FRIDAY 15 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 ‘ONCE IN POWER, BJP WILL THROW INFILTRATORS OUT OF JHARKHAND’ TRUMP PICKS MATT GAETZ FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL P9 SENSEX 77,580.31q110.64 WEATHER Generally clear. Sunny in the afternoon. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 31°C and 19°C respectively. P5 NIFTY 23,532.70q26.35 ` vs $ 84.40 As the Capital chokes, CAQM invokes GRAP-III TEMPERATURE Max: 31.1˚C SUN RISES 05:49 hrs MOON RISES 16:17 hrs W Min: 19.5˚C SUN SETS 16:53 hrs MOON SETS 04:55 hrs Full Moon on 16 November THUMBNAILS A student makes art during a programme organised by the Indian Army on the occasion of the Children's Day, at Government High School Sunail in Jammu on Thursday.n ANI DRDO successfully completes Guided Pinaka flight tests: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the flight tests of the Guided Pinaka Weapon System, marking a significant step in meeting the Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) validation trials. These tests were conducted across three phases in various field firing ranges to rigorously assess the system’s performance. ith 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 stage-I and II actions of the anti- pollution 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 Indo-Gangetic Plain. A view of the Akshardham temple engulfed in smog as air quality deteriorates to the 'Severe' category, in New Delhi on Thursday. n ANI 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 stage- III 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 Commission for Air Quality Management has also directed to further increase public transport services and introduce differential rates to encourage offpeak 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. Cong speaks Pakistan’s language, wants to After candidates protest, give cooking gas to illegal immigrants: Modi UP PCS (Prelim) exam to STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 14 NOVEMBER Prime 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 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 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 reser- vations were against the country and against merit, he said. "The Congress used to openly issue newspaper advertisements against reservation. Please open the copies of decades-old 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 BJPbacked 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. be held on a single day STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE 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) Examination2023 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. CM spends Children’s Day with Darjeeling kids STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI, 14 NOVEMBER Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee celebrated Children’s Day in Darjeeling today, bringing joy to hundreds of children who received toys, dolls, and chocolates from her. The event's theme, Children are Our Pride, Our Future, set the tone as Miss Banerjee spent a memorable morning interacting with children at the SARAS Mela grounds. There was a vibrant cultural programme featuring performances by local artists and talented students from nearby schools and colleges. These young performers sang and played the guitar, adding a lively spirit to the occasion. On her Facebook page, the Chief Minister wrote: “Today, on Children’s Day, we celebrate the innocence, creativity, and boundless energy of our young minds. Children are the architects of our future, and it is our collective responsibility to nurture their dreams.” “Initiatives like Kanyashree, Sabooj Sathi, Aikyashree, Shikshashree, and Medhashree are my way of saying that I believe in you, and that I will always stand by you. As your beloved Didi, my dream is for each of you to grow up in a Bengal where you feel loved", she added. In her public address in Darjeeling yesterday, Miss Banerjee praised the youth of Darjeeling as "smart and talented," acknowledging their skills and potential. She discussed her plans to expand employment opportunities for the region’s youth in collaboration with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). She also announced her intention to return to Darjeeling to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on 23 January 2025. Teachers and supervisors, following directions from Darjeeling District Magistrate Preeti Goyal, helped organise the gathering, giving the Chief Minister an opportunity to meet and encourage the children, recognising them as the pride and future of the nation. After the day’s programme, Miss Banerjee travelled to Uttarkanya in Siliguri, where she planned to stay the night before returning to Kolkata tomorrow. Her visit to Darjeeling, which began on 11 November focused on official programmes. Miss Banerjee reviewed the development needs of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and discussed initiatives to bring further progress through collaboration with the GTA and local development boards. Miss Banerjee, who had set up Kalimpong as a separate district from Darjeeling, also assessed its development priorities and needs for the future. P12 SILVER 99,000 GOLD 76,060.00 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 NOVEMBER Min. 50% SARFARAZ HIT ON ELBOW AHEAD OF BORDERGAVASKAR TROPHY P6 Amid heavy fog, air quality in Delhi hovering in ‘severe’ category RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 70% WINGS TO DISSENT BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.95p0.67 Centre reimposes AFSPA in Manipur’s six police station areas, including Jiribam AGENCIES 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 violence-hit 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 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 wellcoordinated 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 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. The MHA has also provided an additional 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to deal with the prevailing law and order situation. RBI should cut rates: Piyush Goyal AGENCIES MUMBAI, 14 NOVEMBER RBI should cut interest rates to boost economic growth and look through food price while deciding on monetary policy, Union commerce and industy minister Piyush Goyal said, in possibly the first time a government minister has backed calls to re-examine the nation's inflation targeting framework. Mr Goyal was speaking at an event in Mumbai on Thursday. “I certainly believe they (RBI) should cut interest rates. Growth needs a further impetus,” Piyush Goyal said, also stating that it's an “absolutely flawed theory” to consider food inflation while deciding on rates. Mr Goyal clarified that these statements were his personal views and not those of the government. He highlighted a similar suggestion by V Anantha Nageswaran, the chief economic adviser (CEA) of India, in his Economic Survey earlier this year. The Economic Survey of 2023-24 stated that India's monetary policy framework should consider targeting inflation that excludes food, which is influenced more by supply than demand.