THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR DMK’S LITANY OF CHARGES AGAINST CENTRAL GOVT SHARED INTERESTS P6 WEATHER Partly cloudy. Windy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 29°C and 20°C respectively. SHARAD PAWAR DEFENDS INDIA RETAIN WOMEN’S DAUGHTER SUPRIYA, DENIES ASIAN CHAMPIONS BJP’S BITCOIN ALLEGATIONS TROPHY TITLE P4 P8 P12 NDA poised to win Maha, J’khand, predict exit polls RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Over 67 pc turnout in Jharkhand 2nd phase; Maharashtra registers above 58 per cent Max. 71% NIKHIL VYAS Min. 56% TEMPERATURE Max: 29.4˚C SUN RISES 05:29 hrs MOON RISES 06:32 hrs seats in Maharashtra and more than 40 seats in Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, according to People's Pulse, the Mahayuti ~ ruling alliance of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party and the BJP may get 175-195 seats out of the 288 seats in the state Assembly while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which includes Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) is poised to win 85-112 seats. ‘Others’ may win up to 7-12 seats. The majority mark to form the government in Maharashtra is 145. According to Republic TV-PMARQ exit poll, the Mahayuti could win 137157 seats whereas the MVA could get 126-147 seats and others 2-8 seats. ABP-Matrize exit poll projected 150-170 seats for the Mahayuti alliance and 110-130 seats for MVA. It said others could get 8-10 seats. News 24- NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER Min: 20.8˚C SUN SETS 17:21 hrs MOON SETS 18:08 hrs E New Moon on 01 December THUMBNAILS Farmers collecting water chestnuts from a pond on the outskirts of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.n ANI xit polls telecast by different private TV channels, on Wednesday evening predicted a victory for the BJP-led NDA in Maharashtra and Jharkhand with a clear majority after the completion of polling in both the states. Exit polls are not always accurate. Elections were held in two phases for 81 Assembly seats in Jharkhand on 13 November and on Wednesday while polling for 288 seats in Maharashtra was held in a single phase on Wednesday. More than 67 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the second phase of voting in Jharkhand today, while Maharashtra saw over 58 per cent turnout. According to most exit polls, the BJP-led NDA is projected to get over 150 Today's Chanakya projected 152-150 seats for Mahayuti, 130-138 for MVA and 6-8 seats for ‘others’. Most exit polls for Jharkhand also predicted a majority of the BJP-led NDA in the state. According to Matrize exit poll, the NDA is poised to win 42-47 seats, INDIA bloc 25-30 seats and others 1-4 seats in the 81member Assembly. Today's Chanakya exit poll says the NDA is likely to win 45-50 seats in the state while JMM-led alliance could win 35-38 seats. Peoples Pulse exit poll said the NDA may get 44-53 seats, JMMled alliance 25-37 seats and others 5-9 seats. Axis My India, however, predicts that the JMM-led alliance will retain power in Jharkhand with 53 seats. It predicted 25 seats for the NDA, 1 for others and two for Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JKLM). India has achieved 200 Gigawatts of renewable energy: PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER Speaking at the G-20 Summit on Sustainable Development and Energy Transition in Rio, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India has achieved 200 Gigawatts of renewable energy out of the target of 500 Gigawatts by 2030. “We believe that taking care of nature is our moral and fundamental duty. India is the first G-20 country to have fulfilled the commitments it made under the Paris agreement, ahead of time,” he told the gathering of the world’s top leaders. The PM recalled that during the New Delhi G-20 summit in September last year, India had adopted the Varanasi Action plan to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “We had resolved to triple renewable energy production, and to double the energy efficiency rate by 2030Under Brazil’s presidency, priority has been accorded to the implementation of these goals, and we welcome this,” he added. Emphasising India’s commitments and efforts to achieve the sustainable development agenda, Mr Modi said that over the last one decade, India has built homes for more than 40 million families. Over the last 5 years, clean water supply has been ensured for 120 million homes. More than 100 million families have been provided with clean cooking fuel And toilets have been made for over 115 million families. He said India's efforts are based on traditional Indian thought which is both progressive and balanced. A belief system in which the earth is considered mother, rivers, Givers of life, and trees are considered godlike. The PM said India has made the Green transition a people’s movement. About ten million families have registered for the world's biggest solar roof top pro- PM arrives in Guyana after attending G20 Summit STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER gram. “And we are not just thinking about ourselves. We have in mind the interests of all mankind. In order to promote a sustainable lifestyle at a global level, we launched Mission Life or Lifestyle for the environment. Food waste not only increases carbon footprint, it also increases hunger. We have to work on this concern also,” he added. He said India launched the International Solar Alliance. Over 100 countries have joined it. Under the “One Sun One World One Grid” initiative, these countries are cooperating on energy connectivity. “India has set up a Green Hydrogen innovation center and launched a Global Biofuel Alliance. We are also running an extensive waste to energy campaign in India’ In order to address challenges related to critical minerals we have focused on a circular approach,” he added. Climate change threatens survival of people: India speaks for developing countries STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The statement was delivered at the HighLevel Ministerial Dialogue Climate Change Adaptation, during the CoP29 to the UN Climate Change Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER- “Developing countries are suffering from the impacts of climate change largely due to the historical emissions of developed countries. For us as developing countries, our people’s lives – their very survival – and their livelihoods are at stake,” read a statement by India, delivered yesterday at the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue Climate Change Adaptation, during the CoP29 UN Climate Change Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. On the importance of accessibility to credible Climate Finance to the Global South, the statement said: “The CoP28 Global stocktake decision emphasised the need to bridge the tremendous gap in adaptation, gaps in implementation that arise from the lack of sufficient attention and resources.” “Additionally, at CoP28, parties to the Paris Agreement adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience. This framework acknowledges the urgent need for enhanced support and implementation resources from Developed countries to help Developing countries meet adaptation targets. This mobilization should go beyond previous efforts, supporting country-driven strategies while respecting the unique needs of developing countries,” the statement added. Bringing to the fore the urgent requirement of an ambitious flow of financial resources, India asserted: “The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for the period post-2025 needs to be an ambitious mobilization target at grant/concessional term. An important aspect that needs to be addressed is the slow disbursements, lack of flexibility to adapt to changing requirements, and long complex approval procedures with stringent eligibility criteria that make it difficult to access climate finance.” It was informed that in India, adaptation financing has been primarily from domestic resources. The statement said: “We are currently developing our National Adaptation Plan. In our Initial Adaptation Communication submitted to the UNFCCC last year, we outlined that the requirements for building adaptation capital could rise to about USD 854.16 billion. Clearly, a significant boost in adaptation finance flows is essential.” India called upon the developed countries to fulfil the agreed commitments, concerning the adaptation finance needs of developing countries. Meeting these commitments would enable the world to travel through a pathway towards strides in creating a greener, more sustainable and prosperous planet for future generations, India said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guyana from Brazil on Wednesday on the last leg of his three-nation tour. This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Guyana in 56 years. As a special gesture, on arrival at the Georgetown airport, he was warmly received by the President of Guyana Mohamed Irfaan Ali, along with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Anthony Phillips and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. More than a dozen Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Guyana were also present at the ceremony. On his arrival at the hotel, he was welcomed by President Ali along with other Govt to convene all-party meet on Sunday leaders. In addition, he received a rousing and colourful welcome from the Indian community and the IndoGuyanese diaspora. Between the welcome at the airport and the hotel, the entire Guyanese government Cabinet was present. As a testament to the close India-Guyana friendship, the Mayor of Georgetown handed over the "Key to the City of Georgetown” to Mr Modi. 50 pc Delhi govt offices to shift to ‘Work From Home’, except essential services STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that half of the staff at state government offices staff will be working from home in view of the high levels of pollution. In a review meeting over pollution held in the city on Wednesday, Mr Rai informed that it has been decided to implement 50 per cent work from home across the state government departments, except those that fall under the 18 essential services category. Mr Rai, while addressing media on Wednesday, said that directions are also being issued to private companies, industries and offices to ensure fifty per cent work from home amid the pollution spike. He said that discussions were held with the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce& Industry (FICCI), and after that two advisories are being issued to them, which include one regarding shifting timings of private offices after discussion and another to make use of shuttle bus services, in a bid to reduce traffic on roads, which helps prevent pollution spike. He said that in a review meeting held on Wednesday the contribution towards reducing pollution from the private players was also discussed. Mr Rai asserted that AAP is fighting a war against pollution, while BJP governments in the states around Delhi are not doing so. He requested the saffron party's governments at the Centre and in the states to also work towards bringing down pollution levels. Mr Rai claimed that there has been a slight decrease in pollution levels, and the situation is slowly improving. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Delhi recorded an average Air Quality Index of 419, which remains in the 'severe' category. NADAL’S SWANSONG Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold a meeting with the floor leaders of political parties in both the Houses of Parliament. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER The government has convened an all-party meeting on 24 November ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament which starts on Monday. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will hold a meeting with the floor leaders of political parties in both the houses of Parliament. It will be presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The All-Party Meeting will be held at 11 AM at the Main Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe, here, according to a Parliamentary Affairs ministry release on Wednesday. The Winter Session of Parliament will commence on 25 November and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on 20 December. Spain’s Rafael Nadal during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional tennis player in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain (DETAILS ON PAGE 16) on Wednesday. n AP