TUESDAY 01 OCTOBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR RAHUL SLAMS BJP FOR 'EMPTYING POCKETS' OF YOUTH BHARATPE REACHES TO SETTLEMENT WITH ASHNEER GROVER P5 P11 SENSEX 84,299.78 NIFTY 25,810.85 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Possibility of light rain occur in some areas. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 34˚C and 29˚C respectively. TEMPERATURE Max: 33.9˚C (+0.7) SUN RISES 05:28 hrs MOON RISES 03:16 hrs ` vs $ 83.80 GOLD 77,695.00 NEW DELHI, 30 SEPTEMBER Min: 29.1˚C (+3.1) SUN SETS 17:25 hrs MOON SETS 16:11 hrs New Moon on 03 October THUMBNAILS Security personnel during the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, in Jammu on Monday. n ANI Supreme Court directs IIT Dhanbad to admit Dalit youth: The Supreme Court on Monday used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and directed IIT Dhanbad to admit a youth from the marginalised group in the BTech course. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said that a talented student like the petitioner who belongs to a marginalised group should not be left out for admission. Atul Kumar, who cracked IIT Dhanbad but could not get admission since he missed the fee payment deadline, has approached the Supreme Court seeking relief in relation to his admission to Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad. The Supreme Court exercised its power under Article 142 and granted him relief. A war of words erupted Monday between the BJP and Congress, a day after grand old party's president Mallikarjun Kharge's said that ''he would die only after removing PM Modi". Top ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman and senior BJP functionaries slammed the Congress president for "unnecessarily dragging PM Narendra Modi into his personal health matters". The remarks show the hate and fear Congress and its leaders have for the prime minister, they charged. "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's health deteriorated while addressing a rally yesterday. He said I will remain alive until PM Modi is removed (from power). I pray to god that Mallikarjun Kharge lives for 125 years and PM Modi remains the PM for 125 years...," Rajnath Singh said during an election rally in Haryana. The Home Minister wrote in a post on 'X' , ''Yesterday, the Congress President, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji has outperformed himself, his leaders and his party in being absolutely distasteful and disgraceful in his speech. In a bitter display of spite, he unnecessarily dragged PM Modi into his personal health matters by saying that he would die only after removing PM Modi from power.'' "It just shows how much hate and fear these Congress people have for PM Modi, that they are thinking of him constantly," he added. Shah further prayed for a long and healthy life for Mr Kharge. "As for the health of Kharge Ji, Modi Ji prays, I pray and we all pray that he lives a long, healthy life. May he continue to live for many years and may he live to see the creation of a Viksit Bharat by 2047," he said. The scathing statement from the Home Minister came a day after Kharge, while addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir, said he is 83-year-old but won't die until Modi is removed from power. In retaliation, Kharge advised the Home Minister to focus on serious issues like Manipur and the caste census. "Home Minister Amit Shah should pay attention to serious issues like Manipur, Census and caste census," Kharge remarked, further stating that , "A survey conducted by your own government says that 92 per cent of the workers cleaning urban sewers and septic tanks come from SC, ST, OBC categories." Yesterday, speaking in an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress chief said, "I am 83 years old. I am not going to die so early. I will stay alive till PM Modi is removed from power.'' ‘Terrorism has no place in our world’: PM Modi in call with Netanyahu STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 SEPTEMBER for an early restoration of peace and stability." Following Nasrallah's death, Netanyahu had issued a warning to Iran's Ayatollah regime and asserted that those who target Israel will face consequences and that no location in Iran or the Middle East is beyond Israel's reach. He called Nasrallah as "main engine of Iran's axis of evil" and added, "Nasrallah was not just another terrorist, he was the terrorist. He was the axis of the axis, the main engine of Iran's axis of evil. He and his people were the architects of the plan to destroy Israel. He was not only operated by Iran, he also frequently operated Iran." The Iran-backed Hezbollah sustained a string of deadly blows to its command structure, including the killing of its overall leader, Hassan Nasrallah, as part of a wave of increasingly brazen Israeli strikes meant to undercut the group's capacity to attack its territory. Before Nasrallah's killing, Netanyahu brushed off a ceasefire proposal brokered by the US and France that called for a 21-day pause in fighting across the IsraelLebanon border, infuriating American officials who had been led to believe he was on board. Israel informed the US that it was launching its major operation in Beirut only after it was underway -- again, to the frustration of some American officials. Tens of thousands of Israelis and Lebanese have been forced to evacuate near the Israel-Lebanon border as Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket volleys at Israel over the past 11 months and Israel has countered with its own strikes. U.S releases new appointments to meet visa demand STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 SEPTEMBER The U.S. Embassy in India opened an additional 250,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. ''The recently released new slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews, facilitating the travel which is the backbone of the people-to-people ties that underpin the U.S.-India relationship,'' a press release issued by the embassy on monday said. The U.S. Mission to India has already surpassed one million non-immigrant visa applications for the second consecutive year. SC records undertaking stating doctors in West Bengal performing all duties AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 30 SEPTEMBER The Supreme Court on Monday recorded an undertaking made on behalf of West Bengal Junior Doctors' Forum (WBJDF) that all doctors in the state are performing emergency and essential duties, including in-patient and out-patient department (OPD) services. A bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, which was hearing a suo moto case related to the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hopsital rape-murder, recorded the statement made by senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing the doctors' association. The Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, on perusal of the status report filed by the CBI, said that the central probe agency was conducting an investigation into the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor and the allegations of financial irregularities in the state-run hospital. The apex court expressed its displeasure overthe"tardy"rateofinstallation of CCTV cameras and other directions contained in its previous orders. Further, it asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, to place on record the status report prepared by the National Task Force (NTF) before the next date of listing. The matter is likely to be heard next on October 14. The top court had ordered the formation of the NTF to suggest measures for the security of medical professionals across the country, observing that the safety of doctors is the "highest national concern". Further, it asked the NTF to give a hearing to diverse medical associations while formulating effective recommendations relating to the safety, working conditions and well-being of doctors and medical professionals. In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court raised concerns after its attention was drawn to a state government order requiring women doctors not to be employed at night. After the Supreme Court's intervention, the West Bengal government assured the apex court that any conditions which cast a cloud on the basic Constitutional premise of gender equality will not be enforced. Further, it reiterated that no adverse or punitive action should be taken against the doctors who return to work. Taking suo moto cognisance of the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at the staterun R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the Supreme Court had termed the incident "horrific," which raises the "systemic issue of safety of doctors across the country". "We are deeply concerned about the fact that there is an absence of safe conditions of work for young doctors across the country, particularly, public hospitals," it had said. P16 SILVER 95,000 Kharge’s remark on PM: War of words between BJP & Cong STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 59% Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the recent developments in West Asia, saying "terrorism has no place in our world". Modi spoke with the Israel Prime Minister as tensions in the Middle East increased following Israel's assassination of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah. In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, "Spoke to Prime Minister @netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia. Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts P10 Meanwhile, PM Modi spoke to the Congress president and enquired about his health RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95% JADEJA ENTERS RECORD BOOKS WITH 300 TEST SCALPS STAY AHEAD OF CRIMINALS: PREZ TO POLICE Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also castigated Kharge's remark. In a post on X, she wrote,"Aptly said, Union HM Amit Shah. The leadership of Congress never loses any opportunity to display their hate towards PM Modi. This speech of Mallikarjun Kharge is one such instance. We join in praying for the long life of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. We wish he lives to see Viksit Bharat India@2047." In Begusarai, Bihar, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "...Narendra Modi will remain in the hearts of people for thousands of years, no matter who lives or dies..." Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told a news agency, "...Kharge ji will return to election campaigning after he fell slightly ill...The Home Minister should focus on his work and also Manipur..." ''Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks were not distasteful but patriotic,' said Congress' national spokesperson Pawan Khera . He stated, "Congress doesn't hate PM Modi, but loves India," and called for a nation free from his ideology. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi spoke to the Congress president and enquired about his health. Kharge reportedly suffered a "syncopal attack" during the rally and almost fainted. He was helped by his security and other leaders present at the stage.He was in J and K, campaigning for the assembly elections. The third and last phase of voting will take place tomorrow. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 71.38 Do more: CM Mamata instructs ministers on flood situation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 30 SEPTEMBER West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Monday, instructed her ministers to concentrate more on the flood situation in the state rather than being involved in the forthcoming festive season. “She said that the responsibility is more on those cabinet members whose areas have been affected by flood and for them it is their duty to concentrate more on that crisis rather than concentrating on the festival,” one of the ministers said. He said that the Chief Minister instructed that ministers must personally supervise and ensure that the relief materials reach the affected people in time. For those ministers, he added, whose areas have not been affected by the flood, the Chief Minister instructed that they should concentrate on the collection of enough relief materials so that they can be sent to the flood-affected areas. Earlier, during her tour to the flood-affected districts in north Bengal, the Chief Minister also gave similar instructions to the district administrative officials to ensure that there is no laxity in the distribution of relief materials to the affected people. Meanwhile, the district administrative officials heaved a sigh of relief as the heavy downpour which continued in the north Bengal districts till Saturday night stopped. However, different pockets in North Bengal continue to remain inundated. Restoration work of roads damaged by landslides in the different pockets of the hills in north Bengal has also started. India smash multiple records in bid to keep result alive in Kanpur Test: Records fell by the wayside as India came out to bat on a sunny afternoon at the Green Park, infusing life into the Test after inclement weather conditions robbed them of two successive days of action in the second Test against Bangladesh here. India motored along to a pacy 285 in mere 34.4 overs, and in the process took a slender 52-run lead in the first innings before Bangladesh cut the deficit exactly by half but lost two in the process at stumps on the penultimate day of the Test. SNS