MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P11 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 32 AND 13 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95% TEMPERATURE Max: 32.3°C (+7) SUN RISES 06:48 hrs MOON RISES 11:18 hrs elhi Deputy chief minister and education minister Manish Sisodia was today arrested by the CBI after eight hours of questioning in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy case, intensifying the running feud between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP. Mr Sisodia is expected to be produced before a court tomorrow. The AAP cried foul, alleging that the arrest was scripted by the ruling dispensation at the Centre in view of the growing popularity of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Mr Sisodia. “We are not scared of what the BJP-led government was doing against our leaders. We will continue to work for the welfare of the people,” AAP spokesperson Atishi said at a Press conference. However, BJP spokespersons asserted that Mr Sisodia would have to face the law, alleging that he was clearly involved in the scam in the excise policy. “Why are they (AAP leaders) scared of facing the law if they are clean?” BJP MP Parvesh Verma asked. The arrest obviously Artistes perform Chhau dance as they participate in Shree Shyam Fagun Holy Dhwaja Nishan Shobha Yatra, in Patna on Sunday.  ANI At least 45 dead after migrant boat breaks apart off coast of Italy: At least 43 migrants perished when their overcrowded wooden boat smashed into rocky reefs just off southern Italy at dawn Sunday, the Italian Coast Guard said.“As of now, 80 persons were recovered alive ~ some of whom succeeded in reaching the shore after the shipwreck ~ and 43 bodies were found along the shore,” the Coast Guard statement said shortly before noon. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said that the migrants were crowded into a 20-meter (66-foot) -long boat in “adverse weather condiPG10 tions.” Kashmiri pandit gunned down in J&K’s Pulwama A Kashmiri Pandit working as a security guard at a bank was shot dead by terrorists in Achan area of Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday morning, a police officer said. The deceased was identified as Sanjay Sharma, son of Kashinath Sharma, and was a bank security guard by profession, the officer added. Security has been tightened and the entire area has been cordoned off to arrest the attackers. The Kashmir police said that the terrorists opened fire on Sanjay Sharma, a member of Kashmiri Pandit community, while he was on his way to a local market in Achan. The injured person was rushed to a nearby hospital, with the help of locals, for treatment, where he succumbed to bullet injuries.There was an armed guard in his village, and further details of the incident are awaited, Kashmir police said. Earlier four days ago, terrorists opened fire and injured I want to tell Kejriwalji, please continue with what you are doing. Keep fighting for the welfare of the people D THUMBNAILS PULWAMA, 26 FEBRUARY The deceased was identified as Sanjay Sharma, a bank security guard by profession a man, Asif Ganai, outside a mosque in the Anantnag district. The injured survived the injuries.Jammu and Kashmir police had recently arrested three militant associates of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen group in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, a week ago. Kashmir police had said that the operation was commenced after receiving a tip-off on militants carrying illegal arms and ammunition. Following the input, the Kulgam police team launched a hunt near Daderkoot Alamganj to arrest them. The police confiscated a pistol, two pistol magazines, and 13 live pistol rounds from the possession of the accused. The police said that all the accused were detained and the investigation revealed that they indulged in terror crimes and even provided support to terrorist organisations. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 3 MANISH SISODIA DELHI DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrives at CBI headquarSUBRATA DUTTA ters for questioning on Sunday. did not come as a surprise to the AAP as Mr Sisodia had himself expressed apprehension about it this morning, much before his questioning by the CBI. Mr Kejriwal too was apprehensive as he assured Sisodia that the party would take care of his family. “When you (Sisodia) go to jail for the country and society, it is not a curse, it is a glory. I pray to God that you return from jail soon. Children, parents and all of us in Delhi will be waiting for you,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted. Delhi Police had made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order in case of an arrest, including the deployment of personnel outside Mr Sisodia's house and the CBI office. In the morning, police detained several AAP leaders and workers who protested outside the CBI headquarters. Earlier in the day, before going to the CBI office, Mr Sisodia, the most trusted lieutenant of Kejriwal, marched to Rajghat to offer prayers at the ’samadhi’ of Mahatma Gandhi. “Conspiracies are being hatched by the CBI and ED and false cases are being lodged against our party leaders because PM Narendra Modi is afraid of CM Arvind Kejriwal's rising popularity. As the AAP grows further, the BJP will continue to slap false cases on us. We are not afraid of the CBI, ED and their false cases,” he told his supporters who had gathered at Rajghat in large numbers. He further appealed to Arvind Kejriwal to "keep fighting" for the welfare of STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 26 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Digital India had become a big reality and people have benefited from its power in many ways, including tele-consultations with doctors and getting medical advice at home in far-away places. In the latest episode of his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, Mr Modi said through one App E-Sanjeevani, more than 10 crore consultations had taken place with doctors ~ “an amazing bond between patient and doctor ~ this is a big achievement.” “For this achievement, I congratulate all the doctors and patients who have availed of this facility. This is a living example of how the people of India have made technology a part of their lives,” the Prime Minister said. “We have seen that in the time of Corona, E-Sanjeevani App has proved to be a great boon for the people,” he said. The Prime Minister talked to Dr Madan Mani from Sikkim during the Mann Ki Baat on how people have benefited SNS & AGENCIES The Congress and Naga People's Front are contesting in 23 and 22 seats respectively KOHIMA , 26 FEBRUARY Women polling teams head toward their assigned polling stations on the eve of the Nagaland Assembly elections 2023, on Sunday. ANI mi was declared winner uncontested from Zunheboto district's Akuluto constituency after his opponent from the Congress, N Khekashe Sumi, pulled out of the race on the last day for withdrawal of nominations, which was February 10.In Monday's polls, the BJP will contest in alliance with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), its old alliance partner in the 2018 Assembly polls as well. The BJP will, however, will the people. “I want to tell Kejriwal-ji, please continue with what you are doing. Keep fighting for the welfare of the people,” Mr Sisodia said, even as the AAP workers chanted slogans against the PM and the central government. Earlier, the CBI had asked Mr Sisodia to appear for questioning on 19 February. Last Sunday, Mr Sisodia requested the central agency to defer questioning saying that he is "preparing the budget" at present and can only appear before it towards February-end. However, Mr Sisodia has not been named as an accused in the chargesheet filed in the case. Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek are among the seven accused named in the charge-sheet. In August last year, the CBI searched Mr Sisodia's bank locker in connection with the case. The deputy CM claimed the sleuths did not find any incriminating material in his locker. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 2 from the app. Dr Mani disclosed to the Prime Minister that he had provided tele-consultation to hundreds of people in rural areas. The Prime Minister also spoke to Mr Madan Mohan Lal, a resident of Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, close to Varanasi, and asked him about his experience as a patient using the E-Sanjeevani App. Mr Lal said before the App was introduced, he had to travel five to six kilometres for consultations for his diabetes as hospitals are far away. He said now people saved money spent on travel and got consultations on the App without queues. The Prime Minister referred to India's UPI and how many countries of the world were drawn towards it. Just a few days BJP will contest in alliance with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, its old alliance partner in the 2018 Assembly polls as well be the role of a junior partner, having agreed to a seat sharing ratio of 20:40 in the state. The Congress and Naga People's Front are contesting in 23 and 22 seats respectively. The CPI is contesting on 1, NCP on 12, NPP 12, RPP 1, JD(U) 7, LJP (Ram Vilas) 15, RPI (Athawale) 9, RJD 3, and Independents 19 seats.The party had forged an alliance with the NDPP in 2018 and had successfully formed an alliance government with the backing of Janata Dal (United) and an Independent. The BJP had won 12 seats while NDPP had registered a win on the 17 seats, while the JD(U) clinched 1 seat.There are a total of 13,17,632 electorate in Nagaland, of which 6,61,489 are men and 6,56,143 are women. A total of 2,351 polling stations have been set up in the state.Merapani polling station no. 71 under Bhandari assembly constituency in the Wokha district has the lowest number of electors at 37. According to the Election Commission, 305 companies from various security forces will be deployed at the polling stations across the state to ensure a smooth and fair voting process.According to the EC, CCTV surveillance shall be installed in all the critical/vulnerable polling stations across the state with either webcasting or videography. ago, he said, the UPI-Pay Now Link was launched between India and Singapore. Now, people of Singapore and India are transferring money to each other from their mobile phones in the same way as they do within their respective countries, he said.“I am glad that people have started taking advantage of it. Be it India's E-Sanjeevani App or UPI, these have proved to be very helpful in raising the Ease of Living,” he said. Mr Modi lamented that there are many great traditions in India which had disappeared, and had been removed from the minds and hearts of the people. Efforts are now being made to revive them with the power of public participation.“What I am going to tell you now will make you really happy...you will be proud of our heritage,” he said. He said Mr Kanchan Banerjee, who lives in America, had drawn his attention to one such campaign related to the preservation of heritage. “I congratulate him. Friends, this month, 'Tribeni Kumbho Mohotshav' was organized in Bansberia of Hooghly district P12 Plenary ends; Cong says ready to work with like-minded parties SNS & AGENCIES RAIPUR, 26 FEBRUARY The Congress party’s 85th plenary ended on Sunday with the ‘Raipur Declaration’ vowing never to compromise with the politics of the BJPRSS even as the party signalled its readiness to work with like-minded political parties to meet the challenges facing the country. “The Congress party is the only party that has never compromised with the BJP/RSS and its despicable politics. We will always fight to protect our political values against the BJP's authoritarian, communal and crony capitalist onslaught,” the party said in its declaration. The party said that it is ready to work with likeminded political parties on the basis of a common, constructive programme. “We are prepared to work with like-minded political parties on the basis of a common, constructive programme to preserve and protect the Constitution in letter and spirit and to address the three main challenges facing the country: growing economic inequality, intensifying social polarisation and deepening political dictatorship," it said in the declaration. The party also backed the demand among some sections for a caste census in the country.At the plenary session, the party gave credit to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and lakhs of citizens, Power of Digital India helping crores: PM Nagaland braces for tough contest, security beefed up Nagaland will elect a new government on Monday, with the polling set to begin at 7 am amid tight security. The polls would seal the electoral fates of 183 candidates across parties. The polling will continue till 4 pm tomorrow. During the high-decibel election campaign that ended on Saturday, all the contesting parties made a last-ditch effort to win over the voters in bid to swing their mandate in their favour. Many top BJP leaders, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah canvassed for party candidates during the last leg of the campaigning. The voting will take place in 59 out of 60 Assembly constituencies on Monday, as BJP candidate Kazheto Kini- P10 CBI arrests Sisodia in Delhi liquor scam case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 26 FEBRUARY Min: 12.9°C (+1) SUN SETS 18:19 hrs MOON SETS 01:44 hrs SNS & AGENCIES P4 Delhi deputy CM is expected to be produced before a court today Min. 31% RIO OPEN: NORRIE TO PLAY ALCARAZ IN FINAL ZELENSKYY SEEKS MORE SANCTIONS, FIGHTING GRINDS ON KERALA GOVERNOR AGAIN AT ODDS WITH STATE GOVT ASSAM TARGETS CHILD MARRIAGES in West Bengal. More than eight lakh devotees participated in it...But do you know why it is so special? It is special, since this practice has been revived after 700 years,” he said.Although this tradition is thousands of years old, he said, unfortunately this festival which used to take place in Tribeni, Bengal was stopped 700 years ago. It should have been started after Independence, but that too could not happen. Two years ago, the festival has been started again by the local people and through ‘Tribeni Kumbho Porichalona Shomiti’. “I congratulate all the people associated with its organization. You are not only keeping alive a tradition, but are also protecting the cultural heritage of India,” he said. “Tribeni in West Bengal has been known as a holy place for centuries. It finds mention in various Mangalakavya, Vaishnava literature, Shakta literature and other Bangla literary works. Various historical documents suggest that this region was once a centre of Sanskrit, education and Indian culture,” he said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks at the party's 85th Plenary Session in Raipur on Sunday.ANI including workers of the Indian National Congress, who walked 4,000 kms from Kanyakumari to Kashmir during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. “The Yatra took forward an inclusive and progressive vision of India where Constitutional values reign supreme. In celebrating diversity, equality and fraternity, it presented a clear alternative to the BJP's vision of India. In a few months, we will be celebrating the centenary of the Seva Dal, a crucial grassroots organisation of Congress workers. This will be an occasion to impart fresh energy into our mass contact programmes," it said. The declaration said that the party workers and leaders must work with discipline, solidarity and complete unity to ensure victory in the upcoming Assembly elections, adding the results of these elections will set the tone for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.State elections are due this year in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. The declaration said that the Congress governments in Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan are models for the rest of the country. “As just two examples, Rajasthan's Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana and Chhattisgarh's Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana have set the bar for other states. Our new government in Himachal Pradesh is fulfilling the promises made to the people in all earnestness," it added.The Declaration said that in the decade from 2004-2014, Congress delivered the highest-ever GDP growth, pulled crores of Indians out of poverty, and introduced many transformational rights-based legislations, such as MGNREGA, Forest Rights Act and National Food Security Act. “The time is now ripe for a new vision to empower the nation's producers and reboot the economy. MSMEs that have been destroyed in the last eight and a half years must be revived and made the engine of rapid growth and employment, through cluster-based skill development programmes for the youth, and dedicated funding and technological support for labourintensive manufacturing," it said. (See page 4) Moosewala murder accused killed in jail SNS & AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, 26 FEBRUARY Duran Mandeep Singh Toofan and Manmohan Singh, who were both accused of killing Punjabi singer-politician Sidhu Moosewala were killed in a gang war inside Central Jail Goindwal Sahib on Sunday, informed police official. “There was a fight between miscreants in Goindwal Sahib jail, in which Duran Mandeep Singh Toofan, resident of Rayya was killed. Manmohan Singh Mohana was admitted to Civil Hospital Tarn Taran,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jaspal Singh Dhillon.Manmohan Singh Mohana succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. A third accused in the case, Keshav, was also critically injured in the clash. Punjabi singer popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jawaharke village of Mansa district in Punjab on May 29 last year. The incident occurred two days after Punjab Police withdrew the security cover of 424 persons, including Moosewala. The Punjabi singer was shot at point-blank range and declared dead on arrival at the Mansa civil hospital. The assailants fired over 30 rounds at Moosewala, who was found slumped in the driver's seat by locals. The investigation suggested Lawrence Bishnoi was the mastermind of the daylight killing. His close aide Goldy Brar, who is said to be based in Canada, was also under investigation in this case. Police issued a Red Corner Notice against Brar through Interpol. Meghalaya polls: Acid test for Trinamul STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 26 FEBRUARY Assembly elections in the North-East state of Meghalaya will be held tomorrow and the Trinamul Congress is very hopeful about its prospects in the state. The TMC, which is the main Opposition party in the current Meghalaya legislative Assembly, is fielding candidates in 59 of 60 Assembly seats in the state. Trinamul chairperson Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have campaigned extensively in the state, addressing several rallies. Dr Manas Bhuniya, West Bengal Environment minister and in charge of Meghalaya said: “The people of the state have kept enormous faith in Mamata Banerjee. In all the meetings she had addressed Polling officials leave a distribution centre on the eve of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly elections, in West Garo ANI Hills on Sunday. there was overwhelming response from the people. They want a change and that is evident from their body language." Dr Bhuniya has been camping in the state for the past few days. A BJP-NPP coalition government has been running the state in the past five years, but the two parties are contesting separately this time round. Abhishek Banerjee, during his election meetings, pledged that if voted to power, medical colleges would be set up in the state and pro people schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar will be implemented. Miss Banerjee's assurance that Meghalaya would be ruled by the local people and Trinamul would be there to assist the government has struck a chord with the local people particularly among youths, according to some political observers. They further lauded Miss Banerjee's assurance that the border dispute with Assam would be addressed and Khasi and Garo languages would be included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Mr Mukul Sangma, two time Chief Minister of Meghalaya is Trinamul Congress's chief minister face. His father PA Sangma was the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.Balloting would start at 7 a.m. in the morning and it would continue till 4 p.m. tomorrow in 59 of the 60 Assembly seats of the state.Polling would not be held in Sohiong Assembly Constituency following the death of a candidate.According to Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) F.R. Kharkongor, a total of 369 candidates, including 36 women, are contesting the Monday's Assembly elections. In all, 13 political parties are contesting the election. The BJP and the Congress have put up 60 candidates each. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma-led NPP fielded 57 candidates and the United Democratic Party (UDP) 46. Votes polled in Meghalaya would be counted on 2 March along with Nagaland and Tripura.