MONDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 | LC SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR AAP’s broom is falling apart before voting, says Modi BJP govt will be formed in Delhi on 8 Feb, says PM at an election rally NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 2 FEBRUARY P rime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched an all-out attack on the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Assembly elections, saying that the 'broom' (AAP's election symbol) is falling apart before voting, and exuded confidence that the BJP government will be formed in Delhi on 8 February (counting day). Addressing a massive public meeting in RK Puram here, Mr Modi mocked AAP's election symbol, saying: “Even before the elections, the broom ('Jhaadu') is falling apart. The leaders of AAP-da, by leaving it, have realised how angry the people on the ground are with AAP-da. The AAP-da party is so scared of the anger of the people of Delhi that it is making false announcements every hour.” “It is a different matter that the mask of AAP-da people has been exposed in front of the people of Delhi,” he said. “Jhaadu ke tinke bikhar rahe hai (broom straws are being scattered)”, Mr Modi said, referring to eight MLAs of the Aam Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated by BJP leaders during a public meeting ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, at RK Puram, New Delhi. n ANI Aadmi Party (AAP) who have resigned from the party recently. The Prime Minister also attacked the AAP government in Delhi for a series of scams and said AAP leaders would be held accountable - “Jinhone loota hai, unhe lautana hi padega” (The looters will have to pay back). Attacking AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, without naming him, PM Modi said those who live in “Sheesh Mahal” don’t WEATHER SMOG/MIST LIKELY IN THE NIGHT. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 22 AND 09 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98 % TEMPERATURE Trump puts tariffs on neighbours, China, presaging global trade war AGENCES WASHINGTON, 2 FEBRUARY Min. 54 % Max: 22.4 °C (+0.1) SUN RISES 07:08 hrs MOON RISES 10:42 hrs realise the importance of the middle classes’ 2 BHK flat and blamed the former chief minister for the delay in allotment of pucca houses to the poor in Delhi. Listing failures of the 'AAP-da government', PM Modi said it has given polluted air to Delhi, deteriorated the condition of the Yamuna, given contaminated water which is leading to ailments and forced people to spend on medicines. Hitting out at the AAP government in Delhi, the Prime Minister said: “AAPda has wasted 11 years of Delhi. I would request every family in Delhi to allow us to serve you. I guarantee that I will spare no effort to resolve every problem you have.” Asserting that the BJP government will be formed in Delhi on 8 February, the Prime Minister said: “8th March is International Women's Day, by 8th March, Rs 2,500 will start reaching the accounts of the sisters in Delhi." Mr Modi refuted the claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party and assured that it is the guarantee of the BJP that not a single slum in Delhi will be demolished and that the welfare schemes for the public will not be stopped. The Prime Minister highlighted that for those living in slums in the national capital, the BJP has guaranteed nutritious meals at just Rs 5. Slamming the Congress, he said as opposed to the previous governments in the national capital which imposed taxes only to fill their own coffers, the BJP government opened up the treasury to provide relief and enhance the capabilities of ordinary citizens. Min: 11.8 °C (+3.4) SUN SETS 18:02 hrs MOON SETS 23:16 hrs THUMBNAILS People take part in the 'Vintage Drive for Voter Awareness' rally organised by the New Delhi District Election Office to encourage voters to cast their vote in the Delhi Assembly election, on Sunday. n SNS (See page 3) Abhishek Sharma blazes second-fastest T20I century for India: India’s young batting sensation Abhishek Sharma smashed the second-fastest T20I century for India. The left-hander reached the three-figure mark in just 37 balls during the fifth and final T20I against England, here at the Wankhede Stadium. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an order to impose stiff tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, drawing swift retaliation from the country’s North American neighbours, and marking the start of a trade war that is expected to spread to other countries. The Trump administration has levied an additional tariff of 25 per cent on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent on those from China. Oil imports from Canada will, however, be subject to a lower levy of 10 per cent. Trump’s order includes a mechanism to escalate the rates charged by the USA against retaliation by the other countries, raising the specter of an even more severe economic disruption. The inflow of “illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, constitutes a national emergency”, the White House said in a factsheet detailing and explaining the tariff hikes. “President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country,” it added. This is expected to be just the first salvo in President Trump’s promise to use tariffs to address trade and non-trade issues with key trading partners. He has plans of announcing tariff hikes on computer chips, pharmaceuticals, steel, aluminium, copper, oil and gas imports later this month, with the EU in his crosshairs. The Republican president posted on social media that the tariffs were necessary “to protect Americans,” pressing the three nations to do more to curb the manufacture and export of illicit fentanyl and for Canada and Mexico to reduce illegal immigration into the USA. “The orders make clear that the flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States, through illicit distribution networks, has created a national emergency, including a public health crisis,” the White House fact sheet said. “The actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a somber tone as he announced that his country would put matching 25 per cent tariffs on up to $155 billion in US imports, including alcohol and fruit. Mahakumbh’s 3rd Amrit Snan: One-way route for devotees and ‘Operation Eleven’ for crowd control AGENCIES MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, 2 FEBRUARY Enhanced security at key locations A PAC unit, under the leadership of an additional A special crowd management gazetted officer, will be plan, ‘Operation Eleven', has deployed to control traffic been put in place for the from Naini towards Sangam. Amrit Snan on Basant PanSpecial surveillance on chami at Mahakumbh. The Shastri Setu initiative has been launched A company of PAC and a under the strict directives of gazetted officer have been Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath specially deployed to control to ensure the safety and con- the traffic from Jhunsi towards venience of devotees. Sangam. To manage the massive Crowd control at Tikarmafi influx of pilgrims, a one-way Turn route system has been A CAPF unit, under the designed, preventing con- leadership of a gazetted officer, gestion and ensuring smooth has been stationed at Tikarmovement. Special arrange- mafi Turn. Traffic from Jhunsi ments have also been made towards Tikarmafi Turn will on pontoon bridges to ensure be diverted through Katka that devotees do not face any Tiraha, Jiraph Crossing, Chhatinconvenience while cross- nag Turn, and Samudrakup ing. Turn. Operation Eleven: Special Special arrangements at crowd management plan for Phaphamau and Pontoon Mahakumbh bridges Strict Implementation of At Phaphamau Bridge and One-Way Route Pontoon bridges, two motorOn Basant Panchami Amrit cycle patrol teams will monitor Snan, a one-way traffic system the movement, while PAC will be strictly enforced. personnel will manage crowd flow at entry and exit points. PAC have been deployed Special arrangements at under the leadership of railway stations and bus ter- gazetted officers for diversion minals at Medical College intersection PAC has been deployed and Balsan intersection. There here under the leadership of will be diversion from Balsan a gazetted officer. Strong bar- via Bakshi Dam towards Nagricading has been set up at vasuki area. . entry and exit points, and in Additional security and coordination with railway traffic measures authorities, train frequency Additional police and traffic is being increased to accom- police have been deployed modate the rush of pilgrims. at Andawa and Sahso interBus operations plan for sections. Nine motorcycle Jhunsi area squads will keep constant vigil here. Cranes will be staA temporary bus station tioned to handle emergenat Saraswati Dwar will facilitate cies. bus services to Gorakhpur Deployment of additional and Varanasi. Sufficient num- security forces ber of reserved buses will be For the third Amrit Snan, parked in Jhunsi at night. two companies of RAF and 8. Special security at Prayag three companies of PAC will Junction be deployed. Gazetted officers Police and two companies will be monitoring sensitive of PAC have been deployed places. 56 Quick Response under the leadership of three Teams (QRTs) and 15 motorDeputy Superintendents of cycle patrol squads will ensure Police. effective patrolling. CAPF Crowd management at and PAC will be stationed at GT Jawahar and Harshvardhan major checkpoints and diversquares sion points to maintain order. Adequate police force and More reports on page 04 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875