SATURDAY www.thestatesman.com 03 DECEMBER 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 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. MIST/SHALLOW FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 27 AND 08 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. TEMPERATURE Max: 27.7°C (+3) SUN RISES 06:58 hrs MOON RISES 14:26 hrs DOHA, 2 DECEMBER Min. 44% Min: 08.0°C (-1) SUN SETS 17:24 hrs MOON SETS 03:11 hrs THUMBNAILS Tibetan supporters holding white blank sheets stage a protest in solidarity with the ongoing White Paper protests in China, in New Delhi on Friday. SUBRATA DUTTA Rlys revenue earnings up by 76% in passenger segment: The total earnings of Indian Railways on the originating basis from April to November 2022 were Rs. 43324 crores, registering an increase of 76 per cent in comparison to Rs. 24631 crores achieved during the same period last year.In the reserved passenger segment, the total approximate number of passengers booked during the period 1 April-30 November was 5365 Lakhs as compared to 4860 Lakhs during the same period last year, showing an increase of ten per cent. The revenue generated from the reserved passenger segment during the period 1 April30 November was 34303 crores as compared to Rs 22904 crores during the same period last year, showing an increase of 50 per cent. Congress turncoats in BJP’s National executive body STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 DECEMBER Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, senior leader from the state Sunil Jakhar and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Swatantra Dev Singh were today inducted into the BJP National Executive as its members. Both Mr Singh and Mr Jakhar are former Congress leaders who had joined the saffron party earlier this year. Swatantra Dev Singh is former BJP chief of the party's Uttar Pradesh unit. Former Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, who also recently joined the BJP, was appointed as the party’s national spokesperson. A BJP press release said Madan Kaushik, Vishnu Deo Sai, former BJP presidents of Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh respectively and Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Manoranjan Kalia and Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia (all three from Punjab) will be special invitees to the national executive. Germany, four-time FIFA World champions, were again eliminated at the group stage AGENCIES RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max.97% Round of 16 to begin today T he stage is set for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup to get underway on Saturday, even as South Korea tonight advanced to the last 16 on goal difference from Group H as Uruguay were knocked out of the tournament despite winning 2-0 against Ghana. With South Korea winning their match against Portugal tonight by a score of 2-1, Uruguay needed to win by a score of 3-0. The last spot in the Round of 16 will be decided when Brazil meet Cameroon and Serbia clash against Switzerland, both matches taking place at 12:30 a.m. IST (Saturday). Earlier, former champions Germany once again found themselves knocked out in the group stage for the second time in a row, having suffered the same fate in Russia in 2018. Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in their concluding Group E match of the FIFA World Cup but that was not enough for Die Mannschaft to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament. What went against the four-time champions was the match result from Germany's team players leave the pitch after the World Cup group E soccer match between Costa Rica and Germany on 1 December.  AP Japan's Ao Tanaka scores his side's second goal. Japan beats Spain 2-1 as both teams advance at World Cup Group E's other finale between Spain and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium, where Japan defeated the European giants 2-1 to make it to the next stage as group winners. Costa Rica was also eliminated, with Japan and Spain moving on. Germany's simplest path to the knockout stage was a win over Costa Rica coupled with a Spain win over Japan, but it also would have advanced with a Spain-Japan draw after its multi-goal win. Japan's 2-1 win over La Roja spelled elimination French referee Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman to take charge of a men’s World Cup game on Thursday as she blew her whistle to start Germany’s game against Costa Rica. for Die Mannschaft, which had an uphill road to climb after its upset loss to Japan in the opener. Germany dominated Costa Rica in the first half, with Serge Gnabry giving Germany a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute. Costa Rica, which needed a win to advance, scored the equalizer in the 58th minute, when Yeltsin Tejeda buried a rebound into the back of the net. Juan Pablo Vargas gave Los Ticos a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute, but Germany's Kai Havertz answered with the first of his two goals three min- utes later. Niclas Fellkrug provided the final tally. Netherlands, Senegal, England, USA, France, Australia, Argentina, Poland, Morocco, Croatia, Japan, Spain, Brazil and Portugal, have already qualified for the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Reigning champions France, from Group D, were the first team to make the cut for the Round of 16 after winning their first two group games. Les Bleus first beat Australia 4-1 before outplaying Denmark 2-1. Kylian Mbappe has been the standout player for France so far. Cody Gakpo has spearheaded the Netherlands’ campaign as the Dutch qualified for the Round of 16 as the top-placed team from Group A. A late goal from captain Kalidou Koulibaly helped Senegal oust Ecuador in their final group game to go through as the second-placed team from the group. Group B has also been decided as England, with two wins and a draw, won the group. A Christian Pulisic goal in the vital final match against Iran, meanwhile, helped the USA men’s football team advance as the second-placed team from Group B. Brazil, despite missing star Neymar owing to an injury, sealed an early ticket to the knockouts from Group G by winning their opening two matches (20 vs Serbia and 1-0 vs Switzerland). Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal also made a hassle-free cut for the knockouts from Group G, after defeating Ghana 32 and Uruguay 3-2. Lionel Messi’s Argentina shook off an upset loss against Saudi Arabia to top Group C and made the Round of 16, while Poland saw off a stiff challenge from Mexico courtesy a superior goal difference to progress as the 2nd placed team. Cong attacks govt over G-20 ‘drama’; BJP hits back hard SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 2 DECEMBER The Congress today accused the Modi government of staging “a high-voltage drama”' around India becoming President of G-20 for a year. The BJP promptly hit back, saying that only those who worshipped a family would sulk when India shines. Congress communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh tweeted on Friday: “I am reminded of what L K Advani (senior BJP leader) said on 5.4.2014 in Gandhinagar~ he called Mr Modi a brilliant event manager. That's all there is to all the spin around G-20.” He observed that the Presidency of G-20 is rotational and India’s Presidency was inevitable. “Previous presidents of G-20 have been USA, UK, Canada, South Korea, France, Mexico, Russia, Australia, Turkey, China, Germany, Argentina, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy & Indonesia,” he noted, adding that none of these countries staged the kind of drama that was being enacted by the current dispensation. The BJP, which has been projecting India's G-20 Presidency as yet another feather in the Modi government's cap, was quick to hit back at the Con- Navy, Coast Guard being strengthened ISRO espionage case: SC cancels anticipatory bail to ex- officials to protect maritime borders: Rajnath STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 DECEMBER The Indian Navy (IN) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) are being equipped with indigenous stateof-the-art ships and weapons to protect the maritime borders of the country, defence minister Rajnath Singh said today. Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence on ‘Defence Shipyards’, Mr Singh asserted that the government was according top priority to strengthening maritime security. Commending defence shipyards for playing a Defence minister Rajnath Singh speaks at the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence, in Mumbai on Friday.  ANI crucial role in this direction, Mr Singh said they have ensured timely delivery and quality of products, which was pivotal for building a strong military, and were striving to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He listed a number of initiatives taken by the government to encourage indigenous manufacturing of weapons/products and minimise imports by DPSUs. The initiatives include notification of Positive Indigenisation Lists comprising Major Line Replacement Units/Sub-systems and the SRIJAN portal. “The SRIJAN portal was launched on 14 August 2020 to promote indigenisation. As on 30 September 2022, there are 783 items of shipyards on the portal. These items were earlier imported and their indigenous vendors were not available. The shipyards have, so far, been able to successfully indigenise 73 items from the list. Indigenisation efforts for the remaining items are in progress in collaboration with industry partners,” said the minister. He also lauded the defence shipyards for strengthening the country’s economy. “During 2021-22, the Value of Production of these shipyards was Rs 8,925 crores and Profit After Tax was Rs 928 crore. Presently, the order book position of these shipyards is Rs 81,777 crores,” he said. AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 2 DECEMBER The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to persons in connection with the 1994 ISRO espionage case relating to the framing of alleged scientist Nambi Narayanan (in photo). A bench headed by Justice MR Shah remitted the bail applications back to the Kerala High Court and asked it to decide it as early as possible, within a period of four weeks. The apex court also granted protection from arrest to the accused for five weeks as an interim arrangement till the High Court finally decides the matter.The CBI had challenged the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to five persons. The apex court bench reserved the order on 28 November. The Kerala High Court had granted anticipatory bail to four accused ~the former Gujarat Director-General of Police (DGP) RB SreeKumar, former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) Siby Mathews, two former police officers of Kerala S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and retired intelligence official PS Jayaprakash -- in connection with the case. Seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted them, the CBI had said the grant of anticipatory bail might derail the investigation in the case. Earlier CBI had told the apex court that it has found in its probe that some scientists were tortured and framed in the matter due to which development of the cryogenic engine was hit and this led to India's space programme going back by almost one or two decades. Anti-Brahmin-Baniya slogans on walls of JNU spark controversy STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 DECEMBER A controversy has once again erupted at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), this time over the walls of several buildings on the university campus being defaced with anti-Brahmin and anti-Baniya slogans.Slogans against the Brahmin community were seen on the walls of JNU's School of International Studies. Some of the slogans on the walls read “Brahmins Leave The Campus”, “BrahminsBaniyas, we are coming for you! You will not be spared” and “Go back to the Shakha”. Several students and stu- Some of the slogans on the walls read “Brahmins Leave The Campus”, “Brahmins-Baniyas, we are coming for you! You will not be spared" and “Go back to the Shakha” The university authorities have issued a statement condemning the incident and blaming “unknown elements” behind the defacement of the campus. dent organisations of the university have expressed their displeasure over this. Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has taken seri- ous note of the defacement of walls and faculty rooms by some unknown elements in the School of International Studies (SIS), JNU. The Vice-Chancellor, JNU, Prof Santishree D Pandit's statement, which came on Thursday, was in reaction to an incident of vandalism where the walls of the SIS, JNU were defaced with “anti-brahmin” slogans. “The administration condemns these exclusivist tendencies on campus. Such incidents will not be tolerated as JNU belongs to all,” read the notice from the Registrar JNU. Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of International Studies and Grievances Committee has been asked to inquire and submit a report to the VC at the earliest. “JNU stands for inclusion and equality. The VC reiter- ates zero tolerance for any violence on campus,” as per the notice issued by the Registrar. In view of 'anti-Brahmins' slogans on the walls of the JNU campus by students threatening the community, a Delhibased advocate has filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West).The complainant has requested the police to file an FIR against the “unknown persons” under Sections 153A & B, 505, 506, and 34 of the IPC. According to the social activist and Supreme Court advocate Vineet Jindal, on Thursday, casteist slogans against the 'Baniya' and 'Brahmin' were written on the walls of the School of International Studies-II building on the university campus. The slogans on the wall of the chambers of several Brahmin professors, including Nalin Kumar Mohapatra, Raj Yadav, Pravesh Kumar, and Vandana Mishra . Mr Jindal said the slogans are not limited to targeting Brahmin students and teachers but also threaten to kill them. Meanwhile, the university authorities have issued a statement condemning the incident and blaming “unknown elements” behind the defacement of the campus. An inquiry into the incident has also been ordered. gress leader for his comments.Rejecting the Congress’s allegation that the PM was treating the presidency as an event, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in two tweets, said only those who worshipped a family would sulk when India shines.Without naming the Nehru-Gandhi family or anyone else, the minister took a jibe at the Congress’s ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, terming it a “tour”, calling Rahul Gandhi “The Prince” and Ramesh a “travel manager”. “India's G20 Presidency is a watershed moment and not an event. A tour and travel manager of ‘The Prince’ waiting for him to come of age will of course fail to differentiate this. Those duty-bound to worship a family are the only ones sulking every time India shines,” he tweeted.As India formally assumed the G20 presidency on 1 December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it will work to further global good through an inclusive, action-oriented, and decisive agenda. Moose wala murder: FBI to hand over Brar to India NEW DELHI, 2 DECEMBER Canada-based Gangster Goldy Brar will soon be handed over by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Indian law enforcement agencies, sources said. Goldy Brar was the alleged mastermind in the coldblooded murder of Punjabi singer, popularly known as Sidhu Moosawala. ANI has learnt from sources that gangster Brar is currently under round-theclock monitoring of the FBI. Brar was tracked by the FBI after he illegally entered the US from Canada. Indian agencies reportedly tipped off the FBI about Brar's movement and the Americans quickly swung into action and tracked him promptly. He was put under surveillance immediately. Sources told ANI that India has provided all the documentation of evidence against Brar to the US authorities and the gangster will soon be handed over to India. He is under constant monitoring of the FBI and cannot leave the United States. Goldy Brar had allegedly coordinated with gangsters Larence Bishnoi and others to murder Sidhu Moosawala earlier this year. Balkaur Singh, father of late singer Sidhu Moosewala, recently announced a reward of Rs 2 crore from his own pocket for anyone handing over gangster Goldy Brar SEE PAGE - 03 to him.