SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘RELIGION IS A HUMAN CONSTRUCT’ ‘ADJOURNMENT NOTICES BEING WEAPONISED AS MECHANISM OF DISRUPTION’ P5 SENSEX 79,802.79p759.05 ENDING IMPUNITY P9 NIFTY 24,131.10p216.95 ` vs $ 84.49 SHUBMAN GILL ‘LOOKING COMFORTABLE’ IN RETURN TO NETS P8 P16 SILVER 1,00,000 GOLD 79,085.00 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 73.01p0.71 Sambhal case: SC halts proceedings India’s economic growth decelerates in July-September to 5.4 per cent RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Top court directs UP govt to ensure peace and harmony in Sambhal Max. 72% PARMOD KUMAR India's economic growth decelerated significantly in JulySeptember, reaching 5.4 per cent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said on Friday. The estimates are considerably below the analysts’ estimate of 6.5 per cent and the central bank's 7 per cent estimate. For Q2 FY 2023-24, the Real GDP growth was 8.1 per cent. As per the MoSPI, Real GDP in Q2 of 2024-25 is estimated at Rs 44.10 lakh crore, against Rs 41.86 lakh crore in Q2 of 2023-24. Nominal GDP or GDP at Current Prices in Q2 of 202425 is estimated at Rs 76.60 lakh crore, against Rs 70.90 lakh crore in Q2 of 2023-24. Urban consumption weakened due to increased food prices. The figure showed a decline from the previous quarter's 6.7 per cent. Economic activity measured by gross value added (GVA) showed 5.6 per cent growth, down from 6.8 per WEATHER Morning showers. Hazy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 26°C and 21°C respectively. Min. 64% TEMPERATURE Max: 26.1˚C SUN RISES 05:59 hrs MOON RISES 05:00 hrs NEW DELHI, 29 NOVEMBER Min: 21.7˚C SUN SETS 16:51 hrs MOON SETS 15:58 hrs T New Moon on 1 December THUMBNAILS Fishermen dock boats near the road ahead of 'Cyclone Fengal', in Chennai on Friday.n ANI No request from US govt on Adani: India has not received any request from the USA regarding the service of summons on billionaire Gautam Adani, who has been indicted in a US court on charges of bribery, the government said on Friday. ''This is a legal matter involving private firms and individuals and the US Department of Justice,” an MEA spokesperson said adding that the Indian government is not legally a part of it in any manner. he Supreme Court on Friday asked Yogi Adityanath’s Uttar Pradesh government to ensure “peace and harmony” in Sambhal and directed the trial court not to proceed in the suit against the Shahi mosque, till the petition to be filed by the Masjid Committee against the survey order is listed for hearing by Allahabad High Court. Stating, “We don’t want anything to happen. Peace and harmony have to be maintained”, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ordered a pause to the trial court proceedings and directed that the report of the advocate commissioner, if any, who was asked to conduct the survey of the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid, should be kept in a sealed cover and should not be opened in the meantime. Five persons died in clashes between police and locals during a bid by a court-appointed team to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on Sunday. n ANI FILE PHOTO The top court said that any further proceedings in the suit before the Sambhal court would be subject to the order passed by the High Court. At the outset of the hearing, the Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna said: “Peace and harmony have to be maintained. We don't want anything to happen... We have to be absolutely, totally neutral and ensure nothing wrong is done.” As senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque committee, sought to address the bench on the challenge to the Sambhal court’s 19 November order, the top court expressed reservation on the lower court’s order but said that the petitioner committee should approach the High Court or any other appropriate judicial forum, instead of directly approaching the Supreme Court. “We have some reservations against the order, but still you have to approach the appropriate forum,” the bench told senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi while keeping the petition pending with it. “We feel that the petitioner, … must challenge the order dated 19.11.2024 before an appropriate Court/forum as per law, including the provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and the Constitution of India”, the bench said. The 19 November 2024 order on the survey of the Shahi mosque was passed by the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal at Chandausi, in Civil Suit No. 166/2024. On Friday, the top court further ordered: “We also observe that, in case any revision petition/ appeal/miscellaneous petition is preferred before the appropriate Court/forum, the same will be listed within a period of three working days after the date of its filing.” The top court paused further proceedings of the Chandausi (Sambhal) court till the matter is heard by the High Court after it was informed that the matter is listed for hearing on 8 January 2025. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 NOVEMBER cent in the preceding quarter. Real GVA in Q2 of 2024-25 is estimated at Rs 40.58 lakh crore, against Rs 38.42 lakh crore in Q2 of 2023-24, showing a growth rate of 5.6 per cent. ‘India has taken serious note of attacks against minorities, shared concerns with Bangladesh’ AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 29 NOVEMBER Maha CM suspense continues; Mahayuti meeting cancelled Cong to set up internal panels to look into poll performance STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 29 NOVEMBER Even after the top leaders of the BJP-backed Mahayuti, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, returned after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday evening in Delhi, there was no relief from the long suspense about who will be the Chief Minister of Maharashtra as late as Friday evening. Though the name of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra is still under wraps, some sources indicated that the oath-taking ceremony for the Maharashtra government is likely to take place on Tuesday, 5 December at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while others said that it might get delayed further. Meanwhile, rather inexplicably, a meeting of the Mahayuti in Mumbai to iron out details was abruptly cancelled, along with another scheduled meeting of Mr Shinde's Shiv Sena. It was announced that caretaker CM Eknath Shinde is heading to his village in Satara and all meetings would be held only after his return on Saturday. All this has led to a revival of political speculation that Mr Shinde is “unhappy”, especially after he also met a leader of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, before he headed to his village in Satara. However, Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant insisted that “Eknath Shinde is not upset. He had to go to his village and he will be back tomorrow”. Sources claimed that Mr Shinde is not keen on a Deputy Chief Minister role. According to a leader of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Sanjay Shirsat, “Saheb is unlikely to be a Deputy Chief Minister. It does not befit the stature of a person who has already served as chief minister of Maharashtra.” Mr Samant also insisted that Mr Shinde's Shiv Sena wants him to be a part of the Maharashtra government. "If Eknath Shinde wants someone else to be Deputy Chief Minister, then it is his nobility but we think that he should be a part of the Maharashtra government," he said. NEW DELHI, 29 NOVEMBER The Congress Working Committee (CWC), on Friday, decided to constitute internal committees to look into the matters related to the party’s electoral performance and organisational matters in the block and the districts, in the wake of the party's dismal show in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The party’s highest decision-making body has also decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the presidency of Mahatma Gandhi in 1924, in Belgaum in December. The decision was taken at a meeting of the CWC convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at the party headquarters here in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and The party's highest decision-making body has also decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the presidency of Mahatma Gandhi in 1924, in Belgaum in December. senior party leaders. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, party general secretary KC Venugopal said: “CWC met today and had a detailed discussion on the current political situation in the country including the recent Assembly elections. We analysed the performance of the party in the last Assembly election concluded. The CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into the matters related to electoral performance and organisational matters in the block and the districts.” ‘Opp spreading lies, conspiring against nation after being repeatedly rejected’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 29 NOVEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of spreading lies and conspiring against the nation after being repeatedly rejected by the people. Speaking at a public meeting near the airport upon his arrival for the All-India Conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police scheduled from 30 November to 1 December, the Prime Minister said the recently concluded elections in Maharashtra and Haryana demonstrated the public’s endorsement of the BJP and its governance. “Some people believe being in power is their birthright. They cannot accept the fact that the people have elected someone else, and this makes them angry,” he remarked. He accused the Opposition of having looted the country in the past and being desperate for power to resume their corrupt practices. “They have been out of power for a decade and are now spreading falsehoods to mislead the people,” he added. The Prime Minister urged all citizens who value the nation, the Constitution, and democracy to remain vigilant against the malicious campaigns of the Opposition. Reflecting on the BJP’s electoral successes, he claimed that the victory in 2024 had created a global impact, even more so than the landmark wins of 2014 and 2019. "The world is amazed to see a leader re-elected repeatedly in a vast and diverse country like India," he said. He attributed the success to the love and support of the people, the dedication of party workers, and the government's performance. He emphasised that the central government has always ensured equitable development. “Even when Odisha was not governed by the BJP, central funds and schemes were implemented without discrimination. People in the state recognised this and supported us, even when experts doubted BJP’s prospects here,” he stated. Highlighting Odisha's importance, the Prime Minister noted that it is for the first time in over 150 years that the DGs/IGs Conference is being held in the state. Additionally, the Navy Day celebration on 4 December in Puri and the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January are expected to boost Odisha's tourism and prominence on the national stage. “Since the BJP came to power, Odisha has witnessed rapid progress,” he said, listing the accelerated implementation of central schemes such as the National Education Policy (NEP), PM SHRI schools, pucca houses, and drinking water initiatives. Lauding Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the Prime Minister noted his efforts to connect with villagers and address grassroots issues. This, he hinted, was in stark contrast to the inaccessibility of former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. HM opens police chiefs’ conference STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 29 NOVEMBER Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the All India Conference of Director Generals/ Inspector Generals of Police in the presence of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and MOS Home here on Friday. The conference will be attended by PM Narendra Modi from 30 November to 1 December. The deliberations include critical components of national security, including Counter Terrorism, Left Wing Extremism, Coastal Security, New Criminal Laws, Narcotics among others. The President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service will also be awarded during the conference. Nominal GVA in Q2 of 2024-25 is estimated at Rs 69.54 lakh crore, against Rs 64.35 lakh crore in Q2 of 202324, showing a growth rate of 8.1 per cent. The Union government has taken serious note of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, and shared its concerns with the interim government in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed Parliament on Friday. He added that protecting the life and liberty of citizens, including the minorities is the responsibility of the Bangladesh government. Responding to BJP MP Arun Kumar Sagar's question on violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh, Mr Jaishankar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, said: "Government have seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments and of attacks on temples/ religious places, including in the month of August 2024, across Bangladesh." “Government have taken a serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with the Government of Bangladesh. Reports of attacks on temples and puja mandaps also came to light during the recent Durga Puja festival in Bangladesh,” he added.