community and even the Hindus will lose their identity.” “They will decide what you eat. They would ask you to drink cow urine. You have to follow their routine in your daily life. They will also impose restrictions over the worship of the god and the goddess,” Ms Banerjee said, adding, “If the country is to be kept free, beat the BJP .” Chief minister Miss Banerjee also came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and steadfastly opposed the idea of one nation, one election, mentioned in the BJP’s manifesto. “There will be no elections in the country, there will be no fed- A eral structure, not even the existence of states, a dictatorial government will be created and oppression will start. One nation, one election is nothing but one nation, one leader. You will have to listen to the leader’s thoughts and advice,” Ms Banerjee said, adding, “Beat Modi, otherwise the country will go beyond your control.” Significantly, the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari was addressing Dinhata in Cooch Behar, just after CM’s meeting. Mr Adhikari, reacting to her comments, said: “It is her nature to mislead people.,” Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee today protested against the role of Income Tax officials, who allegedly raided the helicopter of Abhishek Banerjee yesterday. “Central agencies have been engaged in elections for harassing my party leaders. The I-T officials raided the helicopter as Abhishek was scheduled to attend a programme yesterday. They were in search of money and gold from a helicopter,” Ms Banerjee said, adding, “BJP leaders carry money with the help of CISF and BSF personnel by aeroplane. Does any policeman have the guts to prevent them!” “A very critical time is coming, a war-like game will start, even a riot. Beware of any provocation, especially on 17 April on the occasion of Ram Navami. The BJP candidate here is notorious. People belonging to Muslim community will pray to your Allah only. If you protest, the National Investigation Agency will start acting so that the BJP can rig votes,” she said in Cooch Behar. Addressing another public meeting in Alipurduar today, the CM also criticised the Election Commission of India and said, “I can stage a 52-day sit-in demonstration in front of ECI office to protest against transfer of efficient officials of state government, to help the BJP .” “Election Commission has transferred the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Murshidabad Range. The Commission will take responsibility if trouble like communal clashes breaks out in Malda and Murshidabad. The Commission is not paying heed to us. It is working for the BJP only. If I can continue 26-day fasting on the issue of Singur, I will be able to stage a 52-day sit-in demonstration in front of the Commission's office in protest.” “I am not afraid of you. I can fight to ensure democratic rights and can beat the BJP and even Narendra Modi, who is trying to curb the power of the Opposition in the country,” she added. We call upon all parties to assume responsibility and work towards a peaceful resolution to ease current tensions and improve the situation. EAM DR. S JAISHANKAR STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL Iran has assured India that it will soon allow Indian officials to meet 17 Indian crew members of an Israeli-affiliated vessel that was seized last week by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz. The assurance came during a telephonic conversation External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had with his Iranian counterpart Amirabdollahian on Sunday following the escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel. “We are actively monitoring the situation concerning the seized ship, and arrangements will soon be made for representatives of the Indian government to meet with the crew members Oppn spreads lies; electoral bonds effort to end black money in polls: PM Modi SC seeks ED’s response on Kejriwal’s plea against arrest in excise policy case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said electoral bonds were an honest effort by his government to eliminate the role of black money in elections, but the Opposition made baseless allegations about it, and the country has been “driven” towards black money again, which all parties will regret once they reflect on it. The Prime Minister was answering questions during an interview with ANI on several important issues including the electoral bonds scheme which has been scrapped by the Supreme Court. Asked whether the government had bungled on the issue, the Prime Minister said the country had debated for long the role of black money in elections, and that there was a need to do something about it. He said money is spent during elections; all parties do it, and it is collected from people. “I wanted to make an effort to save elections from black money, and we looked for ways to do it. Those criticizing it today had supported it in Parliament debates,” Mr Modi said. He said he wanted transparency, and knew always there can be shortcoming in any effort. The government ended the currency of Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 notes, as they are the most used during elections. Then, the Supreme Court had allowed cash collections of Rs 20,000 each, but he reduced it to Rs 2,500 through rules, because he did not want cash transactions. In the past, the BJP had proposed contributions by cheques, but these were not acceptable to businessmen. The Prime Minister said if there were no electoral bonds, the money trail could never be found.“The election bond success story is that at least we can see the money trail, I don’t say there cannot be shortcomings; but we have driven the country towards black money again, all will regret it, when they reflect on it." He said only 3000 companies are in electoral bonds, only 26 companies were such proceeded against by agencies and just 16 companies of them had bought bonds against whom raids had taken place. Out of these 16 companies’ contribution, 37 per cent came to the BJP and 63 per cent went to the Opposition, he said. This gives the picture, he said, “will companies give money to the Opposition after ED raids. But the Opposition has to make allegations and run away after that.” Answering a question on ED and CBI action against the Opposition, he said the Oppo- 21 retired judges write to CJI on attempts to undermine judicial independence STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL A group of 21 retired judges of the Supreme Court and different High Courts in a letter to Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud has expressed concern over the attempts by certain sections to undermine the judiciary through 'calculated pressure, misinformation, and public disparagement' thereby attempting to erode the public confidence in the judicial system. Emphasising the importance of protecting judicial independence and autonomy from political influences and strategies for spreading false information, the joint letter by 21 former judges including four from Supreme Court says that the strategy employed by these groups is deeply troubling as it seeks to employ overt and covert attempts to influence judicial outcomes to their favour. “The strategy employed by these groups is deeply troubling - ranging from the propagation of baseless theories intended to malign the judiciary's reputation to engaging in overt and covert attempts to influence judicial outcomes to their favour. This behaviour, we observe, is particularly pronounced in the cases and causes of social, economic and political significance, including the cases involving certain individuals, wherein the lines between advocacy and manoeuvring are blurred to the detriment of judicial independence.”, says the letter. Without naming the people or the group engaged in the alleged misinformation to undermine the judiciary, the letter reads, “We are particularly concerned about the tactics of misinformation and the orchestration of public sentiment against the judiciary, which are not only unethical but also detrimental to the founda- tional principles of our democracy. The practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one's views while vehemently criticizing those that do not, undermines the very essence of judicial review and the rule of law.” The joint letter which also includes four former top court judges – Justice M.R. Shah, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Deepak Verma says, “We are particularly concerned about the tactics of misinformation and the orchestration of public sentiment against the judiciary, which are not only unethical but also detrimental to the foundational principles of our democracy. The practice of selectively praising judicial decisions that align with one's views while vehemently criticizing those that do not, undermines the very essence of judicial review and the rule of law.” sition is talking of no level playing ground but no law was made by his government, “we reformed the Election Commission, earlier PM could make anybody election Commissioners and they became Rajya Sabha members, and candidates in elections.” The Prime Minister said the Opposition is only preparing a reasoning to accept their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. He said after all how many leaders are in jail; “if there is fear, it has to be of sin only. They had put my Home Minister when I was Gujarat Chief Minister,” he said. Mr Modi said only three per cent of the ED cases are against political people; 97 against are against drug mafia, officers with benami property, they are to jai. Should ED be allowed to work independently or not. Before 2014 only Rs 5000 crore property attached by the ED and in the last 10 years of his government, Rs 1 lakh crore property attached of those who violated laws. NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Enforcement Directorate on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest and subsequent remand in the excise policy scam. Refusing an early hearing on Kejriwal’s plea against arrest sought by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the Delhi Chief Minister, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta issuing notice to ED, asked the anti-money laundering agency to file its reply to Kejriwal’s plea on or before April 24. Posting the matter for hearing on April 29, the bench gave Kejriwal time till April 27 to file his rejoinder to the ED’s reply. This, as of now, means that Kejriwal will remain in judicial custody at least for another 15 days. As senior advocate Singhvi urged the bench to give a short date of hearing, prefer- ably the coming Friday, Justice Khanna said, “We will give you a short date, but not possible the date suggested by you.” Singhvi told the bench that Kejriwal has been arrested to disable him from campaigning in the ongoing general election to Lok Sabha. Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s April 9, 2024, order rejecting his plea against his arrest by the antimoney laundering agency and the subsequent remand. Kejriwal approached the top court on April 10 - a day after the High court had refused his plea. Delhi CM's judicial custody extended till April 23 by Delhi court: CM Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam has been extended till April 23 by a Delhi court where he was produced on Monday. The Special Judge for the probe agencies including Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Rouse Avenue court extended Kejriwal's custody with the remand period expiring on April 15. Kejriwal is currently lodged in the Tihar Prisons. Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court had sent Kejriwal to judicial custody on April 1, which was up to April 15. Meanwhile, the Bharat Rasthra Samithi leader K. Kavitha had also been arrested by the ED as well as the CBI in connection with the case. A court extended the BRS leader's custody in the excise policy case filed by the CBI till April 23. Election Commission seizes record `4,650 crore ahead of Lok Sabha polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 APRIL The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday said seizures totaling more than Rs 4,650 crore have been reported so far before the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which is higher than total seizures made in 2019 general elections. The poll panel also informed that Rs 100 crore seizure was made each day by the enforcement agencies since 1st March. “With General Elections 2024 underway, ECI is on track for the highest ever seizures of inducements recorded in the 75-year history of Lok Sabha elections in the country. Enforcement agencies have made a record seizure of over Rs 4,650 crore in ECI’s resolute fight against money power even before the first phase of polling for the 18th Lok Sabha elections commences on Friday,” the ECI said in a communiqué. This marks a sharp increase over Rs 3,475 crore seized during the entire LS elections in 2019, it said. The ECI said 45 per cent of the seizures are of drugs and narcotics and it has been possible by comprehensive planning, scaled up collaboration CMYK and unified deterrence action from agencies, proactive citizen participation and optimal engagement of technology. The seizures are a critical part of ECI resolve to conduct the Lok Sabha elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field, it said. The poll panel said the enhanced seizures reflect its unwavering commitment to monitor inducements and curb electoral malpractices for a ‘level playing field’, particularly in favour of smaller and less resourceful parties. “In an incident in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, the Commission suspended the flying squad team leader for laxity in duty and selective checking of a cavalcade of a prominent leader. Similarly, officials checked vehicles in the convoy of the Chief Minister of a state and also the vehicle of a Deputy CM in another state,” it said. The poll panel said it has also taken strict action against approximately 106 government servants who have been found assisting politicians in campaigning, thereby violating the model code of conduct (MCC) and instructions. Last month, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, while announcing the polls underlined money power as one of the ‘4M’ challenges. On 12th April, the CEC along with ECs-- Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu reviewed all Central Observers deployed in Phase -1 of elections going to poll on 19th April. Tightening, monitoring and checking were amongst the focus of deliberations to ensure inducement-free electoral process. of the vessel in question,” Mr Amirabdollahian told Dr Jaishankar. This was in response to Dr Jaishankar expressing concern about the wellbeing of the 17 Indian crew members aboard the ship and seeking Iran's assistance in the matter. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the Iranian minister conveyed details of Iran’s ''legitimate defense and punitive measures against the Israeli regime'' to Dr Jaishankar. He urged the Indian government to maintain its active role through international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, to halt the war in Gaza, which lies at the core of the current crisis in the region. Mr Amirabdollahian reiterated Iran’s stance, emphasising the Islamic Republic’s desire for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of peace and security across the region, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Red Sea. In response, Dr Jaishankar said: “We believe the most crucial priority is de-escalating tensions. We call upon all parties to assume responsibility and work towards a peaceful resolution to ease current tensions and improve the situation.” (SEE PAGE 5) PM abrogated Article 370, fulfilled all other promises: Rajnath STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 15 APRIL Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the BJP’s promises of abrogation of Article 370, construction of Ram temple and the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Singh was addressing an election rally in favour of the BJP candidate and Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at Basohli in the Kathua district which is part of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency that will go to polls in the first phase on 19 April. Expressing confidence about Jitendra Singh winning from the constituency for the third term with a huge margin, the Defence Minister appealed to the people to pick up the party’s past manifestoes, since its origin from the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, and see to it that “we have fulfilled all our promises.” “We finished Article 370, which provided special status to J&K, to bring it at par with other parts of the country. Opposition parties were talking about construction of the Ram temple since 1984 but it was done by us and our Prime Minister performed its ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on 22 January,” Singh said. “We implemented the CAA but there are people who are trying to create misgivings but I want to clarify that no Indian citizen is going to lose his citizenship,” he added. He also referred to the banning of triple talaq and said “whether we form the government or not, attack on the dignity and honour of the women is not acceptable to us.” “I want to make it clear to them that any woman irrespective of her faith is our mother, sister and daughter. The attack on the dignity and honour of women will not be tolerated. Whether we form a government or not, how can we accept such a thing which will throw her out of her home,” he said. He said “Ram Rajya” has started taking roots in the country and nobody can stop it from becoming a reality.