PAGE 1 DELHI_PAGE 01 - Copy.qxd 08/09/2024 12:05 AM Page 1 FRIDAY 09 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 RUNNING MATE CM: WAYANAD NEEDS COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION PROJECT P4 SENSEX 78,886.22q581.79 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY.LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSTORM. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 26 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 021.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE P6 24,117.00q180.50 P9 ` vs $ 83.44 GOLD 69,270 Min: 25.4 °C (-1) SUN SETS 19:06 hrs MOON SETS 21:46 hrs THUMBNAILS India's Aman Sehrawat competes against Albania's Zelimkhan Abakarov in the Men’s Freestyle 57kg quarterfinal in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Thursday. n ANI Court extends judicial custody of CM Arvind Kejriwal till 20 August: The Rouse Avenue court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a CBI case linked to Delhi Excise policy. Kejriwal was produced before the court through video conferencing from Tihar Jail. Special judge (CBI) Kaveri Baweja extended the Judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till August 20. CBI moved an application seeking an extension of judicial custody. CBI has already filed a charge sheet against Arvind Kejriwal on 29July. He was arrested by the CBI on 26 June. Kejriwal was granted interim bail in a money laundering case by the Supreme Court on July 12. Earlier he was granted regular bail by the trial court on 20 June. T he Government on Thursday agreed to refer the Waqf Act 1995 Amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) after a heated debate in the Lok Sabha during which the Opposition charged that the Bill was against the Constitution’s basic structure, encroached on fundamental rights and would harm the country’s secular image. Speaker Om Birla announced that he would talk to all political parties to constitute a JPC, after Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government was ready for discussion on the Bill in any committee or forum. The Bill was introduced after about two-and-ahalf hours’ discussion. “We are open-minded. Our intentions are clean,” he said, and proposed that a JPC be formed to study the Bill. Mr Rijiju told the Opposition that the Bill only sought to legislate changes which were proposed by committees formed by Congress governments for proper management of vast Waqf properties. The amendment Bill seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995 as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. The Minister introduced a related Bill to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 also. The Minister said the House was competent to legislate on the issue as the subject came under the Concurrent List of the Constitution under Entries 10 and 28. He said Sachar and Rahman committees had made recommendations on the subject. There were lakhs of Waqf properties which could generate more income for the welfare of the community only, he said. There would be faster resolution of disputes. Most people want the new law for better administration of the Waqf properties, he said. The Opposition across several parties did not want the Bill introduced at all, stating that it would not stand judicial scrutiny, and simply interfered with religious freedom. Members from the Treasury Benches pointed out that the Bill did not touch mosques at all; the Waqf properties came under a law which required amendment. Opposing the Bill, K C Venugopal (Congress) said the Bill was draconian and an attack on the fundamental rights. Followers of all religions had freedom to manage their affairs. The Bill proposed that non-Muslims could be on the Waqf management. Could anyone imagine non-Hindus on the management of Ayodhya or Guruvayur temples, he asked. He said Hindus respected all religions. The ruling BJP had perhaps introduced the Bill for advantage during the coming Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Bill was also against the federal structure as all it would call for State data to a Central portal, he said. Former Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passes away STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 8 AUGUST Veteran Communist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who was the second and last chief minister of the 34-year-long Left Front rule in West Bengal, passed away on Thursday at the age of 80. He served as the state's chief minister for 11 years, from 2000 to 2011. The news of Bhattacharjee's death was announced by his son Suchetan Bhattacharjee on Thursday morning. Suchetan said his father had breakfast in the morning and then fell ill. Bhattacharjee passed away at 8:20 a.m. at his Palm Avenue residence. Bhattacharjee is survived by his wife, Mira, and Suchetan. According to sources, Bhattacharjee had severe breathing difficulties on Wednesday night, but it was managed. It was decided that doctors from Woodlands would come to check on him at around 11 a.m. on Thursday and, if necessary, admit him to hospital. DHAKA , 8 AUGUST of anti-government protests. The key tasks for Yunus will now be to restore peace in Bangladesh and prepare for the new elections. Bangladesh's figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the EAM Jaishankar to visit Maldives as a part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to the Maldives from 9- BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.27 Opposition parties attacked the Bill as being against the Constitution’s basic structure AGENCIES It is learnt that Mr Jaishankar will visit various places in the Maldives where several projects are being undertaken with Indian assistance. P12 SILVER 81,500q5,500 However, on Thursday morning, he fell ill again after having breakfast and tea. Sources said that he had a heart attack at that time. Doctors were informed, and upon arrival, they declared Bhattacharjee dead.Like his predecessor Jyoti Basu, Bhattacharjee had also pledged to donate his body posthumously. On Thursday afternoon, Bhattacharjee left his tworoom Palm Avenue flat for the last time. His mortal remains, wrapped in a red flag, was driven in a hearse to the Peace World mortuary in Topsia, as admirers and party supporters sang The Internationale’. Many in the crowd raised slogans; others broke down. Bhattacharjee’s mortal remains will be taken to the state Legislative Assembly tomorrow for people to pay their respects and thereafter to the CPI-M headquarters at Alimuddin Street and Students Federation of India office at AJC Bose Road. Mamata pays tribute: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed shock at the passing away of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and paid glowing tributes to her onetime political opponent and predecessor as Bengal chief minister.Miss Banerjee termed Bhattacharjee’s death as a “great loss” for the state. Bangladesh: Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of interim govt Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to quit and flee the country amid massive unrest in the country , Al Jazeera reported. Yunus, 84, took oath at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday night. The country has been marred with violence after protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape EMOTIONAL VINESH QUITS WRESTLING Govt agrees to send Waqf Bill to JPC after heated debate STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST Min. 72 % Max: 34.1 °C (+0) SUN RISES 05:48 hrs MOON RISES 10:43 hrs NIFTY ‘MAIN SUSPECT IN TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT PLOT BACKED ISLAMIC STATE’ 11 August as part of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. His visit follows the recent visit of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to India for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new Cabinet and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Mr Jaishankar had previously visited the Maldives in January 2023. He is expected to hold meetings with President Muizzu, Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer and senior officials during the trip. It is learnt that Mr Jaishankar will visit various places in the Maldives where several projects are being undertaken with Indian assistance. oath to Yunus for his role as chief advisor, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, as per Al Jazeera. The ceremony was held in the presence of foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka. However, no representatives of Sheikh Hasina's party, Awami League were present. Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and founder of Grameen Bank, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to create economic and social development through microcredit. Upon arriving in Bangladesh earlier in the day, the Nobel laureate made a heartfelt appeal to his supporters and urged the people of Bangladesh to maintain calm and end chaos, The Daily Star reported. Hope for early return of normality, protection of Hindus: PM Modi AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wished Professor Muhammad Yunus on assuming his new responsibilities as the head of Bangladesh's interim government and emphasised bringing about an early return to normality and ensuring the protection of the Hindu minority. “My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," PM Modi said in a post on X. Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday after former PM Sheikh Hasina resigned amid escalating student-led protests. RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5 pc STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday announced that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided with a majority of 4:2 members to keep the policy rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. Members decided to remain focussed on withdrawal of accomodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns to the target while supporting growth. “Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 6.25 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate at 6.75 per cent,” he said. The Governor further said the PMI services stood strong of 60.3 in July and is above 60 for seven consecutive months, which indicates robust expansion of services. “Healthy balance sheets of banks and corporates, thrust on capex by the government and visible signs of pickup in private investments could drive investment activity in the current year,” the Governor said. Governor Das said the real GDP growth for the Financial Year 2024-25 is projected at 7.2 per cent. Real GDP growth for Q1 is projected at 7.1 per cent, Q2 at 7.2 per cent, Q3 at 7.3 per cent and Q4 at 7.2 per cent, the risks are evenly balanced, he said. Real GDP growth for Q1 FY25-26 is projected at 7.2 per cent. The CPI Inflation for FY24-25 is projected at 4.5 per cent. The Governor further said the CPI Inflation for Q2 is projected at 4.4 per cent, Q3 at 4.7 per cent and Q4 at 4.3 per cent. CPI inflation for Q1 FY25-26 is projected at 4.4, he added. After remaining steady at 4.8 per cent during April and May, inflation increased to 5.1 per cent in June, the Governor said. He said the domestic economic activity continues to be resilient. On the supply side, steady progress in southwest monsoon, higher cumulative Kharif sowing and improving reservoir levels auger very well for Kharif output. Manufacturing activity continues to gain ground on the back of improving domestic demand, he added. The Governor said recently there was unprecedented outage globally which affected businesses in many countries. Against this background its necessary that banks and financial institutions build appropriate risk management frameworks in their IT, cybersecurity and third party outsourcing arrangements to maintain operational resilience, he added. Olympics: India defeats Spain to secure men’s hockey bronze S S RAMASWAMY PARIS, 8 AUGUST Skipper Harmanpreet Singh scored two penalty corner goals in the space of four minutes to pilot India to the men's Olympic hockey bronze medal with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Spain in the third place play-off match here today. India survived anxious moments at the fag end when Spain forced four successive penalty corners which were stoutly defended by the eight time gold medalists sparking wild celebrations at the Yvesdu-Manoir stadium. It was redemption time for the Indian skipper who could not find his mojo in the 2-3 semi-final defeat to Germany on 6 August. But today was a different day culminating in Harmanpreet scoring both the goals off penalty corners, on either side of half time. The first one in the 30th minute of the match made it 1-1 after Spain went 1-0 up in the 18th minute off a penalty stroke goal scored by captain Marc Mirales. The all-important match winner came off the Indian captain's stick in the 33rd minute off their third penalty corner award. India thus earned their second successive bronze starting with Tokyo 2020 that broke a four-decade medal drought. It is also the country's 13th medal in hockey history.Both the teams started cautiously with there being hardly any penetrative move in the first half barring one each from either side. India, ranked fifth as compared to Spain’s number 8 rank, were also the more experienced outfit with four members having played more than 200 internationals. In comparison Spain had just three with 100 plus caps. India were bolstered by the return of Amit Rohidas who had to sit out the semifinal against Germany following his red card send-off against Britain in the quarter finals. India, looking strangely subdued in contrast to the aggressive games they put up against first Australia in the group stage and Germany in the semi-final, launched an attack in the sixth minute, but Sukhjeet Singh struck the ball wide of the right post following a cross from the left flank. In the ninth minute of play Spain broke into the Indian circle and Hose Maria Basterrra took a shot at the Indian goal which was blocked by Sreejesh, who is hanging up his boots after playing his 335th international today. The Indian citadel fell three minutes into the second 15-minute quarter when Spain were awarded a penalty stroke when Manpreet hooked the stick of Gerard Clapes from behind as the Spaniard was about to take a shot. The award was converted by their captain Marc Mirales with a scoop to the right of Sreejesh. India also survived some Spanish raids, one of which resulted in the upright coming to their rescue. Towards the end of the quarter the Indian attack looked more penetrative and earned two penalty corners. Off the second and with seconds remaining in the quarter, captain Harmanpreet beat Spain custodian Luis Calzado with a perfect shot to sound the board and bring parity to the scores.The teams trooped in with the scores tied 1-1 at half time. India surged into the lead (2-1) soon after resumption after half through Harmanpreet who converted their third penalty corner award with a ground shot. Yet another penalty corner award came India’s way in the 35th minute but this time the Spanish goalie blocked Harmanpreet’s shot. India led 2-1 going into the final quarter which saw frenetic action at both ends The most difficult period for India came at the end with Spain pressing hard for their equaliser but the Indian defense led by Sreejesh stood resolutely and prevented the Spaniards’ bid. India looked the better team right through with their sppedy attacks from both flanks and richly deserved their medal.