WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR BRS FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST T’GANA CM REVANTH REDDY SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS P9 SENSEX 75,901.41p535.23 P4 NIFTY 22,957.25p128.10 ` vs $ 86.57 BUMRAH HONOURED WITH SIR GARFIELD SOBERS AWARD BUDGET IMPERATIVES P6 P12 SILVER 1,04,000 GOLD 82,740.00 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.70p0.62 India lodges strong protest with Lanka Chief Minister Mamata inaugurates 48th Kolkata International Book Fair ECI asks Kejri to substantiate ‘water supply poisoning’ claim STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY After Sri Lankan Navy opened fire on Indian fishermen, injuring two KOLKATA, 28 JANUARY NEW DELHI, 28 JANUARY Max. 88% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the 48th edition of the Kolkata International Book Fair (KIBF) and said in the digital age it is absolutely necessary to enhance our love for books. The KIBF is being held at the Boimela Prangan in Salt Lake. It will continue till 9 February. The theme country for this year’s book fair is Germany. "An old tree may have witnessed so many events, but it cannot speak. But books can talk to the readers and they are the permanent companion," she said. Calling the KIBF the biggest event involving books in the country, she said book lovers will get an ample opportunity to see books and buy them. “No house is complete without book shelves," she said. Three books penned by her were launched at the book fair. Miss Banerjee also launched a book written by former Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi, as well as Goyendapith Lalbazar, a book in Bengali penned by Mr Supratim, ADG South Bengal. Miss Banerjee said India''s long cherished philosophy of unity in diversity is the The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued notice to former chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in the wake of complaints filed by the BJP and Congress over his remarks on “poisoning” of Delhi’s water supply. The poll panel asked Mr Kejriwal to provide factual evidence to substantiate his allegations that the Yamuna was poisoned by the neighbouring Haryana state; the nature and extent of the chemical used for poisoning the Yamuna that would have killed people in large numbers resulting in mass genocide; and that the engineers of Delhi Jal Board have actually detected and prevented it in time, much before it could mix with the waters of the Yamuna in Delhi. The ECI directed Mr Kejriwal to furnish his response on the complaints, especially on the factual and legal matrix along with evidentiary support thereof by 8 p.m. on 29 January. Notably, both BJP and Congress complained to the ECI against Mr Kejriwal for making serious false allegations on Monday. WEATHER Partly cloudy. Hazy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 27°C and 19°C respectively. Min. 77% TEMPERATURE Max: 27.2˚C SUN RISES 06:16 hrs MOON RISES 06:09 hrs NEW DELHI, 28 JANUARY Min: 19.3˚C SUN SETS 17:23 hrs MOON SETS 17:13 hrs I New Moon on 29 January THUMBNAILS Farmers carry harvested cauliflowers wrapped in cloth on their heads, in Jammu on Tuesday. n ANI Seven killed in religious programme in UP: At least seven devotees were killed and more than 75 injured when the stairs of a 65 feet high stage collapsed during the Nirvana Laddu Festival of the Jain community in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat on Tuesday morning. Officials said that the death toll could increase and there are several police personnel among the injured.The accident took place in Barot tehsil, 20 km from Baghpat city. ndia on Tuesday lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over an incident of firing by the Sri Lankan Navy during the apprehension of 13 Indian fishermen in the vicinity of Delft Island in the early hours of this morning. The Ministry of External Affairs said Sri Lanka's acting High Commissioner, Priyanga Wickramasinghe, was called in to the foreign office to lodge the protest. “Our High Commission in Colombo has also raised the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan government,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. In the incident, out of the 13 fishermen who were on board the fishing vessel, two sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Three other fishermen received minor injuries and have been treated for the same. Indian Consulate offi- cials in Jaffna have visited the injured fishermen at the hospital to ensure their welfare and are extending all possible assistance to the fishermen and their families. “The Government of India has always emphasised the need to treat issues pertaining to fishermen in a humane and humanitarian manner, keeping in mind livelihood concerns. The use of force is not acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever. Existing understandings between the two Governments in this regard must be strictly observed,” the MEA said. The detained fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram and Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, were taken to Jaffna, where they are expected to face judicial proceedings. Their mechanised fishing boat was also seized. The total number of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by Sri Lankan authorities in the last three days now stands at 47, with three high-value mechanised boats also confiscated. Since June 2024, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained 425 Tamil Nadu fishermen and also seized 58 fishing boats. India leading way as world shifts towards sustainability: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 28 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday emphasised on sustainability, a green future and building a robust supply and value chain to overcome global volatility. Inaugurating the Utkarsh ISRO ready for 100th launch from Sriharikota AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 28 JANUARY ISRO is ready to make its 100th rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on 29 January. The GSLV F15 will lift off from the second launch pad at 6:23 a.m. on 29 January, carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite. This will be the 100th launch to lift off from Sriharikota. The Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) was the first big rocket to lift off from Sriharikota on 10 August 1979. “Standing tall and ready for the skies! Here’s the mighty GSLV-F15 all set to launch the NVS-02 satellite,” ISRO shared in a post on social media platform X. GSLV-F15 is the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th flight with an indigenous cryo stage. “It is the 8th operational flight of GSLV with an indigenous Cryogenic stage and 100th Launch from India’s Spaceport Sriharikota,” the space agency said. GSLV-F15 payload fairing is a metallic version with a diameter of 3.4 metres and it will place NVS-02 satellite in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Odisha ~ Make in Odisha Conclave here on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the world is shifting towards sustainability and a green future and India is leading the way with clean energy initiatives. He stressed on solar, wind and green hydrogen technologies which will be pivotal in ensuring energy security for a developed India with immense potential for green jobs emerging in the process. He also called for strengthening India’s supply chain to reduce dependence on fragmented and import-based systems. “We must build a robust, integrated supply and value chain to withstand global disruptions and ensure sustainable economic growth,” he said. Speaking on new age sectors, he encouraged private-sector investment in the green and circular economy, as well as sectors like healthcare and eventbased industries. The frequent arrests have sparked protests and demands for a long-term resolution to protect the livelihood of fishing communities. Former Union Minister and PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss has called on the government to take strong measures to safeguard the interests of the fishermen and prevent further detentions. India had raised the issue during Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake's visit to India, last month. However, despite these discussions, the arrests continue, prompting frustration and fear among fishermen. Recently, 41 Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy were repatriated to Chennai Airport. Among them, 35 fishermen from Ramanathapuram district had been arrested near Katchatheevu on 8 September 2024, for alleged cross-border fishing. Their release was secured following interventions by the Central and Tamil Nadu governments. (With agency inputs) nerd of the hour. “There are cultural differences and linguistic differences but the underlying unity is important and it is our responsibility to uphold this philosophy.” German Ambassador to India, Philip Ackermann, and the regional director of Goethe Institute, Maria Stuckenberg, were present at the inaugural ceremony. Well known novelist Abul Basar received the Guild Lifetime Literary Award. Miss Banerjee said every possible step has been taken to facilitate book-lovers. Around one thousand book stalls have been put up at the KIBF. Miss Banerjee said in 2024 books worth Rs 30 crore were sold and 27 lakh people had visited the fair. She expected the number to be higher this time.