MONDAY 03 JUNE 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 ‘10 YEARS OF BRS IS EQUAL TO 100 YEARS OF DESTRUCTION’ IRAN’S CHOICES P6 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AT ISOLATED PLACES.THUNDERSTORM /DUSTSTORM/LIGHT RAIN TOWARDS EVENING/NIGHT. STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 25-35 KMPH) OCCASIONALLY IN GUSTY DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 45 AND 30 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 57 % Min. 24 % Max: 42.8 °C (+3) SUN RISES 05:23 hrs MOON RISES 03:18 hrs Min: 30.4 °C (+3) SUN SETS 19:16 hrs MOON SETS 16:02 hrs TEMPERATURE THUMBNAILS An evening view of the Howrah Bridge in Kolkata on Sunday.  DEBROOP BANERJEE China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe lands on far 6 side of Moon: China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has achieved a historic feat by landing on the far side of the Moon and embarking on a groundbreaking mission to collect samples from this rarely explored terrain, Chinese State media reported on Sunday. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced this milestone, marking the first time in human history that samples will be gathered from this enigmatic (See page 9) region of the lunar surface. Accusations against Shah: ECI writes to Jairam Ramesh NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE A day after he charged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had called up 150 District Magistrates ahead of counting of votes, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday asked senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to share the information of his claims with it. In a post on X on Saturday, the Congress leader wrote: “The outgoing Home Minister has been calling up DMs/ Collectors. So far he has spoken to 150 of them. This is blatant and brazen intimidation, showing how desperate the BJP is." In a letter addressed to Mr Ramesh, the ECI while referring to his post, requested that details of 150 DMs to whom such calls were allegedly made should be shared by 7 p.m. on Sunday so that appropriate action can be taken. SNS BJP WILL MAKE A CLEAN SWEEP THIS LS POLLS, SAYS TRIVENDRA SINGH P4 P10 KOHLI RECEIVES ICC ODI PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2023 AWARD P12 BJP secures landslide victory in Arunachal,wins 46 of 60 seats Sikkim Krantikari Morcha dominates in Sikkim, wins 31 out of 32 seats STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ITANAGAR, 2 JUNE Thank you Arunachal Pradesh! The people of this wonderful state have given an unequivocal mandate to politics of development. My gratitude to them for reposing their faith in @BJP4Arunachal yet again. I n a decisive electoral outcome, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the clear winner in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election, securing 46 out of 60 seats. Meanwhile, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has reclaimed power in Sikkim, winning 31 out of 32 seats in the state Assembly. The counting of votes for the 60-member assembly in Arunachal Pradesh commenced in the morning, with trends becoming clear by noon. The BJP comfortably crossed the majority mark, establishing itself as the single largest party in the frontier state. Notably, ten BJP candidates were elected unopposed, contributing to the party's strong performance. Voting for both the states was held on 19 April. The BJP's victory in Arunachal Pradesh marks its third consecutive term in power, a testament to its sustained popularity and governance. Results were declared for 50 of the 60 Assembly seats, with the ruling party NARENDRA MODI PRIME MINISTER Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu In Sikkim, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, secured a commanding victory, winning 31 out of 32 seats having already secured ten seats unopposed prior to election day. Among the unopposed winners were Chief Minister Pema Khandu from the Mukto Assembly seat and Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein from Chowkham. Other parties which saw limited success in Arunachal Pradesh includ- ed the National People's Party (NPP) which secured five seats. The People's Party of Arunachal won two, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gained three seats, the Congress managed only one seat, and Independent candidates won in three constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the people of Arunachal Pradesh on social media platform X, stating: “Thank you Arunachal Pradesh! The people of this wonderful state have given an unequivocal mandate to politics of development. My gratitude to them for reposing their faith in @BJP4Arunachal yet again. Our Party will keep working with even greater vigour for the state's growth." He also commended the efforts of BJP workers for their dedication during the election campaign. Chief Minister Pema Khandu hailed the BJP's triumph as a "historic day for Arunachal Pradesh," noting the party's increased seat count to 46 in 2024 from 41 in the 2019 elections. In Sikkim, the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, secured a commanding victory by winning 31 out of 32 seats. Mr Tamang's victory in both Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies underscored his strong leadership. The SKM's dominance was further highlighted by the defeat of five-time former CM and Sikkim Democratic Front leader Pawan Kumar Chamling in both the Poklok Kamrang and Namcheybung Assembly seats. PM discusses heatwave, reviews agenda for new govt’s first 100 days STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, held seven backto-back meetings on a range of issues, including a session to review the agenda for the new government’s first 100 days, it is understood. According to sources, the prime minister also held a meeting to review the preparations to celebrate World Environment Day (5 June) on a large scale. The meetings took place at his residence two days before the results of the Lok Sabha elections are to be declared. Mr Modi held a prolonged brain-storming session on the agenda for the first 100 days of the new government in the wake of the exit polls that predicted a landslide victory for the BJP in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the sources said. Earlier in the day, the prime minister chaired the first meeting to review the impact of cyclone “Remal”. After this, he chaired another meeting to review the situation arising from the ongoing heat wave in the country and the preparedness for the onset of monsoon. Assuring the states affected by Cyclone “Remal” of that the Centre would continue to extend full support to them, the prime minister issued instructions to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take stock of the situation and review the matter on a regular basis to extend necessary assistance in restoration efforts. At least 36 people were killed in heavy rains and landslides in four of the eight northeastern states after Remal hit the states bringing normal life to a grinding halt. While 27 people were killed in Mizoram, including 21 in a quarry collapse in the Aizawl district, four deaths were reported from Nagaland, three from Assam, and two from Meghalaya. "The PM said that the Government of India will continue to extend full support to the states affected by the cyclone. The PM also instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to monitor the situation and review the matter regularly to extend necessary assistance for restoration," the PMO said in a statement. The principal secretary to the PM, Cabinet secretary, home secretary, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, DG NDRF, and member secretary, NDMA along with other senior officials from PMO and Ministries concerned were also present in the meeting. In another meeting, Mr Modi called for fire and electrical safety audits of hospitals and other public places must be undertaken regularly in the wake of several major fire incidents reported from various parts of the country during the past few weeks. On 25 May, seven children were killed in a massive fire at Delhi's Baby Care New Born Hospital. Another major fire tragedy in Rajkot's gaming zone resulted in 27 fatalities. The PM, while chairing the meeting to review the situation arising from the ongoing heat wave in the country and the preparedness for the onset of monsoon at his residence earlier in the day, said proper drills in the prevention and handling of the incidents of fire should be undertaken regularly. He also called for regular drills for the maintenance of fire-line in forests and productive utilisation of the biomass must be planned. "The prime minister was informed about the usefulness of the “van agni” portal in timely identification of forest fires and its management," said the PMO in its statement. "During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed that as per IMD forecasts, the heat wave is likely to continue in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh," the statement said. This year, the monsoon is likely to be normal and above normal in most parts of the country and below normal in parts of Peninsular India. Most states in north and central India are under the spell of an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in many cities. Back in Tihar, Arvind Kejriwal calls it a ‘sacrifice for country’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal surrendered at the Tihar Prisons on Sunday as the interim bail granted to him by the Supreme Court expired. The apex court had granted the interim bail of 21 days to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. The case is being probed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). Before heading for the Tihar jail, the Delhi chief minister addressed fellow party leaders and members at the AAP office. He said he as a disciple of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who embraced the gallows for the country’s independence, was going to jail to save the country. He said that the way Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the nation he is also ready to be hanged for the sake of the nation. He did not know when he would be released but what could be done with him while in prison, but come what may he won’t bow down. Mr Kejriwal claimed that he was going back to jail not because he was involved in corruption but for raising his voice against "dictatorship". Claiming that he was fighting against the alleged dictatorship, he said the country cannot tolerate authoritarianism. Mr Kejriwal dismissed the exit polls predicting a landslide victory of the ruling BJP in the Lok Sabha elections as ‘fake’. Picking holes in the outcome of the exit polls, he pointed out that one of them gave 33 seats to the BJP in Rajasthan whereas there are only 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.The chief minister said there are several theories on why such allegedly fake exit polls have been done before the counting. According to one of them, it is to boost the share market as a lot of money has been invested in it. When it opens tomorrow, they can manage the investments accordingly. Secondly, he said through the polls an atmosphere is being created to pressurise officials to do as they want as they were eventually coming to power once again. Calling the entire exercise a mind game played in the name of exit polls, he urged his supporters, party leaders, and workers not to fall prey to these machinations and asked the counting agents to be vigilant during the counting till the last vote is counted irrespective of their candidate winning or losing. He thanked the apex court for granting him the interim bail of 21 days to campaign for the elections and added that he did not waste even a minute of the said duration. The African Union has become a part of the G-20 group at the initiative of Bharat. This is going to be a crucial turning point for the future of African countries. Friends, The developmenttrajectory of Bharat fills us with pride and glory, but at the same time, it also reminds the 140 crore citizens of their responsibilities. Now, without wasting a single moment, we must step forward towards greater duties and larger goals. We need to dream new dreams, convert them into reality and begin living those dreams. We must see Bharat’s development in a global context, and for this, it is essential that we understand Bharat’s internal capabilities. We must acknowledge Bharat’s strengths, nurture them, and utilize them for the benefit of the world. In today's global scenario, Bharat’s strength as a youthful nation is an opportunity from which we must not look back. The world of the 21st century is looking towards Bharat with many hopes. And we will need to make several changes to move forward in the global scenario. We also need to change our traditional thinking regarding reform. Bharat cannot limit reform to just economic reforms. We must move forward in every aspect of life towards the direction of reform. Our reforms should also align with the aspirations of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) by 2047. We must also understand that reform can never be a unidimensional process for any country. Therefore, I have laid out the vision of reform, perform, and transform for the country. The responsibility of reform lies with leadership. Based on that, our bureaucracy performs, and when the people join in with the spirit of Jan Bhagidari, we witness a transformation taking place. We must make excellence the fundamental principle to make our country a ‘Viksit Bharat’. We need to work quickly in all four directions: Speed, Scale, Scope, and Standards. Alongside manufacturing, we must also focus on quality and adhere to the mantra of 'zero defect-zero effect'. Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with his family members after paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat on Sunday.  ANI New Sankalps from the Sadhana in Kanniyakumari These thoughts were penned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 1st June between 4:15 PM and 7 PM during his return flight from Kanniyakumari to Delhi. My fellow Indians, The biggest festival of democracy, the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, are concluding today in our nation, the Mother of Democracy. After a three-day spiritual journey in Kanniyakumari, I have just boarded the plane for Delhi. Through the day, Kashi and numerous other seats have been in the midst of voting. My mind is filled with so many experiences and emotions... I feel a boundless flow of energy within myself. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are the first in the Amrit Kaal. I began my campaign a few months ago from Meerut, the land of the First War of Independence of 1857. Since then, I have traversed across the length and breadth of our great nation. The final rally of these elections took me to Hoshiarpur in Punjab, the land of the great Gurus and a land associated with Sant Ravidas Ji. After that, I came to Kanniyakumari, at the feet of Maa Bharti. It is natural that the fervour of the elections was echoing in my heart and mind. The multitude of faces seen in rallies and road shows came in front of my eyes. The blessings from our Nari Shakti…the trust, the affection, all of this was a very humbling experience. My eyes were getting moist... I entered into a ‘sadhana’ (meditative state). And then, the heated political debates, the attacks and counter-attacks, the voices and words of accusations which are so characteristic of an election…they all vanished into a void. A sense of detachment came to grow within me...my mind became completely detached from the external world. Meditation becomes challenging amidst such huge responsibilities, but the land of Kanniyakumari and the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda made it effortless. As a candidate myself, I left my campaign in the hands of my beloved people of Kashi and came here. I am also grateful to God for instilling me with these values from birth which I have cherished and tried to live up to. I was also thinking about what Swami Vivekananda must have experienced during his meditation at this very place in Kanniyakumari! A part of my meditation was spent in a similar stream of thoughts. Amidst this detachment, amidst the peace and silence, my mind was constantly thinking about the bright future of Bharat, the goals of Bharat. The rising sun at Kanniyakumari gave new heights to my thoughts, the vastness of the ocean expanded my ideas, and the expanse of the horizon continuously made me realize the unity, the Oneness, embedded in the depths of the universe. It seemed as if the observations and experiences undertaken in the lap of the Himalayas decades ago were being revived. ... Friends, Swami Vivekananda once said, 'Every nation has a message to deliver, a mission to fulfil, a destiny to reach.' For thousands of years, Bharat has been moving forward with this sense of meaningful purpose. Bharat has been a cradle of ideas for thousands of years. We have never considered what we have acquired as our personal wealth or measured it purely by economic or material parameters. Therefore, 'Idam-na-mama' (this is not mine) has become an inherent and natural part of the character of Bharat. Bharat’s welfare benefits our planet’s journey to progress as well. Take the freedom movement as an example. Bharat gained independence on August 15, 1947. At that time, many countries around the world were under colonial rule. Bharat’s independence journey inspired and empowered many of those countries to achieve their own freedom. That same spirit was seen decades later when the world came face to face with the once in a century pandemic. When concerns were raised about the poor and developing countries, Bharat’s successful efforts provided courage and assistance to many nations. Today, Bharat’s governance model has become an example for many countries around the world. Empowering 25 crore people to rise above poverty in just 10 years is unprecedented. Innovative practices such as Pro-People Good Governance, aspirational districts, and aspirational blocks are being discussed globally today. Our efforts, from empowering the poor to last-mile delivery, have inspired the world by prioritizing individuals standing at the last rung of society. Bharat’s Digital India campaign is now an example for the entire world, showing how we can use technology to empower the poor, bring transparency, and ensure their rights. Inexpensive data in Bharat is becoming a means of social equality by ensuring the reach of information and services to the poor. The whole world is witnessing and studying the democratization of technology, and major global institutions are advising many countries to adopt elements from our model. Today, Bharat’s progress and rise are not just a significant opportunity for Bharat alone, but also a historic opportunity for all our partner countries around the world. Since the success of the G-20, the world has been increasingly envisioning a bigger role for Bharat. Today, Bharat is being acknowledged as a strong and important voice of the Global South.