THURSDAY 18 JULY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR FOR A BETTER CLASS OF CIVIL SERVANTS UP: MAURYA’S STATEMENT SETS OFF INTERNAL BICKERING P10 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Rain / thundershower very likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 34 °C and 27 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 23.9 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY P7 P9 Min. 69 % Max: 33.4 °C (+0.6) SUN RISES 05:2 hrs MOON RISES 14:44 hrs Min: 28.4°C (+1.5) SUN SETS 18:24 hrs MOON SETS 00:49 hrs Full Moon on 21 July THUMBNAILS Tibetans hold USA flags during the 'Thank You USA' grand ceremony to express their heartfelt gratitude for enacting into law the “Promoting a Resolution to the TibetChina Dispute Act, at the Sambhota Tibetan School in Shimla on Wednesday.  ANI Excise policy case: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved the order on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) in connection with Excise policy case. The Court also reserved the order on the issue of Kejriwal's plea for interim bail. The bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna after hearing the arguments at length, decided to reserve the order on Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest. he Karnataka government has come under fire from industrialists following the announcement of the proposed Bill reserving jobs for Kannadigas in the private sector, and on Wednesday that the interests of both locals and industries would be protected. The Karnataka state cabinet on Monday approved a Bill enforcing 50 per cent reservation for administrative posts and 75 per cent for nonadministrative posts for Kannadigas in private industries. The Bill also seeks 100 per cent reservation for locals in "C&D" grade government jobs. Industry body Nasscom, which represents the technology and software landscape in the country has expressed strong concern regarding the proposed Karnataka State Employment of Local Industries Factories Establishment Act Bill, 2024 and urged the state government to withdraw the Bill. “Nasscom members are seriously concerned about the provisions of this bill and urge the state government to withdraw the bill.The bill's T Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah with State Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at the State Assembly, in Bengaluru.  ANI provisions threaten to reverse this progress, drive away companies, and stifle startups, especially when more global firms (GCCs) are looking to invest in the state. At the same time, the restrictions could force companies to relocate as local skilled talent becomes scarce,” Nasscom said in a statement. Itfurthersaidthatthebill's provisions threaten to reverse what the state has achieved in the field of technology and software. It further added that in today's highly competitive landscape, knowledge-led businesses will locate where talent is as attracting skilled workers is crucial for success. Several industry leaders in the state also raised objections to the government’s Oil tanker capsizes off Oman, 13 Indians missing, Indian Navy joins rescue Ops move, saying that it is "discriminatory" and raised apprehensions that the tech industry may suffer. On its part, the Karnataka governmentgaveclearsignsthatthey would take a relook at the issue. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that the the government would be holding further discussions. “No investors need to worry.We want investors to come to Karnataka.There are certain sections of the people who are talented and have come from outside the state. We want them to work in Karnataka...We just want to give (Kannadigas) scope... We are more worried than both the employer and the employee.We will see where we can accommodate Kannadigas..." Minister for Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil also assured resolution of concerns over the draft Bill on quota for Kannadigas in private companies. He promised that a team of four ministers would discuss the matter with CM Siddaramaiah. He said that any confusion regarding the draft Bill would be resolved amicably and added that the interests of both Kannadigas and industries would be protected. “The content in the draft Bill regarding providing reservations to Kannadigas in managerial posts is advisory in nature, and industry stakeholders need not have any apprehension,” he said. State IT Minister Priyank Kharge assured industrialists that the state government will "implement" the Bill only after consultations. “I have requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to implement it only after consultation with the industrial experts and other departments on the conditions of the Bill... There is no need to be concerned over the development. We will carry out elaborate consultations and arrive at a consensus,” Mr Kharge said. MUHARRAM RITUALS With the Haryana Assembly elections just a few months away, state Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced 10 per cent reservation for Agniveers who are released from the Indian Army after their service. Making an announcement to this effect, Mr Saini said: “Agniveers are deployed in the Indian Army for 4 years under the Agnipath Scheme implemented by PM Modi on 14th June 2022. Under the scheme, our government in Haryana will provide 10 per cent horizontal reservation to the Agniveers in Haryana in direct recruitment to the posts of Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Guard, Jail Warden and SPO recruited by the state government..." He said the state would provide these Agniveers a relaxation of three years in the maximum age prescribed for Group B and C government jobs. “In the case of the first batch of Agniveers, this age relaxation will be 5 years. The government will provide 5 per cent horizontal reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment to civil posts in Group C and 1 per cent horizontal reservation in Group B,” he added. The chief minister further said STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 JULY NEW DELHI, 17 JULY A Comoros-flagged oil tanker, MT Falcon Prestige, with 13 Indians and 3 Sri Lankans as crew members has capsized off the coast of Oman, the country’s Maritime Security Centre said. The capsized Comoros flagged vessel transmitted a distress call around 10 p.m. on 14 July off the coast of Oman. “The merchant vessel has a crew of 16, of which 13 are Indian seafarers. The vessel seems to have capsized," the source said. A source said the Indian Embassy in Oman is in constant touch with the Omani authorities. “A search and rescue operation for the seafarers, coordinated by the Oman Maritime Security Centre (OMSC), is on. The Indian Navy has also joined the search and rescue operations,” the sources said. The Indian Navy's warship INS Teghas been deployed along with P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft along with Omani vessels and personnel to carry out search and res- The government has convened an all-party meeting on Sunday, ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, to seek the cooperation of political parties in the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament. The Budget Session will be held from 22 July to 12 August. The Union Budget will be presented on 23 July. The government is expected to present the Economic Survey on Monday, 22 July. The Budget will be the first Budget of the Narendra Modi government in its third term. A meeting of the Union Cabinet is likely to take place on Thursday morning. The all-party meeting will be significant in view of the stormy proceedings witnessed in the two Houses during a discussion on the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament in the last session. The short session was mainly devoted to oath-tak- cue missions after the vessel capsized. The Indian warship was carrying out an operational turnaround in the area from where it was directed on 15 July to carry out search and rescue missions. The warship had located the capsizing oil tanker on 16 July morning. The oil tanker, Prestige Falcon, capsized 25 nautical miles south-east of Ras Madrakah. This is near the Omani port of Duqm. The Maritime Security Centre said in a post on X: “A Comoros-flagged oil tanker capsized 25 NM southeast of Ras Madrakah. SAR Ops initiated with the relevant authorities. #MaritimeSecurityCen- tre”. The tanker was heading to the Yemeni port of Aden, according to shipping data by LSEG. The vessel is a 117-metrelong oil products tanker built in 2007, LSEG's shipping data showed. Such small tankers are generally deployed for short voyages. Earlier, on 27 November last year a cargo ship carrying 14 crew members including Indian crew members, sank off the coast of Lesbos island in Greece due to high-speed winds. The Comoros-flagged ship Raptor, which was travelling from Dekheila, Egypt to Istanbul carrying a load of salt, sank 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 km) south-west of Lesbos. A young Shia Muslim girl with her father during a religious procession to mark Ashura on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, in Lucknow on Wednesday.  ANI The chief minister further said that in case an Agniveer is hired by an industrial unit on a monthly salary of Rs 30,000, his government will provide Rs 60,000 per annum as a subsidy to the unit. that in case an Agniveer is hired by an industrial unit on a monthly salary of Rs 30,000, his government will provide Rs 60,000 per annum as a subsidy to the unit. Furthermore, Agniveers will be eligible for a Rs 5 lakh loan if they wish to start a business. Earlier, last week, in line with a Union home ministry directive, various Central Armed Police Forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, and Railway Protection Force, had announced ten per cent reservation for ex-Agniveers in vacancies, as well as relaxation in age limits and exemption from physical efficiency tests. In the Agnipath scheme, youths between the ages of 17-and-a-half years and 23 are recruited in the armed forces, as ‘Agniveers’ who serve for four years, with provision to retain 25 per cent of them in the permanent cadre, who serve for 15 more years. The scheme had come under attack from the Opposition, questioning what will happen to the 75 per cent of Agniveers who are not retained after their fouryear tenure and alleging discrimination in terms of pay and benefits, including compensation in the event of death while in service, as compared to soldiers recruited for the full tenure. Budget Session: Govt to seek cooperation of all parties for smooth functioning STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The oil tanker, Prestige Falcon, capsized 25 nautical miles south-east of Ras Madrakah. This is near the Omani port of Duqm. The Indian Navy's warship INS Teg has been deployed along with P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft along with Omani vessels P12 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE CHANDIGARH, 17 JULY Bill also seeks 100 pc reservation for locals in ‘C&D’ grade govt jobs. BENGALURU, 17 JULY JAISWAL, GILL RISE IN ICC T20 BATTERS RANKINGS LIST Ahead of Assembly polls: Haryana CM announces 10 pc quota for ‘Agniveers’ K’taka govt under fire over reservation Bill AGENCIES Max. 92 % TEMPERATURE UK’S NEW GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION FOR ‘NATIONAL RENEWAL’ The Budget Session will be held from 22 July to 12 August. The Union Budget will be presented on 23 July. The government is expected to present the Economic Survey on Monday, 22 July. ing by newly-elected members of the 18th Lok Sabha and the re-election of Mr Om Birla as the Speaker. While the Opposition was disturbed in the session over the government’s references to the 1975 Emergency, the day of the imposition of the Emergency, the 25th of June, has since been declared as Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day). A government notification last Friday declared “25th June as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” to pay tribute to all those who suffered and fought against the gross abuse of power during the period of Emergency and to recommit to the people of India to not support in any manner such gross abuse of power in the future.” In her address to Parliament, the President had referred to the coming Budget and said: “My Government will present its first budget in the forthcoming session. This budget will be an effective document of the Government’s far-reaching policies and futuristic vision.” She further stated: “Along with major economic and social decisions, many historic steps will also be seen in this budget. The pace of reforms will be further accelerated in tune with the aspirations of the people of India for rapid development.” She said the government believed that there should be healthy competition among the states to attract investors from all over the world. This is the true spirit of competitive cooperative federalism, she said. “We will continue to move ahead with the belief that the development of the country lies in the development of the states,” she had stated. Made in India products take SKY most likely to succeed Rohit as India’s new T20I captain the world by storm, says PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 JULY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 JULY Prime Minister Narendra Modi onWednesday hailed the Make In India success story and presented a glimpse how it is propelling India's economy on to the global stage. In a post on social media platform X, he said: “The Made in India initiative showcases the phenomenal success of Indian-made products globally. From Indian bicycles to digital payments, India is taking the world by storm with its products.” The Prime Minister put together a collection of news clippings on his post to show how Indian products are entering international markets. The first clipping said Indian bicycles are becoming a global sensation, with exports surging to the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. This growth highlights India’s rising influence in international markets. The next said that Made-in-Bihar boots are now part of the Russian Army’s gear, showcasing the unexpected global reach of Indian products. This milestone reflects India’s growing influence in international defence markets and the high quality of its manufacturing capabilities. “Kashmir willow bats were in high demand as the World Cup approached, solidifying their status as a global favourite,” another clipping said. These bats exemplify India’s superior craftsmanship and significant impact on the international cricket scene. “Amul is taking India’s unique flavours to the world, launching its products in the US. This international expansion highlights the global appeal of Indian dairy products and Amul’s commitment to spreading the taste of India worldwide,” a clipping said. There were more clippings on other success stories: “India’s UPI system is now global, enabling seamless digital payments in multiple countries. This technological advancement underscores India’s leadership in fintech innovation and its commitment to revolutionizing digital transactions worldwide.” Suryakumar Yadav is set to be appointed as India’s new T20I captain ahead of Hardik Pandya, the incumbent vicecaptain of the side, for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. It has been learnt that the newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir and the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar discussed the leadership transition in detail with Hardik, and also informed him of the long-term plans for the shortest format. The selection committee meeting to pick the squad for the Sri Lanka tour, that was initially scheduled on Wednesday, has now been rescheduled to Thursday. The T20I series against Sri Lanka is scheduled from 27 to 30 July in Pallekele, followed by the ODIs from 2 to 7 August in Colombo. Reportedly, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah will be travelling to Sri Lanka for the annual ICC meeting which is scheduled to take place from 19 to 22 July in Colombo. Meanwhile, Suryakumar, who was among the top aspirants along with Hardik for the CMYK post, and is a sure-starter in India’s first-choice XI, has been preferred to succeed Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from the shortest format along with Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, after leading India to T20 World Cup glory in the Caribbean last month. The reason behind SKY’s promotion to the role has more to do with Pandya’s fitness concerns, and with an eye to manage his workload, given that the star all-rounder’s services will be crucial as India targets the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. While Hardik, who served as Rohit’s deputy at the T20 World Cup and is a more experienced captain - he has led India in three ODIs and 16 T20Is, apart from leading Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in the IPL, his injuryprone past might have led the decision makers to opt for a safer option in SKY. Hardik had suffered an ankle injury during the 50-over World Cup at home last October-November and was out of action until the start of IPL 2024, when he returned to lead Mumbai Indians in the Indi- an Premier League. Since the start of 2022, Hardik has featured in just 46 of the 79 T20Is that India have played. In contrast, SKY has previously led India to a 4-1 series win over Australia last November, followed by a 11 series scoreline in South Africa. He has also led Mumbai in the domestic circuit. The T20Is in Sri Lanka will also be the team’s first assignment under Mr Gambhir, who was appointed after the triumphant T20 World Cup campaign under Rahul Dravid. The new captain-coach duo is expected to work together in building the outfit for the next T20 World Cup that will be co-hosted by India in 2026. Immediately after the T20 World Cup, a fresh-look Indian team captained by Shubman Gill toured Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series, and returned with a 4-1 series triumph.