WEDNESDAY www.thestatesman.com 29 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 NIGHT WITHOUT END KCR IN RAJ BHAVAN AFTER A YEAR P4 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS ACCOMPANIED WITH GUSTY WINDS TOWARDS EVENING/NIGHT. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 42 AND 30 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY Min. 45% Max: 41.5°C (+4) SUN RISES 05:27 hrs MOON RISES 06:07 hrs Min: 30.8°C (+3) SUN SETS 19:23 hrs MOON SETS 19:52 hrs THUMBNAILS Indian Coast Guard chief V S Pathania inspecting the guard of honour during the commissioning of Indian Coast Guard Advanced Light Helicopter MK III squadron, in Porbandar on Tuesday.  ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE S triking a distinctly conciliatory note, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray ~ on Tuesday made a fervent appeal to the rebel group camping in Guwahati to return and hold discussions. “Many of you are in contact with us and are still emotionally connected with the Shiv Sena. The families of several have also got in touch with us and conveyed your sentiments to us,” said Thackeray. He assured that as the head of the Sena family, he respected their views and made it clear from his heart that till date "nobody is out of the party" though the (rebels) are stuck in Guwahati with all kinds of speculations. “I appeal to you all. Come before me. Let's remove all the miscon- INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, 28 JUNE G-7 leaders end summit pledging to hurt Russia 7 economically: Leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies struck a united stance to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” as Russia’s invasion grinds on, and said they would explore farreaching steps to cap Kremlin income from oil sales that are financing the war. The final statment from the Group of Seven summit in Germany underlined their intent to impose “severe and immediate economic costs” on Russia. Pg10 At least four persons perished after a Pawan Hans helicopter ditched into the Arabian Sea near the ONGC's Sagar Kiran oil-rig, off Mumbai High Fields, around 175 kms off the country's commercial capital, official sources said on Tuesday.The chopper was carrying nine people - Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde speaks to media on Maharashtra Political Crisis, in Guwahati on Tuesday.  ANI ceptions among the minds of the people and the Shiv Sainiks,”Thackeray appealed. The CM said if they all sit together, they can definitely come up with a solution to the political imbroglio and cautioned them against falling prey to any kind of wrong measures. He made it clear that the respect and dignity the Shiv Sena accorded them, they can never get that privilege anywhere else. “Come in front of me and present your views, let's work out a solution. I am still worried about you," concluded Thackeray. Earlier today, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati claimed that he has the support of 50 MLAs and will soon return to Mumbai. Shinde said, “We are in Shiv Sena and we are taking Shiv Sena forward. There should not be any doubt about it. We will let you know about our further course of action. I will be in Mumbai soon.” On the claim of Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray that 15 to 20 MLAs had claimed that they had been abducted and had reached out to the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati, Shinde said that "no MLA has been suppressed" and all are with him of their own will. He further said that the rebel MLAs were in favour of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and enthused about carrying it forward. Earlier, attacking dissident MLAs of the party, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, BJP chief J. P. Nadda discussed the situation in a meeting with former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence here. Sources said that Fadnavis will brief the party central leadership about the ground political situation in Maharashtra. “Fadnavis will also discuss the party's future course of action,” sources said.As uncertainty continues to haunt the ruling MVA government, the BJP is closely following the political developments and adopting a wait and watch policy. Pawan Hans copter ditches in Arabian Sea, 4 dead seven passengers, reportedly ONGC staffers, and two pilots ~ and a major operation comprising the ONGC, the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and offshore supply vessels, was launched to rescue them. By 2 p.m., all the nine were taken out, but four, who were unconscious after rescue and flown to a Mumbai hospital, were pronounced dead later, said officials. “All 9 persons on board the helicopter were rescued.Unfortunately, four of them, brought unconscious to the Mumbai base and taken to the hospital, lost the battle of life. ONGC deeply mourns this loss," said the ONGC in a tweet. Further details of the fatalities, the cause of death, their identities, etc are awaited. The rescue oper- ation comprised the ONGC's offshore supply vessel Malviya-16 and a boat from oil rig Sagar Kiran, while the Indian Coast Guard deployed its helicopters to drop rafts near the ditched chopper, and the Indian Navy sent an ALH and a Sea King chopper. The cause of the emergency landing on water, is not immediately clear. A tailor running a shop in Dhanmandi area of Rajasthan’s Udaipur was allegedly beheaded with a sharp-edged weapon over his alleged social post on Nupur Sharma, former BJP spokesperson, on Tuesday afternoon. Indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Udaipur city amidst tension over the incident, and police later said two persons have been detained in this connection. The deceased was identified as Kanhiyalal Teli, 40 years, a senior police officer of the state Crime Department said here. Two bike-borne assailants entered his shop, ‘Supreme Tailor’ and attacked him with sharpedged weapons. Kanhiyalal collapsed on the spot and was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead. Ten days ago the victim received a threat call over his social media post and he was not opening his shop due to fear. Tension erupted in Dhanmandi, Ghantaghar and Surajpole areas of Udaipur following the alleged murder and after a video clip relating to the incident was put on social media by unknown persons, the Additional DG of Law and Order Hawa Singh Ghoomariya told reporters here. Shopkeepers blocked the roads and burnt tyres on the road and demanded the arrest of culprits. Internet service has been snapped and five companies of Rajasthan Armed (RAC) UNREST PREVAILS  The deceased was identified as Kanhiyalal Teli  Shopkeepers blocked the roads, burnt tyres and demanded the arrest of culprits  A total of five companies of RAC, 30 RPS officers, and four hundred police personnel have been posted in the troubled area One of the accused I appeal to everyone not to try to spoil the atmosphere by sharing the video of this incident. By sharing the video, the criminal's purpose of spreading hatred in the society will be successful ASHOK GEHLOT - RAJASTHAN CHIEF MINISTER have been deployed; besides many senior IPS officers of DIG, SPs and additional SP have been rushed from the PHQ, Ghoomariya said. “We have appealed to the people to maintain law and order in the state and not to share the video clip of the incident. The entire state has been put on alert ,” he said. In a late-night statement, the Director-General of Police M L Lather said that two accused in the alleged murder of the tailor were detained from Bhim area in Rajsamand district and that a search is on for any others involved. In an official statement here, the DGP said a number of teams of senior police officers had been deployed to arrest the culprits as soon as possible in the entire Udaipur division. He also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading the social media clip of the incident and maintain peace and harmony. In a tweet, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “I condemn the heinous murder of a youth in Udaipur. Strict action will be taken against all the criminals involved in this incident and the police will go to the bottom of the crime. I appeal to all parties to maintain peace. Strictest punishment will be given to every person involved in such heinous crime.” “I appeal to everyone not to try to spoil the atmosphere by sharing the video of this incident. By sharing the video, the criminal's purpose of spreading hatred in the society will be successful,” he wrote in another tweet. The murder is apparently connected with a number of inflammatory social media posts between communities, the police said, adding the deceased was an accusd in the case and was even questioned in his alleged post on social media. ADG-L&O said it was reportedly a ‘pre-planned’ murder and a special team has been formed to probe it. A total of five companies of RAC, 30 RPS officers, and four hundred police personnel have been posted in the troubled area. Besides ADGs Janga Srinivasan and Dinesh MN have been rushed from Jaipur to Udaipur, Ghoomariya said. The Leader of Opposition (BJP) Mr G C Kataria, who belongs to Udaipur division, had spoken to CM Gehlot and asked that arrests be made as soon as possible so the anger of people would cool down. Ban on single-use plastic will be strict, says Govt Twitterin India bans Pak Embassies accounts in UN, Turkey, Iran & Egypt After stopover at Abu Dhabi, PM leaves UAE SNS & AGENCIES SNS & AGENCIES ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL ABU DHABI, 28 JUNE NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE Pallonji Mistry, Chairman of Indian conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group, passed away on Monday night in Mumbai at the age of 93. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to express his condolences about the demise of the business tycoon. “Saddened by the passing away of Shri Pallonji Mistry. He made monumental contributions to the world of commerce and industry.My condolences to his family, friends and countless wellwishers. May his soul rest in peace," PM tweeted. Born in 1929, Mistry was conferred with Padma Bhushan. The Mumbai-headquartered Shapoorji Pallonji Group, founded back in 1865, deals in construction, real estate, textiles, engineered goods, home appliances, shipping, publications, power, and biotechnology. (See Pg8) AGENCIES UDAIPUR, 28 JUNE Many of you are in contact with us & are still emotionally connected with the Sena: CM Kurla building collapse toll rises to 17: At least 17 people lost their lives after a four-storey building in Mumbai's Kurla collapsed on Monday night, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) informed on Tuesday. Earlier, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the incident and announced that the family of the deceased will be given Rs 5 lakh each while the injured will get one lakh. Pg5 The building collapsed on Monday night. Shapoorji Pallonji Group’s head passes away P12 P8 curfew after Uddhav softens stance, Indefinitein Udaipur, 2tailor beheaded held urges rebels to return MUMBAI/ GUWAHATI, 28 JUNE Max.74% TEMPERATURE P6 SNS&AGENCIES RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY MUKESH AMBANI RESIGNS INDIA STARE AT FROM RELIANCE JIO BOARD CAPTAINCY PUZZLE The Centre on Tuesday claimed that the ban on single-use plastic (SUP) from July 1 would be implemented strictly across India by setting up state and national level control rooms, alongwithborderpointstocheck inter-state movement etc. The government declared that for effective enforcement of the ban on identified SUP items from July 1, national and state level control rooms will be set up and special enforcement teams will be formed for checking illegal manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of banned single-use plastic items. "States and Union Territories have been asked to set up border checkpoints to stop inter-state movement of any bannedsingle-useplasticitems," the government said. Day-to-day usage singleuse plastic items in 14 categories -- such as plastic sticks that are used in earbuds, balloons, candy, ice-cream; cutlery items suchasplates,cups,glasses,forks, spoons, knives, trays; packag- ing/wrapping films such as that used for sweet box, invitation cards, cigarette packets, and other items such as plastic flags, PVC banners of less than 100 microns, and polystyrene for decoration -- have been banned by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with effect from July 1. The minimum specified thickness for polythene carry bags was 75 micron already applicable from September 2021, but it would be 120 microns from December 2022. The government claims there would be a total ban on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified SUP items that have low utility and high littering potential all across the country. "This is an important step in the fight against pollution. With the SUP ban, we are looking at getting rid of items that have low utility, have high littering potential and, equally, availability of alternatives," Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav told mediapersons. (See page 2) NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE Twitter in India has banned official twitter accounts of Pakistan Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Earlier, Twitter also withheld the account of the national public broadcaster in Pakistan - Radio Pakistan. After Twitter in India withheld these official accounts the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Twitter to restore these accounts with immediate access. This development comes at a time when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier blocked 16 YouTube news channels including 6 Pakistan-based channels for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order. According to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, YouTube channels were spreading false, unverified information to create panic, incite communal disharmony, and disturb public order in India. The blocked social This development comes at a time when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier blocked 16 YouTube news channels including 6 Pakistan-based channels for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order media accounts include six Pakistan-based and 10 Indiabased YouTube news channels, having a cumulative viewership of over 68 crore. None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021, the government said. YouTube channels based in Pakistan were found to have been used in a coordinated manner to post fake news about India on various subjects such as the Indian Army, Jammu, and Kashmir, and India's foreign relations in the light of the situation in Ukraine among others, it said. The content of these channels was observed to be completely false, and sensitive from the perspective of national security, sovereignty, and integrity of India, and India's friendly relations with foreign States.Moreover, India has earlier called out Pakistan for propagating fake news through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Pakistan is frequently lambasted by the global community due to its violation of human rights. And yet, as per the reports by digital forensics, Pakistan carries on with its propaganda to diminish India at world stage. Apart from the government accounts in Pakistan, in a report by Digital Forensics, Research, and Analytics Center (DFRAC), it was revealed that many fake accounts created by Pakistanis are hiding behind the screens and running hashtags with an agenda to target India's prestigious institutions. The crucial thing to note here is that some of these accounts were created for the sole purpose of defaming India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed from UAE after a brief stopover at Abu Dhabi on his return from Munich on Tuesday. This was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since August 2019 when Prime Minister visited Abu Dhabi last. The main purpose of the visit was for Prime Minister to convey his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month. “For stronger partnerships. For closer friendships. PM @narendramodi concludes his visit to Germany and UAE," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, “PM @narendramodi conveyed his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan last month to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan & other Royal Fam- ily members NSA Sheikh Tahnoun, DPM Sheikh Mansour, MD ADIA Sheikh Hamed & FM Sheikh Abdullah,” said Bagchi. The Prime Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as other members of the Royal family. The PM also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the third President of the UAE and becoming the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.Both leaders reviewed various aspects of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which they have carefully nurtured over the past few years. Ensure people in mass gatherings fully vaccinated: Centre ‘Zubair intentionally formatted phone’: FACT FILE Delhi police get 4-day custody STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE The Union Government today advised caution and continuous alertness to states reporting a surge in coronavirus cases during the past few weeks, and to step up vigil against Covid. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan reviewed the status of Covid situation through a video conference (VC) with 14 such states that are reporting high number of cases on a week-to-week basis along with increased case positivity combined with low numbers of tests and below average COVID vaccination. Meanwhile, the Union Government today asked states and Union Territories to ensure that people taking part in mass gatherings and pilgrimages are asymptomatic and preferably fully vaccinated against Covid19.“All states/UTs, where such mass gatherings/yatras are proposed to be held should widely publicise that all individuals planning to participate in such gatherings/events are asymptomatic and preferably fully vaccinated against Covid-19," the Union Health Secretary said in a letter to the states and UTs. He said if needed, a special drive for primary vaccination and precaution dose administration to all eligible people may be taken by the administration at least a fortnight in advance for those planning to join. Further adequate publicity and arrangement for testing (RTPCR & RAT) will be done across multiple locations, he added. While the trajectory of Covid19 cases has declined significantly from levels that were observed in earlier part of this year, a few states and UTs across the country are witnessing a sustained upswing in the cases currently, he said in the letter. The Centre has underlined the need to TOTAL CASES enhance focus on a five-fold strategy of test-track-treatvaccination and adherence ACTIVE CASES to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. NEW CASES “During many such events/yatras, lakhs of individuals undertake intra- and NEW RECOVERIES inter-state journey spanning hundreds of kilometres TOTAL DEATHS with halting points arranged by volunteers and community-based social/religious UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. organisations. Such conTUESDAY 28 JUNE 2022 gregations may potentially facilitate transmission of infecDelhi recorded 874 tious diseases, including cases and four deaths Covid," Bhushan said. 4,34,18,839 96,700 11,793 9,486 5,25,047 SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 28 JUNE The Delhi Police on Tuesday said AltNews co-founder Moham- med Zubair had intentionally formatted his phone and also refused to cooperate with authorities in the investigation against him in connection with an "objectionable" tweet, providing grounds for his arrest. A Delhi court on Tuesday allowed four days' custody of Zubair to Delhi police in connection with one of his 2018 tweets on the micro-blogging platform Twitter, in which he allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of a community. Zubair, 33, was produced by the Delhi police before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria at Patiala House Courts. The police had registered a case against him after getting a complaint from a Twitter handle, where it was alleged that he had tweeted a questionable image with the purpose of deliberately hurting religious sentiments. Zubair was charged with Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) for one of his objectionable tweets.