SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023 www.thestatesman.com twitter.com/thestatesman facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR OSTRICH-LIKE POLICY ‘NO DISCUSSION ON SEAT SHARING WITH BJP SO FAR’ P4 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Rain/thundershower likely to occur.Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 33 °C and 28 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 15.7 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98% TEMPERATURE RAIN COULD PLAY SPOILSPORT AGAIN CAPT AMARINDER DENIES MEETING SONIA GANDHI P6 P8 P16 G20 Summit: World leaders adopt New Delhi Declaration Document, without directly condemning Russia, calls for just & durable peace in Ukraine PM calls upon G20 to overcome trust deficit Min. 74 % Max: 32.1 °C (0) Min: 26.1 °C (0) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:22 hrs 17:47 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 00:9 hrs 14:18 hrs New Moon on 15 September THUMBNAILS Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the United States President Joe Biden, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and President of World Bank, Ajay Banga in a group photo on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Saturday.  ANI ASHOK TUTEJA NEW DELHI, 9 SEPTEMBER An artisan works on a handicarft at G20 Crafts Bazaar at Pragati Maidan, in the capital on Saturday.  SUBRATA DUTTA PM holds bilateral meeting with Japanese counterpart Kishida: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a bilateral meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in New Delhi and the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, Prime Minister Modi's office said in a statement. An artist gives final touch to the idols of Lord Ganesha ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Nagpur on Saturday.  ANI trongly endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's observation that today’s era must not be of war, the G20 leaders on Saturday expressed concern over the Ukraine conflict and, without directly condemning Russia, called for a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in the embattled nation. They called upon all states to uphold the principles of international law, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguard peace and stability. After thorny negotiations, New Delhi was able to achieve “100 per cent consensus” on all issues, demonstrating Mr Modi's ability to bring all countries together, India's G20 'Sherpa' Amitabh Kant said at a Press conference while releasing the “G20 New Delhi Leaders' Dec- S ASHOK TUTEJA NEW DELHI, 9 SEPTEMBER SUMMIT TAKEAWAYS  The Delhi Declaration was adopted by consensus of all G20 members, calling on nations to uphold international law, including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The African Union has been inducted as a new permanent member of the G20.  India, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the European Union announced a historic agreement to launch a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor.  PM Narendra Modi announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance to boost the use of cleaner fuels. laration”. The declaration was formally adopted at the second session of the G20 Summit. It is learnt that Indian officials had to burn the midnight oil to bring about a consensus on the declaration by diluting the language on the Ukraine conflict. India worked very closely with Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia to achieve consensus, Mr Kant said. The leaders reiterated their national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly on Ukraine and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. A consensus had eluded the G20 leaders at their Bali Summit last year on the Russia-Ukraine war. (See also Pgs 2,5,11) PM’s nameplate has Bharat as name of country at summit STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nameplate in the G20 meeting of Heads of State and Governments on Saturday described the name of the country as Bharat in place of India. This was perhaps the first time the name of the country in any international conference was mentioned as Bharat. The preference for use of the Hindi equivalent of India at the G20 PM Narendra Modi’s nameplate in the G20 meeting described the name of the country as Bharat in place of India.  SUBRATA DUTTA conference confirmed the Government’s desire to officially highlight India’s cultural tra- ditions and history. Bharat, in fact, figured prominently along with India in all decorations and backgrounds as the G20 Summit got underway at the Bharat Mandapam. Bharat in Hindi appeared in the Konark Wheel backdrop below the G20 logo in front of which the Prime Minister welcomed the Heads of State and Governments, as also heads of international organisations, for the G20 Summit. The G20 logo has “Bharat 2023 India” under it. The Government’s G20 Microsite has the official logo on its masthead with Bharat together with India. “President of Bharat” and “Prime Minister of Bharat” have been used in official G20 invitations for dinners and other receptions. Recent publicity of the invitations made the Opposition raise eyebrows but there was retort that Bharat has been the historical name of India, and that it appears right at the beginning of the Indian Constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon top world leaders to transform the global trust deficit arising from Covid19 and the Ukraine conflict into global trust and confidence, saying this was a time for the entire global community to walk together. “After Covid-19, a huge crisis of lack of trust has come to the world. The (Ukraine) war has deepened this trust deficit. When we can defeat Covid, we can also overcome this crisis of mutual trust,” he said, opening the twoday G20 Summit in New Delhi. The summit is being attended by the heads of 41 countries and multilateral agencies. While Russian PresidentVladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have given it a miss, the summit is being attended by US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other top leaders. Emphasising that it was time for the G20 to move together, Mr Modi said the mantra of “Sabka Saath,SabkaVikas,Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas” could become a guiding light for the global community. Observing that the 21st century was a time with the potential to give a new direction to the entire world, the PM said: “It's a time when years old challenges demand new solutions from us. Therefore, we must move forward by fulfilling all our responsibilities with a human centric approach.” After Covid-19, a huge crisis of lack of trust has come to the world. The (Ukraine) war has deepened this trust deficit. When we can defeat Covid, we can also overcome this crisis of mutual trust Modi discusses trade deal with British PM NARENDRA MODI PRIME MINISTER Mr Modi particularly spoke about the challenges like the turmoil in the global economy; divide between North and South; distance between East andWest; management of food, fuel and fertilizer; terrorism and cyber sSecurity; health, energy and water Security and said: ''we have to move towards concrete solutions to these challenges for the present as well as future generations.” The PM said India's G20 presidency has become a symbol of inclusion, of "sabka saath" within and outside the country. In India, it became the People's G-20. Crores of Indians joined it. In more than 60 cities of the country, over 200 meetings were held, he told the summit leaders. Mr Modi said that just a few kilometres away from the place where they have gathered, stood a pillar that was nearly two and a half thousand years old. Inscribed on this pillar in the Prakrit language were the words which in English meant: “The welfare and happiness of humanity should always be ensured.”Two and a half thousand years ago, the land of India, he said, gave this message to the entire world and the G20 Summit must remember this message. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held talks with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of the G20 Summit during which the two leaders are understood to have discussed the broad contours of the proposed Free Trade Agreement between their two countries. “Great to have met PM @RishiSunak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. We discussed ways to deepen trade linkages and boost investment. India and the UK will keep working for a prosperous and sustainable planet,” PM Modi tweeted after the meeting. The two leaders began their meeting with a tight embrace and discussed a range of bilateral issues as well as global development. Mr Sunak is understood to have congratulated Mr Modi on the success of India's Chandrayaan-3 moon mission. He told the Indian leader that his family had watched the landing of the Indian spacecraft on the moon. “My daughters who watched the Chandrayaan were so excited,” he said. Mr Sunak earlier said both he and PM Modi were keen to see a comprehensive and AU joins G20 as permanent member STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 SEPTEMBER In what is seen as a diplomatic triumph for India which has been advocating the cause of the Global South, the African Union (AU) on Saturday became a permanent member of the G20 at the opening ceremony of the G20 Summit here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the entry of AU into the top global body, which, he said, was a milestone for the G20 family. “In keeping with the sentiment of Sabka Saath, India has proposed that the African Union should be given permanent membership of the G20. I believe we are all in agreement on this proposal,’’ the PM said as he banged the gavel thrice. ambitious trade deal concluded between their two two countries.The PM also had a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and nearly ten other leaders who are here to attend the G20 Summit. Powerful quake in Chandrababu Naidu arrested in Skill Development Corp case Morocco kills more than 1,000 people STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE HYDERABAD, 9 SEPTEMBER ASSOCIATED PRESS MARRAKECH, 9 SEPTEMBER A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. The full toll was not known as rescuers struggled to get through boulderstrewn roads to the remote mountain villages hit hardest. People woken by the magnitude-6.8 quake ran into the streets in terror and disbelief. A man visiting a nearby apartment said dishes and wall hangings began raining down, and people were knocked off their feet and chairs. A woman described fleeing her house after an “intense vibration.’’ A man holding a child said he was jarred awake in bed by the shaking. Menawhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the loss of lives in a massive earthquake in Morocco. He also offered assistance to the North African country. "Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time," Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter). (More on Pg 10) Amidst day-long drama, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested early in the morning from Nandyal in Kurnool district by the state CID in connection with a Rs 371 crore scam involving the Skill Development Corporation. The CID dubbed Mr Naidu as the prime conspirator and accused in the case. The TDP as well as Jana Sena and state BJP unit condemned the arrest, calling it a vendetta. Andhra Pradesh Police also arrested former minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Ghanta Srinivas Rao in the Skill Development Corporation scam case a few hours after Chandrababu Naidu was taken into custody in Nandyal town. Mr Naidu’s arrest caused high drama in the morning as well as in the afternoon when he was being brought to Vijayawada for court pro- (Above) CID officials serve arrest warrant on TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Nadyal; (Right) TDP supporters protesting against Mr Naidu’s arrest clash with security personnel.  SNS duction as TDP workers tried to block the police vehicle carrying him at various points of the nine-hour journey. At Chilakaluripet, as police resorted to a mild lathicharge the TDP president got down and urged his followers to clear the road saying “Justice will prevail. Let us respect law.” The Superintendent of Police of Krishna district even requested the director of Gannavaram airport to deny permission to Telugu actor and CMYK politician Pawan Kalyan, who was travelling in a chartered flight, to land atVijayawada airport citing “volatile” law and order situation in the city. Mr Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh staged a sit-in protest and was also initially taken into custody to prevent him from going to Vijayawada to meet his father. There was hardly any service of state-run buses on the roads, particularly between Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as police tried to contain any fallout of the arrest. Most of the key TDP leaders were put under house arrest or shifted to police stations. Early in the morning at around 3, an Andhra Pradesh CID team knocked on the doors of the caravan that Mr Naidu was sleeping in, parked at RK Function Hall at Nandyal, after the former chief minister had addressed a public meeting in the town yesterday. However, they could arrest him only at 6 a.m. after he came out of the caravan. As a large number of TDP supporters gathered at the spot, Mr Naidu asked for evidence and questioned how he could be arrested when his name was not in the FIR. As he was being taken to Vijayawada, Mr Naidu said: “The ruling party is very keen on somehow foisting some false case against me which is highly undesirable.” Contending that Mr Naidu and the TDP were the beneficiaries of the misappropriated funds, the additional DGP of AP CID, N Sanjay dubbed him as the “prime mover, conspirator and final beneficiary of defalcation money”. The official said he had orchestrated the transfer of public funds to private firms via shell companies and custodial investigation was necessary to unearth the misappropriated funds. Mr Naidu was allegedly trying to thwart further investigation and possible tampering of evidence. The scam revolved around setting up a cluster of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in AP with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crores during TDP regime. According to the MoU Siemens was to provide 90 per cent of the funding while the state government provided the rest 10 per cent. The CID alleges the government provided the entire 10 per cent as advance amounting to Rs 371 crores which was diverted to shell companies. Following his arrest Naidu wrote on ‘X’ “For the past 45 years I have selflessly served Telugu people. I am prepared to sacrifice my life to safeguard the interests of Telugu people, my Andhra pradesh and my motherland.” While Pawan Kalyan branded it as “political vendetta” BJP state chief D Purandehwari condemned his arrest “without giving a proper notice, without naming him in the FIR, without a proper explanation and without following proper procedure.” According to government sources the TDP chief was not cooperating in the interrogation and sought access to a lawyer. The TDP has flown in Supreme Court advocate Siddharth Luthra to argue his case. (See Pg 4)