WEDNESDAY 07 AUGUST 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KTR SOUNDS ALARM ON TELANGANA'S IT EXPORTS P4 SENSEX 78,593.07q166.33 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY.LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 32 AND 27 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 91 % TEMPERATURE P9 NIFTY 23,992.55q63.05 Min: 27.5 °C (0) SUN SETS 19:07 hrs MOON SETS 20:57 hrs THUMBNAILS Defending Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra celebrates on qualifying for the men’s javelin throw final event in the Olympic Games Paris 2024, in Paris on Tuesday. n ANI Wayanad landslides: Death toll rises to 406 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KALPETTA, 6 AUGUST The death toll in the devastating landslides that hit Churalmala and Mundakkai areas in Wayanad in the early morning on 30 July has risen to 406 as more bodies and body parts were recovered on Tuesday. However, the official death toll stands at 222. The toll may go up further as around 180 persons are still missing. Meanwhile, rescue operations to trace the missing persons continued on Tuesday, eight days after the disaster. A combined team of military personnel, disaster response forces, police, canine units, forest officials, and naval experts were engaged in the search operations on Tuesday. Centre: B’desh situation evolving, border on alert P12 SILVER 82,500q8,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 76.04q0.42 Bangladesh’s President dissolves parliament, clears way for polls Got request from Sheikh Hasina to come to India at very short notice: Jaishankar E xternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday told Parliament the situation in strife-torn Bangladesh is still evolving, and the government is in touch with the Indian community there and monitoring the status of minorities. In a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha, after the arrival of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here on Monday afternoon, he said at a very short notice, she had requested approval to come for the moment to India. India simultaneously received a request for flight clearance from Bangladesh authorities, he said. Earlier in the day, the External Affairs Minister while briefing an all-party meeting on the Bangladesh situation told members that Sheikh Hasina had moved to India and that India has assured all possible help to the Bangladeshi leader. On 5 August, demonstrators converged in Dhaka despite the curfew, Mr Jaishankar told Parliament. “Our understanding is that after a meeting with leaders of the security establishment, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apparently made the decision to resign,” he said. Mr Jaishankar said: “The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. The Army Chief, General “ We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER S JAISHANKAR Waker-uz-Zaman, addressed the nation on 5th August. He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government.” “We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students.” “The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission,” the Minister said. Mr Jaishankar said in terms of diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, India has Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. “It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilizes,” he said. The Minister said, “We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities. There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and wellbeing.” “We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,” he said. “In the last 24 hours, SC to hear plea against Bombay HC order upholding college’s ban on burqa & hijab PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST The Supreme Court on Tuesday assured that it will post for hearing an appeal against the Bombay High Court order upholding the ban on students wearing burqa, hijab, niqab, stole or cap on the campus by a Mumbai based Chembur college. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, said that the date for the hearing will be given after the matter was mentioned for an early hearing. SL AIM TO END 27-YEAR DROUGHT AGAINST INDIA P5 GOLD 63,900p870 ` vs $ 83.93 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST Min. 63 % Max: 35.2 °C (+1) SUN RISES 05:47 hrs MOON RISES 08:59 hrs IF NOT GRANTED, THEN SOLE OPTION IS TO GRAB POWER: JARANGE-PATIL KAMALA HARRIS SELECTS TIM WALZ AS RUNNING MATE “Yes, we will give a date in this case and hear it,” said Chief Justice Chandrachud. In June, Bombay High Court had dismissed a plea by a group of girl students challenging the ban imposed by a college on wearing hijab, niqab, burqa, stole, caps or any kind of badges in the classroom. The High Court had said that it was not inclined to interfere with the decision of the college administration. The girl students belonged to NG Acharya and DK Marathe College run by the Chembur Trombay Education Society. The second- and third-years students belonging to B.Sc. and B.Sc. (Computer Science) programmes contended before the High Court that the new dress code violated their fundamental rights to privacy, dignity, and religious freedom. However, the college management told the High Court that the ban applies to all religious symbols and is not targeted at Muslims. The High Court in its order said: “We are satisfied that the instructions issued by the College under which a dress code has been prescribed for its students does not suffer from any infirmity so as to violate provisions of Article 19(1)(a) and Article 25 of the Constitution of India. The object behind issuing the same is that the dress of a student should not reveal his/her religion which is a step towards ensuring that the students focus on gaining knowledge and education which is in their larger interest.” we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now,” he said. He said tensions had begun after the election in January 2024. There were deep divides and growing polarization in Bangladesh politics. This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year. “Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue. Similar urgings were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch,” Mr Jaishankar said. There was growing violence, including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions. The violence continued through the month of July, he said. “What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” the statement said. Despite a Supreme Court judgement on 21 July, there was no let-up in the public agitation. Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is, that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down, the Minister said. AGENCIES DHAKA, 6 AUGUST Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, clearing the way for new elections to replace the longtime prime minister who resigned and fled the country following weeks of demonstrations against her rule that descended into violent unrest. President Mohammed Shahabuddin also ordered the release of opposition leader Khaleda Zia from house arrest. Zia, a longtime rival of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was convicted of corruption charges by Hasina’s government in 2018. On Tuesday, some senior positions in the military were reshuffled. The student protesters said they would not allow any militarybacked government. The streets of Dhaka appeared calmer Tuesday, with no reports of new violence as jubilant protesters thronged the ousted leader’s residence. Some posed for selfies with soldiers guarding the building where a day earlier angry protesters had looted furniture, paintings, flower pots and chickens. Amid security concerns, the main airport in Dhaka, the capital, resumed oper- ations after eight hours of suspension. The Bangladesh Police Association said Tuesday it was enforcing a strike across the country because of a lack of security and safety after numerous police stations were attacked on Monday killing many officers, though it didn’t give any number of the dead. In a statement, it also said that officers would not return to work unless their security was ensured. The association also issued an apology for the violent attacks on student protesters. As the country waited for a new government to emerge, a key student leader said protesters wanted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus to head an interim government. Yunus called Hasina’s resignation the country’s “second liberation day.” He could not immediately be reached for comment, but a key organizer of protests, Nahid Islam said Yunus had agreed. Islam said protesters would propose more names for the cabinet, and suggested that it would be difficult for those in power to ignore their wishes. Hasina fled to India by helicopter on Monday as protesters defied military curfew orders to march on the capital, with thousands of demonstrators eventually storming her official residence and other buildings associated with her party and family. Protests against a quota system for government jobs, that critics said favored people with connections to her party, grew into a broader challenge to her 15-year rule that was marked by human rights abuses, corruption, and allegations of rigged elections amid a brutal crackdown on her opponents. A bloody crackdown on the demonstrations led to clashes that left scores dead, further fueling the movement. Military chief Gen. Wakeruz-Zaman said he was taking temporary control of the country after Hasina resigned, and he and the country’s figurehead president promised an interim government would be formed soon to preside over new elections. But the chaos left in the wake of Hasina’s ouster has created a power vacuum and it is unclear what it would mean for the South Asian nation with a history of military rule and messy politics that has in the past pushed the country into many political crises. PM releases Big Bang Numbers on Indian economy AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday released the Big Bang Numbers on the Indian economy as part of his Bi-Weekly Bharat newsletter for the fortnight of July 15-31 on the Namo app. The newsletter highlighted that India’s market cap has hit a record $5.5 trillion while the construction of the world’s highest tunnel was launched by the Prime Minister at Shinkun La on the state boundary between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Some highlights also include: *Indian MSMEs created over 20.5 crore jobs in 4 years while 39 per cent of MSMEs in the country are now owned by women. *1.4 lakh recognised startups generating 15.5 lakh jobs. *Employment in India rose by 35 per cent to 64.33 crore over the last six fiscal years *The manufacturing sector (formal and informal entities) saw an 85 lakh employment opportunities increase from 2017-18 to 2022-23. *India’s exports grew by 5.5 per cent to $21.2 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $300 million. Exports are now all set to surpass $800 billion this fiscal year. In June, India’s electronic goods exports rose 16.9 per cent to $2.82 billion. *In Q1 2024-25, Apple iPhone exports reached $3.8 billion, 79 per cent of India's FOB value. *India's trade deficit has narrowed to $20.98 billion in June from $23.78 billion in May. *India’s outward (FDI) commitments rose to $2.14 billion in June 2024, compared to $1.14 billion in June 2023. *India Inc. raised Rs 32,619 crore from overseas bonds in 2024. FPI infused Rs 30,772 crore into Indian markets. *India's card payments market is set to surge 11.3 per cent in 2024, reaching Rs 28.4 trillion. *GCCs completed 6,667 leasing deals, marking a 16 per cent increase in India. *About 6 crore ITRs were led for FY24; 70 per cent under the new tax regime. *Domestic air passenger traffic rose 5.76 per cent to 13.2 million in June from 12.4 million last year. *Automobile retail sales rose 9 per cent in Q1 FY25 to 6.2 million units, up from 5.7 million units in Q1 FY24. *Porsche India sales grew by 40 per cent in the January-June period. From 20182023, BMW India set records in H1 2024 with 7,098 cars, 3,614 bikes, and 2,000 EVs. President Murmu receives Fiji’s highest civilian award India’s first multinational air exercise begins STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST President Droupadi Murmu received the Companion of the Order of Fiji, its highest civilian award, during her ongoing visit to the country. Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere conferred the award on her, acknowledging the strong relationship between India and Fiji. During her visit, President Murmu addressed the Fijian Parliament, reaffirming India’s willingness to collaborate with Fiji on projects that benefit both nations. She highlighted shared values such as democracy and human rights. President Droupadi Murmu reached Suva in Fiji this morning from Nadi where she landed yesterday on the first leg of her State Visit to Fiji, New Zealand and Timor- Leste. She was received by Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the airport and accorded a ceremonial welcome. A traditional welcome ceremony was organised for President Murmu in the presence of the Prime Minister of Fiji. Subsequently, the President visited the State House where she was warmly received by President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere of Fiji. The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the India-Fiji relationship. The President said that India remains committed to strengthening its relations and development partnership with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), among which Fiji is an important partner. President Murmu also witnessed the progress of the 'Solarisation of Heads of State Residences' project, an Indian initiative which was inaugurated in February last year. In the next engagement, the President addressed the Parliament of Fiji. She said that despite the vast difference in the size of the two countries, both India and Fiji have much in common, including vibrant democracies. She assured the Fijian parliamentarians that as a close friend and partner with rich experience of fostering democracy at the grassroots level, India stands ready to partner Fiji at all times. President Murmu added that today, Fiji is recognized around the world for its growing contribution to common efforts, focused on two major global challenges - climate change and addressing human conflicts. Whether it is shaping the global dialogue on climate change or voicing the concerns of the ocean-states, Fiji has been contributing immensely to the global good. India greatly values and applauds the increasingly prominent role played by Fiji around the world. The President said that the rest of the world has much to learn from Fiji, including the gentle Fijian way of life, the deep-rooted respect for traditions and customs and an open and multicultural environment. She was happy to note that India-Fiji cooperation in various sectors continues to grow from strength to strength. The first phase of India's largest multilateral air exercise 'Tarang Shakti' began at Sulur in Tamil Nadu Tuesday. Nearly 30 countries are participating in the exercise which aims to showcase India’s defence prowess and provide a platform for participating militaries to foster interoperability. The first phase of the exercise will conclude on 14 August. The second phase in Jodhpur, Rajasthan will be held from 29 August-14 September. Ten countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, and Singapore are joining the exercise with their aircraft while 18 countries will participate as observers. India will showcase its Indigenous-made fighter aircraft and equipment. India’s fighter aircraft including Tejas, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MIG 29 aircraft will take part in the exercise. According to Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, “It is a huge feather in our cap that we have been able to organise an exercise of such a huge scale in India.” “We have been carrying out bilateral exercises with many countries over the years and this is the first time we are doing a multilateral exercise of this scale. It's a challenge and Air Force and all participants have lived up to the challenge.” A British High Commission release said the Royal Air Force (RAF) will join the Indian Air Force (IAF) and counterparts from Germany, Spain, and France in the first phase of the IAF’s maiden multilateral exercise Tarang Shakti. The RAF contingent comprising 130 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, two A330 Voyager air to air refuellers and an A-400M military transport aircraft arrived at Sulur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu. The exercise provides an excellent opportunity for the RAF to work closely with the IAF alongside other nations in a more challenging multilateral environment, significantly enhancing interoperability and sharing best practice. British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron said: “I congratulate the Indian Air Force on organising its first multilateral air exercise, Tarang Shakti, and am delighted that the Royal Air Force is one of the key participants.”