MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 | LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘IF CONG DOES NOT WANT MY SERVICE, I HAVE OTHER OPTIONS’ P4 WEATHER Generally clear. Hazy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 31 °C and 20 °C respectively. NEW DELHI, 23 FEBRUARY Min: 20.3˚C SUN SETS 17:37 hrs MOON SETS 13:49 hrs MASTERFUL RETURN TO FORM Virat Kohli’s innings in the Cham­ against Pa­ pions Trophy match kistan was replete with milest­ ones, as he continues to cem­ ent his legacy as one of the gre­ atest batters in cricket history. v Kohli surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the third­highest run­ getter in international cricket. v He became the third batter to reach 14,000 ODI runs, joining Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, and the fastest to get there, taking 287 innings. v Kohli holds the record for the most ODI centuries. His unbeaten 100 off 111 balls on Sunday was his 51st ODI hundred. v Kohli now has 27,503 runs at an average of 52.38 in 547 matches and 614 innings, with 82 centuries and 142 fifties and a top score of 254*. In ODIs, he has scored 14,085 runs at an average of 58.20, with 51 centuries and 73 fifties. V New Moon on 28 February THUMBNAILS People participate in the Patna marathon, in Patna on Sunday. n ANI AAP legislative party elects Atishi as LoP in the Delhi Assembly: Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai announced on Sunday that former chief minister Atishi has been elected leader of the legislative party, and hence will be the leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. He said a decision to this effect was taken unanimously by the legislative party at a meeting held here on Sunday. Dr Sandeep Pathak was present as the observer. irat Kohli returned to form in style with an unbeaten century to guide India to a sixwicket victory over archrivals Pakistan in a Group A clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Kohli remained not out on 100 runs off 111 balls as India chased down the 242-run target in 42.3 overs. India have now accumulated 4 points from two matches. India were handed a good start by skipper Rohit Sharma who seemed to be in fine knick before being outfoxed by an inswinging yorker from Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi. However, Kohli took charge of the innings and was involved in a 69-run partnership with Shubman Gill and a 114-run stand with Shreyas Iyer to put India on course to victory. The former India captain brought off the win in style with a boundary off Khushdil Shah. Earlier, India subdued a spirited fight from the Pakistan batters to skittle them out for 241 runs. A half-century by Saud Shakeel and his 104-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan were the highlights of the Pakistan innings with Khushdil Shah putting up a useful contribution lower down the order. Kuldeep Yadav was the most successful among the Indian bowlers with figures of 3-40. Pakistan started off on a positive note with openers Babar Azam and Imam- USAID funds flowed into economic projects in India in 2023-24: Finance Ministry report AGENCIES The assistance of $750 million provided by the US agency flowed into govt projects linked to food, agriculture, rural development, energy and the environment during 2023-24, according to the ministry. None of these projects are related to political funding in India NEW DELHI, 23 FEBRUARY While US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on USAID’s funding in India, the annual report of the Nirmala Sitharaman-headed Finance Ministry shows that the assistance of $750 million provided by the US agency flowed into government projects linked to food, agriculture, rural development, energy and the environment during 2023-24. None of these projects are related to political funding in India. “Currently, seven projects worth a total budget of $750 million (approx.) are being implemented by USAID in partnership with Government of India,” according to the Finance Ministry’s annual report for 2023-24. For the financial year 202324, an obligation of a total of $97 million (about Rs 825 crore) has been made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under P10 India thrash arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai thriller AJEYO BASU Min. 60% TEMPERATURE Max: 31.2˚C SUN RISES 06:01 hrs MOON RISES 03:06 hrs P8 the seven projects, the Finance Ministry report stated. The projects are related to agriculture and food security programmes, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), renewable energy, disaster management, and health. Besides, funds were committed to the Sustainable Forests and Climate Adaptation Programme and the Energy Efficiency Technology Commercialisation and Innovation Project, the annual report states. President Trump has triggered a controversy by accusing the Biden administration of using USAID to allocate $21 million for ‘voter turnout’ in India to influence the elections. Responding to the statement, External Affairs Minister S. Jasishankar said on Saturday: “Some information has been put out there by the Trump administration people, and obviously, that is concerning. I think, as a government, we're looking into it. My sense is that the facts will come out. USAID was allowed here in good faith, to do good faith activities; now, suggestions are being laid out from America that there are activities which are in bad faith. It's worrisome, and if there's something to it, then the country should know who the people are involved in it." The Congress has demanded a ‘White Paper’ on the funds received in India from developmental agencies and aid mechanisms. ul-Haq playing with intent. With the Pakistan batters settling down comfortably on a good batting surface and main strike pacer Mohammed Shami forced off the field with a leg injury, things were looking quite challenging for India. However, Pakistan suf- P12 Some leaders mock religion, engaged in dividing people: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 23 FEBRUARY has rejected both positions, maintaining that its stance is distinct from theirs. The document explains that the fascism of Mussolini and Hitler's era is classified as "classical fascism", whereas later manifestations are described as "neo-fascism". According to the new definition, classical fascism emerged from inter-imperialist con- tradictions, whereas neo-fascism is a product of the crisis of neo-liberalism. The draft political resolution has been made public ahead of the party congress scheduled for April in Madurai. Once released for discussion among party units and the general public, further modifications through additional notes are not customary. GAURAV CHANDRA BHOPAL, 23 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi charged on Sunday that some politicians in the country are still bogged down by a ‘slave mentality’ and consistently make fun of the Hindu religion and its progressive traditions, often with the support of foreign powers, in an attempt to divide the people and weaken the country. “Hindu aastha se nafrat karne wale aise log sadiyon se maujood hain. Gulami ki mansikta se ghire hue ye log hamare mann, siddhanto aur dharam pe hamla karte rahte hain aur hamare parvon aur paramparao ko gaali dete rahte hain,” the PM charged, hinting at the Congress and other opposition parties. “Jo dharam aur parampara STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE HYDERABAD, 23 FEBRUARY Rescuers are battling with a pile of silt over three metres high, as well as waterlogging, to reach the eight men trapped inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) near Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana since yesterday. Navy teams will also join the rescue efforts arriving at Srisailam by midnight. A rescue team that reached up to 50 metres from the accident site returned after a six-hourlong operation. Rescuers called out the names of those trapped but there was no response. The rescue team inched inside the tunnel up to a distance of 13.5 km. Videos and photographs of the tunnel where the tunnel boring machine was at work showed waterlogging and muck. The silt posed the greatest problem for the rescuers. After two days the situation looked grim for those trapped inside, said an official at the site, but added that “if While the CPI has referred to the Modi government as a fascist regime, the CPI (ML) had gone further, asserting that fascism has already arrived in India. The CPI-M, however, has rejected both positions. been a consolidation of political power in the hands of the BJP-RSS, and this is resulting in the manifestation of neo-fascist characteristics,” the document says. While the CPI has referred to the Modi government as a fascist regime, the CPI (ML) has gone further, asserting that fascism has already arrived in India. The CPI-M, however, fered their first blow when Babar nicked a Hardik Pandya outswinger to the wicketkeeper. Imam followed him back to the pavilion soon after when he attempted a suicidal single only to see an accurate throw from Axar Patel hit the stumps. With the Indian bowlers dominating proceedings, Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel were forced to play defensively and there was a period of eight consecutive overs without any boundary. But once the Pakistan batters settled down, both Rizwan and Saud started to take on the Indian bowlers. A couple of dropped catches did not help matters for India. But with Axar bowling Rizwan and Saud falling to a subtle change of pace by Pandya, India was soon back in the game. Salman Agha and Shah tried to bring the innings back on track with yet another partnership before Kuldeep Yadav sent back Agha and Shaheen Afridi in the 43rd over to give India the upper hand. swabhaav se hi pragatisheel hai, uss par ye log keechad uchalte hain. Hamare dharam aur samaj ko baantna aur hamari ekta ko ujaadna hi in logon ka agenda hai (Such people defame and malign the religion and traditions that are progressive by nature. The main agenda of such people is to divide our religion and society and destroy our unity),” the PM said. Prime Minister Modi was speaking after performing the bhoomi pujan of a Cancer Hospital and Medical Science and Research Centre being constructed by Hindu seer Dhirendra Shastri’s Shri Bageshwar Dham Jan Seva Samiti at the Bageshwar Dham in Garha village under Rajnagar Teshil of Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday afternoon. Tunnel rescue bid hampered by silt, waterlogging Modi government cannot be labelled as fascist: CPM document The CPI-M has apparently revised its position on the Modi government. The CPIM, in its draft political resolution, states that the Modi government cannot be labelled a fascist regime. The assessment in the document sent to state units explains that even though there are neo-fascist tendencies, the Modi government cannot be called a fascist government. “We have stated that the present political setup under the BJP-RSS is a Hindutva-corporate authoritarian regime which displays neo-fascistic characteristics. We are not saying that the Modi government is a fascist or neo-fascist government. Nor are we characterising the Indian State as a neofascist State. What we are pinpointing is that after ten years of continuous rule by the BJP, which is the political wing of the RSS, there has HARDIK CLAIMS HIS 200TH INT’L WICKET ACROSS FORMATS Virat Kohli scores unbeaten century to guide India to 6-wicket win in showpiece match RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 72% ‘AI DOWNLOADS IN INDIA SURPASS U.S, CHINA’ MUSK AND SOROS The new political approach confirms the Congress's accusation that the CPI-M has a soft approach towards the BJP and Modi. Meanwhile, CPI Kerala secretary Binoy Viswam said that the Modi government led by the RSS is a fascist government. “The Modi government led by the RSS is a fascist government. The RSS is a complete fascist organisation. The BJP government led by the RSS is also a fascist government. The CPI-M will have to change its stand,” Binoy Viswam said. there are any air pockets people may survive.” The rescue personnel were using drones to guide them and identify potential danger as well, and efforts were on to dewater the tunnel by engaging more pumps. A 300-member strong rescue team consisting of personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force, Singareni Collieries, and State Disaster Response were engaged to bring out the trapped men. The rescue team reached up to 10 km inside the tunnel with the help of the train that ferries workers and excavated materials. Then they traversed on foot. The rescue team reached about 50 meters from the spot of the mishap but piled-up muck and debris made it impossible to proceed further. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called and spoke to chief minister A Revanth Reddy about the mishap. In a conversation that lasted about 20 minutes, Mr Reddy updated him on the rescue effort. Telangana governor Jishnu Dev Varma spoke with the Nagarkurnool collector B Santosh and inquired about the ongoing rescue operations. State irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the SLBC project was conceived and sanctioned 35 years ago and work started 30 years ago. He said only 9 km of the 44 km tunnel remained to be completed. It would supply 30 tmc of irrigation water to the 4 lakh acres of fluoride affected and tribal populated areas of Nalgonda district. Mr Reddy said they will recover from this setback and complete the project. However, BRS handles on the ‘X’ posted an old video clip of former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao speaking in the Assembly about the difficulty posed by the design of the SLBC tunnel. Amidst Tamil Nadu CM Stalin’s criticism, Jaishankar praises NEP AGENCIES VARANASI, 23 FEBRUARY External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday said the New Education Policy (NEP) is a step in the direction of preparing the youth for the future technological challenges of the new world. The EAM’s praise for the NEP comes at a time when Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has opposed the policy, warning that it would regress the state by 2,000 years. Speaking at the Kashi Tamil Sangamamam 3.0 in Varanasi, Mr Jaishankar highlighted the government's efforts to develop talent with a focus on both tradition and technology, crediting the NEP for the strides taken by the country in areas like space, AI and drones. Today many universities have drone programmes, he said, showcasing the catalyst role played by NEP for nur- turing young talent and preparing them to reposition India as a global source of technology. The EAM said the Narendra Modi government is keen to get feedback from the public about its programmes, including schemes for startups, from people in interior parts of states, especially for women. “I will pass on the message to the people in charge to increase the messaging about Central programmes for the benefit of people in the interiors not only in Tamil Nadu but also in other parts of the coun- try,” he said. Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin reiterated that the state would reject the NEP even if the Union government offered financial incentives worth Rs 10,000 crore. Mr Stalin criticised the NEP’s three-language policy, accusing the Union government of attempting to impose Hindi on Tamils. He asserted that his administration would not tolerate any move that undermines the state’s identity or the prominence of the Tamil language. Highlighting disparities in language funding, the Chief Minister pointed out that despite Tamil being spoken by nearly eight crore people, the Central government had allocated only Rs 74 crore for its development. In contrast, Sanskrit, spoken by only a few thousand people, received a significantly higher allocation of Rs 1,488 crore.