SUNDAY www.thestatesman.com 24 JANUARY 2021 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 | `5.00 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘NEW UK-VARIANT MAY BE MORE DEADLY’ THE CHALLENGES THAT HARRIS FACES P7 WEATHER Fog/mist in the morning,later mainly clear sky. Temperature most likely to be in the range of 23-14 degrees Celsius. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 99 % TEMPERATURE ‘HALWA’ CEREMONY KICKSTARTS BUDGET COMPILATION P11 Modi observes Subhash Bose’s birth anniv; says Atmanirbhar Bharat can lead to Sonar Bangla Mamata declines to speak after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans Max: 23.0°C (-3) Min: 14.1°C (N) SUN RISES SUN SETS 06:18 hrs 17:19 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 12:45 hrs 01:24 hrs Full moon on 29 January KOLKATA, 23 JANUARY Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday declined to speak at the event commemorating Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary after‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans were raised by a section of the audience. Miss Banerjee, who shared the dais with PM Modi at the Victoria Memorial event, cancelled her speech in protest against the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans being raised when she was asked to address the gathering. “I think there should be some dignity at a gov- THUMBNAILS A man walks along a snow-covered road in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Many roads cut off after fresh heavy snowfall in the upper reaches in Kashmir.  MD AMIN WAR Broadcasting giant Larry King dies at 87: Larry King, the suspenders-sporting everyman whose broadcast interviews with world leaders, movie stars and ordinary Joes helped define American conversation for a half-century, died on Saturday. He was 87. King died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A, Ora Media, the studio and network he co-founded, tweeted. No cause of death was given, but CNN reported on 2 January that King P10 had been hospitalised with Covid-19. BSF detects second underground tunnel: Days ahead of Republic Day, the Border Security Force achieved a major success when it detected a 150-meter-long underground tunnel constructed by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists for subversive activities, a top official said. This was the second such structure found beneath the International Border in Hiranagar sector in 10 days, fourth in Jammu region withP5 in six months and 10th in the past decade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Netaji Bhavan to mark the commencement of the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Subhas Chandra Bose on Saturday.  SNS ARUNIMA GHOSH KOLKATA, 23 JANUARY rime Minister Narendra Modi today said Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose would have been proud to see the powerful avatar of India that he had once envisioned and the way the country is helping others during the Covid-19 pandemic while stressing that ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ has to lead to ‘Atma Nirbhar Bengal’ and ‘Sonar Bangla’. PM Modi was in the city to commemorate Netaji’s birth anniversary. While addressing the event held at Victoria Memorial, PM Modi said Netaji is the biggest inspiration for ‘Sonar Bangla’ P along with the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat. “The role that Netaji played in the freedom of the country, the same role Bengal has to play in Atmanirbhar Bharat…..Like Netaji, even we have one goal: live for the country and with our strength, make India Aatmanirbhar”, PM said. Emphasising on the progress made by the country in all spheres, PM Modi said that Netaji would have felt proud to witness the changes that have made a ‘powerful avatar of India’. “From LAC to LOC, the world is witnessing the powerful avatar of India that was envisioned by Netaji. India today is giving a befitting reply wherever attempts are made to challenge its sovereignty. Netaji would have been proud had he seen India’s unwavering fight against Covid and seen our efforts in producing vaccines against the virus. Had he seen us helping other nations, he would have felt proud,” he said and added that India currently has a strong army that Netaji envisioned and is developing advanced weapons. “Netaji used to count poverty, illiteracy, disease, among the biggest problems in the country. These problems can be solved if society comes together to address them,” he said, adding that all sectors are working to become self-reliant. He said that every person in India is indebted to Netaji and every drop of Covaxin to be administered in 7 more states from next week NEW DELHI/KOLKATA, 23 JANUARY Seven more states will be administering the indigenously-developed Covaxin from next week, the Health Ministry said on Saturday. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month approved Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani told mediapersons that as on 23 January, a total of 15,37,190 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for Covid-19 in 27,776 P12 ‘Netaji would have been India should have four rotating proud of today’s India’ capitals: Mamata Min. 53 % SNS & PTI P8 WHY SAINI BOWLED WITH INJURY sessions. The inoculation drive was launched on 16 January. In addition to the 12 states currently using Covaxin, seven new states ~ Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal ~ will be administering the vaccine from next week, Agnani said. No case of serious or severe adverse event following immunisation or death attributable to vaccination has been reported till date, the official said, adding that just 11 cases of hospitalisation post vaccination have been reported. “Total six deaths have been reported so far (post-vaccination). In the last 24 hours, a person aged 56 years, a resident of Gurgaon, has died. The postmortem confirms that cardio-pulmonary disease was the reason for her death and it was not related to vaccination. None of these deaths have been linked with Covid vaccination,” he said. Active caseload shrinks further: With 14,256 new coronavirus infections reported in the last 24 hours in India, the overall Covid-19 tally went up to 1,06,39,684 even as the active caseload further shrank to 1.85 lakh, health officials said. With 152 fresh deaths, the overall death toll in India stood at 1,53,184. Bengal logs 410 new cases: Bengal registered 410 fresh Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths linked to the infection. The state’s total Covid-19 case count stands at 5,67,714 with the death toll at 10,107. AAP MLA Somnath Bharti gets 2 years in assault case PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY AAP MLA and former Delhi minister Somnath Bharti was on Saturday sentenced to two years in jail by a court here in a 2016 case of assaulting the security staff at AIIMS and causing damage to hospital property. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi backed its MLA from Malviya Nagar, claiming “injustice” has been meted out to him and expressed hope that he will get justice at the appellate level. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey also imposed a fine of Rs One lakh on the AAP leader. “The court is of the considered view that the prosecution has duly proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt against accused Somnath Bharti,” the magistrate said. The court, however, granted bail to Bharti enable him to file an appeal before the high court against his conviction in the case and jail term. According to the prosecution, on 9 September 2016, Bharti, along with nearly 300 others, brought down the fence of a boundary wall at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here with a JCB operator. The case was lodged on the basis of a complaint from R S Rawat, Chief Security Officer, AIIMS. The court, however, acquitted Bharti’s associates and co-accused~ Jagat Saini, Dileep Jha, Sandeep Sonu and Rakesh Pandey ~ citing a lack of evidence. Bharti had told the court that police officials, witnesses had deposed against him to falsely implicate him. ernment programme. This is not a political party’s programme or a public meeting. I’m thankful to the PM and the Cultural Ministry for organising this event in Kolkata. But to invite someone and then insult the person does not suit you,” she said. Dignity cannot be taught, TMC spokesperson Derek O’Brien said flaying those who raised the slogans. blood flowing in the veins of over 130 crore Indians is indebted to him. If one is truthful to oneself then one cannot do wrong to others, he said, adding that there was nothing impossible for a man with stout intentions like Netaji. “Netaji had pledged to lay the foundation of independent government on the land of India. Netaji fulfilled his promise. He arrived in Andaman with his troops and hoisted the tricolour,” he said. Modi said that in keeping with the desires of the people of the country, the files related to Netaji were made public by the Centre and it participated in the INA Veterans Parade on 26 January. The train plying from Howrah, Howrah-Kalka Mail is being renamed as Netaji Express and every year Netaji’s birth anniversary will be celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’, he said, adding: “Netaji is an inspiration for India’s courage.” INA veterans were felicitated by the Prime Minister on the occasion. The PM released a memorial postal stamp and coin on the occasion and a book on ‘Letters of Netaji’ of 1926-38 was released. Union culture minister and the Governor were also present at the programme. A laser light show was organised at Victoria Memorial portraying Netaji’s life and an exhibition was inaugurated to inspire the youths. Modi also inaugurated a permanent museum dedicated to Netaji. The events of Netaji’s life were projected on the inner walls of Victoria Memorial and his radio addresses were played. A cultural programme was also organised on the occasion. Prior to this, Modi visited the National Library where he paid a floral tribute to Netaji and visited an open art exhibition. The PM began his tour this afternoon with a visit to Netaji Bhawan, Netaji’s ancestral home. He was received at the entrance of the house by Sugato Bose and his brother Sumantro Bose, Netaji’s grand nephews. The visit to Netaji Bhawan was not included in the PM’s itinerary but the Prime Minister’s Office included it last evening. See also Page 3 Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and others during a rally to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Bose.  BISWAJIT GHOSHAL STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 23 JANUARY Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said India should have four capitals on a rotation basis and sessions of Parliament should be held in different locations in the country. Addressing a gathering after leading a massive procession to pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Bose on his 125th birth anniversary, Miss Banerjee asked the Central government to reinstate the country’s federal structure and opposed the Centre’s “one nation, one language and one ruler” theory. During the state government-organised programme, the chief minister along with other ministers, TMC MPs, MLAs, bureaucrats including chief and home secretaries, Commissioner of Police, other officers and thousands of Trinamul party workers, supporters and members of the general public took part in the mega rally starting from Shyambazar seven point crossing. The chief minister walked for nine kilometres from Shyambazar seven point crossing to Netaji’s statue on Red Road. The procession started at 12:15 p.m.with the hooting of sirens and blowing of conch shells. After reaching Red Road, Mamata Banerjee slammed the Centre for celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary as ‘Parakram Diwas’. She said the Centre never consulted the state before deciding on the name. “We are celebrating the day as ‘Deshnayak Diwas’ here because it has a history. Rabindranath Tagore had described Netaji as ‘Deshnayak’. That is why we have today used the name to link the two legends of Bengal,” she said. Miss Banerjee stated, “The British made Kolkata the capital. I urge the Centre to make Kolkata India’s capital as it has a rich history of freedom." “I think we must have four capitals on a rotation basis.Why does the country have only one capital? And the sessions of Parliament should be held in different places in the country,” she said. She lashed out at the PM stating that his government are spending crores of rupees in building a new Central vista and buying aeroplanes for personal use but did not spend a farthing for setting up a Azad Hind monument. "The state government has decided to set up Azad Hind monument. Farmers claim police nod for R-day tractor march PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY 1,06,39,684 1,85,662 14,256 17,130 1,53,184 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2021 Thousands of farmers opposing the Centre's new agri laws will enter the national capital with tractors on Republic Day as the Delhi Police has given its nod to the 'kisan tractor parade', farmer leaders claimed on Saturday. However, Delhi Police Additional Public Relation Officer Anil Mittal said, “We are in the final stages of talks with farmers.” Since November 28 last year, farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting against the laws at several Delhi border points, including Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, and demanding the legislations be repealed. Over two lakh tractors are expected to take part in the parade and there will be around five routes. The tractor parades will be taken out only after 12 pm, after the Republic Day parade on Delhi's Rajpath concludes, according to protesting farmer unions. Delhi Police has given permission to the farmers' tractor parade on January 26, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar claimed after attending a meeting between the unions and senior police officers. The tractor parade will start from the Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri border points of Delhi, but the final details of routes are yet to be finalised, said Kohar, who is a senior member of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of the agitating unions. Haryana Police quizzes alleged conspirator: Haryana police was on Saturday questioning a man after agitating farmer leaders alleged that he was involved in a conspiracy to kill four of them and create disturbance during their proposed tractor parade in Delhi on 26 January. The man was allegedly nabbed at the Singhu border by the protesting farmer leaders who paraded him before reporters on Friday night and later handed him over to the police. His face covered with a scarf, the man claimed that a plan was hatched to shoot four farmer leaders, who are known faces in the media, on the stage on Saturday. “On January 26, there was a plan to create disturbance during the tractor parade by opening fire on Delhi Police personnel, which would prompt them to retaliate against the protesting farmers in a strong manner,” he claimed. Senate to begin Trump impeachment trial on 8 Feb THE INDEPENDENT SAN FRANCISCO, 23 JANUARY The US Senate will begin hearing opening arguments in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the week starting 8 February, after majority leader Chuck Schumer reached an agreement late on Friday with top Republicans. Trump, who is charged with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in helping inspire the 6 January attack on the Capitol ~ which left five dead and scores injured ~ is not only the first President to be impeached twice, but also the first to be subject to an impeachment trial after leaving office. Some Republicans have argued this process is point- less and potentially violates the Constitution. Senator Schumer said on Friday that it will be “a full trial” and “it will be a fair trial.” “We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation’s history behind us,” Schumer said. Under the deal, the House will send its article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, and initial proceedings could begin on Tuesday. The February start date also allows the Senate more time to confirm President Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominations and consider his proposed $1.9 trillion Covid relief package ~ top priorities of the new White House agenda that could become stalled during trial proceedings. President Biden has said ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY  Trump, who is charged with “incitement of insurrection” for his role in helping inspire the 6 January attack on the Capitol ~ which left five dead and scores injured ~ is not only the first President to be impeached twice, but also the first to be subject to an impeachment trial after leaving office  The US House of Representatives will send its article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, and initial proceedings could begin on Tuesday It will be a full trial and it will be a fair trial. We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation's history behind us. CHUCK SCHUMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER his main focus is getting quick coronavirus aid and top cabinet appointments into place, rather than prosecuting the President. “The more time we have to get up and running ... the better,” Biden told reporters on Friday. Lawmakers said that they would rather be focusing on policy at the moment too, but the attack on the Capitol to overturn the election results was too grave to forget, even as the administration begins undeterred. “This was an attack on our Capitol by a violent mob,” California congressman Ted Lieu, one of nine House impeachment managers, said. “It was an attack on our nation instigated by our commander in chief. We have to address that and make sure it never happens again.” Many Republican lawmakers condemned the President for his actions on the day of the riot, but 17 GOP senators would need to join all 50 Democrats to successfully impeach Trump, which appears unlikely. Trump is reportedly seeking out a legal team for the impeachment trial, the first of many legal battles and investigations he will face now that he no longer holds the White House. The impeachment trial is the centrepiece of a broader wave of condemnation against top Republicans for indulging the fantasy that mass election fraud cost the President the election. On Thursday, seven Democratic senators lodged an ethics complaint against their GOP counterparts Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, two early leaders of a group of Senate Republicans who announced their intention to object to the final ceremonial certification of the election results. If Trump is convicted, the Senate could vote to bar him from holding office ever again, potentially upending his chances for a political comeback.