SATURDAY 07 SEPTEMBER 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 ‘MAHAYUTI WILL CONTEST ASSEMBLY POLL UNDER SHINDE’ HIGH BIDDING FOR U.P . LAND LINKED TO PERVEZ MUSHARRAF P10 SENSEX 81,183.93q1,017.23 P5 NIFTY 24,852.15q292.95 CHOPRA QUALIFIES FOR DIAMOND LEAGUE FINALS 2024 ‘WILL PROVIDE A CLEAR ROADMAP’ P7 ` vs $ 83.95 P12 SILVER 87,000 GOLD 74,020.00 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.45p0.12 Article 370 thing of past, asserts Shah Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia join Congress ahead of Haryana polls RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY BJP unveils election manifesto for J&K polls, vows to wipe out terrorism Max. 88% NIKHIL VYAS Ending all speculations, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia formally joined the Congress here on Friday, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly polls in Haryana. The latest development came hours after they met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi a few days ago. Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were welcomed to the party fold by Congress general secretary in-charge of Organisation KC Venugopal, in the presence of party’s Chairman of media and publicity department Pawan Khera and Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan, among others. Speaking on the occasion, Ms Phogat expressed her gratitude for her induction WEATHER Mostly cloudy. Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 33°C and 28°C respectively. Min. 75 % TEMPERATURE Max: 33.2˚C SUN RISES 05:21 hrs MOON RISES 08:36 hrs NEW DELHI, 6 SEPTEMBER Min: 28.6˚C SUN SETS 17:47 hrs MOON SETS 20:06 hrs U Full Moon on 18 September THUMBNAILS A golden Ganesha idol decorated with 69 kgs Gold and 336 kgs Silver during the GSB Seva Mandal's 70th Shree Ganeshotsav celebrations ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, at King Circle in Mumbai. n ANI India, Maldives hold defence dialogue: Amid improving bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Friday held their fifth ''Defence Cooperation Dialogue'' in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while the Maldivian delegation was headed by Chief of Defence Force, Maldives National Defence Force General lbrahim Hilmy. nion Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday released the BJP manifesto for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, asserting that Article 370 is a thing of the past and it will never return. Citing the abrogation of Article 370 as one of the major achievements of the Narendra Modi government in its manifesto, the saffron party promised eradication of terrorism and separatism from Jammu and Kashmir. Among the other key promises, the BJP also mentioned a rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri Pandits in its manifesto. The BJP has also promised that it will provide 20 per cent quota for Agniveers in Jammu and Kashmir government jobs and police recruitment, and will follow the JammuKashmir reservation policy without affecting the general quota. Speaking at the launch Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina and Union Minister of State (Ind. Charge) Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, releases the party's manifesto for J&K Assembly Elections 2024, in Jammu on Friday. n ANI of the party's manifesto, Mr Shah asserted that now Article 370 has become a thing of the past and it is not a part of the Constitution. "I have read the agenda of NC and seen the silent support of NC, but I want to make it clear that Article 370 is a thing of the past and it'll never return again, we will not let that happen. Article 370 was the thing that gave weapons and stones in the hands of the youth. It's the spirit of separatism that used to force youth towards terrorism," Mr Shah said. The Union Home Minister further stressed that Jammu and Kashmir has always been part of India and that the government is focused on fighting terrorism and separatism. "Our party believes that J&K has always been part of India and it will remain so. Till 2014, J&K always remained in the shadow of separatism and terrorism. Different state and non-state actors kept the state unstable. All the governments dealt with the state with a policy of appeasement. Whenever the history of J&K is written, India can find solution to global water crisis: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari programme at Surat to build 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across Gujarat to enhance rainwater harvesting and ensuring long-term water sustainability. Addressing people via videoconferencing, he said water conservation programme is not a matter of policy alone, but an effort in public service with responsibility. When future generations evaluate the present one, its attitude towards water conservation will be the first parameter on which they will form an opinion, Mr Modi said. This, he said, is because water is not just a resource but a question of life and future of the humanity. It is for this reason only the country has declared water conservation as the foremost among the country’s nine resolutions towards a sustainable future, he said. Mr Modi expressed happiness at participation of public in the water conservation movement, and extended his best wishes to the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Government of Gujarat and all stakeholders in the initiative. The Prime Minister said that India is home to only four per cent of freshwater resources in the world. “Even though the country has several magnificent rivers, large geographical regions remain bereft of water and the water table is also receding at a fast pace,” he said. Water scarcity combined with climate change has had a huge impact on the lives of people, he said. Despite the challenging conditions, Mr Modi said, India alone in the world can find a solution to the water problem for itself and the world. This is due to the country’s ancient traditions of knowledge. Conservation of water or Nature are not new subjects for the country. The country is facing the problems at present only because of certain conditions, he said. “Water and environment conservation are part of India’s traditional consciousness,” he said. He said that people of India belong to a culture that considers water as a form of God, rivers as Goddesses and Sarovars (ponds) as abode of Gods. “Ganga, Narmada, Godavari and Kaveri are revered as mothers.” he said. Quoting ancient scriptures, the Prime Minister explained that saving and donating water is the highest form of service as all life forms begin from water, and are dependent on it.The Prime Minister said that India’s ancestors knew the importance of water and environmental conservation. Referring to a couplet by Rahim Das, he said the country was farsightedness about water. There is therefore need for the country take the lead when it comes to water and environment conservation, he said The Prime Minister highlighted that ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative was starting from Gujarat. Efforts have been made for ensuring accessibility and availability of water. But none can forget the situation in Saurashtra two-and-a-half decades ago when previous governments lacked the vision of water conservation. these ten years after 2014 will be marked as a golden period for the state." Mr Shah said. Speaking about the rehabilitation scheme for Kashmiri Pandits mentioned in the party's manifesto, Mr Shah said the scheme will be very detailed adding that "we will look for complete rehabilitation". The Union Home Minister said many Kashmiri Pandits and people from the Sikh community who left when terrorism was at its peak were forced to sell their properties. “We have already started working in this regard - either returning their properties or providing the amount for their properties. We are towards the completion of rehabilitation of 6,000 people," Mr Shah said about the scheme. Focusing on women-led development in the UT, the BJP has promised to implement 'Maa Samman Yojana' to provide Rs 18,000 per year to the senior-most woman in every household in Jammu & Kashmir. Indigo making a ‘big mistake’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KUALA LUMPUR, 6 SEPTEMBER Indigo is making a “big mistake” by introducing a business class on its services, says a pioneer of low-cost aviation and the founder of Air Asia, Tony Fernandes. He was speaking to editors of Asia News Network, of which The Statesman is a founding member, at the conclusion of ceremonies to mark the 25th anniversary of the news network. Indigo is a success story, and should stick to what it does best, which is operate as a low-cost carrier, said Mr Fernandes. The Indian carrier had announced the launch of IndigoStretch last month. Touted as a groundbreaking move to redefine business travel in India, Indigo has decided to offer coupe-style 2-2 seating on its aircraft, in anticipation of the merger of Vistara with Air India later this year. India achieves its best-ever haul at Paris Paralympics TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 6 SEPTEMBER India achieved its best-ever medal haul at a single edition of the Paralympic Games in Paris and also surpassed the Tokyo gold tally after Praveen Kumar won a gold in men’s high jump T64 event on Friday. Praveen cleared the bar set at 2.08m to clinch his second straight Paralympic medal, a personal best and a new Asian Record. He had won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 after clearing a then personal best of 2.07m. USA’s Derek Loccident claimed the silver with a best jump of 2.06m while Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov,whonotchedapersonal best 2.03m, finished third. He became the third high jumper after Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thagavelu to secure a medal in Paris. Sharad won a silver while Mariyappan took bronze in the men’s high jump T63 event.With Praveen’s feat, India’s tally has soared to 26 medals ~ six gold, nine silver and 11 bronze ~ so far in Paris. Earlier, Dharambir Nain set an Asian record of 34.92m to win the country’s fifth gold in the men’s club throw F51 final at the Paralympics, equalling that of Tokyo. India won five gold, six silver and eight bronze at the Tokyo Games. Shooter Avani Lekhara started India’s gold rush at Paris whenshedefendedherwomen’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 Paralympic title. Nitesh Kumar won gold in para badminton men’s singles SL3. The top seed beat Great Britain’s second- seeded Daniel Bethell 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 in the gold medal match to win India its second gold medal. Sumit Antil won India’s third gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F64 with a Paralympic record of 70.59m. Harvinder Singh won a historic first-ever gold medal for India in para archery after defeatingPoland’sLukaszCiszek 6-0 (28-24, 28-27, 29-25) in the men’s individual recurve open final to clinch his second straight medal at the Paralympic Games. Praveen Kumar, who hails from Govindgarh, Noida, tasted success at the top level at an early age when he became the youngest para-athlete to win a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. At 21, he has already won his second medal, in the form of a gold medal at Paris. Praveen, who was born with a short leg took up sports to deal with his inferiority complex, and soon found his passion for volleyball. He gradually became interested in field disciplines, and participated in a high jump event at an ablebodied athletics competition. During that competition, he came to know about the possibilities available for athletes with disabilities. Praveen soon came under the wings of para-athletics coach Satyapal Singh, who fine-tuned his skills in high jump, and the youngster made an instant impact by pocketing a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Junior Championship in 2019 held in Nottwil, Switzerland as well as a gold medal with an Asian record from the World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix in 2021 in Dubai. He went on to win the gold at the Asian Para Games 2022, breaking the Asian record with a jump of 2.05m after his Tokyo Paralympics silver. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 SEPTEMBER into the Congress. Recalling her protest at Jantar Mantar against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, she said: “I thank the Congress… Only in bad times, we get to know who is ours. When we were being dragged on the road, all the parties were with us except BJP. They understood our pain and tears.” It may be mentioned that last year, several wrestlers, including Ms Phogat and Sakshi Malik, protested at Jantar Mantar against Mr Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment. “I am proud that I am associated with an ideology that stands against the injustice being done to women and is ready to fight for their rights from the streets to the Parliament,” she said. Earlier in the day, Ms Phogat resigned from the Northern Railways citing personal reasons. Elated over his joining the Congress, Bajrang Punia said: “I thank everyone. We will fight together against injustice and stand with Congress in every struggle.” Attacking the BJP, he said: “Today, the BJP’s IT cell is saying that our only aim was to do politics. We had written to the women MPs of BJP against the injustice being done to the women wrestlers, but no one stood with us. Only Congress stood with us.” Militants target ex-CM's house in Manipur STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IMPHAL, 6 SEPTEMBER A 71-year-old man was killed and five others sustained injuries in Moirang town in Manipur’s Bishnupur district as suspected Kuki militants fired a rocket-propelled bomb from long range that exploded in the household compound of Manipur’s first chief minister, Mairengbam Koireng. The elderly man, identified as R.K. Rabei, was preparing a religious ceremony when the bomb exploded when he was hit by a splinter in the head. Five others, including a 13-year-old girl, suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to the hospital. Koireng’s house is located A 71-year-old man was killed when the rocket-propelled bomb exploded, while five others, including a 13-year-old girl, suffered splinter injuries not far from the Indian National Army (INA) museum, where on 14 April 1944, Lt Col Shaukat Ali of the INA hoisted the Tricolour for the first time on Indian soil under the guidance of INA leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Earlier in the day, two rockets were fired from an elevated position in the nearby hills in neighbouring Churachandpur district, damaging a community hall and an adjacent structure in the Tronglaobi area. No one was injured in the attack, however, The range of the rockets that hit the valley area this morning was estimated to be over 3 km, the police said. Suspected insurgents also fired several rounds from the hills towards Bishnupur district, prompting security forces to retaliate. Meanwhile, thousands of men and women in five districts of Imphal Valley on Friday took part in a human chain rallies, to protest the recent drone and gun attacks in the state that killed two persons, including a woman and injuring 12 others.