WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER 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 ‘CAN'T IMAGINE BETTER REPRESENTATIVE THAN PRIYANKA FOR WAYANAD’ BLINKEN ARRIVES IN ISRAEL P9 SENSEX 80,220.72q930.55 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 20 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 93 % TEMPERATURE P4 NIFTY 24,472.10q309.00 Min: 20.4 °C (+2) SUN SETS 17:44 hrs MOON SETS 13:24 hrs ` vs $ 84.07 GOLD 80,605.00 PM meets Putin, calls for end to Ukraine conflict The meeting between the leaders took place ahead of BRICS Summit THUMBNAILS Workers at a construction site on the banks of River Ganges during the preparation for the upcoming Maha Kumbh 2025 festival in Prayagraj on Tuesday. n ANI IMF keeps growth forecasts for India unchanged at 7 pc for FY25, 6.5 pc for FY26: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) the growth forecasts for India unchanged at 7 per cent for FY25 and 6.5 per cent for FY26. It holds that the pentup demand accumulated during the pandemic has been exhausted as the economy reconnects with its potential growth. (P10) Modi to meet Xi Jinping in Russia today P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday renewed his call for an early end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and said India is prepared to extend all possible cooperation in this endeavour. At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Kazan in Russia, Mr Modi said: “As I have said earlier, we believe that the problems should be resolved in a peaceful manner. We fully support the early establishment of peace and stability. All our efforts give priority to humanity. India is ready to provide all possible cooperation in the times to come.” The meeting between the two leaders took place on the margins of the BRICS Summit. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were part of the Indian delegation at the talks between the two leaders. Mr Modi pointed out that he has been in touch with the Russian leader ever since the hostilities erupted. He also spoke about the STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER growing partnership between the two countries, noting that he had visited Russia just three months back. “My two visits to Russia in the last three months reflect our close coordination and deep friendship. Our Annual Summit in Moscow in July has strengthened our cooperation in every field,” he added. The PM also stated that in 15 years, the BRICS has earned a name for itself and now many countries in the world want to join it. He said he is looking forward to participating in the BRICS Summit on Wednesday. Mr Modi also spoke about India's historic links with Kazan. He said India's decision to open a Consulate at Kazan will give a boost to ties between the two nations. In his remarks, Mr Putin recalled that he had held “very good discussions” on several issues with PM Modi when they met in July. “We also spoke on the telephone a lot of times. I am very grateful to you for accepting the invitation to come to Kazan. During the upcoming BRICS Summit today with other leaders, we should take some very important decisions,” he said. The Russian President said the role of India and Russia in the BRICS is very important since both countries are founding members of the grouping. While speaking about the special and privileged partnership between the two countries, he welcomed India's decision to open a Consulate at Kazan. He also Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday on the margins of the BRICS Summit at Kazan in Russia, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed tonight. At a media briefing, Mr Misri said the time and venue of the meeting are being worked out by the two sides. The meeting between the two leaders is significant, given the tense relationship between their two countries over the last four years in the wake of the eastern Ladakh military stand-off. stated that the next meeting of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission is scheduled for 12 December in New Delhi. “Our projects are constantly developing. Our cooperation will benefit from the policies of India,” he said. India sends humanitarian Bengal govt sets up task force on safety, security in medical colleges assistance for Palestinians STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 22 OCTOBER The government on Tuesday set up a task force to monitor safety and security issues in state-run medical colleges a day after chief minister Mamata Banerjee held talks with the 17-member delegates of agitating junior doctors at Nabanna on Monday evening. On Tuesday, the state secretariat Nabanna has issued a notification in connection with the constitution of the 11-member task force headed by the chief secretary Manoj Pant. The task force also includes home secretary Nandini Chakraborty, director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, principal secretary in charge of the health department, Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Kolkata commissioner of police Manoj Verma, two representatives each of senior resident doctors and junior doctors, one female medical student and one member of the state On Tuesday, the state secretariat Nabanna has issued a notification in connection with the constitution of the 11-member task force headed by the chief secretary Manoj Pant. level grievance redreassal committee. Miss Banerjee held prolonged discussions with the delegates of the protesting junior doctors at Nabanna Sabhagriha on Monday evening to resolve the impasse in the state healthcare services caused by the sit-in-protests and fastunto-death agitation by the doctors across the state since 9 August when the 31 yearold woman doctor was brutally raped and murdered inside her workplace at R G Kar Medical College Hospital, triggering outrage throughout the country. Safety and security for doctors, patients and other medical and non-medical employees inside government medical colleges and hospitals, removal of Mr Nigam, formations of state and collegelevel task forces etc were prominent points in the 10point charter of demands of the junior doctors that discussed in the meeting with the chief minister. Miss Banerjee had assured the junior doctors in the meeting to form the task force within 24 hours to do away with ‘threat culture’ sponsored allegedly by a section of doctors and medical students inside the teaching hospitals’ campuses.The agitating junior doctors, under the banner of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front, withdrew their fastunto-death programme at Esplanade on Monday night following requests of parents of the victim doctor. Miss Banerjee had also appealed to them to withdraw the hunger strike and join work during the meeting. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AMARAVATI, 22 OCTOBER Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s call to people to have more children and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M. K. Stalin’s ‘why not 16 children’ remark has added to the clamour for demographic balance in south India, where the falling fertility rate is causing concern. While Mr Naidu’s stand for begetting more children is not new, his proposal to bring in a law that one can contest panchayat or municipal elections only if he has more than two children underscores that he is keen to go beyond mere words. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president, for the last few years, has been advocating an increase in population rate in tune with the national average. However, Mr Stalin’s call close on the heels of Mr Naidu’s latest assertion appears to have given a push to the whole debate. Mr Stalin on Monday sug- gested that perhaps it was time that newly-weds considered having 16 children, instead of '16 forms of wealth' as suggested in the Tamil blessing. “That blessing does not mean you should have 16 children... but now a situation has arisen where people think they may have to, literally, raise 16 children and not a small family,” he said at an event where 31 couples tied the knot under a governmentfunded marriage scheme. Mr Stalin’s suggestion came a day after Mr Naidu revealed that his government was plan- ning legislation allowing only those with more than two children to contest local body elections. “At one time, if you had more than two children, you couldn't contest panchayat or municipal elections. Now I am bringing a new law. Only if you have more than two children, you can contest panchayat or municipal elections and get more benefits for your family,” he said at a gathering at Amaravati. The TDP-led NDA government in August repealed the legislation that barred people with more than two children P12 SILVER 1,10,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 75.45p1.16 India, China reach patrolling agreement, but ‘trust issues’ persist, says Army chief STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE China confirms pact with India to end military stand-off NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER A day after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced an agreement between India and China to resume patrolling along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh ~ signaling potential disengagement and de-escalation of forces ~ Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi highlighted ongoing “trust issues” between the two countries. On Monday, Mr Misri revealed that as a result of the discussions that have taken place over the last several weeks, an agreement has been arrived at on patroling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border area and this is leading to dis-engagement and eventually a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020. The contentious areas, including the Depsang Plains and Demchok, have remained flashpoints since the deadly Galwan Valley clash in June 2020. That incident, which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, was reportedly sparked by China’s objections to Indian infrastructure projects in the Galwan River Valley, particularly a road linking to the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) airfield, STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER a strategic airbase. Speaking at the “Decade of Transformation: Indian Army in Stride with the Future” event organised by the United Service Institution of India (USI), General Dwivedi emphasised that trust remains a key issue. “We want to return to the status quo of April 2020, after which we’ll focus on disengagement, de-escalation, and the normal management of the LAC. This has been our stance since 2020, and it remains unchanged,” Gen. Dwivedi stated. “Thereafter, we will be looking at disengagement, de-escalation and normal management of LAC,” he said. Adding that normal management of LAC will be carried out in a phased manner, Gen. Dwivedi said: “We have been asserting our stance from April 2020 when Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi was the Army Commander, and even today, it remains the same.” NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, India on Tuesday sent humanitarian assistance for the people of Palestine through the United Nations Works & Relief Agency (UNRWA). “The first tranche of assistance comprising 30 tons of medicine and food items has departed today,” Ministry of external Affairs spokesperson Randhir jaiswal said in a social media post on X. The consignment includes a wide range of essential medicines and surgical supplies, dental products, general medical items and high-energy biscuits for the people affected by the ongoing war in West Asia. Ever since the hostilities erupted in Wet Asia in October last year, India has from time reiterated its firm and enduring commitment to The consignment includes a wide range of essential medicines and surgical supplies, dental products, general medical items and high-energy biscuits for the people affected by the ongoing war in West Asia. resolving the Palestine issue through peaceful means, supporting a negotiated “two-state solution” that aims for the formation of a “sovereign, independent, and viable” Palestinian state living in harmony with Israel. from contesting local body elections. "At one time, I had called for observing family planning but I am now making an appeal to people to beget more children," said Mr Naidu while calling for maintaining demographic balance. Voicing concern over the fertility rate in the state declining to 1.5-1.7, he called for increasing it to 2.1 per cent, at par with the national fertility rate. Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is the average number of children a woman (15-49) would have if she lived to the end of her childbearing years and gave birth in line with current fertility rates. “Population in north India is growing but it’s declining in south India. You should keep this in mind,” Mr Naidu had said at a public meeting in August. “If we don’t think with foresight, the population will decrease. The ageing population will increase. If children are not born, who will take care of the elderly,”he asked. Hewarnedthatthedemographic crisis may land the state in a situation similar to that of Europe, China, and Japan, which have ageing populations. Andhra Pradesh is not the only state facing the situation. The average Total Fertility Rate of five southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) is 1.73 against the national average of 2.1. In contrast, the average TFR of five big heartland states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Jharkhand) is 2.4. According to officials, the average male reproductive age in Andhra Pradesh is 32.5 years which is likely to go up to 40 by 2047. Similarly, the female reproductive age in the state is now 29 years and this is expected to go up to 38 by 2047. It is believed the number of people who can contribute to economic development will come down drastically. Currently, 11 per cent of Andhra Pradesh’s population is aged above 60 years. This is likely to go up to 19 per cent by 2047. China on Tuesday confirmed that it has reached an agreement with India on patrolling arrangements on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries. Responding to questions on the pact announced by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed progress in talks with India on the border stalemate. “China and India have maintained close communication through diplomatic and military channels regarding border-related issues. Currently, the two sides have reached a solution on the relevant matters, which China views positively. In the next phase, China will work with India to effectively implement the solution plan,” he stated. The agreement between the two sides was announced on the eve of the BRICS Summit at Kazan in Russia. Kalyan Banerjee breaks glass bottle during stormy JPC meet, hurts himself STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER Naidu, Stalin add to clamour for more children in south India AGENCIES KEY SPORTS REMOVED FROM CWG 2026 P10 ASHOK TUTEJA NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER Min. 49 % Max: 34.0 °C (+1) SUN RISES 06:28 hrs MOON RISES 22:55 hrs ‘INDIA WELL POSITIONED TO CAPITALISE ON NEW GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES’ The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf Amendment Bill had another stormy sitting on Tuesday where Trinamul Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle and hurt himself while arguing with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay during the meeting. JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal later suspended Mr Banerjee for one day and two meetings of the JPC following a motion by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The JPC meeting that was hearing various stakeholders and experts on the Bill was attended by many eminent personalities, including retired judges and Supreme Court lawyers. According to sources, Mr Kalyan Banerjee wanted to speak, although he had already taken his turn earlier and wanted to get a chance again during the presentation. BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay objected to the disruption from Mr Banerjee and a heated exchange ensued between them. Mr Banerjee picked up a glass water bottle, hit it on the table and hurt himself. Due to the incident, the meeting adjourned for some time. Soon after, he was taken for medical aid, wherein he received four stitches in his hand. In today's meeting, the committee was scheduled to hear views and suggestions from representatives of Justice in Reality and Panchasakha Prachar, both based in Cuttack, Odisha. A delegation of five MPs from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was due to present its perspectives on the Bill. The committee earlier met on Monday, inviting officials from the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide oral evidence regarding the Bill. The Opposition raised questions about the consultative process on the Amendments proposed in the Bill. Opposition members accused the government of introducing the Bill for political reasons, alleging it targeted the Muslim community. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi presented a nearly one-hour critique of the Bill, raising concerns about its implications. Bahraich violence: Won’t take any action on demolition notices till today, UP tells SC PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 22 OCTOBER The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday assured the Supreme Court that the state authorities won't take any action till Wednesday – 23 October - on the notices for the demolition of the buildings belonging to persons allegedly involved in the 13 October violence in Bahraich in the state. Taking note of the assurance that the demolition notices will not be acted upon and posting the matter seeking halt to the demolition for hearing on Wednesday, a bench comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K.V. Viswanathan, however cautioned the State government stating “If they (State government) want to take risk of flouting our order, it's their choice.” As senior advocate Chander Uday Singh appearing for the applicants seeking halt to demolition, in a mentioning sought an early hearing, the bench said it will take up tomorrow the application and asked the Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj to defer action, to which he (ASG) said that no action will be taken till tomorrow. The ASG Nataraj also informed the top court that the Allahabad High Court is also seized of the matter. In an urgent hearing, the High Court had on Sunday – October 20, 2024, granted 15 more days to the affected persons to respond to the notices issued by the UP authorities. The alleged accused in the Bahraich violence case, including one Abdul Hameed, had approached the top court against the notices for the demolition of illegal constructions issued by the authorities in the State. Three people have jointly filed the petition against the demolition notice and urged the top court to quash the notices issued on 17 October. The applicants have also sought, as an interim measure, the stay of the proposed demolition and maintaining the status quo as on the date of issuance of notice on 17 October.
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