THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KERALA TO PROVIDE `6 LAKH EX GRATIA TO WAYANAD VICTIMS’ KIN NO DESIRE FOR POST, WILL LEAD PADAYATRAS FOR PARTY: SISODIA P5 SENSEX 79,105.88 p149.85 Today, Independence Day, being a holiday in the offices of The Statesman, there will be no issue of this edition dated 16 August 2024 P11 NIFTY 24,143.75 p4.75 ` vs $ 83.94 GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY.LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS/LIGHTINING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 AND 26 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 012.5 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98 % TEMPERATURE Min. 62 % Max: 35.4 °C (+2) SUN RISES 05:51 hrs MOON RISES 15:34 hrs Min: 26.6 °C (+0) SUN SETS 19:00 hrs MOON SETS 01:39 hrs THUMBNAILS P8 GOLD 71,510q110 Around 6,000 special guests have been invited to witness celebrations P rime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in celebrating the 78th Independence Day from the historic Red Fort on Thursday. He will unfurl the National Flag and deliver the customary address to the nation from the ramparts of the iconic monument. The theme of this year’s Independence Day is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’. The celebrations will serve as a platform to provide a renewed push to the government’s efforts towards transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047. To increase “Jan Bhagidari” (public participation) in this festival of national fervour, around 6,000 special guests have been invited to witness the celebrations at Red Fort this year. These people from different walks of life, categorised as youth, tribal community, farmers, women and other special guests, have excelled in various fields with the help of various government schemes and initiatives. Students who benefited from the Atal Innovation Mission and the PM SHRI (Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India) scheme, and volunteers of Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat) & National Service Scheme under ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ will attend the event. The guests include Tribal artisans and Van Dhan Vikas Members and Tribal Entrepreneurs funded by the National Scheduled Tribes Finance & Development Corporation; and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and representatives of Farmers Producing Organisations. Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) & Anganwadi workers; elected women representatives; beneficiaries of Sankalp: Hub for Empowerment of Women, Lakhpati Didi & Drone Didi initiatives and Sakhi Kendra scheme; and workers of Child Welfare Committee & District Child Protection Units will also witness the ceremony. The Indian contingent at the recent Paris Olympics has also been invited to participate in the celebrations. Committed to protecting bonds of unity: PM on Partition Day STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST Preparations at Red Fort on the eve of Independence Day celebrations in the Capital on Wednesday.n SUBRATA DUTTA Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to those affected by the Partition of India in 1947. Marking Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, Mr Modi, in a post SC refuses Kejriwal's plea for interim bail PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking bail and questioning his arrest in a criminal case rooted in the alleged corruption in 2021-2022 Delhi Excise Policy scam. Refusing interim bail to Mr Kejriwal and issuing notice to the CBI, a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan sought response from the investigating agency by 23 August 2024. “We are not granting any interim bail. we issue notice,” the bench said when senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Mr Kejriwal urged the court to grant interim bail to the Chief Minister on the health grounds. Mr Singhvi told the bench that Kejriwal got interim bail on three occasions in the alleged money laundering dimension arising from the Delhi Excise Policy case despite the stringent Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Mr Singhvi said that when he got bail under the stringent PMLA, how could he be denied regular bail in the CBI case since the Prevention of Corruption Act does not have stringent conditions similar to the money laundering law. Mr Singhvi said that Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI is an “insurance arrest”. Dismissing Mr Kejriwal’s plea challenging his arrest by the CBI, the Delhi High Court on 5 August 2024, had upheld his arrest as “legal” and had said that it was only after sufficient evidence was collected by the investigating agency and sanction was obtained in April 2024, that the CBI proceeded with further probe against him. The High Court had further said that there was no malice in his arrest by the CBI and he was an influential person and witnesses could muster the courage to depose against him only after his arrest. The High Court had said that Kejriwal was not an ordinary citizen but a recipient of the Magsaysay Award and the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party. on X, recalled the severe impact and suffering caused by the partition to numerous people. Hailing human resilience, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to protecting the bonds of unity and brotherhood in the country. He posted on X: "On #PartitionHorrorsRemembranceDay, we recall the countless people who were impacted and greatly suffered due to the horrors of Partition. It is also a day to pay tributes to their courage, which illustrates the power Mamata appeals to striking jr doctors to resume work STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 14 AUGUST Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today urged junior doctors who are currently on ceasework throughout the state in protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical college and Hospital to withdraw their strike and return to their duties as common patients are bearing the brunt for no fault of theirs. Speaking at an Independence Day eve programme at Behala, the Chief Minister said: “My appeal to the junior doctors on cease-work is to return to their duties and resume healthcare services without delay as common people are bearing the brunt for no fault of theirs. Three people have already died due to lack of treatment. Five days have gone by since the incident, you have resorted to cease-work in protest... I’m touching your feet urging you to resume service. Please do not extend your ceasework. This is my appeal to you... I express my gratitude to the senior doctors, who continue to render service uninterrupted.” Miss Banerjee added: “You can say anything to me but do not show any disrespect to mothers of Bengal. When the incident happened, I was at Jhargram. I could not sleep the whole night and kept in constant touch with the Commissioner of Police. What is the government’s fault? We have arrested the key accused in 12 hours. How could we arrest someone without any proof? Have you forgotten the name of Dhananjoy? We have to see that the guilty is punished but that innocents should not suffer for no wrong of theirs. I fixed a Sunday deadline for police but Calcutta HC has ordered a CBI probe, about which I have no problem.” She went on to say that police would render all cooperation to the CBI. Police have already questioned 34 persons in connection with the case and many more were to be quizzed but before that the probe was handed over to the CBI by the High Court. Olympics: CAS dismisses Vinesh’s appeal for shared silver; IOA prez expresses shock AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST The Ad-Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the petition filed by Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat against her disqualification from women's 50kg final of the Paris Olympic Games. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr. PT Usha has expressed her shock and disappointment at the decision of the Sole Arbitrator of CAS to dismiss Phogat’s application against the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The operative part of the 14 August decision, which dismisses Vinesh’s application ‘INDIA HAVE EVERY CHANCE OF MAKING IT A HAT-TRICK’ P13 SILVER 83,000q500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 79.64 p0.30 At Red Fort, PM to lead India a cohesive nation with diversity & plurality: Prez 78th I-Day celebrations STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST WEATHER THE TIPPING POINT to be awarded a shared silver medal women’s 50 kg category at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, has significant implications for her in particular and the sporting community at large. The marginal discrepancy of 100 gm and the resultant consequences have a pro- found impact, not only in terms of Vinesh’s career but also raises serious questions about ambiguous rules and their interpretation. "The IOA firmly believes that the total disqualification of an athlete for such a weight infraction on the second of two days warrants a deeper examination. Our legal representatives had duly brought this out in their submissions before the Sole Arbitrator," said Usha in her statement. "The matter involving Vinesh highlights the stringent and, arguably, inhumane regulations that fail to account for the physiological and psychological stresses athletes, particularly female athletes, undergo. It is a stark reminder of the need for more equitable and reasonable standards that prioritize athletes' wellbeing," the IOA statement said. "In light of the order of the CAS, the IOA continues to stand in full support of Ms. Phogat and is exploring further legal options. The IOA is committed to ensuring that Vinesh's case is heard. It will continue to advocate justice and fairness in sports, ensuring that the rights and dignity of athletes and everyone in the sports fold are upheld at all times," it said. "We appreciate the continued support and understanding of our stakeholders, athletes, and the public," said the IOA. of human resilience. A lot of those impacted by Partition went on to rebuild their lives and attain immense success. Today, we also reiterate our commitment to always protect the bonds of unity and brotherhood in our nation." STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 AUGUST President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said that in a vast country like India, tendencies that stoke discord based upon “perceived social hierarchies” have to be rejected and affirmative action must be strengthened as an instrument of inclusion. Addressing the nation on the eve of the 78th Independence Day, she said the steady progress of India’s political democracy testifies to the country’s progress towards consolidation of social democracy. “The spirit of inclusion pervades every aspect of our social life. We move together as a cohesive nation with our diversity and plurality,” the President said. Greeting the nation on the Independence Day, Mrs Murmu said India’s remarkable progress in several fields will make the country a developed nation in near future. With the adoption of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita from July this year, “we have removed one more relic of the colonial era,” she said. The new criminal justice laws are “oriented towards ensuring justice for the victims of crime instead of focusing on punishment alone. I see this change as a tribute to the freedom fighters.” She said from 2021 to 2024, India has been among the fastest growing major economies, with an average growth rate of eight per cent annually. This has not only put more money in the hands of people, it has also drastically reduced the number of people living below the poverty line. As for those who continue to suffer from poverty, all efforts are being made not only to provide a helping hand to them, but also to bring them out of it, the President said. The President said India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, and “we are also poised to become one of the top three economies soon.” For example, the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, launched in the initial phase of Covid19, continues to provide free ration to about 80 crore peo- ple, which also ensures that those who have recently come out of poverty are not forced back into it, she said. The President said India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, and “we are also poised to become one of the top three economies soon.” This, she said, has been made possible only by tireless hard work of farmers and workers, by the farsightedness of planners and wealth-creators, and by the visionary leadership. “Farmers, our Annadata, have ensured that agricultural production continues to beat expectations. With this, they have contributed immensely to making India self-reliant in agriculture and feed our people,” the President said. Infrastructure has received a boost in recent years. Strategic planning and effective institutions have helped expand the network of roads and highways, railways as well as ports, Mrs Murmu said. Considering the great potential of futuristic technology, the Government has vigorously promoted a range of sectors, such as semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, while also creating an ideal ecosystem for startups which will propel their growth, the President said.
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.