WEDNESDAY 04 SEPTEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 14 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR NETANYAHU PUSHES BACK AGAINST NEW PRESSURE OVER GAZA ‘CHASE EXCELLENCE & SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW’ P8 SENSEX 82,555.44q4.41 P9 NIFTY 25,279.85p1.15 JAVELIN THROWER SUMIT ANTIL WINS HISTORIC GOLD MEDAL ‘WILL ABIDE BY HIGH COMMAND’S DECISION’ P4 ` vs $ 83.95 P12 SILVER 86,000 GOLD 73,645.00 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 74.08q2.16 Bengal Assembly passes stringent anti-rape Bill Prime Minister arrives in Brunei on official visit RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Bill will ensure stern punishment, swift investigation and speedy justice: Mamata Banerjee Max. 88% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, the Capital of Brunei on an official visit on Tuesday at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. This is the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei. The historic visit of the Prime Minister coincides with the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei. The Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial welcome on arrival and warmly received by Prince Haji AlMuhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei.Indians in Brunei, accompanied by their children carrying drawings of Mr Modi’s pictures, gave a heartwarming welcome to the Prime Minister at his hotel, shouting “suswagatam” (welcome) amid the beating of a “dhol.” Children chanted “Modi, Modi” as he signed the drawings for them. After inaugurating a new chancery of the Indian High Commission of India and visiting an iconic mosque built by the father of the Sultan of Brunei, Mr Modi will hold talks with the Sultan tomorrow on the way forward for the India-Brunei relationship. WEATHER Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Storms could contain frequent lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 34 °C and 27 °C respectively. Min. 73% TEMPERATURE Max: 34.4˚C SUN RISES 05:20 hrs MOON RISES 06:09 hrs NEW DELHI, 30 AUGUST Min: 27.3˚C SUN SETS 17:50 hrs MOON SETS 18:37 hrs T Full Moon on 18 September THUMBNAILS Devotees perform during the 'Kali and Pili Marbat' procession as part of Pola festival celebrations, in Nagpur on Tuesday. n ANI Govt suspends Sandip Ghosh: A day after the CBI arrested Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, former principal of R G Kar Medical College Hospital, the state health department on Tuesday suspended him from service on charge of his alleged involvement in criminal cases. The junior doctors agitating over the rape and murder of the PGT doctor of the hospital for the past three weeks had also been demanding the suspension of Prof Ghosh. he West Bengal Legislative Assembly unanimously passed the ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) 2024’, providing for a mandatory death penalty for the crime of rape and murder, on Tuesday. The Bill seeks to make amendments in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 to provide for enhanced punishment and shorter timelines for investigation and trial relating to the crimes of rape or rape and murder. The Mamata Banerjee government tabled the Bill amid the nationwide protests against the rape and murder of a woman doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, participating in the debate on the Bill, ENHANCED PUNISHMENTS 4For the offence of rape (Section 64, BNS), the punishment is sought to be enhanced to life imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's natural life or death, with a fine. 4For the offence of rape where the victim is left in a vegetative state or where the victim dies (Section 66 BNS) the death penalty is sought to be made mandatory as punishment, along with a fine. 4For gang rape (Section 70(1) BNS), the Bill prescribes life imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's life or the death penalty along with a fine. said it was being brought in to secure the dignity of women. She said that it “was a matter of shame that the Prime Minister could not do what her govern- 4Section 193 of the BNSS is sought to be amended to provide a shorter timeline (within 21 days instead of two months) for completion of probe in rape cases. 4The Bill also proposes Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Singapore, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Southeast Asian island nation has a central role to play in India's 'Act East' policy. “Singapore, which was at the core of our Look East policy, has an equally central role in the Act East policy as well. If you look at the new domains that reflect this evolution, Singapore's partnership in security, connectivity, technology, and sustainability is evident," he said in an interview with Singapore-based 'The Strait Times'. "The Act East policy is certainly very active for a variety of reasons. Southeast Asia itself has much untapped potential. Its demographics and growth prospects make it a long-term partner," Mr Jaishankar said. Outlining an example, he said: "Imagine, for example, what a change the Trilateral Highway (planned to connect India with Myanmar and Thailand) can make when completed. It is also a relationship that is indispensable for India's Indo-Pacific engagement. I would confidently predict a bright future.” The minister also highlighted the significant progress made in India's relationship with Gulf nations over the past decade. Unlike in the past under previous governments, the policies under the Modi government have extended to include investments, technology, security, and connectivity with Gulf countries, he said. When it was pointed out that there is a perception that India's principal focus in its extended neighbourhood is now the Gulf, not ASEAN, he said: “I would not take an either/or approach. Certainly, in the last decade, India's ties with Gulf nations have really taken off. Earlier governments used to view them more narrowly from the perspective of trade, energy and diaspora. In contrast, the 4The Bill also proposed an amendment to the BNSS to establish special courts under a new Section, namely Section 29A, tasked with ensuring the expeditious completion of inquiries or trials in rape and related cases. amending Section 346(1) of the BNSS so that inquiry or trial of such cases is completed within 30 days from the date of filing the chargesheet. 4The Bill introduces Section 29C, which calls for the creation of a special task force (Aparajita Task Force) at the district level to handle rape cases. ment did”. Since the Prime Minister could not take any initiative in protecting women in the country, Miss Banerjee said, he should resign and the Union Home Minister should also resign. She was responding after BJP legislators raised slogans in the Assembly demanding her resignation over the RG Kar rape- Singapore has central role to play in India’s ‘Act East’ policy: Jaishankar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 SEPTEMBER SPECIAL COURTS AND TASK FORCE SHORTER DEADLINES Modi government's policies have extended to investments, technology, security and connectivity.” Mr Jaishankar also noted that India feels that the contributions of the Indian community are more acknowledged in the Gulf. “We definitely feel that the contributions of our community are more strongly recognised (in the Gulf). Both the economic and demographic complementarities are today coming into much greater play. But because of this, I would not draw any conclusions in regard to ASEAN. Our ties have deepened as well in this very period.” He said that India being the fifth largest economy will necessarily have multi-directional engagements. He said: “The fact is that India - as the most populous country and currently the fifth-largest economy - will necessarily have multi-directional engagements. The world is not a zero-sum game for us.” 9 LWE killed in Chh’garh encounter This revision comes amid expectations of stronger economic performance, driven by key factors such as private consumption and investment. NEW DELHI, 3 SEPTEMBER The World Bank raised growth forecast for India's economy to 7 per cent for the current financial year, up from an earlier projection of 6.6 per cent. This revision comes amid expectations of stronger economic performance, driven by key factors such as private consumption and investment. As per the World Bank report, while the economy remains resilient, achieving the ambitious goal of $1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 will require strategic diversification and deeper integration into global value chains. It expects a gradual increase in private investment and a recovery in consumption. Meanwhile, it pointed out that job creation remains the main challenge to India's economic growth. The World Bank said the urban unemployment rate remains high at an average of 17 per cent. Despite global economic uncertainties, India’s growth prospects continue to be resilient. As per the World Bank’s latest India Development Update (IDU), the country's economy has maintained strength, driven by factors such as improved monsoon conditions and a recovery in private consumption. Ran Li, a senior economist at the World Bank, highlighted that these factors have contributed to an upward revision of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) forecast. “India's robust growth prospects, along with declining inflation, will contribute to reducing extreme poverty,” said Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Bank's country director in India. “To further accelerate growth, India needs to harness its global trade potential. Beyond its strengths in IT, business services, and pharmaceuticals, India should diversify its export basket by expanding in sectors such as textiles, apparel, footwear, electronics, and green technology products,” Mr Kouame said. The World Bank report said India's external economic indicators have shown improvement. The current NEW DELHI, 3 SEPTEMBER STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 SEPTEMBER Nine Left-wing extremist (LWE) insurgents were killed in a fierce encounter on the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. The operation, conducted in the dense forests of Bailadila within Kirandul police station limits, also led to the seizure of several weapons, including SLR rifles, 0.303 and 0.315 bore rifles, and explosives. The encounter lasted over 13 hours. All security personnel involved in the operation are reported to be safe. Officials expect to provide more detailed information once the forces return from the field. Dantewada Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Rai, said that intelligence had indicated the presence of Maoist operatives from the West Bastar Division in the Purangel and Loha villages at the base of the Bailadila (See page 5) hills. SNS The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for ten capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 1,44,716 crore. Of the total, 99 per cent is from indigenous sources under Buy (Indian) and Buy (lndian-Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured) categories. For modernisation of the tank fleet of the Indian Army, the proposal for procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehi- account deficit has narrowed, and foreign exchange reserves reached an unprecedented high of $670.1 billion in early August, equivalent to over 11 months of import cover. These positive trends reflect India's growing economic stability, even as it navigates a complex global environment. Further, the World Bank projects India's mediumterm economic outlook will remain positive, with growth expected to reach 7% in FY25 and maintain strength in subsequent years. Fiscal consolidation efforts and robust revenue growth are expected to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio from 83.9 per cent in FY24 to 82 per cent by FY27. The current account deficit is forecast to remain between 1 per cent and 1.6 per cent of GDP through FY27. Brunei is an important partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. India and Brunei enjoy a friendly relationship which is marked by mutual respect and understanding on bilateral and multilateral issues. The two countries are linked by history, culture and tradition spanning a millennium. Mr Modi will be in Brunei Darussalam during 3-4 September. Earlier, as he embarked on a three-day visit to Brunei and Singapore, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that his visits would further strengthen India’s partnership with the two countries and the larger ASEAN region. In a departure statement, he said “As we celebrate the 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights.” DAC clears defence acquisition proposals worth ` 1.45 lakh cr, including for new Main Battle Tank RAIPUR, 3 SEPTEMBER World Bank raises India’s growth forecast to 7 pc, up from 6.6 pc STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE and-murder incident. “Let the Prime Minister first put in his papers,” she said, citing burgeoning cases of rape all over the country and the way perpetrators are let off the hook in BJPruled states despite committing heinous crimes. Miss Banerjee said: “Rape is a crime against humanity. We want exemplary punishment for the perpetrators through speedy trial. To ensure that this new Bill had been tabled.” “Some are saying that we can’t bring in new legislation. We are telling them that the Constitution has given us the right to legislate a new law. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, have already passed such Bills, she said. She said that the Governor should promptly clear the bill from his end so that it could be sent to the office of the President for final clearance there. She said: “The three significant purposes of the Bill are stringent punishment, swift investigation and speedy justice. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE cles (FRCVs) has been cleared. The FRCV will be a futuristic Main Battle Tank with superior mobility, all-terrain ability, multilayered protections, precision and lethal firepower and real-time situational awareness. The AoN was also accorded for procurement of Air Defence Fire Control Radars, which will detect & track aerial target and provide firing solution. The proposal has also been approved for Forward Repair Team (Tracked) which has suitable cross country mobility for carrying out in-situ repair during mechanised operations. This equipment is designed & developed by Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, and is authorised for both mechanised infantry battalions and armoured regiments. Three AoNs have been accorded to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).