CMYK WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PUNJAB IN SAFE HANDS: MANN KAVITHA SUBMITS PHONES TO ED, ALLEGES MALICE P4 WEATHER Mainly clear sky with fog/mist in the morning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 28 °C and 17 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 8.8mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 90 % Max: 31.8 °C (-3) SUN RISES 05:41 hrs MOON RISES 05:27 hrs P5 P10 Parl logjam continues; LS, RS adjourned till 23 March Speaker's meeting with leaders fails to end LS logjam as none of the parties refused to give up their positions Min. 45 % TEMPERATURE JAPAN PM KISHIDA MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO UKRAINE Min: 21.4 °C (-2) SUN SETS 17:48 hrs MOON SETS 17:32 hrs Full Moon on 06 April THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH he meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to end the stalemate in the House ended without any result as none of the parties refused to give up their positions.Amidst continuing disruptions, both the Houses of Parliament were adjourned to meet next on 23 March. According to sources, during the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker, both the Congress and BJP refused to soften their stand. Leaders of all parties were present in the meeting.Though Mr Birla T is said to have appealed to both the parties to allow the House to function, neither the ruling BJP nor the Congress showed any signs of softening their stance. While the BJP has been stalling the Lok Sabha proceedings, demanding Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's apology over his remarks in the UK on democracy in India, the Congress-led Opposition too has been protesting, seeking a probe by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) into allegations of irregularities and market manipulation levelled against the Adani Group of Companies. Proceedings of both the Houses have been washed out for the past seven days owing to protests by both sides. Owing to the disruptions, the discussion and passage of the Union Budget (Finance Bill) is yet to be taken up.Earlier in the day, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned soon after they met. The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm, after the Opposition MPs raised slogans demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee inquiry into the Adani issue. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla thereafter convened a meeting of leaders of all parties in his chamber at 1 p.m. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned amid disruptions, and Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar called two meetings of floor leaders of different political parties in an attempt to break the logjam. The first meeting was held at 11.30 a.m. in which leaders of the ruling BJP , YSRCP BJD and TDP were , present. However, floor leaders of many parties did not attend this meeting, and another was held at 2.30 p.m. The Congress Party, the main Opposition party in the House, did not attend either of the two meetings. The Rajya Sabha chairman said that there would be no sitting of the House on 22 March in view of festivals, as requested by some members. ‘Everyone has right to be heard’, Rahul cites Art. 14, 21 SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH Commuters seen beside a mural on a wall, in New Delhi on Tuesday.  ANI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sought Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's permission to speak in the House to clear the air around his “Democracy” remark in London. In a letter written to the Speaker on 18 March, he said Parliament like any other institution is bound by the rules of natural justice contained in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. “They are a guarantee against administrative arbitrariness and ensure that every person has a right to be heard in a cause with which they are con- CBI in communication with Interpol over removal of Choksi’s Red Notice SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said that it remains in active communication with Commission for Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) and other bodies in Interpol after the latter removed the Red Corner Notice against Mehul Choksi.The Red Corner Notice removal indicates Mehul Choksi is no longer wanted by Interpol, and will have no bearing on the Punjab National Bank scam case, which is already in an advanced stage. The 63-year-old diamantaire is wanted in India in con- Don’t stall Delhi budget: Kejriwal to PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH Delhi chief ministerArvind Kejriwal today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to "not stall the Delhi Budget" after the latest clash between his government and the Centre erupted on Monday. The Centre, however, blamed the Delhi chief minister for "misrepresenting facts".The Delhi Budget was reportedly cleared by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena late last night, after a backand-forth with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, and sent for President Droupadi Murmu's assent. Sources in the Lieutenant Governor's office said the Delhi Budget was approved by the Home Ministry and “conveyed to the AAP government”. Kharge attacks govt: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today sharply attacked the government for fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi's removal from the Interpol database of Red Corner Notices, even as he accused the government of targeting Opposition leaders through the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. “ED-CBI for opposition leaders, but release from Interpol for 'our Mehul Bhai' of Modi ji! When Parliament can be stalled for ‘best friend’, So the ‘old friend’ who had absconded 5 years ago, Well how to refuse him help? Thousands of crores of the country drowned, and ‘Na Khane Dunga’ became a unique phrase!” Mr Kharge tweeted, adding “we demand JPC” into the Adani issue. nection with a Rs 13,000crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB). The CBI in its statement said that it remains committed to returning fugitives and criminals to India to face the process of criminal justice. “CBI has already filed two charge sheets in the case against wanted criminal Mehul Choksi and others under sections 120-B r/w 409, 420, 477A, 201 of IPC and section 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c)&(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988," the release stated. Subsequently in 2022, CBI registered five more criminal cases against Mehul Choksi and others for defrauding banks and financial institutions. CBI as National Central Bureau for INTERPOL had issued a diffusion to locate absconding criminal Mehul Choksi in February 2018. The movements of the criminal were tracked by CBI in close direct coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies and he was geolocated to Antigua and Barbuda. cerned. Surely, you would agree that Parliament of all institutions cannot abdicate the responsibility to respect this right when it doesn't suit the ruling regime.” the letter stated. He also cited Ravi Shankar Prasad's case which invoked the rule to give an explanation regarding comments made by Jyotiraditya Scindia in relation to him in Parliament.“There are several examples available on the Lok Sabha Digital Library which show that this right isn't restricted to responding to statements made within Parliament but extends to allegations made in the public domain as well,” he said.Mr Gandhi has insisted on speaking in the Lok Sabha as he is a member of the House. The BJP is demanding an apology from him but Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said in the Rajya Sabha that the question of apology does not arise. Earlier, calling Rahul Gandhi the “present-day Mir Zafar”, the BJP said the senior Congress leader would have to apologise for his remarks on democracy during his recent visit to the UK.“Rahul Gandhi will have to apologise...he always defames the nation. He is the present-day Mir Jafar of Indian Polity,”BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said. ‘SCORING CENTURY GAVE ME A SENSE OF CALMNESS’ P12 Mamata to go on 2-day dharna against Centre over MGNREGA funds STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 21 MARCH Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee will take part in a two day dharna on 29 and 30 March to protest against the Centre’s deliberate refusal to clear the state’s dues, state minister Dr Shashi Panja said today. Addressing a Press conference this afternoon, Dr Panja said the Centre has made it clear that it would not give funds under MNREGA for West Bengal in 2023-24. She said funds amounting to Rs 7,000 crore meant for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme wer-e being held up. “Our Chief Minister has written several letters to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention. Seventy one teams from the Centre had come to cross-check and desperately tried to find out irregularities. They could not find out any irregularity but still the Centre is not releasing the funds,” Dr Panja said. She said 11 lakh poor people have been deprived as the Centre did not release Rs 8,200 crore meant for the Awas Yojana.She alleged that the state BJP leaders had told their counterparts in New Delhi not to release the funds and this was a part of a major conspiracy. “By not giving the funds the BJP is actually trying to incite the people living in TMC MPs stage protest, demand arrest of Adani: Trinamul Congress MPs have demanded immediate arrest of Gautam Adani for his alleged financial irregularities worth Rs 1.20 lakh crore and in the same breath demanded a statement by PM Narendra Modi on the floor of Parliament as to why he has not been arrested as yet. The MPs staged a demonstration in New Delhi this morning. (See Pg3) rural Bengal and will try to convince them that the Trinamul Congress government had not given them their dues. This trick will not work as the people are aware of the stepmotherly attitude of the Centre,” she said. “The BJP leaders know very well that they will be routed in the ensuing Panchayat election. So, when Didir Doots are going to people’s homes they are trying to create some trouble,” Dr Panja said. “The BJP is taking revenge as the people of the state did not vote for them in 2021 Assembly election. After this, they have started taking revenge in one form or the other. Such behaviour on the part of a national party that is running the Centre is uncalled for an most unfortunate,” she said. “People are watching the vindictive attitude of the saffron party and will do the needful at the ballot,” Dr Panja said. How is everyone arrested, except Amritpal, asks HC BLOOMING TULIPS SNS & AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, 21 MARCH Women dressed in traditional Kashmiri attire pose for a photo at Siraj Bagh Tulip Garden in Srinagar on Sunday. ANI The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday asked the state government that “how is everyone arrested, except Amritpal Singh”, adding that "if he has he escaped, this is an intelligence failure". The High Court continued hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the legal advisor of Waris Punjab De, requesting the court to direct the respondents to produce the fugitive self-styled Sikh preacher before it. A Bench of Justice N.S. Shekhawat asked Advocate General Vinod Ghai: "How did he (Amritpal Singh) escape?" At this, he replied: "We have arrested other accused in the case."The Bench further asked how everyone, except Amritpal Singh, has been arrested. “You have 80,000 police. How has he not been arrested? If he escaped, this is an RAF and police personnel conduct a flag march to maintain law and order after the arrest of associates of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, in Jalandhar.  ANI intelligence failure. The entire police force is after him,” said the Bench.Explaining further, the Advocate General said: "It happens sometimes. The G20 summit was also going on." The High Court appointed advocate Tanu Bedi as amicus curiae in the case and adjourned the hearing for four days. It has also sought a status report sought from the Punjab government. The Advocate General further informed the court that the stringent NSA has been invoked against Amritpal Singh. Punjab police spokesperson and Inspector General of Police (headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill, meanwhile, told the Press today that fugitive Amritpal Singh had hid in a gurdwara at Mangal Ambian village in Jalandhar district before fleeing on a motorbike in western attire during the crackdown against him and his supporters on Saturday. Releasing Amritpal’s photos in different attire and form, Gill said the 'Waris Punjab De' head swapped his traditional Sikh religious clothes for shirt and trousers and also switched his turban in the same gurudwara before making his getaway on a motorbike. SC mulls panel to examine less painful method of execution Govt releases guidelines SNS & AGENCIES The Bench further added NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it is open to set up a panel of experts to examine if there is a less painful alternative method to hanging by the neck to execute the death penalty. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, while asking the Centre to initiate a discussion and collect relevant information, said one of the aspects could be to look at the matter from the point of view of science and technology. The Chief Justice queried if there was a method which is consistent with human dignity and socially acceptable, based on today's knowledge of technology and science. “Do we have any data either in India or overseas relating to the circumstances as they transpired in the execution of sentence of death with alternate methods?” he asked. The Executions are carried out by hanging as the primary method of execution as given under Sec 354(5) of the Criminal Code of Procedure, 1973 is ‘Hanging by the neck until dead’, and is awarded only in the 'rarest of cases' Bench, also comprising Justice P S Narasimha, said: “Alternatively, do we constitute a committee, thinking it aloud, not passing an order now. Committee to reflect on it. We can have two national law universities to be on the committee, experts dealing in execution of the sentence of death... We can also have people drawn from medical sciences, maybe one or two professors or doctors from AIIMS. that change in technology or availability of better science is a ground for relooking at hanging, and in order to do so, the court must have some underlying data  The Chief Justice queried if there was a method which is consistent with human dignity and socially acceptable, based on today's knowledge of technology and science We can have other distinguished people from the country." The top court allowed Attorney General R Venkataramani time till May to ascertain if any study has been conducted to find a more humane method of execution. “There are two perspectives to look at, one, is there any alternate method, which is more consistent with human dignity so as to render this method of execution as unconstitutional. Two, even if there is no alternate method, does this method satisfy the test for proportionality so as to be upheld,” the Chief Justice told Mr Venkataramani. The Bench further added that change in technology or availability of better science is a ground for relooking at hanging, and in order to do so, the court must have some underlying data. “At legal level, we must have some scientific data in our hands we can hear you on the remit of the committee, the ambit of the committee you can come back to us,” the Chief Justice told the AG. The apex court was hearing a writ petition by advocate Rishi Malhotra seeking a direction for quashing of the provision contained under Section 354(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code as ultra vires the Constitution and especially Article 21 being discriminatory and also in contravention of CMYK the Constitution Bench judgment in Gian Kaur's case. Mr Malhotra contented that he is challenging the method of execution of death sentence in India i.e. by hanging by the neck till the prisoner is dead. The plea, citing the Kaur case judgment, said: “The Right to Life including the Right to Live with human dignity would mean the existence of such a right up to the end of natural life. This also includes the right to a dignified life up to the point of death including a dignified procedure of death. In other words, this may include the right of a dying man to also die with dignity when his life is ebbing out.”In October 2017, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Centre noting the contention of the petitioner that the convict, whose life has to end because of the conviction and the sentence, should not be compelled to suffer the pain of hanging. for HWC mitigation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 21 MARCH The government today released 14 guidelines to address Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC), which aim to facilitate a common understanding among key stakeholders on what constitutes effective and efficient mitigation of HWC in India. The guidelines are advisory in nature and will facilitate in further development of sitespecific HWC mitigation measures.The 14 guidelines released by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav include ten species-specific guidelines, relating to human conflicts with species such as elephant, gaur, leopard, snakes, crocodile, rhesus Macaque,wild pigs, bears, blue bull and blackbucks. Four guidelines relate to cooperation between the Forest and Media sector, occupational health and safety in the context of human-wildlife conflict mitigation, crowd management in human-wildlife conflict-related situations; and health emergencies and potential health risks arising out of human-Wildlife conflict situations.The development and intended implementation of these guidelines is driven by a harmonious-coexistence approach to ensure that both humans and wild animals are protected from the negative impacts of HWC. They provide a framework to take a holistic approach, viz., not only addressing the emergency situations arising due to immediate HWC situations but also addressing the drivers and pressures that lead to HWC,guidance on establishing and managing prevention methods and reducing the impact of conflict both on humans and wild animals.