TUESDAY 15 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P5 SENSEX 75,157.26 Partly cloudy sky with possibility of Rain or Thundershower very likely towards afternoon/ evening. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 91% P4 NIFTY 22,828.55 WEATHER MARIO VARGAS LLOSA PUNJAB BRACE FOR KKR CHALLENGE AT DIES AT 89 HOME TELANGANA GOVT ALL SET TO HOST BHARAT SUMMIT KHARGE SLAMS PM MODI ` vs $ 86.10 P9 GOLD `96,700 TEMPERATURE SUN SETS 17:56 hrs MOON SETS 05:45 hrs New Moon on 28 April THUMBNAILS Children from the Dalit Community celebrate Dr BR Ambedkar's 135th birth anniversary, in Ajmer on Monday. nANI Waqf Act violence: An advocate has moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the violence in Murshidabad district of West Bengal during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The petitioner advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha has also urged the top court to seek an explanation from the West Bengal government and Union Home Ministry as to the failure of the law-and-order machinery in dealing with the violence and direct compensation and rehabilitation of the victims. Seeking measures to curb further escalation of violence, the petitioner advocate has sought direction to ensure protection of life and liberty of those currently affected. The petitioner has alleged that the situation reflects a pattern of lawlessness and communal targeting as seen in multiple previous instances of violence in the state.(See PG 3) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 14 APRIL T he much-awaited Kalighat Skywalk was inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday evening, a day ahead of Bengali New Year. With this the long wait for improved pedestrian connectivity to the iconic Kalighat Temple has come to an end. Despite its funding, construc- tion did not begin until 2022 because of reported disputes involving hawkers, land issues, and shifting utility lines. Though the Kolkata Municipal Corporation had initially promised to complete the project within eighteen months, these hurdles pushed the timeline to nearly three years. The chief minister, Mamata Banerjee said: “One shouldn’t play games with religion. Dharma means devotion, affection, humanity, peace, amity, culture, harmony, and unity. Loving human beings is one of the highest expressions of any religion. We are born alone and we die alone; so why the fight? Why the riots, war, or unrest? Remember, one can win everything if we love people. But if we isolate ourselves, we won't be able to win against anyone. If someone is attacked – whether they are ignored, oppressed, deprived, marginalised, or from any religion PM slams Congress for appeasement politics HISAR/YAMUNANAGAR, 14 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday reiterated his government's resolve to continue with the agenda of inclusive developmentandslammedtheCongressforindulginginthepolitics BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 65.77 PNB loan fraud case: Mehul Choksi held in Belgium The estimated cost of the skywalk had been pegged at `80 crore Min. 35% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILVER `99,900 CM Mamata inaugurates Kalighat skywalk Max: 35.2˚C (-0.5) Min: 27.4˚C (+1.8) SUN RISES 05:18 hrs MOON RISES 19:10 hrs P12 of appeasement, noting that in 2013,justmonthsbeforeelections, the Congress amended the Waqf Act to appease its vote bank, elevating it above several Constitutional provisions. The PrimeMinistercriticisedCongress fornotimplementingtheUniform Civil Code and for misusing the Waqf Act for appeasement politics. He alleged that land mafias misused Waqf lands meant for poor Muslim communities, especially Pasmanda Muslims. He hailed recent amendments to the Waqf Act that prevent tribal land exploitation and ensure equitable access for the underprivileged. Modi emphasised Dr Ambedkar’s life and ideals as central to the government’s 11-year journey, stating that their governance is rooted in empowering marginalised communities – the poor, tribal groups, and backward classes. Gas meters to undergo testing, verification & stamping before use in trade & commerce STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 APRIL The Department of Consumer Affairs has taken a significant step towards strengthening consumer protection, promoting fair trade practices, and ensuring accurate gas usage measurement by framing draft rules for Gas Meters under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011. These rules make it mandatory for all gas meters used for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes to undergo testing, verification, and stamping before their use in trade and commerce. The re-verification of these gas meters is also prescribed under the rules to ensure their correctness when they are in use. The draft rules by the ministry said the verified and stamped gas meters will prevent overcharging or under-measurement, reduce disputes, and provide guaranteed protection to consumers against faulty or manipulated devices. – we stand by everyone.” Mamata reiterated that democracy has the right to hold protests. “Everyone has the right to hold peaceful protests with permission. But I appeal to everyone – irrespective of who they are – not to take law into their hands. We have custodians of the law; we do not need those who operate outside it. This is why I request that when someone tries to incite you, do not fall for the trap. Those who keep their head calm amid all provocation are the real winners. That is a real victory…” The skywalk, Miss Banerjee claimed, would give access to the temple in a seamless manner, which is of 500 metre in length and 10 metre in width. The height of the skywalk is 16.5 metre. Elaborating further, the chief minister said that there would be five gates to enter the skywalk but there would be two main entrances to get access. The estimated cost of the skywalk had been pegged at Rs 80 crore. Mamata added: “The main features of this skywalk are that it is 435 metres long and 10.5 metres wide. It consists of 2 escalators, 3 lifts, and 3 stairs. The main entrance and exit are through SP Mukherjee Road, Hazra Road, and Kalighat Road. People can enter through three places. This will ease traffic, and people can visit the international pilgrimage site, the Sati Peeth, easily. The whole area has been decorated with lights through extensive planning. We have set up a refugee hawkers’ corner as well. We have made it air-conditioned as per their demands. Shops have been set up in the skywalk for devotees..." AGRAJ PRATAP SINGH NEW DELHI, 14 APRIL Mehul Choksi, the diamond businessman wanted in an alleged Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been arrested in Belgium following an extradition request from the Indian agencies, sources said. Choksi's extradition was sought for his alleged involvement defrauding the PNB of over Rs 13,000 crore. He is wanted by Central probe agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED). Choksi, who has been absconding from the country for several years after the bank fraud case surfaced, was located and apprehended on Saturday by Belgian authorities. It is being said that he had taken refuge in a foreign country on the pretext of medical treatment. The diamond merchant is now expected to seek legal remedies against his extradition. Choksi has been living abroad with his wife while his nephew, Nirav Modi, a co-accused in the case who is also awaiting extradition from London, United King- dom. Both of them had reportedly fled the country in the face of a huge scam way back in 2018. Choksi's departure from the country days before the scam unfolded added to the suspicion about his involvement in the case. Earlier, the CBI had approached the Interpol for a red corner notice (RCN) against Choksi in connection with the case. The ED has accused Choksi and his nephew of allegedly colluding with the employees of the bank to avail of illegal advances against the payments to suppliers of jewels before allegedly diverting the amount to themselves. However, both the accused have denied allegations. Meanwhile, speaking to a news agency, his advocate, Vijay Aggarwal, said, "My client Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium and at the moment, he is in custody. We will be starting the process of filing an appeal against this, and then, as a process of appeal, we will be requesting that he be pulled out of prison. The major ground for the plea is his ill health and that he is undergoing cancer," he added.