MONDAY 15 APRIL 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR NAIDU PRE-PLANNED ATTACK ON JAGAN, ALLEGES YSRCP P4 CONSCRIPTION LAW WARRANTY OF JUMLAS: CONGRESS ON BJP'S MANIFESTO P5 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. VERY LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE ACCOMPANIED WITH GUSTY WINDS (SPEED 30-40 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 & 20 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. SALT’S 89 CARRIES KKR TO EIGHT-WICKET WIN OVER LSG P6 P12 BJP poll manifesto prioritises youth, women, farmers & underprivileged RAINFALL: Trace RELATIVE HUMIDITY Uniform Civil Code, One Nation One Election on top of the BJP’s agenda; also expansion of welfare measures and infrastructure Max. 77 % NIKHIL VYAS Min. 50 % TEMPERATURE Max: 32.2 °C-4) SUN RISES 5:55 hrs MOON RISES 11:08 hrs POLL PROMISES NEW DELHI, 14 APRIL Min: 21.4 °C (0) SUN SETS 18:47 hrs MOON SETS 01:44 hrs THUMBNAILS People throng outside Parliament to celebrate Babasaheb Ambedkar's birth anniversary, in the Capital on Sunday. SUBRATA DUTTA I-T team searches TMC leader Abhishek’s T chopper: Income Tax officials today conducted a search at the chopper which is used by Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of Trinamul Congress at the Behala flying club this afternoon. Mr Banerjee is scheduled to hold a conference of party functionaries at Haldia on Monday and he is supposed to travel to East Midnapore in the helicopter. People above 75 years P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the BJP’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections reinforces the four pillars of a developed India – youth power, women empowerment, farmers, and the underprivileged. The BJP advocates realisation of the vision of one nation, one election, and views the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as imperative for the nation's welfare, the prime minister said after the release of the BJP manifesto. Mr Modi launched the manifesto "BJP's Sankalp – Modi's Guarantee 2024" for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the BJP’s Central Office Extension. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister and BJP Manifesto Committee Chairman Rajnath Singh, party’s national president JP Nadda, and Union Finance Minister & BJP Manifesto Committee Convenor Nirmala Sitharaman Over the past decade, the BJP government has implemented stringent measures to combat corruption. Scams worth thousands of crores at the national level have been effectively curbed. The underprivileged are now receiving their entitlements, while those who exploited them are being held accountable and facing imprisonment. The unwavering commitment to cracking down on corruption is PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI ‘Modi's Guarantee were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, Mr Modi said corruption deprives poor and middle-class families of their rights. "Over the past decade, the BJP government has implemented stringent measures to combat corruption. Scams worth thousands of crores at the national level have been effectively curbed. The underprivileged are now receiving their entitlements, while those who exploited them are being held accountable and facing imprisonment. The unwavering commitment to cracking down on corruption is ‘Modi's Guarantee’," the PM asserted. He said that the BJP remains dedicated to forming a government that would fortify the nation's economy and propel it towards progress and development. "This Sankalp Patra from the BJP assures such a government. India, as a global ally, will persistently endeavor for the welfare of humanity. The Bharatiya Janata Party steadfastly takes bold and challenging decisions in the nation's interest, prioritizing the country over the party itself," he added. The prime minister cited of age and transgenders will be brought under the purview of Ayushman Bharat Yojna. The limit of loans under MUDRA Yojana will be increased to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh. If re-elected, the BJP will expand the Vande Bharat Trains to every corner of the country. Three models of Vande Bharat train --Vande Bharat Sleeper, Vande Bharat Chair Car and Vande Bharat Metro~-- will run across the country. The BJP will work towards realising the idea of One Nation, One Election in the next five years. PM said that Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is necessary in the interest of the country and the BJP will bring the UCC. Prime Minister said that in the next five years, the BJP will work towards reducing the electricity bills of crores of families to zero. A solar rooftop scheme in this regard has already been announced. the enactment of the Nari Shakti Act, revocation of Article 370, and implementation of the CAA nationwide as the achievements of his government. "Upholding the principles of Reform, Perform, and Transform, India is poised to advance rapidly. Essential frameworks for effective governance, digital governance, and data governance will be established," he said. Mr Modi emphasised that over the past two decades, the BJP has delivered on every promise with a solid foundation. "The Sankalp Patra strengthens the pillars of a ‘Viksit Bharat’: youth power, women empowerment, the welfare of the poor and farmers," he said. He said that the BJP's focus is on the dignity and quality of life, as well as investment and employment. "The Sankalp Patra India calls upon Iran, Israel to exercise restraint amidst West Asia flare-up Cong has become tukde tukdegang’s sultan, wants to weaken country: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 14 APRIL: India on Sunday expressed serious concern over the escalating tension between Israel and Iran and called for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and returning to the path of diplomacy. Hours after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel in an unprecedented attack, the Ministry of External Affairs said: “We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region.” "We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," it said. Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on 1 April in which several Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed. Israel says that 99 per cent of the around 300 drones and missiles launched at its territory by Iran were shot down Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on 1 April in which several Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed by its missile defences. The MEA said: "We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community. It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region." On Saturday, the Iranian military seized a cargo ship with Israeli links near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship has 17 Indian crew members. India is in touch with Iran to secure the release of Indians onboard the Portugueseflagged vessel MSC Aries. Following Iran's attack, the Israeli military said it and its allies have intercepted the majority of more than 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran. Amidst fears that the attack would widen the conflict in Wst Asia, a New York Times report said that Israel decided to carry out a retaliatory attack on Teheran on Sunday morning, but it was cancelled after a phone call took place between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the sit- uation. After Israel successfully intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, the Biden administration cautioned Tel Aviv to avoid escalation. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Sardar Bagheri, has said that the military operation against Israel has "concluded" from Tehran's side, while issuing waning that if US helps Israel in their possible next actions, their bases will "not have any security", and will be dealt with, according to CNN. "Israel's actions in the consulate were condemned so a response should have been given," Gen. Bagheri said. He also noted that, although the operation is concluded, Iranian forces continue to remain on high alert. Iranian officials have made it apparent that the strikes this weekend were reprisals for an Israeli strike on 1 April that destroyed an Iranian consulate facility in Damascus. Israel has not taken responsibility for the attack, which Iran claims cost the lives of several officials, including Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Reza Zahedi. (See Pg 9) MYSURU , 14 APRIL In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress party, calling it "sultan of tukde tukde gang", during a public rally in Karnataka's Mysuru on Sunday. He alleged that the Congress party "wants to weaken" the country, adding the latter's "hate towards the nation" has "crossed the limit". “Congress party has become the sultan of tukde tukde gang. Their hate towards the country has crossed the limit. Congress wants to weaken the country. The Congress party's dangerous intentions are still the same. They have not changed. They are playing with fire to assume power," PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Mysuru on Sunday. “Nowadays Congress hesitates to say Bharat Mata Ki Jai in election rallies. Earlier, they opposed Vande Mataram, now Congress avoids saying Bharat Mata ki Jai. This will lead to the end Salman Khan again targeted; Mumbai cops probe firing at actor’s home AGENCIES MUMBAI, 14 APRIL Unidentified persons opened fire outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's Bandra home around dawn on Sunday, an act later claimed by the Lawrence Bishnoi mafia outfit. The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has launched an investigation after at least threefour bullets were fired at the actor’s Bandra West home early this morning, officials said. The attack was carried out at least two unidentified persons sporting helmets who came speeding on a motorcycle and fired at least four shots in the direction of Galaxy Apartment, before zooming off on the dark and deserted road. Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of the jailed Lawrence Police and forensic team members collect evidence after two unidentified people opened fire outside the house of Bollywood actor Salman Khan at Bandra in Mumbai on Sunday. ANI Bishnoi who is based in the USA, later put up a post on Facebook, in which he described the incident as the "first and last warning" for Salman Khan, ominously declaring that the next time "the bullets won’t be fired at walls or an empty home". For the past several years, Salman Khan and his family have been facing death threats from certain Punjab-based mafia groups like the Bishnoi gang. In the past couple of years, he and his father Salim Khan have been issued death threats in different ways, including dropping a letter to the family It was not immediately known if Salman Khan was at home or not on a weekend holiday just after the Ramzan Eid celebrations. On learning of the incident, a Bandra Police team rushed to the Khan household and launched preliminary investigations, and also tightened security in the vicinity. The police are scanning the CCTV footage in the area to trace out the shooters and check their motives and targets. Hours later, a Crime Branch and Forensic Team with ballistics experts also arrived on the scene and found at least one bullet mark on the gate of the building entrance. Salman Khan (58), lives with almost his entire joint family comprising parents, brothers and their kin at the landmark Galaxy Apartments on the picturesque Bandra sea-face area of suburban north-west Mumbai. For several years, Salim Khan and Salman Khan have been getting death threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after the 1998 blackbuck poaching incident in Rajasthan. In 2022, while on a morning stroll near his home, Salim Khan found a note saying “Salim Khan…Salman Khan… bahut jald aapka Moose Wala hoga” ~ a reference to Sidhu Moose Wala, a Punjabi rapper, who was shot dead near his home on 29 May 2022, shaking the entertainment industry. Following the multiple threats to the Mumbai-based actor, the city police upgraded the security cover of Salman Khan, issued him a permit for a gun licence and last year, the actor acquired a new bullet-proof SUV as additional protection. emphasises both the quantity and quality of opportunities, with a focus on infrastructure development for generating employment on one hand, and promoting startups and global centres for high-value servicing on the other," he added. "Over the past decade, the BJP Government has lifted 250 million people out of poverty, demonstrating its commitment to delivering results. However, the work does not stop there; those who have been lifted out of poverty also need sustained support to ensure that they do not slip back into poverty due to unforeseen circumstances.” "With this vision in mind, the BJP has pledged to expand several poverty alleviation schemes. Modi’s guarantees of a free ration scheme will continue for the next five years," the prime minister said. He underscored his assurance that Jan Aushadhi Kendras would continue to offer affordable medicines with an 80 per cent discount, and the expansion of these centres will be undertaken. Sarabjit Singh's killer shot dead in Lahore STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 APRIL of Congress," the Prime Minister added. PM Modi further escalated his attack on the Congress party and alleged, "Congress forms alliance with an organization involved in terrorist activities which is banned. Congress asks for proof of surgical attack from Army." “They refuse to accept Kashmir as our own. They disrespected Lord Ram. People of INDI alliance want to end Sanatan. They want to destroy Hindu religion. As long as Modi is there, no one's plans will be fulfilled, this is Modi's guarantee," he added. The Prime Minister also alleged that Congress has been indulging in appeasement politics "Game of appeasement is rampant in Karnataka. Karnataka has been witnessing this, that Congress rewards people, who talk ill of the country, with election tickets. An ugly game of appeasement is being played in Karnataka! Can you give the reins of the country to the people openly playing the game of vote bank?," he said. “The elections of 2024 will decide the future of India not for 5 years but for 2047. 24/7 for 2047 every moment for India," PM Modi said. One of the accused in the brutal killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat jail in 2013 was gunned down by two unidentified assailants in Lahore's Islampura area, Pakistani media reported on Sunday. According to the reports, Aamir Sarfaraz alias Tamba was shot at by two bikeborne assailants at his residence in Lahore's Islampura. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. Tamba was among the key accused in the killing of Sarabjit Singh. However, he was acquitted by a Pakistani court after all the witnesses turned hostile. Tamba, along with other inmates had attacked Sarabjit Singh with bricks and rod. Sarabjit later died in the hospital on 2 May 2013. Singh, a resident of Bhikhiwind in Punjab, had mistakenly crossed over to Pakistan and was later sentenced to death over his alleged role in a 1990 bomb blast in the country's Punjab province. SUN WORSHIP Devotees perform rituals on the banks of the river Brahmaputra during the ' Chaiti Chhath Puja' ANI in Guwahati on Sunday.
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