SATURDAY 06 APRIL 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘JUDICIARY’S CREDIBILITY AT STAKE’ PUTIN’S TRIUMPH P7 SENSEX 74,248.2220.59 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 25-35 KMPH) DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 36 & 19 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 69 % P4 GOLD 69,980490 ` vs $ 83.37 Enemy knows this is New India, says Modi Min: 20.2 °C (+1) SUN SETS 18:42 hrs MOON SETS 16:08 hrs THUMBNAILS A man drinks water to get respite from the heat in Bhubaneswar on Friday. ANI Prof Shoma Sen gets bail :The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Bhima Koregaon case accused Professor and women's rights activist Shoma Sen, in view of her advanced age and medical condition. Prof. Sen, a former head of department at Nagpur University, was in jail after being booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in connection with the 2018 caste-based violence that broke out at Bhima Koregaon in Pune, and for having alleged links with the banned outfit,Commu(Pg5) nist Party of India (Maoists). STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Congress governments never gave armed forces a free hand to retaliate and the enemy could leave after attack, but the enemy now knows “it is Modi, a New India, which will enter your home and punish you.” Addressing a large BJP election rally in Churu in Rajasthan, he said he had come to Churu on 26 February, 2019 when India had just undertaken the Balakot air strike and taught a lesson to terrorists. “I had said in Churu and am repeating it today saugandh mujhe is mitti ki, mein desh nahin mitne doonga, mein desh nahin rukne doonga, mein desh nahin jhukne doonga; mera vachan hai bharat ma ko, tera sheesh nahin jhukne doonga(I swear by my land, I will not let my country be destroyed, or slow down, or bend; I promise Mother Bharat, I will not let you down),” the Prime Minis- PM Narendra Modi addresses the crowd during a public meeting ahead of the LS elections, in Churu on Friday. ANI ter said. When the surgical strike took place, he said, what did the Congress and its allies say. Members of the Ghamandia coalition were seeking proof of the surgical strikes, he said. The Congress is just known for insult of the armed forces and Partition of the country, he said. As long as these INDI alliance people were in power, they did not give a free hand to the armed forces, he said. The jawans were waiting for One Rank One Pension; the Congress did not accept it and it was implemented by his government, he said. Over the national interest, the Congress gave preference to appeasement, he said. Mr Modi said these people said in court that Lord Ram is an imaginary figure. In the Ram Lalla consecration in Ayodhya, the whole nation was celebrating the Pran Pratishtha, and the Congress was making fun of people’s faith. The Congress has always paid a price for such acts. Now, it is learnt, the Congress has issued an advisory to its units to keep quiet on the Ayodhya issue, he said. The party is scared of even talking about Lord Ram. This country cannot accept this insult of people’s faith, the Prime Minister said. When these dynastic corrupt are being made to account for their corruption, they have formed a coalition, he said. “I say bhrashtachaar hatao, they say bhrashtachari bachao,” he said. Mr Modi asked “What should be done, should the country be free of the corrupt or not; has corruption not ruined the country, is it wrong to continue the campaign against the corrupt?” The crowds approved that the action should continue. The Ghamandia coalition members are not holding election rallies these days but rallies to save the corrupt persons, Mr Modi said. There was a recovery of Rs 300 crore from just one Congress MP. ED has seized property worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said. RBI MPC keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5per cent STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on Friday announced the policy rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. This was the first MPC meeting of the RBI for the Financial Year 2025, and this was the seventh consecutive time that the MPC decided to keep the repo rate unchanged. The MPC decided by 5 to 1 majority to keep the policy rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. The committee also decided to maintain the withdrawal of accommodation stance. “Since the last policy, the growth-inflation dynamics have played out favourably. Growth has continued to sustain its momentum surpassing all projections. Headline inflation has eased to 5.1 per cent during January and February 2024 from 5.7 per cent in December 2023, with core inflation declining steadily over the past nine months to its lowest level in the series,” he said. Further, the RBI kept Marginal Standing Facility rate and bank rate constant at 6.75 per cent while the Standing Deposit Facility rate ws constant at 6.25 per cent. The Governor said the CPI Inflation for the current year 2024-25 is projected at 4.5 per cent. CPI Inflation for Q1 202425 is projected at 4.9 per cent, Q2 at 3.8 per cent , Q3 at 4.6 per cent and Q4 at 4.5 per cent. The six-member MPC led by Governor Shaktikanta Das observed the impact of global headwinds on economic determinants such as India’s GDP growth and the inflation trajectory. “As the uncertainties in food prices continue to pose challenges, the MPC remains vigilant to the upside risks to inflation that might derail the path of disinflation. Under these circumstances, monetary policy must continue to SC stays HC order scrapping madrassa board in UP, relief to 1.3million students STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL Around 1.3 million students studying in madrassas of Uttar Pradesh will no longer have to search for other options this academic session after the Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court order scrapping the UP Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004. The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had on 22 March last declared the Madarsa Education Act unconstitutional. The apex court said that the high court's finding that the board violates the secular principle of the Constitution may not be correct. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has also issued a notice to the Central government and the Uttar Pradesh government in this matter and fixed the next date of hearing in the case in July. Stating that the High Court judgment striking down the UP 'Board of Madarsa Education Act 2004 would affect 17 lakh students, the court said that it is of the view that the direc- The Lucknow Bench of Allahabad HC had on 22 March last declared the Madarsa Education Act as unconstitutional tion for relocating the students to other schools was not warranted. On 22 March, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court had directed the state government to admit the students studying in madrassas of the state in other schools. “The object and purpose of Madarsa board is regulatory in nature and Allahabad High Court is not prima facie correct that establishment of the board will breach secularism. It (High Court judgement) conflates Madarsa education with the regulatory powers entrusted with the Board... The impugned judgment shall remain stayed.” The SC noted that the High Court appears to have misconstrued the provisions of the Madarsa Act, since it does not provide for religious instruction and the purpose and nature of the Act is regulatory in nature. On 22 March, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court had directed the state government to admit the students studying in madrassas of the state in other schools. The division bench of the high court comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi said in its order that the government does not have the power to constitute a board for religious education or to establish a school education board for any particular religion. Earlier, state officials said here that the children studying in the madrassas will be admitted to government-run primary and secondary schools. There are about 16,000 madrassas in UP where a total of 13.57 lakh students are studying. Of them, 560 of the madrassas are subsidised, with 9,500 teachers. RBI to enable UPI for cash deposit facility TATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday proposed to enable UPI for cash deposit facility. Notably, the deposit of cash through Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) is primarily being done through the use of debit cards. “Given the experience gained from card-less cash withdrawal using UPI at the ATMs, it is now proposed to also facilitate deposit of cash in CDMs using UPI,” the RBI Governor announced. be actively disinflationary to ensure anchoring of inflation expectations and fuller transmission of the past actions,” he said. Real GDP growth has been projected at 7 per cent for 2024-25. Giving the quarterly GDP breakup, the Governor said the real GDP growth for Q1 2024-25 is projected at 7.1 per cent , for Q2 at 6.9 per cent , Q3 at 7 per cent and Q4 at 7 per cent, the risks are evenly balanced. “The strong growth momentum together with GDP forecast for FY25 give us policy space to unwaveringly focus on price stability,” he said. Strengthening of rural demand, moderation inflation and sustained momentum in manufacturing and services sector should boost investment and boost private capital expenditure, he added. Further, he highlighted that the Current Account Deficit (CAD) for FY25 is expected to remain at a level that is both viable and eminently manageable. P12 SILVER 81,7003,600 Cong govts never gave forces a free hand to retaliate against attacks: PM Min. 27 % TEMPERATURE Max: 36.4 °C+2) SUN RISES 6:04 hrs MOON RISES 05:06 hrs P6 NIFTY 22,513.700.95 RR LOOK TO MAINTAIN UNBEATEN RUN AGAINST RCB DHANKHAR DEFENDS CAA, SAYS NOT DISCRIMINATORY BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 90.73.080 Caste census, Agnipath scheme abolition, legal status to MSP: Key guarantees of Cong manifesto SANTU DAS NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL The Congress on Thursday launched a manifesto titled ‘Nyay Patra’ for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 with a slew of promises, including nationwide caste census, minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, and 30 lakh new government jobs. The manifesto also promises the abolition of the Agnipath scheme and assures Rs 1 lakh dole to every poor woman per year if voted to power at the Centre. The ‘Nyay Patra’covering 25 guarantees under five ‘Nyay’ (Yuva Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Nari Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay) was released by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former party president Rahul Gandhi, and senior party leader P Chidambaram and KC Venugopal. Party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present on the occasion among others. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kharge said the ‘Nyay Patra’ will be remembered Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, flanked by party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, P. Chidambaram and KC Venugopal, releases the party's manifesto at AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday. SUBRATA DUTTA as a ‘document of justice’ in the history of the country’s politics. “We will take the social and economic momentum of the country forward. We will open the closed doors of ‘development’ for farmers, the poor, labourers, women, and deprived sections. This is our pledge,” he asserted. Referring to the five pillars of the ‘Nyay Patra’, Mr Kharge said that there are 25 guarantees under it and everyone will be benefited. Taking a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, the Congress chief said: “Narendra Modi always criticises the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Manmohan Singh. But, in those 10 years, Congress took many steps, including MGNREGA, RTI, and the Food Security Act. In comparison, Mr Modi could not do even a single work during his 10-year tenure.” Echoing similar sentiments, Rahul Gandhi said: “This election is about those who are trying to destroy the Constitution and protect democracy in this country Vs those who are trying to protect the Constitution and protect democracy in this country.” Mr Chidambaram said: “The Congress guarantees are concrete guarantees. In contrast, Modi’s guarantees are only meant to ensure that he is guaranteed a third term.” FESTIVE MOOD Devotees after offering 'Alvida Jummah' namaz on the last Friday in the holy month of Ramadan, at Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Friday. ANI ICG rescues 27 stranded Ayodhya now the most popular Bangladeshi fishermen global religious tourism destination STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 APRIL In a swift operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Friday rescued 27 Bangladeshi fishermen, stranded on their fishing boat at sea. At about 1130 hrs, the ICG ShipAmogh, during patrol at the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), sighted a Bangladeshi fishing boat Sagar II, adrift inside Indian waters. The ICG ship launched a boarding team to investigate. During investigation, it was revealed that the boat had a steering gear breakdown for the last two days and had been adrift since then, which led to the boat drifting inside Indian waters. The fishing boat had 27 crew onboard. The ICG technical team tried to identify and rectify the defect, but it was observed that the rudder of the boat was completely damaged and could not be repaired at sea. As the sea state and weather conditions were conducive, it was decided that At about 1130 hrs, the ICG ShipAmogh, during patrol at the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line, sighted a Bangladeshi fishing boat Sagar II, adrift inside Indian waters. the distressed boat will be towed to the IndoBangladesh IMBL and handed over to another Bangladeshi fishing boat operating across IMBL or to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the ICG and the Bangladesh Coast Guard. In the meantime, ICG regional headquarters at Kolkata established communication with Bangladesh Coast Guard and informed them about the incident and plan of action. Bangladesh Coast Guard Ship (BCGS) Kamaruzzaman was deployed by BCG for towing of the fishing boat. BCG Ship Kamaruzzaman arrived near the IMBL at about 1845 hrs. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AYODHYA, 5 APRIL Ayodhya has turned into the most popular religious tourism destination of the world surpassing even Mecca and Vatican City. After the consecration of Ram Lalla, as many as 1.70 crore devotees have visited the city till 3 April. No religious place in the world boasts of such a large number of pilgrims. Though authorities have requested devotees not to reach Ayodhya on Ram Navami to avoid undue rush amid the prevalent heat-wave conditions in the birthday of Lord Ram, the officials were expecting a surge of pilgrims on 17 April. The Ram Temple Trust expects around 5 million people to visit Ayodhya during Navratri starting from 9 April and culminating on Ram Navami. According to trust officials, every day, around two lakh devotees arrive for darshan and worship. "Between Ayodhya has turned into the most popular religious tourism destination of the world surpassing even Mecca and Vatican City. After the consecration of Ram Lalla, as many as 1.70 crore devotees have visited the city till 3 April. No religious place in the world boasts of such a large number of pilgrims. January 22 and April 3, over 1.70 crore devotees visited the Ram Lalla temple. Over 50 lakh devotees are likely to reach Ayodhya for the Ram Navami fair during Navratri," said Dr. Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. According to reports about 90 lakh people visit the Vatican City, seat of the Pope, every year. Mecca, the most sacred place for Muslims, witnessed the arrival of around 1.35 crore pilgrims this year. However, in Ayodhya, where a mere 5,000 people used to visit every day in 2019, two lakh people are landing here every day this year, the Trust officials said. After the consecration of Ram Lalla, the economy of Ayodhya has gained wings. The land rate here has increased 10 times. About 700 people have converted their houses into homestays which was nearly 100 in the last two years Similarly, star hotels are coming up while small businesses are employing people, the officials said.
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