MONDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Hazy. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 34 °C and 27 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 89 % Joe Biden also supported India's bid for permanent seat in UNSC Min. 74 % ASHOK TUTEJA TEMPERATURE Max: 34.2˚C SUN RISES 05:25 hrs MOON RISES 21:36 hrs NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER Min: 27.3˚C SUN SETS 17:31 hrs MOON SETS 10:49 hrs U New Moon on 3 October THUMBNAILS Rhinoceroses seen grazing at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, in Morigaon, Assam, on Sunday. n ANI Punjab CM Mann to rejig cabinet on Monday: The Punjab cabinet will have five new ministers, while four ministers are likely to be dropped by the Aam Aadmi Party in the cabinet reshuffle scheduled for Monday evening, Punjab government sources said. Ministers Balkaur Singh, Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, and Anmol Gagan Maan are expected to be removed. Another bid to derail goods train foiled, thanks to alert loco pilots Biden hails Modi's visit to Ukraine S President Joe Biden commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his historic visit to Ukraine and his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for the war-torn nation and also told the Indian leader that Washington supports initiatives to reform global institutions, including permanent membership for India in a reformed UN Security Council. At their bilateral meeting Saturday on the margins of the Quad Summit, the two leaders reaffirmed their support for the freedom of navigation and the protection of commerce, including critical maritime routes in West Asia where India will assume co-lead in 2025 of the Combined Task Force 150 to work with Combined Maritime Forces to secure sea lanes in the Arabian Sea. The two leaders voiced their view that a closer US-India partnership is vital to the success of efforts to build a cleaner, inclusive, more secure, and more prosperous future for the planet. PM Modi conveyed to President Biden his appreciation for his unparalleled contributions in giving impetus to the India-US partnership at their bilateral meeting on the margins of the Quad Summit. In a special gesture, President Biden hosted the meeting at his home in Wilmington. The PM warmly recalled his State visit to the USA in June 2023 and President Biden’s visit to India in September 2023 for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit. Mr Modi noted that the visits have imparted greater dynamism and depth to the India-US partnership. He emphasised that India and the USA today enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership that covers all areas The Bengal government has withdrawn its representatives on the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC) and the DVC Board, even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a second time to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Damodar Valley Corporation’s uncontrolled water release from the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs, that is blamed for causing floods in the state. Miss Banerjee, in her missive to the Prime Minister, stated that in protest of the Centre's actions, she is withdrawing the state's representatives from the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC). Accordingly, two top state officials have resigned from the DVC Board and the DVRRC. Shantanu Basu, secretary of the West Bengal Power Department, has resigned from the DVC Board, and the Chief Engineer of the state Irrigation Department has resigned from the DVRRC. The DVRRC comprises representatives from the DVC, Central Water Commission, and the governments of West Bengal and Jharkhand. In a letter to the DVC chairman, Shantanu Basu stated: “Due to the uncontrolled water release by the DVC from the two reservoirs, large sections of the state's population are suffering. This action is unprecedented, and in protest, I am resigning as West Bengal's member from the DVC Board.” Rainfall caused by a lowpressure system in the Bay of Bengal last week led to an increase in water levels at the Maithon and Panchet reservoirs. After the DVC released water from these reservoirs, vast areas in West Midnapore, Hooghly, Howrah, Bankura, East Midnapore, East Burdwan, and West Burdwan were flooded. Miss Banerjee herself visited the flood-affected areas last Wednesday and stayed in Midnapore overnight. She has consistently blamed the DVC for the entire situation. According to her, the flood was deliberately caused to save Jharkhand by releasing dam water into Bengal, which she has called a "man-made flood." Miss Banerjee had warned that she would sever all ties with the DVC, and subsequently wrote to Mr Modi informing him of the flood situation. In response to Miss Banerjee’s letter, Union Minister of Jal Shakti, C R. Patil, wrote back, stating that the DVRRC makes decisions on water release after consulting with state representatives and that the committee had made efforts to prevent flooding in Bengal. On Saturday, Miss Banerjee wrote a second letter to Mr Modi in response to the minister’s letter, stating that the Centre’s claims are incorrect. She said that on many occasions, water is released without the state's consent, and all major decisions are taken by the Central Water Commission and the Jal Shakti Ministry, without considering the state's requests. (See also Page 3) ASHOK TUTEJA AGENCIES The four leaders also called for peace and stability in West Asia while unequivocally condemning the terror attacks of 7 October 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Quad leaders expressed serious concern over the situation in the East and South China Seas and reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We continue to express our serious concern about the militarisation of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea. We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous manoeuvres. We also oppose efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities,” said a joint statement issued Saturday by PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at the end of the fourth “Quad Leaders' Summit” at Wilmington, Delaware. The four Quad leaders reemphasised the importance of maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law. On the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Quad leaders said they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes. “We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” they said. The four leaders also called for peace and stability in West Asia while unequivocally condemning the terror attacks of 7 October 2023. “The large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. We affirm the imperative of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize that the deal to release hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza,” they said. (More reports on Page 5) Anura Kumara Dissanayake elected Sri Lanka’s next President AGENCIES COLOMBO, 22 SEPTEMBER Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the 55-year-old leader of Sri Lanka’s leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna party, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, according to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. He will be the 9th Executive President of Sri Lanka, beating Sajith Premadasa after the country's first ever Presidential Election runoff. The election commission made the announcement after a second vote count, the first in the country's history. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe came third and eliminated after the first round. Saturday's election marked the third time that Ranil Wickremesinghe ~ unsuccessfully ~ ran for president. His previous two KOLKATA, 22 SEPTEMBER Peace with Pakistan only if terrorism stops: Rajnath Singh in J&K’s Rajouri STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE An attempt to derail a goods train near the Prempur railway station of Maharajpur on the Delhi-Howrah railway line has been foiled here early on Sunday morning by the alert loco pilot who stopped the train using emergency brakes after seeing a cylinder placed in the middle of the tracks. The goods train originating from Kanpur was on its way to Prayagraj through the loop line when the incident occurred. Police and railway officials are on the spot and investigating the matter. Earlier on 15 September, a tragedy was averted when the driver of the Kalindi Express, travelling from Prayagraj to Bhiwani in Haryana, applied emergency brakes after spotting a damaged damaged gas cylinder, placed on the railway track. (Details on Page 10) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Quad leaders express concern over situation in East, South China Seas NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER KANPUR, 22 SEPTEMBER of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, the convergence of interests and vibrant people-to-people ties. The two leaders discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and exchanged views on global and regional issues including the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. They expressed confidence in the strength and continuing resilience of the relationship and their belief in its significance for all areas of human endeavor between the two countries. On the occasion of PM Modi's visit, the USA facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India. These will shortly be repatriated to India. In a symbolic handing over, a select few pieces were showcased to PM Modi and President Biden on the sidelines of their bilateral meeting. Bengal government withdraws representatives from DVRRC bids for the top job were in 1999 and 2005. The president-elect in a post on social media platform X called for the unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans for a new beginning. “The dream we have nurtured for centuries is finally coming true. This achievement is not the result of any single person's work, but the collective effort of hundreds of thousands of you. Your commitment has brought us this far, and for that, I am deeply grateful. This victory belongs to all of us. Our journey here has been paved by the sacrifices of so many who gave their sweat, tears, and even their lives for this cause. Their sacrifices are not forgotten. We hold the scepter of their hopes and struggles, knowing the responsibility it carries. The millions of eyes filled with hope and expectation push us forward, and together, we stand ready to rewrite Sri Lankan history. This dream can only be realized with a fresh start. The unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of this new beginning. The New Renaissance we seek will rise from this shared strength and vision. Let us join hands and shape this future together!" said Mr Dissanayake. The president-elect is expected to be sworn in on Monday, according to initial information. This was the first presidential election of Sri Lanka after the 2022 economic crisis caused from excessive borrowing on projects that did not generate revenue. Economic mismanagement by successive governments also weakened Sri Lanka's public finances. The situation was exacerbated by deep tax cuts enacted by the Rajapaksa government soon after it took office in 2019. Months later, the Covid19 pandemic struck, wiping out much of Sri Lanka's revenue base, mainly from tourism. Remittances from nationals working abroad dropped, forcing the government to draw from foreign exchange reserves. Fuel shortages led to long queues at filling stations as well as frequent blackouts, while hospitals ran short of medicine. The economic collapse led to persistent antigovernment protests, with demonstrators taking over key buildings and forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign. Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected by a parliamentary vote in July 2022 to cover the remainder of Mr Rajapaksa's five-year term. RAJOURI, 22 SEPTEMBER Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday reiterated India's commitment to fostering peaceful relations with its neighbours, including Pakistan, but emphasised that dialogue with Pakistan would depend on its commitment to halting terrorist activities targeting India. Addressing a public rally, Rajnath Singh remembered former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, highlighting his focus on humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat. “Our former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, emphasised humanity, democracy, and Kashmiriyat. However, the political houses here gave importance to only politics, politics, and politics. We have a principle: if we want to live peacefully, we should maintain good relations with our neighbours. We want good relations with all our neighbouring countries, even with Pakistan. But they are encouraging terrorism. How can we maintain good relations when they continue to promote terrorism? If they guarantee they will not launch terrorism on Indian soil, we are ready to engage in dialogue with them,” Mr Singh said. In response to Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif backing the CongressNational Conference alliance's stance on Article 370, Mr Singh said that the government would not allow Pakistan's "evil agenda" to succeed in Jammu and Kashmir. “Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Congress and its ally National Conference want the return of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan also wants the same. The question arises whether Congress and National Conference are working as Pakistan's proxy. Why do the Congress and its broken INDI Alliance raise the same issues again and again, which come from Pakistan? These are the people who raised questions about Pulwama. Proofs of surgical strike and air strike were demanded. All these things clearly indicate that efforts are being made to run Pakistan's agenda. But I want to tell both sides that we will not allow Pakistan's evil agenda to work in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Mr Singh also pointed to the high voter turnout in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections as a sign of the positive changes in the region. 45th Chess Olympiad: India script history with two gold medals AGENCIES BUDAPEST, 22 SEPTEMBER In a historic triumph, India's men's and women's teams clinched gold medals for the first time in the 45th Chess Olympiad on Sunday. Led by the stellar performances of D Gukesh (photo) and Arjun Erigaisi, the Indian men's team secured the gold medal after a thrilling final round victory over Slovenia in Budapest. The decisive match against Slovenia saw Arjun Erigaisi emerging victorious over Jan Subelj, while Gukesh defeated Vladimir Fedoseev. India needed just one more point to clinch the title, which Gukesh delivered. This victory capped off an impressive tournament for the Indian team, which had previously won bronze medals in the 2014 and 2022 editions. "It was crazy. He surprised me in the opening with his move order, and we reached an initially equal position. His problems started from Ne7. “Arjun was completely winning, so I thought even a draw would be fine, but I kept finding all the good moves. I am glad, but the main thing was to perform as a team!,” said Gukesh D on the FIDE broadcast. The Indian squad show- cased exceptional form throughout the competition, winning eight consecutive matches before being held to a draw by the defending champions, Uzbekistan. However, they bounced back strongly, defeating the topseeded USA in the penultimate round. They defeated Slovenia in their final encounter and Second-placed China dropped points on two boards against the USA. India's success in the men's event was complemented by a similar achievement from the women's team. The Indian women's team comprising Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev, and Abhijit Kunte, also secured the gold medal in their respective open section competition. They beat Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 to clinch the title.