THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 | LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘INDIA WITNESSED TRANSFORMATIVE TELECOM REVOLUTION’ LIMITS OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER 11 SENSEX 76,404.99p566.63 WEATHER SMOG/SHALLOW FOG LIKELY IN THE EVENING/NIGHT. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 22 AND 12 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. NIFTY SHAMI 'STRONGER' AFTER INJURY LAY-OFF THE TOXIC WORKPLACE P5 23,155.35p130.70 P6 ` vs $ 86.33 GOLD 82,620.00 P12 SILVER 1,04,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 76.90p0.09 PM Modi slams AAP govt for ignoring middle class, youth RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY The BJP-NDA combination will get 100 per cent votes of Delhi’s youths, Modi tells BJP workers Max. 100 % STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE TEMPERATURE Min. 55 % Max: 25.6 °C (+5.3) SUN RISES 07:13 hrs MOON RISES 02:34 hrs Min: .09.3 °C (+1.8) SUN SETS 17:53 hrs MOON SETS 12:22 hrs THUMBNAILS Sailors take part in the Sail India 2025 Senior National Championship conducted at the bay area of Marine Drive in Mumbai on Wednesday. n ANI CCEA approves MSP for raw jute for 202526 season: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the MSP of raw jute for marketing season 2025-26. The MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 grade) has been fixed at `5,650/- per quintal for 2025-26 season. This would ensure a return of 66.8 percent over the all India weighted average cost of production. The approved MSP of raw jute for Marketing season 2025-26 is in line with the principle of fixing MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India weighted average cost of production as announced by the Government in the Budget 2018-19. NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY O n a day that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal charged the Centre with doing little for the middle class, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at the AAP-led Delhi government for allegedly ignoring the middle class and the youth and not fulfilling any of its promises during its 10-year rule. “The people of Delhi are frustrated and openly questioning the unfulfilled promises of AAP. Women, in particular, are leading the charge to bring change and end the reign of AAP," the Prime Minister said during an online interactive session of ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ initiative with BJP’s booth-level workers in Delhi. “In Delhi, the 'Aapda' that AAP has brought, what they do is, they should have used their share of the money to improve the streets of Delhi, build the sewer system, create parks, focus on cleanliness, and provide parking facilities. But the people of 'Aapda' haven't fulfilled a single responsibility in Delhi,” Mr Modi said. The Prime Minister further attacked the AAP government claiming that the youth of Delhi hates 'AAP- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that the middle class is being troubled the most in the country and is a victim of "tax terrorism", claiming that 50 per cent of their household income goes to the government in the form of taxes. In a video address released on the AAP's official 'X' handle, he stated that presently most middle class STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY households are facing a lot of difficulties in running their families, and due to such issues, every year they are leaving the country in sizable numbers. The AAP chief further demanded that the next budget of the country be dedicated to the middle class. He put up seven demands before the Centre, that include an increase in the education competence to perform those actions. To put it in layman's language, a tehsildar can never record an FIR, how so very strongly he may feel. "Because our constitution ordains institutions to work within their own domain. Are they working? I'll answer for you, no.” The Vice President went on to say: “Institutions are yielding ground to other institutions, and that is being done out of expediency. These pla- catory mechanisms may result in short-term gain, but they cause incalculable spinal damage in the long run. And therefore I urge you, you have to think. "Once you think, connect with the people. Make them aware no nation is as rich in human resources as Bharat. But we have to audit ourselves. We can't rest on laurels that are surficial.” Posing a question to the participants about the provision of Whip in Parliament, he wondered why there should be a whip. “Whip means you are curtailing expression, you are curtailing freedom, you are subjecting your representative to servility. You don't allow such a person to use his or her mind. Examine whether the US has a whip or not, find out in the last ten years how decisions of the Senate have been influenced by persuasion. But when you issue a whip, there is no persuasion. “To persuade whom?... Political parties are supposed to promote democracy, but do the elected representatives have the freedom of expression? Whip comes in the way,” he added. Reflecting on the disruptions in Parliament, Mr Dhankhar observed that Parliament, which was once considered a temple of democracy, has now become a wrestling ground, a battleground. budget from 2 per cent to 10 per cent, while calling for the capping of private school fees. He sought subsidies and scholarships for higher education, and demanded an increase in the health budget. Mr Kejriwal demanded that tax (GST) should be removed from health insurance, and called for raising the income tax exemption TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 22 JANUARY The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today moved Calcutta High Court seeking capital punishment for Sanjay Roy, convicted in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case. This move comes after the West Bengal government also filed a petition seeking the death penalty, challenging the lower court's order of life imprisonment. During the hearing before a division bench comprising Justices Debangshu Basak and Sabbar Rashidi, the CBI also questioned the state government's right to file such a petition. The CBI argued that only the family of the deceased, the investigating agency (CBI), and the convict have the legal standing to challenge the Sealdah court's order. The Champions Trophy 2025 was scheduled to be held in Pakistan alone, but after India's refusal to travel to the country, Rohit Sharma and Co's matches were shifted to Dubai. The decision also led to multiple media reports citing the BCCI's reluctance to have the name ‘Pakistan' written on the team kit. to the country, Rohit Sharma and Co’s matches were shifted to Dubai. The decision also led to multiple media reports citing the BCCI’s reluctance to have the name ‘Pakistan’ written on the team kit. However, Saikia clarified that the Indian team and the cricket board will go by the ICC guidelines. “We’ll go by the ICC guidelines for the Champions Trophy 2025. We’ll follow whatever protocols are laid down for the logo of the team jersey and dress code for the Champions Trophy,” Mr Saikia told The Statesman on Wednesday. The BCCI secretary however, is yet to come clear on whether Rohit Sharma will visit Pakistan for the opening ceremony, expected to be held in Karachi, which will host the inaugural game on 19 February. The Champions Trophy kicks off with Pakistan taking limit to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 7 lakh.HesaidthatGSTshould be removed from essential commodities, and sought a strong retirement plan and pension schemes for senior citizens.TheAAPchiefsought free medical services for senior citizens in all governmentandprivatehospitals acrossthecountry,andasked for a 50 per cent concession in rail travel for them. CBI moves High Court, seeks death penalty for Sanjay Roy BCCI to adhere to ICC guidelines on team’s Champions Trophy jerseys Putting an end to the confusion around rumours of the BCCI refusing to have the name of the host nation, Pakistan, on the Indian cricket team’s jersey for the upcoming Champions Trophy, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia on Wednesday said the Indian team will adhere to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) directive in the tournament. According to protocol, the official logo of any ICC event will have the host country’s name. When Pakistan came to India in 2023 for the 50over ICC World Cup, Babar Azam and Co duly sported the host country’s name on their jerseys as part of the tournament protocol. The Champions Trophy 2025 was scheduled to be held in Pakistan alone, but after India's refusal to travel for the people in the national capital, PM Modi reiterated the BJP's “Sheesh Mahal” jibe. “Today, the people of Delhi, looking at the Sheesh Mahal, remember the lies and deception. This is the living proof of the betrayal of the people. During their reign, millions of rupees were poured into the Sheesh Mahal, yet the same people left Delhi residents struggling for clean water,” he said. “The problem of dirty drinking water persists in Delhi. Today, water and tanker mafia are flourishing and the people of Delhi are forced to drink contaminated drinking water...AAPda is not concerned about this," Mr Modi said. At least 11 passengers die as they jump from train amid fire scare in Jalgaon Kejriwal calls middle class victims of ‘tax terrorism’ Access to judiciary has been weaponised: VP Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said access to the judiciary has been weaponised in recent years, posing a great challenge to governance. Interacting with a batch of participants from the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), he said: “We have a fundamental right in the country, and the right is we can access the judiciary. It's a fundamental right. But in the last few decades, access to the judiciary has been weaponised. It has been weaponised, to another level, it is posing a great challenge to our governance, our democratic values”. He said: “Day in and day out, you'll find advisories emanating, executive functions being performed by bodies that have no jurisdiction or jurisprudential authority or DA' people and is in a mood to punish them. “The youth has seen how 'AAP-DA' people lied to Delhi and did scams,” he said. He said this time, the BJP-NDA is going to get 100 per cent votes of the youth of Delhi. Mr Modi said the youth of Delhi want employment and self-employment opportunities to increase here, Delhi should become a startup hub, there should be a government that works according to the aspirations of its youth. “That's why the first choice of the youth of Delhi is BJP,” Mr Modi said. Stressing that even after 11 years in power, the AAP government did not work on New Zealand in the lung opener. India will play all their matches in Dubai, starting with the three group stage matches ~ against Bangladesh (20 February), Pakistan (23 February), and New Zealand (2 March). If India qualify for the semi-final and the final, two additional matches will be played in the Dubai Stadium, including the final of the tournament. This move comes after the West Bengal government also filed a petition seeking the death penalty, challenging the lower court's order of life imprisonment. However, the Advocate General countered that since the family of the deceased had initially filed a complaint with the state police, and the state police had conducted the initial investigation before handing it over to the CBI, the state government has the right to file the petition. Justice Basak then questioned the Advocate General about whether the family of the deceased had been informed about the state government's action. The Advocate General replied in the negative. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 22 JANUARY At least 11 people were killed and several others were injured after passengers of the Pushpak Express were hit by another train in Pachora taluka of Jalgaon district in Maharashtra on Wednesday evening. The accident took place around 5 p.m. between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora, 400 km away from Mumbai. The Pushpak Express had halted after rumours of a fire on board and several passengers who had left their coaches were hit by the Karnataka Express that passed on the adjacent track. “The death toll in the Jalgaon train accident has risen to 11, with six others injured after the Karnataka Express hit passengers of the Pushpak Express on Wednesday,” a senior official confirmed. According to eyewitnesses, the commotion started when sparks appeared from the wheels of the Pushpak Express. A rumour of a fire quickly spread among passengers, leading to panic. The train, en route from Lucknow to Mumbai, had come to a halt after passengers pulled the emergency chain. At the same time, the Karnataka Express, travelling from Manmad to “Several passengers jumped off the train after rumours of a fire. Unfortunately, they were hit by the Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction," stated Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Maheswar Reddy. Bhusawal, was approaching on the parallel track. Some passengers leapt from the train, right into the path of the Karnataka Express. Jalgaon Superintendent of Police Maheswar Reddy confirmed the fatalities and injuries, stating: “Several passengers jumped off the train after rumours of a fire. Unfortunately, they were hit by the Karnataka Express coming from the opposite direction." Railway authorities, including the Divisional Railway Manager of Bhusawal, along with medical teams and local administration, have reached the site to oversee rescue and relief efforts. Senior railway officials and state government teams are coordinating the response to ensure medical attention for the injured and to investigate the incident. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, currently in Davos, announced Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the families of the victims. JD(U) denies withdrawing support to BJP-led Manipur government IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 22 JANUARY The central leadership of Janata Dal-United (JDU) has overturned the decision of its Manipur state president to withdraw support from N Biren Singh-led BJP government and removed Manipur JDU chief from the post. In a letter addressed to the Governor of Manipur on Wednesday, JDU Manipur President K Biren Singh conveyed the party’s decision to sever ties with the BJP. The decision did not pose an immediate threat to the BJP government in Manipur. However, it shocked the political circle in Patna. As Bihar assembly election is due later this year, people kept speculating about the next move of JDU chief Nitish Kumar till evening when clarification came from the party. JDU Spokesperson Rajeev Rajan Prasad addressed the media in the evening and termed the news ‘misleading and baseless’. He stressed that the JDU will continue to support the NDA government in Manipur. He also said that the JDU Manipur unit didn’t communicate with the central leadership. Considering it as indiscipline, action has been taken against the Manipur JDU chief and he has been relieved from the post. JDU Manipur President K Biren Singh’s letter had outlined the party’s grievances, beginning with the defection of five JDU MLAs to the BJP after the 2022 state assembly elections. The matter of their defection remained unresolved with a trial under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India still pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal. He had also stressed that the party’s lone MLA in the Manipur Assembly, Md Abdul Nasir, would now sit on the opposition benches.