TUESDAY 15 APRIL 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 20 |` 5.00 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P5 SENSEX 75,157.26 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky with possibility of Rain or Thundershower very likely towards afternoon/ evening. NIFTY 22,828.55 ` vs $ 86.10 CM inaugurates Kalighat skywalk RELATIVE HUMIDITY Min. 35% TEMPERATURE Max: 35.2˚C (-0.5) Min: 27.4˚C (+1.8) SUN RISES 05:18 hrs MOON RISES 19:10 hrs P6 Estimated cost of the skywalk had been pegged at `80 cr RAINFALL: 0.0 mm Max. 91% 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 SUN SETS 17:56 hrs MOON SETS 05:45 hrs New Moon on 28 April THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 14 APRIL T 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.(See PG 3) 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, construction 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 – 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. P12 GOLD `96,700 PNB loan fraud case: Mehul Choksi held in Belgium 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 Kingdom. 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. SILVER `99,900 P20 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 65.77 PM slams Congress for appeasement politics STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE HISAR/YAMUNANAGAR, 14 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday reiterated his government's resolve to continue with the agenda of inclusive development and slammed the Congress for indulging in the politics of appeasement, noting that in 2013, just months before elections, the Congress amended the Waqf Act to appease its vote bank, elevating it above several Constitutional provisions. The Prime Minister criticised Congress for not implementing the Uniform 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. Prime Minister 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, women, and backward classes. He strongly criticised the Congress party for mistreating Dr Ambedkar, denying him electoral victories, and marginalising his legacy.