WEDNESDAY 24 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 ‘NO POISON FOUND IN MUKHTAR ANSARI'S VISCERA’ RIGHTS GROUPS SLAM UK PLAN TO SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS TO RWANDA P9 SENSEX 73,738.4589.84 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 20-30 KMPH) DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 37 AND 23 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Trace RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 66 % P11 GOLD 72,1601,530 ` vs $ 83.37 Min: 22.6 °C (0) SUN SETS 18:52 hrs MOON SETS 06:17 hrs THUMBNAILS President Droupadi Murmu felicitates a graduate at the 4th convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in ANI Rishikesh on Tuesday. Delhi court extends custody of Kejriwal, Kavitha: A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS leader K Kavitha in the excise policy case till 7 May. A special judge of the Rouse Avenue court directed the Tihar jail administration to produce Mr Kejriwal and Ms Kavitha on 7 May through video conferencing. The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had arrested the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo on 21 March in the money laundering case linked to the excise policy scam while Ms Kavitha was arrested by the ED on 15 March. Ms Kavitha was later arrested by the CBI on 11 April in the same case. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 APRIL A fter attacking the Congress Party for its “plan” to seize excess properties of people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the party tried to mess with the Constitution’s basic spirit to curtail reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs and include Muslims in the reservation benefit on the basis of religion. Addressing a large BJP election meeting in Tonk, Rajasthan, he said the Congress made several attempts to go against the Constitution to give reservation on religion basis which was strongly opposed during the writing of the Constitution. After it came to power at the Centre in 2004, the Congress made four attempts till 2010 to bring religion-based reservation in Andhra Pradesh but failed due to legal hurdles and Supreme Court “vigilance,” the Prime Minister said. In 2011, the Congress made more attempts to introduce it on an all-India level, he said. He said he was present at a meeting where then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said Muslims had the first right to the country’s resources. This STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 APRIL global challenges such as transnational crimes, terrorism, cyber attacks, human trafficking and health and food security.” Emphasising that ASEAN is at the heart of India's ‘Act East Policy’ and is a crucial pillar in India’s wider Indo-pacific vision, he said New Delhi's supports ASEAN’s unity, centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. “India believes that a strong and unified ASEAN can play a constructive role in the emerging regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific. Synergy between India’s Indo- Ensure children below 12 are seated with their parents: DGCA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 APRIL The aviation watchdog DGCA on Tuesday issued a circular asking all airlines to ensure children up to the age of 12 years are seated with their parents. The DGCA has revised the Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2024, titled ‘Unbundle of Services and fees by scheduled airlines’, introducing several changes aimed at enhancing passenger experience and addressing concerns regarding seating arrangements, particularly for children. Under the revised circular, airlines are now permitted to offer unbundled services such as zero bag- SILVER 83,0002,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 86.200.80 PM: Cong tried to mess with basic spirit of Constitution Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated during a public meeting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections, in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur on Tuesday.  ANI was no one-off statement, the Congress government had always followed the policy of appeasement and vote bank, he said. Reservation for the Muslims was the first decision of the Congress government after coming to office in 2004, and it was a pilot project which the Congress Government wanted to implement all over the country. The Constitutional fathers had opposed religion-based reservation to ensure justice for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and OBCs, he said. Mr Modi said when the BJP came to power in Karnataka, it ended reservation for the Muslims and restored the quotas of those deprived of their share. Whenever the Congress and INDI alliance were in power, they used to cut reservation from the SCs, STs and the OBCs’ share and give it to the Muslims as part of its vote bank politics, he said. The Prime Minister said: “I want to ask the Congress, will it announce before the nation that it will not reduce current quotas to give a part to the Muslims. They should assure the nation.” Mr Modi told the crowds that they can ask Congress vote-seekers about it. The Congress party had tried to prescribe reservation on religion basis in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, he said. Mr Modi said “Modi is giving you a guarantee that reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs will neither end, nor reservation be divided on the basis of religion. This is Modi’s guarantee.” He said in 2020, the Constitutional time limit for reservation was ending and he was in government and extended it by another 10 years. “I want to tell the nation clearly, the Congress is neck-deep in the mud of vote bank politics, and does not care for Ambedkar’s Constitution,” the Prime Minister said. The Congress manifesto says the party will do surveys of property, including streedhan of mothers and sisters, and redistribute the excess property among others, he said. In a 90 second reference during a meeting in the State last Sunday, he said he had presented the truth about the Congress plan for the “surveys.” This created a commotion in the Congress and the INDI alliance. “I had only given the truth before the nation. The Congress will seize EAM calls on all nations to respect Commerce Ministry freedom of navigation & overflight seeks details of spice bans by Singapore, HK Amidst China's muscle-flexing on maritime issues, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday underlined the need for all nations to respect and facilitate freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded commerce. “The 1982 UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas (UNCLOS) provides a comprehensive legal framework and serves as the Constitution of the Seas within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out,” he said in remarks at the 1st ASEAN Future Forum in Vietnam. The Indian minister said: “Upholding the UNCLOS is our common and collective endeavour, besides efforts towards mitigation, adaptation and response capacities to deal with the impact of climate change and disasters, and P12 Congress tried to give reservation to Muslims by reducing SC/ST quota, says Modi in Raj Min. 28 % TEMPERATURE Max: 36.8 °C-1) SUN RISES 5:46 hrs MOON RISES 19:22 hrs P10 NIFTY 22,368.0031.60 CAPITALS HOST INCONSISTENT TITANS ‘ROCKET ENGINE TECHNOLOGY GETS A BOOST’ gage, preferential seating, meals/snacks/drink charges, and charges for the carriage of musical instruments. These services will be provided on an “opt-in” basis, meaning passengers can choose whether or not to avail of them. Additionally, there is a provision for auto seat assignment for passengers who have not selected any seat during web check-in before the scheduled departure. The decision to revise the circular comes in response to various instances brought to the notice of the DGCA, where children under the age of 12 were not seated alongside their parent or guardian during flights. Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) that is reflected in our ASEAN-India Leaders Joint Statement provides a strong framework for cooperation, including in addressing challenges to comprehensive security,” he said. Dr Jaishankar said the digital era and increasing use of artificial intelligence have resulted in a premium on trust and transparency issues affecting ‘our concept of security’. There is growing recognition globally that over-concentration of manufacturing and technology is creating both supply-side risks, as well as the possibility of leveraging vested interests by some in the wake of natural calamities. “We all had experienced it during the Covid19 pandemic and all of us learned a powerful lesson. We must strive towards diverse, secure, transparent and resilient supply chains,” he added. AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 23 APRIL In response to recent action by food regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong, India's commerce and industry ministry has initiated an inquiry into the alleged banning of certain spices manufactured by Indian companies such as MDH and Everest, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Ministry has reportedly reached out to the authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong, seeking detailed information regarding the banned spices and the reasons behind their rejection. Technical specifications, analytical reports, and specifics regarding exporters, whose shipments have been turned away, are among the details requested. This inquiry extends to the embassies in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as the Singapore Food Agency and the Centre for Food Safety and Food & Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong. Additionally, the Ministry has enlisted the cooperation of the companies mentioned in media reports surrounding the issue. The focus of the investigation is to ascertain the root causes of these rejections and to work with the exporters involved to implement necessary corrective measures. In a move to address broader concerns within the industry, the Ministry has also called for a meeting to discuss the mandatory testing of Ethylene Oxide (ETO) in spice consignments destined for Singapore and Hong Kong. your property and redistribute it among its favoured people as part of a deep conspiracy,” he said. “A few days back, I exposed the vote-bank and appeasement policy of the Congress,” he said. The party has started abusing him, he said, and asked “I want to know why is the Congress afraid to face the truth. Why are you trying to hide your policies, when your agenda is exposed, you are trembling. If you have courage, and stand by your policy, we are ready to face you.” Mr Modi said whether it was 2014 or 2019, Rajasthan had voted unitedly for the BJP for a strong government at the centre, giving it all the 25 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP. What a stable and honest government can achieve, the whole country has seen in the last 10 years. India is today the fastest growing economy in the world. If the Congress had come in power in 2014, and remained in office, in Jammu and Kashmir stonethrowing would have continued on armed forces, he said. Enemies from across the border would have come and gone back with severed heads of Indian soldiers, and the Congress government would have done nothing. 1,351 candidates in fray for 3rd phase of LS polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 APRIL The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said 1,351 candidates are in the fray for the third phase of Lok Sabha (LS) elections. In a statement, the ECI said: “1,351 candidates from 12 States /UTs to contest elections in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. This includes eight contesting candidates for the adjourned poll in Betul Parliamentary Constituency of Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, one candidate from Surat PC in Gujarat has been elected unopposed.” According to the poll panel, a total of 2,963 nominations were filed for 95 seats (including Betul) across 12 States/UTs going for polls in the third phase for the general elections. After the scrutiny of all nominations filed, 1563 nominations were found to be valid, it said. TMC & Cong cannot touch CAA, asserts Amit Shah in Raiganj Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds a roadshow for the Lok Sabha elections, in Malda on Tuesday.  ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 23 APRIL Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that neither the Congress nor the Trinamul Congress would be able to touch the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Addressing an election meeting in favour of party candidate Kartik Pual in Raiganj Lok Sabha area today, Mr Shah said: “Congress and Mamata both are claiming that they would not implement CAA, if they come to power. I want to say you don’t have the power to touch the CAA. What is Mamata Banerjee’s problem if refugees get Indian citizenship?” Mr Shah said that his party is targeting to win 30 to 35 seats from West Bengal. “If we can win 30 Lok Sabha seats including Raiganj, we will set up an AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) here for North Bengal,” Mr Shah said, adding: “The government sanctioned the proposal for setting up the AIIMS in Raiganj but Mamata Banerjee shifted it from here to near Kolkata.” Mr Shah also campaigned for his party candidate Srirupa Mitra Chowdhury, who is contesting from Maldah (Dakshin) in English Bazaar Town and joined a Roadshow there today . Mr Shah criticised Mamata Banerjee on several issues like CAA, alleged infiltration, corruption and cut money collection, recruitment scams violence in elections and the recent trouble in Sandeshkhali. “Mamata Banerjee was reluctant to take actions against culprits in Sandeshkhali keeping in mind her vote bank. But the culprits are languishing in jail following directions from the High Court,” Mr Shah said. “There is no incident of violence during elections elsewhere in the country. But there is violence only in Bengal due to Trinamul Congress. If the BJP comes to power we will teach them a good lesson. It is high time to teach the TMC a good lesson,” he said. Refuting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegations, Mr Shah claimed that the Centre has given Rs 2.9 lakh crore funds to West Bengal in the last 10 years. “But what she has done for Maa Mati Manush! She has failed to protect Maa in Sandeshkhali, she has presented corruption to Manush and has given up Mati to Bangladeshis in Bengal,” Mr Shah said. “If we come back to power we will check infiltration in West Bengal,” he added. 6 factors powering India’s take-off to become world’s 3rd-largest economy AGENCIES MUMBAI, 23 APRIL While India’s recent growth performance has surprised many, triggering a flurry of upgrades from financial institutions such as the IMF, the RBI bulletin released on Tuesday cites six factors that will propel the country to become the world’s third-largest economy. In purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, the Indian economy is already the third largest in the world. According to the OECD’s December 2023 update, India will overtake the US by 2045 in PPP terms to become the world’s second-largest economy, the RBI bulletin points out. According to the bulletin, the “tailwinds likely to power India’s take-off” are as follows: - The demographics favour the rising profile of growth. Currently, India has the world’s largest and youngest population. The median age is around 28 years; not until the mid-2050s will aging set in. Thus, India will enjoy a demographic dividend window of more than three decades, driven by rising working-age population rates and labour force participation rate. This is a striking contrast to a world widely confronted with the challenge of aging. - India’s growth performance has been historically anchored by domestic resources, with foreign savings playing a minor and supplementary role. This is also reflected in the current account deficit (CAD), which remains within a sustainable thresh- old of about 2.5 per cent of the GDP. Currently, the CAD averages about 1 per cent, and this is associated with various indicators of external sector resilience – illustratively, external debt is below 20 per cent of the GDP and net international investment liabilities are below 12 per cent. - The gradualistic path of fiscal consolidation adopted after the Covid pandemic has brought the general government deficit to 8.6 per cent of the GDP and public debt to 81.6 per cent of the GDP by March 2024. Employing a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, it is estimated that reprioritising fiscal spending by targeting productive employmentgenerating sectors, embracing transition, and investing in digitalisation could lead to a decline in general government debt to 73.4 per cent of the GDP by 2030-31. In contrast, the debt-GDP ratio is projected by the IMF to rise to 116.3 per cent in 2028 for advanced economies and to 75.4 per cent for emerging and middleincome countries. - India’s financial sector is predominantly bank-based. In 2015-2016, the overhang of asset impairment in the wake of the global financial crisis was addressed through an asset quality review (AQR). A massive recapitalisation was undertaken during 2017-2022. The beneficial effects started to show up from 2018 -- gross and net non-performing assets ratios declined to 3.9 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively, by March 2023, with large capital buffers and liquidity coverage ratios well above 100 per cent. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has created the institutional environment for addressing stress in banks’ balance sheets. Macroeconomic and financial stability are providing the foundation for medium-term growth prospects. - India is undergoing a transformative change leveraged on technology. The trinity of JAM – Jan Dhan (basic no-frills accounts); Aadhaar (universal unique identification); and Mobile phone connections ~ is expanding the ambit of formal finance, boosting tech startups, and enabling the targeting of direct benefit transfers. India’s Unified Payments’ Interface (UPI), an open-ended system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application of any participating bank, is propelling inter-bank, peer-topeer, and person-to-merchant transactions seamlessly. - Inflation in India is moderating after surging on multiple and overlapping supply shocks from the pandemic, weather-induced food price spikes, supply chain disruptions and global commodity price pressures following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.