WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR AMIT SHAH SLAMS 'ANTI-BACKWARD' CONG-JMM COMBINE INDIA-BACKER RUBIO SET TO BE TRUMP’S SECRETARY OF STATE P9 SENSEX 78,675.18q820.97 WEATHER Generally clear. Foggy in the morning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 31°C and 22°C respectively. ‘BJP RSS OUT TO DESTROY , CONSTITUTION; MODI HAS NOT EVEN READ IT’ P5 NIFTY 23,883.45q257.85 ` vs $ 84.39 P8 Russia firm on FTA between India & EEU ‘Two-way trade between the nations grew over five-fold in past five years’ Max. 76% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 NOVEMBER Max: 31.4˚C SUN RISES 05:47 hrs MOON RISES 14:52 hrs Min. 60% Min: 22.8˚C SUN SETS 16:53 hrs MOON SETS 02:45 hrs R ussia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov on Tuesday reiterated his country's firm commitment to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), an economic bloc of five post-Soviet countries, and India while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the economies of the two countries will benefit from the trust and confidence built over many years. The ministers from the Full Moon on 16 November THUMBNAILS A thick layer of smog covers the national capital, which saw 'very poor' air quality on Tuesday. n ANI PM Modi to leave on three-nation tour this week: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a six-day three-nation tour of Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana from November 16, a statement said on Tuesday. At the invitation of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the PM will visit Nigeria from 16-17 November. This will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Nigeria in 17 years. two countries were speaking at the 25th Session of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation held here. Mr Manturov highlighted the significant progress in bilateral trade between the two countries while emphasising the potential for further growth. Day after Manipur encounter, 2 found dead, 6 missing STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IMPHAL, 12 NOVEMBER In the aftermath of a militant attack on a police station and a nearby CRPF post in Manipur's Jiribam district, the burnt bodies of two elderly men were recovered from a torched house on Tuesday, while security forces have initiated an extensive search operation to locate six missing civilians, including three women and three children, who disappeared during the violent incident. The attack unfolded around 3 p.m. on Sunday, with heavily armed militants firing on both the CRPF post at Jakuradhor and Borobekra Police Sta- PM Modi says Congress Brampton temple cancels conspiring to kill reservation; life certificate event due urges people to be united to likelihood of protests STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 12 NOVEMBER NEW DELHI, 12 NOVEMBER The Congress party is conspiring to destroy the job reservation policy which is based on the Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned as he campaigned for the Maharashtra elections at a rally in Solapur on Tuesday. "The crown prince goes abroad and says openly that reservations will be stopped. The intention of the Congress to destroy reservations is not new. There used to be a time when the Congress used to openly issue huge advertisements against reservations in newspapers along with its party symbol. The Congress used to use bad language against the SCs, STs and OBCs. Today, as Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis unite, the Congress is unhappy. They know that if they all unite, the royal family of the Congress will never be Amid India-Canada tensions in the wake of an attack on a Hindu temple by 'Khalistan' supporters recently, the Brampton Triveni Mandir and Community Centre has cancelled a Life Certificate Event which was scheduled for 17 November. The consular camp was to be held to enable Indianorigin Hindu and Sikh pensioners to renew their mandatory life certificates. The temple administration, in a statement on Monday, said: "Please be advised that the Life Certificate Event scheduled at Brampton Triveni Mandir by the Indian Consulate on November 17, 2024, has been cancelled. This is due to official intelligence from Peel Regional Police, stating that there is an Extremely High and Imminent Threat Level of violent protests." The authorities said: "We able to rule. I wish to warn you that the Congress wishes to watch Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis fight among themselves," Mr Modi said. “Will you allow this conspiracy of the Congress to succeed? To ensure that the Congress never succeeds in its conspiracy, we must remain united. Hum Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hai. You can compare the Mahayuti's track record of development to the track record of the Congress. So I appeal to you to elect the candidates of the BJP-backed Mahayuti in Maharashtra," he said. Stage set for first phase polling for Jharkhand Assembly elections STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 NOVEMBER The stage is set for voting in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday in 43 constituencies spread across different parts of the mineral-rich state. The polling is scheduled to commence at 7 am in 15,344 polling stations amid tight security to avert any untoward incident and culminate at 5 pm. A total of 683 candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the assembly election whose fates would be decided by 1.37 crore voters. Of the 683 candidates, the total number of women candidates is 73. In the first phase, at stake is the prestige of several ministers in the Hemant Sorenled Cabinet and key leaders from different political parties. He stressed the importance of enhancing collaboration through large-scale congress and exhibition events in both countries, which he said would "allow to rhythmically expand the growth rates of trade turnover in accordance with fashion". Pointing to the impressive trajectory of trade relations, he said: "Here I would like to point out the stable positive dynamics, and over the last five years, trade turnover of our country has grown more than fivefold. India is now the second country among all the foreign economic partners of Russia." Prominent among them are former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren, Rameshwar Oraon, Mithilesh Thakur, Banna Gupta, and Deepak Birua. Former chief minister Soren, who parted ways with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) following his rift with senior party leader Hemant Soren and joined the BJP, is contesting from his stronghold in Saraikela. Mr Soren has won this seat six times since 1991, only facing defeat in 2000. This time, he is locked in a direct battle with Ganesh Mahali of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), who was previously the BJP candidate here. In the Lohardaga Assembly seat, Mr Oraon, a Congress minister in Hemant Soren Cabinet is pitted against Neeru Shanti Bhagat of the AJSU Party while Mr Thakur is defending his seat against BJP nominee Satyendra Nath Tiwari and Samajwadi Party’s former minister Girinath Singh in Garhwa constituency. In the Jamshedpur West seat, Congress minister Banna Gupta is in a direct contest with former minister Saryu Rai of the JDU. Both have won this seat twice. Notably, the leaders of the JMM-Congress-led alliance and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) left no stone unturned in wooing the electorate during their respective campaigns. apologise to all community members who were depending on the event. We are deeply saddened that Canadians now feel unsafe coming to Hindu Temples in Canada." "We call on Peel Police to address the threats being circulated against Brampton Triveni Mandir and provide security guarantees to the Canadian Hindu Community and the general public," the temple administration added. The Brampton Triveni Mandir and Community Centre is a spiritual place where Hindus and other like-minded people gather for religious and community events. Inflation rises to 6.21 pc for Oct, breaches RBI’s target limit STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 NOVEMBER: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for October is recorded at 6.21 per cent on year-on-year basis. Corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban are 6.68 per cent and 5.62 per cent, respectively, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said. Notably, this crossed the inflation target limit of the RBI. Year-on-year inflation rate based on All India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) number is 10.87 per cent (Provisional) for the month of October, 2024. Corresponding inflation rate for rural and urban areas are 10.69 per cent and 11.09 per cent, respectively. tion. Inspector General of Police (Operations), IK Muivah, described the attack as “unfortunate,” noting that security forces responded after repeated warnings to the attackers went unheeded, leading to an intense 45-minute gunfight. P12 SILVER 1,00,000 GOLD 77,275.00 RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE BOOST FOR INDIA AS SHAMI CLEARED FOR RANJI TROPHY COMEBACK BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.45p0.62 CM Mamata announces Skill Development Centres in Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 12 NOVEMBER At least four skill development centres will be set up in areas coming under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to generate employment for the educated youth of Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after attending a meeting with GTA officials, including Chief Executive Anit Thapa, office bearers, and members of all Development Boards in the Hills, announced today that four skill development centres will be established in the region to provide job opportunities for educated boys and girls. The Chief Minister added that after completing a threemonth training programme, participants will be given job opportunities as soon as possible. Addressing the media, Miss Banerjee also said she had sought suggestions from both the GTA Chief and office bearers of the Development Boards to adopt a new policy and framework to promote development through these boards. “Within one and a half months, they will have to provide their suggestions. Based on their input, we will review and determine how the Development Boards can start functioning to bring development in the interest of the Hill people,” Miss Banerjee stated. The Chief Minister further highlighted how her government has been supporting Self-Help Groups of local artisans, who are excelling in showcasing their art and crafts, which are sold at high prices. This has helped improve their skills and socio-economic conditions. She added that these groups will participate in the inauguration of the SARAS Mela in Darjeeling tomorrow. Chief Minister Banerjee also proposed the establishment of a Monitoring Cell to review and audit GTA development works and financial resources, which will be chaired by Anit Thapa. LB Rai will be the vice-chairman, with other officials, including the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police from two districts. Later, the Chief Minister mentioned that since 2012, after her government came to power in the state, 55,000 Patta (land rights deeds) have been provided to tea workers in the Hills. She assured that her government is taking the matter seriously and will provide land rights to tea workers in Mirik and Kurseong, depending on the availability of land. Asked by the Chief Minister to address the media, the GTA chief, Ani Thapa, mentioned that the issue of parking zones in Darjeeling, which has affected the normal life of the tourist town, was also discussed. Thanking the CM, Mr Thapa said that the GTA has been working with the state government to maintain ‘peace and development’ in the Hills