CMYK FRIDAY 13 JANUARY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘POLICY ON SETTING UP ETHANOL PUMPS IS IN WORKS’ AMIT SHAH CHAIRS HIGH-LEVEL MEET OVER JOSHIMATH P5 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 26 °C and 13 °C respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY P8 Min. 37 % Max: 25.7 °C (0) SUN RISES 06:19 hrs MOON RISES 21:47 hrs Min:12.4 °C (-2) SUN SETS 17:11 hrs MOON SETS 09:49 hrs Full Moon on 22 January THUMBNAILS A fan with his face painted in the colours of the Tricolour watch the 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka, at Eden Gardens on Thursday. ANI Global South has largest stakes in future, says PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JANUARY rime Minister Narendra Modi today said the world was in a state of crisis and it was difficult to predict how long this state of instability would last.“We, the Global South, have the largest stakes in the future. Three-fourths of humanity lives in our countries. We should also have an equivalent voice. Hence, as the eightdecade-old model of global governance slowly changes, we should try to shape the emerging order,” the Prime Minister said. The PM was addressing the two-day virtual Voice of Global South Summit 2023 of more than 120 countries being hosted by India. The Global South comprises mostly countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. Mr Modi noted that the world has turned the page on another difficult year, that saw war, terrorism and geo-political tensions. There were other worrying issues like rising food, fertiliser and fuel prices; climate-change- P ‘Yuva Shakti is driving force of India's journey’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday remembered Swami Vivekanand on his birth anniversary and said that his panIndia visits are a testimony of the oneness of India's consciousness and spirit for centuries.The Prime Minister noted that this spirit is an immortal example of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.“Swami Vivekan- and had a unique relationship with Karnataka. He visited Karnataka and this region several times. Maharaj of Mysore had also supported Swamiji for his foreign trip. His pan-India visits are also testimony that our consciousness was one PM Narendra Modi addresses at for centuries. Our spirits were one as a nation. the opening session of Voice of This is an immortal example of Ek Bharat Global South Summit 2023.  ANI Shrestha Bharat. The country is taking this feelThe Global South comprises ing with new resolutions in Amrit Kaal," PM mostly countries in Asia, Africa, Modi said after inaugurating the 26th Nationand South America al Youth Festival 2023 in Hubballi . See Pg5 driven natural disasters, and the lasting economic impact of the Covid pandemic. He observed that most of the global challenges have not been created by the Global South but they affected the countries falling in this category. “We have seen this in the impacts of the pandemic,climate change,terrorism, and even the Ukraine conflict. The search for solutions also does not factor in our role or our voice,” he added.Noting Terrorism is Pak’s state policy: India at BIMSTEC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JANUARY In remarks clearly aimed at Pakistan, New Delhi on Thursday expressed concern that some countries, their governments and their agencies have made terrorism their state policy. “State-sponsored terror from our western borders routines uses Unmanned Aerial Systems, for cross-border trafficking of drugs and arms and for carrying out terrorist attacks~a classic example of the synergy between terrorism and transnational crime,” Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry said while addressing the tenth meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (JWGCTTC). He said India's critical infrastructure was also witnessing growing and repeated cyber attacks by malicious state actors. All these activities directly compromise a state’s collective security Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) in the External Affairs Ministry and prosperity, he added. Describing terrorism as the worst violation of human rights and personal freedoms, Mr Verma said terrorism and transnational crime remain one of the foremost challenges to regional peace and prosperity. “No state is immune to acts of terrorism, many of which are encouraged and sponsored beyond the borders of the affected state. Transnational crimes take the face of trafficking in humans, arms, drugs, minerals, wildlife, counterfeit goods, or even fraud and extortion, money laundering and cybercrime. Often, forces of terror and transnational crime combine, embracing advances in technology before others,” he added. The Indian diplomat asserted that India was committed to fighting the scourge of terrorism in all its forms. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say: “We consider that even a single attack is one too many, and even a single life lost is one too many, So, we will not rest till terrorism is uprooted.” India, Mr Verma said, has established a policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ against terrorism, through a strong framework of counter-terror laws and empowerment of agencies. “We are committed to the common fight against global terrorism, including through combating the financing of terrorism, intelligence sharing and cooperating in investigative and judicial processes, capacity building and preventing misuse of modern technologies by terrorists and transnational crime syndicates.” that in the 20th Century, the developed countries were the drivers of the global economy, he said most of these advanced economies were today slowing down. “Clearly, in the 21st Century, global growth will come from countries of the South,” he added. The PM pointed out that India has always shared its developmental experience with “our brothers” of the Global South. “Our development partnerships cover all geo- CBI registers FIR against ex-Fin Secy in alleged corruption case NEW DELHI,12 JANUARY The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against Arvind Mayaram, then Secretary to the Department of Economic Affairs, unknown officials of the Finance Ministry, RBI and the De La Rue International Limited-UK, for alleged irregularities in supply of exclusive colour shift security thread for the Indian currency, officials said. The CBI FIR into the matter reads that a complaint dated February 14, 2017, was received from Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary and CVO, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, North Block, New Delhi. On the basis of this complaint, a preliminary enquiry vide was conducted by CBI in Delhi.The enquiry revealed that the Government of India entered into an agreement with M/s De La Rue International Ltd., UK (now here by mentioned as M/s De La Rue) for the supply of exclusive colour shift security thread for Indian Bank Notes in the year 2004 for a period of five years. SNS & AGENCIES (SEE PG5) Adopted measures, increased vigilance to curb menace of money power: EC to SC SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 12 JANUARY The Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it has time and again adopted various measures to curb the menace of money power in polls and one of the reasons for more money being seized today ahead of all elections is due to its increased vigilance and efforts. The poll body’s response came on a plea seeking directions to come up with a comprehensive plan to curb excessive poll spending by political parties and candidates, and action against erring candidates and parties. The EC, in an affidavit, contended that such a mechanism already exists and it has substantially managed to curb excessive poll spending by political parties. P11 Modi was addressing the virtual Voice of Global South Summit 2023 of more than 120 nations Max. 95 % TEMPERATURE JILL BIDEN HAS TWO CANCEROUS LESIONS REMOVED: WH ECI has effectively enforced the Election Expenditure Monitoring mechanism in the elections since the general elections to Bihar Legislative Assembly, 2010. One of the reasons for more money being seized today is the increased vigilance and efforts, it said.“The ECI has time and again adopted various measures to curb the menace of money power in elections and will continue to do so in future...,", said an affidavit filed by V K Pandey, Director, Law, EC.The poll body stated that it is seriously concerned about the increasing use of money power in elections.“To curb this menace, the ECI has effectively and successfully enforced the Election Expenditure Monitoring mechanism in the elections since the general elections to Bihar Legislative Assembly, 2010. In order to keep the election expenditure within the statutory limit prescribed under Rule 90 of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 and also to curb excess expenditure/unaccounted expenditure, the ECI has introduced a robust mechanism for election expenditure monitoring during elections," it said in the affidavit. The poll body added that this includes deployment of expenditure observers, video surveillance teams, video viewing teams, accounting teams, complaint monitoring and call centre, media certification, and monitoring committee, flying squads and static surveillance teams. It added that each candidate has to open a separate account for poll expenditure and maintain a register for day to day expenditure. “The Election Expenditure Statements of National Political Parties and State Recognised Political Parties are uploaded on the website of the Election Commission of India and Chief Electoral Officer of State/UT concerned respectively. “Incurring or authorising of expenditure by a candidate in contravention of Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 is a 'corrupt practice' under Section 123(6) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” it added. The EC said that it requisitions services of all law enforcement agencies and deploys their teams for election expenditure monitoring in poll-bound states and Union Territories. CMYK graphies and diverse sectors. We supplied medicines and vaccines to over 100 countries during the pandemic. India has always stood for a greater role of developing countries in determining our common future,” he added. Noting that India was beginning its G20 Presidency this year, he said it was natural that New Delhi's aim was to amplify the Voice of the Global South. “For our G-20 Presidency, we have chosen the theme of – "One Earth, One Family, One Future”. This is in line with our civilisational ethos. We believe the path to realising ‘oneness’ is through humancentric development,” he added. The PM was of the firm view that people of the Global South should no longer be excluded from the fruits of development. To re-energise the world, he said the Global South should together call for a global agenda of ‘Respond, Recognise, Respect and Reform’: respond to the priorities of the Global South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda; recognise that the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities’ applied to all global challenges; respect the sovereignty of all nations, rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes; and reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant. Despite the challenges the developing world faced, Modi said he was optimistic that the time of the Global South was coming. SLOW, UNSTEADY INDIA GET OVER THE LINE P12 ‘LAC situation stable yet unpredictable; India has ramped up infrastructure’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 JANUARY Army Chief, Gen Manoj Pande today said the situation along the LAC with China was stable but unpredictable while emphasising that India has ramped up infrastructure and deployed adequate troops and equipment to deal with any situation on the border. Addressing a Press conference ahead of the Army Day on 15 January, he noted that the two countries have been able to resolve five of the seven issues along the LAC through military and diplomatic talks and remain engaged to settle the remaining issues. Gen Pande acknowledged that there has been a marginal increase in the deployment of Chinese troops in the eastern sector but asserted that the Indian Army was adequately deployed there to meet any eventuality. The Army chief said the Indian soldiers deployed along the LAC have been able to prevent any attempts by the “adversary” to unilaterally change the status quo. “The Indian Army is closely watching the situation at Doklam and monitoring Chinese activities there,” he added. The infrastructure devel- opment carried out by India along the LAC comprised roads, bridges, tunnels as well heated shelters and habitats for its troops, he said, adding nearly Rs 1,300 crores have been spent on building infrastructure, including habitat, in eastern Ladakh in recent months. About the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Line of Control (LoC), Gen Pande said the ceasefire agreement that Pakistan signed in February 2021 was still holding well. However, cross-border support for terrorism and terror infrastructure remained an issue. He also said that peace has returned to most parts of the North-east. The Army chief also disclosed that a proposal for the induction of women personnel into artillery units has been sent to the government.