SUNDAY www.thestatesman.com 15 MAY 2022 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 | `5.00 |LC* KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR FINLAND IN NATO ‘INDIA COMMITTED TO STRONG CLIMATE ACTION’ P4 RAYUDU’S FLIP-FLOP CHALLENGES BEFORE NEW LANKAN PM P6 P7 P12 Partly cloudy sky. Rain/thundershower likely to occur.Temperature will be in the range of 34-26 degrees Celsius. At least 27 dead, many Tripura CM quits, RS MP Manik Saha to replace him missing in Mundka fire RAINFALL: 012.1 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY CM announces `10 l to the families of the deceased and ` 50k to the injured WEATHER Max.93% TEMPERATURE Min. 65% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Max: 33.8 °C (-1) Min: 23.2 °C (-3) SUN RISES SUN SETS 04:57 hrs 18:09 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 16:20 hrs 03:27 hrs Full moon on 16 May THUMBNAILS Passing out Parade ceremony of 194th Recruit Training Batch of 58 Gorkha Training Centre in Shillong on Saturday.  ANI Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan becomes UAE's President: Rulers in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday unanimously appointed Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the autocratic nation’s president, signaling both unity and stability in this key energy-rich country that hosts Western militaries.The transition of power marks only the third time this U.S.-allied nation of seven sheikhdoms has selected a president since becoming an independent nation in 1971. Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over NW India, Indo-Gangetic plains: Massive heat G wave and severe heat wave conditions prevailed over the Indo-Gangetic plains and northwest Indian plains with Uttar Pradesh's Banda recording the highest maximum temp- erature of 48.80 C.Isolated light rainfall with th understorm is very likely over north Punjab on 16 and 17 May and also over UP on the same days. NEW DELHI, 14 MAY elhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday visited the site of a massive inferno in Mundka that claimed the lives of at least 27 people, and said the city government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Fire officials said the toll could rise to 30, based on the recovery of some more remains this morning, while over two dozen people who were supposed to be in the ill-fated building at the time are said to be still missing. Kejriwal met with families of the deceased as well as the injured victims. He assured full support to everyone affected during the visit and said no culprit will be spared. Kejriwal announced that the Delhi government will provide Rs 10 lakh to the families of all the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured as ex-gratia. The Delhi government has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the matter and will ensure the strictest possible punishment for D culprits, the chief minister said. Expressing his grief at the incident, Kejriwal said he is deeply pained and anguished to see the quantum of the tragedy and the Delhi government will do whatever it can to support the victims. Kejriwal said, “I am deeply pained and anguished to see the tragedy that has transpired at this complex in Mundka. We are all trying to rescue as many lives as possible. The fire was so devastating that it has become difficult to identify some bodies. We have set up a DM Helpdesk at the site to aid those filing missing NEW DELHI, 14 MAY The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting search operations in four cities in connection with an IPL betting racket involving a Pakistani national. The searches are going on in Delhi, Jaipur, Hyederabad and another city. The agency has recovered a few incriminating documents during the raids so far. The CBI has lodged an FIR against three persons who have been identified as Dileep Kumar, a resident of Delhi's Rohini area, and Gurram Satish and Gur- Wheat export banned amidst less production, int’l price hikes INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 MAY The Central government has placed a ban on wheat export with immediate effect in the wake of the grave situation of less than estimated domestic wheat production and an excessive global price hike after a spike in demand following the Russia-Ukraine war. There is just one exception mentioned in the notification that was issued late on Friday. Earlier, the Centre had said it was happy that the farmers were getting good returns for their produce as India had exported almost 11 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat till April. The government also claimed that it was committed to provide food security to its own population, its Russian forces pulling back from Kharkiv reports.We will identify the bodies through FSL DNA testing as well,” he said. “We have ordered a Magisterial Enquiry into the matter and will pursue the strictest possible punishment for the culprits. The two main involved have so far been arrested. This is a horrific incident and the Delhi government will ensure that the culprits are brought to justice. Once the enquiry report comes, be it an individual, officer or agency, no culprit will be spared," Kejriwal said.Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sameer Sharma said that an FIR has been registered under Sec- CBI conducts raids in 4 cities,traces Pak link in 2019 IPL betting racket INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Marathi actress held for vitriolic post on Pawar: The Navi Mumbai Police on Saturday arrested a Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale who shared an objectionable post targeting NCP president Sharad Pawar, as all political parties unitedly slammed her.The development followed a complaint registered with Kalwa Police by NCP leader Swapnil Netke against Chitale, who shar ed a Marathi verse denigrating Pawar and resulting in a political furore. (L) Family members of the missing people outside Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, in the Capital on Saturday. (R) Security personnel at the site, as NDRF personnel carry out rescue and relief work.  SNS The govt also claimed that it was committed to provide food security to its own population, its neighbours & also some vulnerable countries neighbours and also some vulnerable countries and hence brought in the amendment in relevant sections of the Export Policy. Exports would be allowed only in case of shipments where irrevocable Letter of Credit (LoC) has been issued on or before May 13. Since the new wheat came in the market, a large number of farmers had been selling their produce to private traders who in turn were sending it to exporters in the face of the huge demand. Both Russia and Ukraine have been the largest exporters of wheat in the international markets. Ever since the war broke out on February 24, the supply has been disrupted with an increase in demand. Due to massive heat waves in March and April, the estimated food grain production had revised to 1,050 LMT against the earlier estimate of 1,113 LMT. Indian traders had been buying wheat directly from the farmers at increased prices leading to a shortfall in government procurement too. However, Secretary Food, Sudhanshu Pandey had told media persons just 10 days ago that India had enough stocks to cater to its domestic requirement to ensure food security. (See Pg8) ram Vasu, both residents of Hyderabad. The trio allegedly influenced IPL matches in 2019 on the instruction of a Pakistani handler.They were in touch with a Pakistani national named Waqas Malik, who used to call them frequently from across the border. Dr Manik Saha, a Rajya Sabha MP will be the next chief min, ister of Tripura in place of Biplab Kumar Deb who resigned from the post during the day. Saha, who is also chief of the BJP in Tripura, was elected leader of the BJP legislature party on Saturday.Deb resigned from his post in fast-paced political developments in the state that will face polls early next year. Sources said that the BJP wanted to go with a fresh face in the assembly polls. Deb said after submitting his resignation to state Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya that he had wholeheartedly served the people of the state. “I thank Central leadership and people of Tripura for giving me the responsibility to serve Tripura as a Chief Minister. I have wholeheartedly served my State and will always work for the betterment of my State. Tripura shall definitely march ahead in the path of development. Jai Hind," Deb said in a tweet. Tripura party president Dr Manik Saha (L) elected as the BJP Legislature Party leader, in Agartala on Saturday. ANI  Dr Saha, a Professor of Dental Surgery, joined the BJP in 2016 from the Cong He was appointed state  BJP president in 2018. Dr Saha had been elected to the RS in the biennial elections held earlier this year  Deb resigned from his post in fast-paced political developments in the state that will face polls early next year Sources in the BJP said  outgoing CM is likely to be brought to the Rajya Sabha Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and party general secretary Vinod Tawde were in Agartala as central observers. “Many congratulations to Dr Manik Saha ji for being elected the leader of Tripura BJP Legislature Party. I am sure that Tripura will reach new heights of development under the guidance and leadership of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji," Bhupender Yadav said in a tweet. Deb also extended his best wishes to Saha on his new role. Dr Saha, a Profes- sor of Dental Surgery, joined the BJP in 2016 from the Congress. He was appointed state BJP president in 2018. Dr Saha had been elected to the upper house in the biennial elections held earlier this year. Sources in the BJP said outgoing chief minister Biplab Deb is likely to be brought to the Rajya Sabha. It is also being said that Biplab will be asked to take up the post of the party president of Tripura. Deb had taken oath as the first chief minister of the BJP in Tripura in 2018. CLIMATE WOES FACT FILE TOTAL CASES 4,31,19,112 ACTIVE CASES 18,096 NEW CASES 2,858 3,355 NEW RECOVERIES TOTAL DEATHS 5,24,201 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. SATURDAY 14 MAY 2022 Bengal recorded 57 cases and zero deaths A man taking a nap on the Yamuna river bed under a flyover as the city is experiencing high temperatures, in Delhi on Saturday.  ANI Indian economy cause of extreme concern: Cong INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE UDAIPUR, 14 MAY The Congress on Saturday said that state of the Indian economy is a cause of extreme concern as the foreign exchange has depleted by $36 billion, calling for a re-set of the economic policies. Stating that in the ongoing 'Chintan Shivir' the state of the economy featured prominently in the deliberations, the convenor of the committee on economy P. Chidbambaram told a press conference: "There are 60 members in our group. Yesterday, 37 members expressed their views over four hours. The discussions will continue today and tomorrow." The party has concluded that the state of the Indian economy is a cause of extreme concern. A slower rate of Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi with party leaders Rahul Gandhi on the second day of the party's Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir, in Udaipur on Saturday. ANI growth has been the hallmark of the present government in the last eight years. The post-pandemic recovery has been indifferent and halting. The growth estimates of 2022-23 have been lowered from time to time in the last five months." It said that the inflation has risen to unacceptable levels, and threatens to rise further. WPI inflation is at 14.55 per cent and CPI inflation is at 7.79 per cent. “The government is actually fueling the rise of infla- tion by its wrong policies, especially through high taxes on petrol and diesel, high administered prices and high GST tax rates,” he said.The party, in its deliberations, said that the job situation has never worse. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) is at a historic low of 40.38 per cent and the unemployment rate stands at 7.83 per cent. Chidambaram asserted that the external situation has added to the pressures on the economy and the gov- ernment appears clueless on the ways to deal with these development as: "$22 billion has flowed out of the country in the last seven months. The foreign exchange reserves have depleted by $36 billion. The exchange rate stands at Rs 77.48 to a dollar, the highest ever." He said that the Congressled government ushered in a new era of liberalisation in 1991. The country has reaped enormous benefits in terms of wealth creation, new businesses and new entrepreneurs, a huge middle class, millions of jobs, exports and lifting 27 crore people out of poverty during a 10-year period. After 30 years, it is felt that taking into account global and domestic developments, it may be necessary to contemplate a re-set of the economic policies. Peace shall prevail only when dignity, rights of people are protected: CJI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 14 MAY KYIV, 14 MAY Russian troops are withdrawing from around Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, the Ukrainian military said,as Kyiv and Moscow’s forces engaged in a grinding battle for the country’s eastern industrial heartland. Ukraine’s general staff said the Russians were pulling back from the northeastern city of Kharkiv and focusing on guarding supply routes, while launching airstrikes in the Donetsk province in order to “deplete Ukrainian forces and destroy fortifications.”SEE PG10 tions 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 120 (Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. Most of the victims were present on the second floor of the four-storey building at the time of the incident on Friday evening. The fire first broke out on the first floor which housed a CCTV and router manufacturing company. The police have arrested the owners of that company, identified as Harish Goel and Varun Goel and their antecedents are being examined, the senior police official said.The building's owner, Manish Lakra, who used to reside on the top floor, has gone absconding. “His whereabouts are still unknown,” the official said, adding searches are on to nab him.Most of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition making it difficult to even identify the gender. POWER CHANGE ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL AGARTALA, 14 MAY Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday stressed peace shall only prevail when people’s dignity and rights are recognised and protected.The CJI made these remarks after laying the foundation stone of the new high court building complex in Srinagar that will be built at a cost of Rs 310-crore with the premises spread across 1.7 lakh sqm and will have all modern facilities and amenities. Lieutenant Governors of J&K and Ladakh UTs, Manoj Sinha and RK Mathur and Union law minister Kiran Riji- CJI Justice N.V. Ramana and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new High Court Complex, at Bemina, in Srinagar on Saturday.  SNS ju along with Supreme Court Judges UU lalit and Sanjay Kishan Kaul were among those present at the event.The CJI emphasized that mere laws were not enough to build tra- dition, it requires men of high ideals to infuse life in the skeleton of law. “Denial of justice would ultimately lead to anarchy. Soon the institution of judiciary would be destabilized as people will look for extrajudicial mechanisms. Peace shall only prevail, when people’s dignity and rights are recognised and protected.” He emphasized that for the functioning of a healthy democracy, it is imperative that the people feel that their rights and dignity are protected and recognised, and expeditious adjudication of disputes is the hallmark of a healthy democracy.The common man always considered the judiciary as the ultimate guardian of rights and liberties. He said often, litigants are under a lot of psychological stress and they may be illiterate, unaware of law and have various financial issues and the judges should try to make them feel at ease.Justice Ramana said sadly, post-independence, judicial infrastructure has not been overhauled to meet the demands of growing needs of modern India.“We are far behind in making our courts inclusive and accessible. If we don’t attend to this urgently, the constitutional ideal of access to justice would stand defeated. The condition of judicial infrastructure across the country is far from satisfactory. Courts are operating from rented accommodations and under deplorable conditions.” The CJI added that one of the major challenges to the protection of rule of law and human rights is the inability of the formal justice system to deliver speedy and affordable justice to all. Union law and justice minister Kiran Rijiju said a pact will soon be signed between the National Legal Services Authority and the department of justice to develop a framework of pro-bono lawyers for the people living in far-flung areas. Poachers in MP kills 3 police men, 1 injured STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHOPAL, 14 MAY Poachers gunned down three policemen and seriously injured another when a police party tried to nab around seven poachers involved in illegally hunting black bucks and peacocks in the jungles near a village in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh early today morning. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore each and a government job to the kin of the family of three police personnel. Taking an immediate action on the incident, the MP government has also decided to remove the InspectorGeneral of Gwalior for reaching late at the spot, CM said. Superintendent of Police, Guna, Rajeev Mishra said that the police had surrounded the criminals based on a tipoff received, following which there was a gunfight. The police team had got a tip-off that about seven poachers were fleeing after hunting black bucks and peacocks. The incident occurred at Shahrok Road under the jurisdiction of Aaron police station,around 3.30 AM. Meanwhile, the miscreants fled the spot leaving behind the skulls of four black bucks, the body of a peacock and some other body parts of animals, which they had hunted. Police confiscated all the body parts of the poached animals. State home minister Narottam Mishra said that the miscreants had been identified and police teams had been spread out to nab them.