SATURDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2023 www.thestatesman.com twitter.com/thestatesman facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘State’s funds Nearly 72 pc turnout in MP, 68 pc in Chhattisgarh second phase are withheld for no reason’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHOPAL/RAIPUR, 17 NOVEMBER CM slams PM, says he spends money only on ads A voter turnout of more than 72 per cent was recorded in Madhya Pradesh in the state Assembly polls held on Friday, while Chhattisgarh recorded 68.15 per cent voting in the second and final phase of the Assembly elections in the state. According to the Election Commission (EC), Madhya Pradesh registered 71.64 percent voting till 5 p,m. EC officials said that the voting percentage was likely to increase and the final figure would be available by Saturday after the final scrutiny. Chhattisgarh, meanwhile, saw a voter turnout of 68.15 per cent as of 5 p.m. in the 70 seats that went to the polls in the sec- ond phase of the election in the state, according to EC data. In Chhattisgarh, Maoists Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lights the lamp at the inauguration of Posta Bazar Merchant Association Jadatdhatri Puja, at Bara Bazar in Kolkata on Friday.  SNS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 17 NOVEMBER ithout naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said if the money he spends on advertisements was given to the poor, the people engaged in 100-days work under the MGNREGA scheme would not have to shed tears. “He does not work but huge sums of money are spent on advertisements. Had the money spent on advertisements been given to the poor engaged in 100-days-work then they would not have shed tears,” Miss Banerjee said. Miss Banerjee inaugurated Jagadhatri Puja organised by the Posta Bazar Merchants’ Association at Burrabazar this evening. Coming down heavily on the Centre, she said: “The money meant for various schemes has been stopped for no reason. He (meaning the Prime Minister) thinks he has done everything. It is the people that matters. But when success is achieved, people tend to forget them. We do not forget the people, we always them due respect.” She added: “Bring the workers engaged in different types of work in Posta and we will bring them under various government schemes including Swasthya Sathi.” Miss Banerjee said: “It is really shocking that all the Indian cricket players have to wear saffron attire during practice. The metro stations have been painted in saffron colour.” Recalling the days of Covid when all shops were W closed due to the pandemic, she said: “I had come to Posta and requested the businessmen to open the shops after taking proper precautions.” The Chief Minister urged people to cross check with the Land Reforms department before they purchase any land. “Some touts have sold vested land by making false parchas. When those who purchased the land illegally, they are caught they face real trouble.” Miss Banerjee said an illegal car park has come up on a vested land in Burrabazar. “The court case is going on. Anything that does not have government sanction is unauthorised,” she said. She asked the police to take action against extortionists. “Any body trying to create trouble should be brought to book. Don’t worry about their political allegiance, just arrest them,” the chief minister said. Miss Banerjee also inaugurated six Jagadhatri Pujas of Chandannagore virtually from the podium of the Posta Bazar Merchants’ Association. Sudip Bandyopadhyay, party MP, Firhad Hakim, mayor, state ministers Dr Shashi Panja and Moloy Ghatak were present at the inaugural function. Miss Banerjee also inaugurated the Bramhanpara Sarbojonin Jagadhatri Puja virtually. Indranil Sen, state minister for Information and Cultural Affairs and Ram Chakraborty, mayor of Chandannagore Municipal Corporation were present. She urged people to maintain the long cherished communal peace and harmony. India condemns civilian deaths in Israel-Hamas war STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 NOVEMBER India on Friday strongly condemned civilian casualties in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and called upon the countries in the Global South to speak in one voice for greater global good. “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is essential for global prosperity. But we are all witnessing new challenges in West Asia. India has condemned the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel. We have emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy along with restraint for dealing with the situation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the 2nd Voice of Global South summit hosted by India in virtual mode. He also noted that India has sent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians following his telephonic conversation with Palestine President Mamoud Abbas. Mr Modi called for cooperation among Global south countries within the framework of five Cs - “consultation, communication, cooperation, creativity, capacity building”. The PM also mentioned forward movement at the G20 on several initiatives which would benefit the Global South. He described the Voice of Global South as the most unique platform for the changing world of the 21st century. "Our priority was to make the G-20 inclusive and human-centric on a global scale. Our effort was that the focus of G-20 should be on the development of the people,” he noted. CMYK attacked a polling party in Gariyaband, resulting in death of an ITBP jawan, while in Madhya Pradesh, a Congress candidate in Chattarpur district was attacked and his driver murdered on Thursday night, hours before voting began Friday morning. Some stray incidents of stone pelting and gunfire were also reported during voting. Till 5 p.m, Agar-Malwa constituency recorded the highest voting percentage at 82 in Madhya Pradesh. In contrast, Alirajpur recorded the lowest voting percentage at 56. Voting for 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh began at 7 a.m, on Friday. In Chhattisgarh, prominent leaders, including CM Bhupesh Baghel and others, cast their votes alongside their families, expressing confidence in their victory.