WEDNESDAY 08 MAY 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR PUTIN BEGINS 5TH TERM AS PRESIDENT ABOUT WESTERN POTS AND INDIAN KETTLES P7 SENSEX 73,511.85383.69 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 41 AND 24 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. GOLD 72,380330 ` vs $ 83.48 P12 SILVER 85,000100 Cong gives clean chit to 26/11 guilty: Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 24 % NEW DELHI, 7 MAY TEMPERATURE Max: 42.0 °C (+3) SUN RISES 5:36 hrs MOON RISES 05:34 hrs P5 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 82.690.64 61.45 pc voter turnout in third phase of LS polls: ECI ECI issues notification for 7th phase ‘Congress leaders are siding with Kasab, the worst of the 26/11 terrorists’ RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 71 % P9 NIFTY 22,302.50140.20 SRH VS LSG: RAIN MAY PLAY A PART LALU PRASAD CLARIFIES MUSLIM QUOTA PITCH Min: 24.2 °C (-1) SUN SETS 19:00 hrs MOON SETS 19:01 hrs THUMBNAILS Actor Shekhar Suman and former Congress leader Radhika Khera join BJP in the Capital (SEE PAGE 05) on Tuesday. SNS Top TRF terrorist among two gunned down in Kulgam encounter: The most wanted “A++ category terrorist” and operational chief of Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front (TRF), Basit Dar, was among two terrorists killed on Tuesday in an encounter with the security forces in the Redwani area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The NIA had announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for providing credible infor(P3) mation on Dar's whereabouts. P rime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that Pakistan is posting tweets to cheer up the Congress party after its “dismal” performance in the first three rounds of polling, and the party in turn is giving clean chit to the perpetrators of the ghastly 26/11 attack on innocent citizens and security personnel in Mumbai. Addressing a BJP election rally in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, the prime minister asks who does not know the 26/11 attack was the work of Pakistan. “Who killed our jawans, who killed our innocent, everybody knows it; the courts have given verdict, Pakistan too accepts the reality; even phone recording of terrorists is available, but the Congress is issuing not guilty certificates to terrorists,” he said. The statement of a Congress leader in Maharashtra on the 26/11 Mumbai attack is highly dangerous, Mr Modi said. The Congress leaders are siding with Kasab, the worst of the 26/11 terrorists, he said. Mr Modi said the min- Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves after casting his vote for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections, at a polling booth in Nishan Higher Secondary School, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.  ANI ister of state for external affairs during the Congress rule, who is close to the Congress “family”, has also declared Kasab not guilty. The prime minister called it an insult to the innocent killed in the attack. It is also an insult to all the security men who eliminated the terrorists; an insult also of martyrs like police official Tukaram Omble. Which direction does the Congress want to take the country, Mr Modi asked. How low Congress will stoop to for its policy of appeasement, he asked. “Should this party and the INDI-Aghadi get even a single seat in Maharashtra,” the PM asked people. He said 4th June, the day of the election result, will be the INDI-Aghadi’s expiry date, definitely. After that day, there will be no one around to hold their flags. The prime minister said the 2024 poll is between the policy of appeasement and the policy of making everyone happy and satisfied. While the BJP is trying to satisfy everyone, the Congress is busy conspiring and following the appeasement policy. He said he had said that the Congress manifesto has a Muslim League imprint. He said he had also warned the nation that Congress and the INDIA bloc are planning a dangerous game. Without naming RJD leader Lalu Prasad, he said, “A senior INDI leader in Bihar, who was convicted for the fodder scam and just came out of jail, had disclosed the plan to the media today that if the INDI alliance government comes to power, it will give reservations to Muslims.” “Not just reservations, but the entire reservation benefit,” the prime minister said. At present, this reservation applies to SCs, STs, OBCs, and ordinary poor only. Now, the INDI alliance says the whole of reservations will be snatched from the SCs, STs, and OBCs and given to the Muslims to strengthen their vote bank, the prime minister contended. They want to do something that was prohibited by architect of the Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution bars reservation on the basis of religion and the INDI alliance wants to change the Constitution to make its vote bank happy, the prime minister charged. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 MAY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 MAY More than 61 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha election on Tuesday. The polling held in 93 parliamentary constituencies spread over 11 states and Union territories was by and large peaceful. Voting, which began amidst tight security at 7 a.m across 1.85 lakh polling stations, concluded at 6 p.m. Of the 93 Lok Sabha seats in the third phase, 25 were in Gujarat, 14 in Karnataka, 11 in Maharashtra, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in Madhya Pradesh, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in West Bengal and Assam, and two each in Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. Prominent among the candidates whose fate was sealed in the EVMs are Union ministers Amit Shah (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) and Jyotiraditya Scindia (Guna, Madhya Pradesh), and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan (Vidisha) of the BJP, and former Madhya Pradesh CM Digvijaya Singh (Rajgarh) from the Congress. Other key candidates in the third phase included the wife of former Uttar The Election Commission of India on Tuesday issued notification for the seventh phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha polls, scheduled to be held on 1 June. The filing of nominations began with the issuing of the notification. The polling will be held in 57 parliamentary constituencies across eight states and Union territories (UTs).The states/UTs included in the seventh phase are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal and Chandigarh. Pradesh chief minister Dimple Yadav (Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri, Assam). According to the data issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), at 8 p.m, the estimated poll turnout was 61.45 per cent. Assam registered the highest turnout at 75.26 per cent, followed by Goa at 74.27 per cent and West Bengal at 73.93 per cent. SC stays Cal HC’s order CM will not do official work if released Sonia: INDIA parties committed to defend Constitution, democracy cancelling school jobs on bail, it will have cascading effect: SC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 MAY Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi said here on Tuesday that the INDIA bloc parties, including Congress, are committed to defending the Constitution and democracy. Sonia Gandhi’s reiteration of commitment to the constitution and democracy came in the wake of the Opposition’s oft-repeated stand that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are an opportunity to “save the Constitution and democracy from the ruling BJP”. In a video message, the CPP chairperson, while attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, said, “Youth unemployment, crimes against women, and discrimination against Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities have reached unprecedented levels. These Reject the proponents of lies and hatred and vote for the Congress for a brighter and more equal future for all... SONIA GANDHI CPP CHAIRPERSON challenges stem from the ‘niyat’ and ‘niti’ of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the BJP which aim for power rejecting inclusivity and dialogue.” “The sight of our Constitution and democracy being under threat, our poor being left behind, and the fact that the fabric of our society is being torn apart fills me with anguish,” she said. Making an appeal to the people of the country, she said: “Today, I ask for your support once again. Our ‘Nyay Patra’ and guarantees aim to unite our nation and work for the poor, youth, women, farmers, workers, and the disadvantaged communities of India.” She asserted that Congress and the INDIA parties are committed to defending the Constitution and democracy. “Reject the proponents of lies and hatred and vote for the Congress for a brighter and more equal future for all. Press the hand button and together, let us build a stronger, more united India with peace and harmony for all,” she appealed. PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 7 MAY The Supreme Court on Tuesday partially stayed the Calcutta High Court order cancelling the appointment of over 25,000 assistant teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run schools in West Bengal, subject to the final outcome of the hearing posted for 16 July 2024. Extending its 9 November 2023 interim order protecting the services of the teaching and the non-teaching staff, a bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J. B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra however, said that the CBI would continue with its investigation into the scam but will not take any coercive steps or actions against candidates or state govt officials. The top court also said that the teaching and the non- PARMOD KUMAR teaching staff whose appointment has been found to be illegal, will refund their salaries between now and the final outcome of the petitions challenging the 22 April 2024, Calcutta High Court order. In the course of the hearing, the bench described the recruitment scam as a “systemic fraud”. The bench noted that the West Bengal government has no data to prove the sanctity of these tests. In the hearing that lasted for the entire day, the bench observed: “The public job is so scarce.... Nothing remains if the faith of the public goes. This is systemic fraud. Public jobs are extremely scarce today and are looked at for social mobility. What remains in the system if their appointments are also maligned? People will lose faith, how do you countenance this?” ‘World recognises the way India deals with terrorism today’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 MAY External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said here on Tuesday that the world recognises that today India deals with terrorism very differently from how it used to. Addressing a Viksit Bharat 2047 programme held at Hansraj College in the national capital, Mr Jaishankar emphasised India's stance as a principled yet robust nation highlighting the country's evolving approach towards challenges such as terrorism and border disputes. In his address, the EAM also underscored the nation's commitment to integrity and resilience. “The image of India is of friendly but fair... If you look at a challenge like terrorism, the world recognises that today's India deals with ter- rorism very differently from how it used to,” he said. “The comparison is very simple. What happened in the Mumbai attacks and what happened in Uri and Balakot... That's a comparison they make. We have a chal- lenge at our China border. They look at these people (India) standing up and sending the troops. They are staying firm... We came under pressure not to buy oil from Russia... India said my interests require that I buy oil and I am not hiding it... We were very open and honest about it... We were very courageous about it. The sense today is that India is a firm country but it is also a fair country," he added. Touching upon India's technological advancements, Mr Jaishankar lauded the nation's rapid digital transformation. “Today if you look at the range, how digitised India has become. How many of you today anymore use cash," he asked, pointing out India's dominance in cashless transactions compared to global counterparts. "We think it is normal, but others don't think that. In India, we do 10-11 billion cashless transactions per month. America does 4 billion in a year... China does a maximum of 20 billion in a year... People today get their income tax, housing allotments, and driving licenses faster... We give passports faster... Digital has cut down corruption because everything is digitally recorded... With transparency, honesty also comes," the external affairs minister said. Discussing the future trajectory, Mr Jaishankar envisioned India as a formidable economic force, poised to surpass the 5 trillion-dollar mark and emerge as the world's third-largest economy. "By the time we reach Amrit Kal, we are confident of minimum being a 30 trillion economy," he declared, outlining ambitious growth targets. Urging the audience to recognise the significance of the Viksit Bharat initiative, he emphasised its pragmatic implications. “Please don't think it is a slogan... It is something very serious,” he affirmed, urging the youth to actively engage in shaping India's trajectory towards development. The EAM also encapsulated the essence of the programme's theme, urging collective effort toward realising the vision of a prosperous and advanced India. "That sense that how do we achieve, how do we prepare for this journey of 25 years? That is really what all of you should focus on," he said, inspiring the next generation to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead. NEW DELHI, 7 MAY The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that if Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is released on interim bail in view of the general elections, he should not be performing official duties as discharging official work while on interim bail would have a cascading effect. Hinting that it may consider granting interim bail to Mr Kejriwal in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, a bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta said that if released on bail, Mr Kejriwal would not be attending his office and performing his duties as Chief Minister. The court said this while reminding senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Mr Kejriwal, that in the last hearing on May 3, 2024, the bench had asked whether he (Kejriwal) should be signing the files because of his present position. Mr Singhvi said that it would create a piquant situation “of a government without Chief Minister and a Chief Minister without power.” However, the bench said that Mr Kejriwal attending his office while being on interim bail will have a cascading effect. Submitting to the suggestion from the bench, Mr Singhvi said: “He will not sign any files, with a condition that Lt. Governor may not stop any work on the ground that I have not signed any file.” The Directorate of Enforcement, however, stoutly opposed any granting of inter- im bail to Mr Kejriwal, urging the bench not to carve out any exception in the case of a “politician” as all are equal in the eyes of the law. “Please don’t make an exception. It will send the wrong message. Demoralize the common man. The electioneering is a luxury,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Directorate of Enforcement, told the bench. Justice Khanna said: “We grant bail in exceptional cases. He is not a repeat offender” and “We cannot ignore this aspect (ongoing general elections)”. Justice Datta said that we have considered this aspect keeping in view the “balance of convenience and equity”. The hearing will continue on Thursday or next week. Mr Kejriwal has approached the top court challenging the Delhi High Court’s 9 April 2024 order rejecting his plea against his arrest by the ED and the subsequent remand. ECI directs X to take down BJP K’taka’s objectionable post with immediate effect AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 7 MAY The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken serious note of the non-removal of an “objectionable post” of BJP Karnataka on X platform, despite a legally valid letter through the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, including an FIR in the matter. The ECI has now directed microblogging website X to take down the said post with 'immediate effect'. The direction came on Tuesday after non-removal of the post by BJP Karnataka. The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 4 May posted an animated video on the social media platform 'X', which showed Congress leader Rahul Gand- The state unit of the BJP on 4 May posted an animated video on the social media platform 'X', which showed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka CM targetting the party over the reservation row. The 17-second clip, captioned "Beware.. Beware.. Beware..!" in Kannada. hi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, targetting the party over the reservation row. The 17-second clip, captioned "Beware.. Beware.. Beware..!" in Kannada. Congress party had filed a complaint to the Election Commission on May 5 alleging that BJP Karnataka wants to "provoke rioting and promote enmity". Acting on the Congress' complaint, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, asked BJP Karnataka to remove the post from its X handle but despite the order, it was not removed by the BJP state unit. The High Grounds police in Bengaluru registered a case against BJP national president JP Nadda, IT cell head Amit Malviya and state president BY Vijayendra, under sections 125 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code. Voting for 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka is being held in two phases. While 14 seats were polled on April 26, the voting for the remaining 14 is underway today. The counting of votes is scheduled to be held on June 4. In the 2019 elections, BJP almost swept the state by winning 25 out of 28 seats.