WEDNESDAY 17 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 CONSTITUTION IN FOCUS A SCHEME THAT HAS TRANSFORMED LIVES P7 SENSEX 80,716.5551.69 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain / thundershower. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 33 °C and 27 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 9.5 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94 % TEMPERATURE Max: 32.1 °C (-0.7 SUN RISES 05:2 hrs MOON RISES 13:46 hrs Min. 77 % Min: 27.0°C (+0.1) SUN SETS 18:24 hrs MOON SETS 00:10 hrs Full Moon on 21 July THUMBNAILS Priests feed elephants as part of the 'Maha Ganapati Homam' ritual on the first day of Ramayana Masam in Kerala on Tuesday.  ANI Indian national killed in Muscat mosque shooting in Oman: An Indian national was among six people killed while another was injured in a shooting incident at a mosque in Muscat city in Oman on Monday, according to a statement released by the Indian Embassy on Tuesday. At least 28 people were also wounded in the shooting, a rare act of violence in the Gulf nation. The attack on Monday took place in Wadi al-Kabir, a district east of the capital city Muscat, during a major religious event for Shia Muslims. P6 NIFTY 24,613.0026.30 BCCI LOOKING FOR ROHIT’S REPLACEMENT AS T20 CAPTAIN MURDER OF EX-MINISTER SAHANI’S FATHER HEATS UP BIHAR POLITICS P5 GOLD 74,020380 ` vs $ 83.56 P12 SILVER 95,000200 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 81.130.29 Army captain among 4 soldiers killed in gunfight in J&K’s Doda Army chief briefs Rajnath on J&K situation; Capt Brijesh Thapa from Darjeeling among deceased STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU/NEW DELHI, 16 JULY n army captain from Darjeeling was among four soldiers who were killed during a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said on Tuesday. Captain Brijesh Thapa (27) and the other three soldiers were critically injured in a gunfight with terrorists in the Dessa forest area of the Doda district Monday night. The soldiers succumbed to their wounds later, said sources. The Army has identified the soldiers who laid down their lives as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, and sepoys Bijendra and Ajay. This was the second major terror attack in the Jammu region after five soldiers were killed in action in Kathua last week. Following the incident, Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the security situation A Army personnel pay last respects to the mortal remains of Capt. Brijesh Thapa (inset), Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Ajay Kumar Singh and Sepoy Bijendra who lost their lives during an encounter with terrorists in Doda, on Tuesday; (Below) At the encounter site  ANI My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty DEFENCE MINISTER RAJNATH SINGH in Jammu and Kashmir. “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh spoke to COAS General Upendra Dwivedi this morning. RM was apprised of the ground situation and the ongoing Counter Terrorist Op in Doda by the Army Chief,” the minister's office wrote on microblogging site X. The minister said he was deeply saddened by the loss of brave and coura- Govt convenes meeting with floor leaders on 21 July EAM assures Mauritius of India’s support on Chagos Archipelago STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 JULY Ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament from 22 July, the government has convened a meeting with floor leaders of all political parties in both Houses on 21 July. “Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold a meeting with the floor leaders of political parties in both the Houses of the Parliament, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament,” the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said on Tuesday. “The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on 22 July and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on 12 August,” the ministry added. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha on 23 July. Mrs Sitharaman had presented an Interim Union Budget for 2024-25 on 1 February. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday assured Mauritius of India's consistent support to the island country on the issue of the Chagos Archipelago in line with New Delhi's principled stand on decolonisation and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. “India remains committed to strengthening this critical partnership (with Mauritius) that is so important for the future of the Indian Ocean region,” he said at a joint address with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in Port Louis (Photo). The comments of Mr Jaishankar, who is currently on a two-day visit to Mauritius, are important since the sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean is disputed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Mauritius has repeatedly stated that the archipelago is part of its territory and that the UK’s claim is a violation of United Nations resolutions banning the dismemberment of colonial territories before independence. “We truly take pride that our collaboration changes the lives of ordinary citizens in this country, through many community development projects, some of which you had the opportunity to see in the video before us. And these today, cover infrastructure in education, in healthcare, in public amenities, and in sports,” Mr Jaishankar said and mentioned twelve such projects inaugurated today. and restore peace and order in the region. Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha vowed to avenge the death of the soldiers and thwart the evil designs of terrorists and their associates. A defence spokesman said: "A joint operation by Rashtriya Rifles (RR) with J&K Police was launched in the general area Urarbaggi, 10 km North of Do- IMF raises India’s growth projection for FY25 to 7 pc STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 JULY geous soldiers in the counter-terrorist operation “My heart goes out to the bereaved families. The Nation stands firmly with the families of our soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty,” he wrote on X. He said counter-terrorist operations are underway, and the troops remain committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism da on Monday. At about 2040 hrs, the search party was able to establish contact with the terrorists hiding in the area, which is a thickly forested and mountainous area with restricted visibility due to low clouds and rain. “In the initial volley of fire, four Army personnel were injured, who later succumbed to their injuries. Additional troops and equipment have been inducted to flush out the terrorists and use of drones and other technical resources is being ensured”. Reports said that after a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists tried to escape but were chased by the troops led by Captain Thapa, despite challenging terrain and thick foliage, leading to another firefight in the woods, in which five security forces personnel were critically wounded. The incident took place within days after five soldiers, including a JCO, were killed in an ambush by terrorists in the neighbouring Kathua district. (More on Pages 2, 5) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 JULY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s growth projection for FY25 by 20 basis points to 7 per cent citing ‘improved prospects’ for private consumption, particularly in rural areas. The UN body expects gross domestic product (GDP) growth in FY26 to slow down to 6.5 per cent, the same as projected in its April World Economic Outlook (WEO). “The forecast for growth in India has also been revised upward, to 7per cent, this year, with the change reflecting carryover from upward revisions to growth in 2023 and improved prospects for private consumption, particularly in rural areas,” it said in an update to the WEO. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said that Asia’s emerging market economies remain the main engine for the global economy. The IMF report upgraded the growth forecast for China for the calendar year IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas said that Asia’s emerging market economies remain the main engine for the global economy. On a calendar-year basis, India's growth projections are 7.3 pc in 2024 and 6.5 pc in 2025.  RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has said India is at the threshold of a major structural shift in its growth trajectory. 2024 by 40 basis points to 5 per cent on account of a rebound in private consumption and strong exports in the first quarter. On a calendar-year basis, India's growth projections are 7.3 per cent in 2024 and 6.5 per cent in 2025. Mr Gourinchas in a blog post said: “Growth in India and China is revised upwards and accounts for almost half of global growth. Yet prospects for the next five years remain weak, largely because of waning momentum in emerging Asia.” IMF’s global growth projections are unchanged at 3.2 per cent for the calendar year 2024 and slightly higher at 3.3per cent in 2025. It predicted global inflation to slow to 5.9 per cent in 2024 from 6.7 per cent last year, broadly on track for a soft landing. “The good news is that, as headline shocks receded, inflation came down without a recession. The bad news is that energy and food price inflation are now almost back to pre-pandemic levels in many countries, while overall inflation is not,” said Mr Gourinchas. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had projected the economy will grow at 7.2 per cent in FY25. Governor Shaktikanta Das said India is at the threshold of a major structural shift in its growth trajectory. Khedkar taken off field training, recalled to Mussoorie academy AGENCIES MUMBAI, 16 JULY The controversial Maharashtra IAS-Probationary Officer and Washim Assistant Collector, Dr. Puja Khedkar, has been taken off field training with immediate effect and ordered to report to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, an official said here on Tuesday. The move follows a report submitted by the Maharashtra government to the LBSNAA on her alleged behaviour on various counts following many allegations pertaining to her OBC creamy layer and medical disability status, plus demanding perks and facilities that she was not entitled to as an IAS probationer. The LBSNAA Deputy Director, Shelesh Nawal, asked the state government to relieve Ms Khedkar from her duties immediately and advise her to report to the Mussoorie academy by 23 July. State Additional Chief Secretary Nitin Gadre subsequently wrote to Puja Khedkar on Tuesday, who is designated as ‘Super Numerary Assistant Collector, Washim’. He cited the letter of the LBSNAA which has decided to keep her District Training Programme on hold and immediately recall her (to Mussoorie) for ‘further necessary action’. “Therefore, you are hereby relieved from District Training Programme of State Government of Maharashtra. You are instructed to join the Academy (LBSNAA) at the earliest but not later than 23rd July, 2024 under any circumstances,” said the terse communication. In its letter earlier in the day, the LBSNAA took cognisance of the state government’s communication of 11 July regarding the conduct of Dr. Khedkar during her District Training Programme in Pune before she was transferred to Washim, where she joined on 11 July. The moves came soon after Washim Police grilled Dr. Khedkar on the accusations levelled against her following the RTI revelations by a Pune activist, Vinod Kumbhar. Last week, the Central government set up a one-man committee of Additional Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training Manoj Dwivedi to enquire into the charges against Dr Khedkar. The committee is likely to submit the probe report within a fortnight. Among others, Dr Khedkar is accused of allegedly submitted doubtful documents and certificates pertaining to her caste status, mental illness and visual impairment, making demands like a beacon for her private Audi-A4 car (later impounded), affixing a sticker of ‘Maharashtra Government’, grabbing an office of a senior officer at the Pune Collectorate, etc. which were beyond her entitlements as a IAS probationary officer. Simultaneously, her family members also came under the radar after different allegations and complaints. Who is Usha Chilukuri Vance, Indian-origin wife of Donald Trump’s pick for Vice President? Burglar empties Marathi litterateur Surve’s home; repents and returns everything AGENCIES AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 16 JULY Former US President Donald Trump on Monday picked JD Vance, a first-time senator from Ohio, as his running mate and nominee for the Vice-President post. JD Vance, 40 years younger than Trump, is making headlines not just for his selection as the former president’s running mate but also for his Indian connection. His wife Usha Chilukuri Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants to the USA. Ms Vance’s parents hail from Andhra Pradesh, who migrated to the United States decades ago. Born and brought up in the USA, Usha holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University and then pursued Master's in Philosophy from Cambridge University. She also has a track record of a distinguished career, with professional engagements across multiple segments. A corporate litigator at a prestigious San Francisco law firm, Usha Vance has clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was an appeals court judge. Usha and JD Vance met at the Yale Law School and it was there that they developed a close affinity for each other. They married in Kentucky in 2014 and together they have three children. Usha Chilukuri Vance made some rare appearances along with her husband as the latter campaigned for the Ohio senator election in 2022. In a 2017 interview, she told NBC News how they met. “We were friends, and I liked that he was very diligent. He would show up at 9 a.m. appointments that I would set up for us to start working on the brief together," she said. Mr Vance, in the same interview, praised Usha for unflinching faith and commitment in things that she believed. "The thing that I remember most about Usha is just how completely forward and comfortable with herself she was. She is so defensive about the things that she really cared about,” Mr Vance said in the interview. A registered Democrat as of 2014, Ms Vance worked for Munger, Tolles, and Olson, a law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington that describes its corporate culture as “radically progressive.” After the announcement last night of Mr Vance being picked as Mr Trump’s running mate, Ms Vance resigned from the firm. RAIGAD, 16 JULY In a bizarre incident, a burglar sneaked in and emptied the locked home of the legendary Marathi litterateur, Padmashri Narayan Gangaram Surve (photo), recently in Neral town, a police officer said on Tuesday. However, after realising that he had robbed the home of an eminent literary personality, the burglar, who purportedly made multiple nocturnal trips through a broken window, repented and returned everything he had stolen. Going a step further, the burglar scrawled a note and stuck it on a wall in the home, near the ‘returned goods’ consignment. The incident came to light after the late Surve's daughter, Sujata G. Ghare, and her husband Ganesh Ghare returned home after a nearly three-week outing, said Neral CMYK Police Station in-charge Shivaji Dhavale. “It was only after they returned and saw the whole house in a mess, that they lodged a police complaint on 15 July. As per the preliminary probe, we feel that the burglar must have taken advantage of the locked home, and committed the robbery during the period when the house was deserted for several weeks,” Inspector Dhavale said. Suspecting he could be a local, literate or semi-literate, unemployed youth who decided to ‘clean up’ Surve’s home to sell the stuff for a quick buck, Mr Dhavale said that a police team has been formed to track down the unknown culprit. Finding no cash in the house, the burglar apparently decided to cart away various household items including a LED TV, some brass and copper ware, steel kitchen utensils, and even foodgrains stored there. It is surmised that towards the end of his burglary spree, he found the photos, honours and certificates of Surve adorning the walls there. Taken aback, it seems, the thief decided to return all that he had taken away. He came back with the stuff and dumped it in one heap in the house. He thoughtfully penned a note which said: “I was not aware that this is Narayan Surve’s home, or I would not have burgled it! Please forgive me. Whatever stuff I had stolen, I am return- ing everything. I had even taken the TV set, but am giving it back. Sorry…” A literary giant, Surve (19262010) was an orphan who grew up on the hard streets of south Mumbai, slept on rough pavements and did odd, menial jobs to survive, while selflearning to make it big in life. At the age of 36, he managed to publish his first collection of poems, ‘Aisa Ga Mi Brahma’, and later in 1966 came ‘Majhe Vidyapeeth (My University)’ with which he stormed onto the literary stage. Though formally educated till barely Class II, it was ‘Majhe Vidyapeeth’ which earned him fame. He was honoured with the Padma Shri (1998) by the government of AB Vajpayee, the Soviet Land Nehru Award (1973) for ‘Majhe Vidyapeeth’, and the Madhya Pradesh government’s Kabir Samman (1999), among many others.