CMYK MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR MEHBOOBA ACCUSES BJP OF ‘BETRAYAL’ POWER OF PRAYER AND THE MARTYRDOM OF GANDHI P7 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 28 °C and 15 °C respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY P5 Min. 36 % Max:27.7 °C (+1) SUN RISES 06:17 hrs MOON RISES 11:30 hrs Min:17.2°C (+3) SUN SETS 17:23 hrs MOON SETS 00:2 hrs Full Moon on 08 February THUMBNAILS President Droupadi Murmu poses for pictures as she graced the opening of the Amrit Udyan at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Sunday.  SUBRATA DUTTA Air Asia flight makes emergency landing at Lucknow after bird hit: A Kolkata-bound AirAsia flight made an emergency landing at Lucknow airport after suffering a bird hit soon after take-off on Sunday, an airline official said.All the around 170 passengers on the Airbus aircraft are safe, the airline said.“Flight i5-319, scheduled to operate from Lucknow to Kolkata, encountered a bird strike during the take-off roll. As a result, the aircraft returned to the bay and was grounded for detailed inspection,” an AIX Connect spokesperson said. Revolution is on its way: PM on ‘Milletpreneurs’ Modi chairs meeting of Council of Ministers ahead of Budget SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 29 JANUARY rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that a new revolution is on its way as people are widely participating in the campaigns promotingYoga and Millets by making them an essential part of their lives. “A revolution is on its way as people have been participating in both campaigns. Just as people have made yoga and fitness a part of their lives by taking active participation on a large scale; similarly people are adopting millet on a large,” the PM said in his 97th edition of the Mann ki Baat programme today. “The United Nations has taken up the decision to promote both International Yoga Day and InternationalYear of Millets after India's proposal. Yoga is also related to health and the millets also play an important role in health,” he said. The government of India under Modi spearheaded the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year P SNS & AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 29 JANUARY improved in J&K. He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was from south to north but it had a national effect as it got tremendous response and love from the people. We saw the resilience and strength of the people of India during this journey. We also got to hear about the issues being faced by farmers, and unemployed youth in the country'. Speaking about incursions by China in eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of his Council of Ministers at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the national capital on Sunday and stressed the need for “effective communication” with the public including social media. According to the sources, the Prime Minister also directed the Ministers to take the work done by the Cen- tre to the people and apprise them about the government schemes. Top bureaucrats were also present in the meeting.“Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba made a presentation today on the central government schemes, their reach and impact. Some important issues including inflation where India stands in comparison to the world and the preNDA era before 2014 were also mentioned in the presentation,” sources said. small farmers.“A resident of the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, KV Rama Subba Reddy left a well-paying job for millet. The taste of millet made by mother's hands was so overpowering, such that she started a millet processing unit in her village. Similarly, Sharmila Oswal from Alibaug in Maharashtra has also been contributing in a unique way to the production of millets for the last 20 years,” he said.In the first Mann Ki Baat programme of the year, the Prime Minister expressed his delight as how people have been liking various eateries made with millet.He said that the people are liking khakra, biscuits and laddoos made by Aland Bhootai (Aland Bhutai) Millets Farmers Producer Company under the supervision of the Indian Institute of Millets Research in Karnataka’s Kalaburgi.Further mentioning about a Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO),he highlighted an FPO in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur which has been making eight types of millets flour and its dishes. NEW DELHI , 29 JANUARY The United Nations has taken up the decision to promote both International Yoga Day and International Year of Millets after India's proposal. Yoga is also related to health and the millets also play an important role in health of Millets and the proposal of India was supported by 72 countries. UNGA declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets back in March 2021. The International Year of Millets 2023 officially kicked off on January 1, 2023. Mr. Modi cited the example of Raigad's Millet Cafe in Chhattisgarh and said that people are now making millets a part of their diet.The huge impact of this change is also visible. The small farmers who traditionally used to produce millets are very BJY ends, Rahul hoists National Flag in J&K Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ended his Bharat Jodo Yatra a day ahead of schedule on Sunday, hoisting the National Flag at the Clock Tower near the Lal Chowk in Srinagar.An unexpectedly large number of people joined the Yatra at the Pantha Chowk when it headed towards Srinagar in the morning. The Yatra that began from Kanyakumari culminated after the flag hoisting. Speaking later to mediapersons, Mr Gandhi challenged Home Minister Amit Shah to undertake a foot march from Jammu to Lal Chowk as BJP claims that all is good in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Mr Gandhi said targeted killings and bomb blasts were continuing in J&K and it was improper on the part of BJP to claim that the situation has P11 P12 India clinch inaugural U19 Women’s T20 WC title In the 97th edition of Prime Minister’s Mann ki Baat programme Max. 89 % TEMPERATURE DJOKOVIC WINS 10TH MELBOURNE TITLE UK LEADER FIRES PARTY CHAIRMAN Rahul said that “Government's approach of denying that Chinese have taken our land is extremely dangerous." It is perhaps only the PM who believes that China has done nothing on our land, he said. “Such approach will give China more confidence to do more aggressive things. We have to deal with the Chinese firmly and firmly tell them they are sitting on our land and this won't be tolerated." Replying to questions on disunity among the opposition, Mr Gandhi said though opposition parties may have their differences, they will stand united against the RSSBJP.Earlier, in the morning, accompanied by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and several Congress leaders, Rahul unfurled the Tricolour at 12 noon to mark the end of the footmarch that began on 7 September from Kanyakumari and covered more than 4080 kilometres. excited with this initiative as they feel empowered now, he said. He further coined the term “Milletpreneurs” and remarked, “Odisha's Milletpreneurs are making headlines, a selfhelp group of about 1,500 women of the tribal district Sundargarh is associated with Odisha Millets Mission. They make biscuits, cakes and other eatables from the millets.” Mr. Modi also cited the names of other “Milletpreneurs” and mentioned how the production of millets has been a source of income for Odisha minister shot dead by cop INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE POTCHEFSTROOM, 29 JANUARY India’s quest for a maiden world title in women's cricket finally came to an end on Sunday when they defeated England by seven wickets in a low-scoring finale to emerge as the winner of the inaugural ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup at the JB Marks Oval here. Nearly 18 years after India first made it to the final of a World Cup through the 50-over event in 2005, Shafali Verma & Co produced a superb bowling performance coupled with some outstanding fielding to bowl out England for just 68. Fast bowler Titas Sadhu, offspinner Archana Devi and legspinner Parshavi Chopra were accurate in their line, and length and found enough help to pick two wickets each. Shafali, left-arm spinners Mannat Kashyap and Sonam Yadav took a scalp each in a dominating bowling performance. The fielding, despite a few blips, was athletic with some exceptional catches taken as England never got going with the bat. In chasing 69, on a slow pitch and aiding spinners, India lost Shafali and Shweta Sehrawat in the first four overs. But Soumya Tiwari (24 not out) and Gongadi Trisha (24) stitched a vital partnership and shared a 46-run stand for the third wicket to complete the chase in 14 overs and give India their first-ever World Cup title in women’s cricket.Titas made a breakthrough on the fourth ball of the innings by having Liberty Heap mistime the heave and give her a simple return catch. Apart from Titas and Archana keeping things tight, India were also sharp with their ground fielding. Niamh Holland walked across in a bid to play a scoop off Archana. Instead, the bowler found turn and bounce outside off and made the ball crash into the stumps. On the last ball of the over, Archana gave some width and flight to entice captain Grace Scrivens in dancing down the pitch and loft over longoff.The left-handed batter fell into the trap and was caught by Trisha running in from long-off and making the dive to complete the catch. India could have got their fourth wicket in the Power-play if keeper Richa Ghosh hadn't dropped a regulation catch of Ryana Macdonald Gay on nought, coming off Titas in the fifth over. But the right-arm fast-bowler bounced back in the seventh over by castling Seren Smale with an inswinger. While all England batters perished after struggling, Ryana began to hit boundaries against spinners by dancing down the pitch to loft twice while using her crease to hit a delicate late cut.But England continued to sink as Parshavi trapped Charis Pavely lbw on the stroke of drinks break at the halfway mark. In the 12th over, Parshavi struck again as Ryana looked to loft over off-side, but Archana dived full length in the air to take a onehanded stunner.Two overs later, Soumya produced a sharp direct hit from cover to run out Josie Groves at the non-striker's end. Brief scores: England 68 all out in 17.1 overs (Ryana Macdonald-Gay 19, Titas Sadhu 2-6, Parshavi Chopra 2-13) lost to India 69/3 in 14 overs (Soumya Tiwari 24 not out, GongadiTrisha 24; Hannah Baker 1-13, Grace Scrivens 1-13) by seven wickets. BEATING RETREAT STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JHARSUGUDA, 29 JANUARY Odisha health and family welfare minister Naba Kishore Das succumbed to bullet injuries after he was shot by an Assistant Sub-Inspector of police Gopal Krushna Das in broad daylight at Brajrajnagar on Sunday.The shocking incident of a minister being shot by a policeman is the first of its kind in the state. Das was at Brajrajnagar to attend an official function. He reached the Gandhi Chowk where BJD activists greeted him with garlands and even as he stepped out of his car, ASI Gopal Krushna Das who was in uniform fired twice from close range and another two rounds even as he was being caught by others.The minister collapsed and was rushed to the Jharsuguda District Headquarters Hospital from where he was airlifted to Apollo Hospital, Bhubaneswar.“The injuries were repaired and steps were taken to improve the pumping of the heart. He was given urgent ICU care. But despite best of efforts, he could not be revived and succumbed to his injuries” said a release issued by the hospital around 7.15 pm. Doctors who operated on him said a single bullet had entered and exited the body injuring the heart and left lung causing massive internal bleeding. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal, ministers, MLAs from across the political divide rushed to the hospital . A glimpse of the Beating Retreat ceremony amidst rainfall, at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on Sunday.  ANI The Statesman Vintage & Classic Car Rally works its charm on city STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE morning, from where they were flagged off by the GOC-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, to rapturous KOLKATA, 29 JANUARY A bright and sunny Sunday morning provided the perfect setting as The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally returned to Kolkata after a two-year gap, giving classic and vintage vehicle enthusiasts an opportunity to indulge in their favourite addiction and ordinary Kolkatans a dose of the old world charm that these vehicles, like nothing else, embody. Over 120 vintage and classic vehicles participated in the 52nd edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally, assembling in the morning at Fort William’s Eastern Command Stadium in the c h e e r s from a thousands-strong crowd. The vehicles covered a 28-kilometre long route, extending to Golbari in the north to Tollygunge in the south of the city before returning to the Stadium. Many of the crowd that gathered at the stadium were as knowledgeable about the vehicles as the owners themselves. For many also, the event was selfie heaven. The vintage and class i c beauties, with their shining chrome and immaculate paint jobs provided the perfect backdrop for a selfie or two, or indeed a dozen.Some vehi- cles were immediate crowd favourites, among them a 1921 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost decked up to look like a chariot and Statesman Rally veterans like the 1906 Renault Freres owned by the Late Sashi Kanoria and the beautiful 1913 Gebruder Stoewer belonging to Ananda Chowdhury. Among the visitors, some were special. West Bengal minister for of I n f o r m a t i o n Technology and Electronics and Tourism, Babul Supriyo, was there and briefly addressed the gathering and even sung a few lines. Also present was Smita Tharoor, sister of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, back attending The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally after a gap of 40 years. Ms Tharoor, now based in London, spoke fondly of her childhood, when The Statesman Vintage Rally was one of the highlights of the year. “We used to dress up and take pictures,” she said. The Tharoors have a longstanding connection with The Statesman; Shashi and Smita Tharoor’s father, Chandran Tharoor, spent 25 years of his career in the newspaper, culminating as group advertising CMYK manager. Among the many categories of awards on offer, a 1933 Austin Ten owned by Mr Chandra Prakash Verma won The Statesman Overall Performance of the Day. CESC TROPHY for runnerup to the best Overall performance of the day went to a 1935 Austin 8 owned by Mr D K Paul. Mr Ananda Chowdhury’s Gebruder Stoewer drove off with the DVC Trophy for best Road Section performance for Cars Built upto 1922 and the Gainwell Trophy for the Best Maintained Car Built up to 1922. The Statesman Trophy for best overall performance by a Car, built between 1940 and 1975 went to a 1950 Austin owned by Mr D Chatterjee In the Indian Heritage section, the trophy for Best Overall performance of the day went to a 1959 Fiat owned by S Roy, while the Pressman Advertising Trophy for best turn-out of car driver and pas- sengers (Fancy Dress) went to a 1970 Volkswagen owned by Brinda Ganguly Sarkar and driven by Suda Kshina Mukherjee. Mr Ravindra Kumar, Editor and Managing Director, The Statesman, addressing the gathering at the prize distribution ceremony, thanked the participants, spectators, the Army and everyone else involved for making the Rally a success. He also noted that suggestions have been made to streamline the organisation of the Rally and pledged to address them. (More on Pages 3, 10)