FRIDAY 15 NOVEMBER 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 ‘ONCE IN POWER, BJP WILL THROW INFILTRATORS OUT OF JHARKHAND’ TRUMP PICKS MATT GAETZ FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL P9 SENSEX 77,580.31q110.64 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SMOG/MODERATE TO DENSE FOG AT A FEW PLACES IN THE MORNING. SMOG/SHALLOW TO MODERATE FOG LIKELY IN THE EVENING/NIGHT. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 30 AND 16 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE Max: 29.4 °C (+1) SUN RISES 06:45 hrs MOON RISES 16:52 hrs Min: 16.1 °C (+3) SUN SETS 17:28 hrs MOON SETS 07:05 hrs THUMBNAILS A student makes a drawing during a programme organised by the Indian Army on the occasion of Children's Day at Government High School Sunail in Jammu on Thursday. n ANI AAP triumphs in mayor, deputy mayor polls in MCD: The Aam Aadmi Party triumphed in the election to the post of mayor and deputy mayor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as its candidate, Mahesh Kumar Khichi, secured victory by three votes against BJP nominee Kishan Lal and Ravinder Bhardwaj clinched victory unopposed. Khichi, a Dalit candidate, defeated his BJP rival by a narrow margin of three votes. (P2) NIFTY 23,532.70q26.35 GOLD 76,060.00 Modi says that the Congress and its allies want restoration of Article 370 P rime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress while addressing an election rally in Panvel, near Mumbai, on Thursday. "A Congress leader openly announced in Jharkhand today that cheap cooking gas cylinders would be given even to cross-border infiltrators and illegal immigrants like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Do you think such a party should be given an opportunity to rule," he asked people at the rally in Panvel. Earlier during the day, Mr Modi addressed an election rally in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad. He said that the Congress and its allies want restoration of Article 370 and are planning a separate Constitution for Kashmir. "They passed a resolution to bring back Article 370. After the BJP liberated Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the gathering during a public meeting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, in Panvel on Thursday. n ANI Kashmir from Article 370, the Congress shamelessly worked a lot against it and even went to court. The Congress still dreams about removing Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution from Kashmir. Other than Pakistan, if anybody dreams about this, it is none other than the Congress and their allies. Will you people teach a lesson to the Congress which speaks the language of Pakistan?" he asked people at the rally. He claimed that the Amid violence, AFSPA reimposed in 6 police station areas in Manipur IMPHAL, 14 NOVEMBER Amid the escalating violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday reimposed the stringent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 six police station areas of five Manipur districts, including the recent violencehit Jiribam, to give more powers to the army and paramilitary forces to take stringent action against the militants and other armed cadres. The MHA notification said that the security situation in Manipur has been further reviewed in consultation with the stakeholders and it is noted that the situation continues to remain volatile amidst ongoing ethnic violence in the state. “Intermittent firing in violence-prone areas continues in the fringe areas of Bishnupur-Churachandpur, Imphal East-KangpokpiImphal West, and Jirihan districts with several instances ` vs $ 84.40 P6 Congress speaks Pak’s language: PM AGENCIES of active participation of insurgent groups in heinous acts of violence. .....the Central government is of the opinion that imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in six police stations of 5 districts in Manipur is warranted to carry out well-coordinated operations by the security forces to maintain the security situation and contain the activities of insurgent groups in these areas," the notification said. The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the "maintenance of SARFARAZ HIT ON ELBOW AHEAD OF BORDERGAVASKAR TROPHY P5 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 14 NOVEMBER Min. 63 % WINGS TO DISSENT public order". The six police stations, where the AFSPA was reimposed on Thursday include Moirang in Bishnupur district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district, and Sekmai and Lamsang, both in Imphal West district. The Manipur government in October extended the promulgation of the AFSPA in the entire state, except in the jurisdiction of 19 police stations in seven districts of the Imphal Valley, for another six months with effect from 1 October. These six police stations were out of the purview of the AFSPA in the Manipur government order. After a series of incidents of violence in different districts of Manipur, the CRPF, on 11 November, shot dead 10 suspected Kuki militants in an encounter and the militants kidnapped at least six people, all inmates of a relief camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district. Congress party believes only in division and not development, adding that the Congress has been against reservation right from the beginning. The Congress used to say that reservations were against the country and against merit, he said. "The Congress used to openly issue newspaper advertisements against reservation. Please open the copies of decadesold newspapers," he said. He said that the mentality and agenda of the Congress remain unchanged. "Therefore, they can't come to terms with the fact that somebody from the OBC community has been the PM of the country for the last 10 years," he said. He alleged that the Congress has conspired to pit castes within the SC, ST and OBC communities against each other and added that the Congress plans to scrap job reservations. "Hum Ek Hai To Safe Hai," Mr Modi said. Mr Modi credited the BJP-backed Mahayuti government for renaming the city. “It is the Mahayuti government which renamed Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and thus fulfilled Balasaheb Thackeray's wish,” Mr Modi said. He said that the entire Maharashtra knew that the demand to rename this city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was raised by Balasaheb Thackeray. “The Congress party had gone to court to overturn this decision,” Mr Modi said. P12 SILVER 99,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.95p0.67 With AQI in ‘severe’ category, CAQM invokes GRAP-III measures in Capital STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 NOVEMBER With the national capital's average air quality index reeling under the 'severe' category on Thursday, the Centre's air pollution monitoring agency, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), has invoked the Graded Response Action Plan's (GRAP) stage-III restrictions in Delhi-NCR. The CAQM order says that all actions as envisaged under stage III of the GRAP should be implemented by all the concerned agencies in the NCR, in addition to the already implemented stageI and II actions of the antipollution plan, from 8 a.m. on Friday. The sub-committee observed that the AQI of Delhi since Tuesday morning hovered in the ‘severe’ category due to heavy fog and unfavourable meteorological conditions in the entire IndoGangetic Plain. At 4 p.m. on Thursday, Delhi's average AQI was 424, and to prevent further deterioration, the sub- committee decided to invoke GRAP III. Measures under the stageIII include a ban on construction and demolition activities as per the rules laid out by the CAQM. The actions also include intensifying the frequency of mechanised sweeping of roads, ensuring daily water sprinkling along with dust suppressants, before peak traffic hours on roads and including hotspots, and heavy traffic corridors. The CAQM has also directed to further increase public transport services and introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel. The restrictions under GRAP-III also require NCR state governments to impose a ban on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel LMVs (4 wheelers) in Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. Strict restrictions on plying of Delhi-registered diesel operated Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs), of BS-III standards or below, are to be imposed in Delhi, except on those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. It also restricts permission to Inter-State buses from NCR states other than EVs/CNG/BS-VI diesel, to enter Delhi (excluding buses/Tempo Travelers operated with All India Tourist Permit). Delhi on Thursday recorded an average AQI of 424, falling under the 'severe' zone, while ten places reeled under 'severe plus' AQI with readings above 450. Areas with the highest AQI levels in the city at 4 pm as per the Central Pollution Control Board include Patparganj at 471, Mundka ~ 469, Nehru Nagar ~ 462, Punjabi Bagh ~ 460, Anand Vihar and Wazirpur ~ 459, Ashok Vihar ~ 457, Jahangirpuri ~ 456, Bawana ~ 455 and Major Dhyanchand National Stadium ~ 450. (More reports on page 2) After protests, UP PCS (Prelim) exam to be held on a single day Dominica to confer its highest honour on PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 NOVEMBER PRAYAGRAJ, 14 NOVEMBER In a relief to lakhs of students preparing for competitive examinations, the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has decided to hold the upcoming PCS (Preliminary) Examination 2024 on a single day. The decision was taken on Thursday on the initiative of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had taken cognisance of protests by the aspiring candidates earlier. The candidates had recently expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the PCS and other selection exams, urging the commission to conduct the PCS Preliminary Examination in a single day instead of multiple shifts. Mr Yogi directed the UPPSC to engage in dialogue with the aspirants and take appropriate action. Following this, the commission decided to hold the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) Preliminary Examination 2024 on a single day, as done previously. The UPPSC has postponed the Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO) Examination-2023 and constituted a committee to ensure transparency and fairness. This committee will study all aspects in depth and submit its detailed report soon so that the integrity and credibility of these examinations can be ensured. The secretary of the Com- mission said given the incidence of paper leaks in many parts of the country in recent months, the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to ensure the integrity and transparency of the selection examinations. For this reason, the Commission announced the proposed PCS and RO/ARO examinations in multiple shifts in December. However, after the demand of the candidates and the intervention of the chief minister, the PCS preliminary examination will be conducted on the same day. The report of the committee constituted by the Commission will further strengthen the fairness of the examinations to be held in the future. On Thursday, aspiring candidates, who had been protesting over the issue over the past four days, even clashed with police after which the Commission held an emergency meeting. Commission Secretary Ashok Kumar came out of the office at around 4 pm on Thursday afternoon and informed the agitating candidates that the UPPSC will conduct the preliminary examination in one day. The Commission will form a committee for the Review Officer/Assistant Review Officer (RO/ARO) Examination-2023. The committee will consider all the aspects and present its detailed report soon, he added. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Dominica will bestow its highest national award, the Dominica Award of Honour, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in recognition of his contributions to the Caribbean island nation during COVID-19 and his dedication to strengthening the partnership between the two countries, it was announced on Thursday. President of Dominica Sylvanie Burton will confer the award on Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during the upcoming IndiaCARICOM Summit, scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana from 19-21 November. According to a statement from the Prime Minister Office of Dominica, India supplied Dominica with 70,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic in February 2021. Border-Gavaskar series — a rivalry worth every penny TRIDIP BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 14 NOVEMBER As India prepares to renew their rivalry with Australia in the challenging five-Test series, a first since 1991-92, and look to extend their dominance Down Under for a third consecutive time, a lot is at stake for both sides as the eventual outcome could potentially decide the fate of one or maybe both finalists, for next year's ICC World Test Championship final with the two teams currently occupying the top two slots in the table. Over the past decade or so, the India-Australia rivalry in Test cricket has reached a new high, ever since India’s change of guard during the 2014-15 tour Down Under when a young Virat Kohli was handed the reins of the longest format after Mahendra Singh Dhoni retired from the longest format at the end of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. While Australia comfortably pocketed the four-Test series 2-0 by winning the first two matches in Adelaide and Brisbane, the Indians showed glimpses of what’s stored for their future tours with commendable performances, to draw the remaining games in Melbourne and Sydney. Besides being bestowed with India’s captaincy duties, the series was special for Kohli after his twin centuries at Adelaide, and another in the new year’s Test in Sydney, that saw him ending up with 692 runs from the four games, only behind Steve Smith, who compiled a staggering 769 runs. 2016-17 Australia’s BGT drought continues in India A 333-run drubbing at the hands of the visitors in the first Test at Pune served a In the last BorderGavaskar series, Australia lost the first two Tests in Nagpur and New Delhi, but won with a stunning nine-wicket upset in Indore. But a draw in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad meant the trophy stayed with India perfect reality check for the Indians, who lost a Test at home after 19 matches in four years. Playing his first Test in India, Steven O’Keefe claimed 12 wickets across the two innings, giving Steve Smith a perfect start to his new role as Australia’s Test captain. The hosts managed to pull one back in Bengaluru with KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara stitching crucial knocks, before a draw in Ranchi with Pujara’s marathon double century meant the series went down the wire to the fourth and final Test. In the absence of skipper Kohli, India eventually clinched the series 2-1 under Ajinkya Rahane with an eightwicket win in Dharamsala. 2018-19 India’s historic first series win in Australia In the absence of the seasoned duo of Smith and David Warner, serving their bans following the ball-tampering saga, India took full advantage of Australia’s vulnerabilities by winning the first Test in Adelaide. And even though Australia seized a commanding win in Perth to square the series, India bounced back in the BoxingDay Test in Melbourne before playing out a draw in Sydney to wrap-up a first-ever Test series triumph in Australia. Pujara was adjudged the Player of the Series, for his tally of 521 runs from seven innings that included three centuries. 2020-21 India make it twice in a row The memories of 36 all out in the first Test at Adelaide still haunt Indian cricket fans…and before India could recover from the trauma, skipper Virat Kohli had to leave the tour midway for the birth of his first child, and a host of injury woes rubbed salt to the injury. India, however, mounted an incredible comeback under the leadership of Rahane. Auditioning for a berth in the Indian Test side, the youngsters ~ Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj ~ grabbed the opportunity with both hands, as India went on to clinch an eight-wicket victory in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, before drawing the new year’s Test in Sydney. With the series squared 1-1, the series finale at the Gabba saw India breach Australia’s fortress by chasing down a mammoth 328 in the fourth innings on the final day to retain the BorderGavaskar trophy. 2023-24 Australia fail to lay hands on BGT once again in India Following successive series losses to India, Australia reached the subcontinent as the underdogs, and the tag got even more meaningful after the losses in the opening two Tests in Nagpur and New Delhi. But just when India started harbouring dreams of a clean sweep, the Kangaroos retaliated with a stunning nine-wicket upset in Indore in a low-scoring affair. A draw in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad, where Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli all scored hundreds, means the Border-Gavaskar trophy stayed with India. The outcome meant both teams progressed through to the 2023 World Test Championship Final in three months time at The Oval, where Australia handed India a 209-run drubbing to claim the title. As all eyes now shift on the upcoming series, starting with the first game at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 22, the overall outcome will have more implications than just a bilateral rivalry!