SATURDAY 13 JULY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR JAGAN, TWO IPS OFFICERS BOOKED FOR ATTEMPT TO MURDER ‘YOUTH VITAL FOR EVERY PARTY’ P7 SENSEX 80,519.34622.00 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY WITH LIGHT RAIN. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 26 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. P4 NIFTY 24,502.15186.20 ‘PLAYING FOR ENGLAND IS BEST JOB IN WORLD’ BIDEN SAYS HE’S GOING TO ‘COMPLETE THE JOB’ P9 GOLD 73,750330 ` vs $ 83.52 P12 SILVER 95,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 82.940.060 Govt, Opposition war of words over Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas RAINFALL: nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Govt announced that 25 June will be remembered annually as Constitution Murder Day Max. 79 % STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JULY TEMPERATURE Min. 56 % Max: 34.3 °C (-1) SUN RISES 05:33 hrs MOON RISES 12:52 hrs Min: 29.6 °C (+2) SUN SETS 19:22 hrs MOON SETS 23:45 hrs THUMBNAILS In a departure from moderation, retail inflation in June rises to 5.08 pc: The year-on-year inflation rate based on the all-India Consumer Price Index (CPI) number is registered at 5.08 per cent (provisional) for the month of June, data from the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said. The retail inflation took a departure from the moderation it witnessed in the past months pushed by rising food prices. Bengal moves SC against Governor: The Bengal government has moved the Supreme Court against Governor CV Ananda Bose for withholding assent to eight bills. The state government has argued that withholding assent is affecting the welfare of residents of Bengal for whom the bills were passed. (P3) T he Central government on Friday announced that 25 June will be remembered annually as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day) as a reminder of the abuses of power during the Emergency declared by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975, provoking a scathing response from the main Opposition Congress. A gazette notification was issued in this regard on Friday. Posting on microblogging site X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated: “To observe 25th June as #SamvidhaanHatyaDiwas will serve as a reminder of what happens when the Constitution of India was trampled over. It is also a The day would serve as a reminder of the significant sacrifices endured by those who faced the severe hardships of the 1975 Emergency.... AMIT SHAH - UNION HOME MINISTER In the last 10 years, your govt has celebrated ‘Constitution Murder Day' every day. You have snatched away the self-respect of every poor and deprived section... MALLIKARJUN KHARGE - CONGRESS PRESIDENT day to pay homage to each and every person who suffered due to the excesses of the Emergency, a Congress unleashed dark phase of Indian history.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah, also posting on X, said that the day would serve as a reminder of the significant sacrifices endured by those who faced the severe hardships of the 1975 Emergency, highlighting their immense contributions. “The decision made by the government led by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji is intended to honour the spirit of millions who struggled to revive democracy despite facing inexplicable persecution at the hands of an oppressive government. The observance of 'Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas' will help keep the eternal flame of individual freedom and the defence of our democracy alive in every Indian, thus preventing dictatorial forces like the Congress from repeating those horrors," the home minister wrote. The Congress party slammed the government move as a headline grabbing exercise, and charged that Mr Modi has imposed an undeclared Emergency in the country in the last 10 years. Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh stated on X: “Yet another headline grabbing exercise in hypocrisy by the non-biological Prime Minister who had imposed an undeclared Emergency for ten long years before the people of India handed him a decisive personal, political, and moral defeat on 4th June, 2024 - which will go down in history as Modi Mukti Diwas.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also hit back saying that the Narendra Modi government has celebrated "Constitution Murder Day" every day during the last 10 years. "In the last 10 years, your government has celebrated "Constitution Murder Day" every day. You have snatched away the self-respect of every poor and deprived section of the country every moment," Kharge said in a post on 'X'. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the times associated with the Emergency were being seen most during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We do not support Emergency... (but) charity begins at home," she said while speaking to mediapersons in Mumbai. Central govt not stable, may not last long , says Mamata SC grants bail to Kejriwal, says he should take call on whether to stay on as CM PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 12 JULY The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the PMLA case being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) arising from the Delhi Excise Police case, but said the Aam Aadmi Party leader should take a call whether or not to continue as Chief Minister. Stating, “We are conscious that Arvind Kejriwal is an elected leader and the Chief Minister of Delhi, a post holding importance and influence. We have also referred to the allegations”, the court said: “While we do not give any direction, since we are doubtful whether the court can direct an elected leader to step down or not function as the Chief Minister or as a Minister, we leave it to Arvind Kejriwal to take a call.” The court also referred to a larger bench the issues relating to the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) particularly Section 19 of the Act and the necessity to arrest. The court said that the larger bench to which the issues arising in Mr Kejriwal’s case relating to the PMLA have been referred to, “if deemed appropriate, can Modi reaffirms India’s commitment to a peaceful, prosperous Bay of Bengal region frame question(s) and decide the conditions that can be imposed by the court in such cases”. The bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta said: “Given that right to life is concerned and since the matter is referred to a larger bench, we direct Arvind Kejriwal to be released on interim bail.” However,Mr Kejriwal will continue to be incarcerated as he has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to the same liquor pol- icy case on 25 June 2024. On Friday, special judge Kaveri Baweja extended the judicial custody of Mr Kejriwal in the case till 25 July. Mr Kejriwal in his appeal has challenged the validity of arrest under Section 19 of PLMA and raised the issue of the scope and ambit of the trial court/courts to examine the legality of the arrest under Section 19. In its order passed today, the top court said that the legal question regarding the “necessity to arrest” under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) needs to be considered by a larger bench of the court. Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, providing for the power of arrest, says that if the investigating officer has on “the basis of material in his possession, reason to believe (the reason for such belief to be recorded in writing) that any person has been guilty of an offence punishable under this Act, he may arrest such person and shall, as soon as may be, inform him of the grounds for such arrest.” SUBMERGED LANDSCAPE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JULY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed the role of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) as an engine for economic and social growth. He was talking to the foreign ministers of BIMSTEC countries who paid a joint call on him. The BIMSTEC ministers are in New Delhi for their annual retreat. BIMSTEC brings together seven countries of Asia and South East Asia namely India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar. “Glad to meet BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers. Discussed ways to strengthen regional cooperation, including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security and people-to-people exchanges. Conveyed full support to Thailand for a successful Summit,” the PM wrote on microblogging platform X later. The Ministry of External Affairs said the PM had fruitful discussions with the group of BIMSTEC ministers on further strengthening the regional cooperation in diverse areas including connectivity, energy, trade, health, agriculture, science, security, and people-to-people exchanges. He reaffirmed India's commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, resilient, and safe BIMSTEC region and highlighted its significance to India’s 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Look East Policies' as well as in its 'SAGAR' vision for Security and Growth for All in the Region. A view of the partially submerged huts as the level of river Ganga rises due to heavy rains, in Kanpur on Friday.  ANI AGENCIES MUMBAI, 12 JULY West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday voiced concerns over the “stability” of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA 3.0 at the Centre and hinted that it may not last long in power. “This (Central) government is not stable... is not strong. It may not continue also... My best wishes to them,” the Chief Minister said in a brief media interaction in Mumbai. She was speaking after meeting Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi and their sons Aditya and Tejas, at their Bandra home ‘Matoshri’.(Photo) “Khela has begun, It will go on,” Miss Banerjee said when asked to elaborate. To a query, the Bengal Chief Minister said that during the last Lok Sabha elections, in one particular constituency in the Maharashtra capital (Mumbai North West), the winning margin was only 48 votes. “They have done like this in many other areas... otherwise this time (2024) they would not have come (to office), I am sure of that,” the Chief Minister said. Miss Banerjee said no one was consulted when the three laws - Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) that replaced the Indian Penal Code(IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure(CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively, were tabled in Parliament. It was passed when a large number of MPs were suspended, she said, adding many people are afraid of these new laws. Miss Banerjee also said it was "absolutely unethical" to take away the name and symbol from the Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, but said it fought like a tiger. Miss Banerjee said she would campaign for Mr Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) in the Maharashtra assembly polls likely to be held in October-November. Mr Thackeray, who described Miss Banerjee as ‘my sister’, said this was a family visit and urged the media to keep politics out of it, but promised “we shall hold a separate press conference on all this.” Miss Banerjee later met Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar and his daughter and MP Supriya Sule at Mr Pawar’s residence 'Silver Oak' in south Mumbai. She is also likely to meet Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders who are expected to attend the wedding of the Ambani family tonight. Mamata Banerjee is known to enjoy a close personal rapport with the Pawar and Mr Thackeray and makes it a point to meet them whenever she visits Maharashtra. Trouble mounts for trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar Bihar: 25 dead, 39 injured in 24 hrs in lightning incidents STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 12 JULY Embattled trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar may be dismissed from service if she is found guilty of violation of rules of appointment, official sources said on Friday, even as a video emerged where her mother can be seen threatening a group of men with a gun over a land dispute. The 32-year-old civil servant is in the eye of a storm over alleged misuse of power and the claims that she made in her UPSC candidature. She had courted controversy over using a siren on her private Audi and raising demands for a separate house and car - privileges not available to junior officers. She was also found using the Pune Additional Collector Ajay More's office while he was away. She reportedly removed office furniture and even demanded letterheads and a VIP number plate. These perks are not available for junior officers, who are on probation for 24 months. Officials said the 2023batch IAS officer faces far more serious charges that raise questions about her selection process in the civil services. According to sources, Manoj Dwivedi, additional secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), has started the investigation against her. Ms Khedkar was transferred from Pune to Washim amid the allegations. Asked to comment on the charges leveled against her, she said she is not authorised to speak on the matter. "I am not authorized to say anything to the media. I will give my submissions before the committee. I will follow the procedure,” she said. Reports suggest that her father - a retired administrative officer - had even pushed for her demands to be fulfilled. Questions have also arisen over her claim of Other Backward Classes (OBC) status. She had also claimed several disabilities to avail concessions in the UPSC selection process, but refused to undergo mandatory medical tests to confirm those. Meanwhile, a video emerged on social media purportedly showing Khedkar’s mother Manorama holding a pistol in her hand, arguing with a farmer over a land dispute. Pune police have taken cognizance of the video. Reports also claimed that on 18 May, Ms Khedkar allegedly called Navi Mumbai's Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare and urged him to release a transporter, Ishwar Uttarwade, arrested in a theft case. Mr Uttarwade, a builder's recognised supplier of steel for his transport company, was detained after the latter disclosed stock loss. The truck driver admitted to carrying the shipment when police apprehended him, but he could not provide any information about the business's owner. Mr Uttarwade was arrested when it was discovered that a weighing scale chip had been altered prior to the steel being loaded. After that, on 18 May, Ms Khedkar contacted Mr Pansare and demanded his release, claiming that "the charges against him were small" and that he was innocent. AGENCIES PATNA, 12 JULY As many as 25 people lost their lives and 39 others were injured in lightning strikes across several districts of Bihar in the last 24 hours. On Friday, Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, expressed condolences and directed officials to provide Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia to each of the families of the deceased. He also urged people to stay indoors during the rain and thunderstorms. Out of the 25 people who lost their lives, five died in Madhubani, four in Aurangabad, three in Supaul, three in Nalanda, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, expressed condolences and directed officials to provide Rs 4 lakh as ex-gratia to each of the families of the deceased. two each in Lakhisarai and Patna, and one each in Begusarai, Jamui, Gopalganj, Rohtas, Samastipur and Purnea. According to the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, 50 people have died due to lightning strikes in July alone. However, the unofficial figure may be more than that. The Authority has urged caution in the next few days as heavy rains, thunderstorms, and lightning strikes occurred in several districts of Bihar on Thursday and are expected to continue for the next two days. The Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning in many areas, including Patna, on Friday, and issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for Kishanganj and Araria districts. On Thursday, 22 students in Barka Gaon Village, under Tarari police station, were injured when lightning struck a palm tree near their classrooms. They were admitted to Sadar Hospital Arrah. In other districts, 17 more people sustained burn injuries due to lightning strikes.