TUESDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR HEMANT SOREN SLAMS CENTRE, CALLS FOR JHARKHAND’S RIGHTS KAVITHA QUESTIONS CASTE CENSUS DATA P4 SENSEX 77,186.74 q319.22 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Mist in the morning. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 27˚ C and 18˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95% P5 NIFTY 23,361.05 p121.10 ` vs $ 87.09 P9 GOLD 85,015.00 Max: 27.2˚C (+0.2) Min: 22.2˚C (+6.6) SUN RISES 06:15 hrs MOON RISES 09:26 hrs SUN SETS 17:26 hrs MOON SETS 22:22 hrs Full Moon on 12 February THUMBNAILS Devotees toss 'Gulal' on each other on the occasion of the 'Basant Panchami' festival, which marks the beginning of the 40-daylong Holi festival at Shri Banke Bihari Temple, in Vrindavan on Monday.n ANI Rajasthan introduces new Bill in Assembly to curb unlawful religious conversions: Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar introduced a bill in the state assembly here on Monday for legislating on a stringent anti conversion law for prohibiting unlawful and forcible religious conversions. Talking to reporters in the lobby of the state assembly complex Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joga Ram Patel said the the bill will offer effective deterrence against conversions by way of fear, promise deceit or by deceitfully luring for marriage with pressure conversion. This new law will have provision of stringent punishment of rigorous jail terms, Patel said. (See PG 5) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY T he high-octane campaigning for the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections which is witnessing a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP and Congress came to a close on Monday evening with top leaders of the three parties making a last-gasp effort to woo voters with the campaign turning into a direct fight between ‘Modi ki Guarantee’, ‘Kejriwal ki Guarantee’ and ‘Congress ki Guarantee, with all three parties offering freebies to woo voters. The end of the campaigning marked the commencement of a 48-hour silence period. The ruling AAP and rival BJP and the Congress engaged their star campaigners liberally with the pack being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP national president JP Nadda, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Chief Ministers of other BJP and Congress-ruled states. During the campaign, key leaders of the prominent political parties – the BJP, AAP, Congress, reached out to voters participating in public meetings and roadshows. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held massive public meetings in different parts of the city in support of the BJP candidates contesting the Delhi Assembly polls and came down heavily on the AAP government. The fierce campaign for the Delhi polls has been defined by an unprecedented use of AI-generated spoofs and memes, sharp political jibes, and high-decibel roadshows. On the final day of campaigning, the BJP organised 22 roadshows and rallies across Delhi while PM Modi issued a video on his interaction with students, as the party looked to end the AAP’s run of three successive electoral wins since 2013. Union Home Minister Amit Rahul criticises PM on China, jobs, economy STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY not between armies but between industrial systems. He said China's industrial system is far stronger and bigger than India's, which is why Beijing's army is daring to enter Indian territory. He added that Make In India has failed as India has failed to produce. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said "You will have to present the evidence of what you are speaking in the House." Taking a jibe at Prime Putin’s key aide meets President Murmu and VP Dhankhar NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslab Volodin, a close aide of President Vladimir Putin, on Monday held talks with President Droupadi Murmu and VicePresident jagdeep Dhankhar on a range of issues. Speaking to the Russian delegation led by Mt Volodin, President Murmu emphasised the need for regular exchanges between the two countries. Exchanges of this nature among public representatives not only foster stronger cooperation but also allow the partnership to remain contemporary and updated, she said. The President stated that the positive impact of regular contacts is also evident in the broader ‘India-Russia Special SILVER 99,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 76.75 High-octane campaign for Delhi polls ends TEMPERATURE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE P12 BJP, AAP, Cong leaders reached out to voters participating in public meetings & roadshows Min. 47% Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Monday drew serious objections from the ruling side when he spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invite to the US President's inaugural ceremony and about the presence of Chinese troops in India. Speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address last week, Gandhi said,'' The Prime Minister had denied that Chinese forces are inside our country but our armed forces continue to hold talks with the Chinese forces over their entry into our country. This is not a farce but a fact.” Gandhi thanked the Prime Minister, who was present during the whole speech of the LoP. He said wars are fought ABHISHEK DOWNPLAYS COMPETITION WITH GILL & JAISWAL GRAMMYS: BEYONCÉ WINS ALBUM OF THE YEAR and Privileged Strategic Partnership’, which continues to benefit significantly from the ongoing interaction at various levels. She also noted that at the leadership level, there is regular interaction between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin. The level of cooperation between parliaments has also been very good. She said that mechanisms like the InterParliamentary Commission have played an important role in facilitating cooperation. She emphasised on special attention to closer interaction between women and youth parliamentarians of India and Russia. The President shared with the delegation that she had inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair, where Russia is the Focus Country. Minister Modi, Rahul Gandhi remarked, "When we talk to the United States, we would not send our foreign minister to invite our Prime Minister to his coronation...Because if we had a production system and if we were working on these technologies, the American President would come here and invite the Prime Minister." Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said "You will have to present the evidence of what you are speaking in the House." Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected to LoP Gandhi's remarks on PM Modi over the inaugural ceremony of US President Donald Trump. Further, the Congress member said that neither the Congress-led UPA nor the BJP-led NDA has been able to tackle the problem of unemployment in the country. (See PG 5) LoP deliberately spoke falsehood in LS: EAM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday alleged that Rahul Gandhi ''deliberately spoke a falsehood'' about his visit to the United States in December 2024. ''I went to meet Secretary of State and NSA of the Biden Administration. Also to chair a gathering of our Consuls General. During my stay, the incoming NSAdesignate met with me,'' he wrote on 'X' soon after Mr Gandhi, while speaking in the Lok Sabha, claimed that PM had dispatched EAM to the US to secure an invitation for the swearing-in ceremony. Shah continued his relentless attack against AAP national chief Arvind Kejriwal on the final day of campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections, saying that the AAP chief has "committed a sin" by alleging that the Haryana government has 'poisoned' the Yamuna river. Shah addressed a massive crowd in the Bijwasan Assembly constituency, claiming that the AAP national convenor used to call himself the "son of Haryana," had now resorted to playing the blame game after failing to deliver on his promises to the people. "They have just committed a sin. Kejriwal said that the Haryana government is mixing poison in the water of Yamuna. Kejriwal used to call himself the son of Haryana, but now he has insulted Haryana. They could not purify the water themselves, hence they are blaming Haryana and insulting the people of Haryana," Shah told the people. Hours before the close of the election campaign, Kejriwal alleged a conspiracy to manipulate EVMs in the February 5 Assembly election, claiming that the rivals are planning to erase about 10 per cent of his party’s votes. Calling upon AAP supporters to vote in large numbers, Kejriwal said, in a video, “Every single party supporter should step out and vote on February 5.” Meanwhile, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Kasturba Nagar Vidhan Sabha along with Congress candidate from Kasturba Nagar Vidhan Sabha Abhishek Dutt. Mahakumbh stampede rocks Parliament STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY The Opposition raised a storm in both the houses of Parliament on Monday demanding a discussion on the recent Maha Kumbh stampede in Prayagraj. Protesting Opposition members staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha while in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla requested the members to let the House function in vain as the Opposition continued with the protest. When the lower house met for the first time after the President’s address to a joint sitting of both the houses of Parliament and presentation of the 2025-26 budget, the Opposition MPs, led by Congress, were on PM accuses AAP govt of prioritising its image over future of students STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY Ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with students here and lambasted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi over its education policy, accusing it of prioritising its image over the future of students. Modi hit out at the AAP government for allegedly holding back ‘weak’ Class 9 students from proceeding to the next class to safeguard its image. The Prime Minister alleged that the AAP government allows only those students to go beyond class nine who secure good marks to protect its own image. In a video featuring an interaction with a group of students, PM Modi shared the ‘dishonest practice’ of the AAP government of 'punishing' the weak students by not promoting them to Class 10. The Prime Minister, who held a free-wheeling interaction with Delhi students, said, "I have heard in Delhi, they ( the AAP government) do not allow children to go further after class 9. Only those children who are guaranteed to pass are allowed to go. Because if their result is bad, their government's reputation will be ruined. That is why very dishonest work is done." PM Modi, in the video released on social media, attacked the much-vaunted education model of the AAP government and raised questions about AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and his team 'playing with the future' of students, only to mislead the world with its self-boasted world class education model. The BJP, aiming to end 27 years drought in the power corridors of the capital, has been vying to lure low-income and middle-class voters by unveiling ambitious plans for free education from KG to PG. Ayodhya sets record as over 1 crore devotees visit holy city since 26 Jan STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AYODHYA, 3 FEBRUARY Ayodhya has set a new record with over one crore devotees visiting the holy city between January 26 and Basant Panchami (February 3). Amid vigilant administrative arrangements, devotees arriving in Ayodhya are filled with joy and devotion, chanting slogans in praise of Modi, Yogi, and Lord Shri Ram. On Basant Panchami, lakhs of devotees took sacred baths and offered prayers, further enriching the spiritual atmosphere. For the first time since Ramlala was enthroned in the grand temple, while Mahakumbh is being held in Prayagraj, Ayodhya is drawing pilgrims in droves. Anticipating the influx, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath deployed a dedicated team of officials to oversee the arrangements and ensure a seamless experience for devotees. Following a public meeting in Milkipur on February 2, the chief minister issued fresh instructions to officials to ensure that no devotee faces any difficulty. The sacred bathing ritual on Basant Panchami began at dawn and continued into the afternoon, accompanied by acts of charity and devotion. The devotees then proceeded to maths and temples for darshan, with queues stretching till late evening at Ram Temple and Hanuman Garhi. The Ram Temple remains the spiritual epicenter of Ayodhya, attracting around three lakh devotees daily. The temple trust has made elaborate arrangements to facilitate darshan, keeping the temple open for 18 hours a day. Simultaneously, Hanuman Garhi continues to witness a steady stream of devotees, reinforcing Ayodhya's deeprooted spiritual significance. The maths and temples of Ayodhya witnessed vibrant celebrations on Basant Panchami, as sadhus and saints joyfully played with colors, marking the festive spirit. As part of the rituals, abir and gulal were also applied to the deity seated in the sanctum sanctorum. Ramlala, the presiding deity, was adorned in new yellow garments, symbolizing the arrival of spring. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, gulal was applied to Ramlala, and priests exchanged it as prasad, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere. A variety of offerings, including kheer, puri, dry fruits, and fruits, were presented as part of the sacred rituals. While Prayagraj offers vast spaces for ritual baths, Ayo- dhya’s focus remains on Ramlala, drawing massive crowds to a concentrated area. Managing such a large gathering was a significant challenge, but effective administrative planning and strategy ensured smooth coordination. IG Praveen Kumar highlighted key measures implemented for crowd management, including road diversions, designated parking areas, and a substantial police deployment to maintain order. Entry to the fairgrounds was regulated based on safety protocols, ensuring a hassle-free experience for devotees. Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal affirmed that officers are monitoring the fair zone 24/7, with arrangements in place to accommodate 25,000 to 30,000 people. their feet demanding a discussion on the tragedy in Mahakumbh. Soon after the Lok Sabha met for the day, the Opposition members stormed into the well shouting slogans against the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for the mishap. They sought a complete list of those who died in the stampede, speculating that the number of casualties was much more than 30 as declared by the state government officially. Speaker Birla reprimanded the Opposition for indulging in sloganeering. "People of India elected you as MPs not for breaking tables, for sloganeering, and disturbing House proceedings, but to hold discussions," he told the members. Sonia Gandhi faces privilege motion over remark on President AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 3 FEBRUARY A group of Bharatiya Janata Party MPs on Monday moved a breach of parliamentary privilege notice against Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, alleging use of "derogatory and slanderous words" to describe President Droupadi Murmu as she addressed a joint session of Parliament last week. The comments, the MPs alleged, were meant to "lower the dignity of the highest office". "We write this with great dismay about certain unparliamentary, derogatory, and demeaning remarks recently made by Sonia Gandhi, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), against the President of India, which warrant serious consideration and disciplinary action," the notice said. "It is with deep concern we highlight this statement... which appears to demean the stature and dignity of the President of India, the highest Constitutional authority of our nation." "Such remarks not only undermine the dignity of the office but also violate the sanctity of parliamentary conventions," the BJP MPs said in their letter to Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar. Ms Gandhi's remark, they argued, "in no way get the benefit of parliamentary privileges", citing a Supreme Court judgement that said abuse of privilege by an MP was "difficult to digest". "Given the gravity of this issue, we humbly urge you to take cognisance and initiate appropriate disciplinary action against Sonia Gandhi," the BJP MPs wrote, calling for "exemplary action".