FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR MK STALIN TO MEET PM REGARDING FUND DELAYS RAHUL SLAMS HARYANA GOVT OVER YOUTH EXODUS P5 SENSEX 85,836.12p666.25 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. VERY LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 24 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 92 % TEMPERATURE P6 ` vs $ 83.64 GOLD 77,900.00 THUMBNAILS A view of hill resorts engulfed by clouds amidst heavy rainfall, in Shimla on Thursday. n ANI India issues advisory against travelling to Lebanon: The government has advised Indian nationals against travelling to Lebanon till further notice in the wake of an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.''As a reiteration of the advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice,'' an advisory issued by the Embassy of India in Lebanon said. SILVER 99,990 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 70.88q2.02 Modi exudes confidence that Haryana would give BJP an opportunity to serve people again Highlighting the achievements of the BJP government in Haryana in the past decade, he said the corruption-free dispensation ensured that employment was given without any slip or expenditure for the first time in the state. NEW DELHI, 26 SEPTEMBER Min: 25.6 °C (+2) SUN SETS 18:11 hrs MOON SETS 15:26 hrs P12 Most of Cong’s time spent on factionalism, infighting: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 61 % Max: 35.7 °C (+1) SUN RISES 06:13 hrs MOON RISES 02:03 hrs P4 NIFTY 26,216.05p211.90 SHAKIB MAY END TEST CAREER IN MIRPUR IF GIVEN SECURE PASSAGE MAHATMA'S AGONIES I n a blistering attack on the Congress ahead of the Haryana assembly elections on 5 October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that most of the time of the grand old party is spent on factionalism, infighting, and settling scores with each other. Mr Modi exuded confidence that the people of Haryana would give the BJP an opportunity to serve them for a third consecutive term. "National interest is paramount for every BJP worker, and the people of Haryana have decided to give BJP a chance to serve once again," he said in an interaction with BJP booth workers of the state through the NaMo App. Slamming the Opposition party, he said, "The entire focus of those contesting against us is based on lies. Spreading lies and canards, talking nonsense, and vitiating the atmosphere has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the Haryana Assembly elections, in Sonipat on Wednesday. their strategy." "The party that has remained indifferent to public issues for 10 years, which lives for its own family or its own group, can never win the trust of the people of Haryana," the prime minister contended. Stating that the Congress has failed as an Opposition in the past ten years, Modi added that the party, despite its big boasts, is not making an impact on the people. Highlighting the achievements of the BJP government in Haryana in the past decade, he said the corruption-free dispensation ensured that employment was given without any slip or expenditure for the first time in the state. "Therefore, the people of Haryana are with us, their blessings are with us, hence our victory is certain," he asserted. "Congress people live only for their own families. Congress is not concerned about anyone else's children," Mr Modi said. Prime Minister Modi also took potshots at the Congress over its 'aver- sion' to any person from a backward caste taking up the highest offices of the country. "They (Congress) are worried about how the country's PM came from a backward community, how the Haryana chief minister came from a backward community. That is why these people spread lies because they think if the power of the backward communities increases, what will happen to them? I would also like to tell my brothers to ask Congress for an account of how many lies it dished out regarding MSP," Mr Modi said. SC dismisses Gujarat govt’s review plea on Bilkis Bano case PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 26 SEPTEMBER The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Gujarat government’s review petition seeking to expunge adverse remarks made against it in January 8, 2024 judgment, for its conduct in the premature release of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano gangrape and murder of nine members of her family including her three-year old daughter during 2002 Gujarat. Dismissing the review peti- Shah promises terror-free J&K under BJP rule CBI is ‘biased’: Karnataka govt withdraws STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 26 SEPTEMBER Promising a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir under the BJP regime, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the National ConferenceCongress alliance would impose Pakistan’s agenda if it comes to power. Mr Shah was addressing a series of poll rallies in the Jammu region, including Udhampur and Chenani, where elections will be held in the third phase on 1 October. Launching a scathing attack at the NC-Congress alliance,r Shah said:;“After Independence of the country, it is for the first time that an election is being held here where there is no Article 370 or a separate flag. NC and ‘Rahul Baba’ say that we will bring back Article 370, but I want to tell them that neither you nor the three generations of yours will be able to bring back Article 370.” The Narendra Modi-led government has fulfilled the dream of party’s patriarch Shyama Prasad Mukherjee by abrogating Article 370, he said. The Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir are being conducted after 10 years, and are the first after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Home Minister said that terrorism has been buried and won’t be allowed to stage a comeback. He said that the world is closely watching the J&K elections where two vastly different ideologies are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress and PDP that perpetuated terrorism are eyeing for power, on the other hand the BJP which is committed to rooting out terrorism offers a contrasting picture. “Whoever spreads terror in Jammu and Kashmir will get his answer at the gallows. I want to ask you whether the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru should have been hanged or not. The NC-Congress are now saying he should not have been hanged,” Mr Shah said. “They want to release stone pelters and terrorists. Omar Abdullah gave up these dreams because you cannot do it. It is the duty of courts and we have enforced such laws that nobody will dare to hurl a stone anymore,” he said. He said since 2014 the BJPled government has been working tirelessly to empower the SCs, STs, Dalits, poor and women, but the Congress and Abdullahs never cared for them. Mr Shah said it is the Abdullahs and Nehrus who are accountable for the killing of 40,000 people in J&K. Farooq Abdullah was holidaying in London when innocent people were being killed here. It is the BJP that has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir, he said. He said that the BJP will bring out a white paper on terrorism and place it on the table of the Assembly. On Rahul Gandhi’s statement, referring to the J&K Lt. Governor, that outsiders were ruling J&K, the Home Minister said that ‘Rahul Baba’ should know that the President’s rule for the longest time in J&K was during the rule of his grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi. consent for agency to probe cases in state AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 26 SEPTEMBER The Karnataka government on Thursday withdrew general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct investigations in the state. Karnataka Law Minister HK Patil termed the Central Bureau of Investigation "biased" and said that the government has decided to prevent CBI from "taking the wrong path". "We are withdrawing open consent for CBI investigation in the state. We are expressing our concerns about the misuse of the CBI. In all the cases we have referred to the CBI, they have not filed charge sheets, leaving many cases pending. They have also refused to investigate several cases we have sent. There are numerous such instances. They are biased. That's why we are taking the decision. It's not because of the MUDA case. We have taken this decision to control PM Modi meets Chess Olympiad winners AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 26 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hosted India’s young chess players at his official residence for their historic feat at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, where both the men’s and women’s teams clinched their maiden gold medals. The teams presented him with a chess board and the PM also watched Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi play a blitz game. Following the meeting, the chess stars shared their experience and said that the Prime Minister has made them feel so comfortable that it didn't feel like they were speaking with the country's Prime Minister. Led by the stellar performances of D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, the men's team secured the gold medal after a thrilling final round victory over Slovenia. The women's team comprising Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agrawal, Tania Sachdev secured the gold medal, beating Azerbaijan 3.5-0.5 to clinch the title. Team captain Abhijit Kunte shared how they came to know that PM Modi men- tioned their triumph in his speech in the USA. “He was very keen that the unique feat we achieved in 100 years should be known to the entire world. Just a couple of hours before the PM's speech in the USA on September 22, we secured the victory. When we listened to the speech, the PM proudly shared our win with everyone,” he said. “If you deliver a good performance and receive praise from the Prime Minister, what more could you ask for? The way he spoke made us feel comfortable. He asked about the tournament and joked around. The PM shared how he manages so many things and makes decisions,” said Vidit on his meeting with PM Modi. Vantika Agarwal was elated to know that the PM has remembered her birthday while also recalling her first meeting the PM Modi when she was 9 years old. “My birthday was on September 20, and PM sir remembered it. I couldn't believe he remembered my birthday. When I was 9 years old, Modiji had organized a mega event in Gujarat. At that time, I had won the Asian Championships. He invited me to that event and felicitated me,” she said. “The way he remembered Vantika's birthday shows how much he really cares for the players and how much it means to him and it's really nice for us to know,” Gukesh added. Tania Sachdeva shared that the meeting has left the teams with a lot of josh and they have learned some valuable lessons from the Prime Minister. “I learned so much from him and his experiences, especially how to handle pressure.. This meeting with PM left us with a lot of josh. He motivated and inspired us a lot. It's truly a special day for all of us,” said Tania. Vaishali R said: “When I introduced myself, the first thing he asked was, Where is brother? And how are your parents? that makes me feel connected. Very nice of him to ask about my parents... He gives more importance to yoga and meditation, along with physical fitness.” them (CBI) from taking the wrong path," Mr Patil said, addressing a press conference. He further said that the entire Congress party stands in support of CM Siddaramaiah, who is facing a Lokayukta probe in the MUDA case "The whole cabinet expresses its solidarity with the CM. The legislature party and high command are with him and encouraged him to fight back," he added. HK Patil said that the CBI is not relevant in the MUDA case, as the Special Court has already ordered an investigation by Lokayukta. "Apart from that, the important decision we've taken today is that no communication like of explanation or a detail note shall go to Governor without cabinet (approval) and after our advice, the chief secretary can send it to Governor... Even Raj Bhavan is being abused by the BJP. MUDA is already suggested to be investigated by Lokayukta, and that suggestion is by the High Court. That's why the CBI is not relevant here (in the MUDA case)," Mr Patil said. On Wednesday, the Special Court in Bengaluru passed an order directing Karnataka Lokayukta to conduct an investigation against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the allegation of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites worth Rs 56 crore to his wife Parvathi by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). tion by the Gujarat government, a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan in an order said: “We are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the review petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petitions are, accordingly, dismissed.” The review petition was considered by the judges by circulation in their chambers. (Details on page 5) Cash-for-job case: SC grants bail to former TN minister Senthil Balaji PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 26 SEPTEMBER The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to former Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji in an alleged money laundering case relating to a ‘cash for job case’ noting that with more than 2000 accused and over 600 prosecution witnesses’, the trial in the case is unlikely to conclude in next three to four years and the incarceration of accused for an unreasonable period would infringe on the fundamental right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Granting bail to Mr Balaji, a bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih noted that he has already been in custody for15monthsandunderSection 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the minimum sentence is three years and maximum being seven years. (Details on page 4) President Murmu commends troops at Siachen for ensuring security of region STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 26 SEPTEMBER Addressing troops at the Siachen base camp on Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu commended them for ensuring the security of the region even in highly hostile weather conditions. The President visited the frontier region of Ladakh where she paid tributes at the Siachen War Memorial which is a symbol of the sacrifice of soldiers and officers who have been martyred since the Indian Army began Operation Meghdoot on the Siachen Glacier on 13 April 1984. She also addressed the soldiers posted there. The President said that since the commencement of Operation Meghdoot, the brave soldiers and officers of the Indian Armed Forces have ensured the security of this region. They face severe weather conditions. In difficult situations like heavy snowfall and minus 50 degrees temperatures, they stand guard with full devotion and vigilance. They present extraordinary examples of sacrifice and fortitude in protecting the motherland. She told the soldiers that all Indians are aware of their sacrifice and bravery and we respect them. The President said that as the supreme commander of the armed forces, she felt very proud of them and that all citizens salute their bravery. Earlier, on her arrival at the Thoise airfield, she was received by Ladakh’s Lt. Governor Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra and others.