Vol. 35 No. 33 | SUNDAY | MAY 12, 2024 | 29 Pages | `5 & for Pune `6 only EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper Diversity in celebration We scour the internet to explore different Mother’s Day traditions from across the world Happy Mother’s Day Out-of-the-box museums that celebrate Indian culture and historical treasures Quirky & brilliant Quality at Value Reg. No. MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 46955/1988 M.p.c.s. office Mumbai-400001 www.freepressjournal.in MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2023 On Mother’s Day, actress Sara Ali Khan gets candid about her mother, actress Amrita Singh Sara says...! ‘One nation, one leader dictatorship’ THE FP BULLETIN CAMPAIGNING ENDS FOR FOURTH PHASE C ampaigning ended on Saturday for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in which a total of as many as 1,717 candidates will seek election in 96 constituencies across 10 states and Union territories. All the 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh and 17 in Telangana will go to polls on Monday, as well as 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and 11 in Maharashtra. Voting will also be held for eight seats each in Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, five in Bihar, four each in Odisha and Jharkhand, and one in Jammu and Kashmir, in the fourth phase of the elections. Assembly polls to Andhra Pradesh will also be held on Monday. MAMATA ATTACKS BENGAL GUV W est Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharpened her attack against Governor CV Ananda Bose over the sexual harassment allegations against him and said she would meet him on the streets if he wants her to, but will not go to Raj Bhavan, because even sitting next to him would be a “sin”. Referring to Thursday's screening of CCTV footage from the day a temporary Raj Bhavan employee had lodged a written complaint with the police against the governor, the Trinamool Congress chief alleged it was edited. She said she has the entire footage as well as a pen drive with more information. SM KRISHNA IN MANIPAL HOSPITAL F ormer External Affairs Minister and ex-Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna is in the intensive care unit and is being treated by a critical care team, a private hospital said on Saturday. The 92-year-old veteran leader was admitted to the Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru. “Shri SM Krishna, admitted to ICU Manipal Hospital, continues to be in ICU and is on adequate support. He is being treated by Dr Satyanarayana Mysore and a critical care team led by Dr Sunil Karanth,” the hospital said in. Krishna had also served as the Maharashtra Governor and Karnataka Assembly Speaker. DEVARAJE GOWDA ARRESTED B JP leader G Devaraje Gowda, who had flagged JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna's alleged sexual abuse of several women, was late on Friday taken into custody in connection with a sexual assault case. A case of sexual harassment was registered against Gowda on a complaint by a 36-year-old woman, who alleged that he molested her on the pretext of helping her sell her property. Gowda, who contested the 2023 Karnataka assembly election against Prajwal's father and Holenarasipura MLA HD Revanna, is also accused of leaking videos of Prajwal Revanna's alleged sexual abuse of several women. He, however, has blamed the Congress for leaking the videos. 300 KILLED IN AFGHAN FLOODS F lash floods from unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people and destroyed over 1,000 houses, the UN food agency said on Saturday. The World Food Programme said it was distributing fortified biscuits to the survivors of one of the many floods that hit Afghanistan over the last few weeks, mostly the northern province of Baghlan, which bore the brunt of the deluges on Friday. In neighbouring Takhar province, state-owned media outlets reported the floods killed at least 20 people. The Taliban Defence Ministry said on Saturday that the country's air force has begun evacuating people in Baghlan and has rescued a large number of people stuck in flooded areas and transported 100 injured people to military hospitals in the region. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal outlines the future if Modi wins: Yogi Adityanath will be politically finished in two months, and opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Tejashvi Yadav, M K Stalin, Pinarayi Vijayan and Uddhav Thackeray, will be in jail. GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR NEW DELHI A day after his release from jail, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of harbouring “a very dangerous mission – of ‘one leader, one nation” under which “they will send the opposition leaders to jail and undercut and manage all other BJP leaders.” Addressing a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters, Kejriwal, who was released from Tihar Jail on Friday after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail till June 1 in the Delhi liquor policy case, also claimed that it was his assessment that BJP would not return to power. “After release from jail, I talked to poll experts and people, and got to know the BJP is not going to form the govern- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann at a roadshow in New Delhi on Saturday. –ANI ment," Kejriwal said. “My assessment tells me BJP will get 220-230 seats and the INDIA bloc will form the government, ” he prophesied. Declaring that AAP will be part of this government, he said, “we will give full statehood to Delhi and the Capital will have a people’s Governor, not a man from Gujarat.” But later during the presser, Kejriwal almost contradicted himself while talking about Modi turning 75 in September 2025, he said, “I ask the BJP to tell who is going to be their Prime Minister? He will be turning 75 next September. He made the rule that those who turn 75 had to retire. So, he will have to retire next year. Therefore, I ask the BJP, who will you choose as your Prime Minister?” Kejriwal continued on the track by further asking, “who will fulfil Modi‘s guarantee?” If BJP is not going to win, then there is no question of this? But still he went on and asked, “Will Amit Shah be the one to fulfil it?” “I was sent to jail and the Prime Minister says he is fighting against corruption. But then his party has welcomed all the corrupt people.” He then proclaimed that “if you want to learn how to fight corruption, learn from Arvind Kejriwal.” ‘Yogi Adityanath will be finished': Kejriwal who spent 50 days in ED and judicial custody , during which he had time to ponder about much, also claimed that “if the BJP wins, it would change the Uttar Pradesh chief minister (Yogi Adityanath) within two months”. CONTD. ON NATION ‘Mahayuti will be LOW VOTER TURNOUT DATA: taught a lesson’ KHARGE RESPONDS TO EC FPJ NEWS SERVICE / JALNA The Maratha community will teach the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra a lesson for denying reservations and registering criminal cases against protestors, Marathi quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil said ahead of the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The community has not taken any political stand in the ongoing elections, though there is simmering anger against the establishment, Patil said in an interview to PTI at his village Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district. The community’s anger and unity forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign extensively in Maharashtra, said Patil, who hit the headlines for going on fasts unto death several times to demand reservation for the Marathas in education and government jobs. “Why were cases registered against those who staged Rasta Roko (road blockade) peacefully those , who launched hunger strikes, held meetings or rallies during the quota agitation last year. This was the misuse of the home depart- ment. The community will not tolerate it. We will teach them a lesson for sure,” he said, issuing a thinly-veiled warning to the Shiv SenaBharatiya Janata Party-Nationalist Congress Party “Mahayuti” government in the state. “Because of them (state BJP leaders) Modi had a tough time. He had to hold so many rallies and stay put here. This is because the poor Marathas have come together... This is the fear of our solidarity ,” he said, alluring to the more than 10 rallies that Modi held in Maharashtra during the ongoing election. “Even a leaf cannot move in Maharashtra (without Marathas). This is why Modi saheb has to struggle. And some BJP leaders are responsible for this. Because of them Modi had a tough time. He has to hold so many meetings,” he said. The community which , comprises 28 per cent of the population, will take some decision “at an appropriate time”, he said, adding that the prevailing sentiment was that those who did not give reservation must not be supported. CONTD. ON NATION OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI Responding to the accusations hurled at him of creating impediments to the conduct of free and fair elections, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission. In his letter, he said: "The letter even though an open letter is clearly addressed to our alliance partners and not to the commission. It is surprising that the Election Commission wanted to respond to this letter while ignoring several other complaints given directly to it". "I have certain misgivings on the language of the letter, but I will not press on that issue as I understand the pressure they are working under," he said. "I am happy that the commission understands that it has the mandate to conduct smooth, free and fair elections under the Constitution. However, the lack of urgency shown by the commission in taking action against blatantly communal and casteist statements being made by the leaders of the ruling party that vi- Criticism cost Varun LS ticket: Maneka FPJ NEWS SERVICE / SULTANPUR Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi’s writings that were sometimes critical of the government may have cost him the party's Lok Sabha nomination from Pilibhit, his mother, former Union minister Maneka Gandhi said on Saturday, adding that he would do very well even without it. Varun Gandhi wants to come and campaign for her, but a decision on this has not been taken as yet, the BJP’s Sultanpur candidate said in an interview with PTI at her residence in the town. Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on May 25 in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections. Polling was held in Pilibhit in the first phase on April 19. “Yes, he should have been there but the party has taken a decision and that’s it,” Maneka Gandhi said about calls from Pilibhit that Varun Gandhi should have been fielded from there this time also. “I can’t say I was delighted but I am sure Varun will do very well even without a ticket,” the former Union minister said about her son not being nominated. CONTD. ON NATION Suspended TISS scholar moves High Court MUSAB QAZI / MUMBAI Ramadas Prini Sivanandan, the Dalit research scholar at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) suspended for his political activism, has moved the Bombay High Court (HC) against his ouster. In his petition, the PhD student claimed that he was targetted by the institute on the basis of "false, mala fide and concocted narrative". He also alleged that the institute made false allegations against him, to punish him for his identity and his political and ideological inclinations. The petition contends that the suspension notice is- sued to Ramdas violates the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression, assembly and association guaranteed in the country's constitution. Ramadas, who has been pursuing doctorate in development studies at TISS since 2017, was last month suspended for two years and banned from entering any TISS campus by the administration after being served a show cause notice from the Registrar's office in March. The institute accused the scholar of violating its discipline codes, engaging in 'antinational' activities and for his 'history' fo organising unauthorised events. CONTD. ON NATION tiates the electoral process seems puzzling," Kharge further said. I am also puzzled by the need to write that the "Commission is not legally bound to publish any voter turnout data at aggregate level of a contituency or state," though it is factual. I am sure many voters of our country would be surprised too. Many voters who are deeply interested in the elections would also like to see the absolute number of votes polled to be put out in the public domain by the commission Medical report sought for minor’s abortion URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI The Bombay High Court has called for a report from the medical board of JJ Hospital on a petition by a mother seeking medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) of her 12-year-old daughter after she was sexually assaulted by her elder brother, 14. The mother approached the high court seeking permission for MTP as the daughter is more than 25week pregnant. The legal limit for MTP without court per, mission, is 24-weeks. Advocate Ashley Cusher, appearing for the mother, submitted that the daughter complained of a stomach ache on May 2. She was taken to a local health centre, where the doctor suspected her pregnancy This was con. firmed by tests. The girl then told her mother that from October, when no one was at home, the elder brother used to forcefully establish physical relationship with her. He threatened her with dire consequences in case she revealed it to anyone. The mother then lodged a complaint with the police under IPC and POCSO against the son. He was sent to a juvenile home the same day . CONTD. ON NATION directly he added. , “Finally I would like to say I , am disappointed that the commission did not quote another line from the letter which said "It should be our collective endeavour to safeguard democracy and protect the independent functioning of the ECI." CONTD. ON NATION Modi won’t retire, says Amit Shah OUR BUREAU NEW DELHI / HYDERABAD Both Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda have asserted that Modi would continue as Prime Minister even after he turned 75 this September. Asserting that there is no confusion in the BJP over the party's leadership, Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would complete his third term and continue leading the party and country . The remarks of the Home Minister came after Arvind Kejriwal questioned fulfillment of the "Modi's guarantee" as he pointed out a possibility of PM Modi's retirement as he will turn 75 in September this year. “The leaders of the INDI alliance know that we are going to cross 400 seats and Modi ji will become the PM of this country for the third time, that is why they are spreading this type of misconception. I want to clarify that there is no such provision in BJP's constitution and Modi ji will lead the country till 2029 and Modi ji will also lead the coming elections. There is no good news for INDI alliance...They cannot win elections by spreading such lies...” BJP president JP Nadda said "There is no such provision regarding age anywhere in the constitution of the Bharatiya Janata Party ... Ayega to Modi hi, Rahega toh Modi hi, Bharat ko Majbhoot banayega toh Modi hi" (Modi will come, Modi will stay and Modi will make India strong)," Nadda said. Solar storm turns Ladakh sky crimson FPJ NEWS SERVICE / NEW DELHI The sky turned crimson in parts of Ladakh in a rare stable auroral red arc event because of the strong solar magnetic storms launched towards Earth. The solar storms or coronal mass ejections are from the AR13664 region of the sun, which has produced high energy solar flares, some of which are travelling towards Earth at a speed of 800 km/s, according to scientists at the Centre of Excellence in Space Sciences in India (CESSI), Kolkata. The storms led to spectacular auroras or northern lights in the higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere and prompted skywatchers from Austria, Germany Slovakia, , Switzerland, Denmark and Poland to share pictures and short videos of the dancing lights on social media. In Ladakh, astronomers at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve saw a red glow on the northwest horizon in the sky from about 1 am on Saturday that continued till early dawn. “We were fortunate to witness Aurora activities on our all-sky camera during regular telescope observations,” said Stanzin Norla, an engineer at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve. A faint red glow was visible to the naked eye along the horizon and the event was captured in much detail by a DSLR camera installed at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve. The skies turned red along the horizon and to a pinkish hue later, Stanzin said. CONTD. ON NATION GROUND ZERO Ram Mandir, Jinnah, Adani missing in Bengal as poll issues JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY / KOLKATA With the third phase of polling ending, the election here has ignored most of the issues hogging the limelight nationally and the fight is more over what matters locally . Down the National Highway 12 from Adhir Chowdhury’s citadel in Behrampore to Kolkata winding through Krishnanagar, famous for its sweetmeats and more recently its firebrand MP Mahua Moitra, controversially disqualified last year from Parliament, and thence on through the mango orchard flatlands of Plassey where , Nawab Siraj ud-Dowlah fought his last battle against Robert Clive, the posters, wall writing and the conversation at cha-shops were all about either local ‘durniti’ (corruption) or chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Tuesday’s Supreme Court judgement staying the earlier Calcutta High court order sacking some 25,000 teachers from government schools, because 5,000 or so of them were found to have used unfair means to get the jobs, the allegations of molestation against Governor C V Ananda Bose made by a woman employee of the Raj Bhavan, Sandeshkhali, were among hot topics at tea shops in the early hours of the day in rain-washed hamlets over piping hot cha served in earthen cups. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his accusations that the Congress manifesto reflected Jinnah’s thinking, the Ram temple at Ayodhya, Adani and Ambani, were missing from the conversation here, east of the Hindi heartland. A BJP slogan on a village wall accusing TMC said: “Koyla kheli, goru kheli, kheli nadir bali, bou meyeder bad Dilina, bolche Sandeshkhali (Coal scam, Cow smuggling, sand mining and now women at risk are all your fault, says Sandeshkhali)”. A rival poster by TMC spoke about the benefits of a popular scheme ‘Lakshmir bhandar’ (Lakshmi’s income) which put money in the accounts of women householders. Till recently corruption by , TMC functionaries’ was a big issue which was being weighed against welfare schemes launched by Mamata which covered women, girl students, farmers and provided cheap rice to the poor. With new video tapes popping up claiming the Sandeshkhali allegations of rape were a sham organised by a political party and the , apex court’s judgement giving back school jobs, the mood seems to have changed. In the lilting sing-song accent of the central Bengal districts, Chandi Gharani, 34, from Kaliganj near Plassey said “The vote here , is either for Mamata or against Mamata … so people who don’t like her, believe in all the scams; those who like her, say corruption by TMC functionaries or not, she has delivered.” “They have tried to cash in on the anti-incumbency and some cases against TMC functionaries, but the problem is that this anti-TMC vote will be split between BJP and the Left-Congress alliance,” Jawhar Sircar, TMC MP and former Prasar Bharati chairman, told Free Press Journal. While the ruling party is hoping the anti-Mamata vote will be split, helping it to pass muster in many marginal constituencies, it is worried by the communalisation of politics, though it also feels the fall-out of the Ram Mandir movement has been stymied at Bengal’s borders because of the state’s unique culCONTD. ON NATION ture.