TUESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P6 SENSEX 75,996.86 p57.65 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Shallow fog in the morning. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 30˚C and 23˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94% RUSSIAN OFFICIALS MUJEEB TO REPLACE TO HOLD TALKS WITH INJURED GHAZANFAR IN US IN SAUDI MI SQUAD ‘FOREIGN INVESTORS SELLING INDIAN EQUITIES DUE TO PROFIT BOOKING’ ‘SIDDARAMAIAH IS THE UNDISPUTED LEADER IN KARNATAKA’ P12 NIFTY 22,959.50 p30.25 ` vs $ 86.88 P10 GOLD 87,750.00 Max: 30.8˚C (+0.8) Min: 23.2˚C (+4.5) SUN RISES 06:07 hrs MOON RISES 21:39 hrs SUN SETS 17:34 hrs MOON SETS 08:40 hrs C New Moon on 28 February THUMBNAILS Yamuna River cleaning process underway by using a Weed Harvested Machine, in New Delhi on Monday. n ANI CBSE assures students that no paper leaks in 2025 Board exams: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially quashed the viral rumors surrounding a potential paper leak for the ongoing 2025 Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. Issuing a clear statement on February 17, CBSE refuted all claims that circulated on social media platforms, describing them as "baseless rumors" intended to create panic among students and parents. ongress veteran Sam Pitroda, who heads the party's overseas unit, has courted a new controversy after claiming that the threat from China is often blown out of proportion. The BJP lambasted the grand old party saying that friendship between Congress and China is quite old. In an interview, Pitroda has said he does not understand the threat from China that India is facing. He claimed that the threat from China is often blown out of proportion and that the US always has a 'tendency to define an enemy'. Hitting back, the BJP said the crux of the Congress's obsession with China lies in a 2008 Memorandum for Understanding between the Congress and the Chinese Communist Party, the party that runs the neighbouring country. The Congress distanced itself from Pitroda's statement about China and said that his statements were not the views of the party. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said,'' The views reportedly expressed by Mr Sam Pitroda on China are most definitely NOT the views of the Indian National Congress.'' He stressed that '' China remains our foremost foreign policy, external security, as well as economic challenge. The INC has repeatedly raised questions on the Modi Government's approach to China, including the PM's public clean chit to it on June 19, 2020. Our most recent statement on China was on 28th January, 2025. '' It is also extremely regrettable that Parliament is being denied an opportunity to discuss the situation and express a collective resolve to meet these challenges effectively, he pointed out fur- ther. Taking on the Congress, BJP leader Ajay Alok said, "...Sam Pitroda is the mentor of Rahul Gandhi...Rahul Gandhi has also signed a secret treaty with the People's Liberation Party of China. Rajiv Gandhi had taken funds from China. Jawaharlal Nehru gave Aksai Chin and India's seat in UNSC to China. The friendship between Congress and China is quite old..." BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters at party headquarters here, "...Sam Pitroda DFI chief Shah accuses Rahul of showcasing banned Chinese drone STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 FEBRUARY needs a strong production base not empty words. India has immense talent, scale and drive. We must have a clear vision and build real industrial prowess to give our youth jobs and lead India into the future.” Referring to the LoP’s remarks made in the video, the DFI President wrote on X, “Rahul Gandhi's statements dismiss India's drone industry while proudly showcasing a banned Chinese DJI drone. Yes, the industry is still in its nascent stage and a lot has to be done, but armchair criticism with zero tangible suggestions won’t help.” He said the collective efforts of industry players, academia, and policymakers are truly remarkable. Shah along with his post also shared a video in which he can be seen saying, “Recently, we must have seen a video where our prominent leader (Gandhi) grabbed hold of one Chinese drone and blatantly said that the Indian ecosystem does not understand different parts of the drone, and in India optics and batteries are not made. Whereas there is approximately more than 400 companies making various types of drones. There are more than 50 drone component companies in India that make batteries, motors and many other components.” “By saying that the Indian ecosystem does not have any understanding. This is an odd statement that demotivates the entire Indian ecosystem. There is a need to give actual suggestions,” he said. The DFI chief added, “The Indian ecosystem should work on drone parts and components. This is not a new thing.” Earlier, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya slammed the Rae Bareli MP and said, “Rahul Gandhi’s proposals on military precision drones might appear amusing were it not for their potential dangers, and they seem to stem from a misguided perspective. Perhaps he should confine himself to Chinese toy drones rather than investing energy in more advanced matters that exceed his expertise.” PM Modi-led panel holds meet to select new CEC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 FEBRUARY A crucial meeting of the threemember committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to choose the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was held here on Monday, a day before Rajiv Kumar demits office as the CEC. Besides Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is also part of the selection committee meeting for the selection of the CEC. Notably, this will be the first appointment of the CEC under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 which came into force in December 2023. Under the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioner Act, 2023, appointments of the BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 74.66 Indian Railways rolls out safety overhaul after New Delhi Station stampede Cong distanced itself from Pitroda's statement about China & said that his words were not the views of party STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 FEBRUARY Smit Shah, President of Drone Federation of India (DFI) has accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of showcasing a banned Chinese DJI drone in a recent video he posted on social media, and said his statements “dismiss” India’s drone industry. Sharing a video of him talking about drones, Gandhi in a post on X on Saturday wrote, “Drones have revolutionised warfare, combining batteries, motors, and optics to manoeuver and communicate on the battlefield in unprecedented ways. But drones are not just one technology - they are bottom-up innovations produced by a strong industrial system.” Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “Unfortunately, PM Modi has failed to grasp this. While he delivers ‘teleprompter’ speeches on AI, our competitors are mastering new technologies. India SILVER 1,00,500 Pitroda’s remark sparks new storm, BJP flays Cong Min. 35% TEMPERATURE P16 CEC and Elections Commissioners (ECs) are made based on a majority or consensus decision within the selection committee. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference said, “The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023 brought by the Modi government has been challenged in the Supreme Court. So far the Supreme Court passed three orders and the next hearing is scheduled to take place on February 19. Therefore, the stand of Congress regarding the selection of the CEC is very clear, that the meeting held today should have been postponed.” "Removing or trying to keep the Chief Justice out of the appointment (of CEC) process as an independent entity, the government has made it clear, they want only control but not credibility. The most important thing for the Election Commission is credibility," he said. It may be mentioned that Kumar had joined ECI as Election Commissioner on September 1, 2020 and assumed charge as the 25th CEC of India on May 15, 2022. His tenure spanning 4.5 years in the Commission was characterized by silent yet deeprooted reforms across various domains spanning structural, technological, capacity development, communication, international cooperation and administration. has openly revealed the Congress party's agreement with China... The serious thing is that the kind of thing Sam Pitroda has said is a very deep blow to India's identity, diplomacy, and sovereignty... ''Rahul Gandhi has also given many similar statements abroad... Some time ago, on his foreign tour, he had said that China has solved the problem of unemployment very well... Our 20 soldiers were martyred in Galwan and after that, if your overseas President speaks such language, then it is condemnable..." Pradeep Bhandari, another BJP spokesperson, pointed out that Pitroda is a close aide of Rahul Gandhi and accused the Congress of prioritising China's interest above India's. He said, "Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi, and George Soros work as China's agents. The secret MoU of 2008, which took place between the Communist Party of China and the Congress Party, that secret MoU has not yet been disclosed by the Congress Party. At the time of Doklam, Rahul Gandhi was secretly meeting China's ambassador... Sam Pitroda's statement clarifies that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have a soft corner for China..." STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 FEBRUARY Two days after the tragic stampede at New Delhi Railway Station in which 18 people lost their lives and over a dozen were injured, the Railway Ministry on Monday rolled out a series of safety measures aimed at preventing overcrowding at all the stations across India and also to ensure smoother passenger flow. Announcing a comprehensive overhaul of crowd management protocols across the country, the Ministry said sixty high-traffic railway stations will now feature designated holding areas to control crowds effectively. Advanced monitoring systems will track passenger density, particularly during train delays. Local railway officials will receive specialised training in situational awareness and crisis management, the Ministry said. As part of a special sixmonth campaign, Delhi’s railway stations will undergo significant improvements to enhance passenger safety and streamline their movement. Thirty-five key railway stations connected to Prayagraj will be under constant surveillance by the Central Railway War Room. New Delhi Railway Station alone has seen the installation of 200 CCTV cameras to enhance security and monitoring. With passenger numbers reaching 17 lakh at a single railway station during Mauni Amavasya, strategic measures have been introduced to manage such surges. Holding areas and colourcoded enclosures will guide the movement of passengers in a more structured manner.