THURSDAY www.thestatesman.com 24 NOVEMBER 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 NEW JAIL VIDEO OF SATYENDAR JAIN NOT QUITE ZERO P6 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. HAZE. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 26 AND 08 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Min. 29% Max: 27.0°C (+1) SUN RISES 06:51 hrs MOON RISES 08:16 hrs Min: 08.0°C (-3) SUN SETS 17:25 hrs MOON SETS 17:41 hrs TEMPERATURE P2 P10 ‘Cong model’ destroyed entire nation: PM in Guj He urges people of Gujarat to ensure that the BJP won by a huge margin Max.90% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 NOVEMBER P rime Minister Narendra Modi today charged the Congress with ignoring the interests of the people of Gujarat when it was in power and appealed to the people of the poll-bound state to vote for the BJP in the coming Assembly elections. The “Congress model”, he alleged, meant nepotism, casteism, sectarianism and vote bank politics. The “Congress model”, he claimed, not only destroyed Gujarat but the entire country. The BJP government has brought about a sea change in the state, he said at an election meeting at Mehsana in North Gujarat. Mr Modi urged the people of Gujarat to ensure that the BJP won by a huge margin. “I am confident that you will vote for us but this time, you should not just vote for victory, but for victory with a huge margin,” he added.The BJP government has done so much developmental work that Congress PM Narendra Modi is being garlanded by BJP supporters during a public meeting, in Mehsana on Wednesday.  ANI could not find a single issue against it and hence was not in a position to question the ruling party. He recalled that when the Congress was in power in Gujarat, the state had only 55 lakh power connections and when the farmers protested for more, they had to face bullets. He was alluding to the Congress rule in the late 1980s when the farmers blocked highways under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, demanding more electricity. The police resorted to firing at various places in which 15 farmers were killed.Comparing the existing situation with the past, Mr Modi said now power connections in the state STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 NOVEMBER Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Madhya Pradesh party president Kamal Nath leading the padayatris during Bharat Jodo Yatra as it enters Madhya Pradesh, in Burhanpur on Wednesday. ANI Kerala Governor returns ordinance: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has returned the ordinance seeking to remove him as the chancellor of Universities in the State, without signing it. The Governor returned the ordinance as the government had made it clear that it would bring in legislation to this effect in the coming Assembly session, starting from 5 December. K’taka govt to hand over M’luru blast case to NIA Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today called for urgent and resolute global efforts to counter transnational and cross-border terrorism, terming them as the gravest threat to regional and global security. He pointed out that the global security environment has transformed fundamentally over the last few decades, with terrorist groups creating interlinkages across continents backed by new-age technologies to propagate ideologies, transfer money and recruit supporters. Mr Singh was speaking at the 9th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of the defence ministers of ten ASEAN countries and its eight dialogue partner countries, viz., The Union minister for defence, Rajnath Singh at the maiden IndiaASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on Wednesday.  ANI India, the US, Russia, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. The year 2022 also marks the 30th anniversary of India-ASEAN relations. The minister drew the attention of the forum to the other security concerns that have emerged in the aftermath of the global Covid-19 pandemic, including challenges to ener- SHOCK WIN India and ADMM Plus countries for enhancing the maritime security in the region and the safety of the global commons. He asserted that India advocated a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and called for peaceful resolution of disputes while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. In this context, he stated that the ongoing ASEAN-China negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea should be fully consistent with international law, in particular United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that were not a party to these discussions. He also called upon all the member states to work together with positive intent, towards a stable, safer and more secure world for future generations. FIFA World Cup: Japan gets 2 late goals to beat Germany 2-1 Substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late goals Wednesday to give Japan a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Germany at the World Cup. Ilkay Gündogan had given four-time champion Germany the lead with a first-half penalty. But Doan, who plays for German team Freiburg, pounced on a rebound to equalize in the 76th minute after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked a shot from Takumi Minamino. Then Asano, who plays for German team Bochum, sprinted clear of Nico Schlotterbeck and beat Neuer from a narrow angle in the 83rd. It was the first competitive meeting between the two nations. (See Pg12) DAKSHINA KANNADA, 23 NOVEMBER Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra stated on Wednesday that the government will soon hand over the Mangaluru cooker blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Speaking to reporters after a meeting in Mangaluru, Jnanendra stated that NIA officers have been looking at the case since the blast took place. Other central agencies have also joined the probe. The initial investigation is being done by the state police and a decision would be taken soon to hand over the case to the NIA.“I have visited the spot where the blast occurred and also paid a visit to the hospital (where the injured terror suspect and auto driver are being treated),” he said. The focus would be on who supported terror suspect Mohammad Shariq and financed him to carry out subversive activities, the Home Minister stated. “When the terror suspect gets well, many more inputs would come out. The injured auto driver and suspected terrorist are being treated by a team of eight specialist docIANS tors,” he informed. gy and food security. He stated that as a responsible member of the international community, India has worked with its partners, in extending humanitarian aid, medicines, vaccines and food grains on a large scale.He reiterated India’s commitment to nurturing practical, forward-looking and resultoriented cooperation between Japan's Takuma Asano (left), fights for the ball with Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck, on his way to score his side's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Group E match between Germany and Japan, at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. AP P12 SC asks Centre for files on appointment of Arun Goel as EC SNS & AGENCIES have increased to two crores.He also reminded the people that earlier only 2000 MW of power was generated using gas while the state today was generating 4000 MW. There was a time when Mehsana and north Gujarat were facing an acute shortage of both drinking and irrigation water, but ever since the BJP government provided them Narmada, Sujalam and Sufalam irrigation projects, farmers have been able to engage in cultivation in all three seasons.Mehsana and Becharaji have turned into industrial hubs and Suzuki cars manufactured in Becharaji were being exported to Japan, he noted. There were just 600 engineering units in Mehsana and the number has now gone up to 2000. Soon electric vehicles (EV) would be manufactured in Mehsana, making it an EV hub, the PM added. Mr Modi is currently on a whirlwind tour of his home state where the Assembly polls are scheduled to be held in two phases on 1 and 5 December. Cross-border terrorism gravest threat: Rajnath THUMBNAILS SURYAKUMAR RETAINS NO.1 SPOT AMONG BATTERS POPE LINKS PLIGHT OF UKRAINIANS TODAY TO STALIN’S ‘GENOCIDE’ NEW DELHI, 23 NOVEMBER The Supreme Court today asked the Central government to produce on 24 November the files related to the appointment of former IAS officer Arun Goel as the new Election Commissioner. A five-judge Bench of the court, headed by Justice KM Joseph, said it wanted to understand the process that was followed in the appointment of the former bureaucrat as Election Commissioner even as it was hearing a case regarding the procedure for such appointments. The apex court's order came after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, brought up the issue of the appointment of Mr Goel. Mr Bhushan said that Mr Goel was given Voluntary Retirement from service on Thursday and his appointment was notified on 19 November. The Bench, also comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy, and C.T. Ravikumar, is hearing a clutch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for the appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs) and the CEC. The Bench said that the Constitution has vested enormous powers on the “fragile shoulder” of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the two Election Commissioners (ECs) and stressed on a “fair and transparent mechanism” so that the “best man” is appointed as the CEC. The Bench also suggested to ensure independence of the poll panel, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) could be included in the consultative process for the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). The Bench told Attorney General R Venkataramani, who appeared in the matter on behalf of the Centre, that it is important that through a "fairly good procedure someone of strong character is appointed" as the CEC.“Enormous power has been vested on the fragile shoulder of three men (two ECs and the CEC). We have to find the best man for the post of CEC. The question is how do we find that best man and how to appoint that best man,” the apex court said. “We need a CEC who can even take action against a PM,” the Bench observed. MUMBAI, 23 NOVEMBER Taking strong cognisance, the Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the Palghar Police's ‘inaction’ on a letter written by Shraddha Walkar in November 2020, apprehending death threats from her live-in partner Aftab Amin Poonawala. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said he had seen the contents which were “very serious”, and said the matter needs to be investigated. “Without blaming anybody, we need to know the truth... If the police had acted in a timely manner, this (killing of Shraddha by Poonawala) could have been avoided,” Mr Fadnavis said.On 23 November 2020, Walkar had submitted a written complaint to the Tulinj Police Station expressing apprehensions from her Aftab and how he threatened to “kill and cut her into Walkar had submitted a written complaint to the Tulinj Police Station expressing apprehensions from her Aftab and how he threatened to “kill and cut her into pieces” Police along with Aftab Poonawalla leaves from the FSL office in New Delhi on Wednesday. ANI Without blaming anybody, we need to know the truth ... If the police had acted in a timely manner, this (killing of Shraddha) could have been avoided DEPUTY CM DEVENDRA FADNAVIS pieces”.The letter, which has just surfaced, was duly acknowledged by the local police, who also The Bench said that the absence of a law for the appointment of Election Commissioners has resulted in an "alarming trend". It pointed out that Article 324 (2) mandates the framing of law for the selection and appointment of CEC and ECs but nothing had been done in the last seven decades. “This is how the silence of the Constitution is being exploited,” the Bench added. In response to the suggestion for inclusion of the CJI in the consultative process for the appointment of the CEC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre in the post-lunch hearing, submitted that there is a system of separation of powers and there is an impression which has been made out that someone's presence has to be in the appointing authority who is not a part of the executive. “That will mean rewriting the Constitution,” he argued. Earlier during the day, the Centre had argued that the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, ensured the Election Commission remains independent in terms of salary and tenure to its members and there is no "trigger point" which warrants interference from the court. However, the apex court said the appointments have to be scanned at every level.The apex court was hearing pleas challenging the constitutionality of the present appointment process of CEC and ECs and contended that appointments were being done as per the whims and fancies of the executive. CV Ananda Bose takes oath as Guv, Opp leader skips function SNS & AGENCIES KOLKATA, 23 NOVEMBER Former bureaucrat Dr CV Ananda Bose took oath as the Governor of Bengal in Kolkata on Wednesday.Mr Bose was administered by Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan where the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was conspicious by his absence. The ceremony took place at 10.45 a.m. in the presence of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay and senior members of the West Bengal cabinet among others. Mr Adhikari, speaking to mediapersons, cited a “deliberate” insult to him by the state government by sitting him at the function with two MLAs who were elected as BJP legislators in the 2021 Assembly polls but shifted to Trinamul Maha govt to probe Palghar police ‘inaction’on Shraddha’s SOS letter SNS & AGENCIES The Bench said it wanted to understand the process that was followed in the appointment of the former bureaucrat as Election Commissioner even as it was hearing a case regarding the procedure for such appointments The SC has suggested inclusion of CJI in consultative process for CEC appointment said that though they had probed the matter, Shraddha later gave another letter withdrawing her previous complaint, signalling an end to the issue.In her hand-penned plea, she appeared distressed, stating that Aftab was beating her up, blackmailing her and was threatening to murder her and cut her body into pieces. Nearly two years later now, Shraddha's worst fears proved true with Aftab's arrest on 12 November for her gory killing in Delhi on 18 May.In her letter, Shraddha, then 25, mentioned how she and Aftab, then 26, were living together in Vijay Vihar Complex, but he had been abusing and beating her up for six months. “Today he tried to kill me by suffocating me and he scared and blackmails me that he will kill me cut me up in pieces and throw me away.“It has been six months he has been beating me. I did not have the guts to go to the police because he would threaten to kill me,” she wrote in the letter.In a shocking revelation, Shraddha said that Aftab's parents “are aware that he beats me and that he tried to kill me”.A police officer had even gone to the rented house in Vasai East, where the young couple resided, to conduct an enquiry but she categorically told them that said she didn't want to pursue the matter, according to local media. Congress without resigning from the Assembly, for his skipping the function. According to him, as the leader of Opposition, which is equivalent to a state cabinet minister's rank, such a sitting arrangement was a grave insult for him and hence he decided to skip the function. President Droupadi Murmu appointed Mr Bose, a 1977batch (retired)IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, as the Governor of Bengal on 17 November. Mr Bose has also served as the Secretary of the Government of India and Chief Secretary to State governments as well as University Vice-Chancellor. FACT FILE TOTAL CASES 4,46,70,075 ACTIVE CASES 6,046 NEW CASES 360 NEW RECOVERIES 518 TOTAL DEATHS 5,30,596 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2022