THURSDAY 09 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR QUIZZING KTR: T’GANA HC PERMITS LAWYER’S PRESENCE ‘AVOID ANY PHYSICAL CLASH DURING YOON'S ARREST’ P9 SENSEX 78,148.49q50.62 WEATHER Generally clear. Hazy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 24°C and 13°C respectively. SOCIAL POLICY WILL BE TRUDEAU’S LEGACY P4 NIFTY 23,688.95p18.95 ` vs $ 85.87 P7 Bengal varsities top notch: CM Mamata ‘Surge ahead in life defying all odds,’ the CM said to students Max. 79% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 60% Max: 24.5˚C SUN RISES 06:18 hrs MOON RISES 12:47 hrs Miss Banerjee, while addressing a gathering of students, praised the high profile academicians from the state making the state proud in different fields in the foreign countries. KOLKATA, 8 JANUARY Min: 13.7˚C SUN SETS 17:09 hrs MOON SETS 01:31 hrs C Full Moon on 14 January THUMBNAILS President's traditional horse-drawn buggy during rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade 2025, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. n ANI Pritish Nandy passes away: Indian journalist turned director Pritish Nandy passed away due to cardiac arrest on Wednesday at his residence in Mumbai. The news was confirmed by veteran actor Anupam Kher. The actor took to his X, and shared a note in memory of the late director. He shared two monochromatic images of the late director from decades apart. Pritish Nandy, who was born in Bhagalpur in the state of Bihar to a Bengali family, identified as an agnostic. He was a multi-faceted personality as he was also a painter, a poet, and a producer. He also served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, representing Maharashtra. He was elected as part of the then-united Shiv Sena. hief minister Mamata Banerjee today exhorted the students to surge ahead in their academic life, cashing in on the huge opportunities and facilities being provided by the state government. Addressing a gathering of the students of various city schools in the city at Dhana Dhanye stadium at Alipore today to mark the Students’ Week, Miss Banerjee praised the high profile academicians from the state making the state proud in different fields in the foreign countries. She listed a series of flagship schemes of the state government and referred to the students’ smart card worth Rs 10 lakh that her government has been providing, which she said would come handy for the students aiming to go for higher studies. Calling upon the students, the chief minister said, “Surge ahead in life defying all odds and predicaments that may come and the state government will rally behind them solidly by extending all cooperation and services in pursuit of realizing their goals.” Heaping praise on the victorious Bengal team, which won the prestigious Santosh Trophy recently, Miss Banerjee, while felicitating the each member of the victorious Bangla team, handed over the appointment letters of a Job in BPSC exam can be cancelled if probe finds lapses: Bihar minister IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 8 JANUARY As the students movement intensifies, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal on Wednesday assured students that the 70th Combined Competitive Exams (preliminary) conducted by the BPSC on December 13, 2024, can be cancelled if any irregularity is found. Talking to the media here, he said the Bihar government has not said ‘no’ yet. An inquiry is on and if any irregularity is found, the exam can be cancelled. The minister's statement has come at a time when a common perception was gaining ground that the state government and BPSC would not cancel the prelims at any cost. The students’ protest started on a small scale with BPSC aspirants demanding a re-examination for the 70th Combined Competitive Exams (preliminary). The students' protest gained significant attention as it gained support from various opposition parties. Election strategist-turnedpolitician Prashant Kishor is on a hunger strike. Independent MP Pappu Yadav has called for Bihar Bandh on January 12 to put pressure on the state government. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has also targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking proper action in this case. Amid growing political pressure, the minister also appealed to the BPSC aspirants to have confidence in the state government and the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). However, he also criticized opposition leaders for using the students' protest for political mileage. Meanwhile, Patna Police issued a clarification regarding the arrest of the Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. It said Kishor was not taken to Beur jail, instead he was taken to the Beur Police Station as the court premises got overcrowded. Later, he was released upon furnishing a personal bail bond to the tune of Rs 25,000. state police in the rank of ASI (assistant subinspector) to each of the members of the victorious Bengal team. To this, Miss Banerjee said, “This is a proud moment for us as Bengal lifted the prestigious Santosh Trophy much to the delight of our people. Those who are the members of the victorious team, all of them have got jobs with the state police.” The chief minister further said our universities are top class. Refer- Supreme Court to hear petitions challenging law on selection of CEC and ECs PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 8 JANUARY The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, posted for February 4 a batch of petitions challenging validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act 2023, that excludes the Chief Justice of India from a panel for the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners and gives majority to the government in the selection process. A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan said they would hear the challenge to the validity of the law governing the selection of the Chief Election Com- Youth at core of Viksit Bharat Vision: Jaishankar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 8 JANUARY External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasized the pivotal role of the younger generation in shaping the world and India's journey towards a "Viksit Bharat" at the inauguration of the Youth Pravasi Divas here on Wednesday. Highlighting the global impact of youth in fields like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, startups, space technology, and sports, Dr. Jaishankar stated, “The future is being defined by the younger generation. A significant part of our efforts is to inspire and empower them to accelerate development.” He underscored the importance of balancing technology with tradition, quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi: “The way forward is to advance on two legs—technology and tradition.” Dr. Jaishankar also spotlighted India's achievements, such as supplying vaccines and medicines globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, the success of the Chandrayaan mission, the Aditya L1 observatory, and the upcoming Gaganyaan mission. He noted the transformative scale of UPI transactions and India's thriving ecosystem of over 90,000 startups and 100-plus unicorns, calling initiatives like "Drone Didi" and "Atal Tinkering Labs" emblematic of New India's progress. The Minister stressed the need to invest in youth, securing their future and unlocking their full potential. He highlighted the importance of maintaining strong ties with the diaspora, urging them to explore India’s tourism opportunities and cultural heritage. For the first time, a media personality , Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad is the chief guest , he noted while encouraging the media to promote tourism. Dr. Jaishankar praised Odisha’s rich cultural, religious, and archaeological heritage, describing it as a testament to India's identity as a civilizational society. He also lauded the energy and optimism of Odisha’s youth, which reflect the state’s developmental progress. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the critical role of youth in achieving India's vision of a developed nation. He noted that forums like the Youth Pravasi Divas allow the Indian diaspora to ring to the Calcutta University, which she said, “Many are here, who like to attain a degree from a foreign university but here are universities in the state which are also top-class and can compete with international varsities.” We have already set up 30 new universities in the state and 500 ITIs in the state. Our state is also enriched in attaining excellence in technical education. To which, she said about 10 lakh people had been benefitted from the Utkarsha Bangla project. Bengal is also number one in skill development and MSME, said the chief minister. exchange ideas and adopt best practices from around the world. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described the event as a confluence of ideas, cultures, and achievements showcasing the strength of the global Indian identity. He hailed the Indian diaspora as cultural ambassadors, adding, “When you excel abroad, we rejoice here.” Majhi highlighted Odisha’s transformation as a leader in mining and industries like steel and aluminum, while emerging as a hub for sports, IT, and skill development. He emphasized the state’s timeless heritage and natural beauty, inviting the diaspora to explore Odisha and carry a piece of it back to their adopted homelands. Welcoming cultural exchanges, business ventures, educational collaborations, and investments, Majhi concluded, “Together, we can build a Viksit Odisha and a Viksit Bharat.” PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here on Thursday. missioner and the Election Commissioners after advocate Prashant Bhushan in a mentioning, seeking an early hearing, said by excluding the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, the government has acquired control over the selection and appointment of CEC and the ECs, which he said was a threat to the electoral democracy. The bench said it understands the importance of the matter, but important matters also require a good amount of time for hearing. The bench asked the advocates appearing in the matter to remind the court about the case on February 3 to be taken up on the following day. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for one of the petitioners – the Association for Democratic Reforms. Navy sends specialised team for rescue of trapped miners in Assam STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 JANUARY The Indian Navy has dispatched a highly specialized team to aid in the rescue of miners trapped in Umrangso, a remote industrial town in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. The team, consisting of an officer and 11 sailors, includes expert Clearance Divers trained in deep-water recovery operations and is fully equipped for the critical mission. Arriving on-site via a coordinated airlift by the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Navy team has brought with it advanced gear, including deep diving equipment and underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to assist in the search and rescue efforts. The operation is being carried out in close coordination with the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local civil authorities to ensure a swift and effective response. P12 SILVER 1,00,000 GOLD 79,760.00 RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE KONSTAS SHARES DETAILS OF CONFRONTATIONS WITH KOHLI, BUMRAH BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.34p0.29 'Sheeshmahal' row: AAP vs BJP over media tour of Chief Minister home Hitting out at the AAP, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi said with the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the elections in Delhi, the truth of corruption is gradually being uncovered before the public. NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 8 JANUARY Amid ongoing row over 'Sheesh Mahal', the AAP leaders on Wednesday got into a standoff with police outside the Delhi CM's residence with the BJP dubbing it as a "clear display of anarchy". Labelling the CM's bungalow as 'Sheesh Mahal', the BJP had claimed that the Delhi Chief Minister's residence had swimming pools and a golden commode. The saffron party had alleged that the high expenses were undertaken on refurbishing at the Delhi Chief Minister's official residence when Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal was holding the Chief Minister's post. The AAP leaders including Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh marched to the Delhi CM's residence to refute the claims of 'Sheesh Mahal' made by the BJP. Bharadwaj and Singh sat on a 'dharna' outside the CM's residence after being denied entry by the police. They also got into heated arguments with the police personnel deployed outside the bungalow. Bharadwaj accused BJP of "running away" from the claims of extravagant amenities being present at the bungalow, saying that the public should see the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. "We should also search for these things in the Prime Minister's residence. BJP says that the CM's residence was built for Rs 33 Crores. It is also being said that the PM house is being built for Rs 2700 crore. We will see both the CM residence and the PM house. Let the public see both," Bharadwaj told reporters. Hitting out at the AAP, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi said with the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the elections in Delhi, the truth of corruption is gradually being uncovered before the public. At the same time, it is becoming clear how political decorum can be shattered and how political ethics can be compromised to shield one's corruption, the BJP national spokesperson said. "The reality of the monument of corruption is coming before the people.The sequence of events unfolding today and the characteristics being showcased by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, no matter what they do, they will not be able to save Arvind Kejriwal's museum of corruption, the 'Sheesh Mahal'. Whatever they have done today, is a clear display of anarchy," Dr. Trivedi said. The BJP leader further said, "Today, whatever the AAP has done is a glaring example of their irresponsible, insane and anarchic behaviour." Dr. Trivedi while addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters here, said, "The events and the crude display by Aam Aadmi Party leaders, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, today cannot conceal the truth. No matter how much they try, they cannot protect the Sheesh Mahal, which stands as a symbol of Arvind Kejriwal's luxury and a museum of his indulgence." "The undeniable truth is that the people of Delhi were shamelessly looted, and this Sheesh Mahal was transformed into a repository of various luxury items. They cannot escape this reality. What they have done to avoid this is a blatant display of political arrogance, unruliness, and chaos, which is in line with the natural characteristics of the Aam Aadmi Party. Creating chaos is the natural characteristic of the Aam Aadmi Party, and for this reason, the Prime Minister referred to them as a ‘AAP-da'," the BJP national spokesperson said.