SUNDAY www.thestatesman.com 26 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 MUFTI BLAMES BJP FOR MAHARASHTRA CRISIS BANGLADESH MARKS OPENING OF COUNTRY’S LONGEST BRIDGE BIDEN VOWS ABORTION FIGHT P5 P10 P11 PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 40 AND 26 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SNS & AGENCIES MUMBAI, 25 JUNE HM says truth is ‘shining like gold’, takes jibe at Cong’s Satyagraha protest Max: 73% Min: 33% TEMPERATURE Max: 40.5°C (+3) SUN RISES 05:26 hrs MOON RISES 03:45 hrs NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Min: 24.3°C (-4) SUN SETS 19:23 hrs MOON SETS 17:11 hrs H THUMBNAILS Specially-abled children enjoy rides on swings after the inauguration of Karnataka's Exclusive Park for disabled children by State Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Cubbon Park, in Bengaluru on Saturday.  ANI Gunman kills 2 during Oslo Pride festival:A gunman opened fire in Oslo’s night-life district on Saturday, killing two people and leaving more than 20 wounded in what Norwegian security service called an “Islamist terror act” during the capital’s annual Pride festival.Investigators said the suspect, identified as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested after Pg10 opening fire at three locations in Oslo. Biden signs first gun reforms law in decades: US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a legislation that makes modest changes in the gun laws of the country but marks a significant step on reforms in decades."Nothing is going to fill that void in their hearts," Biden said of survivors and relatives of gun violence victims. The bill, called "The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act", follows national outrage and frustration felt after killings of 10 African Americans in New York and 19 children in Uvalde just 10 days apart in recent weeks. Pg10 Enhanced rainfall likely over NW & Central India from Monday NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE The Northwest India, which is again reeling under hot conditions after a brief spell of pre-monsoon showers, is likely to experience an enhanced rainfall from Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. Similar enhanced rainfall activity is on the cards for Central India as well, it added. Under the influence of lower level easterlies, scattered to fairly widespread light/moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorm & lightning are on the cards over Uttarakhand & East Uttar Pradesh from Sunday till June 29; over Himachal Pradesh & West Uttar Pradesh on June 28 & 29. Also, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Uttarakhand during June 27-29; over East Uttar Pradesh on June 28 & 29 and over Himachal Pradesh on the 29th. Under the influence of a trough from west Rajasthan & neighbourhood to Gangetic West Bengal in lower levels, fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning is expected over Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha; isolated to scattered rainfall is likely over Madhya Pradesh during next five days, and isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Chhattisgarh till June 29; Vidarbha during June 26-29 and over East Madhya Pradesh during June 27-29. Meanwhile, in continuation of the already heavy rainfall the region is receiving, an intense spell of rainfall is very likely to continue along the west coast during SNS the next five days. ailing the Supreme Court verdict dismissing the plea challenging the clean chit given by Special Investigation Team (SIT) to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and several others in 2002 riots that took place in the state, Union home minister Amit Shah has said the truth had come out, “shining like gold.” He also took a jibe at Congress' ‘satyagraha’ over the Enforcement Directorate questioning Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, saying that Narendra Modi as Gujarat CM appeared before the SIT set up over the post-Godhra violence but the BJP did not resort to “drama or dharna” during the questioning. Shah made the remarks in an interview with a news agency after the Supreme Court dismissed the plea challenging the clean chit given by SIT to then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and several others in 2002 riots. The plea had been filed by Zakia Jafri. Shah also referred to his facing arrest in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which he was subsequently acquitted, and said no "dharna" was carried out. “In a democracy, PM Modi presented an ideal example of how the Constitution should be respected by all political persons. Modiji was also questioned, but nobody protested, and (BJP) workers from across the country did not gather in solidarity with Modiji. We cooperated with the law. I was also arrested. There was no protest or demonstration," he said. “This is not the first clean chit to PM Modi. Nanavati Commission has also given a clean chit. Still the SIT was formed. And Modiji did not appear before the SIT doing drama... come in support from every village if not then call MLAs, MPs and ex-MPs, hold dharna,” Shah added in a jibe towards the Congress party's decision to hold demonstrations in the national capital during Rahul's questioning by the ED. “We believe that we should cooperate in the judicial process. There was a SC order, and an SIT was there. If the SIT wants to ask questions from the Chief Minister, he himself said that he is ready to cooperate. Why stage a protest? No person is beyond the law," he said. Shah said protest cannot be justified against the judicial process. "No protest is justified against any judicial process because our view is considered right when the judiciary says so. I was put behind bars. I used to say that I am innocent. But when the court said that a fake case was filed against me and there was a politically motivated conspiracy by the CBI to frame me, then my words proved right,” he said. Shah also said Narendra Modi had endured pain for the last 19 years without speaking a word and followed "Lord Shiva who swallowed poison and held it in his throat." He sought an apology from people who leveled “politically motivated” allegations against the then Gujarat CM following the 2002 riots. “I have closely seen Modiji enduring this pain, facing the allegations despite being on the side of truth and because the judicial process was underway he did not speak. Only a man with a strong heart can do this. The interview we are doing today, I could have done in 2003 as Gujarat home minister and later as party chief. But till the judicial process was completed, Modiji did not say anything so that there was no influence. He endured all this silently," he said. Activist Teesta Setalvad detained by Guj ATS team in Mumbai ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL MUMBAI , 25 JUNE The Gujarat anti-terrorist squad team on Saturday arrived at activist Teesta Setalvad's residence here and took her to the Santacruz police station.The action came after Union minister Amit Shah in an interview with ANI said that Teesta Setalvad-run NGO gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police. “I have read the judgement very carefully. The judgement clearly mentions the name of Teesta Setalvad. The NGO that was run being run by her - I don’t remember the name of the NGO- had given baseless information about the riots to the police,”Shah said. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, uphold- P12 Uddhav ups ante; rebels in no mood to back off Shah hails SC verdict in Gujarat riots case WEATHER ‘KAPIL SAID DON’T GIVE UP EASILY, AND WE DID OUR BEST’ ing the SIT's 2012 clean chit to Modi , said that Setalvad, co-petitioner in the case, exploited the emotions of Zakia Jafri.All those involved in such abuse of process need to be in the dock and proceeded with in accordance with law,” the judges said, adding that the appeal was filed under “dictation of someone.” Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a blistering attack on purported attempts by the rebel group to christen itself after the party founderpatriarch, the late Balasaheb Thackeray. “Don't invoke my Dad's name, use your father's name, to win the elections,” said a livid Thackeray, presiding over a meeting of the Shiv Sena’s national executive here this afternoon. His strong reaction came in response to reports that the rebels led by minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde ~ currently camping in Guwahati ~ had allegedly decided to rename itself as "Shiv Sena-Balasaheb Thackeray Group". As a row built up with angst amongst Shiv Sainiks in Maharashtra, the rebels quickly backtracked and claimed that they are the "real Shiv Sena". Thackeray also said that the party will write to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure that the name of Shiv Sena or Balasaheb Thackeray is not misused by unauthorised persons or groups of such "turncoats" for their political interests, failing which they would face legal action. Calling Shinde a "traitor", the Sena leader recalled how he did a lot for him (Shinde), yet he was hurling a series of baseless allegations against the Sena and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray interacts with party leaders, in Mumbai on Saturday.  ANI Thackeray. At the national executive meeting of the Shiv Sena in Mumbai, six resolutions were cleared by attendees, including one authorising Uddhav to take action against the rebels. Earlier, in a setback for the rebel MLAs, Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker rejected the noconfidence motion moved by Eknath Shinde's camp against him. The Deputy Speaker has also issued notices to the 16 rebel MLAs on the disqualification plea by Team Uddhav. Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, Union Minister and Republican Party of India President Ramdas Athawale on Saturday met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence in Mumbai. Several Maharashtra BJP leaders were present at the meeting. “I spoke with Devendra Fadnavis. He said that we do not have anything to do with the internal conflict in Shiv Sena. We are waiting and watching," PM to focus on counter-terrorism, Sinha to file nomination on health at G7 summit in Germany Monday, rift appears in Opp SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a twoday visit to Germany to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit on June 26-27 where he will hold talks on several issues including health and counter-terrorism. “During the sessions of the summit, I will be exchanging views with the G7 counties, G7 partner countries and guest international organisations on topical issues such as environment, energy, climate, food security, health, counter-terrorism, gender equality and democracy. I look forward to meeting leaders of some of the participating G7 and guest countries on the sidelines of the summit," the Prime Minister said in the statement on Saturday. After the G7 summit, PM Modi will also make a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE for a meeting with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi on June 28.Ahead of his visit to Germany and UAE, the PMO issued a departure statement.“I will be visiting Schloss Elmau, Germany at the invitation of Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, for the G7 Summit under the German Presidency. It will be a pleasure to meet Chancellor Scholz again after the productive India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations last month,” said PM Modi. In an effort to strengthen international collaboration on important global issues impacting humanity, Germany has also invited other democracies such as Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the G7 Summit, according to the PMO statement. “While in Germany, I also look forward to meeting members of the Indian diaspora from across Europe, who are contributing immensely to their local economies as well as enriching our relations with European countries," he said. INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha is set to file his nomination papers for Presidential poll on Monday but fissures seem to be appearing in opposition camp with the JMM inclining towards NDA nominee Draupadi Murmu, sources said. The development comes after JDS leader H.D. Devegowda praised the NDA candidate and termed her “suitable” and “non-controversial”. JMM is meeting on Saturday to decide on the issue. On Friday, Sinha telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh's offices seeking their support for the Online classes during Covid triggered new-onset headache in children: Study SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Over one-third of school children who received online lessons during the Covid-19 pandemic reported worsening headache symptoms or new-onset headaches, says a new study. The study, presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2022, indicated that prolonged exposure to computer screens, a lack of suitable conditions for online learning from home, school exams and anxieties about Covid-19 were all found to be risk factors for the worsening of headache symptoms or triggering new-onset headaches. “Although earlier studies  For the study, the team analysed 851 adolescents aged between 10 and 18, with 756 (89 per cent) of children reporting headaches over the study period Over half of children within this group (43 per cent) used pain-killers at least once a month compared to a third (33 %) in the stable group reported that young people were having lesser headaches due to the closure of schools in the early weeks and months of Covid-19, this longer-term study has found that stresses and pressures of the pandemic eventually took their toll," said lead researcher Ayse Nur Ozdag Acarli from Ermenek State Hospital in Karaman, Turkey. For the study, the team analysed 851 adolescents aged between 10 and 18, with 756 (89 per cent) of children reporting headaches over the study period. Among these children, 10 per cent reported new-onset headaches over the pandemic home-schooling period. Over a quarter (27 per cent) of children said their headaches had wors- ened, 61 per cent said their headaches had remained stable and 3 per cent said their headaches had improved. Those who reported worsened or new-onset headaches suffered from headaches an average of 8-9 times per month. Over half of children within this group (43 per cent) used pain-killers at least once a month compared to a third (33 per cent) in the stable group. The study found that headaches had a big impact on mental health and school achievements. Depression and anxiety scores, including anxiety about catching Covid19, were significantly higher in the worsened and newonset headache groups. India is going through extremely difficult times. I shall raise my voice for common people YASHWANT SINHA TMC LEADER & OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE poll. He also wrote a letter to all the leaders of the opposition parties. Sinha tweeted: “Thanking them for choosing me as their common candidate for the Presidential Election 2022. I am truly honoured. Defending the Constitution is our solemn promise, pledge and commitment.” In the letter Sinha wrote, “India is going through extremely difficult times I shall raise my voice for common people.” After filing his FACT FILE TOTAL CASES 4,33,78,234 ACTIVE CASES 91,779 NEW CASES 15,940 NEW RECOVERIES 12,425 TOTAL DEATHS 5,24,974 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. SATURDAY 25 JUNE 2022 Shiv Sena workers protest against rebel MLAs of the party and burnt effigies outside the party office in Kharghar .  ANI nomination, Sinha said that he will begin his campaign to meet MPs and MLAs. If elected, he said, “I shall not allow the independence and integrity of democratic institutions to be weaponised against political opponents, as is happening now.” “The ongoing attacks on the federal structure of the Constitution, whereby the government is attempting to rob the state governments of their legitimate rights and powers, will be treated as totally unacceptable. I shall also use the authority of my office to check the menacing power of ill-gotten money that is killing the soul of Indian democracy and making a mockery of people's mandate in elections," Sinha told media here. Athawale told reporters after the meeting. As the cloud over the MVA government intensifies, Maharashtra Congress held a meeting on Saturday over the situation. "Today in the meeting, we discussed the current situation. Our people are working on the situation. The MVA government is working and will continue to work. Our government is not in minority," said Maharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat. There have been reports of Shiv Sainiks allegedly ransacking the offices of rebel legislators. Shiv Sena workers protested against rebel MLAs of the party and burnt effigies outside the party office in Kharghar. Following this, Pune Police issued an alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at offices related to Shiv Sena leaders in the city. Mumbai Police also issued a high alert and directed all police stations to ensure security at all political offices in the city. (See page 5) Patient dead after jumping off from 7th floor of Kolkata hospital KOLKATA, 25 JUNE Sujit Adhikari, a 33 year-old resident of Lake Town area, injured himself critically and later died after he fell from the seventh floor of a private hospital at Mullickbazar in the Park Street area today. Adhikari was admitted to the Institute of Neuroscience Kolkata on Thursday showing symptoms of neurological disorders. Today, around 11.30 a.m, he had a scuffle with staff and climbed out the window of his ward and planted himself on the edge of the cornice on the seventh floor. After hours of efforts to persuade him to go back in, he jumped off and fell to the SNS ground. Hospitals dump foetuses into gutter in K’taka, sealed INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE BELAGAVI (KARNATAKA), 25 JUNE The Karnataka authorities have cracked the shocking case of dumping of 7 foetuses in a gutter in Mudalagi town of Belagavi district. They have sealed two hospitals after conducting raids on Saturday. The team headed by the District Health Officer (DHO) Mahesh Koni and Mudalagi police have sealed Venkateshwara Maternity hospital and Scanning Centre, and Navajeevana hospital. The investigations have revealed that the foetuses were aborted three years ago at the hospital. Sources explain that Dr Veena Kanakareddy, attached to Venkateshwara Maternity hospital has confessed to the crime. She has told the The investigations have revealed that the foetuses were aborted three years ago at the hospital authorities that the foetuses were preserved in the hospital in bottles. They were handed over to the staff for disposal fearing raids by the authorities. The staff had dumped the foetuses kept in bottles into the gutter in the night of June 23. The incident came to light on June 24. The authorities conducted raids on 6 hospitals following the incident. The 7 foetuses that have been found in bottles have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory and the report is awaited. All foetuses are 5 month old.