MONDAY 22 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 WHO’S WHO AT TRUMP’S HUSH MONEY CRIMINAL TRIAL BIHAR WAS CONVERTED INTO JUNGLE RAJ UNDER LALU-RABRI GOVT: SHAH P5 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Hot and humid condition very likely. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 40 °C and 29 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 87 % TEMPERATURE KKR BEAT RCB BY 1 RUN ‘MODI, RAHUL SPEAK IN THE SAME TONE WHILE CRITICISING KERALA’ P9 P4 ‘Bengal’s BJP leaders have betrayed state’ P12 INDIA bloc hits out at Central govt over arrest of Kejriwal & Soren at ‘Ulgulan Nyay’rally CM alleges BJP leaders urged the Centre not to release MGNREGA funds Min. 36 % Max: 40.2°C (+5) Min: 29.0°C (+3) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:12 hrs 17:59 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 15:53 hrs 03:36 hrs Full Moon on 24 April THUMBNAILS A pair of zebras in a playful mood inside their enclosure on a hot summer day, at Tata Steel Zoological Park (TSZP), in Jamshedpur on Sunday.  ANI Voting begins for Maldives parliamentary election: Maldivians started voting in parliamentary elections Sunday, marking a crucial ballot for President Mohamed Muizzu, whose policies are closely monitored by India and China, both vying for influence in the Island nation, The Washington Post reported. Both countries are looking forward to it because the strategic location of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean makes it a sought-after prize (Pg 9) for New Delhi and Beijing. Ranchi: Clashes between two groups at INDIA bloc rally STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 21 APRIL rinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged people not to cast a single vote for the BJP as its leaders from the state had gone to Delhi and urged the Centre not to release funds for the MGNREGA workers and housing scheme beneficiaries. She was addressing a gathering at Balurghat Town Club ground this afternoon. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar is contesting against Trinamul Congress nominee Biplab Mitra in Balurghat Lok Sabha seat. Miss Banerjee said: “These traitors had gone to Delhi and stopped the money for the poor. We have cleared the dues of 69 lakh job card holders. We have assured people that if the Centre does not provde the money, we will build houses for 11 lakh people under Awas Plus scheme. They will receive the first instalment by the end of 2024 and then the second instalment.” Miss Banerjee said the BJP leaders are so shameless that they have asked what her government has done to the people. “First of all this is not the state election. It is BJP’s responsibil- T NEW DELHI, 21 APRIL The INDIA bloc rally in Ranchi was marred by violent clashes on Sunday as two groups came to blows, resulting in injuries to several people. While the leaders of the INDIA bloc were addressing a massive gathering, a clash ensued reportedly between workers of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress over some issues. Workers of both parties engaged in violent clashes and hurled chairs and sticks at each other. Security personnel intervened but by the time they reached the spot, some people were already AGENCIES injured. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal and former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren during the INDIA Bloc's 'Ulgulan Nyaya Maha Rally'.  ANI NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 21 APRIL ity to state what they have done to the people of Bengal and the country.” She said the state government has set up three colleges at Hili, Kumargunj and Kushmandi. “Ask the BJP leaders why the Centre has not given the clearances for Balurghat airport to start operations.” Urging the people not to vote for the saffron party “as it has sold the nation and in the name of democracy they have converted the entire country into jails and opposition leaders have been put behind the bars. BJP is a washing machine which cleans the corrupt leaders.” Coming down heavily on Narendra Modi, she said: “Every time he comes to Bengal he speaks more lies. No one has received Rs 50,000 in their accounts, forget about Rs 15 lakhs. The Centre has not paid our GST dues worth Rs 1.74 lakh crore. He comes to Bengal and talks big. PM Cares is a scam, demonetisation failed to stop the inflow of black money. He continues to tell lies.” Miss Banerjee alleged that the BJP had manipulated the media and the agencies conducting opinion polls and they have fudged figures and gave false survey reports. “ If I understand a little bit of politics I tell you that this time BJP will not cross 200 seats forget about 400 seats. In 2021 they said the BJP would get 200 seats (in the Bengal Assembly), but in reality they failed to get even 80 seats.” Targeting the Border Security Force (BSF), she said: “The BSF had allowed smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh. In many places in the first phase of the elections, Central agency personnel had threatened the voters and asked them to vote for the BJP I urge the . Election Commission of India to look into the matter.” Recalling her long association with Balurghat, she said: “During my tenure as the Railway minister, Eklakhi- Balurghat railway line was set up. I had come to Balurghat many times during various movements that had been launched by our party.” In a show of strength, top leaders from the Opposition INDIA bloc on Sunday hit out at the BJP-led Central government over the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Addressing the 'Ulgulan Nyay' rally in Ranchi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the BJP and asserted that the 'Shakti' of the INDIA bloc is so strong that the people of BJP cannot break it. "They keep saying 500, 400 (seats). But this time, the 'Shakti' of the alliance is so strong that whether it is PM Modi or whoever, the people of BJP cannot break our Shakti. We are that strong. They are trying to scare us. But we will not get scared if Hemant Soren is sent to jail for refusing to part ways with the INDIA bloc," Mr Kharge said. Earlier, AAP leader Sanjay Singh attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that Mr Modi's washing powder cleans all corruption. “Narendra Modi speaks against corruption. He put Hemant Soren, and Arvind Kejriwal in jail under false accusations. When he (PM Modi) and BJP speak on corruption, it is like Osama Bin Laden and Gabbar Singh preaching nonviolence. A Modi washing powder has come which cleans all your corruption. Their slogan is 'Jo jitna bada bhrashtachari, wo utna bada padadhikari," the AAP leader said. Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, said: "Arvind Kejriwal has no desire for power. He just wants to serve the nation. He wants to make the country no.1. He says if educated people don't come into politics, how will the country progress?" Mrs Kejriwal alleged that there is a conspiracy to kill her husband. "Many people say politics is a very dirty thing, and it's true. There is a camera over his food, his every morsel is being monitored...He is a sugar patient, and he has been taking 50 units of insulin every day for the last 12 years. But he is not being given insulin in jail. They want to kill Delhi's CM," she said. People of the country punishing Congress Centre conspiring to kill Kejriwal in Tihar jail for its sins: PM, addressing rally in Jalore by denying him insulin, says Delhi minister STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying that the grand old party, which had once won 400 seats, is now incapable of contesting even 300 seats in this Lok Sabha polls. "The people of the country are punishing the Congress for its sins,” PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Rajasthan's Jalore. The Prime Minister said that in the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, half of Rajasthan has taught a good lesson to the Congress. “You have given your blessings to the BJP every time, this time too, the people of JaloreSirohi are saying 'Phir ek baar Modi sarkar'. The patriotic people of Rajasthan know that the Congress couldn't provide a strong government Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a light moment with BJP candidate Lumbaram Choudhary during a public meeting in Jalore on Sunday.  ANI at the Centre.Their government used to run on remote control. The country does not want the conditions before 2014 to return," PM Modi said. Without naming Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister slammed the former Congress president for choosing the Rajya Sabha route to reach Parliament. “The Congress party bears sole responsibility for its cur- rent state. Earlier, Rajasthan sent former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Rajya Sabha, and now you have another leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha (Sonia Gandhi). People who knew that they could not win ran away from the race and reached the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Congress has eroded the country's integrity by spreading the termites of 'parivaarwad' and cor- ruption. The youth of the country are so angry with the Congress that it doesn't want to see their face again," the PM said. He further said that the Congress party, which is a symbol of instability, and its alliance can never run the country properly. “Congress was in power for 60 years; once they used to win 400 seats, but today they can't even find candidates for 300 seats. They are paying the price of their wrongdoing. Now they have made an opportunistic alliance in the name of the INDIA bloc which got its wings clipped before it could take flight. The so-called allies are contesting against each other in states and at least in 25 per cent of seats," Mr Modi said. The prime minister further said that it is the mission of his government to ensure that water reaches every household and farmer across the country. NEW DELHI, 21 APRIL Delhi Cabinet Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led central government is conspiring to kill Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail by denying him insulin. Mr Kejriwal is currently in Tihar Jail under judicial custody. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 21 March in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case. Addressing a press conference, Mr Bharadwaj said, "Narendra Modi and his government want Arvind Kejriwal ji's sugar to remain high. He (Arvind Kejriwal) should not be given insulin." "The central government of BJP wants that due to increase in sugar, Kejriwal's kidneys, liver, heart and eyes get damaged and he dies," the AAP leader said. Provisional net direct tax collections for Financial Year 2023-24 exceed Budget Estimates by ` 1.35 lakh crore STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 APRIL The net direct tax collections (provisional) for the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 have exceeded the Union Budget Estimates (BE) by Rs 1.35 lakh crore (7.40 per cent), the Ministry of Finance said on Sunday. The provisional figures of direct tax collections for the FY 2023-24 show that net collections are at Rs 19.58 lakh crore as compared to Rs 16.64 lakh crore in the preceding Financial Year, i.e., FY 202223, representing an increase of 17.70 per cent. “The Budget Estimates (BE) for Direct Tax revenue in the Union Budget for FY 2023- 24 were fixed at Rs 18.23 lakh crore which were EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS  Net Direct Tax collections (provisional) for Financial Year (FY) 2023-24 exceed Union Budget Estimates by Rs. 1.35 lakh crore i.e. by 7.40per cent Net Direct Tax collections (provisional) for the FY 2023-24 exceed Revised Estimates by Rs. 13,000 crore  Gross Direct Tax collections (provisional) for FY 2023-24 stand at Rs. 23.37 lakh crore registering a growth of 18.48per cent Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) revised and the Revised Estimates (RE) were fixed at Rs 19.45 lakh crore. The provisional direct tax  Net Direct Tax collections (provisional) for the FY 2023-24 stand at Rs. 19.58 lakh crore marking a growth of 17.70per cent Y-o-Y  Refunds aggregating to Rs. 3.79 lakh crore issued in FY 2023-24 collections (net of the refunds) have exceeded the BE by 7.40 per cent and RE by 0.67 per cent,” the Ministry said in a statement. The Gross collection (provisional) of direct taxes (before adjusting for refunds) for the FY 2023-24 stands at Rs 23.37 lakh crore showing a growth of 18.48 per cent over the gross collection of Rs 19.72 lakh crore in FY 2022-23. The Gross Corporate Tax collection (provisional) in FY 2023-24 is at Rs 11.32 lakh crore and has shown a growth of 13.06 per cent over the gross corporate tax collection of Rs 10 lakh crore of the preceding year. The Net Corporate Tax collection (provisional) in FY 2023-24 is at Rs 9.11 lakh crore and has shown a growth of 10.26 per cent over the net corporate tax collection of Rs 8.26 lakh crore of the preceding year. The Gross Personal Income Tax collection (including STT) (provisional) in FY 202324 is at Rs 12.01 lakh crore and has shown a growth of 24.26 per cent over the Gross Personal Income Tax collection (including STT) of Rs 9.67 lakh crore of the preceding year. The Net Personal Income Tax collection (including STT) (provisional) in FY 202324 is at Rs 10.44 lakh crore and has shown a growth of 25.23 per cent over the Net Personal Income Tax collection (including STT) of Rs 8.33 lakh crore of the preceding year. Refunds of Rs 3.79 lakh crore have been issued in the FY 2023-24, showing an increase of 22.74 per cent over the refunds of Rs 3.09 lakh crore issued in FY2022-23, the statement added. CMYK "There is insulin in the jail, it is also being given to other diabetes patients. But Arvind Kejriwal is not being given insulin," the minister further alleged. Mr Bharadwaj said a letter from the DG of Tihar Jail to the AIIMS requesting a diabetologist contradicted the BJP's claims of adequate medical facilities. Showing the purported letter to the media, he said: "The DG of Tihar jail yesterday wrote to the AIIMS that they need a diabetologist. Today, the BJP government has been exposed in front of everyone. Till yesterday, they were saying that they have all specialists. Everything is available in the jail... There is a hospital, clinic, beds, and insulin... Everything is there and Arvind Kejriwal is lying." Mr Bharadwaj added: "For the past 20 days, Arvind Kejriwal has been with them... He is diabetic. He is saying he wants to meet a diabetologist, he is asking for insulin. A normal doctor, I don't know how he is there in jail, on his recommendations all these manipulations are being done and the elected CM of Delhi is being denied insulin." Talking to a news agency, the AAP leader said, "The report of Tihar jail is a bundle of lies... Firstly, the sugar has been measured randomly and whenever the sugar level has been low, only that record is there in the report. It's a conspiracy to kill Arvind Kejriwal." On his official X handle, the AAP leader posted a pic- ture of the letter written by DG of Tihar jail to AIIMS and tweeted: "Exposure! There was no diabetes specialist in the jail. After 20 days, a doctor from AIIMS was called yesterday. For so many days, Arvind Kejriwal has been saying that take me to a diabetes specialist and give me insulin. Till now the BJP government at the Centre was saying that there are specialists in the jail; what is the need for specialists from outside?" Earlier also, Mr Bharadwaj alleged that a conspiracy is being hatched to kill Mr Kejriwal. He said that the Delhi CM, who is diabetic, is "slowly being pushed towards death" by denying doctor consultation or insulin. The Tihar Jail Administration had yesterday submitted a report to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena regarding the health status of Mr Kejriwal, who has been lodged in Tihar jail since 1 April this year. KIDS’ DAY OUT Children enjoy ice cream bars on a hot summer day, in Agartala.  ANI