MONDAY 31 MARCH 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 SINCE 1818 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR TRUMP WON’T ‘FIRE PEOPLE’ OVER SIGNAL MESSAGES EMPURAAN ROW: MOHANLAL ISSUES APOLOGY P9 P8 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 10-20 KMPH) DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 AND 17 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 53 % TEMPERATURE Max: 32.4 °C (0.2) SUN RISES 06:11 hrs MOON RISES 07:55 hrs THUMBNAILS Delhi CM Rekha Gupta seeks blessings of a child dressed as Goddess Durga at Maa Katyayan Temple on the occasion of the Hindu New Year in Chhatarpur on Sunday.n ANI (SEE P2) AFSPA extended in Manipur, parts of Nagaland, Arunachal for another 6 months: The MHA on Sunday extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for another six months in certain parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, officials said, adding that further extension of the law would be effective from 1 April. The AFSPA was on Sunday extended for six more months in the entire state of Manipur, excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations of five districts ~ Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. (P4) P rime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Balirampant Hedgewar, and its second sarsanghchalak (chief) Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar on Sunday, at their memorials at the administrative headquarters of the RSS in Reshimbagh, Nagpur. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Sangh General Secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi. PM Modi signed the visitor’s book after paying tributes to RSS founder Dr Keshav Balirampant Hedgewar. In the visitor's book, he wrote: “My heartfelt regards to the most revered Hedgewarji and revered Guruji (Golwalkar). I am overwhelmed to be here in this Smruti Mandir, cherishing their memories. This place is dedicated to Indian culture, nationalism, and the values of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday where he laid the foundation stones or dedicated to the nation various projects. n UNI the organisation inspires us to move ahead in the service of the nation. This place of these two strong pillars of the Sangh is a source of energy for lakhs of volunteers dedicated themselves to the service of the country. May the glory of Maa Bharati always increase due to our efforts”. Later, the PM headed to the Deekshabhoomi, where Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism along with his followers in 1956. After visiting Deekshabhoomi, PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre building. The building is an extension of the Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre, a premier ophthalmic care facility in Nagpur which was established in 2014. The institute was founded in the memory of the second sarsanghchalak of the RSS, Sri Guruji Madhavrao Sadashiv Golwalkar, who succeeded founder Dr Keshav Balirampant Hedgewar as the second sarsanghchalak of the RSS. The project includes a 250-bed hospital, with One killed, eight injured as train derails in Odisha STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 30 MARCH A tragic train accident occurred on Sunday when eleven coaches of the Bangalore-Kamakhya Superfast Express derailed at Nergundi in Cuttack district resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to eight others. While railway officials have yet to confirm the casualty figures, the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and the district administration, identified the deceased as Subhankar Ray from West Bengal. Hospital authorities stated that the injured passengers are in stable condition and out of danger. The accident took place around noon. Local residents were the first to respond, soon joined by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), ODRAF, Fire Services, and railway officials. Many passengers reported feeling intense vibrations in the bogie just before the derailment. Some jumped out in panic as the coaches skipped the track and came to an abrupt halt. Passengers faced challenges retrieving their belongings due to the scorching heat and gravel along the tracks. Fortunately, the train’s slow speed prevented a major disaster, as no coaches overturned or fell off the tracks. Rescue operations were swiftly launched, with the injured being carried on stretchers to waiting ambulances. Authorities arranged food and drinking water supplies, while the Cuttack district administration provided buses to transport passengers to the city before a relief train arrived. Accident relief and medical relief trains were deployed for stranded passengers. Senior railway officials, including the General Manager of East Coast Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Khurda, reached the site to oversee operations. The Railways also issued helpline numbers for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khurda Road, Bhadrak, Palasa, and Jajpur. Four trains were diverted due to the incident: PuriHowrah Dhauli Express, PuriAnand Vihar Neelachal Express, Tirunelveli-Purulia Express, and SecunderabadHowrah Falaknuma Express. Efforts are underway to assist stranded passengers in reaching their destinations. “Our priority is to arrange a special train for affected passengers, and restoration work will commence soon,” a senior railway official stated. Amit Shah launches poll campaign in Bihar from Lalu Prasad Yadav’s stronghold IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 30 MARCH Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the Assembly election in Bihar on Sunday with a massive rally in Gopalganj, the stronghold of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Setting the stage for a fierce battle between the ModiNitish leadership and Lalu and family, he asserted that only the Modi-Nitish duo can develop Bihar while Lalu and his family are the only obstacle in the state’s development. He said: “You have to decide ~ whether you want to go back to Lalu-Rabri’s jungleraj or to walk on the path of development with Nitish Kumar and PM Modi.” Mr Shah said that Lalu Prasad was always concerned about his family ~ he made his wife chief minister of Bihar, made his sons ministers, made his brothers-inlaw MLAs and made his daughter a parliamentarian. He never thought of the development of the people of Bihar. On the DELHI THRASH HYDERABAD BY SEVEN WICKETS IN IPL P12 ‘Operation Brahma’: Indian Navy ships with relief material sail for Myanmar Modi visited the RSS headquarters for the first time as Prime Minister MUMBAI, 30 MARCH Min: 16.3 °C (-1.8) SUN SETS 18:38 hrs MOON SETS 21:01 hrs P4 Indestructible banyan tree: PM Modi hails RSS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 17 % RJD REGIME WAS ‘JUNGLE RAJ’ IN BIHAR: NITISH KUMAR contrary, PM Modi has been working for the development of the state and its people. Mr Shah promised that if the NDA is voted to power for another term, Bihar will be free from the recurring flood problems and a grand Sita temple will be constructed in Sitamarhi, a town in Bihar that holds immense significance in Hindu mythology as the reputed birthplace of Sita, the wife of Lord Ram. Earlier, Mr Shah dropped a hint that Nitish Kumar will be the CM face of the NDA government in Bihar. Participating in a programme organised by the Cooperative Department in Patna, Mr Shah called upon the people of Bihar to form the NDA government in Bihar once again in 2025 under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish Kumar, who has played an important role in transforming Bihar. However, the opposition parties have termed it just another ‘jumla’. RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said that Amit Shah has just played with words and he has not made a proper announcement, as was expected by the JD(U) workers. On this occasion, Mr Shah also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various central and state government projects worth over Rs 800 crore. He expressed confidence that Bihar, with its fertile land, water, and other natural resources, will benefit the most from the cooperative sector. He said that the Opposition governments completely ruined the cooperative sector in Bihar during their tenure and promised that the government under the leadership of PM Modi will restart the 30 closed sugar mills in Bihar. During his visit, Mr Shah also attended a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the CM House in Patna which was also attended by Bihar BJP President Dr. Dilip Jaiswal, Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) supremo Chirag Paswan, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) National President Santosh Suman and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party supremo Upendra Kushwaha. The NDA leaders resolved to fight the elections together. 14 outpatient departments, and modular operation theatres. Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, he said: “The ideas that were seeded a hundred years ago are now before the world like a ‘Vat Vriksh’ (banyan tree). Principles and ideologies give it heights, and the lakhs and crores of swayamsevaks are its branches. RSS is not just any banyan tree, it is the modern ‘Akshay Vat Vriksh’ (indestructible banyan tree) of India’s immortal culture". Lauding the RSS workers, Mr Modi said that they had contributed selflessly to humanitarian efforts including disaster relief. "Their selfless service has been evident in times of floods, earthquakes, and most recently, at the Maha Kumbh," the Prime Minister said. He said, 'Jahan seva kaarya, wahan swayamsevak'. PM Modi said that people have seen, whether it is Mahakumbh or any other occasion, the 'swayamsevaks' were there to help people. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 30 MARCH Indian Navy ships, Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command, have sailed for Yangon on Saturday, as part of the Indian Navy's immediate response towards Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the Defence Ministry said on Sunday. Notably, India on Saturday launched “Operation Brahma” to assist Myanmar in the wake of a devastating earthquake that struck the country on Friday. The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief efforts are in progress in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air The HADR efforts are in progress in conjunction with Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and NDRF under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Force and NDRF under the direction of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “Indian Navy ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command will also be sailing for Yangon on March 30 (Sunday), to assist in the HADR operations,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. Approximately 52 Tons of relief material have been embarked onboard these ships, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief pallets consisting of essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores, it said. The Indian Navy remains committed to India's resolve to remain the 'First Responder' in the region, it added. On Saturday, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft carrying 15 tonnes of relief material reached Yangon. The first tranche of humanitarian aid includes tents, sleeping bags, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, essential medicines, and other emergency supplies.