WEDNESDAY 30 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 ‘SARDAR PATEL DEPRIVED OF BHARAT RATNA FOR LONG’ DEMOCRATS ESCALATE ATTACKS ON TRUMP P9 SENSEX 80,369.03p363.99 WEATHER MIST IN THE MORNING. MAINLY CLEAR SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 35 AND 20 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94 % TEMPERATURE Min: 20.3 °C (+4) SUN SETS 17:38 hrs MOON SETS 16:23 hrs THUMBNAILS People throng a market on the occasion of Dhanteras in Lucknow on Tuesday.n ANI TMC writes to ECI accusing Amit Shah of violating poll code: Trinamul Congress on Tuesday wrote a letter to the ECI accusing the Union Home Minister Amit Shah of violating the model code of conduct ahead of by-elections in West Bengal. "Despite the directives categorically stating the scope of reference covers the administrative districts of the pollbound constituencies of Haroa and Naihati which fall under North 24-Parganas, Shah chose to make politically coloured remarks at an official event in Petrapole, on Oct 27.” NIFTY 24,466.85p127.70 P6 ` vs $ 84.07 GOLD 81,155.00 SILVER 1,08,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 72.06p0.64 Pained that Delhi, Bengal won’t benefit because of their governments: PM Modi Mr Modi said now every senior citizen of the country above the age of 70 years, irrespective of income conditions, whether poor or from the middle classes, will get free treatment in hospital, as per the scheme. They will be given Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for the scheme. P rime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday, launched the extension of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana (ABY) to cover all senior citizens above the age of 70 years across the country, except Delhi and West Bengal, to allow them to avail free hospital treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. Launching the extension of the scheme at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) here on Dhanvantri Day, Mr Modi, however, said he was pained to point out that the extension of the scheme won't apply to Delhi and West Bengal as their governments “for their political interests” had not associated themselves with the scheme. The Prime Minister further said that he was making the announcement in Delhi, but wanted pardon from its senior citizens, as also from senior citizens of West Bengal, that the extension Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel and others during the foundation stone laying and inauguration of various projects related to the health sector, at All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi on Tuesday. n ANI of the milestone scheme would not bring any benefit to them. This is because the governments of the two states had kept themselves out of the Ayushman scheme, even when it meant almost committing an atrocity on their sick citizens, he said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 OCTOBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was not speaking for political reasons; he was not being allowed to “serve” the people of Bengal by its government. Mr Modi said now every senior citizen of the country above the age of 70 years, irrespec- it a victory of “manipulation” by the ruling BJP. In its response to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on the representations submitted to it by the party related to 26 Assembly constituencies, the ECI said “it categorically rejects all baseless allegations and apprehensions conveyed by Congress regarding all aspects of the electoral process in the recently concluded election to the state assembly of Haryana. Congress is persistently raising unfounded doubts on the core aspects of the Indian electoral process.” The Election Commission noted that such “frivolous and unfounded doubts” have the potential of creating turbulence when crucial steps like polling and counting are in live play, a time when both public and political parties’ anxiousness is peaking. In a letter to the Congress president, the EC said every step in the Haryana electoral process was flawless and conducted under the observation of Congress candidates or their agents. The Commission's response to the Congress, comprising 1,642 pages of evidence, detailed the continuous presence of authorised representatives of Congress candidates at all stages, including battery placement at the time of commissioning and throughout the polling and counting processes. Addressing Congress's concerns about the EVM battery display, the ECI clarified that the battery voltage and capacity are irrelevant to the EVMs' vote-counting functionality and integrity. The poll body dismissed any suggestion that battery levels could influence voting outcomes as preposterous. Citing 42 judgments from Constitutional Courts that have examined these matters and affirmed faith in EVMs, the ECI reiterated the robustness of India's electronic voting system, which has facilitated diverse political outcomes across elections. tive of income conditions, whether poor or from the middle classes, will get free treatment in hospital, as per the scheme. They will be given Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card for the scheme, he added. The Prime Minister said the scheme would SP SHARMA JAMMU, 29 OCTOBER don. Tragically, during a close encounter, Phantom sustained fatal injuries while attempting to protect the troops from a terrorist's assault. Phantom’s sacrifice serves as a reminder of the silent but critical contributions made by canine heroes in safeguarding the nation’s security. Senior officials paid tribute to Phantom’s supreme sacrifice while commending the troops’ swift and coordinated response. "Phantom’s bravery saved lives and was pivotal to the operation's success. His sacrifice will be remembered with honour," said the PRO, Defence, Jammu. Born in May 2020, Phantom was inducted into this area in August 2022, and since then, had been a vital part of multiple high-stakes missions. Phantom was trained in the Remount Veterinary Corps unit at Meerut. The operation unfolded early on Monday morning when terrorists launched a surprise ambush on an army convoy in the dense jungles of Battal. The terrorists aimed to disrupt peace during the Diwali season, as part of a broader strategy by Pakistan-sponsored outfits to counter the Army's dominance in the hinterland and higher reaches of the Pir Panjal ranges. With increased troop density and a strong counterinfiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC), the terrorists have shifted operations closer to the LoC, making desperate attempts at creating chaos, said a defence spokesman on Tues- prove a milestone scheme and ensure that senior citizens in the country live, without worry, with a healthy life, and with self-respect. If a senior member of the family has the Ayushman card, it will cut family expenditure, and reduce worries. The scheme will cover almost 6 crore individuals from 4.5 crore families. Of them, 1.78 crore are already covered by the scheme. Oppn MPs protest against Delhi board’s evidence in Waqf JPC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 OCTOBER Opposition members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 protested on Tuesday that the Delhi Waqf Board called to give evidence before the committee did not have approval of the Delhi government to give evidence. The JPC had met to hear the Delhi Waqf Board and the Ministry of Minority Affairs officials on the controversial provisions of the Bill. The Opposition MPs said the permission to allow the Delhi Waqf Board to give presentations, without any approval from the government of Delhi, was illegal. They said the Waqf Board is under the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Ministry is working under an elected government. Assault dog ‘Phantom’ killed in line of duty in J&K counter-terror operation ‘Phantom’, a Belgian Malinois assault dog of the Indian Army, played a crucial role in tracking down three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists before sacrificing its life in the counter-terror operation that ended near here this morning after a 24-hour gunfight that resulted in the elimination of all three terrorists. The heroic performance of the 4-year old Phantom that ensured the success of a high-stakes counterambush operation at Battal in the border area of Akhnoor has become a talking point among the soldiers. Phantom, a highly trained sniffer dog, played a crucial role in tracking the terrorists’ trail amidst the challenging jungle terrain. As the operation progressed, Phantom detected hidden explosives and identified potential escape routes, enabling troops to tighten the cor- P12 PM rolls out Ayushman health cover for all 70-plus citizens ECI rejects Congress’ allegation over irregularities in Haryana polls; calls them ‘baseless, misplaced’ The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday rejected the Congress party’s allegations of irregularities in the electoral processes of the recently concluded Haryana Assembly elections, and said the party is persistently raising “unfounded doubts” on the “core” aspects of the Indian electoral process. After the declaration of the results of the Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir on 8 October, a delegation of the Congress including senior party leaders KC Venugopal, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, and Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Wednesday met the Election Commission (EC) and alleged manipulation in EVMs in Haryana. The Congress had rejected the outcome of the Haryana Assembly elections and called PACER HARSHIT RANA CALLED UP FOR THIRD TEST AGAINST NZ P5 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 OCTOBER Min. 49 % Max: 35.8 °C (+5) SUN RISES 06:32 hrs MOON RISES 05:20 hrs JAPAN'S CRISIS day. Reacting swiftly, troops engaged the terrorists, pushing them back into the dense forest. Reinforcements, including special forces and a mechanised column conducting training nearby, were deployed to reinforce the cordon. All three heavily armed Pakistani terrorists were killed in the 24-hour encounter. One terrorist was killed on Monday and the other two trapped were eliminated this morning when the firefight resumed. Phantom's actions were critical in ensuring the containment of the terrorists, said the spokesperson. The operation, supported by advanced technology including drones, ordnancedropping devices, and night surveillance equipment, successfully neutralised the terror threat, preventing any escape and ensuring no casualties among troops, said the spokesperson. Therefore, any report submitted by the Waqf Board needs to get approval from the government, which the CEO of the Delhi Waqf Board ignored. After consultation with the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, the JPC had agreed to hear views and suggestions of the Delhi Waqf Board without any approval from the Delhi government. On Monday also, the Opposition MPs alleging biased proceedings, staged a walkout from the JPC chaired by Mr Jagdambika Pal. They alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner and Delhi Waqf Board CEO Ashwini Kumar had “completely altered” the initial report of the Waqf Board and claimed the Chief Minister's approval in the matter was not sought. Opposition MPs later rejoined the JPC meeting. India-China border: Disengagement progresses in Ladakh PARWINDER SANDHU NEW DELHI, 29 OCTOBER The disengagement process between Indian and Chinese troops in the contested regions of Depsang and Demchok is anticipated to be completed soon, according to defence sources. This development, which began last week, came after a series of talks that led to an agreement for both sides to withdraw to their positions held prior to April 2020. As part of the accord, both nations will resume patrolling with a set number of personnel designated for coordination, aimed at minimising miscommunication and preventing confrontations. Sources indicated that patrol units will notify each other prior to their movements to avoid potential face-offs, ensuring that surveillance in the area remains effective. The agreed patrolling points will revert to the locations traditionally used before April 2020. However, it is important to note that this agreement pertains solely to the disengagement of troops, not their de-induction. “For now, we are focusing on disengagement. We will return to our respective areas and observe, after which we can discuss troop de-induction,” a source clarified. On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had announced that a consensus has been reached regarding patrolling and disengagement in the Depsang and Demchok areas. "It’s clear that implementing this will take time. This process involves disengaging our armies, which had come very close to each other, and returning them to their bases. We hope to restore the status quo from 2020," he had stated. He emphasized that the completion of disengagement is just the first step. The subsequent phase involves de-escalation, which cannot proceed until India is assured that similar actions are occurring on the Chinese side. "Once de-escalation is achieved, we will discuss how to effectively manage the borders," he added. Notably, India and China’s bilateral relations soured significantly following the events of 15 June 2020, when 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives while repelling a Chinese offensive. The violent clash, which occurred in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh, also resulted in an unknown number of casualties among Chinese troops during intense handto-hand combat. PM hands over appointment letters for government jobs to 51,000 youth STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 OCTOBER Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday distributed more appointment letters to more than 51,000 youth in government departments and organisations via video conferencing at a 'Rozgar Mela', reflecting his regime's commitment to prioritising employment generation. Addressing a function on the occasion, he noted the auspicious occasion of 'Dhanteras' and conveyed his best wishes on the occasion. The 'Rozgar Mela' is being organised at 40 locations across the country with new recruits joining the central government across various ministries and departments such as the Department of Revenue, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare among others. Underlining that this year’s Diwali would be a special one, the PM said that it is the first Diwali after Lord Shri Ram was seated in his magnificent temple in Ayodhya after 500 years. He said that several generations have waited for this Diwali, while many have sacrificed their lives for it or faced adversities. Mr Modi emphasised that the present generation is extremely fortunate to witness and become a part of such celebrations. In this atmosphere of festivity, the PM said, 51,000 youth are being handed out recruitment letters for government jobs. He congratulated the new recruits and conveyed his best wishes to them. He highlighted that offering permanent government jobs to lakhs of youths has been a legacy which is continuously going on. He added that lakhs of youths were handed appointment letters even in the states being governed by the BJP and its NDA allies. Mr Modi emphasised that in Haryana there is a festive atmosphere with 26,000 youths getting jobs by the newlyformed government . He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure that the youth of the country get maximum employment. Noting that the policies and decisions of the government have a direct impact on job creation, he highlighted the development of expressways, highways, roads, rail, ports, airports, laying of fiber cables, setting up of mobile towers and expansion of new industries in all parts of the country.