TUESDAY 07 MARCH 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR BIDEN RE-ELECTION BID FACES RESISTANCE FROM SOME DEMOCRATS GOVT TO FOCUS ON QUALITY OF PRODUCTS: GOYAL MAINTAIN VIGIL AT BORDERS: RAJNATH TO ARMED FORCES P4 P8 MIRABAI CHANU WINS BBC ISWOTY AWARD FOR 2ND TIME P12 P10 BJP leaders accuse ‘Making medical treatment affordable top-most priority’ Rahul of defaming PM was addressing a post-Budget Webinar on Health and Medical Research PM conducts STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE review meeting on NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH preparedness for rime Minister summer season Narendra Modi on WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 31 AND 14 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 90% Min: 32% TEMPERATURE Max: 30.5°C (+3) SUN RISES 06:39 hrs MOON RISES 18:20 hrs Min: 15.0°C (+2) SUN SETS 18:24 hrs MOON SETS 07:12 hrs THUMBNAILS The first batch of girl cadets witness a weapon demonstration at Rashtriya Military School, in Bengaluru on Monday.  ANI P Monday said the Government's healthcare approach focused on reducing foreign dependence for medicines, vaccines and medical devices and making medical treatment affordable for all sections of people. He was addressing a post-Budget Webinar on Health and Medical Research, the ninth in a series of 12 post-Budget webinars organized by the government to seek ideas and suggestions for effectively implementing initiatives announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. Modi said the Covid-19 pandemic had taught many lessons to the world and under its pressure health systems of many developed nations had collapsed. India had responded to challenges in supply chains emerging during the pandemic. The Indian approach was not, however, limited to healthcare alone, he said. India has gone one step ahead and covered well- NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH ness too, he said. The prime minister said the country has presented before the world a vision of 'one-earth one health' for all living beings, whether human, animal or plant. He said for several decades after Independence, an integrated approach and a long-term vision was missing in the health sector. "We did not limit health to Health Ministry but went for a wholeof-the-Government approach," he said. His Government's highest priority was to make medical treatment affordable, prime minister said. Excise policy scam case: Manish Sisodia taken to Tihar jail STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was taken to Tihar jail on Monday after the Rouse Avenue Court sent him to judicial custody till March 20 in the excise policy scam case. Tihar Prison officials told a news agency that the AAP leader has been kept in jail number 1. "FormerDeputyCMandAAP leader Manish Sisodia has been kept in jail number 1 of Tihar jail," prison officials told the news agency. Sisodia was arrested on February 26 in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National CapitalTerritory of Delhi (GNCTD). The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Monday sent Sisodia to judicial custody for 14 days after noting that CBI didn't demand further Custody of him at this time, but it may be sought later if required. Sisodia has been allowed to have medicines prescribed in his MLC conducted by the CBI officials. He has also been permitted to carry a pair of spectacles, a diary, a pen, and a copy of The Gita during the judicial custody period. As requested by Sisodia's side, the court also directed the Jail superintendent to consider the request of keeping the accused in the vipassana cell/ Meditation cell. The CBI during the hearing submitted that he had not supported the investigation, and the witnesses were terrified. "His party and leaders are politicizing the matter and that various important witnesses are to be examined," CBI added. On the last date, the Court issued notice to CBI on bail moved by Sisodia and listed the matter for March 10. Earlier, Sisodia himself submitted in the court that CBI officials are "taking care of me, treating me respectfully and giving all things and not using any third degree. But they are making me to sit so long 9-10 hours daily and asking the same questions again and again... it not less not mental harassment." On this the Court directed CBI not to ask repetitive questions. The former Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sisodia in his bail petition in a trial court stated that no fruitful purpose would be served to keep him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made. After the court's order, party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said, "Unless bail is decided, Court has no option but to extend judicial custody. Today CBI had no questions for which they would've sought Manish Sisodia's interrogation. The bail hearing is on March 10 when it'll be decided if he gets bail or his custody is extended." This approach was behind the provision of medical treatment worth Rs 5 lakh free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. People benefiting under it have so far saved Rs 80 crores which they would have spent on their treatment, the prime minister said. Similarly, the poor and people from middle classes have saved Rs 20 crores by buying cheaper medicines from Jan Aushadhi kendras, Modi said. This means that citizens of the country had saved Rs 1 lakh crore due to just two schemes, he said. There are about 9,000 Jan Aushadhi shops in the country. The nation will celebrate Jan Aushadhi Day on 7th March, he said. Referring to the need of a strong health infrastructure, the prime minister said more than 1.5 lakh health centres are being developed in close proximity to homes across the country so that testing centres and first aid are available. He said that facilities for screening serious ailments like diabetes, cancer and heart-related issues will also be available at these centres. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that the Central agencies were being used to target the Opposition. Arvind Kejriwal was speaking at the inauguration of the key Ashram flyover extension in the National Capital. The chief minister’s remark came a day after nine Opposition leaders of eight political parties wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the arrest of former deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia terming it STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, it has been observed that there is confusion regarding which disclosure word to use for what kind of partnership. Therefore, for paid or barter brand endorsement, any of the following disclosures may be used: "advertisement," "ad," "sponsored," "collaboration," or "partnership." However, the term must be indicated as a hashtag or headline text. The guidelines specify that individuals or groups who have access to an audience and the power to affect their audiences' purchasing decisions or opinions about a product, service, brand, or experience, because of the influencer's/celebrity's authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for hot weather in upcoming summer. The prime minister was briefed about the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) weather forecast for the next few months and on the likelihood of a normal monsoon. He was also briefed about the impact of weather on Rabi crops and expected yield of major crops. Efforts underway to monitor irrigation water supply, fodder and drinking water were also reviewed. Modi was briefed about the preparedness of states and hospital infrastructure in terms of availability of required supplies and preparedness for emergencies. He was updated on various efforts underway across the country to prepare for disasters related to heat and mitigation measures in place. Oppn leaders being harassed by CBI-ED raids, alleges Kejriwal “blatant misuse” of Central agencies against the members of the Opposition. Manish Sisodia was arrested in connection with an alleged excise policy scam case. Speaking after inaugurating the flyover extension, Kejriwal said, "Wherever governments of other parties are formed, they are raided by CBIED, they are not allowed to work by using governor or lieutenant governor (LG) against them," he said. Kejriwal contended that "the country moves forward by working together, not by stopping the work itself". In Centre releases guidelines for endorsements by celebrities & influencers The Centre has released a set of guidelines called "Endorsements Know-hows!" for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers on social media platforms. The guidelines aim to ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products or services and that they are in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act and any associated rules or guidelines. The guidelines state that endorsements must be made in simple, clear language, and terms such as "advertisement," "sponsored," “collaboration” or "paid promotion" can be used. Individuals must not endorse any product or service that they have not personally used or experienced or in which due diligence has not been done by them. According to the Department of Consumer Affairs, India on foreign soil ence, must disclose. The guidelines state that the disclosure must be placed in the endorsement message in a manner that is clear, prominent, and extremely hard to miss. Disclosures should not be mixed with a group of hashtags or links. For endorsements in a picture, disclosures should be superimposed over the image enough for viewers to notice. For endorsements in a video or a live stream, disclosures should be made in both audio and video format and displayed continuously and prominently during the entire stream. The guidelines advise celebrities and influencers to always review and satisfy themselves that the advertiser is in a position to substantiate the claims made in the advertisement. It is also recommended that the product and service must have been actually used or experienced by the endorser. In conclusion, the guidelines aim to ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products or services and that they are in compliance with the Consumer Protection Act and any associated rules or guidelines. It is essential for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers to adhere to these guidelines to maintain transparency and authenticity with their audience. this context, he called the visit of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team to former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi's residence as "humiliating". "This is wrong, raids like these are humiliating," he said. On being asked can this be seen in connection with the letter written by the Opposition leaders to Narendra Modi, the chief minister said, "It can also be seen in that context. He said it is becoming a trend that wherever there is an Opposition government, they won't be allowed to function. They (the BJP) use the ED, the CBI and governor to trouble them. Democracy will flourish only when everyone works together. Hence, whoever is in government should be allowed to work without interference." Earlier in the day, a CBI team reached the residence of former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna in connection with the landfor-job case. The raid is being seen as a political vendetta against ruling RJD in Bihar. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 MARCH Senior BJP leaders on Monday attacked Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of the Modi Government during his speeches in the UK, alleging that the Congress leader with his comments has invited intervention of foreign countries in India's internal affairs. The BJP leaders dubbed Rahul's criticism of the government on foreign soil as an act of "betrayal of Bharat" in the 75th year of the country's Independence. Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said it appeared that he (Rahul) has taken a contract to defame India abroad. Speaking to the media this morning, Thakur said, "Be it among his foreign friends, agencies or foreign land, he's leaving no stone unturned to defame India. To hide his failures, he has taken a contract to defame India from foreign land in a planned manner." The minister said, "His language, thoughts and working style are suspicious. He has done it again and again...when jawans were martyred, he said, a few people were killed in a car bomb explosion." “Ra h u l Ga n d h i h a s become a storm of controversies,'' he tweeted. Other BJP leaders also reacted sharply to Gandhi’s remarks on the Modi Government in the UK. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said Rahul Gandhi has crossed all limits in his hatred for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "Rahul Gandhi was a serial offender and this time he has crossed all limits while allowing his hatred for one person and party to grow into hatred for India," he said. Poonawalla labelled the senior Congress leader as a "constant cynic and purveyor of propaganda", and asked if Gandhi's remarks were not an assault on India's sovereignty and an insult to its citizens. "If there are issues, we solve our own matters internally, but how can Rahul seek the intervention of a foreign nation? What action is he seeking on India? Do we complain about our internal affairs to a neighbour? Today, Rahul has emulated Mani Shankar Aiyyar who sought Pakistan's help to dislodge PM Modi from power once," he said. "This was an act of betrayal of Bharat and that too in the 75th Year of Independence when India celebrates Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav you have an Indian MP who goes to Britain and seeks the intervention of a former colonial master! Ironically, he said that a person of Indian origin was leading Britain but here Rahul Gandhi wants foreign intervention!" Poonawalla added. Slamming Rahul Gandhi over his address at Cambridge, BJP MP Vivek Thakur accused him of being an "agenda carrier" of another country. He said he is "seriously considering" bringing a Privilege Motion (against Rahul Gandhi) in the upcoming budget session of Parliament. The reaction of BJP leaders came after Rahul Gandhi in the UK said, "Why Europe and the US – the defenders of democracies – were oblivious of how a huge chunk of democracy in India has come undone?" Meanwhile, lashing out at the Opposition parties for writing a letter to the prime minister about misuse of the Central agencies, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that PM Modi's thoughts and his works are only for the welfare of the countrymen. FESTIVAL OF COLOURS A widow takes part in Holi festival celebrations, at Vrindavan on Monday. SUBRATA DUTTA 