TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘WATER TO BE RELEASED FOR CAUVERY DELTA FROM METTUR DAM’ EAM HOLDS TALKS ON INDIA-EU TIES WITH STRATEGIC EXPERTS P8 SENSEX 82,059.42 q271.17 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. VERY LIGHT TO LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSTORM/LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 39 AND 28 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. P5 NIFTY 24,945.45 q74.35 ` vs $ 85.43 P9 GOLD `96,710 TEMPERATURE THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Icra projects India's GDP at 6.9 per cent for March quarter, 6.3 per cent for full fiscal: India's GDP is set to grow at 6.9 per cent in the quarter ended March 31, and at 6.3 per cent for the full 2024-25 fiscal, rating agency ICRA said on Monday. This undershoots the National Statistics Office (NSO) estimates made in February. Icra, in its note, projected the year-on-year (YoY) expansion of the GDP to rise to 6.9 per cent in Q4 FY 2025, from 6.2 per cent in Q3 FY 2025, significantly undershooting the NSO implicit estimate of 7.6 per cent for the quarter. T he US had no role to play in clinching a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and that the plea had come from Pakistan's Director-General of Military Operations to his counterpart in Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a parliamentary panel on Monday on crossborder security challenges post Operation Sindoor, sources said. The Foreign Secretary appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, to provide a comprehensive briefing on the Operation Sindoor and recent tensions between India and Pakistan. He clarified that Pakistan had reached out to India for a ceasefire after the precision strikes by the Indian armed forces hit Pak military installations, including a China-made missile defence system in Lahore and the strategically important Nur Khan air base. Foreign Secretary's clarifications that the US had no role in brokering India-Pak ceasefire assumes added significance as it comes amid persistent opposition parties' demand from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come clean on the repeated claims being bragged by US President Donald Trump that it was the US that brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, Donald Trump had last Wednesday claimed that he persuaded both India and Pakistan to "trade goods, not nuclear missiles." Crediting trade diplomacy to be the crux of the efforts for easing tensions, Mr Trump also praised leaders of both countries as “smart and strong." Seeking clarification from the government, the Congress had questioned: “What do the typically loquacious PM and EAM have to say about this revelation? Did they mortgage India’s security interests in the face of US pressure.” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had questioned in a post on social media handle X: “Americi Papa Ne War Rukwaa Di Kya? (Has the American Dad got the war stopped?)” However, the Ministry of External Affairs has since denied Rahul Gandhi intensifies criticism of Jaishankar, calls silence ‘damning’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY In a continuation of his recent criticism, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday renewed his attack on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, accusing him of serious lapses in handling national security. Mr Gandhi alleged, “EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning.” Reiterating a question he first raised two days earlier, Mr Gandhi said in a post on X, “EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling — it’s damning. So I’ll ask again: how many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan was forewarned? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth.” On Saturday, Mr Gandhi had accused Mr Jaishankar of committing a “crime” by allegedly informing Pakistan before an Indian airstrike. Supporting his claim, he posted a video clip via his WhatsApp channel in which Mr Jaishankar is heard saying: "At the start of the operation, we sent a message to Pakistan stating we were targeting terrorist infrastructure, not military assets. The military had the option to stand aside and not interfere." Asserting that the External Affairs Minister had openly admitted the Government of India had informed Pakistan, Mr Gandhi questioned, “Who authorised this? How many aircraft did our Air Force lose as a result?” The government, however, has strongly refuted these allegations, calling Mr Gandhi’s claims “misleading.” The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) clarified that the External Affairs Minister had made no such admission. Additionally, the PIB denied reports suggesting that Mr Jaishankar had claimed Chinese satellites had supported Pakistan during its military confrontation with India. Separately, the Ministry of Golden Temple protected: Indian Army foiled Pakistan’s ‘nefarious designs’ PARWINDER SANDHU NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Days after India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that Pakistan tried to target religious sites in India as part of its reaction to Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army today confirmed that it neutralised Pakistan’s multiple aerial attacks aiming at sensitive sites including the Golden Temple, in Amritsar. On Monday, the 15 Infantry Division held a live demonstration in Amritsar wherein a display of debris of Pakistan’s demolished missiles and drones were shown to the media. The aerial weapons were intercepted and neutralised by the Indian air defence systems. Along with the display of debris, a live demonstration of how the India’s air defence systems VP Dhankhar commends CJI for emphasising adherence to protocol He clarified that Pakistan had reached out to India for a ceasefire after the precision strikes by the Indian armed forces hit Pak military installations, including a China-made missile defence system in Lahore and the strategically important Nur Khan air base. Min: 28.7 °C (+2.2) SUN SETS 19:08 hrs MOON SETS 11:53 hrs A doe feeds milk to her babies inside their enclosure at Bikaner zoo on Monday. nANI BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 65.06 No nuclear signalling by Pakistan during recent conflict, says Foreign Secy Vikram Misri Min. 44 % Max: 40.8°C (+0.4) SUN RISES 05:28 hrs MOON RISES 01:20 hrs P12 SILVER `98,000 US had no role in India-Pak ceasefire: Misri to parl panel RAINFALL: 000.0 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 74 % RR FACE CSK IN BATTLE OF LAGGARDS ‘BIDEN DIAGNOSED WITH AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER’ including L-70 Air Defence Guns and AKASH missile systems, were used to neutralise aerial threats aimed at critical sites, were showcased. Later, speaking to the media, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, General Officer Commanding, 15 Infantry Division, revealed that among the other sites, Pakistan also tried to directly target the Golden Temple. “Knowing that the Pakistani army does not have any legitimate targets, we anticipated that they would target Indian military installations and civilian targets, including religious places. Of these, the Golden Temple appeared to be the most prominent. We mobilised additional modern air defence assets to give a holistic air defence umbrella cover to Golden Temple,” he said. "On 8th May early morning, in the hours of darkness, Pakistan carried out a massive air assault with unmanned aerial weapons, primarily drones and long-range missiles. We were fully prepared since we had anticipated this, and our braveheart and alert army air defence gunners thwarted Pakistan Army's nefarious designs and shot down all drones and missiles targeted at the Golden Temple. Thus, not allowing even a scratch to come on our holy Golden Temple," Seshadri said. External Affairs (MEA) described the allegations as a “misrepresentation of facts.” The External Publicity Division of the MEA clarified that the government had issued a warning to Pakistan “in the early phase following the commencement of Operation Sindoor,” not prior to its initiation. “We had warned Pakistan at the start, which refers to the early phase after Operation Sindoor’s commencement. This is being falsely portrayed as a pre-operation warning — a gross distortion of facts that must be called out,” the statement read. The controversy has taken on added significance in light of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strike following the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. that trade played any part and the discussions only focused on the military situation. Last Tuesday the Congress had also alleged that the Prime Minister had “deeply disappointed the nation” as he did not clarify the truth behind the US President's claim that it was the US that brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Claiming that the Prime Minister in his address to the nation last Monday “did not clarify so many things for which the country was waiting to know,” senior party leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, had also alleged: “The government has lost both, the moral courage and moral authority……. there was shock and surprise across the country over the sudden ceasefire which too was announced by the US President.” Mr Misri also pointed out that the allegations against External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of informing Pakistan before launching an airstrike were misrepresentations of facts and that he has been misquoted. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday appreciated Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice BR Gavai’s remarks emphasizing the importance of protocol, stating that he is "truly beholden" to the CJI for drawing attention to the issue, as he himself has been a "sufferer" of protocol breaches. “This morning, I was reminded of something very critical for the country— not for oneself, but for the system. What the present Chief Justice said is important: we must believe in protocol,” said Dhankhar. “The Chief Justice of India holds a high constitutional office, and protocol for that office is placed very high. When he raised this issue, it wasn’t personal—it was about the dignity of the India not a dharamshala to accommodate refugees from all over the world, says SC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea by a Sri Lankan national seeking protection from deportation after completing a seven-year jail term under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, bluntly stating that India is not a dharamshala meant to accommodate refugees from around the world. A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice K. Vinod Chandran refused to intervene in the Madras High Court’s order, which had directed the immediate deportation of the foreign national upon completion of his sentence. “Is India supposed to host refugees from all over the world? We are already strug- gling with a population of 140 crore. This is not a dharamshala where we can entertain foreign nationals from everywhere,” remarked Justice Datta, dismissing the plea. The Sri Lankan national, who had entered India on a visa, had completed his prison sentence but remained in detention for nearly three years following his release. He approached the Supreme Court seeking protection from deportation, citing a grave threat to his life if returned to Sri Lanka. The petitioner’s advocate argued that no formal deportation proceedings had been initiated even after the sentence was served and contended that the petitioner deserved refugee protection. The lawyer also informed the bench that the Sri Lankan national’s wife and children are already settled in India. However, the bench remained unmoved. “Go to some other country,” Justice Datta remarked while dismissing the plea for protection from deportation. SC raps minister for remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his "filthy, crass and shameful" remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who recently briefed the media following Operation Sindoor. The Court ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the FIR registered against him. Deriding Minister Shah’s comments and observing, “The nation is ashamed of you,” a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to constitute the SIT by May 20. The team must comprise three senior IPS officers of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, none of whom should be natives of the state. The Court further directed that at least one officer must be a woman, and that the SIT must be headed by an officer not below the rank of Inspector General (IG) or Director General of Police (DGP). While ordering the formation of the SIT, the Court remarked that this is a “litmus test” and added, “We want the State to submit the SIT report to us. We will maintain a very close watch.” Although the Court stayed Shah’s arrest for now, it emphasized that he must join and cooperate with the investigation. The bench clarified it would not monitor the probe directly but stated it would keep a close watch, directing the SIT to submit a status report by May 28. Rejecting Shah’s public apology as “insincere,” Justice Surya Kant, presiding over the bench, stated: “The nation is ashamed of you. Redemption is yours to seek. What kind of apology is this? Sometimes people apologise to wriggle out of legal liabilities. Sometimes they shed crocodile tears. What kind of apology is yours?” The bench continued: “What prevented you from making a sincere attempt? We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law. You have said, ‘if somebody is hurt’… You are not even ready to take responsibility.” Justice Kant further noted that as a seasoned politician and public functionary, Shah ought to have been more mindful of his words: “You made crass comments thoughtlessly. Sentiments of the people were ruthlessly hurt. You are fully exposed to the public. We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per law.” position he holds. I am confident this will be taken seriously by everyone,” Dhankhar said in a statement. “In a sense, I am also a sufferer. You often see photographs of the President and the Prime Minister, but rarely of the Vice President. Once I demit office, I will ensure that my successor is not similarly overlooked. I am truly grateful to the Chief Justice for bringing this to the attention of the bureaucracy. Adherence to protocol is fundamental,” he added. The Vice President was responding to Chief Justice Gavai’s recent remarks regarding protocol breaches. On Sunday, CJI Gavai expressed his disappointment over the absence of senior administrative officials to receive him at a felicitation ceremony in Mumbai. ED arrests former UCO Bank chairman in connection with bank fraud probe STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Subodh Kumar Goel, former chairman and managing director of UCO Bank, in connection with a bank fraud probe, the investigation agency said on Monday. He was taken into custody by ED’s Kolkata Zonal Office on May 16 from his residence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED said. Further, he was produced before a special PMLA court in Kolkata on May 17, and the court sent him to ED custody till May 21. An FIR was registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), based on which the ED has led the investigation. The FIR was regarding credit sanctions extended to Chhattisgarh-based company CSPL. These loans, amounting to Rs 6,210.72 crore in principal, were allegedly misused and siphoned off by the borrower group. The ED said that the credit facilities in question were approved during Goel’s leadership at Uco Bank. “ED investigation revealed that during the tenure of Subodh Kumar Goel as CMD of Uco Bank, large credit facilities were sanctioned to CSPL by Uco Bank, which were subsequently diverted and siphoned off by the borrower group. In turn, Subodh Kumar Goel received substantial illegal gratifications from CSPL,” it added. The agency claimed that Goel received illicit benefits in the form of cash, immovable properties, luxury items, and hotel bookings.