tirupati l wednesday l september 18, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION Modi to address the summit of the future at U.N. general assembly PM To take part in annual quad summit The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow’. On its sidelines, Modi would also be holding bilateral meetings with several world leaders, the Ministry of External Affairs said. He will also take part in the Quad annual meeting along with leaders of the US, Australia and Japan to review the progress achieved by the grouping Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the UN summit on tackling key international issues during his three-day visit to the US from Sept 21 to address Indian diaspora on Sunday ■ ■ As per the itinerary, Modi will address the Indian community in New York on September 22. He would also meet CEOs of leading US-based companies to discuss possible collaborations with Indian firms His interactions with business leaders will focus on areas like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and semiconductors, the MEA said 2025 When India will host the summit of the four-member quad grouping CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI CM-elect meets L-G Saxena, stakes claim to form next Delhi govt Kejriwal hands baton to Atishi A n u p Ve r m a @ New Delhi Atishi meets Lt Governor V K Saxena at Raj Bhavan in Delhi on Tuesday | PTI Kejriwal to focus on galvanising party Arvind Kerjiwal, who resigned as Delhi CM on Tuesday, is likely to focus on galvanising the AAP cadre and rebuilding trust among the people before the assembly polls, a senior AAP functionary said ‘Changing CM won’t change AAP’s image’ The BJP on Tuesday said changing the face of the chief minister will not change the character of the AAP. “They have indulged in corruption and the people will give them an answer,” Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said report ready Cabinet meet to finalise liquor policy today E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada As the State government is all set to implement the new liquor policy from October 1, the Group of Ministers (GoM) -constituted to study and formulate the liquor policy -- will table its proposals before the Cabinet on Wednesday to take a final decision. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the State government has decided to allot 10% of the liquor outlets to toddy tappers. Speaking to mediapersons after a review meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the Secretariat on Tuesday, members of the GoM, including Ministers Kollu Ravindra (Excise), Nadendla Manohar (Civil Supplies), Satya Kumar Yadav (Medical and Health) a nd Kond ap alli Srinivas (MSME, SERP), said liquor policies in six States were studied before preparing the report in a manner that the new policy ensures the availability of quality liquor at affordable prices. “Unlike the previous YSRC government, which played havoc with the health of liquor consumers, and forced them to consume ‘J’ brands, we will ensure quality liquor is available as per the new policy the Min,” P4 isters asserted. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Tuesday met Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena and staked her claim to form the next government after Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi’s chief minister. During a meeting of the AAP legislative party earlier in the day Kejriwal proposed Atishi’s , name as his successor and got unanimous backing. Later, Kejriwal met Saxena and tendered his resignation. A couple of days after being granted bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy scam, Kejriwal made a surprise announcement on Sunday that he will demit office within a f ew d ay s a n d n a m e h i s successor. After Kejriwal’s resignation is accepted by President Droupadi Murmu, the L-G will invite Atishi to form the new government and suggest a date for the oath-taking ceremony, an official said. Along with Atishi, six other ministers are expected to be sworn in. She will then prove her majority in a special Assembly session. Atishi’s elevation is expected to help the AAP counter the claims that the party is antiwomen, especially after the alleged assault on its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the CM’s residence. She has also been rewarded for her loyalty . “I come from an ordinary family Had I been in any other . party I would not have even got , an election ticket, but Kejriwal trusted me, made me an MLA, made me a minister and now has given me the responsibility of becoming the CM,” Atishi said. She condemned the BJP’s alleged conspiracy against Kejriwal. “It’s very sad moment that Delhi’s beloved leader resigned due to BJP’s conspiracy . By making false allegations of corruption, BJP filed a case against such an honest man and kept him in jail for 6 months,” she said. Atishi will be Delhi’s third woman chief minister after Congress’ Sheila Dikshit and BJP’s Sushma Swaraj. She will be the youngest Delhi CM. 2.27L families affected Naidu announces compensation for flood victims E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday announced a compensation package for flood victims in Vijayawada and for farmers who suffered losses due to the heavy rains in the State. Naidu told mediapersons that a total of 2,72,727 families were affected directly or indirectly due to the floods in Vijayawada. He said every submerged house on the ground floor, under the purview of 179 Sachiva`25,000 will be layams, will be given aid of `25,000, while paid for a `10,000 will be extended for houses on the hectare of first floor and above. Submerged houses on groundnut, the ground floor in other parts of the State sugarcane, cotton & paddy, will be paid `10,000 each. Stating that this is the first time such a & `15,000/ha will be given for package has been announced, he noted that other crops earlier aid for such calamities was just `4,000 per house. For smaller establishments (KiraChief Minister na shops and hotels), Naidu said `25,000 each will be extended, whereas for registered establishments and MSMEs with turnover of less than `40 lakh per annum will be paid `50,000 each. Establishments with turnover between `40 lakh and `1.5 crore will be paid `1 lakh each and those with turnover above `1.5 P4 crore will be paid `1.5 lakh each. Category-wise financial assistance Submerged houses Amount/house On the ground floor L25,000 First floor & above L10,000 Commercial property Amount/establishment Kirana shops, hotels L25,000 MSMEs with turnover < 40 lakh L50,000 MSMEs with turnover of 40 lakh to 1.5 cr L1,00,000 CBI status report on RG Kar disturbing: SC S u c h i t r a K a lyan M o h ant y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it was disturbed by the findings recorded by the CBI in its status report in the rapemurder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, but refused to divulge its content. “What you are flagging is of utmost concer n. CBI has flagged it for us. We are ourselves disturbed by what we have read,” the court told a lawyer who claimed discrepancies in the seizure list and sketch of the crime scene. A letter was addressed by the father of the deceased was also shared. It expressed the genuine concerns of the parents, 9,088 2,345 Total claims logged for `71.54 cr 6,748 Claims settled for `6.1 cr Outstanding claims for `65.29 cr The West Bengal government on Tuesday appointed Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Kolkata Police commissioner, replacing Vineet Goyal, fulfilling one of the key demands of the protesters, who are yet to decide on rejoining work | P8 the bench was told. “Bearing in mind the genuine concerns, we are of the opinion that the inputs be duly taken by the investigating officer,” it said. For its part, the West Bengal government reiterated that no punitive action will be taken against the junior doctors who report for work. The agitating junior doctors, too, said they would not have any difficulty in resuming work if the confi- dence building measures agreed upon between them and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during their meeting on Monday are put in place. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud rejected senior advocate Kapil Sibal’s request to stop live streaming of the court’s proceedings, complaining that reputations of lawyers are being tarnished and they are being threatened. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta flagged Wikipedia’s refusal to remoe the victim’s name and picture. The bench then ordered the social media platform to immediately take it down. The court purused an affidavit filed by the West Bengal health secretary explaining the steps taken to upgrade the duty rooms, toilet facilities, and CCTV cameras in the government medical colleges and hospitals across the state. “In areas where women rest at night in RG Kar, why cannot they have biometric access? The women who go to the seminar hall to rest can have biometric access,” it said. no demolition SC red light on bulldozer justice till Oct 1 s u c h i t r a m o h ant y @ New Delhi Polling officials leave for their respective polling stations in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday | PTI Phase I polls today with J&K in grip of rare election fever Faya z Wan i @ Srinagar With J&K all set for voting for the first of the three-phase assembly elections on Wednesday the Union Territory in the , grip of a poll fever that is a novelty for entire generations. “This poll fever was never seen before in J&K, certainly not in the last 35 years. I am seeing it for the first time. Everybody is talking about the elections and every candidate is being scrutinised by the voters,” said 45-year-old Javed Ahmed, a resident of Pampore in south Kashmir, who would be casting his vote for the first time on Wednesday . The first Assembly polls in J&K after the reading down of Article 370 is completely different from those during the militancy era. Poll-time hustle and bustle was conspicuous by its Figures that matter 24 assembly seats to go to polls, eight in three districts of the Jammu region and 16 in four districts of the Kashmir Valley 23.27 lakh voters to exercise franchise in fray, 219 candidatesindependents including 90 absence in those lost decades. Unlike in the past, when militants and separatist groups would issue calls for poll boycott and shutdown, a few members of the banned Jamaat-eIslami and former separatist leaders have entered the fray . Every town and village in J&K at present is a beehive of political activity There is a fes. tive-like atmosphere in the city centre and elsewhere. The of- fices of political parties are decorated with buntings and banners and party flags. Vehicles fitted with public address systems blaring political messages and songs added to the general cacophony . Another first was of leaders and candidates accompanied by a large number of supporters in cavalcades going to file their nomination papers. “There is greater enthusiasm because people know this is a very important poll, as it will decide the future of J&K,” said former National Conference MP and candidate from the Pampore seat, Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi. Since it is the first assembly polls in after Article 370’s abrogation, some even liken it to a referendum. J&K recorded 58% turnout in the general elections — highest in 35 years. express read Insurance report New Kolkata police commissioner Girls forced to do 200 squats, hospitalised Another boat removed from Barrage gate Gender parity in ICC prize money for WCs Visakhapatnam: About 70 girls studying in Tribal Welfare Gurukul College, Rampachodavaram were hospitalized after the college principal allegedly punished 100 girls to do 200 squats. At least 70 girls were hospitalized due to severe anaemia | P4 Vijayawada: One of the two remaining boats, stuck at Gate 69 of Prakasam Barrage on the River Krishna for the last two weeks, was removed by Mumbai-based Bekem Infra. Earlier this week, one boat was removed. The third boat will be removed on Wednesday DUBAI: The ICC on Tuesday announced equal prize money for men and women in Cricket World Cups with the purse for the upcoming women’s T20 event being hiked by 225 per cent to $7.95 million. The winners of the 2024 T20 WC will walk away with $2.34 million | P11 The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed authorities across the country not to demolish properties, including those accused of crime till October 1, without seeking its prior permission. “Till next date, there shall be no demolitions without seeking leave of this court. However, such an order would not be applicable for unauthorised constructions on public streets, footpaths, abutting railway lines, water bodies, or public spaces,” the court ordered. A bench of justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan said that even if there is one instance of illegal demolition, “it is against the ethos of our Constitution”. It was hearing a petition by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and others seeking directions to various states to ensure no further demolition of properties of those accused in cases of rioting and violence takes place. During the hearing, the bench expressed displeasure over statements made by certain sections of the society after the September 2 hearing during which it questioned the bulldozer justice and said it would formulate guidelines. “After that order, there have been statements that the bulldozer will continue and it all depends on whose hands the steering is,” the bench said. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said law has been complied with in all the demolitions. He said there was a petition before the court which alleged that because the person belonged to a particular religion, his property was demolished. He said a narrative was being built saying the government was targeting a particular community . To this, the bench replied, “Rest assured that outside noise is not influencing us.” General disdain Days before Lankan presidential polls, Tamils in North couldn’t care less Dilrukshi Handunnetti Award-winning journalist and lawyer, founder and director of the Colombobased Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) JAFFNA: With a crucial presidential election just days away , Jaffna, Sri Lanka’s northern capital does not reflect South’s political frenzy. A record number of candidates have joined the fray 39 in all, includ, ing a common candidate from the North, Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanethiran, representing Sri Lanka’s largest Tamil political entity, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK). The euphoric campaigning in the South is conspicuous by its absence in the North as people go about, doing their daily job while campaigning continues with less fanfare. Fifteen years after the protracted war ended in May 2009, the North of Sri Lanka contin- ues to reel under its multiple impacts, with normalcy, as known in the rest of the country still an illusion. The North , has long-unresolved issues, ranging from wartime disappearances, homes under military occupation, livelihoods, unemployment, infrastructure development and safety . At the tail end of the presidential campaign, frontrunners like incumbent and common candidate president Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake of the Marxist National Peoples’ Power (NPP) continuing to woo the Tamil votes. But for the people of Jaffna, there are other issues to grapple with. Chadrasekaran Haran (51) sells vegetables for a living. He treats the September 21 presidential race with both disinterest and disdain. “The result will matter to us only if the next president can consider the economic problems faced by the people. After the economic collapse in 2022, we fell from the frying pan to the fire,” he says. Transport costs have doubled in the past two years with fuel costs becoming unbearable for the average citizen. The sales have dropped due to price increases in vegetables, making people like Haran find it difficult to make ends meet. “We are barely surviving,” he says. The end of the war offered a window of opportunity to develop the tourism sector, particularly with curious local travellers looking for a glimpse of the former conflict zone as well as cultural tourists. “The economic meltdown brought an effective end. The fuel costs became unbearable, and people stopped visiting,” says Kamalmalai Thomas, 49. The immediate issues are clearly economic. Continued on: P7 lebanon rocked by exploding pagers Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and injuring 2,700. Lebanese officials blamed Israel | P9
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