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Siliguri The Statesman 23 RD SEPTEMBER 2022
Siliguri The Statesman 23 RD SEPTEMBER 2022
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Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC
WEATHER
106 PFI activists held Big hint to Rajasthan CM: Rahul
One or two spells of rain/thundershower Gandhi says one man one post
very likely. Temperature likely to be in
the range of 34-27 degrees Celsius.
RAINFALL: NIL
in NIAs largest raids
Around 100 locations raided across 15 states; Amit Shah chairs meet
AICC chief, his bete noire
Sachin Pilot could be installed
as the chief minister of the
state ahead of the assembly
RELATIVE HUMIDITY elections there. Amid hec-
Max.92% Min. 62% STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
These searches were con- the raids, following which tic political lobbying, indi-
TEMPERATURE ducted at the residential
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER and official premises of they were detained by the cations so far are that the con-
Max: 34.7°C (+2) Min: 26.7°C (+1) state police.PFI workers sat test will be between Mr
persons involved in "fund-
I
SUN RISES SUN SETS n joint pan-India raids on the road in protest Gehlot and party MP from
ing terrorism, organis-
05:26 hrs 17:34 hrs ing training camps and
at about 100 locations against the NIA raid at the Kerala, Shashi Tharoor.
MOON RISES MOON SETS radicalising people to
in 15 states, the Nation- party office in Chennai. Ashok Gehlot is in Kerala
01:59 hrs 15:38 hrs join proscribed organi-
al Investigation Agency NIA earlier this month Congress leader Rahul Gand- to meet Rahul Gandhi. Before
New moon on 26 September
(NIA), Enforcement Direc-
sations said officials.
also raided 40 places in hi addresses a press confer- going to Kerala, he met Con-
torate (ED), and state police Telangana, Andhra Pradesh ence during Bharat Jodo gress interim chief Sonia
forces on Thursday arrest- India, Tapan Deka were es of persons involved in in a PFI case and detained Yatra, in Ernakulam. � ANI Gandhi onWednesday and the
THUMBNAILS ed a total of 106 cadres of among those present in the "funding terrorism, organ- four persons. meeting lasted for two hours.
the Popular Front of India meeting with Shah. ising training camps and The agency had then STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Sources said that Sonia
(PFI), a radical organisa- The raids spread over radicalising people to join conducted searches at 38 NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER Gandhi has asserted that
tion, sources said on Thurs- 10 states and involving proscribed organisations". locations in Telangana (23 the poll will be fair and she
day. the NIA, the ED and state “In a major action across in Nizamabad, four in Rahul Gandhi on Thursday will not endorse any candi-
The NIA conducted police forces have been 10 states, NIA, ED and Hyderabad, seven in Jag- said that the Congress will date. Apparently, the issue
raids on PFI at 93 locations described by the agency as state police have arrested ityal, two in Nirmal, one adhere to the ‘one man one of Rajasthan was also dis-
in 15 states ~ Kerala (39), the largest such investi- more than 100 cadres of each in Adilabad and post’ principle as per the cussed in the meeting, but
Tamil Nadu (16), Karnataka gation till date against ter- PFI,” sources said earlier Karimnagar districts) and Udaipur declaration, in a ideas and belief system and there is no official word on
(12), Andhra Pradesh (7), ror funding suspects. today. at two locations in Andhra not-so-subtle hint to vision of India". What we had it.The Congress' central elec-
Telangana (1), UP (2), The searches were con- At least four activists of Pradesh (one each in Rajasthan chief minister decided in Udaipur. 'One per- tion authority on Thursday
Rajasthan (4), Delhi (2), ducted at multiple locations the Popular Front Of India Kurnool and Nellore dis- Ashok Gehlot. son, one post' is a commit- issued a notification for the
Assam (1), Madhya Pradesh in the largest ever inves- (PFI) were detained by tricts) in the case relating “I think we have made a ment of Congress and I Congress president polls.
(1), Maharashtra (4) Goa tigation process till date. officials of the NIA in sep- to Abdul Khader of Nizam- commitment in Udaipur expect that commitment According to the notifi-
(1), West Bengal (1), Bihar The operation started late arate raids in Indore and abad district in Telangana and hope that it will be ful- will be maintained (on party's cation, while the nomination
(1) and Manipur (1), the in the night around 1 am Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, and 26 other persons. filled,” Rahul Gandhi said in presidential post)," he added. forms will be available from
sources said.Meanwhile, and learnt to be conclud- including PFI MP head In the operation, NIA response to media queries Rajasthan chief minis- Thursday, the filing will be
Union Home Minister Amit ed by 5 am involving over Abdul Karim Bekriwala, had seized incriminating in Ernakulam on Thursday. ter Ashok Gehlot, who is held between September
Eric Falt, cluster director UNESCO with others Shah chaired a meeting 1,500 personnel of state PFI Indore unit head Mum- materials, including digi- The party, meanwhile, reluctant to give up his post, 24 and 30.Scrutiny of nom-
during a UNESCO representative visit in
with officials in connection police, Central Armed taz Quereshi and PFI trea- tal devices, documents, issued a notification setting is said to be under pressure ination will take place on
Kolkata on Thursday. �ANI
with raids by the NIA on Police Forces and officers surer Mohammad Javed two daggers and Rs 8,31,500 in motion the process for from the party high com- October 1, and the same
the premises linked to the of NIA and ED. Belim.Meanwhile, more cash.As per NIA, the electing the new president mand to file his nomination day, a valid candidate list will
MOD signs ` 17 cr deal with BrahMos: Giving an PFI. Several incriminating than 50 members of the PFI accused were "organising of the grand old party who for the presidentship and had be published. The last date
impetus to ''Aatmanirbharta'' in defence pro- The National Security documents, more than protested against the raids camps for imparting train- will replace its longest-serv- earlier indicated that he of withdrawal is October 8
duction, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) today Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, 100 bile phones, laptops outside the party office in ing to commit terrorist ing head, Sonia Gandhi. would prefer to retain the post following which, a final list
signed a contract with M/s BrahMos Aero- the Home Secretary, Ajay and other materials have Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul dis- acts and to promote enmi- Describing the post of of chief minister even if he will be brought out. While the
space Pvt. Ltd. for the acquisition of additional Kumar Bhalla, the Direc- been seized by the raiding trict earlier today. ty between different groups Congress president as an wins the contest for party poll will be held on October
dual-role capable Surface to Surface BrahMos tor General of NIA, Dinkar teams.These searches were The PFI and SDPI work- on the basis of religion". "ideological post", Mr Gand- president. 17, counting will take place
missiles at an overall cost of Rs 1700 cr under Gupta and the Director of conducted at the resi- ers staged a protest in Kar- (With input from our cor- hi on Thursday said the It is being speculated on October 19.
the Buy-Indian Category. Intelligence Bureau of dential and official premis- nataka's Mangaluru against respondents) position "represents a set of that if Gehlot becomes the (With agency inputs)
CMYK
CMYK
02
Will stop drinking and selling Darjeeling tea till they give 20
percent bonus at one go
AJOY EDWARDS, PRESIDENT, HAMRO PARTY / GTA SABHASAD
SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 WHILE STATING HIS RESTAURANT GLENARYS WILL NOT SELL TEA UNTIL BONUS FOR TEA WORKERS IS PAID
Siliguri in dengue
grip: Doctors
urge early tests
ed. Dengue can affect both chil-
dren and adults. I must say
apart from the clinical part,
awareness among people is the
key to fight dengue," he said.
A sudden onset of high
fever, headache, a transient
body rash, nausea and vom-
iting bodyache are the most
common symptoms of dengue.
"If the person has loss of
PHOTO: MERINA SHARMA appetite, vomiting, and fatigue
with fever, he/she should be
SANKHA GHOSH every day with symptoms of hospitalized immediately,"
SILIGURI, 22 SEPTEMBER dengue. In many private hos- Dr Sen added.
pitals, the number of patients Dengue virus, one of the
A
mid a steep rise in the admitted for treatment of most dreadful human
number of dengue dengue has almost doubled pathogens, is a regular phe-
cases, which has over the past fortnight, it is nomenon in India. The virus
caused four known learnt. As a few deaths occurred is transmitted to humans
deaths in Siliguri, doctors due to the dengue shock syn- through the bite of the Aedes
have advised people to under- drome (DSH), Dr Sen, who is mosquitoes, namely Aedes A view of Kurseong and its adjoining areas as seen from the view point at Tingling near Mirik in Darjeeling in this recent photo. ��DEEP MILAN PRADHAN
go the dengue test (NS1) with- also the secretary of the asso- aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
out wasting time if they have ciation of physicians of North Reports of last month at the
Min Ghatak plans welfare schemes for tea workers Amit Shah to inaugurate Sikkim
MANAS R BANNERJEE
SILIGURI, 22 SEPTEMBER
(TAC), and then he is sched-
uled to visit Simulbarie and
Manabari, and on his way
bonus at the rate of 20 percent.
Mr Rizwan has mentioned
that since both the parties were
Dairy Cooperative Conclave
Minister in Charge for Labour back he would visit the not able to shift their stand, STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Tamang (Golay) will be the
Department Moloy Ghatak is Bagrakote tea area," a source "the Minister in Charge, Labour SILIGURI, 22 SEPTEMBER guest of honour at the func-
scheduled to arrive here on a said. Department Moloy Ghatak tion, while Minister of State
two-day visit to the North ALC issues advisory on through the ALC North Ben- Union Home Affairs and Coop- for Cooperation BL Verma
Bengal tea belt tomorrow. Hill tea bonus gal Zone advised the follow- eration Minister Amit Shah is and other senior officials of the
Official sources said Min- It is learnt that after the tea ing…" "Finally it was advised all set to inaugurate the 'East- Ministry, top dignitaries of
ister in Charge of Public Health bonus meeting for workers that 20 percent bonus (bonus ern and North-Eastern Zones the Sikkim Government,
Engineering Pulak Roy will under the Gorkhaland Terri- 8.33 + 11.67 Puja ex-gratia) to Dairy Cooperative Conclave' including ministers, will active-
accompany Mr Ghatak, while torial Administration (GTA) be paid in two installments and at Gangtok in Sikkim on 7 ly participate in the conclave,
both the ministers will visit tea ended inconclusively yester- first installment of 15 per- October, the chairman of the Mr Rai said.
plantations in Alipurduar area day, Mr Ghatak has asked cent shall be paid before Durga National Cooperative Dairy Mr Rai further said that tak-
tomorrow and discuss drink- Additional Labour Commis- Puja that is 28 September Federation of India (NCDFI), ing inspiration from the Prime
ing water supply in tea areas sioner (ALC) Md Rizwan to 2022, and the remaining 5 Mangal Jit Rai, said today. al Dairy Development Board, Minister's 'Digital India',
there. issue an advisory. percent shall be paid before According to Mr Rai, the Anand Gujarat, representatives NCDFI has initiated an online
Minister Ghatak may also and another one in the hana TE near Siliguri, and "The department had to Diwali that is 21 October this theme of the conclave is from NABARD, NCDC, IRMA, marketplace called 'NCDFI
distribute I-Cards to tea work- Kurseong sub-division for head for the State Guest House issue such an advisory because year." "Resilient Eastern and North- Dairy Farmer Leaders (Chair- eMarket' to provide trans-
ers in the Alipurduar tea plan- implementing welfare schemes tomorrow. He would then go there was no position to ready Significantly, Mr Rizwan Eastern Zones Dairy Cooper- men/Directors) and Manag- parent and fair dealings to trade
tation area tomorrow. in the first phase, it is learnt. to Banarhat in Jalpaiguri. an agreement from technical also mentioned that industrial atives-Exploring the Chal- ing Director of the Coopera- bulk commodities to member
According to official sources, Notably, the state has tar- "After visiting the areas there, point of view," a source said. peace, harmony and disci- lenges and Opportunities", tive Milk Unions and State dairy cooperatives with the
Mr Ghatak will visit the tea belt geted setting up 20 public he would go to Dhumchipara Notably, seven operating pline in the estates should be and that it is aimed at strength- Dairy Federations from East- patronage of the National
on 23 and 24 September with health centres with ambu- in Alipurduar where he will dis- trade unions abstained from ensured and if any of the ening the cooperative ecosys- ern and North-Eastern states Dairy Development Board.
a view to introducing some wel- lance facility in the tea area, tribute departmental I-Cards yesterday's meeting in Silig- management failed to dis- tem in the Eastern and North- of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Dairy product prices con-
fare schemes in the interest of apart from setting up of at least among tea workers and then uri, demanding one-time pay- burse the bonus within the stip- Eastern regions for the larg- Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, cluded at NCDFI eMarket
tea workers. 50 crèches for tea workers. return to Birpara. The next day, ment of 20 percent bonus for ulated time and violated the er benefit of the local com- Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripu- become benchmarking and the
The State Labour Depart- After landing at Bagdogra he will hold a meeting with PHE Hill tea workers, since work- decision, appropriate action munities. ra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Ministry of Animal Husbandry
ment has targeted seven tea Airport, Mr Ghatak and his officials and then members of ers in the Terai and the Dooars will be initiated by the Labour The conclave will be attend- West Bengal. collecting these prices week-
gardens in the Terai, the Dooars team is scheduled to visit Tri- the Tea Advisory Council have already started receiving Department. ed by the Chairman, Nation- Sikkim Chief Minister PS ly, officials said.
CMYK
CMYK
03
The state government is misusing the money on clubs, kehla (sports) and
mela (fairs) and then large amounts are looted by Trinamul leaders.
HOOGHLY MP LOCKET CHATTERJEE
RAISING HER VOICE IN FAVOUR OF DEMAND BY STATE EMPLOYEES FOR DA SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022
THUMBNAILS
DA arrear case: HC warns Bengal babus of contempt Govt denying legitimate rights of people: CPM Locket supports
state employees
INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE Samanta directed Dwivedi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ed the state government’s
KOLKATA, 22 SEPTEMBER and Pant to file affidavits by KOLKATA, 22 SEPTEMBER petition to review its May 20 DA demand
4 November on why they order. The court had earlier,
The Calcutta High Court should not face contempt of With the Calcutta High Court upholding an order of the state STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
on Thursday directed chief court proceedings and post- today dismissing a review administrative tribunal(SAT), HOOGHLY, 22 SEPTEMBER
secretary HK Dwivedi and ed the next hearing for 9 petition of the state govern- directed the state govern-
state finance secretary, November. ment towards clearance of ment to clear, within three The Hooghly MP Locket
Manoj Pant to file affidavits Meanwhile, the state gov- dearness allowances (DA) months, all DA arrears since Chatterjee today lashed out
on why contempt of court ernment has started prepa- arrears, the CPM hit out at the July 2009 when the revision at the state government for
proceedings should not be rations for approaching the Mamata Banerjee-led gov- of pay and allowances came misusing the money and
initiated against them for not Supreme Court challeng- ernment for allegedly mount- into effect in West Bengal. The depriving its employees of
honouring its judgement ing the Calcutta High Court's ing endless efforts to con- state government, through a their justified demand for DA.
directing the state govern- Thursday order. stantly deprive government writ petition in the high court The Bharatiya Janata Party
ment to clear dearness Meanwhile, the Confed- employees of their legitimate the West Bengal government had challenged that SAT order leader said this while hand-
allowance (DA) arrears to eration of State Govern- rights. is functioning, it is embar- which directed it to pay DA ing over an ambulance to a
employees within three ment Employees too filed a The state has yet again rassing. Every state govern- at par with the Centre in club in Kalampur, kalitala vil-
months. caveat in the apex court for landed itself in trouble as its ment in the country recog- three installments. After today, lage at Singur.
Earlier on Thursday, a making it party in any case decision to petition the court nizes DA as a legitimate right the state will now be explor- Chatterjee, raising her
Division Bench of Justice filed by the state government. for reviewing of an earlier order of the government employ- ing options to approach the voice in favour of the justi-
Harish Tandon and Justice "Since the beginning, to clear DA arrears within three ees but in Bengal, the state Supreme Court. fied demand of state employ-
Rabindranath Samanta dis- the main intention of the months, yielded zero results. is mounting relentless efforts The senior TMC MP Souga- ees for dearness allowance,
missed the state govern- state government is how to This further put the state to deprive employees of the ta Roy said that the opposi- said it is ridiculous that the
ment's review petition to Before the state govern- ernment Employees, the delay the DA arrears pay- government in a quandary same. The court has today reit- tion parties must understand state government employees,
reconsider its 20 May judge- ment could weather this original petitioner in the ment. They have the right to while the Trinamul Congress erated its stance that DA has that the state is not being able have to take legal recourse.
ment directing the state jolt, another shock came in matter, for missing the dead- approach the Supreme leaders claim that the diffi- to be cleared and there’s no to pay the DA because of a The state government is mis-
government to clear the the afternoon in a contempt line for clearing the DA Court. But we are also ready culty arises from the alleged way out.” financial crunch and not using the money on clubs,
pending DA arrears to the of court petition filed before arrears. to fight in the matter till the fund crunch. The Calcutta High Court because it doesn’t wish to. “The kehla (sports) and mela (fairs)
employees within three the same Bench against the On the contempt petition, end," confederation presi- The CPM central com- bench comprising justices only option that now remains and then large amounts is
months. The deadline state government by the the Division Bench of Jus- dent Shyamal Kumar Mitra mittee member, Sujan Harish Tandon and is to approach the Supreme looted by Trinamul lead-
expired on 19 August. Confederation of State Gov- tice Tandon and Justice said. Chakraborty, said, “The way Rabindranath Samanta reject- Court,” he said. ers,” said Chatterjee.
CMYK
04
Today again the time has come to save democracy, secular-
ism, the Constitution and the country from the BJP-RSS.
CPI-M GENERAL SECRETARY SITARAM YECHURY
SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 SPEAKING DURING A RALLY IN PATNA, BIHAR
THUMBNAILS
Rahul for Opp strategy to T20: Cops lathi-charge unruly
ticket seekers, seven hurt
tackle ‘divisive forces’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
HYDERABAD, 22 SEPTEMBER
the last international match
hosted by Hyderabad was in
ple fainted. Around 20 people
were injured among which
SNS & AGENCIES He also pointed out that December 2019 there has been seven were sent to a private hos-
KOCHI, 22 SEPTEMBER each and every Congress Seven people were injured quite a bit of interest among pital in Secunderabad for treat-
worker can contest and asked today when police resorted to cricket fans over the T-20 ment. This included two police
C
ongress leader Rahul which other parties has such lathi charge to control the match. For the past few days constables. A ground staff Ran-
Gandhi, who is lead- a feature. crowd that had gathered to pur- a large number of people have jitha fainted and two women
ing the 'Bharat Jodo "Not a single party has chase the tickets at Secun- been gathering at the constables were seen trying to
Yatra', on Thursday that feature and hence it's good derabad Gymkhana for the T- Gymkhana ground but HCA revive her. She was later admit-
called on opposition parties that if there is going to be a 20 match between India and has been unable to provide clar- ted to the hospital.
to chalk out a strategy to tack- contest," he said. Australia at Rajiv Gandhi Inter- ity about availability of tickets Telangana sports minister
le the present divisive forces To a question on the nation- nation Cricket stadium in till yesterday night. People V Srinivas Goud had earlier
Delhiites experience in the country. wide raids taking place at the Uppal slated for 25 September. had tried to book online tick- warned the HCA against sell-
heavy monsoon rain, in I do think that the oppo- offices of Popular Front of After the ruckus the state ets on 15 September but the ing tickets in black for the T20
the capital on Thursday. � sition has to come out with a India and arrests, he said: "All sports minister held a review site had shut down within match between India and Aus-
SUBRATA DUTTA
strategy. They have to come “I am getting handshakes tion in detail in my last press forms of communal violence, meeting with Hyderabad Crick- minutes. tralia. He said the govern-
together to fight the ideolog- from a good number of peo- conference and it can be regardless of from where it et Association president Today people had started ment will examine the num-
Narmada compensation: ical, financial, and institu- ple who support the Left here checked up... hence I will not comes should be combated." Mohammad Azharuddin and gathering at about 5 am to buy ber of tickets sold as against
The Supreme Court has tional power that has now as they know inside their say again," he said. The yatra, which entered police where it was decided that tickets offline. At some point the stadium's seating capac-
declined to entertain a plea come up in the country," hearts what I have raised He also said that the post Kerala on September 11 from 7,000 tickets would be sold people became impatient and ity. HCA which has a history
seeking to modify its 2017 Gandhi said while interacting about hatred is right," he said. of the Congress President "is neighbouring Tamil Nadu, online today evening. started jumping over the gates. of mismanagement, infight-
order for payment of final with the media here on the 12th Gandhi, however, side- not an organisational post will exit the state on Septem- There was complete dis- There was a stampede like sit- ing and corruption was blamed
compensation of Rs 60 lakh day of his yatra in Kerala. stepped numerous questions but it is an ideological post". ber 30, after covering 453 km order at the Gymkhana where uation and police resorted to for the chaos by cricket fans
to the families affected by He also pointed out that on if he will contest for the Con- "It represents a set of ideas, through 43 Assembly and 12 HCA had set up counters for lathicharge to bring the situ- as video footage of the lath-
the Sardar Sarovar project that he differs with the Left on gress President's post. a value system, and a vision Lok Sabha constituencies in the tickets to be sold which led ation under control. This led icharge and injured people
on the river Narmada. IANS how they view politics. "I have answered this ques- of India," he added. 19 days. to the unfortunate event. Since to minor injuries and many peo- went viral.
SDPI, PFI permanent ban in NIA raids: PFI calls dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kerala
offing: K'taka Home Minister STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 22 NIA seals PFI’s Hyderabad office
arrests and the harassments
of its National and state lead-
PFI national president
OMA Salam, state president
INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE been tightened at the residence SEPTEMBER ers across India and the witch- Mohammad Basheer,
BENGALURU, 22 SEPTEMBER of Home Minister Araga Jna- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE to the owner asking him to hunting against the mem- Pathanamthitta district sec-
nendra in the backdrop of The Popular Front of India (PFI) HYDERABAD, 22 SEPTEMBER approach the special NIA bers, and supporters of the retary Sadiq Muhammad,
Karnataka Home Minister NIA raids on SDPI and PFI has called for a dawn -to -dusk Continuing the crackdown on court in Nampally. The state organisation,” PFI’s National Mundakkayam native
Araga Jnendra stated on Thurs- offices and their leaders. hartal in Kerala on Friday in PFI activists in both Telugu police are also extra cau- Executive Council (NEC) said Najimuddin, PFI leader P
day that the procedure to The NIA sleuths have taken protest against the massive states the National Investi- tious for tomorrow appre- in a statement. Koya, national vice president
impose permanent ban on PFI Azeez Abdul Shukur Hon- raids by the National Inves- gation Agency today sealed hensive that there might be It said that the Front will Abdul Rahman Kalamassery
and SDPI, that have been giv- navar from Sirsi, PFI district tigation Agency(NIA) and the organisation’s office in protests after Friday prayers. “never ever surrender” on the , PFI Idukki district secretary
ing tacit support to terrorist and who backs them. To clean President of Kalaburagi Ejaj Ali, Enforcement Directorate (ED) Chandrayangutta area of Yesterday, BJP state chief action taken by a “totalitari- Zainuddin are o the promi-
organisations, has begun at the the mess, that had been cre- Shahid Khan, President of in its offices and residences Hyderabad. A team from NIA Bandi Sanjay Kumar had said an regime”. nent leaders in NIA cus-
Central government level. ated by them, raids were very SDPI in Shivamogga, Chi- of its leaders in 11 states and searched the premises and that PFI was trying to convert As part of the massive, multi tody.TFI state committee
These two organisations are much necessary," the minis- tradurga, Chikkamgalur, for- arrests of its around 106 seized some electronic gad- India into an Islamic nation agency crackdown on the member Yahya Thangal was
found to be having connec- ter opined. mer Mysuru president activists across the country gets from the office in the early and TRS and AIMIM were popular Front of India(PFI) taken into custody from Tris-
tion with terror organisations These organisations have Maulana Mohammad over charges of terror fund- hours and then sealed the helping it to spread its foot- across the country, the NIA and sur.
not in Karnataka, but in other grown to this proportion only Kaleemulla and Imamuddin ing and money laundering office premises with a note print in Telangana. ED conducted raids at the The raids were conduct-
places of the country. Now, the with the direct and indirect sup- from Davanagere and Abu “A hartal will be observed PFI offices across Kerala and ed after deploying the CRPF,
procedure to ban them has port of the Congress party all Tahir from Harihara town. in the state on September 23 also the residences of the out- without informing the state
begun, he reiterated. these years. If these organisa- SDPI leader Ataullah Jokat- against the RSS-controlled of PFI 'witch-hunting' against the fits leaders in the state. The government and the Kerala
"Everyone knows about tions have to be cut to size, one te said three leaders have fascist government’s attempt PFI's National Executive members and supporters of NIA arrested 22 people who police. It is learnt that the raids
the misdeeds that SDPI and PFI should not look at the religion, been arrested. Ashraf A.K., to silence dissenting voices Council (NEC) condemned the the organisation. are national and state leaders were conducted to details of
organisations are indulging caste, loss or profit. Everyone Mohiyuddin Haleyangadi and using the central agencies,” raids and the 'unjust arrests “NEC has condemned the of the Popular Front in Ker- terror funding, money laun-
into. The world should know should cooperate, he said. Nawaz Kavur have been said a statement from A Abdul and the harassment' of its national wide raids by the ala. Eight of them have been dering and training camps for
how they manage to get funds Meanwhile, security has detained by NIA, he said. Sathar, state general secretary leaders across India and the NIA and ED and the unjust taken to Delhi terrorist activities.
E
Adityanath has expressed ven as Punjab Cabinet Meanwhile, AAP legislators ernor's house to protest can- will be thwarted by the dedi-
grief over the deaths in on Thursday recom- on Thursday held a‘ Shanti cellation of the special Assem- cated soldiers of AAP and its
the incident. The chief mended the Gover- March’ (peace march)from bly session summoned to supremo Arvind Kejriwal, AAP
minister has announced a nor for calling the state Punjab Assembly towards bring a confidence motion. MLAs said.They accused Con-
relief amount of Rs 4 lakh Assembly session on 27 Sep- Governor's house to protest Holding banners that said, gress of being a ‘B-team’ of the
from the Disaster Relief tember, the Chief Minister cancellation of the special ‘Killer of Democracy’ and ‘Con- BJP and working deceitfully for
Fund to the next of kin of Bhagwant Mann said the state Assembly session summoned gress-BJP killing democracy’, the saffron party. They are the
the deceased. IANS government will approach to bring a confidence motion. 'Stop Operation Lotus', AAP's killers of democracy. They said
the Supreme Court against the Holding banners that said, Members of Legislative Assem- that the governor has can-
"arbitrary and anti-democratic ‘Killer of Democracy’ and bly (MLAs) and workers raised celled the assembly session at
11-year-old rape survivor decision" of the Governor to ‘Congress-BJP killing democ- slogans against the Opposition the behest of BJP and Oppo-
delivers baby in UP's cancel the permission of hold- racy’, 'Stop Operation Lotus', parties. sition leaders are also dancing
Unnao: An 11-year-old rape ing a special session of the AAP's Members of Legislative They alleged the Opposi- on the tunes of BJP to safeguard
survivor has given birth to Assembly today after giving Assembly (MLAs) and work- tion is trying to halt the progress their positions amid threats of
a baby boy at the district permission for it. ers raised slogans against the of the state government by CBI and ED raids.
hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Announcing the state gov- Opposition parties. working clandestinely against The AAP MLAs said the
Unnao district. The health ernment decision to sum- Court for safeguarding the fron party. The CM, however, said MLAs said Opposition par- the AAP in Punjab. MLAs Mann government will sum-
of the new born is being mon the session of state democratic rights of the peo- He said Congress, Shiro- AAP has taken birth from an ties including Congress, Shi- dubbed the Governor Ban- mon a special Assembly ses-
monitored in the NICU of Assembly on 27 September to ple and federal rights of the mani Akali Dal and BJP are anti-corruption crusade and romani Akali Dal and Bharatiya warilal Purohit's decision of sion on September 27 to dis-
the hospital, said doctors. discuss various issues per- states. hand in glove for this sinister the party under leadership of Janata Party (BJP), who have withdrawing his earlier order cuss various issues pertaining
Initially, the police and taining to Punjab, the CM Accusing Punjab Congress move aimed at toppling the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind welcomed the Governor's calling the special session as to the state. The government
medical staff at the CHC said it is an unfortunate move of supporting ‘Operation democratically elected gov- Kejriwal is gaining momen- decision to cancel the special a "mockery of democracy" will also approach the Supreme
(Maurawan) did not and they will move to the Lotus’ of the Bharatiya Jana- ernment of Punjab. Mann tum with every passing day. Assembly session scheduled MLAs said Opposition par- Court against the arbitrary
believe that the girl could Apex court against this irra- ta Party (BJP), Mann said it is said Congress and BJP have He said they will oppose every for today, were working togeth- ties including Congress, Shi- and anti-democratic decision
be pregnant and thought tional decision. ironic that Congress which is marginalized regional par- anti-democratic move and er to weaken democracy as romani Akali Dal and Bharatiya of the Governor to cancel the
that her belly was swollen. Mann said Governor Ban- the biggest victim of this ties adding that now they will not be threatened by they are baffled by the extra- Janata Party (BJP), who have permission without taking
Both the mother and child warilal Purohit's decision will undemocratic operation is want that power should remain pressure tactics. Mann said ordinary functioning of the AAP welcomed the Governor's deci- consent of the Council of Min-
are healthy. IANS be challenged in the Supreme standing by the side of the saf- confined between them only. Punjab will send a message to government led by Mann. sion to cancel the special isters, as per the law.
11 Cong MLAs Bangladeshi hacktivist group targeting How PFI spread its wings across country
suspended Indian government websites, servers INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE form. the agencies have found that
GANDHINAGAR, 22 SEPTEMBER SNS & AGENCIES government websites. Similar groups," Pandey informed. NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER Sources have claimed "The National Develop- they use these funds to carry
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER posts were seen on multiple One of the co-founders of that the Centre has ment Front of Kerala, Kar- out terror activities.
As many as 11 Congress platforms including Facebook Mysterious Team Bangladesh In a major crackdown on the decided to ban PFI for nataka Forum for Dignity, and Central agencies NIA and
MLAs were on Thursday sus- Cyber-security researchers on and Telegram. The members has been recognised as Taskin Popular Front of India (PFI), its alleged involvement Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil ED on Thursday conducted
pended for the day from the Thursday said they have dis- of the group primarily reside Ahmmed.The rest of the group the National Investigation Nadu came together to form raids across 11 states, includ-
Gujarat Assembly after they covered a hacktivist group in the Chittagong area of primarily consists of students Agency (NIA) and the Enforce-
in terror activities. A the PFI after dismantling their ing Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra
created a ruckus demanding from Bangladesh that is tar- Bangladesh and either study or recent graduates between ment Directorate (ED) on high-level meeting was individual outfits," the offi- Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,
a debate on caste-based cen- geting the Indian govern- in college or have recently the age of 20 to 25 years that Thursday raided premises held between Union cial said. Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil
sus and OBC reservation in ment's websites and servers. graduated. Hacktivism appears previously operated under linked to PFI in 10 states across Home Minister Amit According to sources, the PFI Nadu and Rajasthan, and
local bodies. The group called Mysteri- to be their predominant moti- hacker organisations, like Elite the country and arrested more Shah and top agency has now spread its network to arrested more than 100 sus-
When the house was dis- ous Team Bangladesh (MT) is vation and the group "major- Force 71, Bangladesh Cyber than 100 top PFI leaders and two-dozen states across the pected PFI activists for alleged-
cussing the amendment bill using DDoS (Distributed Denial ly operates and communi- Anonymous Team, and Taskin functionaries.
officials on this count country. ly supporting terror activities
on Gujarat National Law of Service) attacks against cates via Facebook, Telegram Vau.They are predominant- An official said that the on Thursday. The sources said that in the in the country.
University, a senior Con- domains and subdomains of and Twitter", said the team. ly motivated by hacktivism and agency had learnt that the PFI name of fighting for Muslim "Twenty persons each were
gress leader demanded for a several state governments and "Through meticulous analy- have associations with an was indulging in terror fund- was established in 2006 in rights, the PFI won the trust of arrested from Karnataka and
debate on OBC reservation a web server hosted by the Indi- sis and profiling of multiple Indonesia-based hacktivist ing besides imparting training Kerala. E. Abubacker, the chair- many Muslim youth who joined Maharashtra, followed by Tamil
in local bodies. Speaker an government, according to groups, it can be rightly con- group, "Hacktivist of Garuda". to the youth in order to radi- man of PFI, is also a resident the outfit in different capaci- Nadu (10), Assam (9), Uttar
Neemaben Acharya turned the team from cyber-securi- cluded that such hacktivist DDoS attacks can leave calise them. of Kerala. The organisation ties. It rapidly started opening Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh
down the request saying that ty firm CloudSEK. groups collaborate among websites more vulnerable as "We have seized incrimi- established its headquarters in office in different states where (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Pud-
the party should have moved "Websites belonging to each other excessively to con- some security features may nating documents, digital Kozhikode, which was later further recruitments were dicherry (3), and Rajasthan
a request for it earlier. Since governments of Assam, Mad- duct nefarious attacks, DDoS be offline due to the attack. devices, cash to the tune of Rs changed to Delhi. PFI nation- made. (2)," said an NIA source.
the house is in the middle of hya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, being the primary one, followed Damaged infrastructure 10 lakh along with weapons. al general secretary Nasarud- The PFI has also spread its Sources have claimed that
a discussion, a sudden debate Gujarat, Punjab and Tamil by defacing attacks," said Abhi- can cause the collapse of ser- We have learnt that camps din Elamaram is also a found- netwrok overseas. The agen- the Centre has decided to ban
was not possible, he assert- Nadu were affected," the nav Pandey, Cyber Threat vices provided by the website. were organised where con- ing member of the outfit. cies have learnt that PFI receives PFI for its alleged involvement
ed.At this, 11 Congress MLAs researchers added. Researcher at CloudSEK. Websites become vulnera- spiracies were hatched to carry A number of radical groups, funds from Muslim countries in terror activities. A high-
rushed into the well demand- This came to light when a "'Raven Storm' has been the ble to further attacks. Loss of out terror-related activities in which were active in southern in the name of donation.While level meeting was held between
ing caste base census and member of the group made a most prevalent tool employed, data, and credentials being the country," said a source. India, wanted to form a group. the PFI members claim that they Union Home Minister Amit
OBC reservation in local post claiming to have launched for such impactful DDoS compromised, said What is PFI? These highly-radicalised groups use these funds to fight for the Shah and top agency officials
bodies. IANS an HTTP flood DDoS attack on attacks, by such hacktivist researchers. The Popular Front of India decided to come on a single plat- rights of Muslims and Dalits, on this count on Thursday.
VP Dhankhar calls for strengthening space for discussion, dialogue in public realm J&K HC notice on release of report on
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER
deliberation so that societal
morality and propriety are
stampede deaths in Vaishno Devi temple
preserved”. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mithal and consisting of Jus- remained remiss in perfor-
Suggesting that '‘intolerance Underscoring the prima- JAMMU, 22 SEPTEMBER tice Sindhu Sharma directed mance of their duties on the
of others’ point of view is cy attached to the Freedom of the Registry that keeping in view fateful night when the pilgrims
antithetical to the vision of free Expression in the Constitution In a significant development, the public interest involved in lost their lives.The lawyers
exchange of thought’', Vice and the rich quality of Con- a division bench of the J&K the matter to re-notify on 28 claimed that accountability
President Jagdeep Dhankhar stituent Assembly debates, and Ladakh High Court on October the PIL filed by advo- was not fixed for the reasons
today called for strengthen- Dhankhar said they are a tes- Thursday sought reply with- cate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed. best known to the authorities
ing the thriving space for dis- timony to the importance of in one month from the UT gov- Sheikh Shakeel in the PIL at the helm of affairs. The
cussion and dialogue in the free-spirited and healthy dis- ernment and the Vaishnode- has sought directions to the Senior Counsel further sub-
public realm. cussion that India has long vi Shrine Board into a Public UT Administration and Shri mitted that the aforesaid
Recalling that India has a cherished. “Freedom of expres- Interest Litigation (PIL) seek- Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine panel was directed to submit
great heritage of debate, dis- sion is the nectar of democ- ing that the report of the Board to fix accountability of its report within weeks’ time
cussion, and knowledge-shar- racy”, he said. three member committee the delinquent officers who to the J&K government.
ing, he said that lessons can The Vice President called that probed death of 12 devo-
be drawn from the past to uplift upon the intellectuals from the tees and injury to several
the quality of discussions in civic society to play a proac- others in a stampede at the
the public domain, especial- ‘Lokmanthan’ in Guwahati, he – caused by both social struc- policy and ensured harmony tive role in ensuring the har- Vaishnodevi shrine on 1 Jan-
ly in legislatures. called upon the media to take tures and social media algo- and stability in society. monious balance of the three uary be made public.
Dhankhar added that in the the initiative, introspect and rithms – and let our mind Calling upon intellectuals branches of the state – Leg- After listening to senior
‘'race for one-upmanship and “pass on the mike and let breathe. We must revive the to speak upon prevailing islature, Executive, and Judi- advocate AV Gupta with advo-
under the constant glare of the unique, original and mar- art of listening; we must redis- issues, he said that “if our intel- ciary – through deliberative cate HA Siddiqui and a bat-
public eye, debates – tele- ginalised voices come to the cover the art of dialogue.” ligentsia decides to opt for mechanisms. “Democratic tery of lawyers appearing for
vised or on social media – are mainstream”. The vice president under- silence in the current times, values and human rights will the petitioner as well as the
turning into cacophonous Calling for healthy, open- lined the role of the intelli- then this very important sec- certainly blossom with intel- submissions made by the
fighting arenas’'. minded discussions, the vice gentsia in Indian society, refer- tion of society is bound to be ligentsia adopting the proac- additional advocate general
Inaugurating the third edi- president said it was “time to ring to how sages advised silenced forever. They must tive stance of dialogue and dis- Raman Sharma, the Bench
tion of a national colloquium step out of our echo chambers kings historically on issues of freely practice dialogue and cussion”, he added. headed by Chief Justice Pankaj
06 SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 Vol. CXXXXXVI 224
C
has ignited a wave of protests across the beleaguered or, as put succinctly by a business The country faces an un- hina has 18 per cent of the
country. It has exposed the anger among Iranian daily, from promise to dystopia. precedented oil crisis as it is world’s population, but less
Sri Lanka is an island nation, unable to pay for imports. Sri than 9 per cent of the world's
women about their treatment under a theocratic
formerly known as Ceylon and Lanka is also unable to service cropland and only one-third
regime and brought to surface what has been thereafter officially declared as external debt of over $51 million, of the global average availability of
described as an instance of “unprecedented willing- the Democratic Socialist Repub- the main creditors being China, freshwater on a per capita basis. But
ness” to defy the government. “Many people are lic of Sri Lanka. According to the Japan, and India. despite these severe resource cons-
pointing out that the victim could be my daughter, World Bank’s estimates, in 2020, As Sri Lanka suspended ser- traints, China has made remarkable
my sister, my wife,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the executive there were 21.9 million people in vicing external debt, this affect- progress in agriculture. For example,
director of the New York-based Center for Human Sri Lanka with life expectancy of ed the series of bonds issued in between 1949 and 2020, China’s total
Rights in Iran. “This has shaken people, specifically 76.98 years. global capital markets. It is un- grain production increased six-fold
that every time a woman leaves home, she might not Sri Lanka began with a sense derstood that international sov- and per capita grain availability more
come back.” of optimism at the time of inde- ereign bonds worth $1 billion than doubled.
pendence in 1948. It was a nation dollars have matured. The Asian More importantly, China is the
As the country’s hardline President, Ebrahim of much promise bestowed with Development Bank, Japan and world’s largest agricultural producer
Raisi, met world leaders in New York for the UN Gen- essential ingredients for rapid China are the largest lenders in and has a self-sufficiency rate in the
eral Assembly session, extraordinary scenes have economic development not shar- this group. production of key staples such as rice
unfolded in his country, with women removing their ed by most Asian countries ~ a Sri Lanka was once a model and wheat of more than 95 per cent.
headscarves and even burning them in front of cheer- strategic location in the Indian for emerging market economies Yet China faces serious challenges
ing crowds. This combination of viral videos and Ocean, an open economy with and grew at an average rate of 6.2 on the agriculture front. Years of inten-
pent-up anger represents a potential “George Floyd vibrant exports sector, a high per cent between 2010 and 2016. sive farming have damaged the agro-
moment” for Iran, Ghaemi said. The regime has now level of education, no reported Such growth dipped to 3.1 per ecosystems that play a critical role in
been “forced into a corner given how innocent this incidence of extreme poverty or cent in the next three years and China’s food systems. About 40 per
inequality, well developed physi- the World Bank has forecast that cent of China’s arable land has been
woman was, and there was no ground for having the nation would grow at 2.4 per
cal infrastructure and a presum- degraded and more than 20 per cent is
treated her so violently.” ably efficient administrative cent in 2022, which appears contaminated by high levels of heavy
President Raisi has ordered an investigation into apparatus. Well into the 1950s, it higher contribution of industry economy. Such a rise in tourist highly unlikely given the eco- metals such as cadmium, copper, lead
Amini’s death and has expressed condolences to her was ranked as one of the most to GDP than agriculture which inflows led to increased flow of nomic crisis. and zinc. Over-use of fertilizers and
father through a phone call. “I learned about this inci- prosperous Asian countries. contributed 20 per cent of GDP. foreign exchange and generated The country faces a fiscal pesticides has contributed to soil de-
dent during by trip to Uzbekistan and I immediately Sri Lanka’s per capita inc- The economic changes of the lib- attractive avenues of employ- deficit amounting to 13 per cent gradation, and agriculture is now the
ordered my colleagues to investigate the matter spe- ome and other development eralisation process continued to ment for the country. In 2018, the of its Gross Domestic Product.
cially. I assure you that I will demand this issue from indicators placed it well above its have important socio-cultural country recorded a 46.1 per cent The chronic foreign exchange
the responsible institutions so that its dimensions South Asian neighbours, as well impacts too and the service sec- of growth in tourism as com- shortage has led to skyrocketing
as countries such as Republic of tor, driven by tourism, soon out- pared to 2010. inflation. largest source of water pollution in the
are clarified.”
Korea and Thailand. The coun- paced industry. Emboldened by such increa- Sri Lankans have no access country. Organic matter levels in the
There is little doubt that a cornered President has try’s economy was backed by a Such structural changes, ses in tourism revenue, the Ra- to petrol and suffer 15 hours of rich black soils of Northeast China
sought to defuse tensions. The President emphasized large foreign exchange reserve however, were not supported by japaksa government announced power cuts. UNICEF has repor- have declined by more than 75 per
that he considers all Iranian girls as his own children. and a solid budgetary position. its national financial counterpart, a significant tax cut in 2019 whi- ted that most children in Sri cent since the 1950s and are estimated
“Your daughter is like my own daughter, and I feel This country moved through as the country depended heavily ch led to an estimated revenue Lanka go to bed hungry. Prices of to be dropping by 1-2 millimeters per
that this incident happened to one of my loved ones.” a succession of constitutional on debt providers such as the loss of over 1.4 billion US dollars. essentials shot up as much as 200 year. Moreover, climate change is
Eyewitnesses, who were also in the van, told Amini’s reforms ~ from a colonial system IMF, the World Bank and on other On the other hand, thanks to its per cent in 2022, the currency has straining China’s agricultural produc-
father that she was beaten up inside the police vehicle to parliamentary democracy. We developed countries, implying restricted tariff policy, the trade plunged 33 per cent against the tion systems, as the severe drought
on the way to the detention centre, according to may recall that this country had that increased dependency and deficit widened. This started the dollar. The country is nearly ban- this year amply illustrates.
human rights groups. Iranian authorities said, how- introduced universal suffrage as foreign debt, urban- economic misma- krupt and has suspended its $7 In order to ensure the country’s
early as in 1931. In the words of ization, higher ex- nagement process billion in foreign loans out of its food security in the coming decades
ever, that she died after a heart attack and called the that would contin- total foreign debt of $51 billion.
former Prime Minister of Singa- pectations and glob- and protect the natural resource base
incident “unfortunate”. Her father contradicted this, pore, Lee Kuan Yew Ceylon was alization had started ue to cost the Sri Lanka would be an inter- upon which farming depends, a shift
saying that she did not suffer from any illness. Britain’s “model Commonwealth to shape the future country dearly in esting case study of how a coun- toward sustainable and regenerative
She was in perfect health, he told an Iranian news country”. direction of Sri Lan- days to come. The try glowingly described as a agriculture is imperative. Sustainable
outlet. Advocates of women’s rights have battled the Such early promise, howev- ka. It is noteworthy country’s annual model for economic growth in agriculture is already a familiar con-
theocracy from its earliest days after the 1979 Islamic er, proved to be misplaced as that domestic re- imports being $3 Asia with admirable human cept in China, whereas regenerative
Revolution. They have protested against the manda- about the early 1960s, the growth sources were inade- billion more than development indicators, which agriculture is a more recent concept
tory veil or hijab, along with laws that have rendered of Sri Lanka’s per capita income quate to meet the its exports led to a had introduced its liberalisation that is gaining increasing currency
women as second-class citizens. Iran's regime must fell behind those of the fastest rising demand of the severe erosion of policy in the late 1970s reduced around the world and is being cham-
growing South Asian economies. country’s structural its foreign curren- itself to a bankruptcy, thanks to pioned by farmers, academics and
realise that people will not tolerate such excesses; NANDITA
The development indicators of reforms; savings fell CHATTERJEE cy reserves. In late economic mismanagement and corporations alike. Regenerative agri-
after all, women and the men who cherish them as Sri Lanka such as adult literacy, behind investment 2019, the island short-sighted structural changes, culture goes a step beyond sustainable
fathers, spouses and siblings far outnumber the life expectancy and infant mor- and there was little The writer is a retired nation had $7.6 over-dependence on service and agriculture in that it is aimed at regen-
zealots who make up the orthodoxy that creates such tality although well above many private or commen-
IAS officer
billion in currency industry particularly in the erating degraded soils and other re-
aberrations as the country’s “morality” police. Asian countries, were no longer surate public invest- reserves; this drop- tourism sector, dependency on sources. It is commonly associated
such an outlier. ment to support the nation’s ped to $250 million in 2022. In imports for basic essentials, with practices such as no till/mini-
It is in the background of its ambitious industrialisation pro- two consecutive years, the for- neglect of the agricultural sector, mum tillage, cover crops, diverse crop
Land for Welfare unrealized potential and its on-
going liberalisation experience in
cess. By 2009, Sri Lanka had de- eign exchange reserves declined
veloped a bad reputation as an by 70 per cent causing its worst
introducing tax cuts at the cost
of depletion of revenue and con-
rotations, reduction of agrochemical
inputs and well-managed grazing,
A
biding by the certitudes of a market economy, industry that the economy of Sri economy with a complex tariff economic crisis. To add fat to the tinuous erosion of foreign although the specific practices fol-
as recommended to the Bengal Left by Amartya Lanka continued to grow even structure that discouraged for- fire, in April 2019, churches and exchange reserves. lowed vary from place to place, dep-
Sen at the peak of the Singur/Nandigram during its period of severe con- eign traders, and which relied on luxury hotels in Colombo were The nation needs to embark ending on the ecological and socioe-
flict, thereby underscoring its imports even for basic necessi- targeted in a series of suicide on a remedial process of : conomic conditions of a particular
upheaval, the state government has resolved to effect potential for accelerated growth. ties. The country’s dependency bombings, abruptly halting the * Significant macroeconomic area. But how can we promote sus-
large-scale sale of land to fund the state’s schemes The crucial liberalisation on borrowings were exaggerated upsurge in tourism. reforms such as robust tax mea- tainable and regenerative agriculture
on public welfare. Hopefully, this will mark a turn- process initiated in 1977 was as the country, keen to rebuild Hopes of revival were rudely sures, institutional changes, across China? One of the best ways to
around in public policy, chiefly to ensure the fulfill- often nipped in the bud by in- after the Civil War in 2009, started interrupted by the Coronavirus greater exchange rate flexibility, do so is to repurpose agricultural sup-
ment of the Benthamite doctrine of the “greatest good complete reforms, by political to focus on large infrastructure pandemic. Compared to 2.33 rationalization of expenditure port. China has already made signifi-
of the greatest number”. unrest, by external shocks, and projects. Such dependency on million tourists in 2018, the and widening of revenue base. cant progress in this area, such as
Towards that noble end and to address the igno- sometimes, by a combination of infrastructure, while helping the island nation saw only 0.91 ml * Renewed emphasis on trade through the reform of fertilizer poli-
ble potential for recurrent strife, the government has all three. economy in the short run, led to tourist arrivals in 2021. Tourism and commercial policy, rational- cies, the subsidies for returning straw
resolved to sell off 32 land parcels across the state The following 33 years saw large borrowings and thereby revenue declined from $4.4 bil- ization of the tariff structure, to the land to augment soil with orga-
Sri Lanka as a free trade-oriented triggered a debt trap. lion in 2018 to $6.33 million in introduction of VAT and empha- nic matter, and measures to promote
through e-auction. The objective is to generate Rs liberal country in South Asia Between 2009-2012, the is- 2021. Workers’ remittances ~ sis on the role of foreign the use of organic manures, recycling
8,000 crore to fund its projects on welfare. The crisis which had moved from a pre- land nation recorded an annual another source of foreign excha- trade zones that had worked of agricultural wastes and the use of
in the state’s torpid economy has deepened as the dominantly agricultural econo- growth rate of over 8 per cent nge ~ also declined to their low- well earlier. low-toxicity bio-pesticides.
Centre has stopped releasing funds for several my to an exaggerated emphasis (which fell thereafter), largely est level of $5.14 million in 2021. * Regulated growth of Infrastruc- Yet more can be done by repur-
schemes. And in terms of the state’s own revenue, the on industry for export. Such stru- driven by non-structural short The decision in 2021 to ad- ture towards objectives of effi- posing agricultural support to pro-
government is yet to attain pre-pandemic levels of ctural changes leading to sectoral term and non-tradable sectors opt organic farming and ban ciency and equity. mote sustainable and regenerative
Rs 5,500 crore a month. reorientation was the most out- such as construction, transport, chemical fertilisers to conserve * Strengthen historic strengths in practices-such as incentivizing the use
It is pretty obvious that Nabanna has decided on standing feature of the last three banking and real estate. The foreign exchange reserves also education and health. of cover crops, minimum tillage, diver-
the outright sale to garner the prevailing market price. decades. While the agricultural South Asian regional chief of the hurt the economy. This culminat- * Start dialogue with IMF for re- se crop rotations and the integration
sector declined with such liber- World Bank had said that “Sri ed in declining agricultural yields scheduling of debt. At the start of of animal and arable production ~
This is an option that the long-term lease route does- September, IMF approved a staff
alisation losing its dynamism, Lanka is an exciting country with and acute food crisis resulting which can foster a circularity of nutri-
n’t quite envisage. The initiative is not bereft of paral- export-led industrialisation was an exciting future”. In 2015, the in an emergency being declared level deal of $2.9 billion for Sri ents and reduce pollution from ani-
lels. It bears recall that a decade ago, the state gov- promoted as the harbinger of World Bank report glowingly in 2021. Lanka. Hopefully, this bailout mal wastes. Also, ecological compen-
ernment had auctioned unused land yielded by income and employment oppor- described Sri Lanka as “a devel- The war in Ukraine has also package should booster investor sation policies for agriculture need to
Kolkata’s tram depots. It is pretty obvious that the tunities. opment success story” applaud- disturbed supply chains aggra- confidence and improve credit be integrated into current ecological
state government is desperately in need of funds. The Consequently, post liberali- ing its economic growth and con- vating problems for the food sec- ratings. compensation regulations. Provinces
land parcels identified for auction are integral to the sation, the economy witnessed sequent reduction in poverty tor. In May 2022, the country’s * Introduce a balanced sectoral such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu are
state’s landscape. notable structural changes from rates. The island nation also usable foreign reserves reached approach so that agriculture is already experimenting with this. China
The government spends nearly Rs 28,000 crore being predominantly agricultural launched its “Vision 2025” its lowest level $50 million amid not subjected to continuous has a large network of demonstration
to being more diversified. The Post the civil war era which spiraling external debts. neglect. farms, including some ecological far-
annually to implement its welfare schemes. It is fer-
most dramatic outcome of the ended in May 2009, the country An attempt to impose ban * Try to ensure self-sufficiency in ms, which provide an excellent oppor-
vently to be hoped that the new plan of action will not structural changes, especially also witnessed a resurgence in on imports to tide over this situa- essentials such as alternate tunity to test and adopt regenerative
hit the reefs owing to disputes over acquisition. The e- between 1950 and 2010, was the tourism, after opening up the tion has led to spiraling Inflation sources of energy. approaches in these farms.
auction procedure will cover Chowbagha Road in
Kolkata, and areas in Alipore, Durgapur, Dankuni,
Burdwan and several others. Welfare schemes,
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@thestatesman.com
notably Lakshmir Bhandar (a direct benefit transfer
scheme to benefit 1.7 crore women) are especially
Fifth-largest?
critical as the Government of India has not been increase in exports vis-a-vis
releasing funds for the 100 days’ rural job scheme in imports. The unemploy-
ment rate shot up to a dan-
West Bengal. The reason proffered by the Centre is
gerous 8.3 per cent which is
corruption, which it alleges is almost endemic. Funds SIR, India has overtaken the ainst $570 billion in March the highest in the past 12
have been withheld for the Pradhan Mantri Awas United Kingdom to become 2021 signifying the pressure months.
Yojana (theoretically to take care of housing) and the the fifth largest economy in of additional repayment to In light of the above,
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (village roads) the world (in terms of share the creditors despite being the fifth lar-
over alleged rechristening of the schemes by the state in world’s GDP) which is The rupee is rallying at gest economy in the world,
government. being celebrated across the about 80 against the US dol- India's ability to expend on
While there has been an increase in revenue gen- government. However, these lar and anticipated increase pro-public measures like
eration compared to the pandemic period, it is yet celebrations have briefly in interest rate by US Fed is health, education and pub-
to reach the pre-pandemic levels, going by the pro- given a miss to the following adding to the worries on the lic services is severely con-
gigantic economic issues. import front. strained.
jections of the state’s finance department. The state Retail inflation at 7 per India’s foreign exchange The economy is getting
spends Rs 1,097 crore every month to operate the cent is not only above RBI's reserves declined to $553 engulfed in a crisis that is
Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Ever since August 2021, threshold limit but is unlike- billion on September 2 from becoming ever more com-
when the scheme was introduced, it has been an ly to come down any time $620 billion in February prehensive; and there is no
additional burden on the exchequer. The Chief Min- soon due to decrease in indicating mounting pres- solution to it within the
ister is said to have advanced instructions to expedite kharif sowing area India’s sure on the rupee. parameters of neoliberalism.
the e-auction procedure so that the state can replen- external debt rose to $620.7 The trade deficit is Yours, etc., S K Khosla,
ish its kitty sooner rather than later. billion in March 2022 ag- widening owing to lower Chandigarh, 16 September.
CMYK
OCCASIONAL NOTE
With an Irish Parliament and an Irish
O
ver the weekend, the UK ry.” Whatever the reasons are, the quite seriously, and made a rather pic-
police made 47 arrests in incidents of conflicts between the turesque figure in the role of a daunt-
Leicester following a series Hindus and the Muslims of Indian less heroine striving against a tyrannical
of violent clashes mostly origin in diaspora are not only deadly Government. The effect of the perfor-
among the Hindu and Muslim youths for the host countries but also for mance, however, is entirely spoiled by
in the city after a defeat of Pakistan by India. its repetition against the Dail. It is the
India in a cricket match in Dubai on Statistical records and data have Dublin Government now which has to
28 August. While the arrests of 47 sus- already proved that the Indian dias- be bear the denunciations of Mrs.
pects involved in the clashes is pora significantly contributes to the McBride and her friends. The "scene"
indicative of good governance and development of the homeland by which led to the expulsion of these
looks like a reassuring step for restor- supplying financial resources, infor- ladies from the visitors' gallery of the
ing normalcy in Leicester, a city mation, and technology. These Irish Parliament was occasioned by dis-
known for being the most multicul- resources are not religion specific. orderly protests against the Irish Gov-
tural in the UK, the clashes among Both the communities (as also the ernment's treatment of prisoner. Con-
the diasporic Hindu and Muslim Sikhs) have immensely contributed sidering the crimes of which the irregu-
communities demand serious exam- to the development of India. In this lars in Ireland have been guilty, it is sur-
ination of the entire chain of events. context, the role of High Commis- prising that these people should excite
Leicester is a city where the Hin- sions and embassies in making the the sympathy of any of the Irish people,
dus and the Muslims have, by and diaspora contribute to the develop- men or women. The incident, however,
large, been living in peace for long. by Jonathan Ashworth, an opposition tune with recent peace-making and Indian Hindus and Muslims has ment of the homeland has also been indicates that the new Dublin Govern-
The recent violence was triggered by Labour MP in Leicester and his claim peace-keeping strategies adopted received a jolt from the High Com- acknowledged by diaspora scholars ment will have a task not much easier
the march of a group of young Hindu that all in the city “are united in call- across the globe. The High Commis- mission’s reaction to the incident and and researchers. than that of the old Castle administra-
boys on Melton Road of Leicester ing for calm, peace and harmony.” It sion issued a statement condemning the counter-attack that it produced. Dilip Ratha and Sonia Plaza, for tion in dealing with the irreconcilables.
who, reportedly, were shouting slo- is also deeply assuring that following the “vandalisation of premises and Actually, apparent harmony and fra- instance, have written, “Steps that
gans like ‘Pakistan Murdabad.’ Video the incidents of clashes and the van- symbols of Hindu religion” and ternity that exist on the surface in could improve embassies’ engage- NEWS ITEMS
footage of this celebration became dalism of a Hindu temple, leaders of declaring that they “have strongly Hindu-Muslim relations in Britain at ment with diasporas include out-
viral on social media resulting in stray
incidents of violence in the city. The
the two religious groups have called
for an immediate end to “provocation
taken up this matter with the UK
authorities and have sought immedi-
large as also in Leicester in particular
is fraught with tensions of multiple
reach programmes to gain more
information, the training of embassy PROTECTION
next Saturday again saw another
march of Hindu youths on the street
and violence.” Leaders of both com-
munities assembled on the steps of a
ate action against those involved in
these attacks.”
kinds. In fact, the relationship
between the Hindus and Muslims in
staff for contacting diaspora mem-
bers and facilitating investment and FROM PRESS
with slogans like “Jai Shri Ram,”
which, unfortunately is losing its
mosque to make a plea to both com-
munities to restore peace and order
This statement of the Indian
High Commission has not been wel-
Indian diaspora started deteriorating
significantly after the demolition of
trade contacts, and the use of
embassies as a vehicle for marketing
ATTACKS
sacred identity and has become a war in the city. comed by the Muslims of the UK. the Babri Masjid. investment and financial instruments SIMLA, SEPT 22
cry for far-right Hindus. This march Pradip Gajjar, the president of Zara Mohammed, secretary-general Aminah T. Mohammad’s essay, as diaspora bonds.” Any biased atti- The bill to protect Indian Princes
allegedly threatened Muslim resi- the city’s Iskcon Leicester Hindu tem- of the Muslim Council of Britain, in a “Relationships between Muslims and tude like the one shown by the Indian against attacks in the Press, to which the
dents and shop owners of the city. ple, said in a joint statement that they letter to the High Commission Hindus in the United States: Mlec- High Commission in regard to vio- Viceroy referred in opening the autumn
Some such videos became viral again were “saddened and heartbroken to expressed the grievance of the Mus- chas versus Kafirs?” also attests to the lence in Leicester could be damaging session of Legislature, will be intro-
on social media resulting in the van- see the eruption of tension and vio- lims of Britain over this ‘biased’ and fact. He, however, has pointed out to the prosperity of India as a nation- duced in the Assembly tomorrow. This
dalism of a Hindu temple and a series lence.” He also emphatically under- ‘partial’ condemnation of the vio- partition as another major factor state. bill proposed to provide penalties of fine
of clashes between the two commu- lined that “physical attacks on inno- lence of Leicester, “Whilst it is right behind the widening of the gap In short, if India has to progress and imprisonment, which may extend
nities for quite some time. cent individuals and unwarranted that we condemn the desecration of between the two communities, “But and become a developed country by to five years, or both, for the editor,
The arrest of 47 young men who damage to property are not part of a Hindu symbols, you must represent tensions between these immigrants 2050 (as dreamed of by the Prime printer, publisher or author of any
were allegedly involved in the clashes decent society and indeed not part of all Indians and also condemn the do not disappear...since in many Minister), the state should prove itself offending book, newspaper or other
is indeed important in this context. our faiths.” deliberate targeting, intimidation and cases Sikhs and Hindus, who retain a secular and neutral not only in India document. It makes clear that com-
It not only proves good governance Whereas these responses are instances of assault of Muslims and nostalgia for Urdu, are people who but also abroad. ments expressing disapprobation of any
on part of the local administration welcome moves in restoring peace Sikhs.” have lived through partition or whose action taken by a ruling Prince or his
but also is in tune with the condem- and normalcy in Leicester, the reac- In fact, despite the joint state- family has lived through partition The writer is Professor, Department of administration are outside the purview
English and Culture Studies, and Director,
nation of the “shocking scenes of tion of the Indian High Commission ment issued by the community lead- and who have not necessarily, like Centre for Australian Studies, the University of the measure. Subsidiary matters pro-
unacceptable incidents of violence” to the incident was not wise, nor in ers, the notion of harmony between Pakistanis, overcome the trauma of of Burdwan. vided for in the bill are the power to for-
feit the offending publications, or to
R HELEN BOYLE
ussia is planning to buy “mil- interest in North Korea and Iran
lions” of Soviet-era weapons might be self-interested, it also sig-
from North Korea, a recent nals that Moscow is no longer con- MADRAS, SEPT 22
US intelligence report cerned with maintaining diplomatic A very pretty wedding took place at St.
revealed. Britain’s defence intelli- relations with the west, and that it Stephen's Church, at Ootacamund on
gence has also confirmed that Russia may be positioning the Shanghai Wednesday afternoon, when Lady
is already using Iranian-made drones Cooperation Organisation as a rival Helen Boyle was married to Captain
in Ukraine. to Nato. Barlow. The church was beautifully dec-
The revelations follow a series of This autocratic bloc is almost orated and the service was fully choral.
diplomatic exchanges between Russ- certainly going to include China, The bride, who was given away by her
ian president Vladimir Putin and whose relations with Russia deep- brother, Lord Shannon, looked charm-
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to ened in the wake of the invasion of ing in deep cream georgette draped and
celebrate North Korea’s Liberation Ukraine. There is some evidence that trimmed with pearls. Her train of cream
Day on August 15. The two leaders Putin’s strategy is already working. In georgette was lined with yellow. She
proposed a new strategic and tacti- June, both Russia and China vetoed a wore an exquisite lace veil and carried a
cal cooperation, and stressed the tra- UN resolution to impose new sanc- sheaf of arum lilies. The small page and
dition of friendship between them, tions on North Korea as a result of its flower girl who followed the bride wore
part of a recent Putin offensive to cre- nuclear activities. pretty Kate Greenaway costumes in
ate and strengthen alliances with key This was an unprecedented mauve and purple. Captain Allfrey was
authoritarian states. move from two permanent members the best man. A reception was held at
In just a few days Putin has met of the UN Security Council, who have Government House, at which H.E. Lord
China’s president Xi Jinping and condemned North Korea’s activities Willingdon made a short and cordial
Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi, as well 1991 when the Soviet Union col- Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. Pyongyang to become more moder- in the past. It signals a renewed effort speech.
as promising a major trade delega- lapsed. Russia, no longer a commu- This made it impossible for the ate, hoping to stabilise the regime. to counter the global influence of the
tion to Iran. Putin also promised to
do everything he could to make Iran a
nist country, focused on forging a
positive relationship with western
two states to develop meaningful
diplomatic relations. Russia’s eco-
The strained relationship
between Beijing and Pyongyang is
US and its allies who are, once more,
seen as enemies rather than partners. MAHSUD'S
full member of the Shanghai Coop-
eration Organisation, a political and
democracies.
It prioritised economic relations
nomic and political isolation follow-
ing its invasion of Ukraine provided a
one reason why Kim Jong-Un is likely
to embrace the opportunity to get
To counter a growing alliance of
authoritarian regimes, the first step ABORTIVE RAID
security alliance that includes Russia, over ideological ones, and sought to fresh opportunity for the two regimes closer to Moscow and become more for the west is to acknowledge this is PESHAWAR, SEPT 22
China, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. develop closer ties with the United to renew their ties. independent from Beijing. Another is not necessarily a sign of Russian The efficiency of the special measures
As Russia becomes isolated from States and South Korea. This dam- Since the fall of the Soviet Union, that a closer relationship with Russia weakness, and not to rule out talks recently organised in the Dera Ismail
the west following its invasion of aged its relations with Pyongyang, North Korea has become increasingly could result in subsidised energy and with the Kremlin. Khan district is exemplified in the
Ukraine, the Kremlin is becoming and North Korea shifted its focus to reliant on Beijing, with the vast increased technological, scientific While diplomatic engagement accounts received of a raid committed
more ideologically extreme, and is developing a closer relationship with majority of its trade and energy com- and commercial cooperation. with these states might become on September 11 by a gang of 40 Mah-
seeking to improve its cooperation China. ing from China. Some commentators argue that increasingly difficult, engagement is suds on the village of Kot Musa. Two
with rogue regimes, particularly When Putin came to power in However, this relationship is not Russia’s turn to North Korea is a posi- preferable to a policy of isolationism, herdsmen and 60 animals were carried
North Korea and Iran. This alliance, 2000, he made attempts to renew free from political tension. China’s tive sign. They claim that Russia’s plea which risks encouraging more auto- off by the raiders in their first attack and
which is likely to include China, Russia’s diplomatic relationship with key goal in the Korean Peninsula is to for weapons means that the military cratic cooperation. The west must another Mahomedan villager was seized
could pose a real threat to the west North Korea. Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong- avoid the collapse of North Korea’s and economic sanctions against remain robust in its defence of later. Pursuit parties were promptly
in the coming years. Un’s father, even visited Russia on a autocratic regime and prevent a Kremlin are working. Unable to buy democratic values and position itself organised. After the country operations
Moscow enjoyed a close diplo- few occasions. reunification with South Korea. arms from other countries, Vladimir as a necessary economic and strate- had lasted 24 hours, Major Hennessy,
matic relationship with Pyongyang However, the relationship was This would be unacceptable to Putin is turning to North Korea and gic partner to autocratic regimes, or with a party of the Frontier Constabu-
during the cold war, and the Soviet hindered by Russia’s deeply pragmat- China, because it fears that a united Iran, whose artillery is widely risk driving them further away. lary, came up with the gang, just as they
Union was one of North Korea’s most ic approach to foreign policy. To Korea would bring greater US believed to be inaccurate and unreli- were entering the hills of the Indepen-
important economic partners. The maintain friendly relations with the involvement in the region. As a result, able. While this is true, a closer rela- The writer is Lecturer in International dent territory. In the fight which ensued
Politics, Lancaster University. This article was
relationship changed dramatically in west, Kremlin continued to condemn China has been pressuring tionship between the world’s most published on www.theconversation.com all the three captives were released. One
Mahsud was killed, two others were
CROSSWORD NO 292200 wounded and abandoned by the gang
and a third wounded man got away
with his companions.
SHOOTING AFFRAY
SOLUTION FOR 16 SEPTEMBER
ACROSS country girl (6) reform illegal veto in make garden feature in quick service (10)
AT RAMBAGAN
1 Drunk with hat
11 Unusual play with Act electoral system (11,4) (7) 14 Unaware of patent For the fourth time in the course of the
1 rewritten (8) 23 Good-natured pollster 4 Report of small glass involving light metal last six months, pistol shots were tried
getting very quietly
13 Parliamentary embraces birds (8) bottle in papers (4) (9)
half cut (5)
procedures that 24 Examines balls 5 Remember what a 16 Doctors operation by armed ruffians in Calcutta yesterday
4 American spies morning. Inspector Hamid, of the
maybe passed before after dropping second babysitter might do after face-lift for
suppress account by
field officer finding
breakfast! (5,3,7) base (5) (4,2,4) Candy? (7) Muchipara thana, with Sub-Inspector R.
15 Plants that can make 6 Head is an attractive 17 Spooners call for Singh, raided the house of a woman at
food (8)
you smart? (8,7) DOWN woman (7) additional wine
9 What a landlady uses
18 Salve for state burial 1 Downtime Alison 7 Trojan arrested in creates distress (7) Rambagan in quest of a man named
by implication involves Gopal, who is alleged to be connected
the Queen discarded arranged in flat (3-11) Brasilia Cathedral (5) 19 Chemical
one litre in a
deception (7,8)
(8) 2 Medley in grass serve 8 Hounds your on egg quite the with an extensive theft of jewellery. No
20 Dick has to check over Rafael inspired tormentors after reverse (5) sooner had the police entered the house,
10 Old boy supplants
rectors hedge (6) originally (9) lesson (7,7) 21 Troubles racialist
artist in heart of
22 Son comes in to 3 Musician with yen to 12 Heard cleric cry loudly oddly ignored (4) than a man named Gopen, alleged to be
an associate of Gopal, fired two shots
from a pistol, injuring the Sub-Inspec-
tor slightly. Gopal and Gopen were
arrested before they could escape and
NOTE: Figures in parentheses denote the number of letters in the words required. (By arrangement with The Independent, London) were handed over to the Jorasanko
police, who have the inquiry in hand.
CMYK
08
Investors could look at target maturity funds from a passive owner-
ship stand point as well as funds like medium duration and dynamic
bond funds.
LAKSHMI IYER
SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER (DEBT) & HEAD PRODUCTS, KOTAK MAHINDRA ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
THUMBNAILS
Air India & Willis Lease inks US: Federal Reserve hikes interest Sensex
slumps
rate by 0.75pc to tackle inflation
agreement: Air India has
signed a definitive sale and
lease back agreement with
Willis Lease Finance Corpo-
337 points
ration for 34 CFM56-5B
engines installed on its Air-
bus A320 family fleet. The
The hike takes the central bank's benchmark lending rate to a new target range of 3 per cent-3.25 per cent MUMBAI, 22 SEPTEMBER
engines will be covered AGENCIES anticipates that ongoing The Indian stock market's
under Willis Lease's Con-
stantThrust programme,
WASHINGTON, 22 SEPTEMBER increases in the target range
will be appropriate. In addi- `falls to record low vs $ benchmark Sensex fell 337
points on Thursday after the
T
he US Federal Reserve tion, the Committee will con- US Federal Reserve hiked inter-
after US Fed hike
which will deliver signifi-
cant reliability and cost for the third time tinue reducing its holdings of est rate by 75 basis points and
savings versus a traditional approved an interest Treasury securities and agency signaled that the borrowing
MRO shop visit programme. rate hike by 0.75 per debt and agency mortgage- costs would be increased fur-
This is the first Constant- cent in an aggressive move to backed securities, as described AGENCIES from the recent action and ther in the coming months. The
Thrust sale and leaseback tackle the inflation that has in the Plans for Reducing the MUMBAI, 22 SEPTEMBER commentary of the US Fed- 30 stock S&P BSE Sensex closed
agreement for aircraft been affecting the US econ- Size of the Federal Reserve's eral Reserve that it was still 337.06 points or 0.57 per cent
engines by any Indian omy. Balance Sheet that was issued The Indian rupee closed at far away from the end of the down at 59,119.72 points
carrier. IANS The hike takes the central in May. The Committee is a record low of 80.86 to the rate hike cycle. against its previous day's close
bank's benchmark lending strongly committed to return- US dollar, down from 79.9750 He added: "We reckon at 59,456.78 points. Earlier,
rate to a new target range of ing inflation to its 2 per cent in the previous session. It was that the rupee is expected to the Sensex started the day in
Bank of England raises 3 per cent-3.25 per cent, which objective," it added. the biggest single-day fall remain under pressure despite the red at 59,073.84 points
interest rates: The Bank of is the highest fed funds rate According to the state- for rupee since February 24. the improvement in domes- slumped to a low of 58,832.78
England has raised UK since the global financial cri- ment, the Committee will The rupee had opened at tic economic prospects..." points. The Sensex rose to a high
interest rates by 0.5 per- sis in 2008, reported CNN. "At continue to monitor the impli- a record low of 80.2850 against Speaking on the move- of 59,457.58 points in the intra-
centage points to 2.25 per today's meeting, Federal Open reported by CNN. Federal Reserves, the Russia- cations of incoming infor- the dollar, down from 79.9750 ment of rupee in the days to day.
cent in an attempt to com- Market Committee raised its Consumer inflation in the Ukraine war is causing tremen- mation for the economic out- in the previous session. come, he said technically, The markets fell sharply
bat soaring inflation amid policy interest rate by 3/4 US declined marginally in dous human and economic look. The US Federal Reserve the USD-INR (US dollar and for the third consecutive ses-
the cost of living crisis, the percentage points, bringing tar- August to 8.3 per cent from 8.5 hardship. The war and relat- The Committee would be had raised the repo rate by Indian rupee) pair saw a sion. The Sensex had lost
media reported. That's the get range to 3-3.25 per cent," per cent in July but is way above ed events are creating addi- prepared to adjust the stance 75 basis points, in line with breakout of ascending triangle 262.96 points or 0.44 per cent
seventh consecutive Jerome Powell, chair of US Fed- the 2 per cent goal. Several sen- tional upward pressure on of monetary policy as appro- expectations. The Fed also formation that may lead to on Wednesday The broader
increase in Bank Rate in a eral Reserve said. ior top bankers recently said inflation and are weighing priate if risks emerge that hinted that more rate hikes further weakness in the rupee Nifty 50 of the National Stock
row, but a smaller rise than "We're moving our policy that another interest rate hike on global economic activity. could impede the attainment were coming and that these towards the 81.5-82 zone, Exchange fell 88.55 points or
many investors had stance that will be sufficient- is imminent. Raising interest The Committee is highly atten- of the Committee's goals. The rates would stay elevated however, 81 will be an inter- 0.5 per cent to 17,629.80 points
expected, The Guardian ly restrictive to return infla- rates is a monetary policy tive to inflation risks. Committee's assessments will until 2024. mediate and sacrosanct sup- against its previous day's close
reported. Today's rate rise tion to 2 per cent," he added. instrument that typically helps "The Committee seeks to take into account a wide range Most Asian currencies port level for the rupee. at 17,718.35 points. The Nifty
-- the second 50bp increase This new hike will also suppress demand in the econ- achieve maximum employ- of information, including opened weaker, with the Chi- Some forex traders said the had lost 97.90 points or 0.55
in a row -- shows that the likely cause economic pain for omy, thereby enabling the ment and inflation at 2 per cent readings on public health, nese yuan slipping below Reserve Bank of India (RBI) per cent on Wednesday. The
Bank is trying to prevent millions of American busi- inflation rate to decline, accord- over the longer run. In sup- labour market conditions, 7.10 against the dollar. may have stepped in to arrest stock markets slumped across
inflation becoming persist- nesses and households by ing to US Economics at S&P port of these goals, the Com- inflation pressures and infla- Swastika Investmart, the decline of local curren- the world after the US Feder-
ently embedded, despite pushing up the cost of bor- Global Market Intelligence. mittee decided to raise the tar- tion expectations, and finan- Research Head, Santosh cy, however, the interven- al Reserve on Wednesday
concerns over the rowing for things like homes, According to the official get range for the federal funds cial and international devel- Meena said it was apparent tion was not too aggressive. increased its policy interest rate.
economy. IANS cars, and credit cards, as per statement released by the rate to 3 to 3-1/4 per cent and opments.
Involve consumers in detecting India sends first consignment of plant-based meat products to US
fake products: CBIC member STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER Stressing on
exploring new
by the Kheda district admin-
istration.
Stressing on exploring
products. In a move to boost exports foreign desti- new foreign destinations,
He said that citizens should of unique agr icultural nations, APEDA APEDA Chairman M Anga-
also be encouraged to report processed food products, Chairman M muthu said his organisation
incidents of fake and illicit the centre through the apex Angamuthu is working towards the pro-
products being sold in mar- export promotion body -- said his organi- motion of plant-based meat
kets to enforcement agencies. Agricultural and Processed sation is work- products in a big way with-
Consumers should also Food Products Export Author- ing towards out disturbing the conven-
reject such products, he ity (APEDA) --- facilitated the promotion tional animal-based meat
added. the export of the first con- of plant-based export market.
Former Vice-President M. signment of plant-based meat products The APEDA has planned
Venkaiah Naidu, who was meat products under the in a big way to promote a variety of vegan
AGENCIES terfeit products. the chief guest in the con- Vegan food category from without dis- foods products, including
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER Speaking at FICCI ference, said that illicit trade Nadiad in Kheda district in turbing the pancakes, snacks, cheese,
MASCRADE 2022 summit, is being undertaken by India's Gujarat to California in the conventional etc, to countries like Australia,
Emphasising on making the Kumar added that consumer "immediate neighbouring United States. animal-based Israel, New Zealand, and
consumer aware about illic- awareness is paramount in countries". With the growing popu- meat export others in the coming months.
it and fake products and pre- ensuring that fake or illicit He suggested that strong larity of vegan food products market. In order to ensure seam-
vent their sale, Central Board products are not purchased action must be taken against in developed countries, plant- less quality certification of
of Indirect Taxes and Cus- by them. such forces. based food products have a products to be exported, the
toms (CBIC) member, Sandeep He suggested industries FICCI President Sanjiv huge export potential in the its rich fiber and lesser cho- the globe. ucts like momos, mini APEDA has recognised 220
Kumar on Thursday said that and corporates to involve Mehta said that a counter- international market due to lesterol contents, vegan food The first shipment that was samosas, patties, nuggets, labs across India to provide
enforcement agencies must citizens and harness their attack should be launched on the high nutrient value of products are becoming alter- exported to the US from spring rolls, burgers, etc. The services of testing a wide
use digital tools to seize coun- potential in detecting fake fake products. vegan food products. Due to native food products across Nadiad has vegan food prod- logistics support was provided range of products to exporters.
Need to strengthen laws to fight menace against illicit trade & smuggling: Ex-VP Naidu
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE is required for the happi- enforcement can make a big ing jobs out of the country." employment loss of 15.96
NEW DELHI, 22 SEPTEMBER ness of the people and is difference on the ground. During the event, FICCI lakh, with the combined
required to create awareness The fight against illicit trade CASCADE-TARI report ‘Illic- FMCG industry accounting
Former Vice President M among the consumers,” he has to become a mass move- it Markets: A Threat to Our for about 68.5% of job loss-
Venkaiah Naidu today said added. ment.”Sanjiv Mehta, presi- National Interests’ was es.
that it is imperative for all Former Vice President also dent, FICCI said, “Strong released. The study examines The estimated tax loss to
stakeholders to reform, per- stated that it is imperative to cooperation between dif- the size and scale of illicit mar- the government due to illic-
form and transform in order protect the rights of the con- ferent stakeholders and inno- kets in five key Indian indus- it goods in these industries
to end the menace of coun- sumers. “Consumer aware- vative action is required to tries and assesses its impact is Rs 58,521 crore, with two
terfeiting and smuggling. ness has to be taken as a free India of illicit trade. on individual industries, highly regulated and taxed
“There is a need to strength- mission with a passion for the Smuggling and counterfeit- employment, government industries, tobacco prod-
en the existing laws. Unless sake of the nation and then ing is all-pervasive and indus- tax collection, and the over- ucts, and alcoholic beverages,
all of us join together, the fight the real change will come,” try, government and socie- all economy. accounting for nearly 49% of
against illicit trade and smug- said Naidu, adding, India is ty directly bear its brunt.” He According to the study, the overall tax loss.
gling cannot be won,” he on the move and one of the further added that the Con- the illicit market in 5 Key In terms of the percentage
emphasised. fastest growing economies in sumer Protection Act is a Indian industries, including of the illicit market, the
Addressing the 8th edition the world and we must all join stepping-stone towards mobile phones, FMCG-house- FMCG-household and per-
of FICCI-CASCADE together to end the menace empowering the consumers. hold and personal goods, sonal goods industry is ahead
‘MASCRADE 2022’, Naidu of counterfeiting and smug- Anil Rajput, chairman, FMCG-packaged foods, of the other four sectors at
asserted that sharing of ideas, gling. FICCI CASCADE said, “Smug- tobacco products, and alco- 34.25%. This means that out
experiences and sharing of Sandeep Kumar, mem- gling is the deadliest form of holic beverages is valued at of every 100 household and
views in formulating a ber, Central Board of Indirect Illicit trade. Besides causing Rs 2,60,094 crore. The com- personal goods, nearly 34
more effective legisla- Taxes and Customs said, severe damage to the excheq- bined FMCG industry — were traded illegally. The sec-
tion with implementa- “Due to technology advance- uer, in the form of loss of rev- household and personal tor is followed by FMCG-
tion is required to cre- ments, the industry today has enue, proliferating terror- goods, and packaged foods packaged foods industry at
ate awareness and the opportunity to create ism by allowing terror groups — accounts for 3/4th of the 25.09%, tobacco products
industry to play a crit- tools that can empower con- to get funds, and impacting total illicit value of goods in industry at 20.04%, alcoholic
ical role in this. “Trans- sumers to take on smug- consumer health and safety, these industries. The study beverages industry at 19.87%,
formation of the sys- gling and counterfeiting. it also leads to large scale finds that illicit trade leads to and mobile phones industry
tem, society, governance, This, along with strong unemployment by export- an estimated legitimate at 7.56%.
CMYK
09
You have all seen the appalling images from Pakistan. This is happen-
ing at just 1.2 degrees of global warming...We are headed for over 3 degree
UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022
WARNS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING
C
lashes between Iran- Mahsa Amini, a young woman 35 were still alive despite res- bars.
ian security forces held by the country’s moral- cue efforts that were to con-
and protesters angry ity police for allegedly violating tinue Thursday.
over the death of a 22-
year-old woman in police
its strictly enforced dress
code. Her death has sparked
Half the pod of pilot whales
stranded in Macquarie Harbour
TENDER
custody have killed at least nine sharp condemnation from were presumed to still be alive
people since the violence the US, the European Union on Wednesday, the Depart-
erupted over the weekend, and the United Nations. ment of Natural Resources
according to a tally Thursday The police say she died of and Environment Tasmania
by The Associated Press. Protesters chant slogans during a protest over the death of a a heart attack and was not mis- said.But pounding surf took a
woman who was detained by the morality police, in downtown
The scope of Iran’s ongo- treated, but her family has cast toll overnight, Tasmania Parks
Tehran, Iran. � AP
ing unrest, the worst in sev- doubt on that account. Inde- and Wildlife Service manager
eral years, still remains unclear dozen cities — venting anger which protesters use to share pendent experts affiliated Brendon Clark said.
as protesters in at least a over social repression and information about the gov- with the U.N. said Thursday The whales beached two
the country’s mounting crises ernment’s rolling crackdown that reports suggested she
— continue to encounter on dissent, continued on was severely beaten by the
security and paramilitary Thursday. Authorities also morality police, without offer-
forces. appeared to disrupt internet ing evidence. They called for
An anchor on Iran’s state access to the outside world, an impartial investigation to
television suggested the death a tactic that rights activists say hold perpetrators accountable.
toll from the mass protests the government often employs The protests have grown
could be as high as 17 on in times of unrest. in the last four days into an
Thursday, but did not elabo- In a country where radio open challenge to the gov-
rate or say how he reached that and television stations already ernment, with women remov-
figure. “Unfortunately, 17 are state-controlled and jour- ing and burning their state-
people and police officers nalists regularly face the threat mandated headscarves in the
present at the scene of these of arrest, the paramilitary streets and Iranians setting
events lost their lives,” the Revolutionary Guard urged the trash bins ablaze and calling
anchor said, adding official sta- judiciary on Thursday to pros- for the downfall of the Islam-
tistics would be released ecute “anyone who spreads ic Republic itself. “Death to the
later.Widespread outages of fake news and rumors” on dictator!” has been a common
Instagram and WhatsApp, social media about the unrest. cry in the protests.
CMYK
CMYK
10
We are deepening our links with fellow democracies like India, Israel, Indonesia
and South Africa... We are building new security ties with our friends
. UK PRIME MINISTER LIZ TRUSS
SILIGURI, FRIDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 ADDRESSING THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WEATHER
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy lays out No let-up in Ukraine
hostilities despite
his case against Russia to UN
CITY MIN(°C) MAX(°C)
SINGAPORE 30 26 H
HONG KONG 32 27 CL
TOKYO
LONDON
DUBAI
24
20
39
SAN FRANCISCO 23
19 H
14 H
29 S
14 S Russia has violated core tenets of the United Nations with its war in Ukraine: US president Joe Biden
prisoner exchange
NEW YORK 23 10 H
MOSCOW 14 8 H ASSOCIATED PRESS Everything.” archs speak ~ but instead by
S= sunny, CL= clear, UNITED NATIONS, 22 SEPTEMBER The war will remain front video after Zelenskyy was
H=hazy, R= rainy... and centre at the gathering on granted special permission to
U
kraine’s president Thursday, when the Security not come in person.
THUMBNAILS laid out a detailed Council plans to take up the Putin’s decree Wednesday
case against Russia’s issue. Russia hasn’t yet had its about the mobilization was
invasion at the Unit- turn to speak at the gathering. sparse on details. Officials
ed Nations and demanded Putin, who is not attend- said as many as 300,000
punishment from world lead- ing the General Assembly, has reservists could be tapped. It
ers in a speech delivered just said he sent his armed forces was apparently an effort to seize
hours after Moscow made an into Ukraine because of risks momentum after the Ukrain-
extraordinary announcement to his country’s security from ian counteroffensive.
that it would mobilize some what he considers a hostile gov- Zelenskyy didn’t discuss
reservists for the war effort. ernment in Kyiv; to liberate Rus- the developments in detail. But ASSOCIATED PRESS Russian President Vladimir
Buoyed by a counterof- sians living in Ukraine — he suggested any Russian talk KYIV, 22 SEPTEMBER Putin. Among the freed fight-
fensive that has retaken swaths especially its eastern region of of negotiations was only a ers were Ukrainian defenders
of territory that the Russians anticipated at the U.N. Gen- Ukraine. the Donbas — from what he delaying tactic, and that Russian missile strikes in the of a steel plant in Mariupol dur-
seized, Volodymyr Zelenskyy eral Assembly, where the war U.S. President Joe Biden’s views as the Ukrainian gov- Moscow’s actions speak loud- southern city of Zaporizhzha ing a long Russian siege and
vowed in a video address has dominated. address, too, focused heavily ernment’s oppression; and to er than its words. “They talk left one person dead and five 10 foreigners, including five
Wednesday that his forces The topic popped up in on the war in Ukraine. restore what he considers to about the talks but announce others wounded, Ukrainian British nationals and two U.S.
would not stop until they had speeches by leaders from all “This war is about extin- be Russia’s historical territo- military mobilization. They officials said Thursday, while military veterans, who had
reclaimed all of Ukraine. over the world who deplored guishing Ukraine’s right to rial claims on the country. talk about the talks but officials in the Russian-con- fought with Ukrainian forces.
Models wear creations as “We can return the Ukrain- the invasion not least because exist as a state, plain and sim- Zelenskyy’s speech was dis- announce pseudo-referen- trolled city of Donetsk said A video on the BBC news
part of the Roberto Cavalli ian flag to our entire territo- they said it was not consistent ple, and Ukraine’s right to tinguished by its context. It took dums in the occupied territories Ukrainian shelling killed at least website Thursday showed
women's Spring Summer ry. We can do it with the force with the cornerstone princi- exist as a people. Whoever place after Moscow’s extraor- of Ukraine,” he said. Zelenskky five people. two of the released British men,
2023 collection presented of arms,” the president said in ples of the United Nations — you are, wherever you live, dinary mobilization announce- asserted that Moscow wants It was a stark signal that hos- Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pin-
in Milan, Italy, Thursday, a speech delivered in Eng- including respect for sover- whatever you believe, that ment. It was the first time to spend the winter preparing tilities haven’t diminished ner, speaking inside a plane.
Sept. 22, 2022. �AP lish. “But we need time.” eignty. should make your blood run Zelenskyy addressed the world’s its forces in Ukraine for a new despite a high-profile prisoner It said they had arrived in
Video speeches by Zelen- “It’s an attack on this very cold,” he said. “If nations can leaders gathered together since offensive, or at least prepar- swap just hours earlier. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
skyy in an olive green T-shirt institution where we find our- pursue their imperial ambitions Russia invaded in February. And ing fortifications while mobi- Zaporizhzhia Gov. Olek- “We just want to let every-
UK to probe tech giants have become almost com- selves today,” said Moldovan without consequences, then it wasn’t delivered at the ros- lizing more troops in the sandr Starukh said Russian one know that we’re now out
dominance in Cloud market: monplace. But this speech President President Maia we put at risk everything this trum where other presidents, largest military conflict in forces targeted infrastructure of the danger zone and we’re
The UK's communication was one of the most keenly Sandu, whose country borders very institution stands for. prime ministers and mon- Europe since World War II. facilities and also damaged on our way home to our fam-
regulator Ofcom on Thurs- nearby apartment buildings. ilies,” Aslin said in the video,
day announced a probe Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the as Pinner added: “By the skin
into the dominance of
Amazon, Microsoft and
Google in the country's 15
EU talks up Russia sanctions, but consensus may prove elusive deputy of the Ukrainian pres-
ident’s office, said a hotel in
the central part of the city was
of our teeth.”
The speed with which the
Russian missile attack came
billion pound Cloud services ASSOCIATED PRESS demic are now fighting high international humanitarian sia, but it isn’t alone in hesi- struck and rescuers were on after the swap suggested that
market and if the competi- BRUSSELS, 22 SEPTEMBER inflation, with skyrocketing law in Ukraine will be held tating. the scene trying to free peo- the Kremlin was seeking to dis-
tion concerns are identi- electricity and natural gas accountable.” The last round of sanctions ple trapped in the rubble. pel any notion of weakness or
fied, it could lead to fur- The European Union appears prices. “Additional restrictive mea- was announced on May 4, but The Zaporizhzhia region is waning determination to
ther action against the determined to respond to The spur for the EU to act sures against Russia will be only agreed on four weeks later, one of four in which Russia is achieve its war aims following
tech giants. Ofcom also new Russian attempts to again was the announcement brought forward as soon as as concerns over oil divided planning to hold referen- recent battlefield losses and set-
kicked off a probe to look annex parts of Ukraine with that Russian-controlled regions possible in coordination with member countries. Rather dums starting Friday on backs that gravely undercut the
at digital services such as more sanctions, but finding in eastern and southern our partners,” he said in a state- than a new set of sanctions, becoming part of Russia, but aura of Russian military might.
WhatsApp, Zoom and smart a consensus among mem- Ukraine plan to hold refer- ment after chairing an emer- a “maintenance and align- the city itself is in Ukrainian Those losses culminated
speakers, as online and tra- ber countries is becoming endums on becoming part of gency meeting of EU foreign ment” package was sealed in hands. Wednesday in Putin’s order for
ditional networks con- increasingly difficult as mea- Russia. This could allow ministers on the sidelines of July, mostly to close loop- Meanwhile, Donetsk city a partial mobilization of
verge. "The way we live, sures meant to punish Moscow Moscow to escalate the war, the U.N. General Assembly in holes on measures already mayor Alexei Kulemzin said reservists Wednesday to bol-
work, play and do business bite into their own economies. especially after Putin’s deci- New York. agreed upon. at least five people where ster his forces in Ukraine that
has been transformed by The 27-nation bloc has cials been targeted with asset sion to call up 300,000 mili- But political declarations That said, the mayor of killed when Ukrainian shelling sparked rare protests in the
digital services. But as the imposed six rounds of sanc- freezes and travel bans. tary reservists. by officials based in Brussels Moscow was one of 54 more Thursday hit a covered mar- Russia and was derided in the
number of platforms, dev- tions on Russia since President What could have taken EU foreign policy chief are the easy part. Agreeing on people whose assets were ket and a passenger minibus. West as an act of weakness and
ices and networks that ser- Vladimir Putin ordered his years to agree on in the past Josep Borrell said Wednesday new measures has proven frozen and Sberbank ~ a major Just hours before the lat- desperation. The partial call-
ve up content continues to forces into Ukraine on Feb. 24. was achieved in just over that “Russia, its political lead- exceedingly difficult. Energy Russian financial institution est attacks, a high-profile up was short on details, rais-
grow, so do the technolo- Banks, companies and mar- three months — relative light ership, and all those involved interests are notably hard to ~ was also targeted. prisoner swap saw 215 Ukrain- ing concerns of a wider draft
gical and economic issues kets have been hit — even parts speed for the EU. But Euro- in organizing these ‘referen- overcome. Hungary has led Meanwhile, technical work ian and foreign fighters that sent some Russians
confronting regulators," of the sensitive energy sector pean economies already bat- da’ as well as in other viola- resistance to sanctions that on a seventh package has exchanged ~ 200 of them for scrambling to buy plane tick-
said an Ofcom official. IANS — and more than 1,200 offi- tered by the COVID-19 pan- tions of international law and might hit its supplies from Rus- quietly continued. a single person, an ally of ets to flee the country.
Donald Trump accused of vast fraud in New York suit Leicester unrest culmination of growing
ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK, 22 SEPTEMBER
said at a news conference.
James said the investigation
tension between Hindu, Muslim communities
also uncovered evidence of INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE number of those arrested in
Former president Donald potential criminal violations, LEICESTER, 22 SEPTEMBER the disorder were not from the
Trump padded his net worth including insurance fraud and city.
by billions of dollars and habit- bank fraud, but that her office The unrest in Leicester, which On Monday, Temporary
ually misled banks and others was referring those findings to erupted last weekend, was Chief Constable Rob Nixon said
about the value of prized assets outside authorities for fur- the culmination of several they had seen "a group of peo-
like golf courses, hotels and his ther investigation. weeks of growing tension ple from other cities come to
Mar-a-Lago estate, New York’s Trump, in a post to his between parts of the Hindu our city to disrupt and cause
attorney general said Wednes- Truth Social platform, decried and Muslim communities in harm".
day in a lawsuit that seeks to the lawsuit as “Another Witch the English city, the media Some activists speculate
permanently disrupt the Hunt” and denounced James reported. Hindu nationalist groups from
Republican’s ability to do busi- as “a fraud who campaigned It reportedly began after a India are also involved, BBC
ness in the state. on a ‘get Trump’ platform.” cricket match between India reported.
Attorney General Letitia career ~ first as a real estate al size and valued the property Trump’s lawyer, Alina and Pakistan, at the end of case, confirmed by police not Hindu-majority areas and Violence between Hindus
James dubbed it: “The art of the developer, then as a reality TV at $327 million. No apartment Habba, said the allegations are August, reports the BBC. to have happened. pulling down religious deco- and Muslims is extremely
steal.” The lawsuit, filed in host on The Apprentice and in New York City has ever sold “meritless” and that the law- Whether the match On Wednesday, officers rations, and others marching rare in the UK, especially in
state court in Manhattan, is the later as president. for close to that amount, James suit “is neither focused on the inflamed existing tensions or urged people not to share down predominantly Mus- Leicester, which is known for
culmination of the Democrat’s It details dozens of instances said. Trump applied similar facts nor the law ~ rather, it is served as an opportunity for unverified claims on social lim-populated streets, chant- its particularly strong sense of
three-year civil investigation into of alleged fraud, many involv- fuzzy math to his Mar-a-Lago solely focused on advancing outside instigators is now the media. ing 'Jai Shri Ram', the BBC cohesion. There's long been
Trump and the Trump Orga- ing claims made on annual estate in Palm Beach, Florida, the Attorney General’s politi- subject of intense speculation. Leicester Magistrates' Court reported. solidarity between Hindus
nization. Trump’s three eldest financial statements thatTrump the lawsuit alleged, by valuing cal agenda.” A total of 47 people have heard one man sentenced One video posted online and Muslims in the UK, as two
children, Donald Jr., Ivanka and would give to banks, business the private club and residence In the lawsuit, James asked been arrested, 20 over the for carrying a knife had been shows a man climbing on to diasporic minority commu-
Eric Trump, were also named associates and financial mag- as high as $739 million ~ more the court to ban Trump and his weekend and some have been influenced by social media, the the roof of a Hindu temple, on nities that, in Britain, face
as defendants, along with two azines as proof of his riches as than 10 times a more reason- three eldest children from sentenced for possession of BBC reported. Belgrave Road, and pulling similar problems of racism and
longtime company executives. he sought loans and deals. able estimate of its worth. ever again running a compa- weapons. Footage shared by both down a religious flag. discrimination.
In its 222 pages, the suit For example, according to “This investigation revealed ny based in the state. The fight has spilled online Hindus and Muslims on social In another video, shared by In a joint statement deliv-
struck at the core of what the lawsuit, Trump claimed his that Donald Trump engaged She is also seeking pay- as well, says the BBC. media, allegedly taken during the temple itself, on its Face- ered on the steps of Leicester's
made Trump famous, taking Trump Tower apartment ~ a in years of illegal conduct to ment of at least $250 million, Claims of attacks on peo- the unrest in the past few book page, a group of men set Jame Masjid mosque, on Tues-
a blacklight to the image of three-story penthouse replete inflate his net worth, to deceive which she said was the esti- ple because of their religion weeks, shows groups from one of the temple's flags alight. day, community leaders from
wealth and opulence he’s with gold-plated fixtures ~ banks and the people of the mated worth of benefits derived have gone viral, though many both sides, masked men bang- According to Leicester- both faith groups stressed
embraced throughout his was nearly three times its actu- great state of New York,” James from the alleged fraud. are unverified and, in one ing on people's windows in shire Police, a significant this point.
CMYK
CMYK
I
t is well-known that Kerala Kala- Menon, the guru's talented student, this memorable event. dents performed Pallavis in various The rhythm of the piece was maMishra, Madhurima Chakraborty,
mandalam was set up by Vallathol who had made Bengal his home. He ragas in the festival. uniquely created by Guru Dhaneswar Rajitha Shekhar and Gayatri Atchanta
Narayana Menon along with was on the faculty of Rabindra Bharati Odissi performer-teacher ‘Sajani’ choreographed by Mad- Swain. Music composition was by were all senior disciples of Madhulita
Mukunda Raja for the revival of University and was associated with Odissi dancer Madhulita Mohapa- hulita was a true confession of a Sakhi Sukanta Kundu. Script and inputs by who performed the dance.
the Kerala performing arts in 1930. “Children’s Little Theatre” from its for- tra who has made Bangalore her to Radha about Krishna’s sad state of Pandit Shri Nityananda Mishra gave It was a beautiful evening. Afi-
However it is also common knowledge mative years. The Artistic Director of adopted home, where she runs her mind in her absence. The imagery of the piece its richness. Dance chorogra- cionados savored stories from our
that Champakulam in Kuttanad, Ker- Natyanova, Priyadarshini Ghosh had school Nrityantar, recently celebrated the lyric was expressed beautifully. phy was again by Madhulita Mohapa- great mythology and legends of past
ala abounded in Kalaris to teach the good fortune of being trained a mega festival showcasing her quali- Composer Binod Bihari Panda’s music tra. Dayanand Akilesh, K Reddy, Tara days. But what we missed was the link
Kathakali long before Keraka Kala- under him. ties as a teacher. She herself has been resonated in the minds of the people Ramakrishnan, Leah Rachel & Kriti ingof our great past to contemporary
mandalam came into existence. Further exposure of Natyanova to schooled under Guru Gangadhar for a long time. Sengupta mesmerized the audience. thoughts and secular topics. .
It was at this place that the leg- Kerala Natanam happened when Pradhan and his ace pupil Aruna Jayadeva’s famous astapadi ‘Dhira Darbari Pallavi presented in pol-
endary guru, Guru Gopinath was born Mohana Iyer, Repertory and Co-Direc- Mohanty. Samira’ showed wrathful Radha hurt ished Odissi dance was a pleasure to The writer is a senior dance critic.
W N
hen offbeat cinematic avapalli Natya Sanstha
ideas moving away from (NNS), a leading amateur
the mainstream explore Bengali theatre group in the
possibilities through cellu- capital, brought to the stage
loid exposure, they target an audience Anandamath”, a play based on a novel
seeking change from mundane pot- by Rishi Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
boilers. Avik Roy’s Master Moshai Navapalli always tries to furbish their
(Tutor) which premiered at the Indira productions with theatrical innova-
Cinema, Kolkata on September 16 tions and experimentations and the
delves into the burning issue of mental play Anandamath (written in 1882) was
pressure and the emotional state of a one such bold attempt. Directed by
weak student of maths who is con- Biswajit Sinha and scripted by Soma
stantly grilled and scolded for failing Sinha and Biswajit, the patriotic play
in the subject. was presented at Bipin Chandra Pal
Master Moshai marks the third Auditorium on 18 September.
film of Avik Roy, the other two being This mega venture of Navapalli
Siddhanto (Decision) and Reen (loan). coincides with “Azadi ka Amrit Mahot-
Roy graduated from a theatre actor to sav”, an initiative of the Government of
assistant director and is now an inde- India to celebrate and commemorate
pendent film maker. Adapted from a 75 years of Independence.
short story by Saurab Mukhopadhyay, The script is based on the most
Master Moshai follows a narrative powerful and significant novel written
structure, tracing the travails, ordeals by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, in the
and trials of a weak maths student who background of the lesser known
finally hits the jackpot. Not only does ‘Sanyasi Rebellion’ of the 18th century
he prove his excellence by scoring in and the great famine of the 1770s in
exams, but he also turns the tables on Bengal during the period of Company
his maths mentors by tutoring them. Rule in India. It depicts the untrained isfy their director’s brief, etching out
The film opens with an award cer- yet disciplined sanyasi soldiers fight- their respective characters with cred-
emony where the grown-up Anirud- ing and trying to beat the experienced itable flair. Soma Sinha, as Shanti,
dha Sanyal, the erstwhile weak maths East India Company forces. shows the potential of her character’s
student (played by Kaushik Sen) is Director Sinha said, “Anandamath transformative moment, with her voice
felicitated by none other than the is an apt production in this milieu of and body movements projecting the
Chief Minister who showers him with the festival of the awakening of the climactic import of each scene. Other
praise. When Aniruddha is asked to nation, the elixir of inspirations of the supporting characters perform well. It
express his reaction on receiving the warriors of the freedom struggle, their is worthwhile to mention Debabarta
award, he feels he is not worthy to sacrifice and martyrdom that made Sarkar and Tushar Chanda.
receive it; it ought to have gone to his freedom a reality.” Anandamath is an exhilarating
Master Moshai who died suddenly of a loud, and the colour tones a bit faded New discovery Niladri Ghosh as The dramatic version is in ten acts. and stirring play that will leave one
malignant illness. Almost the entire and obscure. This may partly be attrib- the young Aniruddha Sanyal excels in The sanyasis of Anandamath are not inspired by the bravery of its charac-
film is in flashback as Aniruddha uted to the poor projection system of his role, moving between shadow and true sanyasis, but common people who ters. The patriotic song Vande Mataram
recounts the saga of his evolution from the auditorium. light in symbolising the early struggles take on the symbols of sanyasi and (I revere thee, mother) originated from
a struggler in a subject he hated to But a plus point in the film is the to achieve success. Both Amit Kumar leave their households to rebel against the pages of this masterpiece, sung by
becoming an expert under his new background musical score that Ganguly as the cane-wielding maths the British forces. The main protago- the novel’s idealistic and nationalist
tutor. enhances the mood, and lends the film tutor and Pallav Kirttyania projecting nists are Satyananda Maharaj, the role saints fighting for their motherland’s
Despite some technical glitches, the desired edge. the humane facet bring out the con- played by Prodip Ganguly, the head of freedom.
Master Moshai sustains audience Master Moshai serves as a strong trasts in characters. Mention must be Anandamath, and his two disciples, The play is a well-knit version of a
interest by the strong content of the moral lesson for both students and made of Gourinath Banerjee as the namely Jibananda, played by Palash classical novel in Indian Literature, pre-
subject matter and the message in the guardians who tend to pressurise their senior maths class teacher who effec- Das and Bhavananda, played by sented by a band of gifted actors, aes- skillful utilization of the play’s main
film. The images on the screen lack wards, often culminating in cases of tively projects both the tormentor in Seshadri Mitra thetically executed and heightened by hymn “Vande Mataram” in different
sharpness of focus, the dialogues seem suicide. his mild reproaches as well as the sym- Palash Das and Seshadri Mitra sat- the spectacular presentation alongside ragas and using various instruments.
CMYK
HOPE TO DO WELL
New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS) Manik Ohlan who represented India in
3X3 Asia Cup, is quite excited and hoping that his team will
SILIGURI
FRIDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2022 12
perform well at the National Games in Gujarat. Representing
Delhi, the ace basketball player and his team qualified for the
3X3 format at the upcoming National games which will
be held in Gujarat. Manik Ohlan was also part of the
15-day camp at IG stadium for north zone senior nation-
als and qualified for the senior national tournament
which will be held in Udaipur in November.
East Bengal
Indian team gears up to FC Bengaluru United record strong win 3-0
5-0 win over Young Challengers
avenge Mohali debacle INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE
BANGLORE, 22 SEPTEMBER
in from a short corner to set
it up for Irfan to head it in and
get the defending champi-
one with theYC keeper, but was
unable to finish it off. Soon after
Jairo tried to lob the ball over
Indians reached Nagpur for the 2nd T20I encounter with Australia today Defending champions FC
Bengaluru United kept up
ons on the scoreboard. Irfan
nearly had another goal in the
the YC keeper in the 59th
minute only to see the ball sail
INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE their winnings ways in the next minute, only to see his shot over the bar.
NAGPUR, 22 SEPTEMBER ongoing BDFA Super Divi- hit the goalpost. In the seventh A good run by Selwyn
sion Championship with a minute it was Aenam in the Miranda on the left flank in the
B
oth India and Aus- sparkling 5-0 win over Young middle of the action once 66th minute was followed by
tralia had started the Challengers. again - this time his cross-in a shot on target, only to have
current three-match Under sunny skies at the was put away by Jairo to get it deflected by the YC keeper.
T20I series with the Bangalore Football Stadium, FCBU up 2-0. FCBU contin- The ball landed straight at
intention of finding the right FCBU kept up the pressure ued to dominate and control Lyngdoh's feet and he didn't
combination for the upcom- from the start; the goalscor- most of the possession, cre- make any mistake to get FCBU
ing T20 World Cup. But after ers for FCBU were IrfanYarwad ating half chances. In the 25th up 4-0. Eleven minutes later,
the first match at Mohali, the (5, 25), Jairo Rodrigues (7), minute, a beautiful shot from Franklin secured his first goal
Indians reached Nagpur for Chesterpaul Lyngdoh (66) and Shajan Franklin cleanly split of the game through a corner
the second T20 encounter Shajan Franklin (77). theYC defence to set up an easy as FCBU went up 5-0. FCBU
with more headaches and Much like their earlier finish for Yarwad. continued to create a few
unanswered questions rather games, FCBU started creating It was a similar script in the more chances but were unable
than solutions. chances from the get-go and second half with FCBU dom- to see them through; the score-
Going into the opening against Australia was to pro- as Australia rode on a blaz- Bumrah a chance to tighten were soon rewarded with a goal inating possession and con- line ended with a strong 5-0
match, the Indian team man- vide some answers to these ing 20-ball 60 by Cameron the bowling attack or find a within the first five minutes. trol. There was an early chance win for the defending cham- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
agement wanted some more conundrums. But that did not Green and a vital 21-ball 45 good death bowler to replace Aenam Jyrwa crossed the ball for Aenam as he went one on pions. KOLKATA, 22 SEPTEMBER
inputs on the opening and happen in the end as India by wicketkeeper Matthew Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
middle order batting and lost the match by four wick- Wade. Agreed that the Mohali Bhubaneswar has in recent East Bengal and Aryan Club,
the quick bowling options as ets to concede a 0-1 lead in pitch was totally benign and times conceded too many who share a ground on the
senior pacer Jasprit Bum- the three-match series. did not offer the bowlers an runs when bowling at the Maidan, played a friendly
rah is still not ready to play The Indian batters -- espe- iota of assistance, still 207 was death and is on the verge of today at the All - India Foot-
while senior bowler Mohd cially opener Rahul and all- a defendable total, as skip- losing his reputation as a ball Federation's Centre of
Shami had to withdraw from rounder Hardik Pandya -- per Rohit Sharma said after good death overs bowler. Excellence in Salt Lake City,
the series due to a Covid played brilliantly and sensi- the match. After being expensive in the red-and-gold outfit win-
positive test before the start bly to help the team post The Indian bowlers were back-to-back matches against ning 3 - 0. Preparing for the
of the series. 207/6 in 20 overs with K.L totally ineffective in death Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Calcutta Football League's
Though former India skip- Rahul anchoring the innings overs and the team did not Asia Cup, Bhuvneshwar super six matches, when the
per Virat Kohli struck his with 55 and Hardik Pandya help its cause much with Kumar finished his cam- teams would meet one anoth-
71st international century giving it a late impetus with some atrocious efforts on paign with a superb perfor- er again, East Bengal failed
in the match against a brilliant unbeaten 71, the field, dropping four catch- mance against Afghanistan. to score any goals in the pre-
Afghanistan in Asia Cup Suryakumar Yadav propelled es in all. However, he undid that when break action. But they had
Super Fours, the batting still the team ahead with a 25-ball The result is that the team he conceded 16 runs in the Lima, Eliandro and Haokip
did not have a settled look as 46 as India posted a big total think tank involving skip- 19th over and 15 in the 17th striking later on and the first
opener K.L Rahul had just for the Aussies to chase. per Rohit Sharma and coach at Mohali. With Harshal Patel, goal came off a 40 - yard
returned from a lengthy While the batters did well, Rahul Dravid along with playing his first match on drive. Aryan Club never gave
injury break. The question of the bowling -- with the excep- senior players is left with return from injury, giving up and East Bengal were said
the all-rounder in the absence tion of Axar Patel (4-0-17-3) the massive problem of away 22 runs in the 18th not to know how many for-
of Ravindra Jadeja too was -- was not that effective, and putting right the bowling over, India conceded 53runs eigners they would be allowed
looking. Harshal Patel and Bhu- department. in overs 17th to 19th, mak- to field in a local league
The first T20I match vneshwar Kumar leaked runs Either they have to send ing Australia's job easier match.
Vietnam friendlies a good opportunity for Osaka withdraws from Womens Indian Open from Oct 20
Indian players to prepare for Asian Cup Tokyo; Haddad Maia 19th on the Ladies European
Printed and Published by SUMAN BHATTACHARYA on behalf THE STATESMAN LTD, Spencer Plaza 18/19, 1st Floor, Burdwan Road, Above Vishal Mega Mart, Siliguri-734005, West Bengal ��Editor: RAVINDRA KUMAR ��Managing Editor: ARYA RUDRA ��Printed at Siliguri Press Private Limited, Paribahan Nagar, Matigara Industrial Area, Dist- Darjeeling, Siliguri-734010. The Statesman Ltd. RNI NO. WBENG/2017/75529 Vol 5 Issue 231