TUESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR FADNAVIS SLAMS YOUTUBER ALLAHBADIA FOR CRUDE REMARKS AERO INDIA: DEFENCE MINISTER INVITES GLOBAL OEMS P6 SENSEX 77,311.80 q548.39 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Shallow to moderate fog in the morning. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 30˚ C and 20˚C respectively. ‘WILL ANNOUNCE 25 PC TARIFFS ON STEEL & ALUMINUM’ P5 NIFTY 23,381.60 q178.35 P10 ` vs $ 87.46 GOLD 88,245.00 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 10 FEBRUARY Max: 29.4˚C (+0.5) Min: 17.4˚C (-0.3) SUN RISES 06:11 hrs MOON RISES 15:25 hrs SUN SETS 17:30 hrs MOON SETS 04:33 hrs T TEMPERATURE rinamul Congress will come back with a twothirds majority in the Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in 2026, party’s chairperson Mamata Banerjee said today. She was addressing her party MLAs at Naushad Ali hall of West Bengal Legislative Assembly this afternoon. “Rest assured, we will get twothirds majority in the Assembly election scheduled to be held in 2026. Bury the hatchet and put up a united fight against the BJP. Congress has lost its power in Bengal. Work hard to ensure victory of the party,” she told the MLAs. Miss Banerjee said she would look after the organisation of the party in all the 294 seats. She said that from every block, names of three leaders would be sent to MLA Aroop Biswas. She came down heavily on some MLAs that included Madan Mitra, Narayan Goswami and Humayun Kabir for making statements that were uncalled for. “Stay away from making statements that might create confusion and bring down the image of the party,” she said. Miss Banerjee said Madan Mitra had tendered an unconditional apology. “Madan has tendered an unconditional apology. But you cannot go on making mistakes and ask for an apology. This will not be tolerated. Be serious and do not make casual remarks,” she remarked. She pulled up and cautioned Naren Full Moon on 12 February THUMBNAILS A hawker walks past the blooming Tulips at Shantipath lawns, in New Delhi on Monday. n ANI Gold hits record high of Rs 87,210 per 10g amid global economic uncertainty: Gold prices in India surged to an all-time high on Monday, with 10 grams of 24K gold reaching Rs87,210, while 1 gram was priced at Rs8,721. The steady rise in gold prices reflects increasing investor interest in the yellow metal amid global market fluctuations. Gold has witnessed a consistent upward trend since the beginning of February. On February 1, the price of 22K gold was Rs7,760 per gram, while 24K gold stood at Rs8,464 per gram. By February 10, these rates had risen to Rs7,995 and Rs8,721, respectively, marking a +3.03 per cent increase in 22K gold and a +3.04 per cent rise in 24K gold over 10 days. SC seeks Centre, ECI’s response to life-time ban for convicted MPs/MLAs from contesting polls PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY government response. Besides the Central government, the court asked ECI to submit its reply on the plea by a PIL petitioner advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The bench also requested the Attorney General R Venkataramani to assist the court in the hearing of the matter. Section 8 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, provides for the unseating and disqualification of a sitting lawmaker on conviction under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, which provides for punishment for the preaching and practice of “untouchability”, and other statutes. Section 9 of the Act provides for the disqualification of a person dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the state, for a period of five years after the date of dismissal. On the plea for the expeditious disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers, the bench said it would be inappropriate for a two-judge bench to reopen the issue, given that a threejudge bench had already delivered a judgment on the issue on November 9, 2023. However, the bench directed its registry to place the issue of the expeditious disposal of criminal cases against the lawmakers before the Chief Justice of India for consideration by Manipur: Security measures heightened following Biren Singh’s resignation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY Following Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation on Sunday, after months of facing political dissent and internal strife within the ruling establishment, security measures have been heightened in Manipur, particularly in the valley regions, as part of an emergency and crisis management strategy. The resignation of the Chief Minister marks a critical juncture in Manipur’s volatile political landscape, adding another SILVER 99,500 Will get two-thirds majority on our own in 2026: Mamata Min. 39% The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Central government and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to a 2016 public interest plea challenging the constitutional validity of Sections 8 and 9 of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951, while seeking to debar the convicted lawmakers – both in the parliament and the state legislatures – from contesting elections for life. As the law stands today a lawmaker loses his membership of Parliament or the state legislature after his conviction and continues to remain disqualified from contesting elections for six years from the date of completion of sentence. The notice on the PIL was issued way back on September 14, 2016. A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Manmohan asked the Central government to file its reply affidavit failing which the court could proceed to decide the matter without P16 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 75.70 I am looking forward to meeting ‘my friend’ Trump, says PM Modi CM was addressing her party MLAs at Naushad Ali hall of West Bengal Legislative Assembly RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 93% BCCI EXPECTED TO TAKE A CALL ON BUMRAH BY TUESDAY layer of uncertainty to the state’s ongoing ethnic crisis. According to sources, senior police officials and security forces have been deployed across key areas, with a particular focus on the valley, which remains a politically sensitive zone. These measures are directed to prevent any potential unrest in a state that has already been grappling with prolonged ethnic tensions. An adequate number of troops have been stationed across the region, ruling out the immediate need for additional Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). The security apparatus is actively monitoring leaders and groups in the north-east state that could potentially incite violence. Law enforcement authorities have deployed personnel equipped with drones, hand jammers, and other advanced security tools to tackle any disturbances. Manipur has been facing ethnic violence for months, particularly between the Meitei and Kuki communities. The state has witnessed violent clashes, displacement of communities, and growing dissatisfaction with governance. a larger bench. Posting the matter for hearing after three weeks, which is tentatively listed for hearing on March 4 (computer generated), the bench, however, said it would decide the issue concerning the lifetime disqualification of convicted politicians from contesting election. The top court was hearing the PIL filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking life-long disqualification of a convicted MPs, and MLAs, along with a plea for a oneyear timeline for deciding criminal cases against the government members. During the hearing, senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, assisting the court as amicus curiae - highlighted major roadblocks, including special MP/MLA courts handling other matters, excessive adjournments, and lack of strict procedural enforcement. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the PIL petitioner, asked the bench to address the issue of no re-entry of convicted persons into politics. Chakraborty, MLA from Jamuria and Mr Bidhan Upadhyay, mayor of Asansol Municipal Corporation. She asked Sabina Yasmin, MLA from Malda to be more active and asked her to end differences with Rahim Bakshi. “I ask you, Sabina, to bury all differences with Rahim. You should be more active and work together to consolidate the party.” Miss Banerjee asked party MLAs to follow the work of Mosaraf Hossain and use his work as a model. “Mosaraf’s work should be considered to be the model and follow him. Meet local people to increase your reach. Nobody should take elections lightly. There is no scope for complacency in the party. We will not tolerate any casual approach,” she said. Miss Banerjee instructed the MLAs to work with the party’s old timers and the newcomers. “We cannot forget those who had worked to consolidate our party. They should be respected and the young members should work with them. They should not feel isolated and neglected.” She said only the authorised leaders will speak to the press. “Remember, poll is just one year away and we cannot afford to take it lightly,” she said. While commenting on the poll debacle of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi election, she said: “Congress should have taken a more flexible stand in the Delhi election to make an alliance. On the other hand, the result in Haryana would have been different had AAP had taken Congress along.” ASHOK TUTEJA NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said he is looking forward to his meeting with ''my friend'' US President Donald Trump in Washington later this week. ''We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world,'' he said in a statement ahead of his departure on a five-day visit to France and the United States. Mr Modi said that although this will be their first meeting following President Trump's historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, he has a very warm recollection of working with the American leader during the latter's first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US. He said the visit to the US on February 12-13 will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of their collaboration in President Trump's first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen the bilateral partnership, including in Sonia demands population census, says 14 cr deprived of food security benefits STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi Monday urged the Centre to conduct the delayed census, warning that 14 crore Indians are being denied food security benefits due to outdated 2011 data. She stressed the urgency of updating National Food Security Act (NFSA) entitlements and criticised the government's lack of clarity on the census timeline. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, she pointed out a four-year delay in conducting the census and expressed concerns that it is unlikely to be conducted this year as well. "For the first time in independent history, the decennial census has been delayed by more than four years. Originally scheduled for 2021, there is still no clarity as to when the census will be conducted. The Budget allocations reveal that the updated census is unlikely to be conducted this year as well. Around 14 crore eligible Indians are thus being deprived of their rightful benefit under the NFSA," she said. As a result, Ms Gandhi argued, around 14 crore additional individuals who should be covered under the NFSA remain excluded. Stressing the urgency of the census, she asserted, "It is imperative that the government prioritises the completion of the census as soon as possible and ensures that all the deserving individuals receive the benefits guaranteed to them under the NFSA. Food security is not a privilege, it's a fundamental right," she said. She underscored the importance of the NFSA, enacted by the UPA government in 2013 to ensure food and nutritional security for India's population. "The National Food Security Act (NFSA) introduced by the UPA government in September 2013 was a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring food and nutritional security to the country's 140 crore population. This legislation plays a crucial role in protecting millions of vulnerable households, particularly during the Covid-19 crisis. It is this Act that provides the basis for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana," the Congress leader asserted. Ms Gandhi said the NFSA mandates that up to 75 per cent of the rural and 50 per cent of the urban population receive subsidised food grains but the beneficiary quota is still determined based on the outdated 2011 Census. Currently, eligible individuals receive 5 kg of free food grains per month under this framework. She urged the Centre to prioritise the completion of the census to ensure that deserving individuals receive their rightful benefits. Rising gold reserves not intended to replace any international currency: Sitharaman STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday clarified in the Lok Sabha that India's rising gold reserves, including those held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is not intended to replace any international currency. “Gold is also kept in the Reserve Bank and gold is also being bought by the Reserve Bank. But beyond that, as regards an international currency or potential currency, there is not much for me to comment at this stage,” the Minister said. Her response comes against Congress MP Manish Tiwari's concerns about whether the global shift towards gold signaled a move away from the US dollar as a dominant settlement mechanism. Tiwari stated that since the US abandoned the gold standard in 1971, gold had lost its significance as a major financial asset.He highlighted that in the recent years, central banks worldwide have increased their gold holdings. From constituting only 6% of global reserves in 2006, gold now makes up about 11% in 2024. Countries like China, India, Poland, and Turkey have been among the most aggressive buyers, and domestic gold prices in India have surged as well. With this background, Tiwari asked "this shift away from the dollar to gold, does it indicate a renewed search for an alternative international settlement mechanism being cost the dollar?" The Minister though acknowledged that gold demand in India remains strong and has even grown, and attributed this to the traditional preference of Indian households, small businesses, and women for gold as a secure and liquid investment. the areas of technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience. The PM will be amongst the first few world leaders to visit the US following President’s Trump inauguration for a second term. President Trump spoke with Mr Modi on January 27 when he discussed immigration and stressed on the importance of India buying more American-made security equipment and fair bilateral trading ties. On his visit to France from February 10-12, the PM said he looks forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, a gathering of the world leaders and global tech CEOs, where there will be exchange of views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner. The bilateral segment of his visit, Mr Modi said, will provide an opportunity to review the progress on the 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France strategic partnership along with ''my friend'' French President Emmanuel Macron. Delhi:Buzz over BJP’s chief ministerial pick intensifies STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 10 FEBRUARY After the BJP's remarkable victory in the Delhi Assembly elections on February 8, senior party leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party national president JP Nadda and state unit president Virendra Sachdeva are in touch with victorious candidates and have started high-level meetings to discuss the selection of the next chief minister of Delhi. The BJP is yet to announce the Chief Ministerial face for Delhi. There are, however, also speculations about the possibility that the next Chief Minister of Delhi could be a woman. According to the sources, a woman MLA could also be under consideration for the CM's post. Among the BJP's 48 newly elected MLAs are four women-Rekha Gupta, Neelam Pahalwan, Poonam Sharma and Shikha Roy. Speculation is rife that party leader Parvesh Verma, who earned the tag of ‘giant killer’ after defeating AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, is also being seen as a strong contender for the top post. Meanwhile, BJP's winning candidate from Moti Nagar, Harish Khurana, said the selection of Delhi's Chief Minister is the responsibility of the top leadership and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while his priority remains serving the people of his constituency and addressing its issues. A crucial meeting was held here at the residence of the Union Home Minister on Sunday, where discussions were held regarding the government formation in Delhi.