SATURDAY 04 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KTR GETS SUMMONS FROM T’GANA ANTICORRUPTION BUREAU S KOREA’S IMPEACHED PRESIDENT DEFIES WARRANT P9 SENSEX 79,223.11q720.60 WEATHER Generally clear. Likely cloudy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 24°C and 15°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 80% Min. 69% TEMPERATURE Max: 24.2˚C SUN RISES 06:17 hrs MOON RISES 09:38 hrs Min: 15.3˚C SUN SETS 17:06 hrs MOON SETS 21:29 hrs Full Moon on 14 January THUMBNAILS P4 NIFTY 24,004.75q183.90 ` vs $ 85.79 P7 India lodges protest with China over new counties MEA also raised concerns over Brahmaputra hydropower project in Tibet Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka and sought refuge in India after stepping down in the wake of nationwide student-led protests sparked the collapse of her 25-year tenure. External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has "never accepted" the illegal Chinese occupation of the Indian territory in Ladakh. NEW DELHI, 3 JANUARY I ndia has lodged a "solemn protest" with China over the announcement of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture as parts of these regions fall in the Indian Union territory of Ladakh, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. At a media briefing here, he said: “We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India's Union Territory of Ladakh.” He said India has "never accepted" the illegal Chinese occupa- tion of the Indian territory in Ladakh. “Creation of new counties will neither have a bearing on India's long-standing and consistent position regarding our sovereignty over the area nor lend legitimacy to China's illegal and forcible occupation of the same. We have lodged a solemn protest with the Chinese side through diplomatic channels,” the spokesperson added. On China's mega hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra), the spokesperson said: “We have seen the information released by Xinhua (China's official news agency) on 25 December 2024 regarding a hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.” As a lower riparian state with established user rights to the waters of the river, India has consistently expressed, through expert-level as well as diplomatic channels, its views and con- India has always stood by Maldives: Jaishankar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 JANUARY External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said India has always stood by the Maldives, adding the Indian Ocean archipelago is a concrete expression of New Delhi's ''Neighbourhood First'' policy. There have been some important positive developments in India-Maldives relations in recent months but the two nations need to do much more, he said in talks with Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel. The Maldivian minister arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit to explore ways to bolster bilateral ties in several key areas, including maritime security, trade and investment. Mr Jaishankar noted that the two countries have signed the framework to promote the use of local currencies for crossborder transactions. The two neighbours have also increased their engagements in various sectors. The Maldivian minister said he wanted to be in India on his first overseas visit during the new year. He said Male desires a dynamic and meaningful agenda with India for the year ahead. “It is an important year for MaldivesIndia relations. We are celebrating 60 years of establishment of formal diplomatic relations. Our partnership dates back to centuries. Our partnership is built on mutual understanding, respect and a shared commitment,” he said. Mr Khaleel said the India-Maldives relationship, rooted in decades of trust and friendship, will continue to thrive. “As a beneficiary of India's Neighbourhood First policy, the Govern- ment of Maldives deeply values the significant importance India placed in its relationship with the Maldives. We have many examples where the Government of India has consistently stood by the Maldives as an immediate responder in times of need,” he said. Ties between India and the Maldives came under strain after Mr Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, became president of the island in November 2023. Soon after taking charge of his office, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians. However, there was a breakthrough when Mr Muizzu visited India in October last year to reset ties with New Delhi. AAP-DA ko hatana hai, Bhajpa ko lana hai: PM Modi NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 3 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a blistering attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its supremo Arvind Kejriwal, saying they have looted the people of Delhi in the last 10 years and expressed confidence that the BJP will dislodge them from power in the coming Assembly election. Virtually launching the BJP's election campaign in the national capital, Mr Modi, without directly naming Mr Kejriwal, blasted the former chief minister for building a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for himself but doing very little for the betterment of the people. “AAP-DA ko hatana hai, Bhajpa ko lana hai (AAP has to be defeated, BJP has to be brought (to power),” he said while addressing the public BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 76.23p0.30 MEA declines to comment on Sheikh Hasina extradition plea NEW DELHI, 3 JANUARY Nothing to be alarmed about, says Health Ministry on HMPV virus: Amid the outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, the Union Health Ministry said there was nothing to be alarmed about. The Ministry, however, appealed to people to take precautions against all respiratory infections. DGHS Atul Goel said that the metapneumovirus is like any other respiratory virus which causes a common cold. He said data of respiratory outbreaks within the country have been analysed, and there is no substantial increase in the number of cases in December 2024. P12 SILVER 1,00,000 GOLD 79,770.00 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur along with family members during Kirtan and final Ardaas at Gurdwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in his memory, in New Delhi on Friday. n ANI SYDNEY TEST: INDIA SUFFER YET ANOTHER BATTING COLLAPSE ON DAY 1 ‘PEDAGOGY MUST BE FLEXIBLE’ meeting in Ashok Vihar's Ramlila Ground. Mr Modi said Delhi has been surrounded by a major 'Aapda' (disaster) for the last 10 years and by bringing veteran social activist Anna Hazare forward, some 'Kattar Beimaan' (hardcore corrupt) people pushed the national capital into AAPDA. The PM hit out at the AAP government in Delhi alleging that the past 10 years have been marked by corruption and scams in various sectors such as liquor contracts, school education, healthcare for the poor, pollution control, and recruitment. “Some hardcore corrupt individuals, using Anna Hazare as a front, have pushed Delhi into this crisis," he said. Earlier, Mr Modi inaugurated the 1,675 newly constructed flats for the dwellers of JJ clusters and also handed over keys to eligible beneficiaries at Swabhiman Apartments in Ashok Vihar here. He also virtually inaugurated two urban redevelopment projects - the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar and GPRA Type-II Quarters at Sarojini Nagar, CBSE's Integrated Office Complex at Dwarka and also laid the foundation stone of Veer Savarkar College at Roshanpura, Najafgarh. Addressing the public meeting in Ashok Vihar's Ramlila Ground, Mr Modi said Delhi has always envisioned good governance but the ruling state government has failed to deliver on its promises and has only worsened the situation. As a result, the people of Delhi are determined to fight against this crisis, vowing to bring change and rid the city of this corruption. cerns to the Chinese side over mega projects on rivers in its territory, he said. “These have been reiterated, along with the need for transparency and consultation with downstream countries, following the latest report. The Chinese side has been urged to ensure that the interests of downstream states of the Brahmaputra are not harmed by activities in upstream areas. We will continue to monitor and take necessary measures to protect our interests,” he added. A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday declined to say anything on Bangladesh's request for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “A week back, I had confirmed that we had received a communication from the Bangladesh authorities in respect to former PM Sheikh Hasina. Further than that, I have nothing to add at this point in time,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Bangladesh submitted an extradition request through a Note Verbale on 21 December 2024, via its High Commission in New Delhi. However, experts consider this diplomatic tool too informal for sensitive matters like extradition. Reports say Bangladesh failed to fulfil key formalities required to advance the extradition process. Sheikh Hasina retains legal options to challenge the request under India’s laws. Thus far, she has not exercised these rights. SNS Two men set themselves on fire over Union Carbide waste disposal STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHOPAL, 3 JANUARY The bandh in Pithampur city of Madhya Pradesh on Friday – called in protest against the planned incineration of 337 metric tons of the Bhopal gas tragedy waste from the union carbide factory in Bhopal – turned tense, as two men poured some inflammable liquid and set themselves afire. Police and rescue workers rushed the two persons, both aged around 40 years, to a hospital at Pithampur. Later, they were sent to a private hospital at nearby Indore, some 30 km away. Authorities said both men remained hospitalised but they were out of danger. Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra and SP Manoj Kumar Singh appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm in the district, and particularly in the Pithampur industrial town. Both officials requested people not to take the law in their hands as the government and the authorities were sensitive towards their concerns. The officials, nonetheless, said that anyone who still tried to create any disturbance would be dealt with strictly. (Details on Page 5)