FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KHARGE SEEKS TIME FROM MODI TO EXPLAIN ‘NYAY PATRA’ MALDIVES ELECTION P6 SENSEX 74,339.44486.50 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Heat wave conditions very likely. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 41 °C and 29 °C respectively. TEMPERATURE P5 NIFTY 22,570.35167.95 P9 ` vs $ 83.32PAISE GOLD 72,270380 In Tamluk, CM lashes out at Adhikari clan Mamata accuses Adhikari family of orchestrating treacherous schemes RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max.81 % APPEALS COURT OVERTURNS WEINSTEIN’S 2020 RAPE CONVICTION BISWABRATA GOSWAMI Min. 24 % Max: 41.6°C (+6) Min: 28.8°C (+3) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:8 hrs 18:1 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 19:22 hrs 05:43 hrs Full Moon on 08 May THUMBNAILS Polling staff carrying EVMs and other polling materials leave for their respective polling stations on the eve of 2nd Phase of voting for the General Elections 2024, in Morigaon on Thursday. ANI IndiGo enters wide-body space with order b for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft: IndiGo has 9 placed an order for 30 A350-900 aircraft, a decision that will enable the airline to connect Indian metros to destinations around the world. Powered by Rolls Royce's Trent XWB engine, these aircraft promise unparalleled mission capability and efficiency, offering IndiGo unprecedented options as it enters the next phase of its growth.The airline ordering for wide-body aircraft will strengthen its fleet. TAMLUK, 25 APRIL uring a election campaign rally in support of her party candidate Debangshu Bhattacharya in Tamluk, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today unleashed a blistering critique of the Adhikari family, without once uttering their names. Speaking to a rapt crowd, Miss Banerjee delved into the tumultuous history between her and the Adhikari clan, tracing their interactions from the Nandigram movement to the present day. Challenging the Opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, without mincing her words, Miss Banerjee declared from the heart of Adhikari territory: "I stand here to challenge you, traitor. If you have the courage, release the four white papers." In a poignant recollection, Miss Banerjee recounted her harrowing experience in Nandigram, where she found herself isolated amidst chaos. "When I went to Nandigram, there was no D father and son that day," she lamented. "I heard the sound of bombs all night, yet no one came to my aid." She vividly described the perilous situation, revealing how she sought refuge with Chitta Maiti, who provided her with shelter amidst the turmoil. Miss Banerjee accused the Adhikari family of orchestrating treacherous schemes, including attempts to harm her physically. "When the shooting erupted in Nandigram, CPI-M goons conspired to harm me," she asserted. "But through the loyalty of individuals like Anisur, who is now incarcerated because of the ‘gaddar’ (betrayal), I persevered." The chief minister also targeted former judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, the BJP candidate in the constituency, condemning his actions and urging him to rectify his own misdeeds before casting aspersions on her. "Before demanding my resignation, cleanse your own tarnished reputation," she said, addressing the former judge directly. Miss Banerjee outlined the alleged duplicity of the BJP candidate, highlighting his previous ties to the ruling party and his purported collusion with them. "He sat on the judge's bench while maintaining close ties with the BJP she accused. ," "Now, he seeks to represent the people, but his past deeds cannot be ignored." Turning her attention to the promises made by the BJP Miss , Banerjee admonished them for their failure to deliver on key pledges. "They promised 15 lakhs and jobs for the unemployed, but instead, they betrayed the people," she said. "They obstructed welfare schemes and deprived the needy of their rightful dues." As the rally drew to a close, Miss Banerjee reiterated her unwavering commitment to the people of West Bengal, vowing to combat treachery and uphold the principles of justice and integrity. NEW DELHI, 25 APRIL India on Thursday rejected the US State Department's Human Rights Report (HRR) which voiced concerns over alleged human rights violations in this country. “The report is deeply biased and reflects poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you also to ignore it,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said when asked for his comment on the report. The Human Rights Report (HRR), a country-wise compilation of human rights practices, flagged “credible reports” of more than a dozen different kinds of human rights abuses in India, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest or detention, torture to coerce confessions, repeated imposition of Internet shutdowns and The report is deeply biased and reflects poor understanding of India. We attach no value to it and urge you also to ignore it. RANDHIR JAISWAL MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON blocked telecommunications, surveillance of civil society activists and journalists, intimidation and Internet trolling of human rights defenders, punishment of family members for alleged offences by a relative, and “crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of ethnic and caste minorities”, among others. Iran provides consular access to Indian crew members: Iran has provided to India consular access to the 17 crew members of an Israeli-affiliated container ship that was recently seized by Iranian commandos following the escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, the government confirmed on Thursday. “We had sought consular access which was given to us. One Indian crew member, Ann Tesa Joseph from Kerala, has already returned home. The other 16 Indian crew members are in good health,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He said these crew members have already contacted their families too. Asked when the other 16 crew members are likely to return home, the spokesperson said there are certain technicalities involved since they have to meet their contractual obligations. PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 25 APRIL The Directorate of Enforcement has opposed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea against his arrest and subsequent remand, stating that the arrest was based on material in possession of the agency, repeated avoidance of summons, non-cooperation with the investigation, destruction of evidence. The agency also contended that as a politician, the Chief Minister could not claim different treatment merely because the Lok Sabha elections are going on. In an affidavit it filed in response to the notice issued by the top court on 15 April on Mr Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest and subsequent remand, the anti-money laundering agency said the Delhi Chief Minister avoided interrogation by not appearing before the investigating offi- cer despite being summoned nine times and this alone necessitated his arrest. This was in addition to the material in possession of the investigating officer on the involvement of Mr Kejriwal in the alleged scam, it said. Stating that Mr Kejriwal has been “arrested bonafide” and not for any malafide or extraneous reasons, the Enforcement Directorate has said “It is categorically denied that the arrest was mala fide.” On Mr Kejriwal’s contention that his arrest was an assault on the ‘tenets of democracy” based on “free and fair elections” and “fed- P12 SILVER 82,500400 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 88.000.020 Cong committing dacoity on rights of OBCs, SCs, STs, says Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress party has been committing a “dacoity” on OBCs’ reservation rights to introduce reservation on the basis of religion for Muslims against Constitutional provisions and despite rejection of their moves by courts. Addressing a BJP election rally in Agra, he said the Constituent Assembly drafting the Constitution had rejected reservation on the basis of religion, but the Congress has a record of insulting the document and its chief architect Babasaheb Ambedkar. The party has tried to push reservation on religion basis in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and its manifestoes mention the proposal, he said. In Uttar Pradesh too, the Samajwadi Party-Congress INDI alliance, pursuing the politics of appeasement, wants to bring in reservation on the basis of religion. “Wherever it can do it, it will try to loot the claims of the SCs, STs and OBCs and give them to others,” he said. Mr Modi said since the courts rejected the Congress moves to introduce reservation on the basis of religion, it is now trying to do so through the back door. ‘Deeply biased’: India rejects US ED opposes Kejriwal’s plea, report on human rights violations claims evidence of his role STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PUNJAB KINGS LOOK TO PUT A DENT IN KKR’S CAMPAIGN eralism”, and was intended to disable him from campaigning in the ongoing general election to Lok Sabha, the ED in its affidavit says: “The arrest of a person, however high he may be, for commission of offence based on material, can never violate the concept of free and fair elections... Treating a politician differently from an ordinary criminal in a matter of arrest would amount to arbitrary and irrational exercise of power of arrest which would violate the principle of equality enshrined under Article 14 of the Constitution.” The agency in its affidavit said that the investigation of this liquor scam has to be seen against the background of “large scale destruction of evidence”. However, ED claims that it has been able to “recover key evidence” which “directly reveals” the role of Mr Kejriwal in the process and activities relating to proceeds of crime. Poll panel takes note of alleged MCC violations by Modi, Rahul Gandhi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 APRIL The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken note of the complaints of alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The poll panel forwarded the complaints to BJP President JP Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge seeking their response by 11 a.m. on 29 April. The elections commission has directed the presidents of both the parties to convince their star campaigners to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of the MCC in letter and spirit. Stating that the status of a ‘star campaigner’ statutorily lies entirely within the realm of the political parties under Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, it said political parties would have to take the primary responsibility for the conduct of their candidates in general and star campaigners in particular. In its notice to the BJP President Nadda, Senior Principal Secretary of the ECI Narendra N Butolia said: “I am directed to forward a copy of the representation dated 21 April made by Indian National Congress, representation dated 23 April made by Communist Party of India and representation dated 21 April made by Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation with the direction to send comments to the Commission latest by 11 am on 29 April.” The Congress, in its complaint against the PM, wrote: “On Sunday, the PM addressed a public rally of elec- Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated by Madhya Pradesh BJP chief VD Sharma at a public meeting in Morena on Thursday. ANI tors at Banswara, Rajasthan. We have objections to the entire tone and tenor of the PM's speech. We wish to highlight the completely unprecedented and malicious allegations as well statements which are clearly aimed at creating enmity between groups, far worse than any ever made by a sitting PM in the history of India. This cannot go unchecked, unanswered and unpunished.” The PM, while addressing the rally, had alleged that "the Congress manifesto says they will calculate the gold with mothers and sisters, get information about it, and then distribute that property. They will distribute it to whom – Manmohan Singh's government had said Muslims have the first right on the country's assets." In the notice to Congress President Kharge, the senior principal secretary said: “I am directed to forward a copy of the representation dated April 19 made by the BJP with the direction to send comments to the Commission latest by 11 am on 29 April.’’ The BJP , in its complaint filed with the poll panel, accused Rahul Gandhi and Kharge of violation of the MCC. City records highest day temp Stage set for another face-off between NDA & Opp INDIA in 44 years, sizzles at 41.6 C 0 NIKHIL VYAS NEW DELHI, 25 APRIL STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 25 APRIL Kolkata sizzled at 41.6 degree Celsius today, the highest day temperature recorded in the city since April 1980. Kolkatans endured stifling conditions today amidst a persisting heat wave and the mercury soaring above 41 degrees. The last time the city experienced such tormenting heat was in the year 1980 when the maximum temperature recorded was 41.7 degree Celsius. To add to the woes of the citizens, the Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore indicated that there would be no respite from the prevailing dry weather even after April, issuing a forecast of high temperatures till 2 May. The weather office has issued an A man sitting on the stairs in a metro station on a hot summer day. In KOlkata on Thursday. BISWAJIT GHOSHAL ‘orange warning’ for South Bengal till 30 April. According to weather scientists, the mercury in South Bengal could shoot up further, pushing the day temperatures higher by 1-3 degree Celsius in the next three days. Heat wave conditions have also been forecast for the districts of East Midnapore, West Midnapore, Bankura, Jhargram and West Burdwan at least till 28 April. Likewise, orange warnings have also been issued for South 24Parganas, East Burdwan, Howrah and Hooghly. Another round of the high-voltage electoral battle between the ruling NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc will be witnessed on Friday in the second phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Polling in the second phase will be held in 88 parliamentary constituencies spread over 13 states and Union Territories including the remaining part of the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency. The voting is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. across 1.67 lakh polling stations, manned by more than16 lakh polling officials, amidst tight security to avert any untoward incident. It will end at 6 p.m. The Election Commission of India (ECI) said the polling time has been extended to 6 p.m. in many polling stations in Banka, Madhepura, Khagaria and Munger constituencies in Bihar so that voters can avoid hot weather conditions. An electorate of more than 15.88 crore will cast their votes to decide the fate of 1,202 candidates, including 102 women candidates. The eligible voters include 8.08 crore men, 7.8 crore women, and 5,929 thirdgender electors. The number of first-time voters is 34.8 lakh. In the second phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, prominent candidates like Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor are in the fray. Mr Chandrasekhar is the BJP’s nominee from Thiruvananthapuram seat while Mr Tharoor is Congress’ candidate from the same seat. Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Wayanad, which he currently represents in the House. Meerut, in Uttar Pradesh, is likely to see a triangular contest among the BJP the Oppo, CMYK sition INDIA bloc and the Bahujan Samaj Party. The BJP has replaced three-term MP Rajendra Agarwal and pitted Ramayana actor Arun Govil against Samajwadi Party's SunitaVerma and BSP's Devratt Kumar. Mathura Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh is one of the high-profile seats up for grabs in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections from where actor Hema Malini is eyeing her third victory. The Lok Sabha elections in Mathura will see a triangular contest among the BJP Congress and the BSP , . Of the 88 Lok Sabha seats to go to polls tomorrow in the second phase of voting, 20 are in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, eight each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, six in Madhya Pradesh, five each in Bihar and Assam, three each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and one each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Manipur.
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