FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER 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 ISRAEL DNA-TESTING BODY FROM GAZA TO SEE IF IT’S SINWAR ‘BIHAR GOVT HAS FAILED TO STOP ILLEGAL LIQUOR TRADE’ P9 SENSEX 81,006.61q494.75 WHAT PEOPLE SAW IN A REVERSE COLONISER P5 NIFTY 24,749.85q221.45 NEW ZEALAND ON TOP AFTER HENRY BUNDLE INDIA OUT FOR 46 P7 ` vs $ 84.07 GOLD 79,145.00 P12 SILVER 1,03,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 74.10q0.12 MAINLY CLEAR SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 20 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. SC upholds Section 6A Nayab Singh Saini sworn in as of the Citizenship Act Haryana CM for second term RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY PARMOD KUMAR WEATHER Max. 93 % Min. 37 % TEMPERATURE Max: 36.2 °C (+3) SUN RISES 06:24 hrs MOON RISES 18:20 hrs Min: 20.3 °C (+1) SUN SETS 17:48 hrs MOON SETS 08:20 hrs THUMBNAILS A golden farewell from the sun, embraced by tranquil and pleasant weather, in New Delhi on Thursday.n ANI MEA confirms Sheikh Hasina still in India: India on Thursday confirmed that former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina is still in this country. ''Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had come to India for safety reasons; she continues to be here,'' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing. SC rules 4:1 in favour of provision, Justice J B Pardiwala dissents NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER T he Supreme Court on Thursday by a majority of 4:1 upheld the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act that was incorporated in furtherance of the 1985 Assam accord for granting citizenship to the immigrants from Bangladesh who had crossed over to India between 1 January 1966 to 24 March 1971. The Assam accord was signed between the Central government, the Assam government, the All-Assam Students Union (AASU) and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad in New Delhi on 15 August 1985. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Surya Kant speaking for himself, Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Manoj Misra upheld the constitutionality of Section 6A. However, Justice J.B. Pardiwala in a dissenting judgment ruled that “Section 6A of the Citizenship Chief Justice Chandrachud formally proposes Justice Khanna as his successor PARMOD KUMAR Act deserves to be declared invalid with prospective effect and the same is accordingly declared so.” Justice Surya Kant speaking for himself, Justice M./M. Sundresh and Justice Manoj Misra. held that Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. falls within the bounds of the Constitution and is a valid piece of legislation. He said: “As a necessary corollary thereto, (i) immigrants who entered the State of Assam prior to 1966 are deemed citizens; (ii) immigrants who entered between the cut-off dates of 01.01.1966 and 25.03.1971 can seek cit- izenship subject to the eligibility conditions prescribed in Section 6A (3); and (iii) immigrants who entered the State of Assam on or after 25.03.1971 are not entitled to the protection conferred vide Section 6A and consequently, they are declared to be illegal immigrants.” Accordingly, Section 6A has become redundant qua those immigrants who have entered Assam on or after 25 March 1971, Justice Surya Kant stated. Speaking for himself, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud while upholding the constitutional validity of Section 6A said that it satisfies the two-pronged reasonable classification test - The legislative objective of Section 6A was to balance the humanitarian needs of the migrants of Indian Origin and the impact of the migration on the economic and cultural needs of Indian States and the two yardsticks employed in Section 6A, that is migration to Assam and the cut-off date of 24 March 1971 are reasonable. Noting that though other states share a greater border with Bangladesh, Chief Justice Chandrachud said: “The impact of migration in Assam in terms of numbers and resources is greater. Thus, the yardstick of migration to Assam is reasonable. The cut-off date of 25 March 1971 is reasonable because the Pakistani Army launched Operation Search light to curb the Bangladesh nationalist movement in the then East Pakistan on 26 March 1971. Migrants before the operation were considered migrants of the Indian partition.” man/Judge-in-charge of the Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and the District Court Mediation Centres. Elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 18 2019, Justice Khanna served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Service Committee from June 17, 2023, to December 25, 2023. He is currently the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal. Justice Khanna was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER Amid deteriorating diplomatic ties with Ottawa, India on Thursday rejected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement that he believes in ''One India'', saying his actions do not match his words. At a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also stated that there are at least 26 extradition requests from India pending with the Canadian side relating to certain criminals. Along with that, there are several provisional arrest requests which are also pending. "We had also shared security related information with the Canadian Government regarding gang members, including those of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and requested them to arrest them (criminals)...so far no action has been taken by the Canadian side on our request. We find it really strange that now people who we wanted to be deported or against whom action needed to be taken, we are being told that the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is blaming the Indian side for the crimes committed by these people in Canada," he said. While testifying before the public inquiry into foreign interference in federal electoral processes and democratic institutions on Wednesday, Mr Trudeau had stated that Canada's official policy is to defend the territorial integrity of India, unlike a few who advocate otherwise. In response, the Indian spokesperson said India has made requests from time to time against individuals World can tackle uncertainties if it follows Buddha: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Lord Buddha is today not only relevant but essential also and can help the world find solutions to its uncertainties and instabilities, if it moves away from war and paves the way for peace. He was addressing a ceremony in celebration of the International Abhidhamma Divas and recognition of Pali as a classical language at Vigyan Bhavan. Abhidhamma Divas commemorates the descent of Lord Buddha from the celestial realm after teaching Abhidhamma. The celebrations were organised by the Government and the International Buddhist Confederation and attended by academics and monks from 14 countries and young experts on Buddha Dhamma from various universities across India. The Prime Minister said: “I once said at the United Nations: Bharat has given the world not war, but Buddha. And today, I confidently say that the entire world will find solutions not in war, but in Buddha. On this occasion of Abhidhamma Divas, I call upon the world: Learn from Buddha, move away from war.” He said: “Enmity does not end with enmity. Hatred ends with love, with human compassion. Buddha said "May all be happy, may all be blessed.” Nayab Singh Saini, who led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a decisive victory in the recently-held Assembly elections, winning 48 seats in the 90-member house, was on Thursday sworn in as the chief minister of Haryana for a second term. He had first taken oath as the state chief minister in March this year. Mr Saini was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Bandaru Dattatraya amid a massive gathering of enthusiastic supporters. The atmosphere at Panchkula’s iconic Dussehra Ground here, where the swearing-in ceremony was held, was electrifying with loud cheers and chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ resonating throughout the venue. As Mr Saini, a prominent face of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Haryana, stood up on the stage to take the oath, the crowd erupted in loud applause waving flags. The crowd kept cheering him as he took the oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President and Union Minister JP Nadda, Chief Ministers of BJP and NDA ruled States among other dignitaries. A total of 13 BJP MLAs took Delhi slams Justin Trudeau for his ‘One India’ remarks, finds gap between his actions & words NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has formally proposed Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the seniormost judge after him, to succeed him as the Chief Justice of India when he demits office on November 10, 2024. In a communication to Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice Chandrachud stated that Justice Khanna would succeed him upon his retirement on November 10. Justice Khanna will have a tenure of just over six months, as he is scheduled to retire on May 13, 2025. Justice Khanna was elevated to the Delhi High Court as an additional judge in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006. While serving on the Delhi High Court, he held several positions, including Chair- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE CHANDIGARH, 17 OCTOBER “This is Buddha's message, and this is the path of humanity,” the Prime Minister said. Mr Modi said many of his government’s decisions were inspired by Buddha, Dhamma, and the Sangha. Today, wherever there is a crisis in the world, India is present as the first responder. This is an extension of Buddha's principle of compassion, he said. “Whether it was the earthquake in Turkey, the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, or the conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic, Bharat stepped forward to help. Bharat is taking everyone along as a ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (global friend). Whether it’s the yoga movement, the campaign related to millets, Ayurveda, or natural farming, Lord Buddha's inspiration is behind many of our efforts,” he said. The Prime Minister said language, literature, art, spirituality ~ these treasures of a nation define its existence. Every nation connects its heritage with its identity. “Unfortunately, Bharat had lagged far behind in this regard. Before Independence, invaders aimed to erase Bharat’s identity, and after Independence, those with a colonial mindset took over,” he said. “An ecosystem had taken hold in Bharat that worked to push us in the opposite direction. The Buddha, who resides in the soul of Bharat, and the symbols of Buddha that were adopted as the symbols of Bharat at the time of independence, were gradually forgotten in the decades that followed. It took seven decades for the Pali language to get its rightful place,” the Prime Minister said. The nation is now free from that inferiority complex and is moving forward with selfrespect, self-confidence, and self-pride, he said. As a result, the country is making big decisions. That’s why, he said Pali and Marathi have been recognised as classical languages. And what a beautiful coincidence it is that this connects pleasantly with Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, father of the Indian Constitution, he said. “Our great follower of Buddhism, Babasaheb Ambedkar, received his Dhamma initiation in Pali, and his mother tongue was Marathi. Similarly, we have given classical language status to Bengali, Assamese, and Prakrit as well,” the Prime Minister said. who have openly indulged in anti-India activities but the Trudeau administration has turned a blind eye to their activities. "So in a sense, there is a gap between action and words," he added. The spokesperson named at least five people whose extradition has been sought by India from Canada. They are: Gurjit Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Gurdeep singh. Lakhbir Singh Lunda and Arshdeep Singh Gill. The spokesperson said: "What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along: Canada has presented us no evidence whatsoever in support of the serious allegations that it has chosen to level against India and Indian diplomats. The responsibility for the damage that this cavalier behaviour has caused to India-Canada relations lies with Prime Minister Trudeau alone." the oath of office as ministers – two each from Dalit, Brahmin, and Jat communities, four from OBCs, and one each from Rajput, Punjabi, and Bania communities. As per the norms, there can be a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister of the state. Seven-time MLA Anil Vij was sworn in as the cabinet minister after Chief Minister Saini. Krishan Lal Panwar, who was elected from Israna, a big Dalit face in the state, has also been made a Cabinet minister. Badshahpur MLA Rao Narbir Singh, who was a minister in the previous government, has been elevated to Cabinet rank. Former Minister of State for Development and Panchayat and Cooperation Mahipal Singh Dhanda, who made a hat trick by winning the Panipat Rural assembly seat, has also been made a Cabinet minister. Vipul Goyal, who was the minister of industries and commerce in the first term of the Manohar Kal government, also took oath as a Cabinet minister. Dr Arvind Sharma, who previously served as an MP from Karnal, Sonipat, and Rohtak, was also made a cabinet minister, along with Shyam Singh Rana, MLA from Radaur, and Ranbir Singh Gangwa, who has won the Assembly election from Barwala. Dr Arvind Sharma was elected from the Gohana Assembly seat in the just concluded state elections. Krishan Kumar Bedi, who won the election from the Narwana constituency reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), was also inducted as a Cabinet minister. Shruti Chaudhary, granddaughter of former chief minister Chaudhary Bansi Lal, an MLA from Tosham, was made a Cabinet minister for the first time. Her mother, Kiran Chaudhary, is BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP. Similarly, Aarti Singh Rao, granddaughter of former chief minister Rao Birendra Singh and daughter of Union Minister Rao Indrajit Singh, has taken oath as a Cabinet minister. She has won the election from the Ateli constituency for the first time. Calls from minors, pranksters: Civil Aviation Minister on hoax bomb threat to flights AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER In response to the recent spate of hoax bomb threats targeting various flights, including Indian airlines, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that necessary actions were being taken and ruled out any larger conspiracy behind these events. Ram Mohan Naidu said, "Action is being taken on this. We can't comment on any kind of a conspiracy but from whatever little bit we know these calls are coming from some minors and pranksters. These are all minor and isolated incidents. There is no kind of conspiracy that we can comment on. From our side, we are going to see what best we can do. We are talking to the airlines, and security agencies, within the ministry also. Consultations are going on." Stating that such "mischievous and unlawful" actions are a matter of grave concern, the minister strongly condemned "attempts to compromise the safety, security and operational integrity of the aviation section." "I am deeply concerned over the recent disruptive acts targeting Indian airlines, affecting domestic and international operations. Such mischievous and unlawful actions are a matter of grave concern, and I strongly condemn any attempts to compromise the safety, security, and operational integrity of our aviation sector," read a statement on the MoCA website. PM discusses development issues at NDA CMs’ Council meeting in Chandigarh 25 die in Bihar after consuming spurious liquor; SIT formed STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER NEW DELHI, 17 OCTOBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, chaired a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance Chief Ministers' Council in Chandigarh to discuss national development issues. Coming as it does soon after the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls and ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the meeting holds crucial significance. Twenty chief ministers of the NDA and their deputies engaged in the half-day conclave, the first of its kind after many years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP National President J P Nadda, Andhra Twenty chief ministers of the NDA and their deputies engaged in the halfday conclave, the first of its kind after many years. Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu were present in the meeting. PM Modi was present all through the meeting, guiding the proceedings. According to sources, the deliberations in this meeting covered a structured agenda covering all aspects of national development. "It also discussed subjects like observance of Sanvidhan Ka Amrut Mahotsav and the Year of 50th anniversary of the attempt to murder democracy," they said. As many 25 people died after consuming spurious liquor in Siwan and Saran districts of Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday conducted a high-level review on the spurious liquor incidents that took place yesterday and ordered a thorough probe on all points. Twelve people have been arrested from the two districts. DGP Alok Raj said: "A total of 25 people have lost their lives so far. Twenty in Siwan and 5 deaths in Saran. Twelve people have been arrested till now, 3 in Saran and 9 arrests in Siwan.'' Stating that the information regarding the 'Sharab mafia' has been obtained from the arrested persons, he warned of strict action against all those involved in this chain. SNS