THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 | LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘INDIA WITNESSED TRANSFORMATIVE TELECOM REVOLUTION’ LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER P11 SENSEX 76,404.99p566.63 Generally clear. Cloudy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 29°C and 18°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY 23,155.35p130.70 ` vs $ 86.33 P6 GOLD 82,620.00 THUMBNAILS Sailors take part in the Sail India 2025 Senior National Championship conducted at the bay area of Marine Drive in Mumbai on Wednesday. n ANI CCEA approves MSP for raw jute for 202526 season: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute for marketing season 2025-26. The MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 grade) has been fixed at Rs.5,650/- per quintal for 2025-26 season. This would ensure a return of 66.8 percent over the all India weighted average cost of production. (Page 10) BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 76.90p0.09 This move comes after the West Bengal government also filed a petition seeking the death penalty, challenging the lower court's order of life imprisonment. C New Moon on 29 January hief Minister Mamata Banerjee today criticised the forest department for making decisions without consulting the state government, describing this as harmful to the interests of both people and tourists. During an administrative review meeting in Alipurduar, Miss Banerjee questioned the department's acting on its own, remarking: "Is the forest department outside of Bengal (Banglar baire)? Why are decisions being made that alienate people and tourists alike?" Miss Banerjee expressed her displeasure over unpopular measures, saying: “People don't know you (forest officials). We are accountable for these decisions. People dislike your actions, and that cannot continue." Miss Banerjee also directed that no decisions be taken without informing Chief Secretary Manoj Panth. In a major announcement, Miss Banerjee waived all entry fees for tourists visiting forest areas, including charges for vehicles and nature observation camps for students. She instructed the Chief Secretary to address the issue and ensure smooth implementation. The move came after reports revealed that tourists were being charged Rs 2,500 for vehicle use, and additional fees were being imposed for organising student camps at Jayanti in Alipurduar. The Chief Minister also criticised the language used in posters warning against poaching, which read: “Pacharkarider Guli Kore Mara Habe” (Poachers will be shot). She instructed officials to replace the aggressive tone with a legal warning. When informed that the posters were put up by Air Force authorities, Miss Banerjee asked the Chief Secretary to take up the matter, emphasising the need for coordination between agencies and the state government. Miss Banerjee addressed a series of complaints against the forest department, including strict restrictions on picnics, the use of old roads by forest villagers belonging to Adivasi community, and the denial of permissions for home-stay setups in forest areas. She urged officials to resolve these issues sensitively, keeping local sentiments and development in mind. Highlighting safety concerns, the chief minister instructed authorities to designate safe zones for picnics, away from potential wildlife threats like elephants, leopards, or tigers. Siliguri Mayor Goutam Deb raised concerns about the growing number of high-rise buildings in forest areas, which he said detracted from the region's natural beauty. Miss Banerjee directed local bodies to restrict such constructions and asked Zilla Parishad officials to report violations to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. She acknowledged that similar constructions in Lataguri, Jalpaiguri district, had already impacted the area's scenic charm. The Chief Minister also directed the tourism department to develop Lankapara, an area near Bhutan that has already emerged as a popular tourist destination in the Dooars. Jalgaon: 12 die as they jump from train amid fire rumour, get hit by another Access to judiciary has been weaponised: VP AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JALGAON, 22 JANUARY NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY Chaos erupted at Paranda railway station in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district following rumours of a fire on the Pushpak Express. In a desperate bid to save their lives, passengers began jumping off the train, only to be struck by the Karnataka Express travelling on an adjacent railway track, resulting in the death of at least 12 people. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. The Pushpak Express, en route from Lucknow to Mumbai, had come to a halt after passengers pulled the emergency chain. At the same time, the Karnataka Express, travelling from Manmad to Bhusawal, was approaching on the parallel track. Eyewitnesses say that the commotion started when sparks appeared from the wheels of the Pushpak Express as it halted near Paranda station. A rumour of a fire quickly Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said access to the judiciary has been weaponised in recent years, posing a great challenge to governance. Interacting with a batch of participants from the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), he said: “We have a fundamental right in the country, and the right is we can access the judiciary. It's a fundamental right. But in the last few decades, access to the judiciary has been weaponised. It has been weaponised, to another level, it is posing a great challenge to our governance, our democratic values”. He said: “Day in and day out, you'll find advisories emanating, executive functions being performed by bodies that have no jurisdiction or jurisprudential authority or competence to spread among passengers, leading to panic. Some passengers leapt from the train, right into the path of the Karnataka Express. Reports indicate that at least 12 people lost their lives, while 30 to 40 others sustained injuries in the tragic incident. A senior Jalgaon police officer confirmed the fatalities and injuries, stating: “Several passengers jumped off the train after rumours of a fire. Unfortunately, they were hit by the Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction." Railway authorities, including the Divisional Railway Manager of Bhusawal, along with medical teams and local administration, have reached the site to oversee rescue and relief efforts. Senior railway officials and state government teams are coordinating the response to ensure medical attention for the injured and to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is currently in Davos for the World Economic Forum, announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the families of the victims. BCCI to adhere to ICC guidelines on team’s Champions Trophy jerseys, says Saikia perform those actions. To put it in layman's language, a tehsildar can never record an FIR, how so very strongly he may feel. "Because our constitution ordains institutions to work within their own domain. Are they working? I'll answer for you, no.” The Vice President went on to say: “Institutions are yielding ground to other institutions, and that is being done out of expediency. These placatory mechanisms may result in short-term gain, but they cause incalculable spinal damage in the long run. And therefore I urge you, you have to think.” JD-U denies pulling support to Manipur govt PATNA, 22 JANUARY TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY Putting an end to the confusion around rumours of the BCCI refusing to have the name of the host nation, Pakistan, on the Indian cricket team’s jersey for the upcoming Champions Trophy, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Wednesday said the Indian team will adhere to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) directive in the tournament. According to protocol, the official logo of any ICC event will have the host country’s name. When Pakistan came to India in 2023 for the 50-over ICC World Cup, Babar Azam and Co duly sported the host country’s name on their jerseys as part of the tournament protocol. SILVER 1,04,000 Is forest dept outside Bengal, asks Mamata SILIGURI, 22 JANUARY Min: 18.3˚C SUN SETS 17:19 hrs MOON SETS 11:48 hrs P12 CBI moves HC seeking death penalty for Sanjay Roy STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 61 % TEMPERATURE Max: 29.5˚C SUN RISES 06:18 hrs MOON RISES 00:39 hrs P5 CM Banerjee waives all entry fees for tourists visiting forest areas WEATHER Max. 79 % NIFTY SHAMI 'STRONGER' AFTER INJURY LAY-OFF THE TOXIC WORKPLACE The Champions Trophy 2025 was scheduled to be held in Pakistan alone, but after India's refusal to travel to the country, Rohit Sharma and Co’s matches were shifted to Dubai. The decision also led to multiple media reports citing the BCCI’s reluctance to have the name ‘Pakistan’ written on the team kit. However, Saikia clarified that the Indian team and the cricket board will go by the ICC guidelines. “We’ll go by the ICC guidelines for the Champions Trophy 2025. We’ll follow whatever protocols are laid down for the logo of the team jersey and dress code for the Champions Trophy,” Mr Saikia told The Statesman on Wednesday. The BCCI secretary however, is yet to come clear on whether Rohit Sharma will visit Pakistan for the opening ceremony, expected to be held in Karachi, which will host the inaugural game on 19 February. The Champions Trophy kicks off with Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the lung opener. India will play all their matches in Dubai, starting with the three group stage matches ~ against Bangladesh (20 February), Pakistan (23 February), and New Zealand (2 March). If India qualify for the semi-final and the final, two additional matches will be played in the Dubai Stadium, including the final of the tournament. The leadership of Janata Dal (United) has overturned the move by its Manipur unit president to withdraw support from the N Biren Singh-led BJP government and removed the state JD(U) chief. In a letter to the Governor of Manipur, JD(U) Manipur President K Biren Singh on Wednesday had conveyed the party’s ‘decision’ to sever ties with the BJP government. The development set tongues wagging in Patna ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls scheduled later this year, but JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Rajan Prasad in the evening disowned the move. He said the Manipur party chief acted without consulting the central leadership, and that the JD(U) continues to support the Manipur government. SNS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 22 JANUARY The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today moved Calcutta High Court seeking capital punishment for Sanjay Roy, convicted in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case. This move comes after the West Bengal government also filed a petition seeking the death penalty, challenging the lower court's order of life imprisonment. During the hearing before a division bench comprising Justices Debangshu Basak and Sabbar Rashidi, the CBI also questioned the state government's right to file such a petition.The CBI argued that only the family of the deceased, the CBI, and the convict have the legal standing to challenge the Sealdah court's order. However,thestateAdvocate General, Kishore Datta, countered that since the family of the deceased had initially filed a complaint with the state police, and the state police had conducted the initial investigation before handing it over to the CBI, the state government has the right to file the petition. The division bench decided to hear the argument on the admissibility of the state’s government’s plea in the matter on 27 January. (See Page 3) Kejriwal calls middle class victims of 'tax terrorism'; puts 7 demands before Centre STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that the middle class is being troubled the most in the country and is a victim of "tax terrorism", claiming that 50 per cent of their household income goes to the government in the form of taxes. In a video address released on the AAP's official 'X' handle, he stated that presently most of the middle class households are facing a lot of difficulties in running their families, and due to such issues, every year they are leaving the country in sizable numbers. The AAP chief demanded that the next budget of the country be dedicated to the middle class. He put up seven demands before the Centre, that include an increase in the education budget from 2 per cent to 10 per cent, while calling for the capping of private school fees. He sought subsidies and scholarships for higher education, and further demanded an increase in the health budget. Mr Kejriwal demanded that tax (GST) should be removed from health insurance, and essential commodities and called for raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 7 lakh. He sought a strong retirement plan and pension schemes for senior citizens, as well as free medical services for senior citizens in all government and private hospitals across the country, and a 50 per cent concession in rail travel for them.