FADNAVIS SETS UP COMMITTEE TO DRAFT LAW AGAINST 'LOVE JIHAD' 16 FEBRUARY 2025 ZELENSKYY URGES CREATION OF ‘ARMED FORCES OF EUROPE’ WORLD NO. 1 JANNIK SINNER HANDED THREE-MONTH BAN FOR DOPING www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 12 PAGE 9 PAGE 8 SINCE 1818 PAGES 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER SMOG/MIST LIKELY IN THE MORNING. PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 29 AND 11 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. Probe ordered after CPWD submitted a factual report on the matter RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 93 % TEMPERATURE CVC orders probe into ‘Sheesh Mahal’ Min. 32 % Max: 28.6 °C (+4.2) SUN RISES 06:58 hrs MOON RISES 21:39 hrs Min: .10.0 °C (-1.0) SUN SETS 18:12 hrs MOON SETS 09:20 hrs THUMBNAILS Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa pose for a selfie as they cross Cape Horn while sailing on the third leg of Navika Sagar Parikrama II expedition onboard INSV Tarini, on Saturday. nANI New India Cooperative Bank GM arrested by Economic Offences Wing in Rs 122 crore fraud case: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has arrested Hitesh Mehta, General Manager of New India Cooperative Bank, in connection with a Rs 122 crore financial fraud case. On Saturday, EOW officials conducted a raid at Mr Mehta’s residence in Dahisar, Mumbai, at Aryavrat Society, NL Complex. Following the search at his 14th floor apartment, Mr Mehta was taken into custody and brought to the EOW office for interrogation. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY T he Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has directed a detailed investigation into the renovations at 6 Flag Staff Road, the former residence of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal during his tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi. The CVC has asked the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to conduct a detailed investigation on allegations that “building norms were floated to construct a lavish mansion (Sheesh Mahal) covering 40,000 square yards (8 acres)”. The probe was ordered by the CVC on 13 February after the CPWD submitted a factual report on the matter on the complaint of BJP leader Vijender Gupta. According to the BJP MLA, he had written to the CVC on 14 and 21 October last year, raising concerns over alleged irregularities in the construction and renovation of the property, referred to as 'Sheesh Mahal.' He had claimed that adjacent government property, including Plot Nos. 45 and 47 on Rajpur Road (previously housing senior officers and judges in TypeV flats) and two bungalows (8-A & 8-B, Flag Staff Road), were demolished and merged into the new residence, violating ground coverage and floor area ratio (FAR) norms and lacked proper layout plan approvals. The CVC subsequently All that you value at home, you don’t practise abroad: EAM Jaishankar schools West on democracy AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM) delivered a bold critique of Western attitudes towards democracy during the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Speaking at a panel discussion titled ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience,' EAM Jaishankar remarked, “There was a time, I’ve to say this in all honesty, where the West treated democracy as a Western characteristic and was busy encouraging non-democratic forces in the Global South. It still does. Everything you value at home, you don’t practice abroad." He also reflected on the vibrancy of India’s elections. “The mark on my index finger is a mark of a person who just voted. We just had an election in my state. Last year, we had a national election. In Indian elections, 2/3rd of national voters vote. We count the votes in a single day and nobody disputes the results after it is announced. Today, in the modern era, 20 per cent more voters vote than they did decades ago," he remarked. The EAM emphasised that despite global concerns, "we are voting well, we are optimistic about democracy." “The message is that somehow democracy is in trouble globally, and I will have to disagree with it. We are voting well, we are optimistic about democracy and for us, democracy has actually delivered.” Mr Jaishankar defended India’s democratic model, noting that the country’s choice to adopt democracy after Independence was rooted in its consultative and pluralistic society. “India chose a democratic model after Independence, it chose that model because we had fundamentally a consultative, pluralistic society,” he explained. On social media, Mr Jaishankar shared his thoughts on the panel, writing: “Started the #MSC2025 with a panel on ‘Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience’. Joined PM @jonasgahrstore, @ElissaSlotkin, and @trzaskowski_. Highlighted India as a democracy that delivers. Differed with the prevailing political pessimism. Spoke my mind on foreign interference.” Taking place in Munich, Germany the Munich Security Conference 2025, is a global forum for discussing international security. EAM meets Ukrainian FM in Munich STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY Amid attempts by US President Donald Trump to bring the Russia-Ukraine conflict to an end, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andry Sybiha on Friday and discussed various issues. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany's Munich. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the EAM also met with Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Soder in Germany and discussed economic and technology cooperation. Govt considers private sector as very important partner in journey of developed India: PM Modi NIKHIL VYAS The Prime Minister said to further support the middle class, „our government has raised the threshold for zero income tax liability from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.‰ „We are providing loans on a large scale, and in addition, our bank profits are also increasing,‰ he said. NEW DELHI, 15 FEBRUARY Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that the Union government considers the private sector as a very important partner in the journey of developed India. “In India's journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, our government sees the private sector as a key partner,” Mr Modi said. The Prime Minister was speaking at the Global Business Summit 2025 organised by an English news channel. He said the government has opened many new sectors for the private sector, such as the space sector. “Today many youths, many Startups are contributing in the space sector,” the Prime Minister said. Mr Modi further said the Union government has transformed the fear of busi- ness into the ease of doing business. The PM said 25 crore Indians have risen out of poverty in just 10 years. “Our government, focused on addressing the needs of the people, and as a result, 25 crore individuals have come out of poverty. We now have a Neo-middle class in the country,” he said. The Prime Minister said to further support the middle class, “our government has raised the threshold for zero income tax liability from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh.” “We are providing loans on a large scale, and in addition, our bank profits are also increasing. Ten years ago, editorials on record NPAs would frequently be printed,” he said. “But now, the headlines have changed to: ‘In the AprilDecember period of the 20242025 fiscal year, public sector banks (PSBs) in India reported a net profit of Rs 1.29 lakh crore’,” Mr Modi said. He said India missed the first three industrial revolutions but is ready to move forward with the world in the fourth. forwarded the matter to the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) on 5 November 2024, for investigation. The CPWD submitted a factual report to the CVC on 5 December 2024, confirming violations. Based on this report, the CVC, on 13 February directed the agency to conduct a full-scale investigation into the matter and take action against those responsible. Mr Gupta, the former Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, welcomed the CVC’s decision, calling it a step toward accountability for alleged illegal construction and misuse of public funds at Mr Kejriwal's former residence. He also claimed that, apart from 'Sheesh Mahal,' several towers were under construction but work was halted immediately after the alleged scandal came to light. The investigation will examine the funds allocated for these structures and their intended purpose. Assam CM Sarma plans to set up SIT to probe Elizabeth Gogoi’s ‘Pakistan links’ AGENCIES GUWAHATI, 15 FEBRUARY Stepping up his attack on the allegations about the “links” of Elizabeth Gogoi, the British-born wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, with Pakistani agencies, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that there is "definite information" that she visited Pakistan even after her marriage and a decision to form a Special Investigation Team would to be taken at the meeting of the state cabinet tomorrow. He said a regular case should be filed to investigate the individual’s passport and visa and that the entire ecosystem, including sympathisers, will be investigated. He said more and more information is coming out. “We have definite information that Elizabeth Gogoi (wife of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi) has visited Pakistan even after her marriage. Whether she went with the MP or alone, these things will be confirmed. Many details are coming out," he said. “Tomorrow, the Assam Cabinet is going to meet and probably in that meeting, we will take a decision to form an SIT because unless a regular case is registered, the passport and visa of the alleged person involved will not be investigated. We will also investigate the entire ecosystem, including sympathizers. We are going to conduct a detailed investigation,” he added. He said there is also need to probe if during that period “there was attempt by ISI to infiltrate into the office of Chief Minister of Assam”. “That also has to be examined now,” he said. There has been a war of words between Himanta Biswa Sarma and Gaurav Gogoi over the latter's wife having alleged links with the Pakistan agency. Mr Sarma had on Friday said that he wanted clarification from the Congress' Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha “How can ISI and Raw live together in the same house?...We are not accusing anyone, but we want some facts to come out. I have some questions. Firstly, is it true or false that the MP's wife worked in Pakistan? Secondly, if she has taken Indian citizenship or not. Thirdly, if the MP had visited Pakistan during this time and while meeting the Pakistan ambassador, if he had taken permission from the External affairs ministry or not....How can ISI and R&AW stay in the same house? ISI is Pakistan, and R&AW is India; it is not possible for them to live together,” Mr Sarma told reporters on Friday. Gaurav Gogoi has found himself at the centre of a controversy after a section of BJP workers and leaders, led by Mr Sarma, having raised questions over his wife's "foreign citizenship" and accused her of having ties with the ISI. They also questioned a meeting Mr Gogoi had with the then-Pakistani High Commissioner to India ten years ago in 2015.