KOL 1 FINAL_PAGE 01 - Copy.qxd 14-01-2025 15:07 Page 1 TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR AMERICAN ROLE IN TARGETING INDIA GERMAN DIVIDE~II P6 SENSEX 76,330.01q1,048.90 WEATHER Generally clear. Cloudy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 27°C and 16°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 79 % Max: 27.2˚C SUN RISES 06:18hrs MOON RISES 17:37 hrs Min: 16.3˚C SUN SETS 17:34 hrs MOON SETS 06:29 hrs ` vs $ 86.50 THUMBNAILS Artists dressed in traditional attire perform during the Sankranti and Pongal celebrations, at Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy's residence in New Delhi on Monday. n ANI Retail inflation rate for December cools down to 4-month low at 5.22 pc: India’s retail inflation rate for December eases at 5.22 pc from 5.48 pc in November, data from the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said on Monday. The inflation has cooled slightly to a 4-month low. The retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in November, fell from a 14-month high of 6.21 pc in October. (Page 8) Expired saline death case: CID probe ordered In next three days the agency will have to submit their initial report hief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the case of death of a pregnant woman last week at state-run Medical College & Hospital in the state's West Midnapore district allegedly after being administered with 'expired' Ringer’s Lactate (RL) saline. In the next three days the agency will have to submit their initial report. It is learnt from sources from Nabanna that the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with state’s top officials, including health officials. Speaking to media persons at the state secretariat of Nabanna on Monday, chief secretary Manoj Pant said that from the sequence of events, it is evident that there was negligence on the part of the doctors attached to the hospital. The chief secretary also made it clear that the probe by CID in the matter will go on parallelly with the ongoing probe by the state health department appointed probe committee. The 13-member expert committee formed earlier to look into it has hinted at negligence of the doctors. "Strict action will be taken in the matter after the detailed report by the probe committee is available. I will not tol- erate any kind of negligence in the matter," the chief secretary said. “The alleged negligence was from the presence of a PGT, while a senior doctor was conspicuous by his absence, during the time of administering of RL, whose production was stopped. It was a serious violation of the SOP as no senior doctor was present, which should not have been the case,” Mr Pant added. PM inaugurates J&K’s Sonamarg tunnel, dedicates it to nation NEW DELHI, 13 JANUARY Saying that Jammu and Kashmir is regaining its identity as “Paradise on Earth”, leaving behind the difficult days of the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the strategic 6.4 kms long Sonamarg Tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh highway that is being seen as the first leg to provide all weather road connectivity between J&K and the Union Territory of Ladakh that borders with China and Pakistan. The tunnel has been built at a cost of more than Rs.2700 crore and bypasses the avalanche prone highway. The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Union Ministers of State, Dr. Jitendra Singh and Ajay Tamta were among those present on the occasion. Addressing a large gathering after dedicating the tunnel to the nation, Modi said GOLD 80,600.00 C Full Moon on 14 January SP SHARMA P4 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 13 JANUARY Min. 56 % TEMPERATURE NIFTY P7 23,085.95q345.55 “Jammu and Kashmir of the 21st century is scripting a new chapter of development”. There is an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the valley is scripting a new story of development. We are seeing its effect on tourism that is increasing with every passing year. The Prime Minister noted that people now enjoy ice cream at Lal Chowk even at night, and the area remains lively. He praised the local artists for transforming Polo View Market into a new habitat center, with musicians, artists, and singers frequently performing there. In an obvious reference to CM Omar Abdullah’s demand of restoration of J&K’s statehood, PM said “Modi is known for implementing his promises and all promises will be met at an appropriate time”. Acknowledging that it was truly the new era of Jammu and Kashmir, Modi mentioned the recent international cricket league held in the region after forty years and car racing scenes around the beautiful Dal Lake. He said that Gulmarg was becoming the winter games capital of India, having hosted four Khelo India Winter Games, with the fifth edition starting next month. Modi paid homage to the seven workers of the tunnel who were killed in a terrorist attack in October and said that the challenge was accepted by other workers and they have completed the tunnel well within time. The Sonamarg tunnel will make the lives of the people of Sonamarg as well as Kargil and Leh much easier. Modi said, “Two days ago, CM Omar Abdullah posted some pictures of this place on social media. After seeing those pictures, my eagerness to come here among you increased even more. As the Chief Minister has just told you, I have had a long association with all of you and whenever I come here, I start remembering the days when I used to work as a worker of the BJP. I have spent a lot of time in this REJUVENATED SINDHU, EYES COMEBACK AT INDIA OPEN 2025 ‘INDIA NOW AMONG TOP 25 GLOBAL ARMS EXPORTERS’ area. Be it Sonamarg, Gulmarg or Baramulla, we used to travel several kilometres on foot for hours and the snowfall used to be very heavy even then. But the warmth of the people of Jammu and Kashmir is such that we did not feel the cold”. A few days ago I got the opportunity to lay the foundation stone of your own railway division in Jammu. This was your very old demand. Today I have got the opportunity to hand over the Sonamarg Tunnel to the country, he said. The PM said “Jammu & Kashmir is now becoming a hub of tunnels and high-rise bridges. The world's tallest tunnel is being built here, and the world's tallest rail bridge has been built here on the Chenab. The whole world is amazed to see the engineering of the Chenab bridge. Just last week, the trial run of a passenger train was completed on this bridge”. Due to better connectivity, tourists will be able to reach areas of Jammu & Kashmir. The Chief secretary’s announcement to hand over the investigation to CID comes just hours after PILs were filed in Calcutta High Court in the matter. Last week, five pregnant women were critically admitted at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital after allegedly being administered expired saline. One of them, Mamoni Ruidas (25), died on Friday. The remaining four were under treatment at the same hospital. Three of them were shifted to state-run SSKM Medical College and Hospital in south Kolkata on Sunday night following sharp deterioration in their health conditions. The West Bengal Health Department has formed a 13-member inquiry committee to investigate how expired saline was administered to these patients. This incident has revived concerns over similar cases in the state’s healthcare system. P12 SILVER 1,02,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 80.68p0.92 India summons Bangladeshi diplomat amidst tensions over border issues NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 13 JANUARY India on Monday summoned Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner Md. Nural Islam and formally rejected Dhaka's charge that India was attempting to construct barbed wire fencing at five specific locations along the over 4000-KM long IndoBangladeshi border. The Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to the South Block here. After the meeting, it was conveyed that with regard to security measures at the border, including fencing, India observed all protocols and agreements between the two governments and between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh. "India reiterated its commitment to ensuring a crimefree border by effectively addressing the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking. Barbed wire fencing, border lighting, installation of technical devices and cattle fences are measures for securing the border," the MEA said in a statement. India conveyed its expectation that all earlier under- standings will be implemented by Bangladesh and that there will be a cooperative approach to combating cross-border crimes, it added. The Bangladesh Acting High Commissioner was summoned by the MEA, a day after Dhaka summoned Indian envoy Pranay Verma to express concern and raise ‘objections’ over fencing at the border. Amid deepening strain in ties between the two nations, the Indian diplomat was summoned by the foreign office in Dhaka on Sunday following allegations in the Bangladeshi media that India was attempting to construct barbed wire fencing at five specific locations along the over 4000-KM long IndoBangladeshi border. In a statement, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said Indian diplomat Verma was called to Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin's office over the “recent activities of of the Border Security Force (BSF)” along the IndoBangladesh border and told that New Delhi should avoid any “provocative actions that could escalate tensions along the shared border.” It said, “Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin on Sunday expressed the deep concern of the Government of Bangladesh to the High Commissioner of India Pranay Verma at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the recent activities of the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the Bangladesh-India Border.” During the meeting with the Indian diplomat, the Bangladesh foreign secretary called the fencing at the India-Bangladesh border “unauthorised” and stressed that such activities “have caused tensions and disturbances along the border.” People of India reaffirmed their trust in PM Modi: Ashwini Vaishnaw slams Zuckerberg AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 13 JANUARY Union IT and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday expressed "disappointment" over a recent claim made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking on Joe Rogan's podcast, Zuckerberg suggested that "incumbents basically lost every single election in 2024", making an indirect reference to India. Zuckerberg's comments on the podcast reflected his belief that there was a global decline in trust in governments following the Covid19 pandemic. He attributed this decline in public trust to factors such as inflation, economic policies related to the pandemic, and the general handling of Covid-19 by governments worldwide. In his view, this dissatisfaction contributed to the loss of incumbents in elections around the world. In response to Zuckerberg's remarks, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to the social media platform X to set the record straight, particularly with regard to India’s 2024 elections. He strongly contested Zuckerberg's claim, highlighting that the BJP-led NDA coalition's victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was "decisive" and demon- strated strong governance and public trust. Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote in his post: "As the world's largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People of India reaffirmed their trust in NDA led by PM @narendramodi Ji’s leadership." He further asserted: "Mr. Zuckerberg's claim that most incumbent governments, including India in 2024 elec- tions, lost post-COVID is factually incorrect." Ashwini Vaishnaw also highlighted several key achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including free food distribution to 800 million people, the administration of 2.2 billion free vaccines, and India's role in providing aid to other nations during the Covid-19 pandemic. "From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastestgrowing major economy, PM Modi's decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust," the Union Minister wrote. Ashwini Vaishnaw concluded his remarks with a call to uphold facts and credibility, stating: "It's disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let's uphold facts and credibility." 16 million take dip in Sangam on Paush Purnima Dragging your feet: Delhi HC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, 13 JANUARY On Paush Purnima, the first bathing festival of Mahakumbh, about 16 million devotees have taken a dip in the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati by 4 pm on Monday. If the claims of the fair administration are to be believed, by late evening the figure may cross 20 million. A government official here has claimed that 16 million devotees have taken a dip in the Sangam till 4 PM. Still a vast sea of devotees including students, youth as well as elders including women are reaching the Sangam bank for bathing. Extensive security arrangements have been made by the government. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have hailed the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj as the "Mahakumbh of Unity," a message that resonated widely on social media, with #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh trending during Paush Purnima Snan Parv on Monday, the opening day of Mahakumbh. Users started sharing posts with #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh, celebrating the event's spiritual and cultural significance on social media platforms X and Instagram actively right since morning. By afternoon, the hashtag topped trending charts, showcasing widespread public participation and the collective spirit of unity symbolised by this historic gathering. Thousands of users actively shared photos, videos, and information related to the event, sparking widespread engagement. Several hashtags emerged in these discussions, with #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh standing out as the most prominent one. By 3:30 pm, nearly 70,000 users had used the hashtag, sharing their experiences of the massive crowd, the Sangam Snan, and the deep spiritual significance of Sanatan faith. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also joined the conversation, and his use of the hashtag triggered a surge of responses, quickly propelling #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh to the top of the trending charts. The hashtag was further amplified by influential figures and institutions, including former Amethi MP and BJP leader Smriti Irani, the Government of India’s MyGovIndia handle, Namami Gange, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan, UP Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, and Minister Sandeep Singh.The overwhelming social media response aligns with the message of unity emphasised by Prime Minister Modi and CM Adityanath, who described the Mahakumbh as a "Mahakumbh of Unity." CM Adityanath recently reaffirmed in a press conference that those who question Sanatan faith should witness the Mahakumbh, emphasising that it transcends distinctions of caste, creed, and sect, bringing all together in the spirit of Sanatan harmony. Alongside #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh, several other hashtags trended throughout the day, capturing the spiritual fervor of the Mahakumbh. Hashtags such as #MahaKumbh2025, #PaushPurnima, #PavitraSangam, #PrathamAmrit, and #Sangam saw widespread engagement as social media users expressed their reverence for the sacred event. slams govt over auditor’s report AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 13 JANUARY The Delhi High Court on Monday criticised the Delhi Government for its delay in addressing the CAG reports, stating, "The way you have dragged your feet raises doubts about your bona fides." The court further emphasized, "You should have promptly forwarded the reports to the Speaker and initiated a discussion in the House." The bench of Justice Sachin Datta questioned the Delhi Government's handling of the CAG reports. “The timeline is clear; you've dragged your feet to prevent the session from happening." The court further remarked. "The delay in sending the reports to the LG and your handling of the matter raises doubts about your bona fides," it added. The court pointed out that the Delhi Government should have acted promptly in forwarding the reports to the Speaker. In response, the Delhi Government questioned how sessions could be held with elections approaching. The High Court will hear the matter in detail today itself after lunch. In the matter on the last date of hearing, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat informed the Court that tabling the CAG reports on city administration in the Assembly would serve no useful purpose, given that its tenure ends in February. The submission was made in response to a petition by seven BJP MLAs regarding the issue of tabling the CAG reports in the Assembly. Earlier, the Delhi High Court sought responses from the Delhi Government, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and other respondents regarding a petition filed by BJP MLAs. The petition called for the convening of a special session of the Assembly to present 14 CAG reports. The Delhi Government informed the Court that all 14 reports had been sent to the Speaker.