TUESDAY 21 MAY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘VOTE FOR DEMOCRACY, NOT DICTATORSHIP’ ICC PROSECUTOR SEEKS ARREST WARRANT FOR NETANYAHU P5 P9 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Rain/thundershower accompanied with gusty wind very likely. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely be around 36°C and 25°C respectively. ‘BJP WILL NOT WIN EVEN 143 SEATS’ P10 Don’t fall for fake promises: Mamata to Ghatal voters Max. 92% Min. 54% Max: 35.4°C (-0.4) SUN RISES 04:55 hrs MOON RISES 15:26 hrs Min: 29.5°C (+2.8) SUN SETS 18:12 hrs MOON SETS 02:36 hrs Full Moon on 23 May THUMBNAILS Elderly voters show their ink marked fingers after casting their vote for the Lok Sabha elections, in Ladakh on Monday.  ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Optimism in real estate industry touches decadal high: A recent report has highlighted that the optimism in the real estate industry stakeholders in India touched a decadal high in the first quarter of 2024. The rise was due to the stable economic fundamentals, sustained post-pandemic momentum, and increased transaction volumes. According to the Knight Frank-NAREDCO Real Estate Sentiment Index Q1 2024 report, the “Current Sentiment Index Score”, which reflects the stakeholders’ current outlook compared to the preceding six months, touched 72 in the quarter, the highest in the last 10 years. rinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee urged the people not to cast a single vote in favour of those who do not keep promises. She was addressing a gathering at Panskura in West Midnapore, this afternoon. The area falls under Ghatal Lok Sabha seat. Trinamul Congress has fielded two-time MP who is an actor-cum-politician Dipak Adhikari popularly called Dev. KOLKATA, 20 MAY T BJP has fielded Hiran Chatterjee, also an actor against Dev. Ghatal will go for polling on 25 May, which is the sixth phase of the seven-phase election. Miss Banerjee cut short her speech due to bad weather and urged those attending the meeting to go back to their homes safely. Coming down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, “He is coming to the state every day just to tell volumes of lies. He makes fake promises. He had promised to give Rs 15 lakh in everybody’s Cong, INDI Alliance aim to legalize occupation of infiltrators & redistribute property: PM Modi BISWABRATA GOSWAMI JHARGRAM, 20 MAY Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in Jhargram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today, attacked Congress and INDI Alliance, stating their policies aim to legalize the occupation of infiltrators and redistribute property unjustly.“The Congress party is saying they will investigate everyone's property. Then they will give your money, your land to their vote bank. Do you accept this?Will you let this happen?” he asked the crowd. In a sharp critique, he said, “Baba Saheb Ambedkar opposed religion-based reservations, a misconception of our Constitution. Despite this, the Congress-led alliance seeks to provide reservations to SC, ST, OBC across the country for electoral gains. They have revoked OBC reservations in Karnataka, reallocating them to Muslims.” PM Modi challenged Con- gress and the INDI Alliance to commit to not revoking SC, ST, OBC reservations or granting reservations to Muslims, accusing them of remaining silent out of fear. Hecriticized a recent statement by a Congress leader promising reservations to Muslims, reiterating the party’s focus on benefiting one community at the expense of others. PM Modi’s first election rally was scheduled to hold at Haldia in East Midnapore, but he could not attend the rally due to inclement weather. He then went to Jhargram from where he addressed the gathering for both Haldia and Jhargram. PM Modi delivered a potent speech promising to improve the state’s current situation through his relentless efforts. He accused TMC of resorting to intimidation tactics as their popularity wanes. “Despite their attempts to rally support, the people of Bengal are not swayed. Seeing their downfall, TMC resorts to abusing the BJP and threatening the public,” he said. HighlightingTMC’s anti-development policies, PM Modi claimed, “Government jobs are under the grip ofTMC's syndicate. There's a rate card for jobs. Have you seen how they looted in the Teacher Recruitment Scam? I assure you... The end of this looting will come with the press of the lotus button.” He accused TMC ministers of selling jobs, jeopardizing the future of the new generation and shielding corruption, thus preventing the CBI from conducting thorough investigations. account, give two crore jobs to youth per year and now he is talking about giving free electricity and filtered water. Filtered water supply is our project and he is lying,” she said adding, “I fail to understand how a person could tell so many lies? Give a befitting reply to the BJP,” she said. Miss Banerjee said, “The BJP does not take any development scheme. They do not come to the people and do not understand their plight. They have not given our dues and we have paid the dues of 59 lakh job card hold- ers. Give me some more time. I will pay the first instalment of Awas Plus scheme by 31 December.” Miss Banerjee said Dev has spent time and nurtured his constituency and urged people to vote for him. Coming down heavily on the CPM, she said, “The CPM had unleashed a reign of terror in West Midnapore. How can we forget those days when the CPM goons had chopped off the hands of one of our supporters as he was writing graffiti on the wall.” She alleged, “CPM goons have joined the BJP and are trying to create trouble in different areas. I have asked the police to keep their eyes and ears open and take action against those who will be found creating trouble. The torture inflicted on the people by the CP is still fresh in our mind,” she maintained. Miss Banerjee took part in a roadshow in favour of actor June Malliah in Midnapore. The roadshow started from Midnapore College ground and ended at Golkua Chowk. Thousands of people took part in the road show. Miss Banerjee waved at the people who stood on both sides of the street. BJP has shifted the sitting MP Dilip Ghosh to Burdwan Durgapur. BJP has fielded fashion designer Agnimitra Paul. Over 57 pc voting in fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 MAY AGENCIES JAIPUR, 20 MAY A POCSO court on Monday sentenced two brothers to death in the Bhilwara gangrape and murder case in which a minor was burnt alive in a coal furnace. While announcing the verdict, the judge classified the case as "the rarest of rare". The Bhilwara POCSO court on Saturday pronounced the brothers -Kalu and Kanha -- guilty and acquitted seven other accused. The court had reserved the decision till Monday. The victim's parents were also present in the court during the hearing. The victim's mother said, "We have got justice." The seven accused, who have been acquitted, include the mother, sister and wives of the two convicts. The prosecution presented statements from 43 witnesses, with 42 supporting its evidence, Special public prosecutor Mahavir Kisanawat Kisanawat said, "Magistrate Anil Gupta of the Bhilwara POCSO court found two main accused guilty in the incident. The other seven have been acquitted." A 473-page charge sheet was filed in the case and the trial was on for the last 10 months, said he. On August 2, last year, a minor girl from Giradiya panchayat, who went to graze her goats on her farm, was gang-raped and burnt alive in a coal furnace. president who dedicated his life to serving the people of Iran, the country, and Islam, according to IRNA. TEHRAN, 20 MAY country. Vice President Mohammad Mokhber is expected to assume interim duties shortly. Earlier today, Iranian state media IRNA shared drone footage shot by the the Red Crescent showing the wreckage of the crashed helicopter. News outlet Tasnim, which is affiliated to the country's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps reported that Raisi's funeral will be held tomorrow in Tabriz. The helicopter carrying Raisi, Foreign Minister AmirAbdollahian, and his accompanying delegation crashed a day ago in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province, state media Press TVreported today. The Iranian President was returning following a visit to Azerbaijan when his helicopter came down in bad weather conditions. Iran's Supreme Leader described Raisi as a hardworking cleric and a popular STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 MAY More than 57 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the fifth phase of voting in the Lok Sabha election on Monday. The voting for 49 parliamentary constituencies in 94,732 polling stations spread across eight States and Union Territories that commenced amid tight security at 7 am concluded at 6 pm. The polling was reported to be by and large peaceful. Out of the 49 Lok Sabha seats in the fifth phase, 14 parliamentary seats were from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, seven from West Bengal, five each from Bihar and Odisha, three from Jharkhand, one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. According to the data issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on its voter turnout app, the polling percentage was recorded at 57.51 per cent. West Bengal recorded the highest turnout at 73 per cent, Ladakh 67.15 per cent and Jharkhand 63 percent. Uttar Pradesh registered a 57.79 per cent turnout and Jammu and Kashmir 54.67 per cent, as per the data of the poll panel. The fate of 695 candidates was sealed in the EVMs. Prominent candidates from the BJP are Union Ministers Rajnath Singh (Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh), Smriti Irani (Amethi) and Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North, Maharashtra), while from the Congress is Rahul Gandhi (Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh) and K L Sharma (Amethi). Other key candidates in the fifth phase include former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah(Baramulla) and president of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) Chirag Paswan (Hajipur, Patna). Elections also took place for the 35 Assembly constituencies of the Odisha Assembly simultaneously. As per the voter turnout app, Odisha recorded 60.70 per cent turnout in the second phase. Two sentenced to death AAP sees BJP conspiracy in for raping, burning graffiti to attack Delhi CM alive girl in Rajasthan Iran’s President Raisi & foreign minister die in helicopter crash Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday tasked Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to assume interim duties after President Ebrahim Raisi was confirmed to have died in the helicopter crash, a day before. Iranian State media earlier today confirmed the deaths of the 63-year-old Raisi, his foreign minister Hossein AmirAbdollahian and seven others in Sunday's helicopter crash in the mountainous region of the country's East Azerbaijan province a day earlier. Meanwhile, the Iranian cabinet has appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister following the death of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Khamenei, in a message issued on Monday morning, expressed his great sadness over the deaths and offered condolences to people of his P12 CM said CPM goons have joined BJP and are trying to create trouble in different areas RAINFALL: 005.1 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE SALT-LESS KKR FACE STERN TEST AGAINST SRH PM Modi condoles Iranian President's demise: India on Monday declared a oneday state mourning on Tuesday throughout the country as a mark of respect to Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who died in a helicopter crash. ''On the day of mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where the National Flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day,'' an official statement said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the demise of the Iranian President, saying the departed leader's contribution to the strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. "Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at the time of this tragedy. EAM DR S JAISHANKAR of Dr Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow," Modi wrote on X. CMYK In a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed the saffron party for the graffiti at metro stations threatening Arvind Kejriwal. The party called it a latest conspiracy from the saffron party to target the Delhi chief minister. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi wondered how anyone could escape a metro station scribbling threats against a chief minister without being caught on CCTV cameras and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) surveillance. She pointed out that the graffiti threatening to kill Arvind Kejriwal has been found inside prominent metro stations like Rajiv Chowk and Patel Nagar and one metro trains. “Frustrated over their imminent defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is trying to find ways to attack Kejriwal. The graffiti reflects the nervousness,” she said. Citing a claim made by a social media account holder that he received threat mails from the person behind the graffiti, Atishi asked where is the Delhi Police that had become super active on Maliwal's allegations. "We believe there was a pressure on Swati Maliwal with the ACB (Anti Corruption Bureau) case to become the face of a conspiracy. But the plot failed with the videos of the CM’s residence exposing Maliwal’s lie," Atishi said. Sharpening her attack on the saffron party, the senior AAP leader claimed ever since the Delhi CM came out of jail on bail, the BJP has been conspiring to attack him.