SATURDAY 03 AUGUST 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 EAM: TIES WITH NEIGHBOURS NOT EASY TO MANAGE ‘LOTUS WILL BE BJP’S CM FACE’ P7 SENSEX 80,981.95885.59 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky with light to moderate rain / thundershower very likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 30 °C and 26 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 44.6 mm FREED AMERICANS BACK ON U.S. SOIL AFTER HISTORIC PRISONER SWAP P5 NIFTY 24,717.70293.20 P9 GOLD 70,690330 ` vs $ 83.73 MANU QUALIFIES FOR WOMEN'S 25M PISTOL FINAL P12 SILVER 86,500600 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.231.24 SC declines SIT probe into electoral bonds scheme RELATIVE HUMIDITY CJI asks petitioner to take recourse to remedies that are available under normal course of law TEMPERATURE PARMOD KUMAR Max. 98 % Min. 91 % Max: 28.3°C (- 4.2) SUN RISES 05:9 hrs MOON RISES 02:46 hrs Min: 26.2°C (- 0.4) SUN SETS 18:17 hrs MOON SETS 16:57 hrs New Moon on 04 August THUMBNAILS Children offer prayers to a Shivling on the occasion of Shravan Shivratri, at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh on Friday.  ANI Delhi HC transfers coaching centre death case probe to CBI: The Delhi High Court on Friday transferred the investigation case about the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The reason cited for this decision is the seriousness of the incidents and the potential involvement of corruption by public servants. AI suspends flights to and from Tel Aviv till 8 August AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 2 AUGUST Amid growing tensions in parts of the Middle East, Air India on Friday announced its is suspending flight operations to and from Tel Aviv till 8 August with immediate effect. The country’s flagship carrier operates four flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv on a weekly basis. In a post on social media platform X, the carrier said that in view of the ongoing situation in parts of West Asia, “we have suspended scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including August 8, 2024.” Air India further said that they are continuously monitoring the situation and are “extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges”. NEW DELHI, 2 AUGUST n a relief to the political parties across the spectrum, the Supreme Court on Friday rejected a plea by the NGO Common Cause, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and others seeking probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) monitored by a retired judge of the top court into the alleged quid pro quo involving donations by big corporates through the now quashed, electoral bonds in exchange for government contracts, policy tweaking or investigation agencies developing inertia and going silent on their probes. Refusing to order SIT probe into the allegations of quid pro quo, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heading a Bench also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra asked the petition- I er NGS ~ Common Cause and CPIL ~ and others to take recourse to remedies that are available under the normal course of law, starting with the registration of FIRs and the consequent investigation. The Bench said that it is of the considered view that constitution of an SIT headed by a former judge of this court should not be ordered when remedies under law governing criminal procedure is not availed. “At the present stage, absent a recourse to remedies which are available under the law to pursue such grievances, it would be both premature - because the intervention under Article 32 must be preceded by the invocation of the normal remedies under the law and contingent upon the failure of those remedies - and inappropriate -because the intervention by this court at the present stage would NEET: SC tells NTA to stop ‘flip-flop’ PARMOD KUMAR Stating that there was no “systemic breach” in the conduct of the NEET-UG 2024, the Supreme Court on Friday said the National Testing Agency (NTA) should avoid "flip-flops" in conducting the exams and mishaps orchestrated by it was a luxury students cannot afford. Pronouncing the detailed judgment on the pleas seeking cancellation of NEET-UG 2024 over allegation of paper leak and malpractices which has already been rejected on 23 July, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, heading a bench also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said: “The NTA must avoid the flipflops it has done in this case. These flip-flops of the NTA do not serve the interests of the students.” Asking the Central government to completely restructure the examination process, the judgment said an exam may be cancelled only when its sanctity is found to have been compromised at a systemic level and it is impossible to separate the tainted candidates from the untainted ones. postulate that the normal remedies which are available under the law are not efficacious- for this court to issue such directions,” the Bench said in its order. The top court also rejected their demand to direct the authorities to recover the donations received by political parties through Electoral Bonds and to re-open their income tax assessments. It added: “Issuing a direction of that nature at the present stage would amount to a conclusion on facts which would be inappropriate…” Making a distinction between the court hearing a batch of petitions including by the Associ- ation for Democratic Reforms challenging the vires of the electoral bond scheme itself and the plea for SIT probe monitored by a retired judge of the top court when the remedies under the normal course of law are available to the petitioner, the Chief Justice Chandrachud said that it would amount to a “rowing inquiry”. NEW DELHI, 2 AUGUST The NTA must avoid the flipflops it has done in this case. These flipflops of the NTA do not serve the interests of the students SUPREME COURT OF INDIA ED raid being planned CM writes to FM, seeks withdrawal against me, says Rahul of 18 pc GST on insurance premiums STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 AUGUST The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday claimed that a raid is being planned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him in the wake of his recent “chakravyuh” remarks against the BJP-led government at the Centre. Mr Gandhi, represents Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli parliamentary constituency said he is waiting with open arms to welcome the central probe agency. Referring to his 29th July speech in the Lower House, the LoP in a post on X wrote: “Apparently, 2 in 1 didn’t like my Chakravyuh speech. ED ‘insiders’ tell me a raid is being planned.” “Waiting with open armsED…..chaiand biscuits on me,” he said. Participating in the discussion on the Union Budget, Mr Gandhi while attacking the ruling dispensation said the 21st century “lotus-shaped chakravyuh is trapping India Rahul Gandhi said he is waiting with open arms to welcome the central probe agency and controlled by six people.” “In Kurukshetra, Abhimanyu was trapped and killed in a Chakravyuh - a formation controlled by six people, and also known as Padmavyuh for its resemblance to a lotus formation. Today a 21st century lotus-shaped Chakravyuh is trapping India and is controlled by six figures: Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Adani, Ambani, Ajit Doval, and Mohan Bhagwat,” he said. The LoP alleged that this modern Chakravyuh has trapped the youth in a chakravyuh of unemployment and paper peak, farmers in a chakravyuh of debt, middle class in a chakravyuh of tax, MSMEs in a chakravyuh of “tax terrorism”, jawans in a chakravyuh of Agnipath and SC, ST, OBC and minorities in a chakravyuh of anyay (injustice). STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 2 AUGUST Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today wrote to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw the 18 per cent GST on life and health insurance policies and to allow deductions in the new tax regime under section 80C and 80D of the Income Tax Act. Miss Banerjee wrote “The primary purpose of life and health insurance is to provide financial security and support during unexpected times such as illness, accidents and untimely deaths. These policies play a crucial role in ensuring that the individuals and their families are able to cope with the financial hardships during such challenging times.” She maintained that the imposition of GST on insurance premium increases the financial burden on common people. This additional burden may be acting as deterrent for many individuals from taking new policies or continuing their existing insurance coverage, thereby leaving them vulnerable to unforeseen financial distress. Moreover, insurance services as a vital component of the social safety net, reducing the government’s burden in providing direct financial assistance to citizens during such emergency, Miss Banerjee wrote. She further wrote: “We all know that health is wealth. Healthcare is a major social security and it is our commitment to extend to the common people maximum social security in this area to ensure their good health and well being. Health and life insurance cover is now available to all sections of society, including farmers and daily labourers. Thus, it is quite obvious that imposing burden of GST in health and life insurance will put the common people under greater stress and anxiety, and deprive them of the benefit of social security net. We must at any cost avoid it.” She remarked that adding to the common people’s woes is the withdrawal of incentives that were available under the Income Tax Act in the old tax regime. She wrote: “In light of the above consideration, I request you to kindly review the antipeople taxation policies and withdraw the GST on life insurance and health insurance premiums; and include deduction under sections 80C and 80D of the Income Tax Act on such premium in the new tax regime. In fact, this will facilitate wider insurance coverage for the common people with more mental and financial stability.” Death toll in Wayanad landslides crosses 300 ACHUTHANANDAN KUNIYIL KALPETTA, 2 AUGUST The death toll in the devastating landslides that hit Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayand on Tuesday morning touched 339 on Friday, as the Army, NDRF and Navy personnel recovered more bodies. However, the official count stands around 200.With nearly 300 persons still missing, the death toll is expected to go up. It has been reported that Army troops, using a thermal scanner detected signs of life under the debris in Mundakkai. An Army official told media that the thermal scanner detected signal of breathing during the search. A shop was located in the spot where the signal was received. It is suspected that either a human or any animal could be trapped there. Army and NDRF personnel have intensified the search at the spot. A medical team has reached the place. On Friday, the fourth day of the rescue operations in landslide-hit Wayanad, four people who were living in a house near the disaster area were rescued by the army. The four, Johnny, Jomol, Abraham and Christy, were rescued from their house in Patavettikunnu. As many as 40 teams are carrying out search operations in Mundakkai and Churalmala region, dividing the search area into 6 zones, in a more planned manner. The first zone is the combined area of Attamala and Aaranmala. Mundakkai is the second zone, Punjirimattam is the third zone, Vellarimala Village Road is the fourth zone, and GVHSS Vellarimala is the fifth zone. The Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi along with party general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and others visit Mundakkai in Wayanad on Friday.  ANI banks of the river are the sixth zone. The search operation is being carried out jointly by the Army, NDRF, DSG, Coast Guard, Navy, and other departments. Each team will consist of three local people and one forest department employee. In addition, the search operation will continue within the 40-kilometre radius of the Chaliyar River police station limits. Forest department officials rescued a man and his three children of in the forest near Soochipara waterfall. They were rescued after an eight-hour long mission. Knowing that some people belong to the tribal colony are trapped , the forest department officials went to Eratkund Colony and saved them. It was difficult to reach the colony at the foot of Soochipara Falls, Range Officer K. Ashif said. Of the bodies recovered so far, some bodies have been found in the Chaliyar river.The river carried around 173 bodies, or often parts of human bodies for around 25 km to Pothukallu near Nilambur in Malappuram district. India stun Aus after 52 years in Olympic hockey New era of justice system has begun with S S RAMASWAMY PARIS, 2 AUGUST Playing an aggressive style of hockey and defending stoutly, India outsmarted tough rivals Australia 3-2 in their concluding Group B men’s fixture in the Olympic Games here at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. It was a truly memorable victory over their nemesis as India had last beaten Australia, silver medallists three years ago in Tokyo, in the Olympics more than half a century ago, in the Munich Games of 1972 on their way to a bronze medal. India, in fact, led 2-0 within the first 13 minutes of play, a rarity against the 2004 Olympic champions in recent times, and then were up 3-1 going into the fourth quarter. The heroes of the superb display were Captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored two of the three goals scored by his team, young sharp shooter Abhishek who opened the scoring in the 12th minute, and goalkeeper Players vie for the ball during the men’s hockey Pool B match between India and Australia in the Olympic 2024, in Paris on Friday. India beat Australia by 3-2.  ANI P Ravindran Sreejesh who stood like a rock to come up with a number of saves. The other player to stand out was midfielder and playmaker Hardik Singh while the rest played good supporting roles in the splendid victory over Australia who are ranked fourth in the world, three places above India. Abhishek gave the early lead as he took the rebound off a shot by Lalit Upadhyay following a long through ball and then sounded the board standing a few feet inside the string circle. The Indians, in fact, rattled the Aussies with their long passes, including aerial ones, and use of the full width of the field by passing the ball from one flank to the other to make inroads. Harmanpreet increased India’s lead to 2-0 one minute after Abhishek struck home for his second goal of the tournament when he sounded the board off India’s first of five penalty corner awards. Sree- jesh then came to the rescue of the team when he foiled the speedy Tom Wickham. However the veteran couldn’t prevent Australia from finding the mark quite early in the second half off their third penalty corner award through an indirect try from Craig Thomas who deflected home from the close range a cross from the left in a crowded goal area. The teams trooped in at half time with India leading 2-1. Australia started the attack soon after resumption but Sreejesh was alert to cover the angle and India counter attacked leading to their third penalty corner award. Harmanpreet’s hit struck a rival defender on the foot as it was traveling towards the goal, which India succeeded in proving through a referral. Harmanpreet himself converted the resultant penalty stroke for his sixth goal of the competition which helped India go 3-1 up in the 32nd minute of the game. implementation of 3 new laws: Murmu STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 AUGUST: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said with the implementation of three new laws related to criminal justice, a new era of the justice system had begun in the country. Mrs Murmu who inaugurated a two-day Conference of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, said: "The change in our thinking was evident from the names of the laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam."(Photo) She said for the smooth functioning of democracy, it was crucial that the various central agencies work with better coordination across all the states. Mrs Murmu advised the Governors to think about how they, as the constitutional heads of the respective CMYK states, can promote this coordination. She said quality higher education was an intangible asset as it promoted individual development and social change as well as innovation and economic progress. Mrs Murmu said the National Education Policy emphasised upon improving the Accreditation and Assessment system of educational institutions. She urged the Governors to contribute to this reform process in their capacity as the chancellors of state universities.The President said the Government of India had been giving utmost priority to the development of the poor, the border areas, the deprived sections and areas, and people left behind in the development journey. She pointed out that a large section of the country's tribal population lives in the Scheduled and Tribal areas, and urged the Governors to suggest ways to achieve inclusive development of the people of these areas. Mrs Murmu said ‘youth development’ and ‘youth-led development’ would gain more momentum if the energy of the youth could be channelised into positive and constructive work. The ‘MY Bharat’ campaign provides a well-thoughtout system for this purpose, she said. The Governors should encourage the people associated with this campaign so that more and more youth benefit, she said. Referring to the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ campaign, she noted that it enabled the people of different states and UTs to understand each other and connect with each other. The president urged the Governors to contribute in further strengthening the spirit of unity. She said many efforts are being made to deal with the challenges such as climate change and global warming.