SATURDAY 26 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 REVANTH ACCUSES PM OF STALLING T’GANA PROJECTS CANADA TO REDUCE IMMIGRATION TARGETS P9 SENSEX 79,402.29q662.87 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 AND 19 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. ‘EXTRA EFFORT NEEDED FOR YAMUNA’ P8 NIFTY 24,180.80q218.60 SANTNER, LATHAM PUT NEW ZEALAND ON CUSP OF HISTORIC SERIES WIN P7 ` vs $ 84.08 GOLD 80,290.00 P12 SILVER 1,07,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 75.47p1.09 ‘New Indo-German pact to boost anti-terror efforts’ RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY India, Germany sign over a dozen pacts after talks between PM Modi, Chancellor Scholz Max. 91 % ASHOK TUTEJA TEMPERATURE Min. 37 % Max: 34.0 °C (+2) SUN RISES 06:30 hrs MOON RISES 01:51 hrs Min: 19.2 °C (+2) SUN SETS 17:41 hrs MOON SETS 14:35 hrs THUMBNAILS A shutdown in Uttarkashi called by the Gangaghati and Yamunaghati Provincial Industries Trade Association after a scuffle and stone-pelting broke out during a protest rally on Friday. n ANI Varanasi court rejects Hindu sideÊs plea for survey of entire Gyanvapi complex: A district court has rejected the plea of the Hindu side for survey and excavation of the entire Gyanvapi complex. Civil Judge (Senior Division Fast Track) Yugul Shambhu gave the judgment on Friday after hearing the arguments of the Muslim and Hindu sides. The court's decision pertains to a 1991 case. (P5) NEW DELHI, 25 OCTOBER A dding a new dimension to their ties, India and Germany on Friday signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) in Criminal Matters which, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, will strengthen their resolve to combat terrorism and separatist elements. The two countries also inked over a dozen other pacts, including those on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information and their intent in the field of employment and labour, after talks between PM Modi and visiting German Chancellor Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the 7th India-Germany Intergovernmental Consultations. Both sides, it is learnt, are also seriously considering signing a military logistics support agreement in the near future. “The growing cooperation in the defence and security sectors is a symbol of our deep mutual trust. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz greet each other during a joint Press Statement at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Friday. n ANI The agreement on the exchange of classified information is a new step in this direction. The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty concluded today will strengthen our joint efforts to combat terrorism and separatist elements,” the PM said at a press conference which was also addressed by the German Chancellor. Increasing cooperation between the two countries in areas such as defence, technology, energy and green and sustainable development has become a symbol of mutual trust, the PM said at a media conference which was also addressed by the German Chancellor. India and Germany had been negotiating the MLAT since 2007 but had so far failed to reach an agreement. “The world is going through a period of tension, conflict, and uncertainty. There are also serious concerns about the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. In such times, the strategic partnership between India and Germany has emerged as a strong anchor,” Mr Modi said. The PM also stated that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are matters of concern for both India and Germany. India has always been of the view that war cannot solve problems. India, he said, is ready to make every possible contribution to the restoration of peace. He said both India and Germany are unanimous on ensuring freedom of navigation and rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region under international laws. “We also agree that the global forums created in the 20th century are not capable of dealing with the challenges of the twenty-first century,” he said, adding that reforms are needed in other multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council. In his remarks, the German Chancellor noted that the two countries entered the strategic partnership 25 years ago. “Our cooperation has become ever more trusting, solid and substantial,” he said. Germany, he said, has become India's most important trading partner in the European Union, and he was determined to further strengthen and build on this link and cooperation. “As Chancellor, I strongly favour an ambitious Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union. I believe that both sides would benefit, and it should be our ambition to make headway in that regard.” Germany's objective, he said, is to attract more skilled labour from India in the field of medicine and other sectors like IT. The chancellor also spoke about the RussiaUkraine conflict and appreciated India's readiness to contribute to the resolution of the situation. He said the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine must be maintained at all costs. On the conflict in West Asia, he called for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and a two-state solution. No de-induction of troops in Depsang and Cyclone ‘Dana’ Demchok, pact only on disengagement, patrolling causes minimal damage in Odisha PARWINDER SANDHU NEW DELHI, 25 OCTOBER STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 25 OCTOBER Odisha’s coastal residents breathed a collective sigh of relief as Cyclone Dana, forecasted to be of severe intensity caused minimal damage as it made landfall near Bhitarkanika National Park early Friday morning. The landfall commenced at 1.30 a.m. and continued till 8 a.m. Prompt and efficient government action was credited for ensuring zero casualties and a swift return to normal life. More than 600,000 people, including 6,000 pregnant women, were moved to safety before the cyclone hit. Remarkably, over 1,600 women delivered their babies in secure shelters. “Through the grace of Lord Jagannath and the cooperation of all, we have been able to protect lives with zero casualties,” stated Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who monitored the situation from the state control room. Cyclone Dana made land- fall between Bhitarkanika and Dhamra, initially bringing strong winds and heavy rain, but the storm’s impact was nowhere near the scary predictions. While some trees were uprooted, causing temporary disruptions, road clearance teams swiftly restored access by Friday evening. Electrical and communication services were rapidly reinstated in affected areas, with rail and air services resuming. Despite a few flooded agricultural fields and minor tidal surges in low-lying villages, the cyclone’s damage was much lower than expected. The agreement between India and China to disengage forces along specific sections of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, does not include the de-induction of troops from the contested areas of Depsang and Demchok, but merely returning to positions held prior to April 2020 and undertaking patrolling of the area, according to military sources. This recent accord addresses only the disengagement and resumption of patrolling, with both nations aiming to complete the withdrawal of any temporary or permanent installations along the LAC by this month-end. Following this, patrols will restart with a defined number of personnel from each side, who will coordinate to avoid miscommunication and reduce potential confrontations. “A particular strength of troops in the patrols from both sides has been identified and it has also been agreed to inform each other before undertaking the patrolling, to avoid any miscommunication and face-off. The two sides will have surveillance over the area. Patrolling points in the Depsang and Demchok will be the same points where we had been patrolling traditionally pre-April 2020,” a source said. Addressing troop reduction timelines, sources confirmed that a full de-induction is not yet on the table. The agreement currently covers only disengagement, with the decision on further troop withdrawal to be made later, depending on evolving conditions. “As of now we talked about dis- engagement. We will get back to our areas where we were initially, sit down and watch. Post that a call on deinduction of the troops would be taken,” the source noted. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff had recently highlighted the importance of rebuilding trust in the wake of the long-standing tensions. Speaking about the disengagement process, he emphasised that re-establishing mutual assurance is critical to maintaining peace. “As of now, we are trying to restore the trust. That will happen once we are able to see each other and we are able to convince and reassure each other that we are not creeping into buffer zones that have been created. Patrolling gives us that kind of advantage. So that’s something which is commencing. And as we are restoring trust, the other stages will also follow through soon,” General Dwivedi had said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the source further claimed that the recent agreement is limited to Depsang and Demchok, with other areas like Galwan, Gogra Hot Spring, and Pangong Tso still under negotiation. Surveillance of the LAC will continue via various means, including technological support, to ensure order and compliance with the disengagement framework. Troops will revert from their current positions to the pre-April 2020 LAC alignment, although there is no fixed retreat distance specified. Ground-level communication between commanders is expected to continue to prevent future friction and maintain stability along the border. Need for balanced approach by G20 between devpt priorities, climate action: Sitharaman STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 OCTOBER Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stressed upon a balanced approach between development priorities and climate action during her address at the G20 meet. The Finance Ministry in a statement on Friday said: “Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs FM Smt.@nsitharaman sought for a balance between developmental priorities and #ClimateAction, vis-a-vis channeling of global effort by providing greater access to financial resources and technologies for developing countries at a reasonable cost.” The minister was speaking during her address at the G20 Joint Meeting of Finance, Climate and Environment, and Foreign Affairs Ministers, as well as Central Bank Governors, during the Annual Meetings 2024 in Washington, D.C. Mrs Sitharaman said while climate action is essential, it should not come at the expense of the growth of developing nations. She stressed the importance of formulating a New Collective Quantified Goal for climate finance that addresses the unique needs of developing countries without imposing restrictive conditions that hinder their growth. She further urged for global cooperation and an effective response to climate change, If Canada wants them, give them space, call it Khalistan: Recalled Indian envoy's blunt retort to Trudeau government Pune cops seize tempo carrying gold jewellery worth ` 138 cr AGENCIES PUNE, 25 OCTOBER NEW DELHI, 25 OCTOBER Recalled Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Verma on Friday, in an exclusive conversation with ANI, said that only a small percentage of Canadian Sikhs supported the Khalistani cause and if Canada cared about that then they should "give a place to them and call it Khalistan". “These are Canadian citizens challenging Indian territorial integrity and sovereignty. As long as these people, these Khalistani extremists and terrorists keep talking about Canada, I have no issues. That's their domestic issue. They can do whatever they want. As soon as they look at dividing India, then it is my problem. And that problem, I will certainly take to the Canadian authorities to say that listen, you have to resolve this," Mr Verma said "They want a country for themselves. I would say if Canada wants them to be there and they are so kind to them, Canada is a huge country. Give a space to them, call it Khalistan," Mr Verma said. Mr Verma said that the Khalistani elements had managed to build a narrative that they represented the Sikh community in Canada which was not true. “Indo-Canadian community is those people who are Canadian citizens of Indian origin. 98 per cent of them go about doing what they do living peacefully, taking care of the family, contributing to the Canadian economy, etc. But others are very vocal. And as we have said that those babies who cry louder will get attention. So they get fed. And somehow they have been able to build a narrative that these 10,000 of the Khalistani terrorists and extremists represent the Sikh community, which is absolutely incorrect and falsehood. Then the Indian community, which is Indian diaspora, is also seen as being led by these Khalistanis. And these narratives which had been built over a period of time tells the regime of the day that they are important," he said. "Secondly, what they have been able to achieve is to put their own people in the parliament, in positions of authority in various departments, including at the lower levels and the upper levels. So they have been able to influence not only the political dimension, but also the executives in Canada. So the institutions in Canada, most of the institutions, they also have got recruitments done from, they're Canadians, so they have right to get recruited. So I'm not saying that they cannot. But amongst them, there are many who side with the Khalistani terrorists and extremists and therefore propagate the narrative in the organisations there," he added. The recalled envoy also reitrated that no evidence had been shared by the Canadian government on the alleged involvement of any Indian citizens in the killing of NIA designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar. AGENCIES In another major seizure in poll-bound Maharashtra, the Pune police recovered gold ornaments worth a staggering Rs 138 crore from a tempo, a top official said here on Friday. An official of the Sahakar Nagar Police said that at a check-post near the Padmavati complex, they noticed a suspicious-looking tempo, intercepted it and subjected it to a thorough search. Searching the vehicle, the police came across several white bags in which there were boxes, which were opened to reveal the large quantity of gold jewellery, Deputy Commissioner of Police (II) Smartana Patil told media persons. She said that they questioned the driver on the consignment in the tempo (MH02-ER-8112) and he said that it had originated from Mumbai and was bound for Pune, and the papers found with him are purportedly in order. "We checked and then informed the Income Tax Department(ITD) on this seizure, which is now making full investigations why the jewellery was brought here, for whom it is intended, etc," the DCP said.The DCP added that they stumbled upon the high-value parcels as part of the ongoing stringent checks on random vehicles that may be carrying cash or other valuables that could be used to lure voters in the 20 November Assembly elections. based on the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, as outlined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. The minister congratulated Brazil for its leadership in promoting collaboration on ambitious climate goals. She reiterated India's support for the efforts initiated during its G20 presidency, and also commended the work of the Taskforce in advancing climate action and making Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) more effective in addressing climate challenges. On Wednesday, Mr sSitharaman met World Bank President Ajay Banga on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings 2024, in Washington, DC. Both sides discussed issues related to private capital participation in Global Public Goods, Energy security, and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) reforms. During her US visit, she will participate in the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the 4th G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governor (FMCBG) Meetings, besides the G20 Joint Meeting of FMCBGs, Environment Ministers, and Foreign Ministers; and G7 Africa Ministerial Roundtable. Over 25 flights receive bomb threats STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 OCTOBER Over 25 flights of various airlines received bomb threats on Friday afternoon, the Civil Aviation sources said. There has been a spate of suchthreats in recent days, disrupting operations on both domestic and internationalroutesasauthorities and airlines scramble to ensure passenger safety. Around seven flights each of IndiGo, Vistara and SpiceJet and at least six flights of Air India received bomb threats on Friday. Over the last 12 days, more than 275 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received bomb threats, most of which were issued through social media.