SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘PRESIDENT'S RULE IN MANIPUR ADMISSION OF BJP’S FAILURE’ ‘Y’ SCALE SECURITY TO ACTOR VIJAY RAISES POLITICAL HACKLES P11 SENSEX 75,939.21q199.76 NIFTY SRI LANKA STUN AUSTRALIA TO COMPLETE SERIES WHITEWASH ‘KUMBH HAS AWAKENED HINDUS’ P10 22,929.25q102.15 P9 ` vs $ 86.81 GOLD 88,630.00 P16 SILVER 1,08,000 PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 27 AND 11 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. PM Modi, US Prez Trump tighten Indo-US embrace RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Both leaders reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought Max. 76 % NIKHIL VYAS BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 75.37p0.35 WEATHER TEMPERATURE Min. 26 % Max: 26.4 °C (+3) SUN RISES 07:59 hrs MOON RISES 20:46 hrs Min: .10.7 °C (+0.5) SUN SETS 18:11 hrs MOON SETS 08:54 hrs THUMBNAILS A view of a Dalmatian pelican at Ansagar Lake, in Ajmer on Friday. n ANI WPI inflation eases to 2.31 per cent in Jan amid decline in food prices: The wholesale price index (WPI) inflation eased to 2.31 per cent in January down from 2.37 per cent in December 2024, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday. Food article prices declined but there were rising costs in the manufacturing of food products and textiles. (P14) “ Americans are familiar with President Trump's motto, Make America Great Again, or "MAGA." The people of India are also moving towards development at a fast pace with the determination of "Viksit Bharat 2047” on the track of heritage and development. NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY P rime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, meeting at the White House on Thursday night, took giant steps to deepen the ties between the two countries by pledging to work together in diverse areas, including defence, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, civil nuclear energy, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and trade. The personal equation between the two leaders was very much in evidence as they met to discuss a range of bilateral issues as well as global developments. Indian officials said the “fruitful” meeting lasted nearly four hours, including talks between the two delegations. This was the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump after the inauguration of the American leader for a second term. Mr Trump is now expected to visit India later this year for the Quad Summit which will also see the participation of the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan. Addressing a joint conference alongside the US President after their bilateral talks at the White House in Washington, Prime Minister Modi said: “India and the United States have stood firmly together in the fight against terrorism. We agree that concerted action is necessary to eradicate cross-border terrorism.” A joint statement outlining the way forward for India- US ties was adopted My administration has approved extradition of Tahawwur Rana: Trump STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE after the talks. According to India-US Joint Statement, PM Modi and Mr Trump reaffirmed that the global scourge of terrorism must be fought and terrorist safe havens eliminated from every corner of the world. “They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including AlQa’ida, ISIS, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August Panel expected to meet to appoint new CEC ahead of Rajiv Kumar’s retirement AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY In a key announcement, President Donald Trump said the United States has agreed to extradite November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India. The key accused in the 26/11 terror attack is currently at a high-security prison in the US and India has been seeking his extradition for years. “I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack to face justice in India. He is going back to India to face justice,” Mr Trump said after bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in washington. The US President said:"India and the US will be working together like never before to confront the threat of radical Islamic terror across the world. There are more to follow.'' PM Modi appreciated the USA’s agreement to extradite the terror accused and thanked President Trump for confirming his extradition. "A perpetrator of the Mumbai terror attack is being extradited for his interrogation and trial in India. I thank President Trump for expediting the process." Pakistani origin business- man Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai that resulted in the death of 164 people, will now be interrogated by Indian agencies and face trial in India. Rana's co-conspirators included, among others, David Coleman Headley. Headley pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana. Rana is also accused of having close links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). 26, 2021," the statement said. “Recognising a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the US announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved,” it said. Addressing the joint conference, Mr Modi said: “I am thankful to the President that he has decided to hand over the culprit who committed the killings in India in 2008, to India now. Indian courts will now take appropriate action." With Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar set to retire on 18 February, the selection committee for appointing his successor is expected to meet next week, possibly on Sunday or Monday. The committee, composed of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will deliberate on the appointment of the new CEC. Following Rajiv Kumar's departure, Gyanesh Kumar will become the senior-most Election Commissioner, with his tenure extending until 29 January 2029. To streamline the selection process, the central government has recently established a search committee under the leadership of Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. This committee is responsible for shortlisting potential candidates for the position of the next Chief Election Commissioner, ensuring that the most qualified and capable individual is appointed to this critical role. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioner (EC) are appointed by the President of India based on the recommendations of a selection committee. This committee is led by the Prime Minister of India and includes the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, as well as a Union Council of Ministers member nominated by the Prime Minister. The term of the CEC can be up to six years from the date they assume office. However, the CEC will retire upon reaching the age of sixty-five, even if their term has not yet expired. Over 50 crore devotees take holy dip at Triveni Sangam MANOJ BHADRA MAHAKUMBH NAGAR, 14 FEBRUARY The grand Mahakumbh 2025, held on the sacred land of Teerthraj Prayagraj since 13 January, has now etched its name in history. With over 50 crore devotees taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam, this extraordinary event has set a global benchmark for religious and cultural unity. This participation marks the largest congregation in human history for any religious, cultural, or social event. To grasp the sheer magnitude of this gathering, one only needs to compare its scale: aside from India and China, no other country in the world has a population exceeding the number of devotees who have already visited Mahakumbh. Nations like the United States, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Bangladesh all have smaller populations than those who have immersed themselves in the sacred waters of Sanatan Dharma. According to the US Census Bureau, among the world's top 10 most populous countries are India (1,41,93,16,933), China (1,40,71,81,209), America (34,20,34,432), Indonesia (28,35,87,097), Pakistan (25,70,47,044), Nigeria (24,27,94,751), Brazil (22,13,59,387), Bangladesh (17,01,83,916), Russia (14,01,34,279) and Mexico (13,17,41,347). Only the populations of India and China surpass the number of devotees who have gathered at the Mahakumbh. In contrast, nations like the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Brazil fall significantly behind. This unparalleled spiritual phenomenon is a testament to the timeless grandeur of Sanatan Dharma, transforming Mahakumbh from a mere festival into a global symbol of faith and unity. The sacred confluence of Maa Ganga, Maa Yamuna, and the invisible Maa Saraswati has witnessed an unprecedented surge of faith as saints, devotees, Kalpvasis, and pilgrims immerse themselves in the holy waters.The scale of this divine gathering has now surpassed the expectations set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who had envisioned a record-breaking Mahakumbh even before it began. Right from the start, CM Yogi had projected that this grand and divine Mahakumbh would see 45 crore devotees, a milestone already achieved by 11 February. By 14 February, the number of bathers had crossed 50 crores, with 12 days and one major bathing festival remaining. The total count is now expected to soar beyond 55 to 60 crores. A closer look at the pilgrimage highlights the overwhelming participation on key bathing days, with Mauni Amavasya seeing the most significant gathering, with eight crore devotees taking the holy dip. On Makar Sankranti, 3.5 crore devotees participated in the Amrit Snan. More than two crore devotees bathed on 30 January and 1 February. Paush Purnima witnessed 1.7 crore devotees taking the sacred dip. On Basant Panchami, 2.57 crore devotees participated in the ritual bathing. The significant bathing festival of Magh Purnima also saw over two crore devotees at Triveni Sangam. With Mahakumbh 2025 continuing to draw millions, this spiritual congregation is on track to become the largest in human history, reaffirming the eternal grandeur of Sanatan Dharma on a global scale. Trump praises Modi for his leadership STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY US President Donald Trump lavished fulsome praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their talks in Washington, calling him as a "great leader" and praised his remarkable work in India and his global recognition. The American leader also praised the Indian PM's negotiation skills, calling him a tougher, better negotiator than him. Welcoming PM Modi with a warm hug at the White House, Mr Trump said: “We missed you a lot.” He also wrote a heartfelt message in his book Our Journey Together, calling PM Modi "great." Mr Trump lauded the PM's governance, saying he is doing a fantastic job in India and that people around the world are talking about him. Pakistan calls India-US joint statement one-sided STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY Islamabad on Friday took exception to the ''specific reference'' to Pakistan in the joint statement issued by India and the United States after the Modi-Trump talks, saying it is ''one-sided, misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms.'' In his weekly briefing, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson said Islamabad is "surprised" by the inclusion of such remarks without acknowledging the country's ''sacrifices'' in the fight against terrorism. In their joint statement, the two leaders also asked Pakistan to "expeditiously bring to justice" the plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which killed over 165 people. The joint statement named terror groups like al-Qaida, Islamic State, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba as the foremost threat. BJP likely to name next CM of Delhi after PM Modi returns from USA NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY The BJP is likely to name the next Chief Minister of Delhi anytime after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his five-day visit to France and the United States. After its historic win in the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP continued brainstorming over the selection of the next chief minister for the sixth consecutive day. According to the sources, the BJP’s legislature party comprising the 48 newlyelected MLAs is likely to meet on 16 February to finalise the name of the new chief minister after the Prime Minister returns from the USA. The sources said the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister is likely to be held either on 19 or 20 February. The saffron party registered a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the results of which were declared on February 8, winning a two- thirds majority bagging 48 seats in the 70-member assembly. After the announcement of Delhi Assembly polls on 8 February, many key meetings of top party leaders with newlyelected MLAs regarding the selection of the new Chief Minister and government formation have taken place. The term of the current Delhi Assembly will conclude on 26 February and the new government must take charge by then. Top party leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda, and state unit president Virendra Sachdeva, have been holding key meetings to discuss the selection of the next chief minister of Delhi. Speculation is rife that Parvesh Verma, who earned the tag of ‘giant killer’ after defeating AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi constituency, is being seen as a strong contender for the top post. There are also speculations about the possibility that the next chief minister could be a woman. According to the sources, a woman MLA could also be under consideration for the post. Among the BJP’s 48 MLAs are four women – Rekha Gupta, Neelam Pahalwan, Poonam Sharma, and Shikha Roy. 'We have EMIs to pay':New India Cooperative Bank customers panic as RBI imposes curbs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 14 FEBRUARY The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has superseded the Board of Directors of New India Co-operative Bank for 12 months, citing poor governance standards. The move comes a day after imposing restrictions on the Mumbai-based Co-operative Bank. “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 36 AAA read with section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (As Applicable to Co-operative Societies), the Reserve Bank has today superseded the Board of Directors of New India Cooperative Bank Ltd, Mumbai, for a period of 12 months,” the RBI said in a statement. Further, the RBI has appointed Shreekant, a former chief general manager of the State Bank of India (SBI), as the administrator to manage the bank’s affairs. A committee of advisors has been set up to assist him, comprising Ravindra Sapra (former general manager, SBI) and Abhijeet Deshmukh (chartered accountant). The RBI had imposed several restrictions on the bank, including a six-month freeze on withdrawals due to liquidity concerns. Depositors cannot access their savings, current, or other accounts, though the bank has been allowed to set off loans against deposits and cover essential expenses such as employee salaries, rent, and utility bills. It said the bank cannot grant or renew loans, make new investments, or accept fresh deposits without prior approval. It assured depositors that those eligible could claim up to Rs 5 lakh from the DICGC. The RBI move caused significant distress among depositors, many of whom rely on their bank accounts for daily financial needs. Customers were seen rushing to branches in a panic, worried about their savings, bill payments, and loan EMIs. The RBI had stated that the eligible depositors would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of their deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5,00,000 (Rupees five lakh only) in the same capacity and in the same right, from the DICGC, as applicable under the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961, based on submission of willingness by the depositors concerned and after due verification.