THURSDAY 01 JUNE 2023 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC www.thestatesman.com KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR MAN WHO SHOULD’VE BEEN IN THE DOCK PRETORIA’S CHOICE P6 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. LIGHT RAIN /THUNDERSHOWERS ACCOMPANIED WITH GUSTY WINDS (SPEED 45-55 KMPH) TOWARDS EVENING/NIGHT AT A FEW PLACES. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 20 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 023.1 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100% Min. 60% TEMPERATURE Max: 31.8°C (-8) SUN RISES 05:24 hrs MOON RISES 16:29 hrs Min: 20.5°C (-6) SUN SETS 19:14 hrs MOON SETS 03:42 hrs THUMBNAILS Four Rafale fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force carried out a "strategic" mission over the Indian Ocean region for over six hours, on Wednesday.  ANI Cabinet approves second phase of Smart Cities programme: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0), a programme linked to Smart Cities and conceived by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in partnership with foreign agencies. This was announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur after the Cabinet meeting. MEDVEDEV SUFFERS SHOCKING FIRST-ROUND DEFEAT BRICS: EAM LIKELY TO MEET CHINESE, RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS P7 P5 P12 Rahul remarks on PM, 'Cong, other parties insulted nation's pride' Muslims: BJP hits back STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY PM slams Opp for boycotting new Parliament building inauguration STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAIPUR, 31 MAY Such opportunities and moments come once in a lifetime after many generations, many years, but the Congress wasted this moment for its selfish opposition. It has insulted the pride and sentiments of the country and the 60,000 labourers who built it (the new Parliament building) P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday charged that the Congress and other Opposition parties had insulted the pride and sentiments of people by boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament House complex in New Delhi. “Such opportunities and moments come once in a lifetime after many generations, many years, but the Congress wasted this moment for its selfish opposition. It has insulted the pride and sentiments of the country and the 60,000 labourers who built it (the new Parliament building),” the Prime Minister said while addressing a BJP rally at Kayad Vishramsthali in Ajmer. Earlier, the PM, who reached Pushkar by helicopter went to the Brahma Temple to offer his prayers before coming to Ajmer. “Congress had arrogance that was why a garib ka beta (son of the poor) stood against them,” the PM said, alleged that the Congress policy has been to “misguide the poor, make them suffer.” Sounding the poll bugle in Rajasthan, Mr Modi directly attacked the Gehlot NARENDRA MODI PRIME MINISTER Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting, in Ajmer on Wednesday.  ANI government, alleging that its MLAs, ministers and even the chief Minister were busy fighting with each other and they are not worried about meeting the needs of the public for the last five years. "Crime has reached its peak, people cannot celebrate festivals peacefully. They are afraid clashes can erupt at any time. The Congress is committed to the appeasement of terrorists. Women & daughters, dalits, minorities and labourers are not safe and the criminals have been given a free hand,” he charged. The Congress as a whole and in Rajasthan has no vision or agenda, he said. “Congress has evolved a new formula of making false guarantee to the public at the time of elections,” the PM said, and asked whether the Gehlot government fulfilled its promises of farmers' loan waiver within ten days after taking over the government in 2018. "In nine years we have rejuvenated the country. We have developed modern infrastructure, railway, airports, and national highways that are not less than in any other developed nation,” he claimed. The Prime Minister said, "I have been working untiringly for 9 years for the 140 lakh people of India, they are my family, they are my God. I will always be connected with you for your bright future.” A fresh row erupted today between the Congress and the BJP-led government after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks at an event in San Francisco on Muslims in India and on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Gandhi, who is on a ten-day visit to the United States, said what was happening to the Muslims in India, happened to the Dalits in the 1980s and that other minorities were also feeling the same. Incidentally, his visit to the US comes three weeks before the PM’s visit as a guest of US President Joe Biden. “It is being felt by the Muslims most directly because it is done most directly to them. But in fact, it is done to all communities. The way you (Muslims) are feeling attacked, I can guarantee Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, and tribals are feeling the same. You can't cut hatred with hatred, but only with love and affection,” the Congress leader said, responding to a question concerning the Muslims in India from the ‘Bay Area Muslim community’ at a 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event in San Francisco. Mr Gandhi also stated that some people were “absolutely convinced” that they knew everything and could explain history to historians, science to scientists and warfare to the army. “The world is too big and complicated for any person to know everything. That is the disease...There is a group of people in India who are absolutely convinced they know everything. They think they know even more than God. They can sit with God and explain to him what's going on. And of course, our prime minister is one such specimen. If you sat Modiji with God, he will explain to God how the universe works and God will get confused about what I have created,” the Congress leader said. The comments drew sharp reaction from the ruling dispensation with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur accusing Mr Gandhi of insulting India during his visits abroad. “During his foreign vis- its, Rahul Gandhi insults India, which is unacceptable. He wants to insult PM Modi but ends up insulting India, questioning India's progress. He is trying to tarnish India at a time when the world is acknowledging our growing stature,” he said. Mr Thakur noted that the PM met almost 24 PMs and Presidents from different countries and held over 50 meetings during his recent foreign visit. Several world leaders were saying that Mr Modi was the most popular leader. The Australian PM said ‘PM Modi is the Boss’ but Mr Gandhi could not digest this, he added. The Union minister also targeted Mr Gandhi over his remarks that what was happening to the Muslims in India today, happened to Dalits in the 1980s. He recalled that Congress was in power in Uttar Pradesh as well as the Centre for the most part of the eighties. “The period that Rahul Gandhi is talking about...In the 1980s, Dalits and SC families were oppressed when Congress was in power in the country and also in Uttar Pradesh. Perhaps he wanted to go out and tell that the Dalits and the minorities were oppressed under Congress rule and 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' is taking place under the BJP,” Mr Thakur said. ‘This India is different from what it was in 2013’ Manipur: Shah visits 2 more violence-hit districts STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY India has transformed in less than a decade, gaining positions in the world order with significant positive consequences for the macro and market outlook, Morgan Stanley said in a report. The report, India Equity Strategy and Economics: How India Has Transformed in Less than a Decade, highlights the 10 big changes, mostly because of India's policy choices, and their implications for its economy and market. “This India is different from what it was in 2013. In a short span of 10 years, India has gained positions in the world order with significant positive consequences for the macro and market outlook. We present a snapshot of these changes and their implications,” the report said. India will emerge as a key driver for Asia and global growth, it said. The report further said, "We run into significant skepticism about India's GDP growth in FY23 estimated at 7.2 pc AGENCIES CHENNAI, 31 MAY India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth for FY23 is estimated at 7.2 per cent, the National Statistical Office (NSO) said on Wednesday. According to the NSO, the growth in real GDP during 2022-23 is estimated at 7.2 per cent as compared to 9.1 per cent in 2021-22. The GDP growth during the fourth quarter of 2022-23 was at 6.1 per cent. The NSO said the GDP in the year 2022-23 is estimated to attain a level of Rs 160.06 lakh crore, as against the First Revised Estimates of GDP for the year 2021-22 of Rs 149.26 (Page 8) lakh crore. India, particularly with overseas investors, who say that India has not delivered its potential (despite its being the second- fastest-growing economy and among the top-performing stock markets over the past 25 years) and that equity valuations are too rich." It added: “However, such a view ignores the significant changes that have taken place in India, especially since 2014." Morgan Stanley's Research had highlighted these 10 big changes, namely, supplyside policy reforms, formalisation of the economy, Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, digitalising social transfers, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, flexible inflation targeting,focusonFDI,India's401(k) moment, government support for corporate profits and MNC sentiment at multi year high, in its report. The report said: “ We expect a new cycle in manufacturing and capex, as we estimate the share of both to rise in GDP by approximately 5 ppt. We estimate that India's export market share will rise to 4.5 per cent by 2031, nearly 2 times from 2021 levels, with broad-based gains across goods and services exports and there would be a major shift in consumption basket.” STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IMPHAL, 31 MAY Union Home Minister Amit Shah today visited the border town of Moreh and Kangpokpi district in violence-hit Manipur and held a series of talks with various civil society organisation leaders. Moreh town, which borders Myanmar, was badly impacted by the ethnic violence that erupted in the state on 3 May, with the members of the Meitei community living there coming under attack from Kuki militants, who drove them out. Those whom Mr Shah met there included representatives of the Meitei Society, the Tamil Sangam, the Gorkha Welfare Association and the Kuki Students Organization. They all impressed on the Home Minister to bring about normality as Moreh has always been a plural society. The Home Minister also vis- Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with the delegations of Kuki and other communities to restore normality and peace in the state, at Moreh, in Tengnoupal on Wednesday.  ANI ited the Relief Camp at Akampat where displaced Meitei persons are being accomodated. Mr Shah held a high-level security meeting at the Imphal Raj Bhavan on Wednesday evening. He is expected to leave Imphal tomorrow. In the meantime, the Privilege and Ethics Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly has served Show Cause Notices to the 10 Kuki MLAs who had openly called for a separate Kuki administered area in Manipur. These 10 includes two who are members of the Biren Singh-led Cabinet. On the law and order front, three state forces personnel were injured in an IED blast OTT shows required Allahabad HC dismisses plea against suit seeking to carry mandatory regular worship of deities inside Gyanvapi mosque anti-tobacco warnings STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SNS & AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 31 MAY The government on Wednesday made it mandatory for OTT platforms to display anti-tobacco warnings and disclaimers as seen in movies screened in theatres and television programmes. The Union health ministry notified the amendments in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2004 on World No Tobacco Day today. The Union health ministry took the decision following discussions with the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry and other stakeholders. According to the notification, the publishers of online curated content displaying tobacco products or their use will be required to display anti-tobacco health spots of a minimum of 30 seconds each at the beginning and middle PRAYAGRAJ, 31 MAY The Union health ministry took the decision after discussions with the Information & Broadcasting ministry and other stakeholders. of a programme. The over-the-top (OTT) platforms shall also be required to exhibit an antitobacco health warning as a prominent static message at the bottom of the screen when tobacco products or their use are displayed during a programme. “The anti-tobacco health warning message as specified in clause (b) of sub-rule (1) shall be legible and readable, with font in black colour on white background and with the warnings ‘tobacco causes cancer’ or ‘tobacco kills’,” the notification stated. Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea challenging the maintainability of a suit filed by five Hindu women seeking permission for regular worship of Shringar Gauri and other deities in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque compound. The single Bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Justice J J Munir rejected the revision petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee. The High Court had reserved the judgment on 23 December 2022 after the completion of lengthy arguments. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee had challenged the decision of District judge Varanasi admitting the suit. It had argued that the civil suit is not maintainable under the Places of Worship Act of 1991 and the Central Waqf Act of 1995. The single Bench of the Allahabad High Court comprising Justice J J Munir rejected the revision petition filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee. In the Shringar Gauri case, a civil suit was filed by Rakhi Singh of the Hindu side and 9 others in the Varanasi court demanding regular worship of deities found at the Gyanvapi premises. After the High Court verdict, the Varanasi district Judge will continue hearing the civil suit. During the three month long argument, the Muslim side argued that the Places of Worship Act prohibited regular worship because it will disturb the religious nature of the place which cannot be done legally. Therefore, regular worship should not be allowed here. They also said that the civil suit should be declared time-barred on the basis of the law of limitation. It is said that an attempt has been made to interfere with the rights of the opposite party by filing a civil suit demanding the right to worship due to which the 1991 law will be violated. Therefore, the suit filed for regular worship of Shringar Gauri in the district court is not maintainable. Hari Shanker Jain, pleading for the civil suit, stressed that Hindus have been worshiping Shringar Gauri, Hanuman and Kriti Vaseshwar, according to mythological evidence well before August 15, 1947. Therefore, the Places of Worship Act of 1991 would not be applicable in this case. He said that after the idol is consecrated in the temple, the ownership of that land vests in the idol. In Hindu law, the indirect idol continues to exist even after the temple is destroyed. He said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished the Bhu Vishweshwar Nath temple and the wall of the temple has been given the shape of a mosque. Mr Jain contended that the place cannot be considered a mosque under Islamic law and namaz is not accepted at the disputed site. He said that where there are three domes today, Shringar Gauri, Hanuman and Kritivas temples were there. He also presented a map and said that no Islamic historian has mentioned the Gyanvapi mosque. It has become clear that the Alamgir mosque is located three kilometers away from the disputed site. Many temples were demolished to build mosques during that period. Presenting the picture of the disputed structure, he said it is clearly visible that the temple has been demolished and given the shape of a mosque. at Tangjeng village on the Churachandpur-Bishenpur districts border. Also a police commando force which had gone to retrieve the bodies of four Meitei villagers who were killed yesterday at Nazareth village near Sugnu were forced to turn back following heavy firing from Kuki militants. An irate mob today prevented an Assam Rifles column from proceeding to their headquarters at Somsai in Ukhrul. The mob suspected that the AR personnel were ferrying in food supplies to the Kuki militants. CM Biren Singh also appealed to the people not to violate curfew orders and prevent the movement of the security forces. He also asked the people to return the arms snatched from various police posts recently and warned that appropriate action would be initiated against them under the relevant laws. PM Jan Arogya Yojana sees 5 crore hospital admissions STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has achieved a milestone of five crore hospital admissions amounting to Rs 61,501 crore under the scheme. The flagship scheme being implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation to 12 crore beneficiary families. The AB PM-JAY is being implemented in 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) except for Delhi, Odisha, and West Bengal. To date, 23.39 crore beneficiaries have been verified and issued Ayushman Cards for availing free treatment under the scheme. Under AB PM-JAY, the beneficiaries are issued co-branded PVC Ayushman Cards.