FRIDAY 29 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 P7 SENSEX 79,043.74q1,190.34 WEATHER SMOG/MODERATE FOG IS LIKELY IN THE MORNING. MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SMOG/SHALLOW FOG IS LIKELY IN THE EVENING/NIGHT. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 26 AND 10 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil P5 NIFTY 23,914.15q360.75 TEMPERATURE EAM is expected to make a statement in Parl on Bangladesh today Sheikh Hasina calls for release of Chinmoy Das Min: 10.1 °C (0) SUN SETS 17:24 hrs MOON SETS 15:53 hrs AGENCIES DHAKA, 28 NOVEMBER THUMBNAILS An aerial view of an empty beach as the Indian Meteorological Department issued a warning ahead of 'Cyclone Fengal' in Nagapattinam on Thursday. n ANI SC Collegium recommends elevation of Delhi HC Chief Justice Manmohan as top court judge: The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, on Thursday, unanimously recommended the elevation of Chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice Manmohan as a judge of the apex court. GOLD 78,595.00 B’desh crisis: PM Modi meets EAM Jaishankar Min. 35 % Max: 27.0 °C (+1) SUN RISES 06:56 hrs MOON RISES 06:00 hrs P10 ` vs $ 84.49 RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 97 % Protests intensified in Bangladesh again after police arrested Chinmoy Das on 25 November from Dhaka airport. He faces sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting BangladeshÊs national flag during a rally in October. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER P rime Minister Narendra Modi is understood to have on Thursday discussed with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar the increasing attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh. The recent arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and the subsequent protests against the denial of bail to him are also learnt to have figured in the meeting. The meeting came a PONTING DELIGHTED WITH STRONG PBKS SQUAD ‘TRUMP FRIEND OF INDIA, DON’T SEE ANY PROBLEM AFTER TAKEOVER’ DEVIATION FROM RULES A SACRILEGE OF RAJYA SABHA: DHANKHAR A PYRRHIC VICTORY FOR PAKISTANI STATE Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on Thursday condemned the ‘unjust’ arrest of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in her country, and demanded his ‘immediate release’. Sheikh Hasina also expressed concerns over the attacks against minorities and their places of worship and called for ensuring safety of religious freedom of all communities. She further accused the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of 'harassing' the leaders of her party, the Awami League. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in connection with a sedition case filed against him and 18 others. day before Mr Jaishankar makes a statement in Parliament on Bangladesh. Protests intensified in Bangladesh again after police arrested Mr Das on 25 November from Dhaka airport. He faces sedition charges for allegedly disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally in October. On Tuesday, a day after his arrest, he was produced before a court in Chittagong which denied him bail. India has expressed concern over Mr Das’s arrest and the denial of bail to him. It also condemned attacks on Hindus and other minorities. However, Dhaka has strongly objected to New Delhi's statement, calling it an internal matter of Bangladesh. P12 SILVER 98,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.78p0.48 LS extends tenure of JPC on Waqf Bill up to last day of Budget Session 2025 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed a resolution extending the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, until the last day of the Budget Session of 2025. JPC chairman BJP MP Jagdambika Pal (photo) moved the motion in the House which it approved by a voice vote. Moving the motion in the Lok Sabha, the JPC chairman said: “I would like to move that this House do extend the time for the presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the last day of the Budget Session, 2025.” The JPC comprises 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha and includes 13 Opposition members (nine from the Lower House and four from the Upper House). The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to bring in significant reforms, including digitisation of records, stricter audits, increased transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties. The Bill, which is aimed at reforming the management and regulation of Waqf properties across the country, has been deferred due to heated debates and disruptions within the JPC -- between ruling BJP members and the Opposition leaders. The JPC is holding a series of meetings to gather input from government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members and community representatives from different states and Union Territories, aiming for the most comprehensive reform possible. Talking to a news agency about the extension of the tenure of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Mr Pal said: “We moved a motion to extend the tenure of the JPC, and the House approved it with a voice vote. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju noted that this extension addresses the Opposition's demand for detailed discussions on the Bill.” The JPC Chairman had announced Soren sworn in as 14th CM of J’khand Toxic air: GRAP IV restrictions to continue with INDIA bloc leaders in attendance in Delhi except for schools till Monday STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER JMM executive president Hemant Soren Thursday took oath as the 14th chief minister of Jharkhand. Mr Soren, 49, was administered the oath by Governor Santosh Gangwar at Morabadi Maidan in Ranchi. He was sworn in as chief minister of the mineral-rich state for the fourth time. He had three previous stints as the chief minister of the state - from 2013 to 2014, 2019-2014 and again from 4 July 2024. Mr Soren took charge of the state in a grand swearing-in ceremony where INDIA bloc leaders lined up in a show of strength. From Congress, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and KC Venugopal were in attendance. Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and Jharkhand Congress state-in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir were also present. Mr Soren's wife and JMM leader Kalpana Soren, who emerged victorious in the Gandey Assembly constituency, defeating BJP candidate Muniya Devi, was seated next to Rahul Gandhi. From the AAP, its national convener Arvind Kejriwal, his wife Sunita Kejriwal, party MP Raghav Chadha and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann were present on the occasion. Tamil Nadu Deputy CM and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin also attended the oath ceremony. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and former deputy CM of Bihar & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Independent MP Pappu Yadav were among those who attended the event. This is the first time in Jharkhand that an incumbent government, which has completed five years in office, has returned to power. Ahead of the oath ceremony, Hemant Soren greeted people present at the venue in Ranchi. Mr Soren tendered his resignation as Jharkhand CM to Governor Santosh Gangwar on Sunday, November 24, and staked a claim to form government at the Raj Bhawan. The JMM steered the INDIA bloc to victory with 56 seats in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly (81 elected and one nominated). The JMM won 34 seats, while its allies secured 22 seats. Among the allies, the Congress won 16 seats, the RJD won four, and the CPI-ML won two seats. PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER Stating that there was an abject failure on the part of the authorities ~ both administrative and police ~ in enforcing measures under GRAP stage IV to combat and curb air pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that GRAP IV measures, currently in force to tackle the severe air quality in Delhi, will continue to remain in force, except those relating to schools, till 2 December. “We have taken a glance at the second report by the court commissioners. The first report indicates that there is an abject failure of various authorities to implement GRAP IV measures in its letter and spirit. There are violations pointed out in both the reports,” said a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih, directing that in the meantime, the Commission for Air Quality Management With Priyanka in LS, three Gandhis now in Parliament STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Parl adjourned amid Opp protests over Adani case NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, marking a historic moment for the Gandhi family. With her taking oath as an MP, all three prominent Gandhis ~ Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi ~ are now Members of Parliament, a first in Indian political history. Ms Vadra took the affirmation holding up a red and black copy of the Constitution. Dressed in a cream Kasavu saree from Kerala, Ms Vadra rose to take oath amid cheers of 'Jodo Jodo, Bharat Jodo' from the Congress benches. She took the oath of office with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, her mother and Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gand- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER hi, husband Robert Vadra, son Raihan and daughter Miraya watching from the galleries. After taking oath, Priyanka Vadra completed the formalities and then shared a warm hug with her brother and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. She also took the blessings of the Congress president after taking oath. While Rahul Gandhi represents Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi serves as an MP in the Rajya Sabha. Ms Vadra secured her Lok Sabha seat from Wayanad in a recently concluded bypoll, succeeding her brother Rahul Gandhi, who vacated the constituency for Rae Bareli. Ms Vadra’s maiden electoral victory was a resounding one, as she defeated CPI candidate Sathyan Mokeri by a massive margin of 4,10,931 votes. BJP's Navya Haridas was a distant third. No significant business was conducted in Parliament on the third day of the Winter Session on Thursday as both Houses were adjourned amid the ruckus over the Opposition's demand for discussions on various issues. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after Priyanka Gandhi and Ravindra Vasantrao Chavan took oath as members of the lower house when Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House raising slogans, demanding a discussion on the Adani issue and the Sambhal violence. (CAQM) will hold a meeting to decide on easing the GRAP restrictions. Referring to the court commissioner's report on the entry of trucks, Justice Oka in the order said: “The immediate issue which needs to be addressed is that the trucks are allowed to enter the limits of Delhi and then after travelling some distance they are taking a U-turn back to from where they have arrived. This issue also needs to be addressed.” The bench in its order said: “We make it clear that all GRAP IV measures except the measures which are modified in respect of the schools will continue to operate till Monday. In the meantime, the Commission will hold a meeting and come out with a suggestion about moving from GRAP IV to GRAP III or GRAP II. We also make it clear that not all measures which are provided in GRAP IV need to be dispensed with. there can be a combination of measures in GRAP III and GRAP II.” Beyond the national capital, the court sought to focus on the air pollution in other cities falling within the National Capital Region (NCR). It said that it would continue to hear the matter related to air pollution in detail to find a long-term solution to the crisis. “We want you to tell us that in some other cities also this issue will have to be taken up… better to be taken up by the Supreme Court (so that it can be addressed comprehensively). Right now, throughout December will be grappling with these emergencies. So let us have regular detailed hearings in January issue-wise. And we want to hear from other states also on Monday”, Justice Oka said expanding the scope of the hearing. Referring to a media report saying that officials in Punjab were telling the farmers to engage in stubble burning after 04,00 pm, (apparently after office hours), the bench asked the Punjab government to take action in case the media reportage is correct. that he was seeking an extension for the tenure of the panel after the Opposition staged a walkout from the meeting of the Committee on Wednesday. The Opposition stormed out of the meeting, asserting that the procedures were not being followed and that the panel Chairman was willing to submit a report on 29 November, even though they had requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to extend the tenure of the committee. Criticising the Opposition, Mr Pal said: “This extension refutes these claims made by the Opposition that the government does not want a detailed discussion and wants to bulldoze their voice, and proves that we want a detailed discussion.” ‘India continues to have challenging ties with Canada’ Mr Singh said the welfare and security of Indian nationals, who are living, working and studying in Canada remains of utmost importance to the Government of India. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER India has had, and continues to have a challenging relationship with Canada primarily because of the political space provided by Ottawa to extremist elements who advocate an anti-India agenda and have been misusing Canadian freedoms for carrying out violent activities that threaten this country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the government told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. In a written reply, Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh said India has repeatedly urged the Canadian Government to take prompt and effective action against antiIndia elements operating from its soil. ESA’s Proba-3 mission to take flight aboard PSLV-XL rocket on Dec 4, announces ISRO AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 28 NOVEMBER The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday announced that it will launch the European Space Agency (ESA) Proba-3 to observe the Sun with great precision on 4 December. Proba-3, which aims to study the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim, will be launched on the PSLVXL rocket ~ operated by the ISRO ~ at 4.08 p.m. from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. “The PSLV-C59/PROBA03 Mission is set to take flight on 4th December 2024, 16:08 IST from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota!” ISRO shared in a post on X. The PSLV-XL rocket will carry two satellites that will work together to create a 144-metre-long instrument known as a solar coronagraph. This will help scientists to study the Sun's corona which is difficult to observe due to the brightness of the solar disk. The twin satellites will be carried into a highly elliptical orbit, allowing the pair to reach 60,000 km from Earth and descend as close as 600 km during each orbit. The high-altitude orbit will help the satellites perform formation flying for about six hours at peak altitude, where Earth’s gravitational influence is reduced, lowering propellant consumption and allowing for optimal positioning control. The ‘world's first precision formation flying mission’ will enable scientists to study the Sun's elusive corona with unprecedented proximity and detail, said the ESA. “A pair of satellites will fly together, maintaining a fixed configuration as if they were a single large rigid structure in space, to prove formation flying and rendezvous technologies,” states ESA. ESA’s Proba-3 will be the first mission to launch from India since the Proba-1 mission in 2001, underscoring deepening space collaboration. The Proba-3 satellites were flown to the Chennai airport from Liege in Belgium, following which they were trucked to the spaceport at Sriharikota. The ESA teams, present at the Indian spaceport, will now along with ISRO scientists prepare the satellite for its launch.