FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR NEW TAX BILL IS A FACELIFT, NOT A FIX ACTOR GENE HACKMAN, WIFE AND DOG FOUND DEAD AT HOME P7 P9 SENSEX 74,612.43p10.31 WEATHER MIST LIKELY IN THE MORNING. GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. VERY LIGHT TO LIGHT RAIN ACCOMPAINED WITH THUNDERSTORM/ LIGHTNING. STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 20-30 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 23 AND 17 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 78% Min. 59% Max: 25.0 °C SUN RISES 06:46 hrs MOON RISES 07:33 hrs Min: 19.5 °C SUN SETS 18:21 hrs MOON SETS 18:48 hrs TEMPERATURE THUMBNAILS A view of the India Gate from Raisina Hills, in New Delhi on Thursday. n ANI SC declines to entertain objections to trial run of Bhopal gas toxic waste disposal: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court directive for a trial run to dispose of approximately 340 tonnes of toxic waste from Union Carbide. “Now the state government can proceed for trial run of the toxic waste in batches,” a government official said. NIFTY 22,545.05q2.50 BOWLING COACH MORNE MORKEL REJOINS TEAM INDIA RISKY BARGAIN P6 ` vs $ 87.21 GOLD 88,250.00 India a trusted friend and strategic ally: EU P12 SILVER 1,06,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 73.39p0.86 Ekta Ka Mahakumbh – The Dawn of a New Era EU delegation led by Ursula von der Leyen arrives in New Delhi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 27 FEBRUARY I ndia hopes to expand cooperation with the European Union (EU) in artificial intelligence and Indo-Pacific security, government sources said, as a delegation led by EU president Ursula von der Leyen and accompanied by the European Union College of Commissioners, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a two-day India visit. "Touchdown in Delhi with my team of Commissioners. In an era of conflicts and intense competition, you need trusted friends. For Europe, India is such a friend and a strategic ally. I'll discuss with Narendra Modi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level," the European Commission President posted on X after landing in the Indian capital. This is Ursula von der Leyen's third visit to India, having earlier visited the country for a bilateral official visit in April 2022, and later to attend the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in New Delhi on Thursday. n ANI G20 Leaders’ Summit in September 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the EU President have also met regularly on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Elevating the IndiaEuropean Union multifaceted partnership to new heights, this is the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners together to India and among the first such visits since the start of the mandate of the current European Commission in December 2024 after the European parliamentary elections held in June 2024. Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that discussions would focus on strengthening AI collaboration at both the bilateral and EU levels. The visit marks the first-ever visit of the EU College of Commissioners to India and their first collective visit outside Europe since taking office in December 2024. The President of the European Commission was received with a special welcome by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel at the airport. PM Modi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. The second ministerial meeting of the India–EU Trade and Technology Council and bilateral ministerial meetings between the European Commissioners and their Indian counterparts will also be held during the visit. "India and the European Union have been strategic partners since 2004 and their bilateral ties have expanded and deepened across a wide range of areas. "As the two sides enter the third decade of the strategic partnership, the visit of President von der Leyen and the EU College of Commissioners will pave the way for further strengthening of bilateral relations based on growing convergences," read a statement issued by the MEA ahead of the EU President's arrival. NARENDRA MODI The Mahakumbh has successfully concluded in the holy city of Prayagraj. A grandMahayajna of Unity has been completed. When the consciousness of a nation awakens, when it breaks free from the shackles of a centuries-old mindset of subjugation, it breathes freely in the fresh air of renewed energy. The result of this was witnessed at the Ekta Ka Mahakumbh (Mahakumbh of Unity)in Prayagraj since January 13. On January 22, 2024, during the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, I spoke about Devbhaktiand Deshbhakti -devotion to the divine and to the nation. During the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Gods and Goddesses, saints, women, children, youth, senior citizens and people from all walks of lifecame together.We witnessed the awakened consciousness of the nation. This was Ekta Ka Mahakumbh, where the sentiments of 140 crore Indians converged at the same place, at the same time, for this sacred occasion. In this holy region of Prayagraj isShringverpur, a sacred land of unity, harmony and love, where Prabhu Shri Ram and Nishadraj met. Their meeting symbolized the confluence of devotion and goodwill. Even today, Prayagraj inspires us with the same spirit. For 45 days, I witnessed crores of people from every corner of the country making their way to the Sangam. The wave of emotions at the confluence kept rising. Every devotee came with one purpose – taking a dip in the Sangam. The holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati filled every pilgrim with enthusiasm, energy, and confidence. This Mahakumbh in Prayagraj is a subject of study for modern management professionals, planning, and policy experts. Nowhere in the world is there any parallelor example of this scale. The world watched in wonder how crores of people gathered at Prayagraj at the banks of the confluence of rivers. These people had no formal invitations, no prior communication on when to go.Yet crores of people left for the Mahakumbh of their own accord andfelt the bliss of taking a dip in the sacred waters. I cannot forget those faces radiating immense joy and satisfaction after the holy dip. Women, elders, our Divyang brothers and sisters – everyone found a way to reach the Sangam. Itwas particularly heartening for me to see the overwhelming participation of India's youth. The presence of the younger generation at theMahakumbhsends a profound messagethat the youth (Turn to Page 2)
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