TUESDAY 30 APRIL, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard RUSSIA 2 JOURNOS HELD FOR ‘EXTREMISM’ 500+ Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin are accused of working for a group founded by Navalny A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 11 U.P. DIARIES KASHI: A DATE WITH THE PRESENT Antiquity aside, various modern ages seem to coexist SANTWANA here. Baba Vishwanath’s BHATTACHARYA temple has an expansive, spanking new, 21st century EDITOR corridor. Its high walls, with stone cut in rectangular patterns, also strangely remind VARANASI: In the mind of you of Soviet architecture. India, Varanasi or Kashi is The Banaras Hindu Univeran ancient space suspended sity exudes a century old in an unbroken continuum, Indo-Gothic charm. The Gynot a project under construc- anvapi mosque’s 17th cention. Its life is in the cultural tury architecture, of course, imagination, entwined with is often the subject of frontcenturies-old personal socio- page headlines. Negotiating religious histories—cycles its place under the scorchof birth and death—embed- ing sun, caught between ded far more deep than Ayo- Hindutva and high-rises, dhya. The locals breathe this Varanasi balances itself beair too. Real antiquity is a tween an old-world raison historical detour d’être and a newwhen you keep enfound VIP-ism, like countering the rea trapeze artist. frain: Paanch hazIt’s an uneasy aar saal purana cohabitation. The sheher. Navigating new tourism boom between those ‘five has steadily enthousand years’ and croached upon the FIRST OF A the five-year cycles old spiritual amof modern democ- FOUR-PART SERIES bience, which is racy is, then, the peslowly fading culiar fortune of Kashi. away Just like a lot of old In. It’s 2024, and elections to dia. In a 15-minute walk up the 18th Lok Sabha are ap- from Dashaswamedh ghat proaching. A different kind alone, about 300 new guestof continuity unfolds here houses have come up to catoo, of course—a prime ter to the new rush of reliminister is going for his gious tourists—a good third win. A sense of assur- number of young among edness spreads up from the them—from Pune, Rajkot, ghats, as it were, which Meerut, Coimbatore, even stand like watchful senti- Seoul. Evening time, they nels of a lived experience. settle on plastic chairs to Lifted up into the city prop- witness a Gang a aarti er, you are thrown headlong through bulb-lit bamboo into a bustling desi lifes- arches. This new spiritualicape in all its contemporary ty is not quiet: mantras, variety Here, what you find bhajans and then the Maha . is continuity in conversa- Tandav Aarti ring out from tion with change at many modern music systems. CONTINUED ON P9 talkative streetcorners. NEW DELHI J8.00 CASES REGISTERED EVERY YEAR BY THE ED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS PAGES 14 CENTRE TO PERMANENTLY DEPLOY CISF IN ED OFFICES IN SELECT CITIES The decision was taken in view of a threat assessment report by the Intelligence Bureau after the Sandeshkhali mob attack WaPost names former RAW official in Pannun assassination plot in US Report claims India-based official passed on the New York address of the Khalistani leader EX-RAW BOSS NAMED Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi THE Washington Post on Monday disclosed the identity of ‘CC-1’, the New Delhi-based Indian official who allegedly forwarded the details of Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, including his New York address, to Nikhil Gupta, an alleged middleman who was enlisted to hire a contract killer. The Post named Indian intelligence official Vikram Yadav in the ongoing investigation in the US against the plot to kill Pannun. This is the first time the name is made public. “Yadav’s identity and affiliation, which have not previously been reported, provide the When asked for comment, CRPF officials said there is nothing to comment on “an unconfirmed news report”, adding that deputation of security personnel in intelligence agencies is classified. The Post claimed the report is part of its investigation series about “a global surge in campaigns of cross-border repression.” It added that for the India story its reporters spoke , to various sources in New Delhi, Washington, Ottawa, London, Prague, and Berlin. The Washington Post report also says that the Joe Biden administration has so far refrained from pressing charges against Yadav. The report claims that ex-RAW chief Samant Goel was under “extreme pressure to eliminate... Sikh extremists overseas”. It says US agencies also assessed the role of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval but there was no proof most explicit evidence to date that the assassination plan — ultimately thwarted by US authorities — was directed from within the Indian spy service,” the report claimed. The US indictment unsealed in November 2023 had withheld the name of the Indian official who allegedly conspired to kill Pannun, referring to him as CC-1. “The assassination is a priority now,” the Post report quoted Yadav as saying to Nikhil. The US newspaper report also claimed that Yadav’s mission was approved by the then RAW chief Samant Goel. The report says Yadav was a CRPF officer who was deputed to RAW He was sent back to the . CRPF after the case unravelled. Rahul may contest from Rae Bareli P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi THE Congress is likely to field Rahul Gandhi from Rae Bareli while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may not contest this year’s Lok Sabha elections, sources in the party said, amid continuing suspense over who would get the Rae Bareli and Amethi nominations. It was widely speculated that Rahul would contest from Amethi. However, sources said the party may field late Congress leader Sheila Kaul’s grandson in that seat. Kaul, a sister-inlaw of Jawaharlal Nehru, was a five-time member of Parliament and Union minister. Sources said who contests from Rae Bareli is important for the Congress as it has been a party bastion since 1951. After serving four consecutive terms as the Rae Bareli MP, Sonia Gandhi vacated the seat to become a Rajya Sabha MP. However, Priyanka’s unwillingness to fight the elections and the BJP’s constant attack on the Gandhis for turning away from the “family bastions” has put the party in a spot. “As Priyanka is unwilling to contest, the party has no other option than fielding Rahul Gandhi. The seat was held by former PM Indira Gandhi three times and Indira’s husband Feroze Gandhi also represented the seat in 1952 and 1957,” said a party leader. An announcement on Rahul’s candidature from Rae Bareli is likely on Tuesday, a party leader said. The Congress has very little time left to make the announcement as the last date to file the nomination papers for both seats is May 3. Voting for Amethi and Rae Bareli constituencies will be held on May 20. Meanwhile, the Congress said its Central Election Committee has authorised party chief Mallikarjun Kharge to decide the candidates. EXPRESS READ Green Nobel for Indian forest rights activist Forest rights activist Alok Shukla will on Friday receive the Goldman Environmental Prize-2024, also known as Green Nobel, for leading a community campaign that saved 4.45 lakh acres of forests from 21 planned coal mines in Chhattisgarh. MEA takes note of ‘Khalistan’ slogans The Canadian Deputy High Commissioner was on Monday summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs over the raising of separatist slogans on ‘Khalistan’ at an event in Toronto on Sunday, which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. P9 JDS to suspend Prajwal accused of sexual abuse Why bail plea not filed in trial court, Kejriwal asked EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi @ Shivamogga/Bengaluru JANATA Dal (Secular) has decided to suspend its Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna from the party A Special Investigation Team . is probing allegations of his sexual abuse of several women, explicit videos of which have been making the rounds for the past few days. Prajwal, a JDS candidate from Hassan constituency and his father HD Revan, na, a former minister have been named in the FIR. Speaking to mediapersons in Shivamogga, former CM and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy said a decision to suspend Prajwal was alre a dy m a d e and it will be recommended at the party core committee meeting in Hubballi on Tuesday. He said since Prajwal is an MP it has to be done , from Delhi and he had requested JDS chief HD Deve Gowda. “Neither he (Gowda) nor I were aware of this issue,” he said. Kumaraswamy said it was an individual issue and not a family issue. “Their (Revanna’s) family is separate and our (his family and PM Deve Gowda’s) family is separate. If he (Prajwal) is guilty he has to be pun, ished,” the former CM said. The former CM said that the state government had already constituted an SIT to probe into the case, but hinted at some foul play surrounding the videos by stressing on the point that the videos on pen drives came out three days before the elections. CLIMATE CHANGE Tourists take rest under trees on a hot day at the Ooty Botanical Garden, Nilgiris, in Tamil Nadu on Monday. Less than five months after the temperature in Ooty fell to 0°C in December, the popular tourist destination recorded a high of 29°C, the hottest the hill station has been in the last 73 years, on Sunday and Monday. | YOGA | P5 ARVIND Kejriwal told the Supreme Court that although a CM is not immune from prosecution, his rights are not inferior to any other person, and that his arrest was illegal in the Delhi liquor scam case. This was submitted by Kejriwal’s lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who argued before a two-judge bench. The arguments were inconclusive and will continue on Tuesday . “There must be reason to believe that the arrest is done in good faith. His arrest is made when the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls was in place. There is no evidence against him in any manner,” Singhvi told the bench. When the hearing started to- ‘Rights are not inferior’ Arvind Kejriwal told the Supreme Court that although a CM is not immune from prosecution, his rights are not inferior to any other person, and that his arrest was illegal in the liquor scam case. day, the apex court asked Kejriwal why he has not filed a bail application before the trial court. Singhvi replied that since the arrest was “illegal,” such an application was not filed. The court also wanted to know if he was named in the CBI case or ECIR (Enforcement Case Investigation Report) of the ED. He replied in the negative. Singhvi also questioned the timing of his arrest in the runup to the Lok Sabha elections. Singhvi challenged the manner in which the ED arrested him. T’gana CM summoned over Shah fake videos EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad/New Delhi THE Delhi Police on Monday summoned six Congress leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister and state party president A Revanth Reddy, to appear before it at 10.30 am on May 1 in the case involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s doctored video being circulated on social media, official sources said on Monday . A Delhi Police team reached the Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad on Monday and served the notices. However, a copy of the notice served on the CM is not available. The summons was issued under section 91/160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) and sought explanation by May 1. The alleged morphed video portrayed Shah as saying the BJP would scrap reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The notices were served by inspector Neeraj Chaudhary of Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of the Special Cell of Delhi Police. Congress leaders, including the CM, have been alleging that the BJP if voted to power again, , would scrap reservations. Countering this, top BJP leaders made it clear that the party was not against reservations though they opposed religion-based quota. RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat, who was in Hyderabad on Sunday said that he wanted the res, ervations to continue as long as there were inequalities. However, Congress leaders tweeted Shah’s videos and claimed that the BJP was against reservations. BLINKEN TELLS ISRAEL TO BOOST HUMANITARIAN AID IN WAR-RAVAGED GAZA US Secretary of State said Monday that Israel must do more to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and added it was critical to improve the conditions now | P11 Voters split down the middle in Baramati’s Pawar vs Pawar contest S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai THE contest in Maharashtra’s Baramati Lok Sabha constituency is one of the most highprofile fights that is going to be keenly watched. This time, three-time MP Supriya Sule, daughter of veteran politician and NCP founder Sharad Pawar, is facing tough challenge from her cousin Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra, who is contesting for the first time. Baramati is a traditional NCP stronghold and Sharad Pawar used to end his election campaign with a rally in this city However, this time the con. test is so close that senior Pawar is not taking any chance and is spending every second day in Baramati to ensure victory for his daughter. On the other hand, Ajit Pawar is also leaving no stone unturned to get his spouse elected to the Lok Sabha. The stakes are also high because this is the first election after the NCP split last year. According to sources, Sharad Pawar is using his experience and connections to win over the voters, while Ajit Pawar is putting his power and influence to use to turn the tide. However, things are complicated on the ground. “Ajit Pawar now works with his past political rivals. But on the ground, party workers are not ready to bury past animosity Ajit Pawar may face vote . transfer during polling,” said an NCP(SP) leader. As for Ajit Pawar, he doesn’t mince words so that the message is clear. “ I f a ny o n e g o e s against me, development will be stopped. Funds will not be released. If you want development, then choose my side,” he said bluntly in one of his speeches while campaigning. A local journalist said businessmen are under pressure. “Small businessmen, whose livelihood is at stake, and big businessmen, whose business can be easily destroyed by the government machinery, are rallying behind Ajit Pawar,” he added. A political observer said voters are split down the middle. “Those who got some tender work with the blessings of Ajit Pawar are standing with him. These are mostly middle-aged men. But the young crowd who are yet to taste power are with Sharad Pawar. So are those above 50 years, who grew with Sharad Pawar’s politics and development in Baramati,” he said. The Baramati Lok Sabha segment has six assembly seats, ILLUSTRATION: MANDAR PARDIKAR where Ajit Pawar has the support of four BJP, NCP MLAs. Supriya Sule has the support of two Congress MLAs. In the past three elections, Ajit Pawar was handling all election machinery on the behalf of Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule. This time, Sule and her father don’t have that structural advantage. Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew and young NCP MLA Rohit Pawar donning that role this time. Sharad Pawar was not much active in past poll campaigns as his nephew Ajit Pawar was doing it on his behalf, though the latter’s brazen nature was often a topic of discussion. MORE REPORTS ON PG 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
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