WEDNESDAY 31 MAY 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS: FM SEEKS STATES’ COOPERATION KTR WORRIED THAT SOUTHERN STATES WILL LOSE OUT P4 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. LIGHT RAIN /THUNDERSHOWERS ACCOMPANIED WITH GUSTY WINDS (SPEED 40-50 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 21 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 001.2 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 91% TEMPERATURE Max: 35.9°C (-5) SUN RISES 05:24 hrs MOON RISES 15:30 hrs CONGRESS TEAM MEETS PRESIDENT OVER MANIPUR ISSUE P8 P5 Min: 20.7°C (-6) SUN SETS 19:14 hrs MOON SETS 03:08 hrs THUMBNAILS Locals gather at the site after a bus travelling from Amritsar to Katra fell into a gorge, in Jammu on Tuesday. At least 10 people died and around 55 people were injured in the accident.  ANI Air India passenger assaults crew member on flight:A passenger exhibited disruptive behaviour during an Air India flight, engaging in unruly conduct and verbally abusing the crew members while physically assaulting one of them, said Air India spokesperson on Tuesday.The incident occurred on May 29. In a statement issued by Air India, the airline said that a passenger on their flight AI882 on 29 May behaved in an unruly manner. is seen across sectors whether it is in vaccinating the entire eligible population in record time against Covid-19; recording the nation’s highest ever exports in history; in the digital revolution which is taking place across India; in achieving monumental targets for rural electrification and in building world class infrastructure or in providing drinking water facilities across households. P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed humility and gratitude as his Government completed nine years in service to the nation, and said “we will keep working even harder to build a developed India.” In a tweet, he said: “Today, as we complete 9 years in service to the nation, I am filled with humility and gratitude. Every decision made, every action taken, has been guided by the desire to improve the lives of people.” The Prime Minister has shared the website link showcasing development journey under his government in the past nine years. He invited everyone to visit the website and witness how people have benefited from various Government schemes. Mr Modi tweeted: “9 years of unwavering dedication to the nation’s growth. I invite everyone to visit this site nm4.com/9yrsofseva to get a glimpse of our development journey. It also gives an opportunity to highlight how people have benefited from various Government schemes.” The Prime Minister tweet- President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni pose for photographs during a ceremonial reception for the king upon his arrival at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Capital onTuesday. SNS ed: “Over the past 9 years, we have strived to uphold the dignity and enhance the livelihoods of India's poorest. Through numerous initiatives we have transformed millions of lives. Our mission continues - to uplift every citizen and fulfill their dreams.” The Prime Minister has shared articles on nine years of his Government.The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted: “Nine years of hope, aspiration and trust, writes Former President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji”.The nine years of the Modi-led government were dedicated to bring about development which is inclusive, progressive, and sustainable. The government under Prime Minister Modi has been steadfast in its commitment of creating equity and opportunity for all citizens.He brought the politics of development ~ Vikasvaad ~ into the mainstream, making it the focal point around which political discourse and policy action now revolves. A special feature of the Modi government’s tenure has been setting challenging targets, and achieving them before deadlines. This In the last nine years, there has been a paradigm shift in public service delivery and the implementation of government schemes using the JAM Trinity-Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile. JAM Trinity is the key enabler of India’s transformed and well-developed digital landscape. It has removed intermediaries and permits direct transfer of benefits into an intended beneficiary’s bank account. For a country to prosper, it is imperative that its infrastructure grows rapidly and the government under PM Modi’s dynamic leadership understands this. The completion of infrastructure projects that were delayed over decades, as well as starting and completion of new ones has been the cornerstone of this government’s developmental approach. Modi to host SCO Summit virtually SNS & AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE HARIDWAR , 30 MAY NEW DELHI, 30 MAY Protesting wrestlers, gathered at Uttarakhand’s Haridwar to immerse their medals in river Ganga, as a mark of protest against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations, on Tuesday decided to halt their plan after farmer leader Naresh Tikait intervened and sought a fiveday time from the protesting grapplers. Tikait took medals from the wrestlers and sought a five-day time from them. Olympic medalist wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik alongwith Vinesh Phogat, who have accused the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and are demanding his arrest, reached Uttarakhand's Harid- The 22nd Summit of the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) Council of Heads of State, under India’s first-ever chairmanship, will be held in the virtual format on 4 July, it was officially announced here today. The summit will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All the SCO member states-~ China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan ~ have been invited to attend the summit. In addition, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia have been invited as observer states. As per SCO tradition, Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the chair. Heads of the two SCO Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik along with others reach Haridwar on Tuesday evening. ANI war to immerse their all medals including Olympic medals in the river Ganga on Tuesday evening, as a mark of their protest. A sizable crowd is present as the wrestlers were seen huddled together to immerse their medals which they have achieved after much hard India’s defence exports register 23-fold increase India's defence exports reached an all-time high, surging from Rs 686 crores in 2013-14 to nearly Rs 16,000 crores in 2022-23. This remarkable 23-fold increase reflects India's progress in the global defence manufacturing sector. “With exports reaching more than 85 countries, India's defence industry has shown its capability of design and development to the world, with 100 firms exporting defence products at present,” an official release said today. To give a push to defence exports, the government has taken a number of policy initiatives and brought reforms over the last nine years. Export procedures have been simplified and made industryfriendly with end-to-end online export authorisation and curtailing delays to bring in Ease of Doing Business. Further, the self-reliant India call or 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives have helped STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE CHANDIGARH, 30 MAY Modi government completes 9 years, promises developed India Wrestlers postpone plan to immerse medals in Ganga STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 MAY P12 We will keep working Trouble ahead for even harder, says PM Sudhanshu Mittal? STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 MAY Min. 48% ‘WINNING 6 IPLS MY MOST CHERISHED MOMENTS’ India's defence exports reached an all-time high, surging from Rs 686 crores in 2013-14 to nearly Rs 16,000 crores in 2022-23. the country by encouraging indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment in the country, thereby reducing dependency on imports in the long run, the release said. The expenditure on defence procurement from foreign sources has reduced from 46 per cent of overall expenditure in 2018-19 to 36.7 per cent in December 2022. India was hitherto primarily known as one of the largest defence importers. Over the last few years, it has started exporting a number of defence items. work. Women wrestlers were sitting on the ground and were emotional. The protesting wrestlers said that they will visit Haridwar and throw their medals in the Ganga at 6 pm on Tuesday. They said they will sit on a hunger strike at India Gate after throwing their medals. bodies ~ the Secretariat and the SCO RATS ~ will also be present. Further, heads of six international and regional organisations have also been invited, viz. the UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU and CICA. The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’. The SECURE acronym was coined by the Prime Minister at the 2018 SCO Summit and stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment. These themes have been highlighted during India's chairmanship of the SCO. India has set up new pillars of cooperation under its chairmanship - Startups and Innovation; Traditional Medicine; Digital Inclusion; Youth Empowerment; and Shared Buddhist Heritage. With the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation now expected to probe the money laundering part of the corruption case which has been filed against ex-CBI judge Sudhir Parmar and two others, trouble may brew for Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhanshu Mittal whose name finds mention in the same First Information Report (FIR) under the Prevention of Corruption Act in which the judge has been booked. Mr Mittal, who was considered a protege of late BJP strongman Pramod Mahajan, is said to be close to influential people in power and some judges. Also, booked in the case by the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Panchkula, Haryana are judge Parmar’s nephew, Ajay Parmar and Roop Bansal, the director of real estate company, M3M India Pvt Ltd. According to an audio recording which is part of the FIR, the judge claimed to have met Sudhanshu Mittal, the brother-in-law of Lalit Goyal of Ireo who was arrested in 2021 for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and assured him of several concessions in the course of judicial proceedings. The agencies will carry out the investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after an enforcement case information report (ECIR) is lodged on the basis of the April 17 FIR registered by ACB under Sections 7, 8, 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the IPC. The case was registered for offences pertaining to bribery of a public servant, undue advantage being taken by a public servant, criminal conspiracy and criminal misconduct. Parmar was suspended on April 27, after an FIR was registered on April 17, and was accused of favouritism in his treatment of real estate developers Roop Bansal and his brother Basant Bansal of M3M and Lalit Goyal of IREO Group, the FIR states. The Goyals and Bansals have been named as CHAMPIONS Chennai Super Kings players celebrate with the trophy after winning the final match of Indian Premier League 2023 beating Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad.  ANI Shah holds all-party meet in Manipur to restore peace SNS & AGENCIES IMPHAL, 30 MAY On the second day of his fourday long visit to Manipur, Union home minister on Tuesday chaired an all-party meeting, met prominent personalities and women leaders to restore normality in the violence-hit state. Mr Shah also visited Churachandpur, one of the districts severely affected by the ethnic violence that ravaged the state since 3 May, leaving at least 75 people dead and hundreds injured. According to a senior Manipur government official, during a meeting between the Home Minister and state council of ministers headed by the Chief Minister, it was decided to give compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to those who died during the ethnic violence. A government job would also be provided to a kin of the family whose members were killed in the violence. The compensation amount would be equally borne by the Centre and the state. Mr Shah held the all-party meeting at the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's res- accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED in cases pending before the special CBI court - a court that was presided over by Parmar. What was the case against Parmar and Goyal? A case under PMLA was filed against Lalit Goyal and he was subsequently arrested for cheating home buyers and giving bribe. Goyal was the vice-chairman and managing director of realty giant IREO Group in November 2021 and had allegedly cheated home buyers. In February 2022, ED presented a prosecution complaint (challan) against Goyal. Screenshots of WhatsApp messages between Parmar and another person in which he demands Rs 5 crore to Rs 7 crore for helping the M3M owners in ED cases were found. He requests the person to receive the money on his behalf. In the same chat, the person says that ?5 crore has already been given to Parmar by the accused in the IREO case, the FIR states. “More recordings revealed that Parmar, during yet another conversation TV admitted that he did not let Roop Bansal become an accused in the ED cases,” as per the FIR. HC dismisses Sisodia’s bail plea in excise policy case NEW DELHI, 30 MAY Union home minister Amit Shah with Manipur CM N Biren Singh chairs a meeting with senior officials in Imphal on Tuesday.  ANI People come out of their houses to buy essential items during ANI curfew relaxation hours, at Khwairamband market, in Imphal. idence here in Imphal in the presence of his colleague Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and discussed issues linked to the violence as well as its current situation and a detailed plan to control the violence and restore normality in the state. In tribal-dominated Churachandpur, Mr Shah held meetings with various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), influential tribal leaders and local security and civil administrations officials. “This crucial engagement aims to study leaders (Meira Paibi). He also held a meeting with a delegation of different Civil Society Organisations in Imphal. Mr Shah, who is on a fourday visit to Manipur till 1 June, chaired a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister and ministers of the state, senior leaders and officials soon after he arrived in Imphal on Monday evening and assessed the situation and chalked out a plan for further steps to restore normality in the region. In that meeting, Union Minister for State Home Affairs the actual situation in ground zero and gather inputs and better understand the challenges faced by the affected communities," a government official said in Imphal. Earlier in the day, the Home Minister held a meeting with prominent personalities in Imphal and they expressed their commitment to peace and assured that "they would together contribute to paving the way to restore normalcy in Manipur." The Minister also held a meeting with a group of women Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, and Intelligence Bureau chief Tapan Deka among other officials concerned in the state as well as the Centre took part. The meeting was conducted as fresh violence hit the state a day ago. During his stay in Manipur till 1 June, the Home Minister will hold several rounds of security meetings.Sporadic incidents and attacks are continuing in several parts of the state, particularly in the fringe areas of Imphal valley. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's bail plea in the 2021-22 excise policy case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pronounced the order on AAP leader's bail plea after having reserved it on May 11. The judge said that the nature of the allegations is quite serious that the excise policy was formed at the instance of South Group with mala fide intention to give undue advantage to them. "Such a conduct points towards the misconduct of the applicant who was admittedly a public servant and was holding a very high position," the judge said. While denying him bail, the judge also said that Sisodia being an influential person can influence witnesses, who are also public serAGENCIES (SEE P 2) vants.