WEDNESDAY www.thestatesman.com 22 JUNE 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 KHATTAR ANNOUNCES GUARANTEED GOVT JOBS FOR ‘AGNIVEERS’ ‘CAN TRUST INDIAN JUDICIARY FOR ITS ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENCE’ FEW 'UNRESOLVED MATTERS' STILL REMAIN WITH TWITTER: MUSK P5 P8 HOCKEY WC: SAVITA TO LEAD 20-MEMBER INDIAN TEAM P4 RAINFALL: 0.7 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY PM leads Int'l Yoga Day celebrations Max: 84% P12 Race for President: It’s Yashwant Sinha versus Draupadi Murmu Several union ministers and other dignitaries led Yoga enthusiasts across the nation WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 36 AND 25 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. Min: 54% TEMPERATURE Max: 34.5°C (-4) SUN RISES 05:25 hrs MOON RISES 01:29 hrs Min: 24.9°C (-3) SUN SETS 19:22 hrs MOON SETS 13:27 hrs THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JUNE Navy personnel perform Yoga onboard INS Satpura, operating near International Date line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, on occasion of International Day Of Yoga. ANI PM to participate in BRICS Summit convened by Chinese President: Amid the ongoing IndiaChina military stand-off at eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, will attend the 14th BRICS Summit in a virtual format on 23-24 June. This includes a high-level Dialogue on global development with guest countries on 24 June, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said today. BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of common concern for all developing countries. The grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS countries have regularly called for reform of the multilateral system in order to make it more SNS representative and inclusive. FACT FILE TOTAL CASES 4,33,19,396 ACTIVE CASES 79,313 NEW CASES 9,923 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JUNE P rime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations as he took part along with thousands of participants in a mass yoga demonstration at the Mysore Palace ground. Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal were among those present on the occasion. Integrating the ''Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'' with IDY celebrations, mass yoga demonstrations were held at 75 iconic locations across the country TOTAL DEATHS 5,24,890 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 10.00 PM TUESDAY 21 JUNE 2022 Delhi logs 1383 cases and 1 death India reports 9,923 Covid cases in last 24 hrs NEW DELHI, 21 JUNE Showing a decline in the number of Covid cases, India reported 9923 fresh infections in the last 24 hours, stated the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday. With this, India’s active caseload now stands at 79,313 with active cases now constituting 0.18% of the country’s total positive cases. As per the data shared by the ministry, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.61% with 7293 patients having recovered in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative tally of recovered patients to 4,27,15,193. While the weekly positivity rate in the country currently stands at 2.67 percent, the daily positivity rate is at 2.55 percent, as per the data. Besides, the health ministry stated that the last 24 hours saw a total of 3,88,641 COVID-19 tests being conducted taking the cumulative tests to over 85.85 crore. Under the National vaccination drive, 196.32 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far. As per the data, COVID-19vaccinationfortheage group12-14yearswasstartedon 16March2022.Sofar,morethan 3.58croreadolescentshavebeen administeredthefirstdoseofthe COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, the COVID-19 precaution dose administration for the age group 18-59 years also started from 10 SNS April 2022 onwards. global cooperation and is providing a belief of a healthy life to mankind,'' he added. He said that today Yoga has come out of the households and has spread all over the world and this was a picture of spiritual realisation, and that of natural and shared human consciousness, especially in the last two years of an unprecedented pandemic. “Yoga has now become a global festival. Yoga is not only for any individual but for the entire humanity. Therefore, this time the theme of the International Day of Yoga is - Yoga for humanity,” he said. He thanked the United Nation and all the countries for taking this theme globally. Quoting Indian sages the PM emphasised; “Yoga brings peace Shinde rebellion pushes MVA govt to edge SNS&AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 21 JUNE NEW RECOVERIES 7,293 under the leadership of 75 Union Ministers, along with the demonstration by the PM at Mysore. The yoga demonstrations were also being held by various educational, social, political, cultural, religious, corporate and other civil society organisations across the country. Indian embassies in different parts of the globe also organised yoga demonstrations. Several foreign missions in India too actively participated in the IYD celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, the PM said the yogic energy, which has been nurtured for centuries by the spiritual centres of India like Mysuru, was giving direction to global health. ''Today yoga is becoming a basis for Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has acted against a senior minister who decamped last night for Surat, along with at least 21 other MLAs - a "G-22". Eknath Shinde is at the centre of the new political crisis. Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde spoke to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for 10 minutes this evening from the phone of one of Sena's emissaries. The deadlock, however, remains with Shinde demanding that the Sena restore its alliance with the BJP and rule the state, sources said. Thackeray has removed Shinde as Chief Whip, an important party post; for his part, Shinde has edited his Twitter bio, removing a reference to his Shiv Sena role. Asasurvivalthreatloomsover BJP is flying all its 106 MLAs to Gujarat, to be housed in a resort near Ahmedabad the Maharashtra government, all eyes are now on NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to intervene in the biggest political crisis the Uddhav Thackeray government has faced so far. As BJP's surgical strike on Shiv Sena rattled the leadership of three parties -- the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena, the Congress rushed its state in charge H.K. Patil and Pawar are also reaching Mumbai to save the government. Sharad Pawar said on Tuesday that it was never conveyed that Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had chief ministerial ambitions, adding that a solution to the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra would be found soon. The BJP is also wary of the poaching of its MLAs. It is flying all its 106 MLAs to Gujarat, to be housed in a resort near Ahmedabad.Sourcessaid,oncethemeeting of Eknath Shinde with senior BJP leaders is over, he will submit his resignation as a ministerintheUddhavThackeraycabinet to the governor. The entire operation started post the MLC elections. In two batches 25 Shiv Sena MLAs reached Surat early Tuesday morning, while a third group reached Surat in a flight on Tuesday evening. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday reached BJP chief J.P. Nadda's residence in the national capital to discuss the developing political situation in Maharashtra. Sources in the BJP said that Nadda and Shah were discussing the changing political situation in Maharashtra and the party's future course of action. for us. The peace from yoga is not merely for individuals. Yoga brings peace to our society. Yoga brings peace to our nations and the world. And, Yoga brings peace to our universe.” He said; “This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us. And, Yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness” The PM remarked that India was celebrating Yoga Day at a time when the country was celebrating its 75th year of independence, the Amrit Mahotsav. This widespread acceptance of Yoga Day, The Prime Minister said, was the acceptance of that Amrit spirit of India which gave energy to India's freedom struggle. Nagaland killings: Army won’t hand over troops for civil trial AGENCIES KOLKATA, 21 JUNE The Army will try the Special Forces (SF) personnel allegedly involved in the killing of 13 villagers in Nagaland's Mon district on December 4, 2021 as per the report of its own Court of Inquiry (CoI), a source revealed. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), set up by the Nagaland government, has already indicted 30 personnel, including an officer, of the 21 Para SF for the encounter that went wrong. Based on the SIT report, chargesheets have already been filed against the paratroopers under Sections 302, 307, 326, 120B and others of the IPC. While Section 302 deals with murder, Section 307 relates to attempt to murder. Section 326 involves 'causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons and means', Section 120B relates to criminal conspiracy. "If one were to go by the SIT's chargesheet, it would seem like a group of renegade soldiers went to the spot with the intention to kill innocent villagers. This is far from the truth. All the accused are highly-trained personnel of the Indian Army who were on a mission to neutralise a group of militants, including some of the top leadership of the NSCN (K-YA). "It is unfortunate that the van carrying residents of Oting arrived at the spot exactly at the time when the militants were about to get there. The militants were close by and got away, thanks to the confusion," a senior officer in the Eastern Command said. According to another officer, the NSCN (K-YA) is a banned outfit that is against the peace process in Nagaland. In fact, this outfit has been active in the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh over the last few months, carrying out abductions and extortions. It will be a contest between former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu of the ruling NDA and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha of the combined Opposition for the post of the President. The BJP- led NDA has announced Draupadi Murmu’s name as Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. Born on June 20, 1958, Murmu served as the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She has held several key positions within the party throughout her political career. Murmu was also a national executive member of the saffron party’s ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015. If elected, the 64-year-old will be the first tribal woman to become the President of India. BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for the presidential nominee, it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and a woman, said BJP Chief JP Nadda. An arts graduate from Rama Devi Women's College Bhubaneswar, she spent almost two decades in politics and social service. Soon after the announcement the PM took to Twitter to say, “Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation,” he said. Earlier today, Yashwant Sinha, who was the Finance and External Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee-led NDA government, was named the Opposition candidate for the 18 July presidential poll. "In the forthcoming Presidential elections, we have decided to elect a common candidate and stop the Modi government from doing further damage. At a meeting held today, we have chosen Yashwant Sinha as a common candidate,'' Congress Communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh said while briefing the media after a meeting of the Opposition parties. ''We appeal to all political No rollback of Agnipath scheme: Ajit Doval STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JUNE The three service chiefs arrived at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on Tuesday evening amid protests over the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces. General Manoj Pande of the Indian Army, Admiral Hari Kumar of the Navy, and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari have over the past week issued statements to allay fears of protesting aspirants. PM Modi, too stopping short of naming the scheme, has said, "Several decisions seem unfair at present. In time, those decisions will help in nation-building." He has also said that it is India's "misfortune" that "many good things brought with good intentions get trapped in political colours". Amidst the backdrop of protests in different parts of the country against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday asserted that "there is no question" of a rollback adding that the regimental system will remain untouched under the scheme. In an interview with a news agency, Doval said several committees over the decades have suggested bringing down the average age of armed forces. The National Security Adviser said the government's move was "not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight" but has been debated and discussed for over decades. "There is no question of any rollback (of the Agnipath scheme). Let me tell you one thing. This is not a knee-jerk reaction that has come overnight. This has been debated and discussed for over decades," Doval said. On Tuesday, the Department of Military Affairs clarified that there is no change in the recruitment process for 'Agniveers' adding that the traditional regimentation system in the military will continue. Addressing the media here, Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs Lt Gen Anil Puri said, "There is no change in the recruitment process.The regimental process will be unchanged. We will take an undertaking and aspirants have to submit a pledge that they were not involved in any arson or vandalism." Regard- ing police verification, he said it has always been a part of the recruitment process. "Agnipath scheme balances three things -- first, youthful profile of the armed forces; second, technical savvy and adaptable people joining the Army; third makes the individual future-ready. We need the best for the country's security", Lt Gen Anil Puri said. Air Marshal SK Jha said, Agniveers are being inducted gradually starting with two per cent in the first year. "The numbers will go nearly 6,000 in the fifth year and will be around 9,000-10,000 in the 10th year... Every enrolment in the Indian Air Force will now take place through 'Agniveer Vayu' only", Jha added. "The combat capabilities and readiness of the Indian Air Force are non-negotiable. The Indian Air Force and the Government of India will do everything that is required to keep us combat-worthy and combat-ready," Air Marshal Jha added. Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said the Indian Navy's recruitment calendar was decided for June 25, but it will start from June 22. Online registration to start from July 1 onwards. "As per DG shipping order for Agniveers, after 4 years of training, they can directly get into Merchant Navy '', Vice Admiral Tripathi said. It was the second media briefing of tri-services since the new recruitment scheme Agnipath sparked widespread protests and agitation in the country. Several opposition parties have slammed the Agnipath scheme and demanded its withdrawal. The "transformative" Agnipath scheme, announced by Union Minister Rajanath Singh on June 14, in the presence of the three service chiefs provides for the recruitment of into the Armed services of youths between the age bracket of 17and-a-half-years to 21 for only four years with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. The Centre later extended the upper age limit to 23 years for recruitment in 2022. The Union Cabinet had also approved the Agnipath scheme on June 14 and the youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveers. parties to vote for Yashwant Sinha," said Ramesh in an announcement that set the stage for a contest between the ruling dispensation and the Opposition for the top post. "We regret the fact that the Modi Government made no serious efforts in this direction. We, therefore, appeal to the BJP and its allies to support the candidature of Sinha so that the nation can have a worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed," a joint statement said The Opposition's statement also appealed to the BJP and its allies to support the candidature of Sinha so that the nation can have a "worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed". The Opposition has also formed a committee for Sinha's poll campaign. The announcement came after NCP chief Sharad Pawar, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, and former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi declined the Opposition leader's request to contest the poll. The Opposition leaders had another meeting today at Pawar’s residence for picking a joint consensus candidate for the presidential poll. That Sinha would be the Opposition's candidate became clear this morning when the former Union minister resigned as Vice-President of the Trinamool Congress. Eighty-fiveyear-old Sinha is a former IAS of the 1960 batch who spent over 24 years holding important posts during his service tenure. He later joined politics and became the Finance Minister in the Chandra Shekhar government (1990–1991) and then again worked as the Finance Minister and the External Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee government. He was a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party before he quit the party on 21 April 2018 because of his differences with the top party leadership. In March 2021, he joined the Trinamool Congress which he has now quit to contest the presidential poll. The election for the office of the President of India is scheduled for 18 July and the counting of votes, if needed, will be done on 21 July. Three CRPF jawans killed, several injured in Maoist attack BHUBANESWAR, 21 JUNE: Three CRPF jawans were killed in an ambush by the Maoists and seriously injured a few others at hilly and forested tracts of Patdhara area in Nuapada district on Tuesday. Those killed in the ambush were identified as Shishupal Singh, Shivlal (both an assistant sub-inspectors), and Dharmendra Kumar Singh, a constable. Details of Maoists’ offensive are yet to be received. According to reports, some of the CRPF personnel in the operation to flush out the Naxals from their hideouts have sustained grievous injury. The spot of the incident is bereft of mobile connecSNS tivity.