CMYK FRIDAY www.thestatesman.com 20 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 BIDEN HAS EYE ON CHINA AS HE HEADS TO SKOREA, JAPAN CONGRESS IS A CASTEIST PARTY: HARDIK PATEL P4 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky.Rain/thundershower likely to occur in some areas. Temperature likely to be in the range of 33-28 degrees Celsius. RAINFALL: 0.3mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max.85% TEMPERATURE Max: 33.0 °C (-2) SUN RISES 04:55 hrs MOON RISES 21:55 hrs New moon on 30 P9 Asks Varanasi court to desist from hearing after lawyer for Hindu party sought an adjournment Survey report submitted in Varanasi court Min: 29.0 °C (+3) SUN SETS 18:11 hrs MOON SETS 07:40 hrs May INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE VARANASI, 19 MAY THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY he Supreme Court today asked the Varanasi civil court (lower court) to desist from hearing, till tomorrow, the Gyanvapi survey case today, after the lawyer for the Hindu party in the case sought an adjournment in the SC for a day. “We adjourn the Gyanvapi Mosque case to tomorrow,” the threejudge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Dr Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandra- T A Royal Bengal tiger seen inside its enclosure at Alipore Zoological garden, in Kolkata on Thursday.  ANI Partha Chatterjee approaches SC: Former West Bengal Education Minister and Trinamul Congress Secretary General, Partha Chatterjee has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta HC order for a CBI enquiry in all the seven cases pertaining to WBSSC recruitment irregularities.Chatterjee's plea Pg3 might come up from hearing on Friday. K'taka makes uniform mandatory for PUC students: The Karnataka government has made uniform compulsory for Pre-University Course (PUC) students from academic year 2022-23. The directive forms a part of the guidelines issued for the PUC students.According to sources, the ruling BJP took the decision considering the possibility of a hijab crisis, once the PU Pg4 classes restart. PM to attend Quad Summit in Tokyo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 4th Quad Summit in Tokyo on 24 May, it was officially announced on Thursday.The summit will also be attended by US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Australian Prime Minister. We will continue to pursue the matter further with China to find a peaceful resolution through talks ARINDAM BAGCHI MEA SPOKESPERSON STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY India today said it was monitoring the situation in the wake of reports that China is constructing a "larger" second bridge in an area held by it around the strategically key Pangong Tso lake in eastern Ladakh. “We have seen reports on this bridge or a second bridge. We are monitoring the situation. Of course, we always felt it was occupied,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. He said India has been holding regular talks both at the military and diplomatic levels with China on the ongoing military stand-off at eastern Ladakh. The faceoff was also discussed during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India earlier this year. The spokesperson pointed out that external affairs minister S Jaishankar has already told the Chinese side that frictions and tensions arising from the deployments by China could not be reconciled. “We will continue to pursue the matter further with China to find a peaceful resolution through talks,” he added. P10 Gyanvapi survey case: SC to hear challenge today Min. 69% India monitoring reports of China building second bridge in Pangong Tso TURKISH PRESIDENT SAYS ‘NO’ TO SWEDEN & FINLAND’S NATO BID The Gyanvapi mosque survey report, compiled by a court-appointed commission, was on Thursday submitted to Varanasi civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar. The report was submitted by special advocate commissioner Vishal Singh.He said that the report has been submitted in three sealed boxes containing detailed written reports, data cards of photographs and video clips of the survey since May 6 till 17. "The 15-page report lists the survey work carried out on May 14, 15 and 16 on the Gyanvapi mosque premises," said advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, who is representing the Hindu side in the case. Advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was earlier appointed commissioner byVaranasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information, said that several sculptures of Gods and Goddesses along with other structures related to Hindu belief were seen in the Gyanvapi Mosque. The report submit- ted by Mishra stated: "Outside the barricading of the disputed area, the ruins of the old temple were found in which sculptures of Gods and Goddesses and patterns of lotus were seen. In the middle, stone sculptures of Sheshnag and 'Nag phan' like patterns were seen. All the slabs seemed to be part of a big edifice.” The hearing in the Gyanvapi mosque case could not take place in a court in Varanasi on Wednesday as lawyers in the district were on a strike in protest against the remarks of a government official. chud said today. The apex court recorded the submission of the advocate for the Plaintiff (Rakhi Singh and others) in the Varanasi Court that they will not proceed with the suit proceedings till tomorrow. The threejudge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Dr Chandrachud, Govt to review vax programme with States, UTs ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI, 19 MAY With India witnessing a decline in Covid cases and following the administration of 191.79 crore vaccine doses, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan will review the coronavirus vaccination program with all the states and union territories on Friday, informed sources. India's vacci- nation coverage had exceeded 191.79 crores (1,91,79,96,905) till 7 am today, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. Covid vaccination for the age group 12-14 years was started on March 16, 2022. So far, more than 3.22 crore adolescents have received the first dose of the vaccine. The administration of precaution dose for the age group 18-59 years was also started from April 10, 2022, onwards. The country witnessed a slight rise in coronavirus infections with 2,364 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. India's active caseload now stands at 15,419 at present. The daily positivity rate of the country is 0.50 per cent. A total of 2,582 people recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours, added to the Ministry. and also comprising Justices Surya Kant and P S. . Narasimha said that the matter will be listed at 3 p.m. tomorrow for hearing before the same threejudge Bench. The matter was mentioned by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain for the Hindu party. He submitted that his senior, and advocate in the case, Hari Shankar Jain is unwell and will be able to attend the Court tomorrow only and thereby this matter be deferred till tomorrow. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi for the appellant (Muslim Committee) submitted that there is urgency in the matter since similar matters are pending in other parts of the country. He also submitted that the trial court is proceeding with the matter and that an application has been filed for the demolition of certain structure. 'IN A PHASE OF EVOLUTION' P12 SC sentences Navjot Sidhu to one year’s RI in road rage case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The Supreme Court today sentenced former Punjab Congress president and former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu to one year’s rigorous imprisonment (RI) in a 1988 road rage case. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar allowed the review petition by the family of victim Gurnam Singh against the top court's 2018 verdict, which let off Sidhu with a mere Rs 1,000 fine. The top court enhanced the sentence to Sidhu to one year. “We allow the review application on the issue of sentence. In addition to the fine imposed, we impose a sentence of imprisonment of one year to be undergone by respondent 1 (Sidhu),” the two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said in its order today. The case dates back to December 27, 1988, when Sidhu, at that time a cricketer, assaulted 65-year-old Gurnam Singh, in a road-side Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu in Patiala on Thursday. altercation and the latter died after the attack. A Sessions Court Judge of Patiala had on 22 September, 1999, acquitted Sidhu and his associate, Rupinder Singh Sandhu, due to a lack of evidence in the case and giving the benefit of the doubt. Later, Punjab and Haryana High Court had convicted Sidhu under Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC and sentenced him to 3 years in jail, but the Supreme Court in 2018 let him off with a mere fine, after noting that the incident was more than 30 years old, there was no past enmity between accused and victim and no weapon was used by accused. Subsequently, the family of the deceased had moved the Supreme Court seeking a modification of its 2018 judgment. MISERY FACT FILE TOTAL CASES 4,31,29,563 ACTIVE CASES 15,419 NEW CASES 2,364 NEW RECOVERIES 2,582 TOTAL DEATHS 5,24,303 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. THURSDAY 19 MAY 2022 Bengal recorded 36 cases and zero deaths Villagers travel in a boat through a waterlogged village as they move to a safe place due to floods following heavy rainfall, in Nagaon on Thursday. ANI Former Congress leader Sunil Jakhar joins BJP India is new hope for world amidst global turmoil: Modi at Yuva Shivir STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Former president of the Punjab Congress Sunil Jakhar after joining the BJP today hit out at the grand old party saying that he has broken his family’s 50-year-old association with the grand old party over issues of nationalism, unity, and brotherhood in the state. Jakhar further attacked his former party saying that an attempt was being made to suppress his nationalist voice. BJP's national president JP Nadda inducted Sunil Jakhar into the party at the national headquarters in the national capital today. Talking to media persons after joining the BJP Jakhar said: , “It was not easy to break 50 years of relationship with the Congress, from 1972 to 2022, my three generations worked considering the Congress as BJP national president JP Nadda speaks to media as former Congress leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar joins BJP in New Delhi on Thursday.  SUBRATA DUTTA their family," he said. “Today, I have broken the 50-year-old tie with Congress over issues of nationalism, unity, and brotherhood in Punjab," Jakhar added. He elaborated by saying that despite standing with the party in bad times his voice was muzzled. “An attempt was made to suppress my nationalist voice in the Congress. I was given the notice for speaking in the interest of Punjab and the country,” he said. Jakhar said fingers were being pointed at him because he talked about not dividing Punjab through caste and religion. Taking a jibe at the Congress high command, Jakhar said he did not leave the Congress because of any individual or any personal grudge. He said his voice can- not be suppressed or mortgaged. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, Jakhar said although it is not constitutionally possible, he has given special status to Punjab in practical terms. Thanking the BJP high command for the open-hearted welcome, Jakhar said he never used politics for his personal gains. "I have always worked not to break but to unite and even after joining the BJP I will , always work for the betterment and unity of Punjab," he added. Welcoming Jakhar into the BJP Nadda said, "I welcome , Sunil Jakhar to Bharatiya Janata Party. He is an experienced political leader who made a name for himself during his political career. I am confident he will play a big role in strengthening the party in Punjab." (See Page 5) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY India is the new hope of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, narrating how the country from delivering vaccines and medicines to the world during Covid was now playing the role of a capable nation working for peace in the midst of global unrest and conflicts. Addressing via video conferencing the ‘Yuva Shivir’ being organised at Karelibaug, Vadodara today via video conferencing, he urged the people to take a collective resolve and make efforts to build a new India. “A new India, whose identity is new, forward-looking and traditions are ancient. A new India, which moves ahead by taking both new thinking and ageold culture together and should give direction to the entire mankind,” he said. Modi said; “Wherever there are challenges, India is present with hope, wherever there are problems, India comes out with solutions.” Indian scriptures, he said, have taught everyone that the constant character-building in every generation was the basis of every society. He emphasised that 'shivir' like the one that was being conducted today was not only an effort to create good ‘sanskars’ among the youth but also a pious and natural campaign for regeneration of the society, identity, pride and nation. The PM remarked that India was showing the path of Yoga to the entire humanity. It was introducing the world to the power of Ayurveda. Today, the working style of the government and the thinking of society have changed along with increased people's participation. Today India has the third-largest start-up system in the world that was being led by the youth of India. He also mentioned the campaign by a Nagaland girl for cleaning the 'ghats' of Kashi. She started alone but was joined by many people. ‘India retains top spot as fastest-growing major economy’ Terror funding case: J&K SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI/UNITED NATIONS, 19 MAY With economic growth forecast at 6.4 per cent for this fiscal year, India will be the fastest-growing major economy, according to the UN. "We expect Indian recovery to remain strong in the near term in the next year, and two," Hamid Rashid, the chief of the UN's Global Economic Monitoring Branch, said on Wednesday at the release of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) midyear report. India's growth contrasts with the global growth rate that is forecast at 3.1 per cent this year and the next, according to the report. Its gross domestic product (GDP), the overall indicator of China, which ranks as the second-fastest gro wing large economy, is forecast to grow by 4.5 % this year and 5.2% next year. The US is projected to grow by 2.6 % this year and 1.8 % the next the economy, is expected to go down to 6 per cent in the next fiscal year, according to the WESP. Last fiscal year, India's economy grew by 8.8 per cent, slightly less than the January forecast of 9 per cent, the report said. It attributed the lower growth projections for 202223 compared to the previous year to "higher inflationary pressures and uneven recovery of the labour market (that) will curb private consumption and investment". Amid the global turbulence from the Ukraine conflict, the forecast for the current fiscal year has been reduced modestly by 0.3 per cent since January. China, which ranks as the second-fastest growing large economy, is forecast to grow by 4.5 per cent this year and 5.2 per cent next year. The US is projected to grow by 2.6 per cent this year and 1.8 per cent the next. Asked about India's better economic performance and prospects relative to the other major economies, Rashid attributed it to the relatively lower inflation there which does not require monetary tightening to the same degree as many of the other countries. "Almost all the regions in the world record high inflation except for East Asia and South Asia," he said. "So India is in that sense, is in a little better position in that they don't have to aggressively pursue monetary tightening" like some other countries, he said. But Rashid also added a note of caution: "We can't completely discount the downside risk from external channels, so that that risk is still there." For the South Asia region, the WESP projected growth to be 5.5 per cent this year - 0.4 per cent lower than the January forecast. “The outlook in South Asia has deteriorated in recent months, against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, higher commodity prices and potential negative spillover effects from monetary tightening in the CMYK United States," the report said.South Asian countries faced risks from higher prices and shortages of farming inputs including fertilisers, it said. “This will probably result in weaker harvests and exert further upward pressures on food prices in the near term", according to the WESP . It added: "Consumer price inflation in the region is expected to accelerate to 9.5 per cent in 2022, from 8.9 per cent in 2021." The UN's projections for India are lower than those made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) last month before the full impact of the Ukraine war was beginning ot be felt. The IMF had forecast a growth of 8.2 per cent and the WB 8 per cent. separatist Malik convicted INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The NIA court here on Thursday convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case in which he has previously pleaded guilty. Now, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) authorities will have to assess his financial situation and arguments on the quantum of the sentence, which will be heard on May 25.Notably, Yasin had withdrawn his lawyer. As he pleaded guilty earlier, nothing was left to be heard during the course of the hearing. The area was cordoned off by security and the mediapersons were asked to wait outside the court during the hearing. He has been charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country, other unlawful activities, and disturbing peace in Kashmir. He had pleaded guilty in the matter. On the last date of the hearing, he told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including Section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act),18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC. The case is related to the various terrorist outfits LeT, HM, JKLF and JeM perpetrating the terrorist activities to disturb Jammu and Kashmir.