SUNDAY 22 JANUARY 2023 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR NIKKI HALEY ACCUSED OF PLOTTING A BID TO BECOME TRUMP'S VP IT’S TIME P6 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. MIST IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 23 AND 08 DEGREES CELCIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY P10 Min. 43% Max: 23.3°C (+2) SUN RISES 07:14 hrs MOON RISES 08:36 hrs Min: 6.2°C (-1) SUN SETS 17:52 hrs MOON SETS 18:26 hrs Former judges, babus slam BBC film on PM THUMBNAILS India skipper Rohit Sharma (51) plays a shot during the 2nd ODI against New Zealand in Raipur on Saturday. India won comprehensively, by eight wickPG12 ets, to clinch the ODI series.  ANI Delhi L-G chairs meeting of Yamuna panel: The G NGT-constituted high-level committee for Yamuna rejuvenation, headed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, has finalised a time-bound action plan of eight parameters, with monthly targets till June. The parameters include augmenting sewage treatment, sewage treatment plants, tapping and cleaning of drains, sewage network in unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters, septage management, minimum environmental flow. (SeePage2) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY H itting out at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of over 300 former judges, ex-bureaucrats and veterans on Saturday said the documentary is not a “neutral critique”. A statement signed by 13 former judges, 133 exbureaucrats, including diplomats, and 156 veterans said: “Regardless of whom you, as an individual Indian, might have voted for, the Prime Minister of India is the Prime Minister of your country, our country. We cannot allow just about anyone to run amok with their deliberate bias, their vacuous reasoning....” Their statement alleged that the BBC series reeks of motivated distortion that is "as mindnumbingly unsubstantiated as it is nefarious". Former Rajasthan High Court chief justice Anil Deo Singh, former home secretary L C Goyal, former foreign secretary Shashank, former RAW chief Sanjeev The Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos which published the first episode of the BBC Documentary India: The Modi Question Tripathi and former NIA director Yogesh Chander Modi are among those who have signed the statement.“This documentary is not a neutral critique and is not about exercising creative freedom or a divergent, anti-establishment point of view,” the statement said. Earlier, the Centre issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos which published the first episode of the BBC Documentary India: The Modi Question, informed sources said.As per the sources, orders were also issued to Twitter for blocking of over 50 tweets containing the links of the concerned YouTube videos.The directions were reportedly issued by Secretary, Information and Broadcasting on Friday using the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021. Both YouTube and Twitter have complied with the directions, the sources said. Reliable sources have confirmed that senior officials of multiple Ministries, including MEA, MHA and MIB, examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court of India, sow divisions among various Indian communities, and make unsubstantiated allegations regarding actions of foreign Governments in India. The documentary was accordingly found to be undermining sovereignty and integrity of India, and having the potential to adversely impact India's friendly relations with foreign States as also public order within the country. The documentary produced by British Broadcasting Corporation, UK's Public Broadcaster, has been earlier termed by the External Affairs Ministry a "propaganda piece" that 9 injured in twin IED blasts in Jammu STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NIA and SIA teams and dog squad of the Army have reached the spot, JAMMU, 21 JANUARY Amidst the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi and upcoming Republic Day celebrations, nine persons were injured on Saturday in twin explosions in the busy Narwal area of Jammu. In another incident in the border district of Poonch, an explosion was reported in the house of a former MLA. These incidents have happened at a time when the security forces were already on high alert following the targeted killing of seven Hindus by terrorists in Rajouri, and in light of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and upcoming Republic Day. These are suspected to be IED or sticky bomb explosions that took place in two cars that were badly damaged and their parts blown off. Several two-wheelers were also badly damaged.However, the police are yet to confirm whether these were IEDs.ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh said two blasts took place. These blasts occurred within a gap of 15 minutes.The high intensity explosions caused panic in the In another incident in the border district of Poonch, an explosion was reported in the house of a former MLA Choudhary Mohammad Akram area. The injured have been shifted to the government medical college (GMC) for treatment. Doctors said all nine injured have splinter injuries and three of them also had fracture in their lower limbs. The explosions occurred near an Army camp and also near the route through which the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi will pass on 24 January.The Congress has announced that the Yatra will continue as per schedule. A high level team of Congress leaders had recently met the Lt. Governor and discussed the security for the Yatra. NIA and SIA teams and dog squad of the Army have reached the spot, which is not very far from Sidhra where four heavily armed Pakistani terrorists of the Jaish-e-Mohammad travelling to Kashmir in a truck were recently killed in an encounter with security forces.Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha has condemned the incident and announced relief of Rs 50,000 to each injured. Reports said the blasts occurred near the Yard number 7 in Narwal Transport area where some vehicles were parked outside a vehicle repair shop. Army, CRPF and police have cordoned the area.Seven injured have been identified: Sohail Kumar (35), Sushil Kumar (26), Vishap Partap (25), Vinod kumar (52), Unnamed Andaman islands to get names of Param Vir Chakra awardees STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in a ceremony to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on 23 January, Parakram Diwas, via video conferencing. During the programme, the Prime Minister will also unveil the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. Keeping in mind the historic significance of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and to honour the memory of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ross Islands was renamed as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep by the Prime Minister during his visit to the Andamans in 2018. Neil Island and Havelock Island were also renamed as Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.Giving due respect to real-life heroes of the country PM will participate in a ceremony to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on 23 January, Parakram Diwas, via video conferencing has always been accorded the highest priority by the Prime Minister. In this spirit, it has been decided to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of the island group after the 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees. The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. The largest unnamed island will be named after the first Param Vir Chakra awardee, the second largest unnamed island will be named after the second Param Vir Chakra awardee, and so on. This step will be an everlasting tribute to the heroes, several of whom had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. The 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees whose names will be given to the islands are Major Somnath Sharma; Subedar and Hony Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM; 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane; Nayak Jadunath Singh; Company Havildar Major Piru Singh; Capt G S Salaria; Lt. Colonel (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa; Subedar Joginder Singh; Major Shaitan Singh; CQMH. Abdul Hamid; Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore; Lance Naik Albert Ekka; Major Hoshiar Singh; 2nd Lt. Arun Khetrapal; Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon; Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran; Naib Subedar Bana Singh; Captain Vikram Batra; Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey; Subedar Major (then RifleMan) Sanjay Kumar; and Subedar Major Retd (Hony Captain) Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav. Arun Kumar (25), Amit Kumar (40) and Rajesh Kumar (35). Forensic experts have also reached the spot and taken samples from the blast spot. Home Minister Amit Shah had recently visited Jammu and reviewed the security scenario with top brass of Army, BSF, CRPF, J&K Police, central and state intelligence agencies. Mr Shah had announced that a 360 degrees security net will be worked out for Jammu. Meanwhile, an explosion was reported at the house of a former legislator in Poonch district. Former Surankote MLA and prominent Gujjar leader Choudhary Mohammad Akram said the incident occurred around 7.30 p.m. on Friday and his family had a narrow escape as splinters pierced the ceiling of several rooms of his house in Lassana village. Mr Akram, who resigned from the Congress in solidarity with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad last year but later distanced himself from Azad’s Democratic Azad Party, demanded a thorough probe into the incident. 1st G20 Working Group on Environment will meet in B’luru NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY Under India's Presidency of the G-20, the first of the four meetings of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) will be held at Bengaluru from 9 to 11 February, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) announced today. The discussions at the ECSWG meetings will focus on the agenda “Promotion of Blue Economy along with Coastal Sustainability, Restoration of Degraded Lands and Ecosystems and Enhancement of Biodiversity and Strengthening of Circular Economy.”Leading into the 1st Meeting in Bengaluru, the Mysuru Zoo in coordination with the Central Zoo Authority organised a twoday National Conference for Zoo Directors of India on 18 and 19 of January last. SNS HOCKEY WC: BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL AS INDIA TAKE ON NZ P5 In joint statement, they said the documentary is not a ‘neutral critique’ Max.94% TEMPERATURE ‘BJY A HUGE SUCCESS, REHABILITATED RAHUL GANDHI’S IMAGE’ lacks objectivity and reflects colonial mindset. The UK’s national broadcaster aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat chief minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.Rejecting the controversial British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India on Thursday termed it “a biased propaganda piece” saying it can’t dignify such a film. Addressing a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this documentary show, based on some internal UK report, reflects the colonial mindset.“The documentary is a reflection on the agency that has made it. We think it is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, lack of objectivity and continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible. Can’t dignify such a film,” Bagchi said in response to a question on the documentary series. P12 WFI rejects allegations against chief, claims ‘hidden agenda’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 JANUARY Rejecting all the allegations, including that of sexual harassment, made by top Indian wrestlers against its president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on Saturday said “there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement” in the WFI. In a late night development,the Union Ministry of Sports announced the suspension of Vinod Tomar, assistant secretary of theWFI, ANI reported.The reason for the suspension was not immediately known.Tomar earlier on Saturday had termed the charges against the federation's president 'baseless'. The protesting wrestlers have accused the WFI of arbitrariness, mismanagement, misgovernance and bias in selection as well as harassment of wrestlers by its coaches and president. “The WFI is managed by an elected body as per its constitution, and therefore, there is no scope for arbitrariness and mismanagement in WFI by anyone individually, including the president,” the WFI said in its response to the Union Sports Ministry. The statement said the federation has a Sexual Harassment Committee for redressal of grievances in respect of Sexual Harassment but no complaint of any such nature as has been aired by the protesting wrestlers has been received so far. “Hence, any such media reports without any specific complaint received can never be taken note of by the WFI Sexual Harassment Committee nor such allegations can be affirmed nor confirmed except to be denied having been so made as a kind of motivated, biased, unfounded, untrue and false bald allegations solely with a view to harm the President, WFI or the Coaches of WFI," the statement said. In the letter, the WFI further stated that the “manner and method of protesters/wrestlers to air their allegation by sitting at Dharna and also doing Press Conference certainly is part of a deeper and larger conspiracy” by vested interest either by "putting pressure on some weak wrestlers for vested interest or for gaining ground for themselves by maligning and defaming the management of WFI or its President or the Coach- es and not otherwise.” Meanwhile, Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia told a news agency that there will be no protest on Sunday as the wrestlers have "full trust" in the government. “We will wait for the time given to us, the one month's time. We will wait for justice and then decide what to do next. We have full trust in our government that justice will be done. No protest is taking place tomorrow.Nothing such is happening,” Bajrang Punia said. The wrestlers, who were protesting at Jantar Mantar, called off their protest after a meeting with Union sports minister Anurag Thakur.In a late night Presser on Friday, Mr Thakur, who was accompanied by the protesting wrestlers, said an Oversight Committee will be set up by the Ministry for the WFI (in photo). The committee will inquire into the allegations made by prominent sportspersons of sexual misconduct, financial irregularities and administrative lapses and undertake dayto-day administration of the WFI. It will revisit the issues raised by players.Mr Thakur said the Oversight Committee will complete the enquiry in four weeks and till then, WFI President will step aside from the day-today functioning of the federation.