CMYK TUESDAY 09 MAY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR RAJNATH INAUGURATES IAF HERITAGE CENTRE P5 WEATHER Hot and discomfort weather very likely. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely be around 39°C and 29 °C respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY BIDEN JOKES OFF 2024 AGE CONCERNS GOYAL IN CANADA FOR PROMOTING TRADE & INVESTMENT P8 P10 Deeply concerned about loss of life, property: SC on Manipur violence Min. 23% Max: 38.5°C (+3) SUN RISES 05:10 hrs MOON RISES 21:01 hrs Min: 28.7°C (+2) SUN SETS 18:06 hrs MOON SETS 06:49 hrs New Moon on 20 April THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 MAY Artists make colourful 3D Basohli art paintings on the walls at Bahu Fort Ropeway Station, in ANI Jammu on Monday.  Another explosion near Golden Temple in Amritsar: One person was injured in a blast on Monday morning at Heritage Street near the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar, the very site where an explosion took place on May 6, police said today. The cause of the explosion, however, is yet to be ascertained and police said they are "verifying" the cause of the incident. "We are verifying. The situation is normal here. Antisabotage, Bomb Squad, and FSL teams are here," Amritsar Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mehtab Singh told agencies. He further said that one person has received a minor injury in the leg and the glass facades of some nearby buildings were damaged in the blast. he Supreme Court onMondayexpressed concern over the loss of lives and properties inManipurduringtheviolence between Meitei and Kuki communities, seeking statusreportfromtheCentreand the State government as well on the steps being taken for the safety, and the rehabilitation of displaced people including protection of religious places. AbenchofChiefJusticeD.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Pamidighantam Sri NarasimhaandJusticeJ.B.Pardiwala asked both the Centre and the Manipur government to take adequate measures to restore normalcy. T “We are concerned very deeply about the loss of lives and properties” and what arrangements have been made to help the people including availability of food, and medical care, the bench said, describing it a“humanitarian issue”. Chief Justice Chandrachud asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for both the Centre and the Manipur government, about how many relief camps are there and how many people are in the relief camps. The bench asked Solicitor General Mehta to ensure that adequate arrangements are made in relief camps in terms of food and medicines. The bench further told the Centre to ensure that steps are taken to rehabilitate dis- BJP moves ECI over Sonia's sovereignty remark in K’taka STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 MAY The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi for her reported remark that "Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity". A delegation of BJP leaders comprising Union ministers Bhupender Yadav and Jitendra Singh and other senior party leaders met the Election Commission and filed the complaint. “She (Sonia Gandhi) delib- erately used the word sovereignty. Congress manifesto is the agenda of the 'TukdeTukde' gang and hence they are using such words. We hope the ECI will take action against this anti-national act,” Bhupender Yadav told reporters. "We demand a public apology from Sonia Gandhi for using the word 'sovereignty' for Karnataka. We have also urged the Election Commission to take strict against her and the Congress," BJP leader Tarun Chugh after the delegation's meeting with the ECI. On Saturday, Sonia addressed a rally in Hubbali district of poll-bound Karnataka. The Congress's official Twitter handle posted: "CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: "The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity." This triggered a political storm with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders targeting her over the remark. “Not only Karnataka, I want to tell this to the entire country with a lot of pain that in this election Congress’s ‘shahi parivar’ yesterday came to Karnataka and said that they want to protect the ‘sovereignty’ of Karnataka", the PM said at a rally on Sunday. “Do you know what is the meaning of it... When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India", he said. placed persons and to protect the places of worship.The court posted the matter for further hearing on May 17. Giving the details of the steps that have been taken to control the situation and restore normalcy, the Solicitor General told the top court that 52 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 105 columns of Army/AssamRifleshavebeen deployed in Manipur. Flag marches have been conducted in disturbed areas, Solicitor General Mehta told the bench, adding that a senior police officer has been appointed by the Centre as security advisor and also a senior IAS officer was repatriated from central deputation to Manipur to function as its Chief Secretary amid the emergency situation. The movement of the people stranded is being facilitatedbysecurityforcesincluding the holding of the peace meetings,SolicitorGeneralsaid further telling the court that the helicopters and drones were used and constant vigil is being maintained by paramilitary forces and Army. Observing that “Our immediate target is protection, rescue and rehabilitation of people. We are concerned deeply about the loss of lives and loss of properties... These proceedings before the Supreme Court should not become a ground to further destabilise the State”, the bench also questioned the Manipur High Court order directing the state government to recommend to the Centre the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list, saying such power is only with the President. Urging the court to “Let everything is calm down,” Solicitor General Mehta asked the bench to hear at later date an appeal by Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, and BJP MLA, Dinganglung Gangmei, challenging the High Court order in respect of the Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community as a tribe of Manipur. SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 8 MAY the party has even more support compared to the last election. "I have travelled to all parts of Karnataka. The enthusiasm, inclination, and support for BJP in all areas. There is enthusiasm to form a BJP government. PM Modi's popularity is tremendous which is getting converted into votes. It is clear that BJP is forming the government with full majority," Shah said. Asked about the falling level of discourse in the campaign during elections, Shah said this should not happen. "Whenever Congress has used poisonous language against PM Modi, they have had to face defeat. In Karnataka 60 killed, 231 injured, 1,700 houses burnt in violence, says Manipur CM: At least 60 people, including women, have been killed and 231peopleinjuredwhile1,700 houses have been burned down in the ethnic violence in Manipur since May 3, CM Biren Singh said on Monday. Heannouncedthatahighlevel inquiry would be conducted to fix responsibility on persons and groups who instigatedtheviolenceandgovernment servants who didn't meet their responsibilities. So far 35,655 persons, hit by the violence, including 1,593 students,havebeenmovedtosafer locations,Singhtoldthemedia. Around10,000peopleremain stranded, he said, adding that AmitShahhasbeenmonitoring thesituationfromthefirstday oftheincidenttillMonday.The Home Minister has sent 50 companies of Central forces tohelpthe105columnsofArmy &AssamRiflestodealwiththe violence. Hesaidthatthemiscreants andtheagitatorssnatched1,041 arms and 7,460 pieces of ammunition from the security forces and so far, 214 arms and 4,273 pieces of ammunition were recovered. The CM hasannouncedRsfivelakhas compensation to the next of kintothedeceased,Rstwolakh forgrievousinjuriesandRs25, 000 for non-grievous injuries, while appealing for peace. Centre suppressing death toll: Mamata STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 8 MAY Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today accused the Centre of suppressing the figure of the death toll in the Manipur violence. Expressing concern, she alleged that the death toll was “shooting up” with every passing moment. To help deport civilians, particularly Bengalis, left stranded in the violence-hit Manipur, she announced the commissioning of a 24x7 control room to fasttrack the rescue effort. Addressing a press conference at Nabanna this afternoon, Banerjee alleged that the way the Manipur violence was being han- MiG-21 jet crashes into house in Rajasthan, three dead, pilot safe SNS & AGENCIES JAIPUR, 8 MAY A total of three civilians were killed after the wreckage of the Indian Air Force MiG-21 aircraft fell on a house in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on Monday morning, the IAF said today. The aircraft had taken off from the Suratgarh airbase for a routine exercise when it crashed near Bahlol Nagar in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh due to an "onboard emer- BJP will form govt with full majority in K’taka: Shah Expressing confidence that BJP will come to power in Karnataka with a full majority, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that state and central governments have together worked for the development of the state and there were several infrastructure projects in the pipeline which will be completed in the next five years. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Amit Shah also hit out at the Congress and said whenever it has used "poisonous language" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has faced defeat. He said the people of Karnataka will reply to the abuses hurled at PM Modi. Shah said PM Modi has enormous popularity which is translating into votes and P12 The top court noted the Centre's submissions that no violence was reported in Manipur in the past two days and the situation is gradually returning to normalcy Max. 85% TEMPERATURE ‘NADAL MISSING ROLAND GARROS WOULD BE BRUTAL’ also, people will give them a befitting reply," Shah said. He said Congress had given four per cent reservation to the minority community as part of its "appeasement politics". Shah slammed Congress over its promise to restore quota for Muslims in Karnataka and talking of an increase in quota to six per cent in and said that the party should make it clear if it will slash the quota of SCs, STs, Lingayats or Vokkaligas. Shah said Siddaramaiah should clarify that if Congress increases the reservation for Muslims from 4 per cent to 6 per cent, then whose reservation it will cut-down. He said the Congress leader should make the party's stand clear before the campaign for Karnataka polls ends on Monday. "Reservation within reser- vation done with a lot of thought...Before the end of campaigning for Karnataka elections, Siddaramaiah must clarify that if Congress increases the reservation for Muslims from 4 per cent to 6 per cent, whose reservation would they decrease - OBCs, or SCs or STs or Lingayats, or Vokkaligas?" Shah asked. The Karnataka government decided to scrap the four per cent quota for minorities in March this year and add it to the existing quota of two dominant communities of the poll-bound state. The BJP-led government scrapped the four per cent OBC reservation for Muslims and distributed it VeerashaivaLingayats andVokkaligas. It also decided to move OBC Muslims to the 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category. CMYK gency." The mishap took place at around 9.25 am. "Soon after the take-off, the pilot experienced an onboard emergency, following which he attempted to recover the aircraft as per existing procedures. Having failed to do so, he initiated an ejection, sustaining minor injuries in the process. The pilot was recovered from about 25 kilometres North East of Suratgarh's base," IAF said in the statement. "The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh District, unfortunately leading to the loss of three lives. The IAF regrets the loss of lives and offers its deepest condolences to the bereaved families," it added. The Indian Air Force has ordered a court of inquiry to ascertain the cause of the accident. The MiG-21 fleet is on its last leg and all the remaining three aircraft from the fleet are planned to be poached out by 2025. Earlier in January, one pilot lost his life after two IAF fighter jets - a Sukhoi-30 and a Mirage 2000 - crashed during a training exercise. While one aircraft crashed in Morena in Madhya Pradesh, the other crashed and landed in Rajasthan's Bharatpur. AI urination case: SC issues notice to Centre, DGCA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 MAY The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a plea seeking direction to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and all the airlines to frame mandatory Special Operating Procedures (SoPs) and zero tolerance rules to deal with unruly passengers and to protect other on board sufferers. The top court has been moved by a 72-year-old woman victim, who was urinated upon in a New YorkDelhi Air India flight on November26, 2022, by an allegedly inebriated passenger. A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice J.B. Pardiwala has posted the matter for further hearing in July, when court reopens after its summer vacation. The petitioner Hema Rajaraman has sought direction to the DGCA to include in the CAR an explicit zerotolerance policy with respect to "unruly/disruptive behaviour", which would mandate reporting such incidents to aviation regulator and also to law enforcement agencies, failing which action would be taken against the airlines in all cases. It has sought direction to DGCA to consider including in its May 2017 Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) that "drunkenness" or "inebriation" on its own to be termed as unruly/disruptive behaviour on an aircraft. dled and shoot-at-sight orders implemented, it raised considerable fears that the toll in army fire-fight would be much higher as the figures of the death toll continued to be unspecified as the Centre was not disclosing the figures and that ran the risk of the exact figures of the alleged death toll in violence being suppressed. “Any incidents that happened in the state of West Bengal are found to be hyper active in sending central teams to tarnish the image of the state but in the case of Manipur, they are not disclosing figures. The Manipur problem is decades old, but in this case, it is man-made”, said Ms Banerjee. Bengal bans ‘The Kerala Story’ screening STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 8 MAY The Mamata Banerjee-led government banned screening of the controversial film ‘The Kerala Story’ in Bengal amidst strong criticism from the opposition parties in the state. While speaking to reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna on Monday the chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee said, “I have asked the chief secretary to ban screening of ‘The Kerala Story’ in our state to avoid any incident of hatred and violence.” “Strong action would be taken if anyone screens the movie in cinema halls or multiplexes in Bengal. Several scenes shown in the film could disturb peace in the state. BJP is doing the politics of divisions and hatred. Our decision to ban it is to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, and to maintain peace in the state,” the chief minister said. Nabanna issued a directive banning the film later in the day soon after the instructions from the chief minister. ‘The Kerala Story’, directed by Sudipto Sen, claims to portray the story of some women from the state, who were converted to Islam and recruited by terror outfit ISIS. The movie has been the subject of fierce online debate and criticism with strong objections raised by many political leaders who have termed it to be a propaganda film. (See Pg3)