SATURDAY 27 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 BRS WOOS MUSLIM WITH KAVITHA CARD ‘FARMERS WANT A FAIR PRICE’ DO AUR DO PYAAR IS AS MONOTONOUS AS THE MARRIAGE IT TALKS ABOUT P7 SENSEX 73,730.16609.28 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Heat wave conditions likely. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 40 °C and 29°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 92% TEMPERATURE P4 NIFTY 22,419.95150.40 ` vs $ 83.335 PAISE GOLD 72,710440 Supreme Court finds no infirmity in the conduct of polling using EVMs Max: 39.7°C (+4) Min: 29.6°C (+3) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:8 hrs 18:1 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 20:20 hrs 06:23 hrs New Moon on 08 May THUMBNAILS Voters after casting their votes for the Lok Sabha elections, in north Bengal on Friday.  SNS Two terrorists killed in Baramulla: Two terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, officials said on Friday. The encounter began on Thursday at Check Mohalla Nowpora in the Sopore area of North Kashmir in Baramulla District. "In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists have been neutralized. Identification and affiliation are being ascertained. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition recovered," Kashmir Zone Police posted on X. SC ruling on EVMs ‘slap’ on Cong: PM NEW DELHI, 26 APRIL he Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea of the NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), and others seeking 100 per cent cross verification of EVM votes with VVPAT slips. Whilst finding no infirmity in the conduct of polling using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine the suggestion for using counting machines for counting the VVPAT paper slips and whether along with the symbol there could be a bar code for each party. Holding that the possibility to “hack or tamper with the agnostic firmware in the burnt memory to tutor/favour results is unfounded” the court said that “the suspicion that the EVMs can be configured/manipulated for repeated or wrong recording of vote(s) to favour a particular candidate should T NEW DELHI, 26 APRIL DIRECTIONS TO ELECTION COMMISSION  Symbol Loading Unit in EVMs must be sealed and stored for at least 45 days after declaration of results  Burnt memory in the microcontroller of EVMs to be checked by a team of engineers post-results declaration upon request by specific candidates. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION The court suggested the Election Commission explore using a machine to count VVPAT slips, enhancing transparency in the electoral process. be rejected”. Acknowledging the right of voters to question the working of EVMs, which are but an electronic device that has a direct impact on election results, Justice Khanna who authored the judgment, added a note of caution: “However, it is also necessary to exercise care and caution when we raise aspersions on the integrity of the electoral process. Repeated and persistent doubts and despair, even without supporting evidence, can have the contrarian impact of creating distrust. This can reduce citizen participation and confidence in elections, essential for a healthy and robust democracy.” Rejecting the plea for return to the ballot paper voting system, Justice Khanna said: “We must reject as foible and unsound the submission to return to BJP holding up Bengal’s dues deliberately, don’t vote for it: Mamata in W Midnapore STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 26 APRIL CM Mamata Banerjee during a public rally in support of TMC candidate from Ghatal parliamentary constituency Deepak Adhikari (Dev) at Ghatal, in West Midnapore on Friday.  ANI “When the BJP-led Centre stopped the dues, neither the CPI-M nor the Congress say a single word. The poor people were deprived. We have paid the dues of 69 lakh job card holders and assure you that the first instalment of Awas Plus will be given to 11 lakh people by December. The Congress remained quiet on the issue and has now come forward to cut into Trinamul’s votes.” Miss Banerjee asked where the BJP was when Junglemahal was bleeding. “CPI-M had turned the area into a hotbed of criminal activities. People got murdered every day. People did not come to the area and the schools were closed. After coming to power in 2011, we carried out extensive development in Jhargram. We were successful in winning the confidence of the people. College, super speciality hospital, stadium have come up The youths have got jobs. Tourism in Jhargram developed. The BJP was not seen when Jhargram was coming back to normalcy and now they have come to ask for votes,” she said. Miss Banerjee said the BJP has said that Lakshmir Bhandar would be stopped in three months. “ Who are they to stop it. It is state government’s project. It has helped the women immensely and will continue, “ she said. Miss Banerjee said what the BJP is preaching in the name of religion is not Hinduism. “Hinduism speaks about inclusiveness. We have learnt to respect the views of other religions and faiths. The BJP is now trying to control our food habit, dress and even faith,” she said. Miss Banerjee urged the youths and women to save the country from the clutches of the saffron party. “If the BJP comes to power it will destroy the social fabric of our country. They will let loose one community, one group against the other,” she said. She urged the people to vote for ‘Maa, Maati Manush’ for uninterrupted development of Junglemahal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Supreme Court’s rejection of petitions against the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections was a strong “slap” on parties like the Congress which for decades deprived the poor, Dalits and OBCs of their voting rights by “loot” of polling booths and ballot papers. SNS (Details on Page 5) the ballot paper system. The weakness of the ballot paper system is well known and documented. In the Indian context, keeping in view the vast size of the Indian electorate of nearly 97 crore, the number of candidates who contest the elections, the number of polling booths where voting is held, and the problems faced with ballot papers, we would be undoing the electoral reforms by directing reintroduction of the ballot papers.” Shah: We will implement UCC in entire country SILIGURI, 26 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday blamed the Trinamul Congress for cancellation of the appointment of nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in state schools by a Calcutta High Court judgment. Addressing a public meeting in Malda today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “TMC has spoiled the future of youths in West Bengal because of the massive recruitment scam in the education department.” “Recently 26,000 families have lost their livelihood. They are now in trouble since they gave money to TMC leaders for jobs after taking loans.” “Scams have become the culture in Bengal during the tenure of the Trinamul Congress. The TMC is involved in Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bow and an arrow during a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections, in Malda on Friday.  ANI massive scams running into thousands of crores of rupees including the Sarada and Rose Valley scams, scams involving cattle smuggling, coal, PDS, civic bodies and other sectors. “TMC commits scams and people suffer for it,” Mr Modi said, adding that no work is done here without cut money and commission.” “Earlier the Left and now TMC has tarnished the image of West Bengal that had led the country and sacrificed a lot during the freedom movement.” “Trinamul Congress has prevented Central government’s developmental programmes from being implemented. TMC has shut the doors of development in Bengal,” he said. Mr Modi had to stop his speech as the excited crowd shouted slogans welcoming him. The meeting venue at Nityananpur, located on the border between t wo LS constituencies in Malda district, was jampacked. A delighted Mr Modi said: “Either I was born in Bengal in my previous birth or I will be born here in my next birth.” “TMC leaders and extortionists have looted Central government's funds. The state government has been preventing the Central government’s welfare schemes from implemented directly among the beneficiaries. The Centre has disbursed funds meant for PM Krishak Samman Yojona of Rs 8,000 crore for 50 lakh farmers.” “The Trinamul Congress government here would not implement Ayushman Bharat, a health scheme for elderly people. TMC has come to power showcasing Maa Maati Manush slogan but betrayed the people. Sandeshkhali is a burning example of it. The same incident took place in Malda but TMC was mum,” Mr Modi BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 89.580.57 60.96 pc turnout recorded in second phase of LS polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 26 APRIL A voter turnout of round 61 per cent was recorded on Friday in the second phase of voting in Lok Sabha elections in 88 constituencies spread across 13 States and Union Territories, including the remaining part of Outer Manipur seat. The voting was by and large peaceful. The voting, which began amidst tight security at 7 a.m. across 1.67 lakh polling stations, concluded at 6 p.m. Prominent BJP candidates whose fate was sealed in the EVMs today included Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Thiruvananthapuram), Hema Malini (Mathura) and Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South). Heavyweights from the Congress in the second phase included Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad), KC Venugopal (Alappuzha), Sashi Tharoor ( Thiruvananthapuram) and Pradyut Bordoloi (Nagaon). “Polling in the second phase of General Elections 2024 which commenced at 7 a.m. today simultaneously across 88 parliamentary constituencies recorded an approximate voter turnout of 60.96 per cent ECI issues notification for 5th phase of LS polls:The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued the notification for the fifth phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha polls. The filing of nominations began following the notification issued by the poll panel. The polling will be held in 49 parliamentary constituencies spread across eight States and Union Territories SNS (UTs) in the fifth phase. as of 7 p.m,” the Election Commission of India (ECI) said. The poll panel said voters from across 13 States and UTs participated enthusiastically to cast their vote at their polling stations, braving the hot weather conditions. PEOPLE’S POWER BHOPAL, 26 APRIL Declaring that that it is a 'Modi ki Guarantee' (PM Modi's guarantee), Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the government led by the BJP will implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country. Addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Guna, Mr Shah accused the Congress of playing appeasement politics by encouraging the reform of personal laws. "Rahul Baba, do whatever you want for appeasement. As long as the BJP is there, we will not allow personal law to be brought in. This country will run on a UCC. This is the soul of our Constitution, we have just brought UCC in Uttarakhand. This is Modi ji's guarantee, we will implement UCC across the country," Mr Shah said. He also mentioned that the Congress used to threaten that there would be a bloodbath if Art 370 is removed, but not a single incident has taken place in J&K since AGENCIES its abrogation. Modi blames TMC for nearly 26k people losing their jobs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE P12 SILVER 84,5002000 SC rejects EVM-VVPAT cross verification PARMOD KUMAR Min. 30 % Calling the BJP the most corrupt, oppressive and autocratic party, Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee asked the people of Jhargram not to vote for the saffron party that she said is holding up Bengal’s dues deliberately. She was addressing a gathering at Garbeta in West Midnapore this afternoon. The area falls under the Jhargram Lok Sabha seat. The Trinamul Congress has fielded Kalipada Soren from the seat. The BJP had won the seat in 2019. Coming down heavily on the BJP Miss Banerjee said: , “We have heard of man-eating tigers, now we see job-eating BJP How could a person . who has worked for so many years return the salary with interest at the rate of 12 per cent? This is not dharma but adharma,” she said. Miss Banerjee said the BJP, Congress and CPI-M have united to defeat Bengal. P11 RESURGENT DC LOOK TO TAME STRUGGLING MI said. Mr Modi pointed out that PM Awas Yojona is implemented in the name of women as owners of the house. Mr Modi also criticised the TMC for appeasement politics by opposing the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in West Bengal. Prime Minister Modi also came down heavily on the INDIA alliance. He said: “Congress’s only agenda is to deprive women belonging to backward classes like Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe of their reservations. Congress will even grab their properties. TMC is secretly supporting the Congress’s manifesto.” “When we passed Triple Talaq Bill to protect and save Muslim women from deprivation and torture, the Trinamul Congress opposed it,” Mr Modi added. CMYK People show their ID cards as they arrive to cast their votes for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Ghaziabad on Friday. SUBRATA DUTTA Buddha is considered Lord Vishnu’s avatar, Buddhism established here but you do not believe in it: Kharge stirs fresh row AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 26 APRIL Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a fresh attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioning his stance on Buddhism during an interview with News 24 on Friday. In the interview, Kharge, who is a follower of Buddhism, delved into the inauguration ceremony of Buddha Vihar in Karnataka's Gulbarga in 2009, which was established by the Siddharth Vihar Trust of which he is the founder-chairman. He said that the inauguration was attended by then President Prathiba Patil while drawing parallels with the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 this year which drew criticism for allegedly not inviting President Droupadi Murmu. "What did you do, whom did you invite for the Pran Pratishtha? Did you give invitations to the leaders of every opposition party? You are doing everything as per your wish, and yet that temple is not even one-third complete. Now there has been some improvement as far as the construction is concerned.Who should have inaugurated it? As per the Hindu customs, who should have carried out the Pran Pratishtha?" Kharge questioned PM Modi for doing Pran Prathistha of Ram Temple. "For example, I established Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga, then who was called for it? Buddha is considered the 9th incarnation of LordVishnu but they (BJP) don't come near Buddha. You know in Uttarakhand it has been imposed that if someone wants to adopt Buddhism they should approach the District Magistrate. That is a religion of this country, that was established in this country, which has been accepted all over the world, but you (PM Modi) do not believe in it. Now they are attacking us. But what did I do at that time, I witnessed it from a distance while the 'pratishtha' was done by Dalai Lama and then president of India Prathibha Patil was also present there," he added.