TUESDAY 24 JANUARY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘INDIA 1ST COUNTRY TO NAME ISLANDS AFTER SOLDIERS’ P5 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY WITH LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSTORM IN THE MORNING HOURS AND EVENING HOURS. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 100% P8 AUSTRALIAN OPEN: DJOKOVIC TROUNCES ALEX DE MINAUR P10 PM ceremonially names 21 Andaman & Nicobar Islands P12 Wrestlers protest: Mary Kom to head Oversight Committee for wrestling federation PM also unveiled a model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Min: 37% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE TEMPERATURE Max: 25.9°C (+5) SUN RISES 07:13 hrs MOON RISES 03:54 hrs POLAND PUSHES FOR MORE TANKS FOR KYIV GOYAL ASKS BUSINESSES TO ADOPT GREEN APPROACH NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY Min: 07.6°C (0) SUN SETS 17:54 hrs MOON SETS 20:48 hrs O THUMBNAILS President Droupadi Murmu blesses Rishi Shiv Prasanna during the felicitation ceremony of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi on Monday.  ANI SpiceJet passenger "offloaded" after misbehaving with cabin crew: A passenger on a SpiceJet flight was "offloaded" because of his misbehaviour with one of the female cabin crew members, on Monday, the airline informed in a statement. In the video accessed by ANI, the flight crew and passengers are seen involved in a verbal spat after a male passenger allegedly behaved inappropriately with a female crew member. The passenger was later de-boarded off the flight. "On January 23, 2023, SpiceJet wet-leased Corendon aircraft was scheduled to operate SG-8133 (Delhi - Hyderabad). n Parakram Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today participated in a ceremony to name the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees via video conferencing. During the programme, the Prime Minister also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Admiral D K Joshi, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said the renaming of the islands not only honoured the Param Vir Chakra awardees but also the Indian Army which is defending the country's borders in far flung areas, on the mountains and in the seas, every moment. The Indian Army had to fight wars just after Independence and prove its mettle, he said. It was the duty of the nation to recognise its services and sacrifices appropriately and widely. Today the nation is fulfilling that expectation and the nation is getting its identity from the names of the jawans and the Army, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister lamented the efforts of the previous governments in recognising the country's potential due to decades of inferiority complex and lack of selfconfidence, especially due to dis- torted ideological politics. “Whether it is our Himalayan states, especially the Northeast, or the oceanic island regions like Andaman and Nicobar, the development in such areas was neglected for decades as these were deemed remote, inaccessible and irrelevant areas,” the Prime Minister remarked. He observed that the account of the number of islands and islets in India was not maintained. Giving examples of developed island nations like Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles, the Prime Minister noted that the geographical area of these nations is less than that of Andaman and Nicobar but they have reached new heights with the right use of their resources The Prime Minister underlined that the islands of India have sim- ilar potential and the country is moving forward in this direction. The Prime Minister gave the example of connecting Andaman with fast internet through ‘submarine optical fibre’ which is giving rise to digital payments and other complex services and benefiting the tourists. “Now natural balance and modern resources are being taken forward together in the country”, the Prime Minister said. He highlighted the work done in the last eight years and said that the number of tourists visiting the Andamans has doubled in 2022 when compared to 2014. He noted the boost in employment and income related to tourism. The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that the identity of the place is also getting diversified as curiosity about the history of independence related to Andamans is also increasing. “Now people are also coming here to know and live the history”, he said. The Prime Minister said the first government of Independent India was formed in this part of the country in 1943 and the country is recognising this with pride. He noted that the country paid homage to Netaji by hoisting the flag at the Red Fort on the completion of 75 years of the formation of the Azad Hind Government. The Prime Minister lamented that the Andamans' identity was associated with symbols of slavery instead of memories of the freedom struggle and said, “Even the names of our islands had the imprint of slavery.” The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Port Blair four-five years ago to rename the three main islands and informed, “Today Ross Island has become Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island, Havelock and Neil Islands have become Swaraj and Shaheed Islands.” He noted that the names Swaraj and Shaheed were given by Netaji himself but no importance was given even after Independence. The Prime Minister said “When the Azad Hind Fauj government completed 75 years, our government reinstated these names.” The Prime Minister emphasised the demand to declassify files related to Netaji's life for decades and noted that the work was done with full devotion. “Today, the grand statue of Netaji in front of our democratic institutions and Kartavya Path is reminding us of our duties,” he said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Monday announcedthatworldchampion woman boxer and Olympic bronze medallist MC Mary Kom will head the governmentappointed five-member Oversight Committee to probe into thesexualharassmentallegations levelledagainsttheWrestlingFederationofIndia(WFI)anditschief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. TheOversightCommitteewill complete the enquiry at the earliest, by four weeks. Other four members of the Committee are Olympic bronze medallist grappler Yogeshwar Dutt, former India badminton star Trupti Murgunde, the former CEO of Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Capt Rajagopalan and former SAI Executive Director (Teams) Radhika Sreeman. Murgunde is a member of the government's Mission Olympic Cell member. ThecompositionoftheOversightCommitteewasannounced byUnionSportsMinisterThakur on Monday. "As I had earlier announced, theOversightCommitteewillnot only handle the day-to-day functioning of the WFI but also inquire into the serious allegations made by the wrestlers and submit a report," the Union Sports Minister told the media onMonday.OnMonday,Thakur informed that Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been asked to cease functioning as WFI president till the inquiry by the Oversight Committee is completed and has been told not to interfere in the day-to-day functioning of the WFI. The panel will also administer and manage the day-to-day affairs of the wrestling body "as a purely interim measure". A letter from the Union Sports Ministry noted that wrestlers had made allegations of sexual harassment against the president, officials and coaches of the federation and the Ministry took a serious look into the matter and asked the federation for a reply within 72 hours on January 18. Maha Governor Koshyari ‘I request all Indians to support me to repatriate Netaji’s remains’ Judges don't face elections or public scrutiny: Law Minister wants to quit post & retire STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY AGENCIES MUMBAI, 23 JANUARY Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has conveyed his desire to step down from his post and lead a retired life, an official said here. He expressed his sentiments to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Mumbai last week, seeking to spend the rest of his life in reading, writing, and other leisurely activities. "It was an absolute honour and privilege for me to serve as the Rajya Sevak or Rajyapal of a great State like Maharashtra - the land of saints, social reformers, and valiant fighters. "I can never forget the love and affection I have received from the people of Maharashtra during the last little more than 3 years. During the recent visit of the PM to Mumbai, I have conveyed to him my desire to be discharged of all political responsibilities and to spend the remainder of my life in reading, writing and other activities," the Governor told the PM. He said he always received love and affection from the PM, and expressed hope this continues. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's daughter Dr Anita Bose Pfaff on Monday requested all Indians to help in repatriating Netaji's last remains from Taiwan. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's 126th birth anniversary was celebrated on January 23. Talking to a news agency, Dr Anita Bose Pfaff said, "I request all Indians to support me to repatriate Netaji's remains." She said it is very unfortunate that Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose could not live to see free India. At least it would be a great substitute if his remains eventually could return to his motherland, she added. "And in that way, I support all men and women in India and invite them to participate in it," she said. She requested and invited all Indians to come forward and participate in helping her in repatriating Netaji's last remains to India, his moth- erland. Netaji's daughter also said it was his (Netaji Subhash Chandra's) dream that men and women of all castes and social strata lived equally in the country. She said he can be honoured by putting up impressive statues, and naming islands for freedom fighters. She added, "If we are able to do that(gain equality), then that would be the greatest honour to him". "He (Netaji) could not set foot in free India. I wish at least his remains return to his motherland and find a final resting place. Documentation is proof that he died on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash in present-day Taiwan. I hope his ashes are brought back to the country," added Netaji's daughter when she spoke to the news agency back in September 2022. SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY In the latest, amid the ongoing row between Centre and judiciary over appointment of judges, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said judges do not contest elections or face public scrutiny. Addressing an event of the Delhi Bar Association, Rijiju, in Hindi, said: "Every citizen asks questions to the government and questions should be asked. If the public would not ask questions to the elected government, then who would they ask questions to... we do not step away from questions, we face it because we are elected representatives." Rijiju said he had participated in many events which include Supreme Court Chief Justice and Supreme Court judges and high courts, even there he had emphasised that today he is working as Law Minister but tomorrow if people do not elect his government, then they would sit in the Opposition, and they will question the ruling government. Full dress rehearsal of Republic Day Parade held SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 23 JANUARY The full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade was held at Kartavya Path in Delhi, in which personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy and the Paramilitary forces participated on Monday. Twenty three tableaux from 17 states and various departments of the government took part in the rehearsal which started at 10.30 a.m. Six tableaux of the Central ministries and departments became part of the rehearsal. The country's rich cultural heritage, economic and social progress and internal and external security was depicted in these tableaux. Also on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid PHOTOS BY: tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the occasion of Parakram Jayanti and said: "Today, on Parakram Diwas, I pay homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and recall his unparalleled contribution to India's history." "He will be remembered for his fierce resistance to colonial rule. Deeply influenced by his thoughts, we are work- ing to realise his vision for India." According to the Ministry of Defence, various successes in different fields will be displayed during the Republic Day Parade this year, reflecting the coun- try's geographical and rich cultural diversity. Seventeen tableaux from states and UTs like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kar- nataka and Kerala will present a glimpse of historical heritage. The marching contingent of the Indian Air Force for the parade will be led by Squadron Leader Sindhu Reddy, a woman officer. The four officers and 144 air warriors in the contingent will march in a box formation. According to the Indian Air Force, 45 aircraft including 9 SUBRATA DUTTA Rafale jets and four helicopters will be included in the fly-past at the celebrations. The IL-38 plane of the Indian Air Force will take part in the Republic Day parade for the first and perhaps the last time. Formations of the flag, Rudra, eagle, Tiranga, Garuda, Bhima, Amrit, and Vijay among others will be made in the flypast. Six tableaux from the Ministry of Culture, Central Armed Police Forces, Narcotics Control Bureau, Central Public Works Department, and Indian Council of Agricultural Research will show the work and achievements of the last few years. The tableaux of States and Union Territories have been selected for the Republic Day Parade on a zonal basis, in which the States and Union Territories have been classified into six divisions -- Northern Zone, Central Zone, Eastern Zone, Western Zone, Southern Zone and North Eastern Zone. Generally, around 15 tableaux are selected from the States/UTs depending on the proportional size of each region. In the selection process, an expert committee examined the tableaux proposals of various States and Union Territories. Apart from this, several rounds of discussions were held by the committee members with the representatives of the states on the theme, presentation, artistic performance and technical aspects of the tableau.