TUESDAY 14 MAY 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 ‘BJP TRYING TO POLARISE MUSLIM VOTES’ P4 SENSEX 72,776.13 P5 NIFTY 22,104.05 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Possibility of Rain/Thundershower towards evening. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely be around 35°C and 26°C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY ‘RAHUL RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM PAKISTAN’ ‘DO NOT GET DETERRED BY DIVERSIONARY TACTICS’ FOCUS ON KL RAHUL AS LSG TAKE ON DC P10 ` vs $ 83.52 GOLD 74,660.00 P12 SILVER 86,500 LS polls: 4th phase polling records 62.84 pc turnout BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 89.83 BJP will get 190-195, INDIA bloc 315: Mamata The voting in 1.92 lakh polling stations commenced amid tight security at 7 am,concluded at 6 pm Max. 90% Min. 56% Max: 32.7°C (-3.1) SUN RISES 04:57 hrs MOON RISES 09:24 hrs Min: 26.6°C (-0.4) SUN SETS 18:09 hrs MOON SETS 23:21 hrs TEMPERATURE Full Moon on 23 May STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THUMBNAILS KOLKATA, 13 MAY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 MAY n estimated 62.84 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Monday in the fourth phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections in 96 constituencies spread across 10 States and Union Territories. The voting in 1.92 lakh polling stations that commenced amid tight security at 7 am concluded at 6 pm. The polling was reported to be by and large peaceful. Of the 96 Lok Sabha seats in the fourth phase, 25 were from Andhra Pradesh, 17 fromTelangana, 13 from Uttar Pradesh, 11 from Maharashtra, eight each from Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five from Bihar, four each from Jharkhand and Odisha and one from Jammu and Kashmir. A An elderly woman shows her ink-marked finger after casting her vote for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls, at a polling booth, in Warangal on Monday.  ANI Retail inflation eases to 4.83pc in April: The annual inflation rate based on the all India Consumer Price Index (CPI) number stands at 4.83 per cent for April over the same month last year, the government data said on Monday. According to the data shared by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the corresponding inflation rate for rural and urban areas was 5.43 per cent and 4.11 per cent, (P8) respectively. With this, the fate of 1,717 candidates was sealed in EVMs. Prominent among the candidates from the BJP are Union Ministers, Girijaj Singh (Begusarai, Bihar), G Kishan Reddy (Secunderabad, Telangana), and Madhavi Latha (Hyderabad, Telangana), while from Congress are its Leader of the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Baharampur, West Bengal) and party’s Andhra Pradesh chief YS Sharmila (Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh). Other key contenders in the fourth phase include Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (Kannauj), AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (Hyderabad) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra (Krishnanagar, West Bengal). According to the data issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), West Bengal recorded 75.94 per cent turnout, Madhya Pradesh 68.63 per cent and Andhra Pradesh 68.12 per cent. Uttar Pradesh registered a 57.88 per cent turnout. Elections also took place for all 175 seats of Andhra Pradesh Assembly and 28 seats of the Odisha Legislative Assembly simultaneously in the fourth phase on India does not want a coward Congress govt: Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE themselves, can they make India “mazboot” (strong); they will only make India “majboor” (helpless), the prime minister said, adding this election is for the nation, to decide its future and elect its leadership, which can be trusted with running it. “The nation does not want a weak, cowardly and unstable government of the Congress party. Do you like a weak constable in your locality or a teacher who is unstable? You want both of them strong. How can the prime minister of the country be not strong, then? Can a coward PM run the country,” he asked. Mr Modi said as the fourth round of polling in the Lok Sabha elections took place on Monday, there was a storm in favour of the BJP and NDA. In Bihar, too, the jungle-raj party (RJD) is going to fall flat on the ground, he said. “Wherever I have been, there is only one voice heard, phir ek baar, Modi sarkar (once again, Modi government),” he said. The prime minister said the NDA considers East India states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha as growth engines forViksit Bharat (developed India). “That is why I am working on Viksit Bihar, Viksit Bharat mantra,” he added. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 MAY rising," he said. It is to be noted that over the past few sessions, the share markets have made huge corrections over the past few sessions due to various factors. On the rumors that the share market crashes indicated a poor performance by the BJP Minister Shah point, ed out that the markets have made bigger corrections several times prior to this. Notably, the markets tanked on Monday following a heavy selloff by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in May. Analysts have linked the uncertainty to the poll outcome. The crack has resulted in investors losing Rs 4.85 lakh crore since the last trading session on May 10. Early trade showed only 910 of the 3,431 stocks trading in green while over 150 stocks hit their lower circuit. As per HM Shah’s selfsworn affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI), the minister has a stock portfolio valued at around Rs 17.46 crore while his wife also holds stocks worth around Rs 20 crore. The market reversed from the day’s low on Monday and ended up with a marginal gain. However, the investors remain concerned over the progressing general election and high valuation. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VARANASI, 13 MAY Consider purchasing stocks before 4 June, markets will shoot up: Amit Shah In a sensational remark coming amid the stock market continuously trading in the red, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday urged investors to consider purchasing stocks before June 4. Shah during an interview cautioned against linking recent stock market fluctuations with the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Home Minister expressed optimism, and forecast a surge in the domestic stock market. "I can't anticipate stock market moves. But normally whenever a stable government is formed at the Centre, the market sees a rally. I see 400-plus seat wins for the Bharatiya Janata Party, a stable Modi government coming, and thus market PoK will become part of India, says Jaishankar PM to file nomination from Varanasi today NEW DELHI, 13 MAY Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that INDI alliance members appear to have taken a “supari” (contract) against India as they give clean chit to Pakistan on the 26/11 Mumbai attack, raising questions on the surgical air strikes against Pakistan, while the Left wants India to destroy its nuclear weapons. Addressing a BJP election rally in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, he said the INDI alliance leaders see Pakistan’s atom bomb even in their dreams. “Can you trust the country in the hands of these parties and leaders? Can such selfish people take tough decisions for defence of the countr y,” he asked. “Look at the statements made by the Congress and the INDI alliance leaders. They say Pakistan is not wearing bangles; OK, we will arrange these for them. They need flour, they do not have electricity; we didn’t know they do not have bangles also,” said Mr Modi. Such parties are not sure of Monday. As per the voter turnout app, Andhra Pradesh recorded 68.04 per cent polling and Odisha 63.85 per cent in the first phase of Assembly polls. For the convenience of voters, the poll panel made arrangements for assured minimum facilities like water, shed, toilets, ramps, volunteers, and wheelchairs. Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee said her party will give full support to INDIA bloc to resume power in Delhi and that the alliance will win 315 or so seats. She predicted that the BJPled NDA will get between 190195 seats. “We do not want anything. We will support a progressive, sensitive, secular government in Delhi,” she said while addressing a rally at Palta Shantinagar Health Centre ground, which falls under Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat. Partha Bhowmick is the Trinamul Congress nominee from the constituency. BJP has fielded Mr Arjun Singh, who had won the seat in 2019. Earlier, Miss Banerjee addressed a gathering at Bongaon. Biswajit Das is Trinamul candidate from the seat. In 2019, Shantanu Thakur of BJP was NEW DELHI, 13 MAY Prime Minister and Kashi MP Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers for the third time from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Tuesday after taking permission from Kashi's Kotwal Kaal Bhairav. On Tuesday, there is a coincidence of Pushya Nakshatra with Ganga Saptami. Chief Ministers of 12 BJP-ruled and alliance states including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be present during the Prime Minister's nomination process. Apart from this, other Union Ministers and BJP officials will also be present. Before nomination, PM can pay obeisance to Mother Ganga at Dashaswamedh Ghat at around 9 am. (PG10) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday asserted that the ''illegal occupation'' of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will end and the region will become part of India. "These days, a lot of things are going on at the PoK. You must have seen some incidents happening there. Now, the Modi government, we are very clear on this. (There is a) Parliament resolution, we are very clear that PoK is part of India. It was always part of India, it will be part of India," he said during a media interaction in Mumbai. ''And we definitely have this intention... one day we will end the illegal occupation of the PoK and the PoK will join with India,'' Dr Jaishankar said. The minister also questioned those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. "If I talk about the record, then in the last five years, one of our great achievements was on Article 370. And we will also say that the NDA's record and the NDA's thinking, the Modi government's thinking is how we can integrate Kashmir with the country, how we can further develop Kashmir. On the other hand, you see those who wanted to run Article 370, who were interested in it. So this is also a very clear choice in front of the country," he said. Dr Jaishankar also commented on Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's remarks that "they (Pakistan) are also not wearing bangles" and will attack India, saying that some leaders are so afraid of Pakistan's nuclear weapons that they believe India should not talk about PoK. "Farooq Abdullah reminds us not to talk about PoK because Pakistan has nuclear weapons. We are proud of India's nuclear weapons. On the contrary, Pakistan's nuclear weapons seem to be more important. If it is Manish Shankar Iyer or Farooq Abdullah, they are so afraid of Pakistan's nuclear weapons that they think that we should not talk about PoK.'' He said the BJP-led NDA is on the side of the CAA and wants to take it forward while the Opposition parties are prisoners of the vote bank. India, Iran sign long-term contract for operations at Chabahar Port STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 13 MAY In a major development that will help India increase trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries, India and Iran on Monday signed a long-term contract under which the India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) will operate the ShahidBeheshti Port of Chabahar. The agreement was signed in Tehran in the presence of Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash. ''The signing of the agreement marks a turning point in bilateral and regional trade and economic cooperation between Iran and India, as well as facilitating strategic cooperation between the two countries,'' Iranian news agency IRNA said. The agreement aims to operationalize the objectives of the international transport agreement in the north-south corridor, the trilateral transit agreement among Iran, India, and Afghanistan, with a focus on the Chabahar Port, it added. Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S Jais- CMYK hankar said the agreement for the management of the Chabahar Port will clear the way for strengthening economic ties between the two countries. "As and when a long-term arrangement is concluded, it will clear the pathway for bigger investments and more linkages coming out of the seaport,” he said. India has been developing a terminal at the port in Chabahar, with a view to transport goods to not only Afghanistan but also Central Asian countries There are also plans to link the Chabahar Port with the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that connects India with Russia via Iran. This would be an alternative route bypassing the congested Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz sea lanes. The Chabahar Port is likely to serve as a counterbalance to Pakistan's Gwadar Port and China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has already started using the port to send goods to Afghanistan. Pakistan does not allow India to send its goods to Afghanistan through its territory. elected from the seat. Addressing the gathering in Barrackpore, Miss Banerjee said, “Narendra Modi should tender unconditional apology for his failure to give Rs 15 lakh in everyone’s account and jobs to 2 crore youth each year for 10 years. He should apologise for the Centre’s failure to buy jute which has led to the closure of jute mills in North 24-Parganas,” she said, adding, “He is blaming me now. He is so shameless that in order to cover up his own faults he speaks volume of lies.” She said, “Modi’s guarantee is false and fake. Rest assured, he will never keep his promises. I will die if I fail to keep my promises. I had promised before 2012 election about Lakshmir Bhandar and implemented it. We give Sabuj Sathi cycle to the students from Class IX and from next year smart phones will be given to the students from Class XI, instead of Class XII.” 4 dead, 59 injured after massive billboard falls during Mumbai dust storm AGENCIES MUMBAI, 13 MAY At least 4 persons were killed, and 59 others injured in two separate incidents -- a gigantic hoarding crash in Ghatkopar and a vertical steel parking lot in Wadala -- in Mumbai, in the aftermath of a massive dust-storm that shrouded the city for over two hours, following by unseasonal rains, the BMC Disaster Control said here on Monday. A monstrous hoarding of advertisements crashed in the gusty winds on several houses and a petrol pump in Pant Nagar, Ghatkopar east suburb around 4.15 p.m. At least 59 people were left injured and another 70 are still feared trapped under the hoarding when many vehicles queued up to refill petrol and diesel. In Wadala, a multi-storied, vertical steel parking lot near the Shreeji Towers building crashed on a main road in the squally dust storm this afternoon. The tumbling parking lot crushed around a dozen vehicles and one person sitting in a car was trapped, said the officials. The Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed over a dozen fire engines, and the NDRF rushed its expert teams, which managed to rescue 62 people and are engaged in a huge search and rescue operation for the others still trapped in the Ghatkopar hoarding crash. A heavy-duty crane was deployed to lift the hoarding to enable the rescuers to reach the victims trapped. Taking serious cognisance, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rushed to the tragedy spot, enquired about the rescue operations, and ordered the BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Mumbai Police to conduct a probe into the tragedy. After the dust storm subsided, many parts of Mumbai were lashed by rains, bringing some respite from the heat and humidity.