TUESDAY 21 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 ‘ELECTION RESULTS WILL SHOW BJP THE REALITY’ P5 SENSEX 65,655.15139.58 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SHALLOW FOG IN THE MORNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 26 AND 12 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY P4 NIFTY 19,694.0037.80 P8 ` vs $ 83.3509 PAISE GOLD 62,880.00 Max: 27.1°C (-1) SUN RISES 06:49 hrs MOON RISES 13:39 hrs O TEMPERATURE Min: 12.0°C (0) SUN SETS 17:26 hrs MOON SETS 01:19 hrs THUMBNAILS A camel seen in the desert as it arrives for the annual Pushkar Camel Fair 2023, on Monday.  ANI 2 killed as under-construction indoor stadic um collapses in T'gana: Two workers were killed when a portion of an under-construction indoor stadium collapsed in Telangana's Rangareddy district on Monday. Six workers sustained minor injuries. The deceased were identified as Bablu from Bihar and Sunil from West Bengal. The incident occurred at the sports complex at Kanakamamidi in Moinabad block. n a campaign trail in Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked voters to ensure in the coming ‘Diwali of democracy’, the Congress Party is ousted from power in every corner of the State, and the Congress rule of corruption and nepotism is ended. Addressing an election rally in Pilibanga in Hanumangarh, he said the Centre spent crores of rupees on the Jal Jeevan mission in Rajasthan. "But the Congress government did scams in it too and left you drinking poisonous water," he said. "You tell me, does the Congress, which does not care about your life, has the right to remain in power for even a single day? Diwali has just passed. Our mothers and sisters work 15-16 hours at home. But when Diwali comes, they even clean the corners of the house. This election is also the Diwali of democracy. Sweep out the Congress in such a way that this Congress is not left even in any corner," PM Modi said. He said in Rajasthan, farmers, employees and businessmen all paid taxes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, in Pali on Monday. ANI but in return, they got only poor roads, a lack of electricity and water, inflation and unemployment. "Today I have come here to give you a guarantee that those who have looted the poor will not be spared. The day is not far in Rajasthan when those who looted the poor will be put behind bars," the PM said. He said the entire story of what has happened here in Rajasthan in the last five years is written in the 'Red Diary'. "The diary is red. (But) the deeds are black," he added. PM Modi said that people in Rajasthan have to pay Rs 12 per litre more for petrol and diesel than people in its neighbouring BJP- Centre’s selective ‘pick & choose’approach doesn’t send a good signal: Supreme Court AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER The Supreme Court on Monday remarked that the Centre's selective 'pick and choose' approach in appointments and transfer of judges in higher judiciary “doesn’t send a good signal”. “You have issued transfer orders for five (High Court) judges. But for six others, you have not issued,” a bench headed by Justice S.K. Kaul told Attorney General (AG) R. Venkataramani. The bench, also comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, refused to accede to the request made by AG Venkataramani, the top-most law officer of the Centre, for deferring the hearing for a period of “one week”. “This does not send a good signal if you ‘pick and choose’ transfers recommended by the Collegium. Don’t do selective transfers. It creates its dynamics,” it said, adding that a total of six transfers recom- mended by Collegium are yet to be notified and the same is “something not acceptable”. Further, the apex court said that a total of 13 names are pending with the Centre and five names are pending despite the reiteration by the Collegium. “Out of recently recommended names, eight candidates have not been cleared and appointed. Some of these people are senior to others who have been appointed,” it recorded in its order, adding that there are five older recommended candidates where neither of the names has come back with any comment or there has been any progress. The Supreme Court said that if a candidate does not know what seniority they will have on becoming a judge, it becomes difficult to persuade other eligible and deserving candidates. With reiterated names, AG Venkataramani said that “progress has been made”. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing on the petitioners' behalf, said that a mandamus must be issued to the Centre for clearing the names reiterated by Collegium within 24 hours. The matter will not be taken up for hearing on December 5. In the previous hearing, the top court had warned the Centre of "an unpalatable order" if it delays and continues to have the selective 'pick and choose' approach in notifying the appointment or transfer of judges after recommendations were forwarded by the Collegium. ruled Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Haryana. "Whenever you fill petrol in your car, remember that the money you are paying is part of Congress's loot. And I assure you, after December 3 (the day of counting votes), after the BJP government is formed here, there will be a review of petrol prices," he added. Earlier in the day, at an election rally in Pali, the Prime Minister accused the Congress Party of "corruption" and "appeasement politics" stating that dynasty politics is everything for them. He pointed out that the poll-bound state needs a government that gives priority to development. The STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 20 NOVEMBER PM said that Rajasthan will play a "very big" role in taking India to new heights in the 21st century. Continuing his attack against the grand old party, he said, “Nothing is more important than corruption and familial politics for Congress. This party doesn't think of anything other than appeasement politics." Unfortunately, the development of the State was stalled under the five years of Congress rule," PM Modi alleged. The Prime Minister said the people of the state have "experienced" the "impact" of appeasement politics in the last five years of the Congress rule. "Today, we are working hard to become a developed nation. For this, a government that gives priority to development is needed in Rajasthan. Nothing is more important than corruption and familial politics for Congress. This party doesn't think of anything other than appeasement politics," the Prime Minister said. Rajasthan is to go to the polls on Saturday, and the counting of votes will be held on 3 December, along with the other four states of Mizoram, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Delhi chief secy moves HC, files defamation case against The Wire in Dwarka expressway land row AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has moved the Delhi High Court, seeking directions for online news portal ‘The Wire’ to remove a report claiming that Kumar's son had links with a family that benefited from increased compensation during land acquisition by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the Dwarka Expressway project. In addition to seeking directions for the removal of the article, Kumar has also sought to restrain the news portal and reporter Meetu Jain from publishing further “defamatory” content. Senior Counsel Maninder Singh argued on behalf of Kumar, and the court, presided over by Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri, has listed the matter for further hearing on November 21. The report by ‘The Wire' BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 81.821.21 Mamata to inaugurate 7th Bengal Global Business Summit today Modi said wherever Cong is in power, there is corruption and nepotism STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER P12 SILVER 76,000.00 Sweep out Congress in Diwali of democracy: PM Max.98% Min. 49% DAVIS CUP 2023: DJOKOVIC GEARS UP FOR FINAL-8 SHOW DOWN IN SPAIN SACKED OPENAI BOSS SAM ALTMAN TO JOIN MICROSOFT ‘KCR NUMBER ONE IN CORRUPTION’ Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is set to inaugurate the Biswa Bangla Exhibition Centre in New Town on Tuesday, 21 November, marking the addition of a state-of-the-art exhibition hall covering approximately 2 lakh square feet. This unique facility, constructed using top-notch engineering, is adjacent to the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. The completion of the exhibition hall enhances the compactness of the convention centre complex, where discussions will take place at the convention centre, while industrial exhibitions will be hosted in the newly inaugurated hall. The main auditorium of the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre boasts the country's highest seating capacity and was constructed by the Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO). Additionally, a multi-level car park with a capacity of 1,500 is nearing completion, with some cars of guests attending the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) expected to be parked there. Following the inauguration of the Biswa Bangla Exhibition Hall, Chief Minister Banerjee will participate in the opening ceremony of the 7th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit, scheduled to span two days. She will be present along with her cabinet colleagues. Senior bureaucrats of the state government, headed by chief secretary HK Dwivedi, will be present at the function. The programme will start at 3 p.m. The two-day BGBS will be held at three venues, namely the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre and Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, while the concluding programme will be held at the Dhana Dhanya auditorium on 22 November. Business leaders including Mukesh Ambani, Niranjan Hiranandani, Sajiv Goenka, Sajjan Jindal, Sanjeev Puri, Purendu Chatterjee, and Harvardhan Neotia are likely to be present at the function, along with a host of industrialists. There will be a delegation from the United Kingdom, Poland, and several other countries. Chief Economic Advi- sor Amit Mitra is likely to attend the conference. At the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS), a key focus area will be Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and Textiles (MSME). Currently holding the second position in the country in MSME, Bengal aspires to secure the top spot. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will elaborate on why Bengal is an optimal business destination for foreign delegates, emphasising its strategic location as the gateway to the north-east and expansive hinterland. With a well-established land bank, the state government prioritises investor-friendly policies, ensuring efficient services for all stakeholders. Recognizing tourism as an industry, Bengal is making significant strides in this sector, particularly along the coastline. Infrastructure improvements, such as those in Digha, are expected to boost tourism, presenting investment opportunities in destinations like Digha, Mandarmani, and the Sundarbans. The homestays set up in different districts, both in north Bengal and south Bengal, have fetched panIndia tourists. Recently, a team of 11 German tourists visited Jhargram. The declaration of Santiniketan by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site is likely to attract more foreign tourists. Uttarakhand rescue ops in full swing: CM Dhami assures PM Modi PRITHVIRAJ SINGH DEHRADUN, 20 NOVEMBER titled 'Links of son of Delhi Chief Secretary to Beneficiary's Family in Land Over-Valuation Case Raise Questions,' alleged connections between Kumar's son and a family that allegedly gained from the increased compensation for land acquired by the NHAI. Having sent a legal notice to ‘The Wire’ and Meetu Jain through Advocate Bani Dikshit on November 13, Kumar claimed that the report was defamatory, false, baseless, and misleading. He asserted that he took cognisance of the issue independently and recommended the case to be referred to the CBI to prevent wrongful loss to the public exchequer. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sent a complaint to the Vigilance Minister for investigation into the alleged benefits of Rs 315 crore provided by Kumar to his son in land acquisition for the Dwarka Expressway project, said an official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took stock of the rescue efforts being carried out after portions of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand following a landslide on November 12, leaving 41 workers trapped behind a huge mound of debris. The tunnel, about 30 km from the district headquarters of Uttarkashi and a sevenhour drive from Dehradun, is part of the Char Dham allweather road project of the central government. Modi, who called on Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, was informed that the trapped workers were fine and adequate oxygen, food and water is being supplied to them at regular intervals. Dhami informed the prime minister that all necessary rescue machinery, equipment and resources have been mobilised at the accident Dhami informed the prime minister that all necessary rescue machinery, equipment and resources have been mobilised at the accident site, and the rescue operation is in full swing. site, and the rescue operation is in full swing to bring out the stranded persons safely from the tunnel. He said both central and state agencies are working on a war footing to help the workers. The chief minister also informed Modi that a medical team has been deployed on the ground for any emergencies. A team from the prime minister's office (PMO) also visited the tunnel collapse site and held marathon meetings with the rescue operation officials and experts. It also hammered out a fivepronged strategy to reach to the stranded workers. Did India fall short of a possible Plan B in the World Cup final? TRIDIB BAPARNASH AHMEDABAD, 20 NOVEMBER The 2023 World Cup is done and dusted with Australia being crowned champions for a record sixth time! The result will take some time to sink in for the billions of Indian cricket fans, as the decade-long wait for an ICC silverware, more precisely a 50-over World Cup trophy, was once again left unfulfilled after Sunday’s six-wicket loss in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium here. But spare a moment for those 11 men on the field, and a dozen more on the dugout, who put in their heart and sweat, mesmerizing a billion with 10 wins on the bounce after crisscrossing the country, traversing over 9000 kms in the course of 45 days before falling agonizingly short on D-day. Going by the ICC’s campaign for the 2023 World Cup: ‘It Takes One Day’, it actually took just a day to leave a stadium filled with more than 100,000 fans in eerie silence once Glenn Maxwell hit those winning runs to shatter India’s dreams of ending a global title drought stretching back to the 2013 Champions Trophy. The heart-wrenching loss left a number of questions unanswered… What if? Looking back, once the Indian team management sits to analyse the shortcomings, one thing will surely come up, if India fell short of a possible Plan B when it mattered the most? The Statesman understands that the team had done all things in control to go all the way in the tournament, but on the hindsight missed a trick when it came down to the big final. Toss Well, it wasn’t in either captain’s hands, but the decision played a part in the eventual outcome. Pat Cummins gambled by putting India to bat, which anyway Rohit Sharma would have chosen. But what transpired after the first powerplay wasn’t something the hosts had expected. Yes, they were three down, but still had the firepower and the run-rate to pile on a sizeable total in excess of 300 but failed to execute their plans, especially when Cummins employed his parttime options in Maxwell and Head to fill in for the fifth bowling option. Batting fragility in big games Over the past 10 games, including the semifinal against New Zealand, India’s top-order clicked, and followed the same template of the skipper Rohit Sharma getting those brisk starts for the likes of Virat Kohli and the rest to cash on to the platform. On Sunday, India were on course after racing to 80 by the end of the powerplay, but could manage only 160 in the next 40 overs. Against the same opposition, the Indians were in a far more precarious situation in the opening game in Chennai after being three wickets down with mere two runs on the board, but showed the character to bounce back which unfortunately wasn’t the case in the final. Boundary drought A promising start followed 15 overs without a boundary, before KL Rahul found the escape route for once through Glenn Maxwell but the lull continued even after that. The sharp decline in boundary scoring significantly hampered the run rate, and even when Rahul tried to accelerate he was dismissed. Suryakumar Yadav was included in the side for his power-hitting abilities, and was rightfullydemotedtoNo.7onSunday but the Australians did their homework, and despite banging in short, they did not give him the pace to play his shots. Full marks to Pat Cummins & Co! Ground fielding David Warner at 37 was a livewire on the field. Against the South Africans during the semifinal at the Eden Gardens, Warner was the most dreaded fielder and he continued in similar fashion in the final. A textbook cover drive from Rahul would have fetched him a boundary on 9 out of 10 occasions but Warner ensured that he manned the fence to perfection. Travis Head’s catch to dismiss Rohit was another display of Australia’s sharp fielding. On the other hand, India’s slip cordon, manned by Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill allowed David Warner to pierce through them in the very first over of the chase, and later on Head milked boundaries at will, to outscore India’s total boundary count of 16 (13 fours & 3 sixes) to his total of 19 (15 fours & 4 sixes). Over dependence on spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have been the go-to bowlers for Rohit during the middle overs. But what if one had an off day? Cummins bravely used his part-time bowlers in both knockout games (semifinal and final), but India preferred to use their part-time options only against the Netherlands. When the frontline bowlers failed, Rohit Sharma had a number of options to break the flourishing partnership between Head and Marnus Labuschange, but did- n’t want to take undue risks. It says fortune favours the brave and Cummins scored on that count as Maxwell managed to pack back Rohit to weather the storm early on. Mindset This Indian team was expected to get over the mindset that almost resulted in a meek surrender two decades back in Johannesburg. At the Motera, they showed intent, had the backing of the more than 1,300,000 home fans, beat the Australians in their recent meetings, but on the big day, it seemed as if the Indian players were overawed by the sense of the occasion. The Aussies, however, did not let the situation play into their systems, and despite being three down for 47, showed the intent and right mindset to dominate the Indian bowling for a sixth World Cup title.