MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘FIR HAS UNMASKED BJP’S SINISTER PLAN’ KERALA GUV SEEKS REPORT ON CHARGES OF PHONE TAPPING P4 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 25 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. TEMPERATURE P9 Min: 25.2 °C (2) SUN SETS 18:08 hrs MOON SETS 17:01 hrs THUMBNAILS Members of a nomadic tribe move with their belongings on Dabwali - Ellenabad road, in Sirsa. n ANI Pak terrorist killed in Kathua encounter: A day ahead of the third phase of polling for the J&K assembly, a police head constable was martyred and a Pakistani terrorist killed in an ongoing encounter in the Kog Mandli area of Jammu’s Kathua district, Additional DGP Anand Jain said on Sunday. Two police officers -- deputy SP (Operations) Sukhbir Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector Niaz Ahmad -- were seriously injured in the gunfight with terrorists. (P3) SRI LANKA THRASH NZ BY 154 RUNS P12 Previous govts lacked plan Continuous rise of FDI evidence of Make in India's success saga: Modi to develop Pune, says PM NIKHIL VYAS Modi claims that many key infrastructure projects were derailed NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the Union government's 'Make in India' campaign, saying that India has become a manufacturing powerhouse and it is because of the youth power of the country that the "whole world is looking up to us". Talking about the 'Make in India' campaign during the 114th episode of his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast over All India Radio, PM Modi said: “This month marks the culmination of 10 years of another important campaign. The success of this campaign includes the contribution of the country's big industries as well as small shopkeepers. I am talking about 'Make in India'. Today, it gives me immense joy to see that the poor, the middle class and MSMEs are getting a lot of benefit from this campaign.” He said this campaign has provided an opportunity to people of every class to showcase their talent. “Today, India has become a manufacturing powerhouse and it is because of the youth power of the country that the whole world is looking up to us. Be it automobiles, textiles, aviation, electronics or defence… every sector in the country's exports are PUNE/NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER Min. 61 % Max: 34.7 °C (0) SUN RISES 06:14 hrs MOON RISES 04:49 hrs P5 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 88 % RUSSIA INVOKES ITS NUCLEAR CAPACITY IN UN SPEECH P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed previous governments for lacking planning and vision for development of Pune and Maharashtra in general that heavily affected the pace of development. However, after the BJP-led government came to power in 2014 and later during the present Mahayuti government the development process has been expedited, he said. “Unfortunately, in the previous decades, our country lacked both planning and vision in urban development. Even when the policies were formulated, the projects used to stand stalled for years and years. Maharashtra, and our country, faced losses due to this very culture of carelessness and neglect. But now, the times have changed,” said the Prime Minister in his virtual address after he laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation var- ious projects including Pune Metro in Maharashtra worth over Rs 11,200 crore. The Prime Minister claimed that during the non-BJP governments, several key infrastructure projects including metro, bullet train and irrigation projects were derailed. “However, the double-engine government removed all hurdles and it is working relentlessly to spur the state’s growth. Maharashtra is an inspiration for the country and Viksit Maharashtra will further help achieve Viksit Bharat,” he said. “For Maharashtra's progress, future-ready infrastructure is crucial, but equally important is ensuring that devel- opment benefits reach all sections of society. This will happen when every segment contributes to India's growth. This will happen when women lead the vision of a Viksit Bharat. “When women drive social change, nothing is impossible! And the land of Maharashtra has been a witness to this very reality,” said the Prime Minister. He said that the Pune Metro was discussed in 2008 but the previous governments could not construct a single pillar till 2016 when the Devendra Fadnavis-led government laid the foundation. “In eight years, the previous government failed to construct even a single Metro pillar, but our government has successfully built a stateof-the-art Metro network in Pune,” he added. “Our dream is to enhance the ease of living in Pune city, and I am glad to note that we are moving rapidly in that direction. This will happen when Pune's public transport becomes modern. This will happen when the city expands while maintaining seamless connectivity between areas. Today, the Mahayuti government is working day and night with this vision and approach,” he said. “Recently, the District Court to Swargate section route has been inaugurated. The Metro will now start running on this route as well. The foundation stone of the Swargate-Katraj section has also been laid today. I am happy that we are moving at a fast pace in the direction of our dream of increasing the ease of living in Pune city,” said PM Modi. He also Iaid the foundation stone of the Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Memorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this campaign has provided an opportunity to people of every class to showcase their talent. constantly on the rise," the Prime Minister said. He said the continuous rise of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country is narrating the success saga of 'Make in India'. “Now we are mainly focussing on two things… The first is 'Quality’, that is, goods made in our country should be of global standards… and the other is 'Vocal for Local. That means, local products should get maximum promotion," the Prime Minister said. “In 'Mann Ki Baat' we’ve also discussed #MyProductMyPride’. How the people of the country can benefit from promoting local products can be understood through an example. In Bhandara district of Maharashtra, there is an old textile tradition of, 'Bhandara Tussar Silk Handloom'. Tussar Silk, is known for its colour, design and strength. In some areas of Bhandara, more than 50 'Self Help Groups are working to preserve it. Women have a huge participation in that. This silk is fast becoming popular and Ahead of NSA visit, France submits final Stalin elevates Udhayanidhi as deputy CM, price offer for 26 Rafale Marine jet deal ignores Opp’s criticism of dynastic succession AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER France has submitted the final price offer to India for the 26 Rafale Marine Jet deal just ahead of the scheduled visit of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country. Defence sources told ANI that the best and final price offer has been submitted to the Indian authorities by the French side for the project and a significant price reduction has been given after tough negotiations in the proposed contract. India and France are negotiating the deal for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets which are going to be deployed on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and different bases. The two sides had also held negotiations last week when a French team was in the national capital for finalizing the discussions with India. The deal is scheduled to be taken up for discussion during the India-France Strategic Dialogue where the Indian NSA is scheduled to meet his French counterparts from tomorrow in Paris. The deal is important for the Indian Navy as it is looking at strengthening its maritime strike capability. India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which is the tender document equivalent in government to government deals, like the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar in the jets for the Indian Navy. Sources said that the integration would have taken a longer time of around eight years along with a high price to be paid to the French side for doing so. India had also asked France for integration of indigenous weapons on the plane. This includes the Astra beyond visual range missiles along with the Rudram anti-radiation missiles. The sources added that the price for the deal has been based on the agreements over rate it inflation to be taken into account and would be using the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force as the basis. Some of the Indian Air Force requirements have also been incorporated in the naval deal which will include around 40 drop tanks and a small number of work stations for the planes. The Indian side is also going to get more number of long range air to air Meteor missiles and with the anti-ship weaponry in this project planned to be concluded before the end of this financial year. MC RAJAN CHENNAI, 29 SEPTEMBER Disregarding the Opposition’s criticism of dynastic politics and nepotism, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin got his son and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi elevated as the deputy chief minister of the state, making it clear that he is the heir apparent in the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Since Udhayanidhi is already a minister, he is not required to take the oath of office but only re-designated by the Governor as deputy chief minister. Though not a constitutional office, this new role makes him the number two in the government. As expected, the cabinet reshuffle on Sunday witnessed the return of V Senthil Balaji, who is on bail in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act linked to the 2011 cash-for-job scam. Interestingly, he has been entrusted with the Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise portfolios, held by him earlier. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Senthil Balaji and three others – R Rajendran, Govi Chezhiyan, and SM Nasar. While Nasar makes a re-entry, the other two are first-timers. At the group photo session after the swearing-in, Stalin and Udhayanidhi were seated next to the governor on the left and right, indicating his primacy in the party and government. On his new role, Udhayanidhi said it is a responsibility. “It is not just an office, 'These accusations are intended to malign my leadership: PT Usha AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief PT Usha has hit back at the allegations made by 12 IOA Executive Council (EC) members in a letter addressed to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Director of International Relations Jerome Poivey. The 12 EC members, which include Olympic medallists like Gagan Narang and Yogeshwar Dutt, Sehdev Yadav, etc., have written to senior IOC official Jerome Poivey accusing the legendary athlete of running the organisation in an "autocratic" manner. “These accusations are only intended to malign my leadership and the efforts of those working diligently towards the betterment of Indian sports,” PT Usha wrote in a letter. “In my 45-yearlong career as a sportsperson representing India at the highest levels of a competition, I have never encountered individuals so indifferent to the aspirations of our athletes and our nation’s sporting future. Instead of supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary goal of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games in India, these individuals seem more focused on self-serving power play and monetary gain through their prolonged presence and control in sports administration,” the letter said.During Thursday's emergency EC meeting, there was a bitter confrontation where the embattled Usha outrightly rejected their call for removing Raghuram Iyer from the CEO’s post. Addressing the claims made by these EC members in questioning Raghuram Iyer's appointment as IOA Chief Executive Officer. PT Usha clarified that “his appointment, made in January 2024, was carried out in strict accordance with the IOA constitution.” “...In order to uphold the provisions of the IOA Constitution, notwithstanding the undue resistance from a majority of the EC, the Nomination Com- mittee undertook the process of selection as envisaged in Article 15.3.1. For the purposes of accountability and transparency, the entire process undertaken by the Nomination Committee was minuted and duly shared with the entire Executive Committee during the January 2024 meeting,” she wrote. “To now question the process or the alleged ‘exorbitant’ salary payments made to him is entirely false,” the letter read. “His appointment was officially ratified in the January 2024 meeting. The said meeting has not only been video-graphed but also transcribed and minuted, all of which evidence the fact that a majority of the EC members accepted the appointment of Mr. Iyer and requested and nominated me, as part of the EC, to only renegotiate the salary component,” the letter added. Ms Usha also claimed that the CEO appointed by IOA has not been paid at all. “Despite his official appointment, Mr. Iyer has not been paid a single rupee till date. The delay in paying his salary is solely because certain EC members continue to defy the provisions of the IOA Constitution, obstructing necessary progress and decision-making,” it read. “It is essential to bring to light that some of these EC members have very questionable track records, including allegations of gender bias and even cases of sexual harassment filed against them. Recently, during the CAG audit, it has come to my attention that IOA Treasurer Sahdev Yadav, in connivance with the members of the IOA Finance Committee headed by Ajay Patel and comprising of Rajlaxmi Singh Deo, BS Bajwa, Amitabh Sharma, Rohit Rajpal, Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh and Monal Choksi, has surreptitiously written off large sums of monies owed to the IOA,” she claimed in a letter. but a great responsibility. I welcome any criticism but, my performance will be my response to that,” he told the media after paying the ritual floral tributes at the memorials of Anna (DMK founder CN Annadurai) and his grandfather and late patriarch M Karunanidhi. He also paid tributes to the Dravidian icon and rationalist reformer ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy at his statue, at the headquarters of Dravidar Kazhagam, the ideological mentor of the DMK. A third generation leader pushed into politics from filmdom, 46-year-old Udhayanidhi’s rise has been meteoric. He was elected from the Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni constituency in Chennai in the 2021 assembly elections and inducted into the ministry in 2022 December. Now, he is the third deputy chief minister of the state and the previous ones were MK Stalin under Karunanidhi and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, under Edappadi K Palaniswami. Stalin, elected to the DMK general council in 1973, got the opportunity to contest elections in 1984 which he lost from Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. In 1996, he was elected mayor of Chennai and later became a minister in 2006. On the other hand, Udhayanidhi was drawn towards Kollywood and under his production house, Red Giant, in 2008 bankrolled his first movie ‘Kuruvi’ in which actor Vijay played the lead. (Details on page 4) empowering local communities… and that is the spirit of 'Make in India',” PM Modi said. Mr Modi also urged people to buy 'Made in India' products during the coming festive season. “In this festive season you can once again reiterate your old resolves. Anything you buy, should necessarily be 'Made in India'… Anything you gift that too should be Made In India. Merely buying earthen lamps is not ‘Vocal for Local'. You should promote local products made in your area more and more. Any such product, that has been made with the sweat of an Indian artisan, that is made on Indian soil, is our pride we always have to lend glory to this pride,” he said. As 'Mann ki Baat' will be completing 10 years on 3 October, the Prime Minister, during the address, said the listeners of the programme are the real anchors of this show. “The listeners of Mann Ki Baat are the real anchors of this show. A commonly held belief has become so ingrained that as long as there are no spicy or negative conversations, it does not receive much attention. But Mann Ki Baat has proved that how hungry the people of the country are, for positive information. People like positive stories, inspiring examples, encouraging stories very much," the PM said. Jamaican PM to pay four-day visit to India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER Prime Minister of Jamaica Dr Andrew Holness will embark on a four-day official visit to India from Monday. "At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Jamaica Dr Andrew Holness will pay an official visit to India from September 30 to October 3," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday. "This will be his first visit to India and the first-ever bilateral visit by a Jamaican Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Holness have met several times on the sidelines of multilateral meetings," the MEA said. During the visit, Prime Minister Holness will hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi and call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Road rage: Cop dies after being hit and dragged by speeding car in Outer Delhi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 SEPTEMBER A 30-year-old Delhi Police constable died after being hit and dragged up to 10 metres by a speeding car in Outer Delhi’s Nangloi area, police said on Sunday. The incident occurred on early Sunday at 2:15 am when the constable, Sandeep, was going towards Railway road from Nangloi Police station on a motorcycle. He was on duty but dressed in civil clothes in the wake of the increasing theft cases in the area, the police said. Upon noticing a speeding car, the constable overtook the four wheeler and told the driver to slow down, but suddenly the vehicle speeded up and hit his motorcycle from behind and dragged him for about 10 metres before hurling it into another vehicle, police added. Sandeep received head injuries in the accident and was taken to Sonia Hospital and later shifted to Balaji Hospital in Paschim Vihar. He was declared dead by the doctors, said police officials. Police said that a case under Section 103 (murder) of BNS was registered and an investigation is underway. Police are looking for two people who are absconding after the incident along with the vehicle. CCTV footage of the accident had also surfaced in which the constable is seen taking a left turn in a lane and gesturing to the car driver to slow down and eventually being hit by the vehicle. The deceased constable, Sandeep is survived by his mother, wife and a 5-year old son. He was recruited in Delhi Police in the 2018 batch.