THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR CDS STRESSES NEED FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADAPTATION BANGLADESH SC ACQUITS EX-PRIME MINISTER ZIA P9 SENSEX 76,724.08p224.45 WEATHER POSSIBILITY OF A SPELL OF VERY LIGHT RAIN DURING MORNING HOURS.SMOG/SHALLOW FOG LIKELY IN THE EVENING/NIGHT THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 17 AND 10 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE P4 23,213.20p37.15 ` vs $ 86.40 GOLD 80,850.00 PM dedicates 3 naval warships to the nation Modi said India is emerging as a major maritime power in the world MUMBAI, 15 JANUARY Min: .06.0 °C (-1.4) SUN SETS 17:48 hrs MOON SETS 09:32 hrs THUMBNAILS Children run after a kite in Mumbai on Wednesday. n ANI SC grants interim protection from arrest to ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar: The Supreme Court on Wednesday protected from any coercive steps, for now, the former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, accused of allegedly forging her documents to obtain eligibility for the 2022 Union Public Service Commission's civil services test under the reservation for OBC and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. (P5) P rime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation three powerful new frontline naval combatants ~ guided missile destroyer INS Surat, stealth frigate INS Nilgiri and the Scorpene submarine INS Vaghsheer, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra on Wednesday. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr Modi said India is emerging as a major maritime power in the world and the expanding ship-building industry will help the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had given new strength and a new vision to the Indian Navy. Today, on his holy land, we are taking a very big step towards strengthening the Navy of the 21st century. This is the first time that a destroyer, a frigate and a submarine, all three are being commissioned together,” the PM said. He stressed the impor- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates naval combatant INS Vaghsheer to the nation during a ceremony at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Wednesday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is also present. n ANI tance of moving forward with confidence in the 21st century by freeing India from symbols of colonialism, noting that the Indian Navy has linked its flag to the glorious tradition of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and redesigned the Admiral rank epaulettes accordingly. “Today, India is recognised as a reliable and responsible partner globally, especially in the Global South. India works in the spirit of development, not expansionism. India has Indian panel recommends legal action against accused in Pannun assassination bid case STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY The high-powered committee set up by the government of India to inquire into the activities of some criminal groups, terrorist organisations, drug peddlers, etc., undermining the security interests of both India and the USA, has submitted its report. The committee recommended swift legal action against an individual with prior criminal links that pose a security threat to the two nations. The investigation was ordered following the US allegation that there was an attempt to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by Indian agents. The Ministry of Home Affairs said on Wednesday that on receipt of the information provided by US authorities regarding the activities of some organised criminal groups, terrorist outfits, and drug peddlers, the high-powered inquiry panel was set up by the Union government in November 2023. “After a long enquiry, the Committee has submitted its report to the Government and recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry. The Enquiry Committee has recommended that the legal action must be completed expeditiously,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement. The panel has further recommended functional improvements in systems and procedures as also initiation of steps that could strengthen India’s response capability, ensure systematic controls and coordinated action in dealing with matters like this. The Enquiry Committee conducted its own investigations and pursued leads provided by the US side. It received full cooperation from US authorities and the two sides also exchanged visits. The panel further examined a number of officials from different agencies and also scrutinised relevant documents in this connection. The panel emphasised that the legal process should be concluded expeditiously to address the security concerns effectively. In addition to the legal recommendations, the committee proposed several systemic improvements. These include enhancing existing systems and procedures, strengthening India's response capabilities, and ensuring better coordination and control in addressing similar threats in the future. always supported an open, secure, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” he said. INS Vaghsheer, a 'hunter-killer', is the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene Project and is equipped with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles and is capable of both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare apart from intelligence gathering and mine-laying capabilities. It is poised to strengthen India’s maritime dominance and deter adver- saries like China and Pakistan. INS Surat, the fourth and final ship of the P15B Guided Missile Destroyer Project, ranks among the largest and most sophisticated destroyers in the world. It has an indigenous content of 75 per cent and is equipped with stateof-the-art weapon-sensor packages and advanced network-centric capabilities. INS Nilgiri, the first ship of the P17A Stealth Frigate Project, has been designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and incorporates advanced features for enhanced survivability, seakeeping, and stealth, reflecting the next generation of indigenous frigates. Addressing the gathering at the event, Mr Modi said 15 January is commemorated as Army Day and said he salutes all brave warriors. “Today’s event links our glorious heritage with our future aspirations,” he said, adding that India has a rich history related to long sea voyages, commerce, naval defence and ship industry. NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY Following India’s 3-1 loss to Australia in the recentlyconcluded Border-Gavaskar series, the BCCI is set to revive the touring protocols for the national men’s team, including a restriction on how much time families can spend with players. According to sources, a player can be accompanied by his immediate family ~ spouse and children ~ for no more than 14 days on tours of 45 days or more, while during shorter tours, families can link up with the player only for a week. While these directions have been a part of player contracts, those were relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic when players were given the option to make their families part of the team bubble, keeping their mental health in mind. As things stand, the BCCI pays for the families’ accommodation on tour but not their travel. There will be no change made to that policy provided the duration and the timing of the stay are within the stipulated period. Additionally, the national cricket board is also mulling the implementation of stricter protocols around independent transport for players while commuting for practice and matches, while any extra luggage, exceeding the limit of 150 kgs, will be at the players’ own expense. The decision to return to earlier protocols was communicated to the team leadership during the review meeting with the BCCI top brass in Mumbai on Saturday. India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and P12 SILVER 1,01,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 80.32p0.40 General Upendra Dwivedi: Northern border situation stable but sensitive STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY The Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, stated that while the situation along India’s northern border remains stable, it continues to be sensitive. He said that the armed forces are fully prepared to address any challenges, emphasising the modernisation of equipment and development of critical infrastructure in the region. General Dwivedi made these remarks during his address at the 77th Army Day celebrations held at the Bombay Engineers Group (BEG) and Centre in Pune on Wednesday. Notably, this year's parade included a historic all-girl contingent from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), an allwoman Agniveer contingent from the Corps of Military Police (CMP), and 12 robotic mules. Referring to the Galwan clash between Chinese and Indian troops, General Dwivedi underscored the importance of preventing such incidents in the future. “Whatever happened in Galwan should not be repeated,” he stated, emphasising a coordinated approach from all national sectors ~ diplomatic, military, and law enforcement ~ to avoid any future sur- Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi inspects a Guard of Honour during the Army Day Parade on the occasion of the 77th Army Day, in Pune on Wednesday. n ANI prises. Regarding the western border, he acknowledged that while a ceasefire is maintained along the Line of Control (LoC), infiltration attempts persist. “Our armed forces are fully prepared and capable of handling any situation. Special attention has been given to modern equipment and the development of critical infrastructure along the northern borders. On the western borders, a ceasefire remains in effect along the Line of Control, but attempts at infiltration continue. In the internal areas of Jammu and Kashmir, due to the persistent and stringent Cong, BJP spar over Rahul’s ‘fighting Indian state’ remarks STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY A fresh war of words erupted between the Congress and BJP on Wednesday after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the grand old party is ''fighting the Indian state itself” and that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had committed “treason” with his controversial remarks on India's independence. BJP national president JP Nadda slammed Mr Gandhi over his remarks and said “he and his ecosystem have close links with Urban Naxals who want to defame India”. Speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the Congress’ new headquarters, Indira Gandhi Bhawan, named after the former Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said: “The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, RSS and the Indian state itself.” Referring to Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks, he said: “Yesterday, in a speech, the chief of the RSS said that India never achieved true independence in 1947, but rather when the Ram Mandir was built. In fact, what he has said yesterday is treason because it is stating that the Constitution is invalid. He is stating the fight against the British was invalid.” Notably, the RSS chief at an event in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Monday said: “The true independence of India, which had faced many centuries of persecution, was established on that day (the day of Ram temple's 'Pran Pratishtha'). India had independence but it was not established." BCCI likely to revive norms of limiting family presence during overseas tours TRIDIB BAPARNASH INDIAN EVES JOIN ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA IN ELITE CLUB P8 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 78 % Max: 18.1 °C (-1.8) SUN RISES 07:15 hrs MOON RISES 20:13 hrs NIFTY LALU SIGNALS FORMATION OF NEW POLITICAL ALLIANCE chief selector Ajit Agarkar were present during the meeting with board president Roger Binny and secretary Devajit Saikia. The issue of families accompanying players during overseas tours has been debated widely for long. While there are countless examples of teams in other sports barring families from the team accommodation, cricket boards across the globe have long grappled with the issue. In Indian cricket, the presence of families during tours came up for discussion in 2018 when then skipper Virat Kohli had reportedly urged relaxations. However, India’s shoddy show in the Test format over the past few months, that started with a historic 3-0 whitewash at home against New Zealand, and continued Down Under in the BGT, has forced the BCCI to come up with some corrective measures. With India conceding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade, cricket experts have suggested intense introspection within the team both on and off the field after unsettling reports about the team’s internal atmosphere emerged. India’s performance was marred by controversies, including Ravichandran Ashwin’s mid-series retirement announcement, and Rohit Sharma’s surprising decision to drop himself from the final Test in Sydney. While Saturday’s review meeting could be seen as a first step to set things in order, the board decided against taking any rash decisions that could negatively impact both the team and the support staff ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held next month in Pakistan and the UAE. Reacting to Mr Gandhi’s remarks, the BJP chief in a post on social media platform X wrote: “Hidden no more, Congress’ ugly truth now stands exposed by their own leader. I ‘compliment’ Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what the nation knows- that he is fighting the Indian state.” Accusing the Leader of Opposition of having close links with ‘Urban Naxals’, Mr Nadda said: “It is not a secret that Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with Urban Naxals and the Deep State who want to defame, demean and discredit India. His repeated actions have also strengthened this belief. Everything he has done or said has been in the direction of breaking India and dividing our society.” He said the Congress has a history of encouraging all those forces who want a “weak” India. “Their greed for power meant compromising the nation’s integrity and betraying the trust of the people. But, the people of India are wise. They have decided that they will always reject Rahul Gandhi and his rotten ideology,” Mr Nadda said. Echoing similar sentiments, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a post on X wrote: “The Leader of Opposition, who was sworn in by taking oath on the Constitution, is now saying, ‘We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself.’ So, Congress and Rahul Gandhi, what for are you carrying a copy of the Constitution in your hand?” Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, attacking Mr Gandhi, said “he should get his mental stability checked”. India, Spain decide to deepen defence cooperation during EAM Jaishankar’s visit STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY India and Spain have decided to further strengthen cooperation in the defence sector between the two countries. During his two-day visit to Spain on 13-14 January, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles and noted that the C295 Aircraft Assembly line Plant at Vadodara was an important project and has taken the defence and security cooperation between the two countries to the next level. The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the defence sector. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement issued this morning, said that during his visit, Mr Jaishankar called on King Felipe VI and Spain's President Pedro Sanchez. Both sides expressed satisfaction with regular highlevel exchanges and interactions, and agreed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the recent visit of President Sanchez to India to further strengthen bilateral ties. Mr Jaishankar held a meeting with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, and regional and global matters of mutual interest. efforts of the security forces, there has been a significant reduction in violence. Last year witnessed the peaceful conduct of Parliament and Assembly elections, as well as the completion of the Amarnath Yatra, indicating an improvement in the security situation,” he added. General Dwivedi praised the Indian Army for its pivotal role in maintaining internal security and managing sensitive situations across the country. He commended the discipline, maturity, and effectiveness of the soldiers working in difficult circumstances, and reaffirmed the Army's commitment to continuing these efforts. Meta apologises for Zuckerberg’s election remark "We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for @Meta and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future,‰ the company wrote. NEW DELHI, 15 JANUARY Social media giant Meta on Wednesday apologised to the Indian government over its co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks on the 2024 General Elections, saying it was an "inadvertent error" on Zuckerberg's part and India remains an “important country” for them. The company was set to be summoned by a Parliamentary panel over "incorrect and irresponsible" remarks by its founder Zuckerberg and for "spreading misinformation". In a post on X social media platform, Meta India said that "Mark's observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 elections holds true for several countries, BUT not India". "We would like to apologise for this inadvertent error. India remains an incredibly important country for @Meta and we look forward to being at the heart of its innovative future,” the company wrote. Mr Zuckerberg, in a recent podcast, claimed that most of the incumbent governments across the democracies saw the erosion of public trust during the Covid-19 pandemic and this eventually led to their ouster in the 2024 elections. Union Minister for I&B and Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, had slammed Mr Zuckerberg's remarks about India’s elections. The Union Minister said that last year's elections in India were rather a reaffirmation of people's trust in PM Modi-led NDA for a record third time. “PM Modi's decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust," he added. AGENCIES