SATURDAY 25 MARCH 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PROTESTERS GREET NETANYAHU AS HE MEETS SUNAK IN UK 'A MATTER OF SHAME FOR PUNJAB' P10 P7 RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 30.2°C (-1) SUN RISES 06:19 hrs MOON RISES 09:11 hrs Min. 50% Min: 17.6 °C (-1) SUN SETS 18:35 hrs MOON SETS 22:29 hrs THUMBNAILS Devotees gather at Jama Masjid on the first day of the Ramadan month, in New Delhi on Friday.  ANI  Mumbai man goes berserk, stabs 5, kills 2 in residential building: In a shocker, a middle-aged man went on a stabbing spree in a Mumbai residential building on Friday, attacking five persons, of which two have reportedly succumbed to their injuries, before he was overpowered, police said. The attacker, identified as Chetan Gala, 54, was arrested after the mayhem which occurred around 3.30 pm, sending panic waves in the locality. According to officials at the Dr D.B. Marg Police Station, the incident occurred at the Parvati Mansion building, with old-style common passages in a residential neighbourhood of Grant Road. RAHUL DISQUALIFIED 14 Opp parties move SC over misuse of CBI, ED STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH Fourteen political parties have approached the Supreme Court against the misuse of Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate to target their (opposition) leaders and have sought laying down of guidelines governing the arrest, remand, and bail of persons in offences not involving serious bodily harm. The joint petition by 14 political parties says that the guidelines should fulfil and realise the guarantee of personal liberty entrenched in Article 21 of the Constitution, for all citizens, including those targeted for exercising their right to political dissent and for performing their duties as the political opposition. Heading a Bench comprising Justices P S Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud posted the petition for hearing on 5 April following a mentioning by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who told the court that since 2014, of all the politicians investigated by the CBI and the ED, over 95 per cent belong to the Opposition parties. “Between 2004-14, of the 72 political leaders investigated by the CBI, 43 (under 60per cent ) were from the Opposition of the time. Now, this same figure has risen to over 95per cent . The same pattern is reflected in ED’s investigations as well, with the proportion of Opposition leaders from the total number of politicians investigated rising from 54per cent (before 2014) to 95per cent (after 2014),” says the petition by the political par- I am fighting for India's voice... Ready to pay any price, says Congress leader etting off a storm of protest from the Opposition parties, Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi, was on Friday disqualified from the Lok Sabha after his conviction by a Surat court on Thursday in a criminal defamation case.A notification issued by Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh announced the disqualification. The Surat court on Thursday sentenced Mr Gandhi to two years imprisonment in the defamation case over his “how come all thieves have Modi as their surname” remark made in April 2019 during a Lok Sabha election rally in Kolar, Karnataka. The case against Mr Gandhi was filed by BJP MLA from Surat-West, Purnesh Modi.As various Opposition parties came out in his support, the Congress leader on Friday said he was ready to pay any price for raising the voice of India. “I am fighting for India's voice... Ready to pay any price," he tweeted in Hindi. Mr Gandhi's disqualification came after two weeks of disturbances in Parliament over the Treasury Benches' demand that he apologise for his comments in the UK on the state of Indian democracy and Parliament. The Congress came down heavily on the government over the disqualification of Mr Gandhi, calling it a "stran- UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and party President Mallikarjun Kharge come out after attending the meeting of party MPs at the party office in New Delhi on Friday.  ANI (R) Congress workers during a protest. gulation of democracy".Congress national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi and senior leader Jairam Ramesh said: “The issue before us is political, more than it is legal. It is a political issue because it signifies the systematic, repetitive emasculation of democratic institutions by the ruling party. It signifies the strangulation of democracy itself." “We know that defamation is an exception to free speech, but over the last several years, we have had repeated examples of unthinkable assaults on freedom of speech, more importantly, freedom after speech. We all know that Rahul Gandhi has been speaking fearlessly inside and outside Parliament. He is paying a price for it," Mr Singhvi said.“Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he is not entitled to speak freely on grounds of fake nationalism, created imaginary nationalism. He comes back and his speeches abroad become the basis of action against him inside Parliament. All of this is part of a pattern to stop him (from speaking out against this government), to divert public attention from the real and burning issues before the nation today. It is also intended to create a fear psychosis among those who dare to question this government," he said. "We are confident that we will get a stay on his conviction, which will, in turn, remove the very basis of this disqualification. We have full faith in the law. We believe we will emerge victorious in the near future," Mr Singhvi said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told a news agency: “They (BJP) tried all ways to disqualify him (Rahul Gandhi). They don't want to keep those who are speaking the truth but we will continue to speak the truth. We'll continue to demand JPC, If needed we'll go to jail to save democracy.” Party leader Shashi Tharoor took a dig at the alacrity with which the order was passed saying he was stunned by the "rapidity" of the action and termed it as "politics with the gloves off". Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, slamming the move, posted on Twitter: “In PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy.” SC restores criminal liability for Foreign govts must act against attacks on membership of banned group STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH Reversing its own decadeold judgment that mere membership of a banned organisation is not a criminal offence as long as the person does not indulge in unlawful activities, the Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the validity of the provision of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 which attributes criminality to membership of a banned organisation. A Bench of Justices M R Shah, C T Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol upheld the validity of Section 10(a)(i) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, which provides for penalty to a person who is or continues to be a member of a banned organisation, attracting a jail sentence which may extend to two years and fine as well. The court today said that if a person continues the membership of an organisation, even after it is banned, he would be liable to be pun- MoD signs `3k cr contract with BEL STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The top court’s ruling came on a petition by the Centre and the Assam government seeking recall of the Supreme Court’s 2011 order which had held that mere membership of a banned organisation is not an offence. ished. The court said that mere membership of an unlawful association is sufficient to constitute an offence under UAPA.The top court’s ruling came on a petition by the Centre and the Assam government seeking recall of the Supreme Court’s 2011 order which had held that mere membership of a banned organisation is not an offence. A two-judge Bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra (both since retired) on 3 February 2011 had ruled that mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence. Holding that Section 3(5) of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 10987 (since repealed) cannot be read literally otherwise it will violate Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, the bench of Justices Katju and Misra in their 3 February 2011, order had said: “Hence, mere membership of a banned organisation will not make a person a criminal unless he resorts to violence or incites people to violence or creates public disorder by violence or incitement to violence. Hence, the conviction of the appellant under Sec 3(5) of the TADA is also not sustainable.” The top court in 2011 had relied on three judgments of the US Supreme Court which had rejected the doctrine of ‘guilt by association’, saying that were applicable to India as well, as the fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution were similar to the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution. Indian missions: Govt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH The government today made it clear that it would like to see action by foreign governments against pro-Khalistan elements who recently indulged in vandalism at Indian missions in some countries. At a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, when asked about vandalism at the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, said: “On the issues of security, whenever we feel there is an issue relating to the security of our missions abroad high commissions and embassies, this issue is taken up. Whenever we have concerns where we feel that there will be some activities that may harm our interests, we do take it up.” He said that India has strongly taken up the matter of vandalism and attacks on the Indian missions in London and San Francisco with the governments of the UK and the US, apart from issuing statements in this regard. Mr Bagchi stated that India expected the host governments to take action to identify and prosecute all those involved and also take necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. He also hoped that the government would provide full and adequate protection to Indian missions as well as to the personnel working there. “I think that's probably what your question was, assurance... Yes. Look, on that element we just say look, I think we are not interested in just assurances. I think we would like to see action. That’s why I would leave it at that,” the spokesperson added. The petitioner parties have said that ED raids were being used as” tool of harassment” of political opponents, pointing out that of all the raids targeting the politicians belonging to opposition parties have resulted in the filing of complaints in 23 per cent cases. ties.The petitioner parties have said that ED raids were being used as” tool of harassment” of political opponents, pointing out that of all the raids targeting the politicians belonging to opposition parties have resulted in the filing of complaints in 23per cent cases. In contrast, the petition says that between 2005 to 2014 of all the raids by the ED involving politicians, 93 per cent resulted in the filing of complaints. An obvious inference is that most of the raids between 2014 till date are to intimidate and target politicians belonging to the opposition parties. The petition has pointed out that though the number of cases registered by ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act have risen exponentially ~ from 209 in 2013-14 to 981 in 2020-21, and 1,180 in 2021-22 ~ only 23 cases have resulted in convictions. The political parties that have approached the Supreme Court include the Congress party, DMK, RJD, BRS, Trinamul Congress, AAP, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT), JMM, JD(U), CPI(M), CPI, Samajwadi Party, and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. LS passes Finance Bill, 2023 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Finance Bill, 2023, giving approval to taxation proposals in the Union Budget, 2023-24, after adopting several official amendments moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Finance Minister introduced the Bill just after 12 noon when the Lok Sabha reassembled after an almost hour-long adjournment. Mr Rajendra Agrawal, who was presiding, declared the Bill, as amended, passed by a voice-vote, and adjourned the House till Monday.A message regarding the passage of the Money Bill in the Lok Sabha was later conveyed to the Rajya Sabha, and it was read out in the Upper House by Secretary-General P C Mody. With the passage of the Finance Bill, the Lok Sabha has completed all essential agenda pertaining to the passage of the Union Budget, 2023-24. Speaker Om Birla yesterday applied guillotine when demands for grants of Central With the passage of the Finance Bill, the Lok Sabha has completed all essential agenda pertaining to the passage of the Union Budget, 2023-24. Ministries were approved by the House at once, without debate.Introducing the Finance Bill, Ms Sitharaman said the Government proposed to set up a Committee under the chairmanship of the Finance Secretary to look into the National Pension System issues and evolve an approach which addresses the needs of Government employees, while maintaining fiscal prudence to protect common citizens. The approach will be designed for adoption by Central and State governments. She said the government had received representations seeking improvements in the National Pension System. The minister said the Finance Bill brought in 10 main provisions which are helpful for the middle class and for the community as a whole, and for ease of business. Stakeholder consultations had helped bring in improvements in the Finance Bill, she said. An Amendment was also being made for the GST Council which is establishing a Tribunal. The Finance Minister said it was represented that payments for foreign tours through credit cards were not being captured under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and such payments escape tax collection at source. The Reserve Bank is being requested to look into this with a view to bring credit card payments for foreign tours within the ambit of LRS and tax collection at source thereon, Ms Sitharaman said.Even as the Finance Bill was being passed, the Opposition members kept shouting for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into alleged financial irregularities by the Adani Group of Companies. The Rajya Sabha too went through disturbances on Friday, although it took up private members' business in the afternoon. India will eliminate TB by 2025, says PM Five sailors back on Indian soil after STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VARANASI/NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH The Ministry of Defence today signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Hyderabad for the procurement of two Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems ‘Project Himshakti’ at an overall cost of about Rs 3,000 crores. The project is under the Buy {Indian– IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} category comprising contemporary and niche technologies. The ‘Project Himshakti’ will encourage the participation of Indian Electronics and associated industries, including MSMEs, which are sub-vendors of BEL. It will generate employment of about three lakh man-days over a period of two years. P12 S PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 30 AND 16 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. TEMPERATURE P4 NEW DELHI, 24 MARCH WEATHER Max. 92% RUDRANKKSH WINS BRONZE IN 10M AIR RIFLE ‘MODI REGIME HAS OVERSHADOWED EMERGENCY’ Tuberculosis will lose and India will win, the world will win, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, adding that while the global target to end TB is 2030, India is working on eliminating it five years earlier, by 2025 itself.Inaugurating the One World TB Summit 2023 in Varanasi on Friday, Mr Modi said that today's new India is known for achieving its goals and has taken this pledge to eliminate TB from the country. Mr Modi also launched TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), TB Free Panchayat Initiative, Family Centred Care Model for TB and India's Annual TB Report 2023 during the event. He also virtually laid the foundation stone of BSL Lab Metropolitan Public Health Surveillance Unit in Varanasi. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi on Friday.  SNS Mr Modi made special mention of India's global role in the fight against TB, observing that the efforts made by India after 2014 should be made known to the whole world because it is a new model in the global fight against TB. “We had called upon the people of the country to make Nikshay Mitras to join the TB-free India campaign. After this campaign, about 10 lakh TB patients were adopted by the common citizens of the country. Children aged 10-12 years are also taking forward the fight against TB by becoming Nikshay Mitra. Many children have broken their piggy banks and adopted TB patients. This financial support of Nikshay Mitras for TB patients has reached above Rs 1,000 crore,” he said.A total of 75 lakh TB patients have benefitted from the direct bank transfer (DBT) of Rs 2,000 crore sent to their accounts since the scheme was announced by the Central Government in 2018, he added. “For the screening of patients and their treatment, we have linked them with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The number of laboratories for free TB testing has been increased across the country “Today the TB-free Panchayat has started where all the elected public representatives of villages will together take a resolution that every patient in the village will be kept healthy. We have also started three months treatment for TB prevention instead of six months course. We have created the Nikshay portal to track the care needed for each patient,” Mr Modi said. end of three-year ordeal in Iran SNS & AGENCIES MUMBAI, 24 MARCH Five Indian sailors who were stranded in Iran since February 2020 finally returned home after surviving a nightmarish ordeal of over three years. The five are Aniket S Yenpure (31) and Mandar M Worlikar (28) (both of Mumbai), Pranav A Tiwari (23) (Patna), Naveen M. Singh (New Delhi), and Thamizh R Selvan (33), (Chennai). They landed on Iran Air Teheran-Mumbai flight this afternoon, bowed and touched Indian soil, and were welcomed, kissed, hugged and lifted in the air with tears and cheers by their ecstatic relatives. “Our joy is boundless... We were away and separated from our families for almost 45 months, but the long nightmare has ended now. The next one month we shall rest and interact with all our family members," Mr Yenpure said.They expressed gratitude to the Indian Embassy in Teheran which arranged for their emergency travel papers and tickets till Mumbai and also some Iranian lawyers for labouring more than six months to ensure their smooth "ghar-wapsi".However, their passports and CDC were not handed over, and now the five youths plan to apply for fresh passports, said Mr Worlikar. Presently, Mr Yenpure and Mr Worlikar will host their friends Mr Tiwari, Mr Singh, and Mr Selvan at their Worli home till they can arrange funds from their families to return to their own home towns by this weekend. The four, who joined a merchant navy ship in June 2019, were unwittingly caught up in a maritime narcotics smuggling racket allegedly run by their ship's captain. For this, they were arrested, jailed, acquitted, and then grounded, moved around different cities in Iran, fighting legal battles, at times hiding, occasionally doing small jobs in exchange for a meal, or surviving on the food and clothes doled out by sympathetic villagers in remote areas, Mr Yenpure's father, Sham Yenpure, said.