THURSDAY 22 AUGUST 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC* KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P5 SENSEX 80,905.30 p102.44 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain / thundershower likely to occur. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 31˚C and 27˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 4.2 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95% Min. 75% Max: 32.2˚C(+0.2) SUN RISES 05:16 hrs MOON RISES 19:22 hrs Min: 27.3˚C (+0.9) SUN SETS 18:04 hrs MOON SETS 06:36 hrs TEMPERATURE New Moon on 02 September THUMBNAILS School children ride bicycles on the road during heavy rain, in Prayagraj on Wednesday. n ANI Soren to launch new political party: Amid a rift with the JMM leadership, former Jharkhand Chief Minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, Champai Soren, announced on Wednesday his decision to form a new political party, putting to rest the speculations about his potential shift to the BJP. P7 NIFTY 24,770.20 p71.35 NEERAJ SET TO RESUME ACTION AT LAUSANNE DL OBAMAS GIVE HARRIS A ROUSING ENDORSEMENT THREE MISSTEPS THAT COST HASINA DEAR ‘BADLAPUR PROTEST IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’ ` vs $ 83.91 P9 GOLD 73,930.00 p1,280 SILVER 87,000 P14 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.65 PM begins 2-nation trip, lands in Warsaw Dalit groups hold nation-wide protests against SC decision Remove name, images of R G Kar victim, social media platforms told Modi also to travel to Ukraine capital Kyiv in first visit by Indian PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 AUGUST STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 AUGUST A nationwide strike ~ “Bharat Bandh” ~ was observed across the country on Wednesday with Dalit groups holding protest marches against a recent Supreme Court verdict on SC/ST reservations. Organised by the Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the bandh was successful in many places as local markets remained shut in several states, including Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The protesters believe that the court's verdict allowing sub-classification undermines the rights of the Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST). In Bihar's capital, Patna, tensions flared as police resorted to lathi charge to disperse protesters supporting the bandh. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ashok Kumar Singh, told a news agency that police had to use “mild force” because it was “not a peaceful protest” and “common people could not travel”. In Rajasthan's Shekhawati region, shops across the towns remained shut. Local MLAs and MPs from the Congress The Centre on Wednesday asked social media platforms to remove the name and photographs of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata recently. In a statement, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said it has asked social media platforms operating in the country to comply with the recent Supreme Court order in which ithasdirectedthatallreferences to the name of the deceased along with any photographs and video clips depicting the deceased, be promptly removed from all social media platforms and electronic media. This directive follows concerns regarding the dissemination of sensitive material related to the incident in question, it said. The Ministry urged all social media companies to ensure that such sensitive information is not further disseminated and added that failure to comply with the Supreme Court’s order may result in legal consequences and further regulatory action. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 AUGUST During his visit, Mr Modi will visit memorials in Warsaw commemorating the time during World War II, when more than 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in the princely states of Jamnagar and Kolhapur P rime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Warsaw, Poland, this evening on the first leg of his two-nation visit during which he will also travel to Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Morarji Desai was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland in 1979. Mr Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome in Warsaw. He is expected to meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister posted on X: “Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations.” During his visit, Mr Modi is scheduled to visit memorials in Warsaw commemorating the time in the 1940s during the World War II, when more than 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states in India, Jamnagar and Kolhapur. Mr Modi will also address members of the Indian community, estimated at around 25,000, Polish business leaders and prominent Indologists. Mr Modi had earlier thanked Poland for the special gesture of relaxing visa requirements for Indian citizens crossing over to Poland from the Ukraine conflict zone. More than 4,000 Indian students were evacuated via Poland in 2022. “My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe. Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship,” he said in his departure statement earlier today. Mr Modi, who will be travelling on to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv from Warsaw, also said in his departure statement that he will share perspectives with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in his nation during talks between them on 23 August. “I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,” Mr Modi said. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine. Mr Modi's visit to Ukraine is being seen as an attempt by India to balance its ties with the war-ravaged nation, weeks after Kyiv condemned him for hugging President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow. Police personnel lathicharge protesters during the 'Bharat Bandh' called against the recent Supreme Court ruling on SC and ST reservations, in Patna on Wednesday. ANI had also extended their support to the Bharat Bandh. Massive security arrangements were made in the state and police personnel were put on high alert to prevent any untoward incidents. Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, also saw significant impact from the bandh, with roads in key areas like Harmu Chowk, Kathal Mode, and Chapu Toli Chowk completely blocked by protesters. In Uttar Pradesh's Noida, authorities took preemptive measures to maintain order in view of the bandh call.