MONDAY 06 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR RAMESH BIDHURI WITHDRAWS COMMENT ON PRIYANKA GANDHI UKRAINE TO ASK ALLIES FOR BOOST TO AIR DEFENCES P9 WEATHER Generally clear. Hazy in the evening. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 26°C and 16°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 79% P5 P6 Gritty Australia reclaim Border-Gavaskar Trophy The 3-1 series defeat also pushes India out of the WTC final race TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY Min. 65% I TEMPERATURE Max: 26.2˚C SUN RISES 06:17 hrs MOON RISES 10:49 hrs QUIET REVOLUTIONARY Min: 16.5˚C SUN SETS 17:07 hrs MOON SETS 23:28 hrs Full Moon on 14 January THUMBNAILS Devotees take a dip at the Sangam of the Ganga, the Yamuna and Saraswati (mythical) rivers on a foggy and cold winter day, in Prayagraj on Sunday. n ANI Dense fog in Delhi-NCR affects over 160 flights, delays 50 trains: Dense fog enveloped Delhi-NCR on Sunday, reducing visibility and hitting flight and train operations. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) recorded more than 155 delays and eight cancellations. The delays were reported for aircraft not equipped with advanced CAT III navigation systems. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) reassured travellers that landings and takeoffs were ongoing, but cautioned that non-CAT III-compliant flights might face delays. t turned out a gloomy start to the New Year for Indian cricket fans after a gritty Australia bounced back strongly from a comprehensive loss in the series opener in Perth to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a 3-1 margin after a decade, besides confirming their title defence of the World Test Championship against South Africa at Lord’s in June. India’s hopes of staying in contention for the WTC final were dashed on the third day of the fifth and final Test of the series with the Kangaroos putting up yet another clinical display at the Sydney Cricket Ground to wrap up the series with a sixwicket victory on Sunday. Australia’s passage to the WTC final was in a way aided by the absence of India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah on Day Three due to a back spasm, as the hosts recovered from another top order wobble to successfully overhaul 162 on an SCG pitch that offered surprising bounce and movement until the end with the series’ highest run-getter Travis Head (34 not out) fittingly finishing things off in the company of debutant Beau Webster, who hit the winning boundary through mid-off to finish 39 not out in an unconquered 58-run fifth-wicket stand. Bumrah, who had left the field on the second day for scans, did return to bat briefly on Sunday but wasn’t fit to bowl, and that feeling could haunt him for the rest of his international career or beyond, even though he was adjudged the Player of the Series for ending up with most wickets (32 at 13.06) by an Indian bowler on a tour of Australia. In the absence of the Coast guard helicopter crash in Porbandar kills 3 crew members; inquiry launched 31-year-old, the Indian attack was left to fend on its own as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna leaked as many as 12 extras in their first two overs of Australia’s chase, before Krishna tightened up and took three wickets, including that of Steven Smith. India desperately missed Bumrah’s accuracy in the middle. Earlier in the day, the batters didn’t make it any easier for India’s depleted attack as India lost 4 for 16 in 7.5 overs on the third morning to fold for 157. Scott Boland, who rose from obscurity of a back-up pace option to a first choice quick following the injury to Josh Hazlewood, bagged his first 10-wicket haul in professional cricket to trigger India’s collapse. Having taken four wickets on the opening day at the SCG, Boland added six to his tally ~ his second five-for in Test cricket since his 6 for 7 on debut. Australia skipper Pat Cummins led his troops from the front at the start of the day by dismissing the overnight pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, before Boland had Siraj caught at first slip and castled Bumrah in the 40th over to wrap up India’s innings. The Australia openers took full advantage of the wayward lines from India’s new-ball pair of Siraj and Krishna, reaching 39 for no loss by the fourth over before Prasidh raised hopes of a turnaround when he had Sam Konstas miscuing a slog to midoff for 22 off 17 balls. The 28-year-old jolted the hosts for a second time when he had Marnus Labuschagne steering a catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully, before stretching Smith’s wait to scale 10,000 Test runs by one run, and reduce Australia to 58 for 3. A Board of Inquiry has been launched after an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv crashed in Gujarat's Porbandar, resulting in the deaths of three crew members, including two pilots and one aircrew member. According to officials, the incident occurred at around 12.15 p.m. on Sunday when the ICG ALH MK-III helicopter, on a routine training sortie, crashed while landing at Porbandar airport. "ICG ALH MK-III helicopter CG 859 met with a mishap at Porbandar Airport Runway at about 1215 hrs on January 5. The ICG helicopter had 2 Pilots and 1 Air Crew Diver at the time of the incident and was on a routine training sortie," the Coast Guard said in a statement. Following the crash, the crew members were prompt- ly recovered and rushed to the Government Hospital in Porbandar, where they were declared dead. The deceased have been identified as Commandant (JG) Saurabh, TM, Deputy Commandant SK Yadav, and Manoj Pradhan, Navik. "The reasons leading to the incident are being investigated by a Board of Inquiry," the ICG said. The mortal remains of the crew who laid down their lives in the line of serv- ice to the nation will be cremated as per service traditions and honour. Porbandar Superintendent of Police, Bhagirath Singh Jadeja, said that there were three crew members on board the helicopter who were rescued and rushed to a hospital. "Unfortunately, three crew members lost their lives in the accident. Police and Coast Guard are investigating the incident," the SP Jadeja told ANI. P12 Good governance in Delhi only after removal of AAP-DA, says PM Modi NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying they have wasted 10 years of the people of Delhi in fighting with the Centre and assured that no scheme of public interest would be stopped in the national capital if the BJP is voted to power after the assembly elections but those who have dishonest contracts in the scheme would be thrown out. “No scheme of public interest will be stopped in Delhi, but those who have dishonest contracts in it will be thrown out,” the Prime Minister assured the people of Delhi. Addressing a public meeting in Rohini, he said in the last 10 years, the schemes of the state government have been running only on paper. “In the last 10 years, Delhi has witnessed a state govt that is no less than an AAPda! (disaster),” he added. “Delhi needs a model of urban development that sets an example for the rest of the world. This can only be achieved if the BJP is given the opportunity to govern both the state and the Centre.” Mr Modi asserted. Accusing the AAP government of corruption in various sectors, the prime minister said: “Intentions, decisions, policies and loy- alty...These have great importance in politics. But the biggest question is on the intentions and loyalty of the AAP people.” “This (AAP) party was born on the issue of Jan Lokpal. Removing corruption...this was his main issue. But today most of the leaders of this party have corruption cases worth crores,” Mr Modi said. “Who did the liquor scam in Delhi-AAP-DA people, Who did the school scam in Delhi-AAP-DA people. Who looted the public money in the name of treatment of the poor in Delhi – AAP-DA people. Who spent crores of rupees in the name of fighting pollution in Delhi – AAP-DA people,” Mr Modi said. He further said: “These people have made every season aap-da kaal for Delhi. The energy of the people of Delhi remains devoted to dealing with Aap-Da throughout the year." Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth over Rs 12,200 crore in Delhi including inauguration of the Namo Bharat corridor between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar and the first stretch of Delhi Metro Phase-IV. Addressing a public meeting in Rohini, he urged people to vote for the BJP in the coming Assembly election. "Only if AAP-DA is removed from Delhi, the double engine of development and good governance will come," he said. Mr Modi, without directly naming former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, hit out at the AAP chief for building a ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for himself. He said they (AAP government) falsely allege that the Central government doesn't give them money and let them work. “Their Sheeshmahal exposes their lie. A leading newspaper has revealed the expenditure on the Sheesh Mahal based on the CAG's report. When Delhi was grappling with Covid-19, its entire focus was on building its Sheesh Mahal. They allocated a huge budget for the Sheesh Mahal. The newspaper has exposed that they spent around three times the allocated budget," the Prime Minister said. CM to visit Gangasagar amid heightened security measures RAJIB CHAKRABORTY GANGASAGAR, 5 JANUARY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PORBANDAR, 5 JANUARY SABALENKA HOLDS OFF KUDERMETOVA TO WIN FIRST BRISBANE TITLE The Gangasagar Mela will be held at Sagardwip from 10 to 15 January. To review the preparations, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is visiting Gangasagar on Monday. She will inspect the Muriganga River to supervise dredging work and also visit the Kapil Muni Ashram. Extensive security arrangements have been made for the Chief Minister's safety. Pilgrims from across the state and the country are expected to gather at the Gangasagar Mela, with the administration anticipating a turnout of several lakhs. This year, due to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh, many devotees are expected to visit Gangasagar either before heading to Prayagraj or after taking a holy dip there. Accordingly, strict security measures have been put in place, especially amid concerns over illegal infiltration. Security along waterways has also been strengthened. Therefore, the Chief Minister's visit is focused on reviewing the arrangements in advance of the event. Preparations for the Gangasagar Mela are in full swing at Sagardwip. The state police have ramped up surveillance along the river routes, particularly considering the rising concerns about infiltration in border areas. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued directives to the state government to prevent any illegal entry from Bangladesh. Reports from Nabanna indicated that the state police administration has imple- mented several measures to curb infiltration attempts. Intelligence suggests that illegal infiltrators might try to take advantage of the busy fair and enter via waterways. In response, security has been intensified at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal. The Sundarban district police administration has been entrusted with the primary responsibility of ensuring security. At a press conference, district police clarified their stance, emphasising zero tol- Pilgrims from across the state and the country are expected to gather at the Gangasagar Mela, with the administration anticipating a turnout of several lakhs. This year, due to Mahakumbh, many devotees are expected to visit Gangasagar either before heading to Prayagraj or after taking a holy dip there. erance for illegal activities. Koteshwar Rao, Superintendent of Sundarban district police, stated: “A total of 12,000 police personnel have been deployed at the Gangasagar Mela. Special surveillance is being conducted along waterways to prevent any untoward incidents.” Recent arrests of Bangladeshi militants in Murshidabad, West Bengal, have raised new concerns about the activity of JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh) in the region. In December last year, two JMB operatives, Abbas Sheikh and Minarul Sheikh, were arrested in Hariharpara. Additionally, Sajibul Islam, a relative of a previously arrested Bangladeshi militant, was apprehended from Durlabhpur under Nawda police station. These developments have highlighted the growing influence of Bangladeshi militant groups in the region. Given the circumstances, the West Bengal police are unwilling to take any risks regarding illegal infiltration. They are also determined to ensure that no untoward incidents occur during the religious gathering. Hence, the police have adopted a strict approach to handling the situation. The Gangasagar Mela will take place from 10 to 15 January at Sagardwip, and preventing illegal infiltration during this busy period has become the top priority for the district police administration. 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to kickstart in Bhubaneswar Digital data protection rules to empower citizens, curb harms, states government STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention will be held in Bhubaneswar from 8-10 January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the three-day event on 9 January. It will feature a virtual address by Chief Guest Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of Trinidad & Tobago. The PBD Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to connect and engage with the Indian diaspora and enable them to interact with each other. The theme of the event, being organised in partnership with the State Government of Odisha, is "Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat”. A large number of Indian diaspora members from over 50 different countries have registered to par- ticipate in the PBD Convention. The PM will remotely flag-off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special Tourist Train for the Indian diaspora, which will depart from the Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi and would travel to multiple destinations of touristic and religious importance in India for a period of three weeks. The Pravasi Bharatiya Express will be conducted under the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana of the Ministry of External Affairs. The PM will also inaugurate four exhibitions at the 18th PBD Convention, Vishwaroop Ram - The Universal Legacy of Ramayana: This exhibition would present the timeless epic of Ramayana through a curated juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary art forms; Diaspora’s Contribution to Technology and Viksit Bharat. This exhibition would acknowledge the contributions of the Indian diaspora to the development of technology in the world; Spread and Evolution of Indian diaspora in the world with special focus on Mandvi to Muscat. This exhibition will showcase rare documents of people who had migrated from Mandvi in Gujarat to Muscat in Oman; Heritage and Culture of Odisha: The exhibition will showcase the rich heritage and cultural traditions of Odisha through its different art and craft forms and highlight its illustrious legacy. President Droupadi Murmu will preside over the Valedictory Session of the PBD Convention on 10 January. She will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025 upon select members of the Indian diaspora to recognise their achievements and to honour their contri- butions in various fields in India and abroad. The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held on 8 January, 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Dr Dev Pragad, CEO of Newsweek, will be the Guest of Honour at the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The PBD Convention will have five thematic plenary sessions ~ “Beyond Borders: Diaspora Youth Leadership in a Globalized World”; “Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: Stories of Migrant Skills”; “Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contributions to Sustainable Development”; “Diaspora Divas: Celebrating Women's Leadership and Influence – Nari Shakti”; and “Diaspora Dialogues: Stories of Culture, Connection and Belongingness”. All the Plenary Sessions will feature panel discussions involving eminent diaspora experts. AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY The draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules aim to safeguard citizens’ rights for the protection of their personal data and also address specific challenges like unauthorised commercial use of data and digital harms, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said on Sunday. The rules empower citizens by giving them greater control over their data with provisions for informed consent, the right to erasure and grievance redressal. Parents and guardians are empowered to ensure online safety for their children, the official statement explains. The rules are designed to empower citizens in a rapidly growing digital economy, while achieving the right balance between reg- ulation and innovation, so that the benefits of India’s growing innovation ecosystem are available to all citizens and India’s digital economy, the statement said. The rules place citizens at the heart of the data protection framework. Data Fiduciaries must provide clear and accessible information about how personal data is processed, enabling informed consent, it added. The statement highlights that India’s model strikes a unique balance between fostering innovation and regulation to protect personal data. Unlike restrictive global frameworks, these rules encourage economic growth while prioritizing citizen welfare. Stakeholders view this as a new global template for data governance. The framework envisages lesser compliance burden for smaller businesses and startups. An adequate period would be provided so that all stakeholders, from small enterprises to large corporates, may transition smoothly to achieve compliance with the new law, the statement said. The rules embrace a “digital by design” philosophy. Consent mechanisms, grievance redressal and the functioning of the Data Protection Board are all aimed at ensuring Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business.