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THE ASIAN AGE

CITY| 2
NEW DELHI FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2023

WORLD| 6 DELHI AGE| 11

Delhi HC to Rahul Gandhi: North Korea’s Kim says he Cameron Diaz: We need
Take down post revealing will not hesitate to launch to ‘normalise separate
minor rape victim’s identity nuclear attack if ‘provoked’ bedrooms’ in a marriage
www.asianage.com RNI No. 57290/94, Regd No: DL-SW-05/4189/15-17 Vol. 30 No. 306 | 16 PAGES | `5.00

WINDOWS ■ Telecom bill to give govt control in emergencies

4 soldiers die, gunfight rages as ■ May trigger SC tussle ■ Parl adjourns since die

terrorists ambush Army in J&K Parl gives nod to bill on

■ 2 other jawans hurt ■ Lashkar men suspected ■ Gypsy, 1-ton truck hit
YUSUF JAMEEL The spokesman added:
selection of CEC & ECs
SRINAGAR, DEC. 21 “Today (Thursday) at PAWAN BALI
around 3.45 pm, two NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
Four Army jawans were Army vehicles carrying
killed and two injured in troops to the operation The Lok Sabha on
a gunbattle with a group site to reinforce the joint Thursday passed the con-
of heavily-armed mili- operation were tentious bill, which seeks
Bihar chief minister Nitish tants after they ambushed by terrorists to establish a mechanism
ambushed two Army at Dera ki Gali. The fire to appoint the Chief
Kumar with Tibetan spiritual
vehicles — a Gypsy and a was retaliated to. Election Commissioner
leader the Dalai Lama at 1-ton truck — in the Dera However, in the and election commission-
Tibetan temple in Bodh Gaya ki Gali area of J&K’s bor- exchange of fire, three ers.
on Thursday. — PTI der district of Poonch on soldiers got killed, while The Lower House
Thursday afternoon. A three were injured. The passed the Chief Election
India logs 594 new PTI report, however,
claimed five soldiers
operation is in progress
and further details are
Commissioner and Other
Election Commissioners
A security personnel stand guard near the site where
Covid-19 cases, 6 were killed and two
injured in the ambush.
an Army vehicle was ambushed by terrorists in Poonch
district on Thursday. — PTI
being ascertained,” he
said.
(Appointment, Conditi-
ons of Service and Term Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lok Sabha Speaker
deaths in 24 hours The Army said the ter-
rorists, after attacking its and had plugged possible rorists at Dera Ki Gali in
Local news agencies
GNS and KNO reported
of Office) Bill 2023 after a
brief discussion with law
Om Birla, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Pralhad Joshi,
Arjun Ram Meghwal and other leaders during a meet-
New Delhi: India on vehicles, quickly escape routes for the mil- the Thanamandi area four Army jawans identi- minister Arjun Ram ing in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI
Thursday recorded 594 engaged in a gunbattle itants, police sources since Wednesday fied as B. Singh, K. Meghwal, who asserted
which continued as said. evening. “The operation Kumar, C. Kumar and G. that it's in line with the
fresh Covid infections while
the number of active cases
increased to 2,669 from
reports last came in.
Security forces’ rein-
A defence spokesman in
Jammu said the Army
was launched on hard
intelligence about the
Kumar were killed in the
ambush and gunfight
Supreme Court's direc-
tions. The Rajya Sabha
CISF to provide security
2,311 the previous day,
according to Union health
ministry data. The country’s
forcements laid siege to a
vast area of the Poonch-
Rajouri border districts
with the J&K police and
the CRPF was conducting
an operation against ter-
presence of terrorists in
the general area of Dera
ki Gali,” he said.
while the injured are
Sundeep Kumar, S.S.
■ Turn to Page 4
had cleared the bill on
December 12.
On Thursday, the Rajya
to Parl building complex
Covid tally stands at 4.50 Sabha passed the AMRESH SRIVASTAVA complex. In a direction
crore (4,50,06,572). The Telecommunications Bill NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 issued on Wednesday, the
death toll climbed to 2023, which seeks to allow Union home ministry has
5,33,327 with six more peo-
ple — three from Kerala, MPs’ suspension: the government to tem-
porarily take control of
Following a recent securi-
ty breach in the Lok
ordered the Central force
to carry out a survey of
telecom services in the Sabha chamber, the gov- the Parliament premises
two from Karnataka and
one from Punjab — suc- INDIA takes out interest of national secu- ernment has decided to for a regular deployment
cumbing to the viral dis- rity and provide a non- deploy the Central of the security personnel
ease. The number of people march from Parl auction route for the allo- Industrial Security Force under the government
who have recuperated from cation of satellite spec- (CISF) to take over the building security.
the disease has increased to
4,44,70,576. The national
to Vijay Chowk trum. It was passed by the
Lok Sabha on Wednesday
security of the Parliament ■ More on Page 3

recovery rate stands at AGE CORRESPONDENT after a short debate. Periodicals Bill 2023 to inal bills -- the Bharatiya
98.81 per cent. The case NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 Both Houses of replace a British-era law Nyaya (Second) Sanhita
fatality rate stands at 1.19 Parliament were also governing the publishing 2023, the Bharatiya
per cent. The INDIA bloc MPs on adjourned sine die on industry and simplify the Nagarik Suraksha
Full report on Page 2 Thursday marched from Thursday, a day ahead of process of registration of (Second) Sanhita 2023 and
Parliament to Vijay schedule. The Lok Sabha periodicals. the Bharatiya Sakshya
ASI report on Gyanvapi Chowk to protest the
suspension of
was adjourned sine die
after it passed the Press
The Rajya Sabha was
also adjourned sine die
(Second) Bill 2023 —
replacing the IPC, the
survey off till Jan. 3 Opposition lawmakers,
with Congress president
and Registration of after it passed three crim- ■ Turn to Page 4

Mallikarjun Kharge

3 more Opp. MPs suspended

Varanasi: A Varanasi district
court on Thursday post- asserting that Prime
poned to January 3 the Minister Narendra Modi
opening of an ASI survey had violated parliamen- Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge with suspended
report of the Gyanvapi tary privilege by not Opposition MPs during a protest at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi on AGE CORRESPONDENT pension, an unprecedent- well of the House and dis-
mosque complex and sharing speaking on the security NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 ed 146 members have played placards. Mr
Thursday. — PTI
of its copies with the peti- breach issue inside the been suspended from the Suresh also tore away
tioners. The ASI submitted House. Carrying a huge The Lok Sabha on Lok Sabha and the Rajya some papers and threw
the sealed report to the dis-
trict court on December 18.
Full report on Page 4
“Save Democracy” ban-
ner and placards with
messages
“Opposition
like
MPs
After setbacks, Kharge says Thursday suspended
three more Opposition
members, taking the total
number of suspensions
Sabha during the Winter
Session.
Three Congress MPs
D.K. Suresh, Deepak Baij
them at the Chair.
Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Pralhad Joshi
moved a motion for the
EC asks parties not
to insult disabled
Suspended”, “Par-lia-
ment Caged”
“Democracy Expelled”
written on them, the
and Cong ‘won’t repeat mistakes’ from the Lower House of
Parliament to a record
100. With the latest sus-
and Nakul Nath were sus-
pended from the Lok
Sabha as they entered the
suspension of Mr Suresh,
Mr Baij and Mr Nath.
■ More on Page 3

New Delhi: The Election lawmakers took out the ■ Panel on seat-sharing ■ Bharat Jodo 2 likely
Commission has asked
political parties not to use
derogatory words for per-
march.
Speaking
reporters at
with
Vijay
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
Kejriwal skips ED’s 2nd Brij Bhushan’s
sons with disabilities in pub-
lic discourse, saying usage
Chowk, Mr Kharge said
it is the right of the The apex body of the summons in excise scam loyalist elected
of such semantics in speech Opposition to speak in a Congress, the working WFI chief, gets
by politicians and candi-
dates can be interpreted as
democracy and as repre-
sentatives of the people,
committee, met in the
national capital on
‘Bid to stop AAP, silence Opp. voice’ most key posts
an affront to such people. it is the legislators’ Thursday. This is the first BHASKAR HARI SHARMA to believe that he is the
Full report on Page 3 responsibility to convey Congress Working NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 “mastermind of the New Delhi, Dec. 21:
the sentiments of the Committee (CWC) meet- scam”. Sanjay Singh on
people in Parliament. ing after the Congress' For the second time on The AAP supremo was Thursday became the
COUNTERPOINT The Opposition wanted recent poll debacle. Thursday, Delhi chief summoned by the ED for new president of the
to speak on the issue but Recently, the Assembly minister Arvind questioning in the excise Wrestling Federation
Prime Minister and elections were held in five Kejriwal skipped the policy-linked money of India (WFI) with his
Union home minister states — Madhya Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Enforcement Directorate laundering case on panel comfortably
Amit Shah did not turn Pradesh, Rajasthan, Vadra leave after a meeting of the party’s working summons, alleging they Thursday. However, the winning most of the
up either in the Lok Chhattisgarh, Telangana were issued at the behest Delhi chief minister left posts in the delayed
committee at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi
Sabha or the Rajya and Mizoram. The of political rivals who for an undisclosed loca- polls as outgoing chief
Sabha, even as the PM Congress won only in Thursday. — PTI wish to silence the voice tion for a 10-day Brij Bhushan Sharan
continued to make Telangana. At the meet- the party is committed to decision-making body. of the Opposition. The Vipassana meditation Singh gained indirect
speeches elsewhere, Mr ing, the party mulled over not repeating the same And that the decision AAP alleged that the course on Wednesday. control over the sports
Kharge said. the reasons behind the mistakes. He also said over the new Bharat Jodo excise probe is an In his reply to ED, Mr body. Sanjay, who is a
The INDIA bloc leaders losses. several Congress leaders yatra from east to west attempt to stop the Aam Kejriwal said the sum- Brij Bhushan loyalist
will protest at Jantar Addressing party lead- want Rahul Gandhi to will be taken soon. Aadmi Party’s growth mons do not specify and UP Wrestling
Mantar on Friday ers at a crucial meeting of undertake another Briefing the CWC about and popularity. The BJP, whether he was being Association vice-pres-
against the suspension the CWC at the AICC "Bharat Jodo Yatra" from the INDIA alliance meet- on their part, claimed called as “a witness or a ident, secured 40 votes
of MPs and nationwide headquarters here, east to west, but the final ing, Mr Kharge said that that the way Mr Kejriwal suspect or as the chief as against seven that
protests will also be held Congress president decision is up to him and at the fourth meeting of is running away from minister of Delhi or the his rival Anita
■ Turn to Page 4 Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress' highest ■ Turn to Page 4 inquiry gives us reason ■ Turn to Page 4 Sheoran got.
RSS-affiliate Sanjay
hails from Varanasi

WEATHER 15 people killed in mass shooting and is a very close

associate of
Bhushan. Given the
tremendous interest
Brij

Max : 23OC
Min: 11OC
RH: 56%
at downtown Prague university the outgoing chief has
in the sport, it is
expected that Sanjay
Rain: 10 Prague, Dec. 21: An armed ◗ THE BLOODSHED took he saw from a window a will consult him in
man opened fire in a uni- place in the philosophy person standing on a bal- policy decisions.
Forecast: Cloudy versity building in down- cony of the building and “It’s triumph for
town Prague on Thursday, department building of shooting a gun. thousands of wrestlers
killing at least 15 people Charles University, The police said they were in the country who
ASTROGUIDE and sowing widespread where the shooter was still searching the area, suffered in the past 7-8
Shubhakrut: Dakshinayana panic with one of the a student. He has not including the balcony, for months,” Sanjay
Czech Republic’s worst been named publicly. possible explosives. The Singh told reporters
Tithi: Margasira Shuddha mass shootings of its kind, building was evacuated, after his huge win.
Dasami till 8.17 am the police and the city’s or a possible motive for Prague mayor Bohuslav The panel of Ms
Star: Ashwini till 9.37 pm rescue service said. the shooting at the build- Svoboda said. Sheoran, a CWG gold
Varjyam: 5.42 pm to 7.16 pm The bloodshed took place ing located near the Vltava The building forms part medallist, though
in the philosophy depart- River in Jan Palach of the square and faces a managed to win the
Durmuhurtam: 8.57 am to ment building of Charles Square. Czech interior bridge across the river key post of secretary
9.41 am; 12.36 pm to 1.20 pm University, where the minister Vit Rakusan said with a view of Prague general as Prem
Rahukalam: 10.30 am to 12 pm shooter was a student, investigators do not sus- Castle, the seat of the Chand Lochab, a for-
Prague police chief Martin pect a link to any extemist Czech presidency. mer RSPB secretary,
SUNSET TODAY 5.29 PM ideology or groups. President Petr Pavel said Wrestler Sakshi Malik hangs up her boots during a press conference as she announces beat Darshan Lal 27-
Vondrasek said. He has
SUNRISE TOMORROW 7.10 AM not been named publicly. Pavel Nedoma, the direc- he was “shocked” by what her retirement from the sport, protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh loyalist 19. — PTI
MOONRISE TOMORROW 2.27 PM The police gave no tor of the nearby happened and offered his Sanjay Singh winning the Wrestling Federation of India election, in New Delhi on ■ More on Page 8
MOONSET TODAY 2.21 AM details about the victims Rudolfinum Gallery, said condolences. — AP Thursday. — PTI
 CITY
THE ASIAN AGE | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 2

■ Kerala reports highest number at 300, 6 die in 3 states

SHORT TAKES Cops to conduct psychoanalysis
JNU to review probe
against students
New Delhi: JNU administra-
After months, Noida records test on all 6 Parl probe accused
Covid case; 594 across India Retired DSP’s son
BHASKAR HARI SHARMA
tion will reconsider all proc-
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
torial inquiries initiated
against the four students’
union representatives and 12
In the ongoing probe held, salon owner
hostel presidents for holding
a protest against water
AVINASH PRABHAKAR Thursday said that there
regarding the Parliament
security breach, the grilled in Mysuru
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 is no plan so far to make sleuths of Delhi police
shortage, vice-chancellor
RT-PCR testing for Covid- will conduct a “psycho- Bengaluru, Dec 21: The
Santishree Pandit said on
A Noida resident has test- 19 mandatory at airports analysis” test on all six Delhi police has taken into
Thursday. The representa-
ed positive for Covid, in a for travelers. people. custody a youth from
tives of the Jawaharlal Nehru
first case of the infection Meanwhile, seeing the A city court, meanwhile, Parliament security Bagalkote in Karnataka
University Students’ Union
in Uttar Pradesh’s festive season ahead like extended till January 5 breach case accused and questioned another
(JNUSU) and the hostel
Gautam Buddh Nagar new year, Delhi health the police custody of the Manoranjan D. in New man from Mysuru in con-
presidents received an
after several months, offi- department has also four accused after the Delhi on Thursday. — PTI nection with the security
inquiry notice last month for
cials said on Thursday. geared up for testing the police said that it needed breach in Parliament, offi-
the protest outside the VC’s
The patient is a 54-year- new cases. Delhi’s health to uncover all those counsel. cial sources said on
residence on September 19.
old male who lives in minister Saurabh involved in the conspira- The Delhi police sought Thursday. Saikrishna Jag-
The students’ body, however,
Noida but works at a Bhardwaj has issues cy. an extension of custody ali, a techie and son of a
said it was not happy with
multinational company in orders to send Covid sam- Further, the Delhi police saying that the accused retired deputy superinten-
the “little” consolation. In a
Gurgaon, Gautam Buddh ples to be collected from quizzed two more people. were to be taken to vari- dent of police, was picked
meeting with the JNUSU
Nagar chief medical offi- ILI/SARI patients attend- While one of them— ous places for investiga- up from his house at
representatives and the hos-
cer Dr Sunil Sharma said. A medical staff conducts Covid-19 test of a woman at ing all Delhi government Saikrishna Jagali—is said tion, which was “at a cru- Vidyagiri in the district
tel presidents on Monday,
“His test sample has Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Disease in Bengaluru on hospitals. He has asked to be a close friend of cial stage.” They were headquarters town of
the V-C assured to reconsid-
been sent to Delhi for Thursday. — PTI that genome sequencing of accused Manoranjan D. required to be quizzed Bagalkote on Wednesday
er an appeal by the JNUSU
genome sequencing. The positive RT PCR samples and belongs to Karnataka, further “to find out the night.
to withdraw proctorial
result is awaited,” Mr the data on the Union As many as 23 cases of to be performed, as per the other hails from Uttar entire conspiracy and to Jagali, who works with a
inquiries at the appeal stage
Sharma said. health ministry website, the JN.1 variant has been guidelines. Pradesh. get to the root of the mat- multinational company in
initiated against the students
594 new Covid-19 infec- the southern state also detected across the coun- “Adequate number of The police custody of ter.” Bengaluru, is said to be a
over the water shortage
tions have been reported witnessed three deaths in try including two more Covid samples to be sent Sagar, Manoranjan, The psychoanalysis friend of Manoranjan D., a
protest. However, no clarity
across India on Thursday. the last 24. Covid cases of the new for RT-PCR testing, as per Neelam, and Amol was will be done by a team of resident of Mysuru, one of
was given on the other
Of the total new infections The death toll climbed to sub-variant reported in guidelines. Measures to be extended for 15 more days. doctors and psychiatrists the two who trespassed in-
ongoing inquiries by the
recorded in the last 24 5,33,327 with six more peo- Rajasthan on Thursday. taken for raising commu- Lalit will be produced on to know the mental con- to the Lok Sabha chamber.
Jawaharlal Nehru University
hours, Kerala alone ple - three from Kerala, Out of all the states, Goa nity awareness for avoid- Friday and Mahesh on dition of the accused. He was also Manoranjan’s
administration.
reported 300 cases of two from Karnataka and currently has the highest ing overcrowded & poorly Saturday, when the police Sources claimed that roommate during his col-
Covid infections. The one from Punjab. The number of Covid cases of ventilated settings and may seek their further the accused are highly lege days, sources said.
Body parts of man number of active cases
have also increased to
nation has witnessed total
22 deaths due to Covid
the new variant JN.1.
Amid the health scare
wearing mask in crowded
& close settings and in
custody.
Meanwhile, the IO was
“motivated and mind
washed” and do not
Jagali’s sister Spandana
said a Delhi police team
2,669 from 2,311 on the pre- infection in the last two looming, a source with the hospital premises”, Mr directed to hand over the “cooperate” during the came and took her brother
found in drain vious day. According to weeks. health ministry on Bhardwaj has said. FIR copy to Neelam’s investigations. with them. — PTI
New Delhi: The Delhi police
on Thursday recovered dis-
membered body parts of a
man in an open drain near
Baprola area on the Nangloi-
Najafgarh road in the outer
Remove post revealing rape SC clears record 52,191 cases in 2023
district, an officer said. The
police recovered the upper
and lower limbs of a man
packed in a transparent poly-
victim’s identity: HC to Rahul RAKESH K SINGH
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21

In a major achievement,
disposed cases. The dispos-
al is the highest in terms of
numbers since the ICMIS
(integrated case manage-
◗ DESPITE THE huge
number of filing of
52,660 cases, the dispos-
Tuesday would be specifi-
cally kept for after-notice
miscellaneous matters.
Further, Wednesday and
al matched the same
thene, the person said. “A
PCR call was received from a
New Delhi, Dec 21: The
Delhi high court on HC tells EC to decide in 8 weeks on the Supreme Court of
India has disposed of
ment information system)
was implemented in 2017. neck to neck with 52,191
Thursday were categorised
as regular matter days.
local resident on Thursday at Thursday asked Congress 52,191 cases between Chief Justice of India disposed cases. The dis- “The result of the said
9.27 am. The caller informed
police that he had seen
leader Rahul Gandhi to
take down his social
notice to Rahul over pickpocket jibe January 1 and December
15 this year, which
D.Y. Chandrachud had a
blueprint for the disposal
posal is the highest in strategy clearly impacted
the disposal of matters
terms of numbers since
upper limbs of a human body media post which revealed AGE CORRESPONDENT good taste” and that the includes 45,642 miscella- of cases and on the basis where the important mat-
packed in a polythene. Team the identity of a minor NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 Election Commission neous matters and around of his vision and the con- the ICMIS (integrated ters were disposed of cate-
was sent to the spot for fur- Dalit girl, raped and mur- (EC) is examining the 6,549 regular matters. The certed efforts by his team, case management infor- gory-wise. With regard to
ther investigation,” the senior dered in 2021, so that the The Delhi high court on matter and has even total disposal of cases comprising the CJI and mation system) was the disposal of regular mat-
police officer said. The police child’s identity is protect- Thursday asked the issued a notice to Mr before the apex court this other apex court judges, implemented in 2017. ters, the said strategic inter-
found a transparent poly- ed worldwide. In the post, Election Commission of Rahul Gandhi. year stands in contrast to this disposal could be vention resulted in three
thene bag containing human which stands geo-blocked India (ECI) to take a deci- “Considering that the the total number of cases achieved. In certain matters such times the disposal of the
body parts in an open drain. by social media platform X sion as expeditiously as deadline for filing a reply registered during the peri- “The CJI streamlined as bail, habeas corpus, number of matters institut-
Later another polythene was in the country, Mr Gandhi possible, preferably with- is over and no reply has od, which was 49,191. the timeframe required eviction, demolition, and ed during the said period.
found with the lower part of published a photograph in eight weeks, on a notice been received, the court “This shows that this for filing to the listing of anticipatory bail, the mat- “Additionally, the
a man’s body around one with the parents of the it has issued to Congress directs the EC to decide year the Supreme Court the matters. In his tenure, ters were processed in one Supreme Court actively
kilometre away. nine-year-old Dalit girl leader Rahul Gandhi for the matter as expeditious- was able to dispose of there was a paradigm shift day and listed in courts streamlined the flow of
who died under suspicious his alleged “pickpocket” ly as possible, preferably more cases as compared to in the filing to the listing immediately, thereafter cases and expedited the res-
Mitra clip tech used circumstances on August
1, 2021, with her parents
jibe at Prime Minister
Narendra Modi made dur-
within eight weeks,” the
bench ordered.
the cases registered dur-
ing the said period,” an
of the cases where in
place of 10 days, from list-
keeping in view the right
to liberty at the highest
olution of legal disputes.
Specialised benches were
alleging that she was ing a speech delivered last The court noted that in official release said. ing to filing, the same was pedestal. constituted to handle spe-
to save heart patient raped, murdered and cre- month. the notice sent on Nove- Despite the huge number reduced to within 7-5 days In the full court meeting, cific categories of cases,
New Delhi: A 75-year-old mated by a crematorium’s The court was hearing a mber 23, the poll panel of filing of 52,660 cases, the of listing after the verifi- it was resolved that leading to a more spe-
man suffering with heart fail- priest in southwest Delhi’s PIL seeking action itself said that it would disposal matched the same cation of the matter,” the Monday and Friday would cialised and efficient adju-
ure due to severe leakage of Old Nangal village. against Mr Rahul Gandhi take appropriate action. neck to neck with 52,191 official release said. be miscellaneous days and dication process,” it added.
Mitral valve - valve between Following the post, Mr as well as for the formula- Petitioner Bharat Nagar
left ventricle and left atrium - Gandhi’s account was sus- tion of guidelines to pre- told the high court that
was saved by doctors using a pended by the social vent such “malpractice” Mr Rahul Gandhi made a
novel catheter based non-
surgical technique called
media platform for some
time but it was subse-
by political leaders.
A bench of acting chief
speech on November 22
levelling “heinous allega- WhatsApp bus ticket system Hearing in
Mitra clip at SSB hospital quently restored. justice Manmohan and tions” against individuals
Singh’s bail
may start in 2 mnths: Gahlot
Faridabad. The Mitra clip A bench headed by act- justice Mini Pushkarna holding “highest govern-
technique was introduced in ing Chief Justice observed that the alleged mental positions,” includ-
the world few years back and
has recently become avail-
Manmohan Thursday
observed although the
statements were “not in ing the Prime Minister. plea today
post was stated to have wide it must come down. Mhadlekar seeking regis- New Delhi, Dec. 21: The
able in India. Dr S S Bansal,
senior cardiologist, SSB hos-
pital, said “We are very
been taken down by X, it
continued to be available
Please seek instruc-
tions...otherwise it will be
tration of an FIR against
Mr Gandhi for revealing
Delhi government will roll
out its WhatsApp-based
L-G launches PNG supply AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
happy that our patient's life
threatening valve leakage
got resolved by Mitra clip.
outside India and asked
the counsel for Mr Gandhi
to have it removed.
picked up by press all over
the world. It can’t be done
like this. Please get it
the identity of the victim
by publishing a photo-
graph with her parents on
bus ticketing system in a
couple of months, with the
trial run for the project
facility in Qutabgarh village A Delhi court on
Thursday extended the
The most advanced 4 D TEE “If we have to protect down,” the bench, also X, formerly called Twitter. commencing in a fort- AGE CORRESPONDENT pleted the survey for lay- judicial custody of sen-
ECHO machine is required the identity of the victim, comprising justice Mini In response to the peti- night, transport minister NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 ing pipeline in other 10 ior AAP leader
for precision in such proce- it is necessary it is done Pushkarna, told Mr tion, the Delhi police said Kailash Gahlot said. Also villages, while prelimi- Sanjay Singh
dure. This is the first hospital all over the world,” the Gandhi’s counsel advo- the petition has become in the pipeline is the sin- Delhi lieutenant-gover- nary works including req- till January 10
in Faridabad to use this novel court said. cate Tarannum Cheema. infructuous after an inves- gle-journey ticket system nor V.K. Saxena on uisite permission from in the excise
technique of Mitra clip”. “Why don’t you take it The court was hearing a tigation was ordered and that will enable users to Thursday launched the concerned civic agencies scam case.
down? Please take down 2021 petition by social the post made unavailable book autos, Metro tickets, first ever domestic PNG in remaining 14 villages Special judge Sanjay
your post because world- activist Makarand Suresh in India. — PTI and bus tickets, he said. facility in rural Delhi at is also underway. The L-G M.K. Nagpal
Singh
“We have already tied up Qutabgarh in northwest said all 29 villages will be also asked the
SMUGGLER’S with WhatsApp for this Delhi. It also marked the fully equipped with PNG E n f o r c e m e n t

BROTHER DUPED 16-year-old boy After 9 days, body of minor initiative. There will be no
digital money involved.
first venture of IGL in
Delhi’s rural areas.
connections in the next
three months.
Directorate to provide a
copy of its fifth supple-
Either you buy the NCMC Speaking on the occa- Out of the nearly 1,000 mentary chargesheet
OF `45L, 3 HELD dies after falling raped, murdered recovered card or the digital ticket.
This will also give a huge
sion, the L-G announced
that 4 more villages –
households in Qutabgarh
village, nearly 350 house-
and other related docu-
ments to Mr Singh, a
Gurgaon: Three people were
arrested for allegedly cheat-
from Wazirabad AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
death, the police said.
The girl was allegedly
push to digital money,” Mr
Gehlot said.
Jaunti, Nizampur, Rawta
and Daurala – will be pro-
holds have already got the
PNG connection while
Rajya Sabha MP, who
was arrested in a money
ing `45 lakh from a drug
smuggler’s brother on the
foot-over bridge The Delhi police on
abducted, raped and then
strangled to death by her
The government had
recently in a statement
vided with PNG connec-
tion within one month
applications from the
remaining families were
laundering case related
to the alleged scam.
pretext of getting a clean chit AGE CORRESPONDENT Thursday recovered the 52-year-old landlord, who said that an estimated 40 that will be a New Year gift also received by IGL On Mr Singh’s bail
in the smuggling case, the NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 body of a nine-year-old dumped her body in a lakh people travel by to thousands of families through special camps matter the judge said he
police said. An FIR was regis- girl, who was allegedly canal in Swaroop Nagar. buses in Delhi, and the living in these villages. organised in the village will deliver the verdict
tered in this case at DLF A 16-year-old boy died abducted, raped and mur- The accused had number is expected to go IGL has already com- today. on Friday at 3:30 pm.
phase three police station, after falling from a foot- dered on December 12, allegedly lured the girl on up to 60 lakh by 2025. The During the arguments
they added. According to the over bridge on officials said. the pretext of giving her a minister said that the dig- ly launch it,” he added. will cater to commuters on bail plea, senior advo-
complaint filed by Sumit Wazirabad road in “We recovered the body car ride on December 12 ital ticketing system will Delhi has over 7,000 gov- from the origin to the des- cate Mohit Mathur,
Yadav, a resident of the northeast Delhi, the on Thursday. Our teams while she was playing check pilferage and theft ernment buses compris- tination.” appearing for Mr Singh,
Nathupur village, a case police said on Thursday. along with six divers were outside her residence. that is usually witnessed ing 4,000 DTC and 3,000 “The Central govern- had told the judge that
under the NDPS Act was reg- The Class 9 student was searching for the girl’s According to the investi- in the handling of cash. cluster buses. ment is pushing for an the ED had not called
istered against his brother returning home in body. On Thursday, we gators, the accused then Mr Gahlot said that the The government is also Open Network for Digital him for questioning
Amit on October 2, after Ghaziabad when the recovered the body near took her to an isolated area WhatsApp bus ticketing planning to launch a sepa- Commerce (ONDC). The even once before he was
which he was on the run. incident occurred at the Haidarpur water where he allegedly raped system should be rolled rate app for booking a sin- app will be there and the arrested and claimed
Amit’s friend Prince allegedly around 1.45 pm on plant,” said a senior police her in his car. To hide his out within two months. gle-journey ticket, he aggregators that will be there were contradic-
took the complainant to meet Wednesday. He was officer. The body was crime, he strangled the girl “We plan to start a trial added. on the ONDC platform tions in the statements
his relative Nitin, a resident of taken to the GTB taken into custody and and then dumped her body run around January 15 and “The same ticket will be will of course be part of of accused-turned-
the Kadarpur village. Nitin Hospital with serious sent for autopsy to know in the Munak Canal at after that we will take one used for commuting in an our application,” the min- approver Dinesh Arora
promised to get him a clean injuries where doctors the actual reason of around 6.30 pm. or two months to complete- auto, metro, and bus and ister said. — PTI and other witnesses.
chit in the matter. “Nitin declared him dead, they
demanded `20 lakh from me said.
for this work and I handed
over the amount in cash to
him near the backyard club.
The next day my brother
“He fell on the road
below from a height of
about six metres and
sustained serious
Planning house party with alcohol in Noida? Apply for bar licence
injuries,” deputy com- Noida, Dec. 21: If you live ed rules, authorities have ◗ ONE LICENCE is for licences are valid for one
Amit called me over the
phone and told me to give
`25 lakh to Mayank and Sonu.
missioner of police
(northeast) Joy Tirkey
in Noida or Greater Noida
and are planning to throw
started reaching out to
residents’ welfare associa-
individuals where the day. Applicants can apply
for them on the website -
Father asks son for money to buy
gathering size is low, like
By mortgaging a plot, I gave
`25 lakh cash to them on
said.
The boy’s classmate,
a party at home or a com-
munity hall where alcohol
tions (RWAs) and citizens,
informing them about house parties against a
upexciseportal.in - under
the category of useful pub-
liquor, dies after being beaten up
November 23 near the who was with him at the could be served, you may guidelines for procuring fee of `4,000. The other lic services,” the DEO said. AGE CORRESPONDENT with a brick and a
Radisson Hotel in Delhi, but time of the incident, told as well consider applying occasional licences. licence comes for He added that the excise NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 saucepan, they added.
later the police arrested Amit. police that he was lean- for an occasional bar “If anyone is serving `11,000 and allows serv- department’s public out- Yadav, a native of Bihar,
“When I asked them to return ing against a guardrail licence and be on the right liquor with a licence, ing alcohol to larger reach is also showing good A 44-year-old man died lived with his son in a rent-
the money, all three accused just before he fell down, side of the law. Not having whether it is liquor meant crowds results as more people have after he was allegedly ed accommodation and
clearly refused and then I said the officer. a liquor licence for parties for sale in Uttar Pradesh started applying for the beaten up by his son for used to work as a labourer.
moved to police,” Sumit said The police has regis- even at home or at the com- or outside the state, it is size is low, like house par- occasional bar licences. asking him for money to According to the com-
in his complaint. Following tered an FIR under sec- munity level is a violation totally illegal. It will ties against a fee of `4,000. According to official fig- buy alcohol, the police plaint filed by advocate
the complaint, an FIR was tions 336 (act endanger- of rules and could attract attract action (from the The other licence comes ures, 5,820 such licences said on Thursday. Ravi Solanki, owner of
registered against Nitin, ing life or personal legal proceedings, includ- excise department),” Mr for `11,000 and allows were issued in 2022 from The incident took place the rented accommoda-
Mayank and Sonu under sec- safety of others), and ing fine, Subodh Kumar Srivastava said. serving alcohol to larger April 1 to November 30, on Tuesday night in tion, he reached the
tions 406 (criminal breach of 304A (causing death by Srivastava, district excise Such occasional licences crowds attending events at whereas 8,770 were issued Fardabad’s Shahpur house at around 9.30 pm
trust), 420 (cheating), 120-B negligence) of the officer (DEO), Gautam to serve liquor at parties community halls, restau- during the same period Khurd village where on Tuesday after learning
(criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code Buddh Nagar said. are available in two cate- rants, or banquets, among this fiscal year, an increase Harender (22) killed his that the tenants were
IPC on Wedn-esday, said the against the concerned To address people’s poor gories. One is for individu- others, he added. of 40 per cent. father Kamlesh Yadav by fighting among them-
police. — PTI authority. awareness of excise-relat- als where the gathering “Both these occasional — PTI hitting him on his head selves, they said.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 3

SHORT
Patil won’t budge
TAKES
Big change in Parl security, CISF replaces Delhi police
CISF to carry out survey of Parliament for deployment of personnel
on Dec. 24 deadline
Mumbai: Talks between a
delegation of Maharashtra
AMRESH SRIVASTAVA
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
3 more MPs suspended Delhi police. The sources
also said that the once the
Cabinet ministers and
Maratha quota activist Manoj
Jarange-Patil on Thursday
remained inconclusive as the
The government
decided to deploy the
Central
has

Industrial
from LS; total count 146 survey of the CISF is
done, and then the deploy-
ment of the other security
stakeholders will be
latter is believed to be firm Security Force (CISF) to finalised. AGE CORRESPONDENT ◗ THREE CONGRESS MPs had warned the three MPs
on his stand on reservation take over the security of As of now the Central NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
D.K. Suresh, Deepak Baij against protesting in the
for his community in OBC the Parliament building Reserve Police Force pro- House.
category. Mr Jarange-Patil complex following a vides the peripheral secu- The Lok Sabha on and Nakul Nath were sus- The three suspensions
said he is firm on his stand recent security breach in rity to the Parliament Thursday suspended pended from Lok Sabha as come after the Lok Sabha
to bring protests to Mumbai the Lok Sabha chamber. building complex day and three more Opposition they came into the well on Wednesday suspended
on December 24 if reserva- In a direction issued on night while the Delhi members, taking the total and displayed placards two more Opposition MPs
tion is not granted before Wednesday, the Union police personnel and the number of suspensions for showing placards in
that. The activist said he will home ministry has Parliamentary security from the Lower House of minister Pralhad Joshi the House. Thomas
announce his future course ordered the Central force staffs known as Parliament to a record moved a motion for the Chazhikadan of the
of action on December 23rd. to “carry out a survey of Parliament Duty Group 100. With this, an unprece- suspension of Mr Suresh, Kerala Congress (Mani)
The government delegation the Parliament premises have been assigned for dented 146 members have Mr Baij and Mr Nath. and A.M. Ariff of the
requested him to not come and its building for a regu- frisking of the visitors at been suspended from the “This House having CPI(M) were suspended
to Mumbai and hold any lar deployment of the Security personnel at Parliament House complex during the entrance gate of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya taken serious note of mis- for misconduct after a res-
protest for reservation. security personnel on the the Winter Session in New Delhi on Thursday. — PTI premises as well as to the Sabha since December 14. conduct of Deepak Baij, olution moved by parlia-
However, Mr Jarange-Patil comprehensive pattern Parliament complex. Three Congress MPs D.K. Suresh, Nakul Nath mentary affairs minister
said that the government under the government from the government The new and old In a major security D.K. Suresh, Deepak Baij in utter disregard to the was adopted by the House.
had already taken five building security.” building security (GBS) Parliament buildings and breach on the anniversary and Nakul Nath were sus- House and authority of Lok Sabha on Tuesday
months’ time to resolve the The sources on unit of the CISF, those their allied buildings like of the 2001 Parliament ter- pended from the Lok the chair through the dis- had suspended 49
issues of reservation for the Thursday said that the guards central govern- Parliament Library ror attack on December 13, Sabha on Thursday as play of placards, entering Opposition MPs .
Maratha community. “I am CISF is to begin the sur- ment ministries, and fire Building are likely to be two persons jumped into they came into the well of into the Well of the The Opposition had been
expecting promises which vey for both the security combat and response offi- brought under the com- the Lok Sabha chamber the House and displayed House...may be suspended seeking a statement in the
are made by the government and fire safety wing for cers of the force along with prehensive security cover during Zero Hour, placards. from the House for the House by Union home
should be fulfilled,” he said. the deployment in the par- officials from the current of the CISF along with the released yellow smoke Mr Suresh also tore remaining session,” Mr minister Amit Shah on
liament complex building. Parliament security team other exiting security from canisters and shout- away some papers and Joshi said. the December 13 security
They also said that will undertake the survey stakeholders like CRPF ed slogans before being threw them, at the chair. Earlier in the day, Lok breach, and disruptin pro-
Ex-PM Deve Gowda, experts have been drawn beginning later this week. and personnel from the overpowered by the MPs. Parliamentary affairs Sabha Speaker Om Birla ceedings.

his sons meet Modi ■ Bills will put end to ‘tareekh-pe-tareekh’ system: Shah
New Delhi: Prime Minister
Telecom bill set Parliament
adjourned
to streamline old Parl clears 3 new criminal law bills
Narendra Modi on Thursday
met former Prime Minister
and Janata Dal (Secular)
president H.D. Deve Gowda
and lauded his “exemplary”
contribution to the nation’s AGE CORRESPONDENT unruly behaviour while
sine die, PM
meets Birla
progress. Mr Deve Gowda’s
two sons, former Karnataka
CM H.D. Kumaraswamy and
MLA H.D. Revanna, as well as
licensing system NEW DELHI, DEC. 21

The three bills to replace

the colonial-era criminal
they were pressing for a
discussion on
December 13 Parliament
security breach. The Lok
the
PAWAN BALI
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
grandson Prajwal Revanna, AGE CORRESPONDENT ◗ THE BILL excludes from laws will not only make Sabha had approved the
who is an MP from Hassan, NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 its ambit broadcasting, India’s criminal justice bills on Wednesday. Both Houses of the
accompanied him for the system the world’s best The bills that repeal and Parliament on Thursday
meeting with Mr Modi at his Parliament on Thursday
and over-the-top services, but also put an end to the replace the Indian Penal were adjourned sine die,
residence here. It is always a passed the it cements rules for spec- “tareekh-pe-tareekh” sys- Code, Code of Criminal a day ahead of the sched-
delight to meet them, Mr Telecommunications Bill, trum allocation and pro- tem, Union home Minister Procedure, and the Indian uled end of Parliament’s
Modi said in a post on X. 2023 that aims to reform vides for a non-auction Amit Shah said on Evidence Act will usher in Winter Session that saw
“India greatly cherishes Deve the country’s century-old route for giving airwaves Thursday in the Rajya a new era in the a security breach, sus-
Gowda ji’s exemplary contri- telecom law to make the for satellite-based com- Sabha. criminal justice system, pension of over 146 MPs
bution to the nation’s sector investor-friendly, munication services The bills, making pun- Shah said. and the expulsion of
progress. His thoughts on prioritises user protec- ishments more stringent The Bharatiya Nyaya TMC leader Mahua
diverse policy matters are tion but also extends pow- and Telegram, it cements for terrorism, lynching, Union minister Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha in (Second) Sanhita, Moitra in the “bribe-for-
insightful and futuristic,” Mr ers to the government to rules for spectrum alloca- and offences endangering Bharatiya Nagarik query” case.
New Delhi on Thursday. Union ministers Ashwini
Modi said. The BJP and the intercept communica- tion and provides for a national security, were Suraksha (Second) The Winter Session
JD(S) have announced an tions. The bill, which was non-auction route for giv- approved by Parliament. Vaishnaw and Bhupender Yadav are also seen. — PTI Sanhita, and the also marked the first
alliance in Karnataka follow- cleared by Lok Sabha on ing airwaves for satellite- These laws, once imple- three years, Mr Shah said passed in the Rajya Sabha Bharatiya Sakshya full-fledged session to be
ing the Congress victory in Wednesday, was approved based communication mented, will ensure the during a debate on the by voice vote in the (Second) Bills will now go held in the new
the Assembly polls. — PTI by Rajya Sabha through a services. end of the “tareekh-pe- bills in the Upper House of absence of most to the president for her Parliament building.
voice vote on Thursday. The structural reforms tareekh” era and justice Parliament. Opposition MPs as many assent, upon which these The session, which
Mamata hikes DA by Now, the bill will go to the
President for assent, after
are also set to streamline
what has so far been a
will be delivered within The three bills were were suspended for will become laws. began on December 4,
saw both the Rajya
4% ahead of X-mas which it will become the complex licensing system Sabha and the Lok Sabha

Kolkata: West Bengal chief

minister Mamata Banerjee on
law of the land.
It seeks to supersede the
existing and archaic regu-
in the telecom sector and
usher in a simple authori-
sation mechanism.
‘164 planes Don’t use derogatory words running largely peace-
fully for the first week
but the scenario changed
Thursday announced a 4 per latory framework for the Currently, there are
lying idle at after December 13.
cent dearness allowance
(DA) hike for the state gov-
ernment employees and
pensioners effective from
telecommunication sec-
tor, based on the Indian
Telegraph Act, of 1885,
the Wireless Telegraphy
over 100 types of licenses.
Replying to the discus-
sion on the bill in Rajya
Sabha, Telecom minister
15 airports’ for disabled, EC tells parties Two people jumped
into the chamber of the
Lower House
Parliament from the
of

January next year in what Act (1933), and the Ashwini Vaishnaw said New Delhi, Dec. 21: As AGE CORRESPONDENT ◗ EC ALSO asked political discourse, saying the public gallery during
appears to be an X-mas gift Telegraph Wires colonial era legislations many as 164 planes are NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 parties to use rights- usage of such semantics the Zero Hour, on
for them. Ms Banerjee said (Unlawful Possession) Act were being replaced, lying idle at 15 airports based terminologies as in speech by politicians December 13 and
at the inauguration of (1950). paving the way for the in the country, the gov- Do not use derogatory mentioned in the conven- and candidates can be released canisters emit-
Christmas festival in Allen While the bill excludes new legislation that ernment said on words for persons with tion on the rights of per- interpreted as an affront ting yellow smoke and
Park, “With the 4 per cent from its ambit broadcast- matches the aspirations Thursday. Out of the disabilities in political sons with disabilities and to such people. Common shouted slogans before
DA increase, the state gov- ing, and over-the-top serv- of new India, making it a total, the highest num- campaigns and public not incline towards any examples of ableist lan- being overpowered by
ernment’s expenditure will ices such as WhatsApp “historic” day. ber of grounded aircraft statements, make political guage, the advisory said, MPs.
other terminology
jump to around `2,400 is at Delhi airport at 64. campaigns accessible for are words like dumb Prime Minister
crores annually. The cumula- As per data shared by all, provide training mod- with disabilities (PwDs). (gunga), retarded (pagal, Narendra Modi met Lok
tive DA disbursement
amount will now go upto 135
Parliament nod to bill to simplify civil aviation minister
Jyotiraditya Scindia in a
ules on disability for party
workers at all levels of the
Thye use of such seman-
tics in speeches or cam-
sirphira), blind (andha,
kana), deaf (behra), lame
Sabha Speaker Om Birla
in a customary meeting
(langda, lula, apahij). after Parliament’s
per cent from 125 per cent.”
She added, “Around 14 lakh
government employees will
newspaper registration process written reply to Lok
Sabha, 164 aircraft are
lying idle at 15 airports.
political process and
appoint nodal authority to
hear complaints from per-
paigns by members of any
political party or their
candidates can be inter-
“It is necessary to avoid
the usage of such deroga-
Winter Session was
adjourned sine die. The
benefit from this. However, New Delhi, Dec. 21: voice vote in the Lok The airports are sons with disabilities per- preted as an affront to the tory language. PwDs have Prime Minister and the
giving the DA is not manda- Parliament on Thursday Sabha, will make the reg- Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, taining to usage of the PwDs. It should be our to be accorded justice and leaders of different
tory. It’s an option.” passed a bill to replace a istration of periodicals a Bhubaneswar, Chennai, ableist language. These combined duty and respect in political dis- political parties general-
British-era law governing one-step process. Cochin, Delhi, Goa are some of the guidelines endeavour to treat all with course and campaigns,” ly visit the Speaker after
publishing industry and The bill replaces the (Mopa), Hyderabad, that the Election respect and create a socie- the EC said. the end of every session.
simplify process of regis- Press and Registration of Jaipur, Juhu, Kolkata, Commission has issued to ty that does not discrimi- It also asked political Opposition leaders, most
BJP DEMANDS tration of periodicals.
Information and broad-
Books (PRB) Act, 1867.
“This bill is simple,
Kannur, Mumbai,
Nagpur and Raipur.
the political parties.
“Of late, the
nate based on disability,”
ECI said.
parties to use rights-based
terminologies as men-
of whom were suspend-
ed from the two Houses
ARREST OF JANI, casting minister Anurag
Thakur said the Press
smart and has a simulta-
neous process for regis-
The grounded aircraft
include those of IndiGo,
Commission has been
made aware of the use of
In its new guidelines, the
EC has asked political
tioned in the convention
on the rights of persons
for their continuous
protests over an incident
and Registration of tration of newspapers SpiceJet, Go First, Air derogatory or offensive parties not to use deroga- with disabilities and not of security breach in
V.K. PANDIAN Periodicals Bill, 2023,
which was passed by
and periodicals,” he said.
— PTI
India, Zoom Air and
Alliance Air. — PTI
language in the political
discourse about people
tory words for persons
with disabilities in public
incline towards any other
terminology.
Parliament, kept away
from the meeting.
AGE CORRESPONDENT
BHUBANESWAR, DEC. 21

Controversy over the video

First time MLA is ‘Saffron party believes it can win on its own’ MP CM: Schemes run by
■

C’garh BJP chief BJP will dump Maha allies previous govt to continue
of social media influencer
Kamiya Jani talking to
bureaucrat-turned Biju
Janata Dal leader V.
Karthikeyan Pandian on
Srimandir temple premises
in Puri intensified on
Thursday, with the BJP ques-
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY
ahead of LS polls: NCP neta AGE CORRESPONDENT
BHOPAL, DEC. 21

Amid apprehension by
apprehensions over contin-
uance of the programme by
the Mohan Yadav govern-
ment. His view was echoed
tioning how the girl was RAIPUR, DEC. 21 BHAGWAN PARAB Opposition Congress over by his party members in the
granted access to the shrine MUMBAI, DEC. 21 continuance of “Ladli House. Speaking in the
despite her “anti-Hindu” First time MLA Kiran Behna Yojana”, Madhya House, Mr Yadav however
food practice. The saffron Singh Deo, member of Senior NCP leader Pradesh chief minister declared that no ongoing
party questioned, “How a erstwhile royal family of Jitendra Awhad from Mohan Yadav on Thursday schemes of the state govern-
promoter of beef consump- Sukma in Bastar in the Sharad Pawar fac- said that no ongoing ment would be stopped.
tion (referring to Jani) was Chhattisgarh, was on tion has caused a stir in schemes of the state govern- “No schemes of the state
granted access to the shrine Thursday appointed pres- Maharashtra politics by ment would be stopped. government will be stopped.
in Puri.” BJP state general ident of state unit of BJP. Kiran Singh Deo predicting that the BJP Raising the issue in the All the schemes including
secretary Dr Jatin Mohanty, The 61-year-old Mr Deo chosen a leader from is planning to contest house, Congress MLA Ladli Laxmi, Ladli Behna
while addressing a press is the first saffron leader Bastar to head the party the upcoming Lok Sabha Ramniwas Rawat said that and LPG cylinder at `450
meet here, said the incident from the tribal-dominated in the state since BJP had polls without its part- the governor’s address to will continue. The state gov-
had hurt the religious senti- Bastar to head the party put up a good show in the ners — the Eknath the Assembly had made no ernment has enough
ment of crores of Hindus. in Chhattisgarh. recently held Assembly Shinde-led Shiv Sena BJP activists protest at Dadar in Mumbai on Thursday mention of “Ladli Behna” money,” he told the
The party further alleged He replaced Arun Sao polls in the tribal regions and Ajit Pawar-led NCP against INDIA alliance over alleged “disrespect” of scheme, giving birth to the Assembly.
that video on the premises who was made deputy of Bastar and Surguja by — in the state. the office of Rajya Sabha Chairman. — PTI
of Srimandir has been taken chief minister in Vishnu security 21 out of 26 seats Mr Awhad’s statement
and broadcast on the media, Deo Sai government, in in the belt,” a senior BJP has come on the back- The NCP leader shared “One who understand
which is not acceptable. The the post. functionary told this drop of a meeting a post on X in which he politics will easily come
BJP demanded that a case Mr Deo is the second newspaper here, unwill- between the MLAs of said, “After the end of the to know that the BJP will
be registered against Mr BJP leader after former ing to be quoted. BJP and Shinde camp, Winter Session in fight seperately. Those
Pandian and Ms Jani by the chief minister Dr Raman The BJP has also sought who had visited the RSS Nagpur, Some shocking who want to come with
Srimandir Temple adminis- Singh to head the party in to maintain regional bal- headquarters at political talks have the BJP will be asked to
tration under Section 295A Chhattisgarh, carved out ance by appointing a Reshimbaug in Nagpur begun (in the state). The contest on the lotus sym-
of the IPC, and both of them of Madhya Pradesh in leader south during the recently con- RSS and the BJP held an bol. You cannot tell what
should be arrested immedi- 2000. His predecessors Chhattisgarh (Bastar) to cluded Winter Session of ideological meeting at is going to happen next
ately. “Social media influ- hailed either from tribal head the party, he added. the Maharashtra Nagpur, in which the pos- in Maharashtra,” said
encer Kamiya Jani is a pro- communities or OBC. While the chief minis- Legislature. The meet- sible political scenario in Mr Awhad.
moter of beef consumption. “The BJP leadership ter Mr Sai hailed from the ing was seen as an Maharashtra after the According to sources,
As per the law of Srimandir, has decided to appoint a north Chhattisgarh attempt to strengthen Assembly polls in three BJP’s confidence has
no beefeater can enter the leader from general cate- region of Surguja, the the relationship between states was discussed. It skyrocketed after its
temple without ‘prayaschita’ gory to head the party in two deputy chief minis- two parties ahead of was decided that the BJP commanding wins in the
(penance). Mr Pandian has Chhattisgarh since the ters, Arun Sai and Vijay forthcoming elections. should contest alone in Assembly polls recently
committed a crime by facili- chief minister (Vishnu Sharma, hailed from the However, Mr Awhad has Maharashtra without held in three states —
tating the entry of Ms Jani,” Deo Sai) hails from a trib- central and western claimed that the BJP has taking along those who Madhya Pradesh,
said Odisha BJP general sec- al community. Besides, regions of the state decided to go alone in are tainted with corrup- Rajasthan and
retary Jatin Mohanty. the BJP leadership has respectively. the state. tion charges.” Chhattisgarh.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 4

SHORT
Dhami honours rat
TAKES Court will
make public No info on pardon to
miners, gives `50K
Dehra Dun: Uttarakhand gov-
ernment on Thursday hon-
oured 12 rat miners who were
Gyanvapi
report Jan. 3
Indians in Qatar: MEA
crucial in rescuing 41 workers
trapped inside the collapsed Varanasi (UP), Dec. 21:
8 ex-Navymen have been in custody since Aug. 2022
Silkyara-Barkot tunnel for 17 A Varanasi district AGE CORRESPONDENT ◗ THE EIGHT men, includ- MEA spokesperson
days. Chief minister Pushkar court on Thursday post- NEW DELHI, DEC. 21 ing decorated officers Arindam Bagchi on
Singh Dhami handed out poned to January 3 the who commanded frontline Thursday said in response
`50,000 cheques to each, 22 opening of an ASI sur- India on Thursday said it to questions.
days after the rescue opera- vey report of the had not received any com-
warships in the Indian It may be recalled that in
tion ended. Twelve rat miners Gyanvapi mosque com- munication from Qatar Navy, were sentenced to a ray of hope last month,
were called by the Dhami plex and sharing of its regarding he potential death by Qatar’s court of the Qatari court of appeal
government from their places copies with the petition- pardon granted by the First Instance on October had accepted for hearing
and honoured 22 days after ers concerned. Amir (ruler) of the Gulf 26 after being detained and decided to examine
the successful Silkyara-Barkot Advocate Madan nation to eight Indian for more than a year on the legal appeal filed by
tunnel rescue operation in Mohan Yadav, who is nationals on the occasion undeclared charges the eight former Indian
Uttarkashi on November 29. representing the Hindu Flood-affected people move to safe place via a broken bridge after heavy rainfall at of that country’s National naval personnel against
The 12 rat miners dug up the petitioners, said, Eral in Thoothukudi district on Thursday. Chief minister M.K. Stalin announced flood Day celebrations. mer Indian naval person- the verdict delivered in
last leg of nearly 60 metres “District Judge A.K. relief of `6,000 to the people in the areas worst affected by heavy rains in The eight men, includ- nel against the verdict is October.
escape passage manually in Vishvesha put off the Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts besides `1,000 per family to those affected in ing decorated officers who still pending before a The MEA spokesperson
less then two days as heavy matter of opening the Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts. — PTI commanded frontline higher court in Qatar. said India’s efforts were
auger machines failed to drill sealed survey report and warships in the Indian New Delhi hinted that being “driven” by the
providing its copies to Navy, have been impris- royal pardons are desire to bring the eight

India takes note of Pak Army

through the boulders and iron
blockades under the tunnel the parties to January 3 oned in Qatar since typically unlikely while Indians back home as
debris hindering the rescue on the plea of Muslim October 2022. an appeal process is ongo- soon as possible.
operation. Speaking to the rat side advocate Akhlaq They were sentenced to ing. The MEA spokesperson

Chief’s Washington meetings

miners Mr Dhami said “Rat Ahmed.” death by Qatar’s court of “This case is now in once again on Thursday
miners not only dug up the Akhlaq Ahmed told the First Instance on October (Qatar’s) court of appeal declined to go into the spe-
escape passage but they also court that lawyers were 26 after being detained for and there have been three cific details of a conversa-
manually cleared cutting the busy with Bar Council more than a year on unde- hearings...on November tion about three weeks
pipes in the tunnel under very elections slated for New Delhi, Dec. 21: In an clared charges. Reports 23, November 30 and ago between Prime
difficult circumstances with-
out caring for their lives.”
Friday and were not
attending to court work.
indirect indication of its
displeasure over talks
No talks with Israel on replacing have suggested the men
were accused of espi-
December 7. Meanwhile,
our ambassador in Doha
Minister Narendra Modi
and the Amir of Qatar
The Archeological
Survey of India (ASI)
between top US officials
and Pakistani Army chief
Palestinian workers, says govt onage.
India expressed scepti-
got consular access...to
meet all the eight men on
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
Al Thani when the two
submitted the survey General Asim Munir in New Delhi, Dec. 21: India However, MEA cism about such a devel- December 3. But beyond leaders had met on the
Kharge says report in a sealed cover
to the district court on
Washington, India on
Thursday said its con-
on Thursday stuck to its
stand that there have been
spokesperson Arindam
Bagchi declined to com-
opment, considering that
the appeal of the eight for-
this, I don’t have anything
to share at this stage,”
sidelines of the COP 28
Summit in Dubai.
Cong ‘will not December 18. The survey
was ordered by the court
cerns for Islamabad's sup-
port to terrorism is well
no discussions with Israel
on possible replacement
ment on a statement
issued by Israel earlier

repeat mistakes’ after the petitioners

claimed the 17th-century
known and it hopes that
other countries would
of Palestinian labourers
in the Jewish State with
this week that had said
that the movement of Teachers recruitment scam: SC Odisha tourism
mosque was constructed also take it seriously. Indian workers. But New Indian workers to Israel
■ Continued from Page 1
the Opposition INDIA bloc on
over a pre-existing tem-
ple. The court had fixed
The Pakistan Army Chief
arrived in Washington last
Delhi added that on a larg-
er perspective, India has
was discussed in the
phone conversation on
notice to ED on TMC MLA’s plea rebranding bid
December 19, it was unani-
mously decided that the seat-
December 21 to open the
sealed report and shared
week on his first official
visit to the US.
been “looking at labour
mobility agreements
Tuesday between Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 21
reply on the appeal filed
by Mr Bhattacharya chal-
finds echo in
sharing talks must start imme-
diately.
its copies with the advo-
cates. The Muslim side
Gen. Munir met US sec-
retary of state Antony
around the world so that
Indian citizens get access
and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu. The Supreme Court has
lenging the November 16
Calcutta high court order PM’s Varanasi
In this regard, he said, the had on that day appealed Blinken, secretary of to the global workplace” There had also been no sought a response from rejecting his bail applica-
Congress has constituted a to the court to not make defence Llyod J. Austin, and are “treated fairly”, reference to this issue in the Enforcement tion. AKSHAYA KUMAR
five-member panel that will the survey report public. deputy secretary of state with their rights being the statement put out by Directorate on a bail plea The bench said, “Issue SAHOO
engage with various parties in The Hindu side had Victoria Nuland, deputy protected. It also said New Delhi on Tuesday filed by jailed TMC MLA notice.” The top court had BHUBANESWAR, DEC. 21
different states. “The Lok sought that the report be national security adviser Indian citizens are free to regarding the conversa- Manik Bhattacharya, earlier dismissed Mr
Sabha elections are not too far. made public. Jonathan Finer and go abroad (on their own) tion between the two lead- accused in the alleged Bhattacharya's plea The Odisha’s govern-
We don’t have much time left. I The ASI carried out Chairman of Joint Chiefs for job opportunities. ers. irregularities in the against his arrest by the ment’s bid to rebrand its
urge everyone to concentrate the scientific survey of of Staff General Charles teachers’ recruitment Enforcement Directorate tourism with a one-stop,
on actionable points and the the Gyanvapi premises, Q Brown. media briefing. terrorism, its support to “scam” case of West in connection with seamless digital inter-
necessary steps that can be located next to the Kashi “Yes, we did see some He said this while reply- cross border attacks is Bengal. alleged irregularities in face has found an echo
taken for the upcoming gener- Vishwanath temple, to reports in this regard ing to a question on well known. We would A bench of Justices Bela recruitment of primary in Uttar Pradesh’s his-
al elections.” determine whether about these meetings,” Munir’s visit to hope that other countries M. Trivedi and Supreme school teachers in West toric Varanasi city.
The CWC resolution con- mosque was constructed external affairs ministry Washington and his meet- would also take counter- Court Sharma issued Bengal, observing the Varanasi is Prime
demned the suspensions of over a pre-existing struc- spokesperson Arindam ings there. “Our concerns terrorism seriously,” Mr notice to the ED last ED’s action was not ille- Minister Narendra
MPs from both the Lok Sabha ture of a temple. — PTI Bagchi said at his weekly for Pakistan's support to Bagchi said. — PTI Friday and sought its gal. Modi’s constituency. In
and the Rajya Sabha in the just 2019, the Odisha
concluded Winter Session of Tourism, the special
Parliament.
Paag, paan and makhana for ■ State chief visits churches, conveys PM’s Xmas greetings wing of state’s tourism
The resolution also reads: department, had
“This meeting of the CWC revamped its website to
expresses its firmest resolve to
be fully prepared at the earli-
est to fight the forthcoming
Lord Ram to come from Mithila
Ayodhya (UP), Dec. 21: Kunal, the secretary of
BJP’s ‘Sneha Yatra’ to woo Kerala Christians position it as a one-stop
shop for all needs of
tourists who could dis-
Lok Sabha elections both as a The Patna Mahavir Mahavir Mandir in Kochi, Dec. 21: As the Lok by Kakkanad in the morn- ◗ THE KERALA BJP chief the Lok Sabha polls came cover, plan, explore and
party in its own right and also Mandir authorities are Patna, said. Sabha polls are just ing and conveyed also rejected reports that up for discussion, the shop on a single plat-
as a member of the INDIA preparing to carry According to Ram months away, the BJP in Christmas greetings from leader did not divulge any form without navigating
group. It reiterates the deter- “paag” (headgear), Temple officials, the Kerala resumed its Prime Minister Narendra
there were differences details. to an external site.
mination of the Indian “paan” (betel leaves) and offering from Bihar will “Sneha Yatra” on Modi. between the Church and “The objective of the Varanasi, the millenni-
National Congress to take all “makhana” (fox nuts) be offered to Lord Ram Thursday — an outreach He also visited the saffron party after the visit was to convey the al city famed for its
steps necessary to make the from Mithila in Bihar for in the run-up to the con- programme aimed at con- Archbishop Joseph Manipur violence issue PM’s greetings,” he said. exquisite temples, is
INDIA group an effective bul- Lord Ram for the conse- secration ceremony on necting with the Christian Kalathiparbil of the Latin He also rejected media switching gears to digi-
wark and force against the cration ceremony at the January 22. community in the state. Archdiocese of Verapoly, meeting. A BJP leader reports that there were tal tourism with two dis-
BJP and its allies.” Ram temple in Ayodhya. Mr Kunal also The saffron party initial- and conveyed the wishes said the meeting with differences between the ruptive digital solutions-
Speaking after the CWC According to the scrip- announced that the ly launched the initiative of the Prime Minister. Alencherry was extended Church and the saffron Kashi, the one-stop
meeting, general secretary tures, Lord Ram’s wife Mahavir Mandir author- during this year’s Easter. Mr Surendran later said for over 45 minutes, and it party after the Manipur Varanasi portal
organisation K.C. Venugopal Sita was from Mithila, ities will run a commu- In a recent state commit- in a Facebook post that it was a warm and friendly violence issue. (kasha.gov.in) and
said that the party is in elec- known for its “paan” nity kitchen, Ram Rasoi, tee meeting, the party marked the beginning of meeting. “It was just a creation of K a s h i P a s s
tion mode. and superior quality in Ayodhya to serve decided to resume the “Sneha Yatra” in the state. “It was a friendly meet- the media. Both the BJP (KashiDarshan), a uni-
Mr Venugopal said that “makhana”. devotees. yatra during the He also shared photos of ing... The BJP chief con- and the church have fied e-pass system. Both
despite the debacle in the “Lord Ram is the son- Meanwhile, Shri Ram Christmas season. his cordial meetings with veyed Prime Minister always maintained a cor- the digital projects were
recently concluded three state in-law of Mithila. We Janmabhoomi Teerth BJP state chief K. the church heads. Modi’s greetings to him. dial relationship,” he fur- unveiled by the Prime
Assembly elections, the will be honoured to send Kshetra Trust member Surendran visited However, the church They later had breakfast ther said. Minister during his
Congress vote bank is still him ‘paag’, ‘paan’ and Anil Mishra said the Cardinal George authorities and the BJP together,” K.S. Shaiju, the The objective of the recent visit to Varanasi.
intact. ‘makhana’ as offering trust will make special Alencherry, the former leadership were yet to party’s district president, yatra is to bring the The two solutions have
Mr Venugopal added: “We during the consecration arrangements for elder- head of the prominent make clear the topics of said. Christian community been developed by
are going to focus on the ceremony,” Kishore ly devotees. — PTI Syro Malabar Church, at discussion that came up When asked whether any closer to the party, BJP Odisha-based IT consult-
Parliament elections.” St. Thomas Mount in near- during the closed-door political issues ahead of sources said. — PTI ing company CSM Tech.

5 soldiers die in J&K Parl gives nod to bill on selection of CEC & ECs
■ Continued from Page 1 Thannamandi-Dera ki Gali- ■ Continued from Page 1 ed by the Prime Minister Participating in the When the bill came up In the event that there is CEC and ECs will be paid a
Dass and T.D. Bhaskarrav. Bufliaz road has been closed CrPC and the Evidence and comprising the debate, the BJD’s B. for consideration in the no Leader of the salary equal to that of a
However, the Army only con- and vehicular traffic to Act. Leader of the Opposition Mahtab said the primary Rajya Sabha earlier this Opposition in the Lower Supreme Court judge. A
firmed three deaths. Srinagar (via Mughal Road) Replying to debate in the in Lok Sabha and the focus should not be on the month, the government House, the leader of the new clause has been
A statement issued by the and Poonch has been diverted. Lok Sabha on the bill on Chief Justice of India, presence of the Chief had moved several amend- single largest Opposition inserted in the amended
Army at Nagrota (Jammu) “Since an encounter is under- the appointment of Chief will select the CEC and Justice of India in the ments against the back- party in the Lok Sabha bill to protect the CEC and
said: “At approximately 3.45 way in the Dera ki Gali area, Election Commissioner, ECs. search committee but on drop of protests by the will be deemed to be the ECs from court cases
pm on December 21, two Army all are informed to use BG- Mr Meghwal said the 1991 Mr Meghwal said the bill ensuring the independ- Opposition parties and LoP. while discharging their
vehicles carrying troops were Jara Wali Gali road to travel to Act on the service condi- is in consonance with the ence of the Election former CECs on various The selection panel will official duties. It states
moving to the operational site, Srinagar or Poonch,” a traffic tions of the CEC and ECs Supreme Court’s ruling Commission. “Amid all the provisions. have the power to consider that notwithstanding any-
which were fired upon by the police spokesman said. was a half-baked attempt and not against it. He said talks about democratic Once the amended bill even those not shortlisted thing contained in any
terrorists. The fire was imme- Police officials said the that left out the key the committee mentioned backsliding in India in cer- becomes law in the coming by the search committee. other law in force for the
diately retaliated upon by own attack on the Army vehicles aspects of appointments in the judgment was a tain forums, it is notable days, a search committee A vacancy will arise in the time being, no court shall
troops. In the ongoing opera- had taken place in the same and the present bill covers “stop-gap” arrangement. that nothing is being said headed by the law minis- poll panel when Election entertain or continue any
tion, own troops sustained 3 area where five Army person- such areas. Before the SC ruling, the about the lack of fairness ter and comprising two Commissioner Anup civil or criminal proceed-
fatal and 3 non-fatal casual- nel -- Naib Subedar Jaswinder The law minister also CEC and ECs were in the election process. Union secretaries will Chandra Pandey demits ings against any person
ties.” Singh, Naik Mandeep Singh rejected suggestions that appointed by the President Credit for this goes to the shortlist five names for office on February 14 next who is or was a CEC or an
The police sources said the and Sepoys Gajjan Singh, the proposed law was on the recommendation of Election Commission,” Mr consideration by the selec- year. He will retire on EC.
attackers believed to be Vaishakh H and Saraj Singh -- against the directions of the government. Mahtab said. tion committee for attaining the age of 65 and The new clause comes
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) were killed in an attack by mil- the Supreme Court, which Referring to points AIMIM MP Asaduddin appointment as the CEC days before the EC is likely against the backdrop of
cadres -- most probably itants on October 11. had asked the government raised by some members Owaisi opposed the bill and ECs. to announce the schedule the Telangana high court
Pakistani nationals -- targeted During this operation, two to put in place a law on the during the course of the calling it “arbitrary and The panel, headed by the for the Lok Sabha elec- order placing under sus-
a truck and a Gypsy of the more Army soldiers including appointments of the CEC debate, the minister said biased” and saying that Prime Minister and com- tions. pension a special sessions
Indian Army at Dhatyar Morh a JCO, Subedar Ajay Singh, and ECs. that, as per the doctrine of the EC will work under the prising a Union minister According to the amend- judge in connection with a
between Dera ki Gali and and Naik Harendra Singh lost Referring to the Supreme separation of powers, shadow of the Prime nominated by the Prime ed bill, the government “direction” given by him
Bufliaz under the jurisdiction their lives on October 16. The Court’s March order, Mr appointments to the poll Minister. “If voters start Minister and the Leader of has decided to retain the to police for registering an
of the Surankote police station duo had earlier gone missing Meghwal that the top panel come under the feeling like the EC is not the Opposition in the Lok status of the CEC and ECs FIR against CEC Rajiv
of Poonch. during the massive search court had said that till the domain of the executive impartial, the legitimacy Sabha, will select mem- on par with judges of the Kumar and several others,
A report from neighbouring operation that was carried out time a law is in place, a and the Prime Minister of our democracy comes bers of the Election Supreme Court. saying the judge acted in
Rajouri district said that the jointly by the Army and J&K three-member panel, head- has to be a part of it. into question,” he said. Commission. According to the bill, the “undue haste”.
reinforcements from the Army, police’s Special Operations
J&K police and the CRPF have Group in the Naar Khas Forest
been rushed to the area to take
on the fleeing militants. The
area of Poonch’s Mendhar
region.
Kejriwal skips ED’s 2nd summons in excise scam
INDIA takes out march ■ Continued from Page 1
AAP’s national convener”.
He said the fresh sum-
to the ruling dispensation
at the Centre to create sen-
sational news in the final
Slamming Mr Kejriwal,
Delhi BJP chief Virendra
Sachdeva said that it is
skipped the first summons
issued by the ED on
November 2, alleging the
The AAP supremo
stressed that he is “hold-
ing a sensitive constitu-
in the country, as well as
officially announced. To
my utter dismay and con-
■ Continued from Page 1 of authoritarianism.” mons, issued on December few months leading up to surprising to see that notice was illegal and tional post as an elected cern, I have received the
in all district headquarters “Our future generations will 18, should be revoked, the parliamentary elec- instead of appearing, he is politically motivated. leader and incumbent CM subject summons,” Mr
against the government’s not forgive us if we do not raise withdrawn and recalled. tions in early to mid-2024,” trying to garner public “Your summons appears of GNCTD”. Kejriwal said in his reply.
“immoral and illegal” behav- our voices against this dicta- “The timing of your sum- the reply read. sympathy by raising a to be fishing and roving In his reply, Mr Kejriwal Asserting that he is a
iour, the Leader of the torship, NOW!” he posted. mons leaves much to desire Defending Mr Kejriwal, debate on social media. inquiry. In similar circum- stressed that despite his law-abiding, conscientious
Opposition in Rajya Sabha Congress’ leader in Lok and strengthens my belief Delhi minister Atishi “If there was nothing stances, where individuals publicly known schedule and ordinary citizen of
said. Sabha Adhir Ranjan that the summons being alleged, “The ED couldn’t wrong with their liquor are neither informed of leaving for the the country, Mr Kejriwal
In a post on X after the protest Chowdhury, Congress general sent to me are not based find any evidence of policy, then why did the about the case details nor Vipassana meditation said he does not shirk
march, Mr Kharge said, “We, secretary K.C. Venugopal, upon any objective or wrongdoing despite raid- then deputy CM Manish the capacity in which they course, he received the ED away from complying with
the people of India need to Save National Conference’s Hasnain rational yardstick but for ing several locations linked Sisodia, now in jail, with- are being summoned, the summons on the eve of my any summons issued in
Democracy. Passing important Masoodi, JMM’s Mahua Maji, extraneous considerations to AAP leaders. After two drew the policy the high courts have declared departure. compliance with the law,
legislations by suspending Samajwadi Party’s S.T. Hasan at the behest of political years of investigation, not moment a CBI inquiry was such summons of the ED “My schedule was widely but the “summons are (I
Opposition MPs is not flanked Mr Kharge as he made rivals who wish to silence even a penny of ill-gotten ordered?” he said. invalid and quashed the published and largely cir- am advised) not in conso-
Democracy. It is the worst kind his remarks at Vijay Chowk. the voice of the Opposition money could be found.” The Delhi chief minister summons,” the reply said. culated all over the media nance with the law”.
 EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 5

Subhani

22 DECEMBER 2023

New criminal code rush

job, needed discussion
I
deally, this is a time when every Indian citizen should be rejoicing as
the three British-era laws that governed the administration of crimi-
nal justice in India — the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860; the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (originally enacted in 1898); and the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 — are being replaced by three new laws — the
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha
Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya (BS), 2023, respectively.
However, anyone who feels they have a stake in the survival of democracy
in this country hardly shares the enthusiasm of Union home minister
Amit Shah, who presented the bill in the Lok Sabha, despite the assur-
ances contained in his reply before the House adopted the three bills on
Wednesday.
The three laws are going to touch the lives of Indians for generations to
come. Every policeman and every legal professional in this country will be
migrating to the new codes and will serve the
What’s worse, the people with charges encrypted in them.
laws were passed However, it all happened too fast — the bills
were presented on August 11 this year and their
by voice vote in a revised versions were passed in four months.

Remittances at a new high, LETTERS

House from where The requests by the members of the Opposition
most of the in the parliamentary standing committee on
Opposition home affairs which is mandated to put the bills
under intense scrutiny for an extended time
members were period to study them were not heeded. The IT’S NOT OVER
forced to leave for home minister later announced that the bills he
raising a presented in August were being withdrawn and
legitimate new ones were being introduced with changes
demand suggested by domain experts and legal profes-
sionals. And in a couple of days, the Lok Sabha
adopted the bills.
The single most important flaw in the home minister’s approach is that
but there’s a dark side too Remittances entail medication, nutrition,
Donald Trump faced a
minor setback as a US
court ruled against his
eligibility to run for
he discounts the importance of Parliament as the country’s paramount housing and so on by mak- President in Colorado
law-making institution — laws are made and unmade there. The people Patralekha transaction costs. A ing big compromises”.
reduction in state. The Colorado
elect their representatives to the House so that their views and versions Remittances can be cost-
are reflected while making the laws. This is not because law-making does Chatterjee transaction cost ly to send; they entail Supreme Court refer-
not require the services of domain experts; it indeed does. But it is the peo- would mean more transaction costs. enced Trump’s involve-
ple’s representatives with knowledge of life at the grass-root level who Migration scholars like
money in the pockets ment in the 2021 US
make the exercise democratic. They understand the nuances of the law
when implemented on the ground much more than the experts. It is their
Dev 360 of families using the
Mr Khadria say that one
way of helping migrants Capitol attack in its rul-
contributions that make a law people-friendly. Discussions for a couple of formal channels. This and their families is to ing. The ruling doesn’t

I
days on the just over a thousand sections in the three bills — although ndia remains the rapid for immigrants than would have a bring down the cost of
most of them were replaced — are simply inadequate by any standard espe- world’s remittance for the native-born, such transactions to the apply outside Colorado.
multiplier effect on optimum level. “There
cially when the new laws incorporate subjects such as terrorism and the chart-topper. The experts say. Another rea-
the market. However, the President’s
rights of under-trials. good times, however, son for increased remit- must be mechanisms for
What’s worse, the laws were passed by voice vote in a House from where may not last forever. tances to India is the providing guarantees, 2024 campaign could
most of the Opposition members were forced to leave for raising a legiti- While the going is good, region’s relatively low securities and insurance face challenges if other
mate demand. The government has proved that its brute majority in the can we have a more round- remittance cost — around given the potential for a to the migrants’ remit- state courts adopt this
Lower House is more than enough to rush through all law-making exer- ed discussion on what this 4.3 per cent, which is 30 per further deterioration in tances that if something
cises and that it can afford to ignore the voice of the Opposition. The Chief means? cent lower than the global the war in Ukraine and the went wrong then there precedent. Republicans
Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, was recently on record for saying a First, the numbers. average of 6.2 per cent in conflict in the Middle East, would be some other slammed the order, with
democracy allows the majority to have its way but the minority has a right Remittance flows to South the second quarter of 2023. increased volatility in oil agency, maybe the govern-
to have a say. The government, however, appears to believe that all that Asia are estimated to have Traditionally, remit- prices and currency ment itself or other private Mr Trump stating his
matters is to have its way. A democratic approach indeed! grown 7.2 per cent in 2023 tances have come from the exchange rates, and a sector insurance agencies, intention to appeal to
to reach $189 billion, taper- Middle East but this sce- deeper-than-expected eco- to take care and provide the US Supreme Court
ing off from the over 12 per nario is changing. Now, nomic downturn in major security. This, I think, will
cent increase in 2022. The the remittances come not high-income countries…” create the trust that is an to reverse the decision.
spike is attributable huge- just from blue collar work- argued Dilip Ratha, lead essential ingredient -- trust N.J. Ravi Chander
Time to address Parl disarray ly to remittance flows to
India, which are expected
to reach $125 billion in
ers but also highly-skilled
Indians in countries like
the United States, Britain
economist and economic
adviser to the vice-presi-
dent of operations,
in the diaspora, in the
banking system, in the
government, in the
Bengaluru

T
he Vice-President who chairs the Rajya Sabha by dint of his high con- 2023, according to the and Singapore. These Multilateral Investment bureaucracy,” Mr Khadria
stitutional post has taken umbrage at the skylarking of a member of
the Opposition who mimicked him within the Parliament complex.
World
Migration
Bank’s latest
and
three countries account
for as much as 36 per cent
Guarantee Agency, World
Bank, in a recent blog.
argued
column.
in his EUROPEAN CRISIS
His anguish at the theatrical exhibition on the steps of the new Parliament Development Brief. of total remittance flows to There are other issues Mr Khadria says it is ESCALATED ATTACKS on oil
building also evoked much sympathy for him from the President, the India’s inward remit- India. There are also high- which scarcely feature in important to talk more shipments in the Red Sea by the
Prime Minister, and members of the ruling alliance in the Upper House. tances may account for er inflows from the Gulf the euphoric discourse about why and how this Yemen-based Houthi rebels would
While acerbic satire can seem very personal and spiteful to those mimic- only 3.4 per cent of the Cooperation Council around India’s stardom in cost reduction matters to adversely impact the global oil
ked in this manner, the background of the occurrence against a world country’s gross domestic (GCC), especially the the remittance inflow the migrants. So far, the price. After the recent attack on a
record number of expulsions of Opposition MPs from the Winter Session product (GDP) but it is the United Arab Emirates space. Along with the well- focus has been on the Norwegian vessel, leading ship-
must also be considered. The Parliament, like the Senate from the early highest recipient of remit- (UAE), which accounts for known pluses, what are “macro data in terms of ping companies had already ceased
days of the Roman Empire and the Athenian boule, has by its very nature tances globally. India is 18 per cent of India’s total some of the less-talked the volume of the remit- to transport oil through the Suez
historically pushed members into taking adversarial positions as they are followed by Mexico ($67 remittances, the second- about minuses surround- tances that are coming to Canal that amounts almost 15 per
compulsorily divided along partisan lines. billion) and China ($50 bil- largest after the US. ing the transfer of money the origin countries of cent of the global oil supply. The
Several Prime Ministers of the country have been insulted on the floor of lion) and currently There has also been from migrant workers to migrants”, but “if the price of Brent crude has already
the House. For instance, India’s first Prime Minister was even compared accounts for 66 per cent of another notable shift in their families back home? transaction cost in the for- increased by three per cent. This is
to “a constipated cockroach” in Parliament. And yet many of them, from all remittances to South the remittance space. Over In many public presenta- mal transfer channels the shortest maritime route
Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi to A.B. Vajpayee and Asia. This is part of a the last decade, there are tions and articles, Prof. were brought down, it between Europe and Asia. The
Manmohan Singh, have tolerated harsh words and the excessively agitat- broader picture — total far fewer blue-collar work- Binod Khadria, president would help the migrants alternative route through southern
ed state of Opposition members as a legitimate feature of democracy that remittances to low and ers from Kerala going to of Global Research Forum shun the informal chan- tip of the Africa would take at least
invites free and open debate and discussion in Parliament. middle-income countries the Middle East. That void on Diaspora & Trans- nels of the hawala market, 10 more days, adding more costs.
Amid the din, the mimicry episode has been highly distracting from the (LMICs) have been grow- is now being filled by such nationalism (GRFDT), an which may be offering ser- The region worst affected by this
triggers that led to stentorian expulsions of MPs who may not have done ing at an estimated 3.8 per workers from the Hindi Indian think tank with a vice at lower transaction incident would be the European
themselves proud in carrying placards into the House to make their point. cent in 2023. heartland — Uttar global scope, has drawn cost, and even unstated Union as manufacturers and retail-
Having been through this phase of extreme antagonistic positions post the Unsurprisingly, this is Pradesh and Bihar. Accor- attention to some of these guarantee of safe prac- ers are heavily dependent on this
intrusion into the “temple of democracy” by protesters, the time has come one global survey official ding to one recent study by “darker” issues around tice,” Mr Khadria said. route for imports from Asia.
for a bipartisan approach to the complexity of running Parliament ses- India is not contesting. A Huntr, a UAE-based orga- remittances. Alongside This makes eminent Arka Goswami
sions meaningfully in the democratic Indian ethos. statement by the Indian nisation, there has been a celebration of remittances, sense — a reduction in Durgapur, West Bengal
The censuring authority as well the worked-up Opposition members and government’s Press Infor- 50 per cent increase in the “we also need to talk about transaction cost would
their parties must seek common ground to resolve rather than exacerbate mation Bureau lauds India migration of blue-collar the negative side or the mean more money in the
the latest of standoffs that have tended to reduce Parliament to a house of
slanging matches and premises for the patented Indian habit of taking
for being the “global lea-
der” in the remittance
workers from India to the
GCC (Gulf Cooperation
darker side of remit-
tances”, he wrote in an
pockets of families using
the formal channels. This
ADVANI’S LESSON
offence at everything rather than consequential debate on the lives of 144 space and points out that Council) in the first seven October 2023 guest column would have a multiplier IN NEW INDIA, the BJP just doesn’t
crore Indians and how to better them. the country has been in months of 2023. for the Indian Council of effect on the market. want your votes; it also want to con-
the top position in terms of But being a global remit- World Affairs. What needs to change is trol what you eat, drink and think.
remittance inflows since tance chart-topper comes Mr Khadria, a former framing the remittance Victories in the three states which
2000, barring 2004, 2005 and with its own challenges professor of economics, story purely in terms of went to the polls are seen as an affir-
2007. and potential risks. Education & International what such cash flows mation of BJP actions. Therefore, the
The reasons behind the The World Bank report Migration, Jawaharlal mean to the country. What CMs of theses states have taken it
remittance success story flags a potential risk of a Nehru University, talks matters equally is the per- upon themselves to be the custodians
this year are well-known. decline in real income for about the need to unpack spective of the individuals of Indian culture and try to clear all
THE ASIAN AGE There has been a reason- migrants in 2024 due to the dynamics of remit- who slog away in distant foreign influences. The face of mili-
ably robust recovery of job global inflation and low tances. Remittances, he shores to help their fami- tant Hinduism L.K. Advani was
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR markets in the high-in- growth prospects. “In 2024, points out in his column, lies back home. apparently unwanted at the forth-
Editor Printer & Publisher
come countries of the remittance flows to LMICs “come from the income coming Ram Temple opening ceremo-
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at: Organisation for Econ- are expected to slow to 2.4 and wages that migrants The writer focuses on ny even though the RSS stalwarts
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: omic Co-operation and per cent, mostly reflecting earn and save in the coun- development issues in later made their excuses. Let this be a
(011) 23211124. Development (OECD), fol- a slowing of economic try of destination”. To India and emerging lesson to all those who think they will
Published and Printed on behalf of and for
lowing the onset of the growth in several high- maximise those savings, economies. She can be forever command the respect and
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New
Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301. Covid-19 pandemic and income countries. The “the migrant workers cut reached at adulation of the people.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. employment growth dur- risks to this forecast are into their basic minimum patralekha.chatterjee Anthony Henriques
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 ing the recovery was more tilted to the downside, needs of consumption, @gmail.com. Mumbai

I
t took 28 years of UN-sponsored climate unction that any initiative required consensus. intends to fire up its production levels in the these days, whereas they were ubiquitous
conferences for one of them to even COP28 was deemed a step forward in calling years to come. between the end of World War II and the 1980s.
acknowledge the primary source of the out fossil fuels, but precious little was specified Another petrostate will host the next COP, They didn’t achieve much, but nor have the
planet’s woes. That was enough for the cir- in terms of transcending them as the primary and doubts about whether these conferences climate conferences. Arguably, even the two
cus that concluded in Dubai a week ago to be source of energy. The requisite sound and fury serve any useful purpose have steadily been exceptions of some consequence, Kyoto and
hailed as a landmark. were absent from the ‘UAE consensus’, which mounting. More than 2,400 fossil fuel lobbyists Paris, have simply been ignored by those who
It has been patently obvious for decades that effectively signifies nothing. The worst pol- were accredited to the farce in Dubai, an expo- didn’t particularly care for their injunctions.
Mahir Ali fossil fuels are the chief culprits in global
warming. Reports prepared for some of the
luters can step up their activities without vio-
lating the meaningless Dubai injunction.
nentially higher figure than their numbers in
Glasgow and Sharm el-Sheikh. The numbers in
There is absolutely no reason to expect that the
UN climate conference process will ever yield
biggest offenders pointed this out as far back as That was apparently the intention. The Baku may be even higher. They needn’t worry anything resembling a practical road map for
the 1950s. They were covered up, obviously. choice of the Emirati petrostate as the next con- too much, though — the biggest polluters will edging away from the impending apocalypse.
And varieties of greenwashing have been the ference host at the conclusion of COP27 in make sure that next to nothing is agreed that We live in a capitalist world where profits
Weasel words: norm since the world woke up to the challenge
30 years later.
Much attention has been focused lately on the
Egypt occasioned plenty of dark humour even
before the UAE picked Sultan al-Jaber, the
head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
just might salvage the planet. And even if by
some miracle a consensus were to be achieved
on phasing out fossil fuels, it would mean very
will always matter far more than common
sense, even if they pave the path to the end of
the world — which appears to be precisely

COP28 another Swiss cheese of loopholes that accompany the

bland wish to ‘transition away’ from coal, oil
and gas as the sources of most of the globe’s
as its president. The UAE hired leading PR
agencies to transform the narrative.
It was only partially successful, particularly
little without an enforcement mechanism —
which doesn’t exist. Sure, Saudi output, for
instance, would be set back if all other nations
what is in store. What will today’s politicians
and economists say to future generations?
Sorry that in the hottest year on record we par-
energy. This kind of wishful thinking might once it was alleged that al-Jaber was keen on stopped buying its oil. But, seriously, what are tied in Dubai, and did almost nothing to shift
milestone on the have meant something if the turning point had
been recognised three decades ago, and efforts
launched to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
using COP28 as a platform for negotiating
lucrative oil deals. And that he doubted the sci-
ence behind decreeing fossil fuels as the chief
the chances?
After all, as George Monbiot points out,
“more carbon dioxide from fossil fuels has been
our planet’s orbit away from the path to
Armageddon?
Part of the reason why the UN climate confer-

highway to hell Meaningful investments in solar and wind

energy, if launched as recently as the 1980s-90s,
could have made a huge difference to Earth’s
hurdle to achieving net zero emissions. He
pushed back against those media reports,
acknowledging that the phase-out of fossil fuels
released worldwide” since 1992, when climate
negotiations began, than in all of human histo-
ry. He compares the oil and gas lobbyists’ pres-
ences are such a cruel farce is that they raise
hopes that are then brutally dashed — shortly
afterwards, if not there and then. That climate
fate. It was not to be. The COPs since then have was essential to cooling the Earth. But after the ence in Dubai to “allowing weapons manufac- is unlikely to change.
been reluctant to spell out the source of the conference concluded, he returned to his job at turers to dominate a peace conference”. Mind
world’s woes, partly courtesy of the Saudi inj- the helm of the oil company, which reportedly you, one hardly hears of a peace conference — By arrangement with Dawn
 WORLD
THE ASIAN AGE | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023 | NEW DELHI
pg 6

SHORT TAKES RED SEA

BOTTLENECK
EXPORTERS ARE SCRAMBLING TO FIND
ALTERNATIVE AIR, LAND AND OCEAN
ROUTES TO ENSURE SUPPLY CHAINS
5-15 TIMES more costs
roughly if goods moved by
air than by sea.
Wildcat Channel tunnel strike
OZ FISHERMAN’S
MH370 FRAGMENT
EXPORTERS EXPLORE
CARGO FLIGHTS
REACH RETAILERS.

NOV. 19: Date when 90 days 10% hits France & UK rail services
of global GDP is Paris, Dec. 21: The train ● THE UNANNOUNCED tickets free of charge or
Houthi militants Prepare for Red
FIND IGNORED stepped up attacks Sea disruptions,
the representa-
tion of moving
30 days:
company Eurostar can-
celed all services to and
strike triggered by what
Eurotunnel staff said was
claim a refund.”
Eurostar and
Canberra, Dec. 21: A seasoned on vessels in the Red advice of Alan Additional tran- from London starting at Eurotunnel are two sepa-
fisherman claimed that he Sea to show support goods between sit time roughly noon Thursday and “until an insufficient bonus rate companies.
Baer, CEO, OL Europe, the
stumbled upon a big fragment for Hamas during if ships divert- further notice” due to a caused outrage and disar- Union representatives at
USA to shipping
of the missing Malaysia Airli- Israel’s military Middle East ed around wildcat strike by staff at ray in train stations as Eurotunnel’s French site
and logistics
nes plane MH370 off the South offensive in and Asia. Africa. Eurotunnel, which links travelers on both sides of rejected a 1,000-euro
Australian coast. Retired fishe- clients. Britain and the European ($1,100) end-of-year bonus,
Gaza. the English Channel tried
rman Kit Olver disclosed that continent. to join families and and went on strike to
he found a wing of the comme- The attacks have disrupted a key trade The unannounced strike friends for the Christmas press a demand to have it
vessels sail through
rcial liner in September or Oc-
tober of 2014, just months after
the disappearance. He des-
route linking Europe and North America
with Asia via the Suez Canal.
35,000 the Red Sea region
annually.
triggered by what
Eurotunnel staff said was
an insufficient bonus
holidays tripled, Eurotunnel said.
That ‘has resulted in the
complete interruption of
cribed it as a “significant wing caused outrage and disar- said on X, formerly service and the closure of
of a large jet airliner,” surpass- ray in train stations as Twitter. our terminals in France

Israel hits Gaza harder

ing the size of a private plane. travelers on both sides of “We are closely monitor- and the UK,” the
Authorities, however, reported- the English Channel tried ing the situation as it Eurotunnel statement
ly ignored his discovery. to join families and evolves and, our teams are said.
friends for the Christmas currently working to min- It said the company was
holidays. imise the impact on our “working to restore the
COMPENSATION: French transport minis- customers,” a brief state- situation” with unions.

as truce talks intensify

ter Clement Beaune called ment from Eurostar said. Tim Kelsey, of Oxford,
JAPAN PROTESTS the stoppage “unaccept-
able”.
“Customers affected will
receive direct communi-
was among victims of the
strike, stranded at Paris’
S. KOREA RULING “A solution must be
found immediately,” he
cation about their journey
and can exchange their
Gare du Nord train sta-
tion. — AP
Seoul, Tokyo, Dec. 21: South
Korea’s Supreme Court on Th- No functional hospitals left in northern Gaza, says WHO
Biden says it’s self-evident
ursday upheld rulings ordering
two Japanese companies to co- Cairo, Gaza, Jerusalem,
mpensate South Koreans who
were forced to work under Jap-
Geneva, Dec. 21: Fighting
in the Gaza Strip escalated
11 UNARMED
an’s 1910-1945 occupation. on Thursday with what PALESTINIANS
Japan’s chief Cabinet secre-
tary Yoshimasa Hayashi said
the ruling upholding orders for
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
residents described as
some of the most intense
Israeli bombardment of
the war, even as the enem-
KILLED, SAYS UN Trump is insurrectionist
7011.T and Nippon Steel Corp ies held what Washington Jerusalem, Dec. 21: The Milwaukee, Dec. 21: Pre-
5401.T to compensate violated a
1965 treaty. “This is a clear vio-
called “very serious discu-
ssions” on a new truce.
United Nations human ri-
ghts office said it had re-
sident Joe Biden said it’s
“self-evident” that Donald
DONALD: DIDN’T READ ‘MEIN KAMPF’
lation of the Japan-South Kor- Meanwhile, the World ceived reports that Israeli Trump is an insurrection- Waterloo, Dec. 21: US ex-
ea Claims Agreement, and is Health Organisation said troops “summarily killed” ist for trying to overturn president Donald Trump,
extremely regrettable and abs- on Thursday that there at least 11 unarmed Pales- his 2020 election loss but who has come under sha-
olutely unacceptable,” Hayashi are no longer any functio- tinians in a possible war stopped short of commen- rp criticism for attacks on
told reporters. nal hospitals in the north crime in Gaza. ting on a Colorado legal immigrants which some
of the Gaza Strip while The OHCHR office in the case that would bar him say hark back to Nazi phi-
describing “unbearable” Palestinians check the rubble following Israeli bom- West Bank city of Ramal- from the state’s ballot. losophy, says he’s never
TEXAS BEGINS scenes of largely abando-
ned patients begging for
bardment in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on
Thursday. — AFP
lah said the killings were
alleged to have been carri-
The Democratic preside-
nt made the comments ab-
read Adolf Hitler’s mani-
festo “Mein Kampf.” But
FLYING MIGRANTS food and water.
The UN health agency discussing a new truce to The talks appear to be
ed out in the Rimal neigh-
bourhood of Gaza City
out his likely Republican
opponent in next year’s el-
he did not hesitate into
doubling down on his
TO CHICAGO said it had led missions to
two badly damaged hospi-
release some of the more
than 100 hostages still
the most serious since a
week-long truce collapsed
this week.
It said on Wednesday it
ection shortly after landi-
ng in Milwaukee for an
inflammatory language.
“It’s true that they’re Donald Trump
Austin, Dec. 21: Texas began tals, Al-Shifa and Al-Ahli, held by Hamas militants at the start of the month, had received “disturbing event focused on the econ- destroying the blood of
flying migrants from the US- in the north of the who stormed Israeli towns but the public positions of information alleging that omy. our country. That’s what ing a firestorm of critici-
Mexico border to Chicago on Palestinian territory. on a killing spree on Oct. the opposing sides are far the Israeli Army summar- “Whether the 14th they’re doing — they’re sm, with a White House
Wednesday, a week after the “Our staff are running 7. At the same time, the apart. Israel says it will ily killed at least 11 una- Amendment applies or destroying our country,” spokesman accusing him
city took a tougher stance on out of words to describe UN Security Council is negotiate only on a tempo- rmed Palestinian men”. not, we’ll let the court Trump said in Iowa. of “echoing the grotesque
the buses that Republican Gov. the beyond catastrophic working on a new plan to rary pause in fighting to The incident “raises ala- make that decision,” Bid- The 77-year-old Trump rhetoric of fascists and vi-
Greg Abbott has been sending situation facing remain- ramp up aid. free hostages; Hamas says rm about the possible co- en told reporters on the made similar comments olent white supremacis-
north since last year. ing patients and health Ismail Haniyeh, leader it is interested only in mmission of a war cri- tarmac after stepping off over the weekend, spark- ts.” . — AFP
The first flight of 120 migra- workers,” said Richard of Hamas was in Egypt for negotiations that will lead me”, it said, adding the Air Force One.
nts arrived in the afternoon, Peeperkorn, the WHO rep- a second day on Thursday to a permanent end to men were killed in front of “But he certainly suppo-
according to Abbott’s office. resentative for the occu- for negotiations, a rare pe- fighting. their family members. rted an insurrection. The- in yesterday, that immigr- after the Colorado Supre-
The governor directed state pied Palestinian territory. rsonal intervention which “These are very serious The report said troops re’s no question about it. ants are polluting our blo- me Court issued a deci-
officials to begin busing migra- Diplomatic efforts have in the past has signalled discussions and negotiati- also ordered women and None. Zero. And he seems od," Biden said in a speech sion declaring that Trump
nts to Democratic-led cities sta- been ramped up in the diplomacy. Islamic Jihad, ons, and we hope that they children into a room “and to be doubling down on at the Wisconsin Black is ineligible to serve as
rting in April 2022. Over 80,000 final weeks of the year to another militant group, lead somewhere,” White either shot at them or it.” Biden also criticised Chamber of Commerce. president under Section 3
migrants have since been relo- stave off humanitarian said its leader was also House spokesperson John threw a grenade into the Trump for his recent com- “The economy and our of the 14th Amendment.
cated through the effort as part catastrophe. The sides are headed there. Kirby said. — Agencies room.” — AFP ments that migrants were nation are stronger when It’s the first time in the
of Abbott’s mission. “poisoning the blood” of we tap into the full range country’s history that the
the country. of talents in this nation.” provision has been used to
MISCALCULATION
Missing Indian student
“I don’t believe, as the Biden’s trip to keep a candidate off the
DEREGULATE former president said aga- Wisconsin came the day ballot. — AP

ECONOMY, SAYS IN SCS TO ELICIT

ARGENTINE PREZ
Buenos Aires, Dec. 21:
RESPONSE: CHINA
Beijing, Manila, Dec. 21: found dead in Britain Swap: Maduro ally
Argentina’s new leader Javier
Milei unveiled on Wednesday a
series of measures to deregu-
late the country’s struggling
Chinese foreign minis-
ter Wang Yi warned the
Philippines that any
miscalculation in their
London, Dec. 21: The UK’s
Metropolitan Police are
on Thursday appealing for
FBI OFFERS $10,000 FOR INFO ON for 10 US prisoners
economy, eliminating or chang-
ing more than 300 rules via
escalating dispute in the
South China Sea would
information to piece
together the last move-
INDIAN STUDENT MISSING SINCE ’19 Miami, Dec. 21: The
United States freed a close
er. The largest release of
American prisoners in
presidential decree, including bring a resolute respon- ments of Gurashman Sin- New York, Dec. 21: The “colourful pyjama pants ally of Venezuelan Presi- Venezuela’s history com-
on rent and labour practices. se, and urged dialogue to gh Bhatia, a missing Ind- FBI is offering a reward of and a black T-shirt.” dent Nicolás Maduro in es weeks after the Biden
Subsequently, thousands of address “serious diffi- ian student whose body up to $10,000 for informat- Her family reported her exchange for the release administration agreed to
people converged on the streets culties” between the two was found by police divers ion about an Indian stud- missing to police on May of 10 Americans impriso- suspend some sanctions, Vladimir Putin
near the Congress to voice the- neighbours. in a lake in Canary Wharf ent who went missing 1, 2019. The FBI Newark ned in the South Ameri- following a commitment
ir discontent. Protesters bang-
ed pots and pans, climbed gates
Beijing and Manila
have traded accusations
area of east London.
The Met Police said the
from New Jersey four yea-
rs ago. Mayushi Bhagat
Field Office and the Jers-
ey City Police Department
can country and the ex-
tradition of a fugitive
by Maduro and an opposi-
tion faction to work tow- RESPONSE IF EU
and waved the national flag. in recent months over a 23-year-old had been repo- was last seen leaving her are seeking the public’s defence contractor known ard free and fair conditi-
“I am here because I am terri-
fied by the decree,” said Nicol-
succession of run-ins in
the South China Sea,
rted missing after a night
out with friends last Thu-
apartment in Jersey City
on April 29, 2019, wearing
help in solving Bhagat’s
disappearance. — PTI
as “Fat Leonard” who is
at the centre of a massive
ons for the 2024 presiden-
tial election.
USES RUSSIAN
as Waiselbaum, a teacher. including charges that
China rammed a ship
rsday, December 14. Offic-
ers went on to carry out
Pentagon bribery scand-
al, officials said.
The release of Alex
Saab, a Maduro associate
FROZEN ASSETS
earlier this month carry- “extensive enquiries”, in- area and a body believed is nothing to suggest it The deal represents the who was arrested on a US Moscow, Dec. 21: Russia
PAK PARTIES FOR ing the Philippine arm-
ed forces chief of staff.
cluding viewing CCTV,
speaking to witnesses and
to be that of Bhatia was
recovered by police divers
was suspicious, we will
ensure our probe is as
US government’s boldest
bid to improve relations
warrant for money laund-
ering in 2020 and long re-
on Thursday promised
to respond in kind sh-
MORE TIME TO China in turn has acc-
used the Philippines of
analysing phone and fina-
ncial data.
in the water in South
Quay. “Gurashman’s dea-
thorough as possible to
confirm this,” said detec-
with the major oil-produ-
cing nation and extract
garded as a criminal trop-
hy by US, is a significant
ould the European Uni-
on go ahead with a plan
FILE NOMINATION trespassing on its territ-
ory. The souring of rela-
Water searches were
also carried out in the
th is being treated as une-
xpected, and while there
tive chief superintendent
James Conway. — PTI
concessions from the self-
proclaimed socialist lead-
concession to the Venezu-
elan leader. — AP
to ringfence profits gen-
erated from Russia’s fro-
Islamabad, Dec. 21: Major tions coincides with zen assets in the EU and
Pakistani political parties, incl- Manila’s moves to boost hand them to Ukraine.

Kim warns of ‘N-attack’ if ‘provoked’

uding the PML-N led by former military ties with Japan The EU is proposing to
prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and the United States, its use the income generat-
sought extensions on Thursday former colonial power ed from around $300 bil-
to file nomination papers for and defence ally of lion of funds from Russ-
the upcoming February 8 gen- seven decades. ian central bank reserv-
eral elections, saying they need “China-Philippines rel- Seoul, Dec. 21: North Ko- meeting between South on the United States or Central News Agency said preconditions”. es — frozen in February
more time to complete the ations are at a crossroa- rean leader Kim Jong Un Korea and the US last South Korea would result on Thursday. The three countries have 2022 to put pressure on
“time-consuming exercise.” ds,” Wang told his Phil- warned Pyongyang will week in Washington, whe- in the end of the North Washington, Seoul and ramped up defence cooper- Moscow to withdraw the
According to the schedule ippine counterpart Enri- not hesitate to launch a re they discussed nuclear Korean regime. Tokyo released a state- ation in the face of a armed forces sent into
issued by the Election Commi- que Manalo in a call on nuclear attack if “provok- deterrence in the event of But Kim told his mili- ment shortly afterwards, record-breaking series of Ukraine — and collect
ssion of Pakistan (ECP), poten- Wednesday, according to ed with nukes”, state med- conflict with the North. tary’s missile bureau “not urging the nuclear-armed weapons tests by Pyon- around $16 billion.
tial candidates are required to a Chinese foreign min- ia said on Thursday, while The meeting’s agenda in- to hesitate (launching) North Korea to “stop con- gyang this year, and on “We also have enough
file nomination papers from istry statement. A min- Seoul and its allies called cluded “nuclear and strat- even a nuclear attack ducting further provoca- Tuesday activated a sys- assets that are frozen
December 20 to 22. The top elec- istry spokesperson said for “dialogue without pre- egic planning”, and the al- when the enemy provokes tions and accept our call tem to share real-time data here, in type-C accoun-
tion body began accepting Manalo had requested conditions”. lies reiterated that any nu- it with nukes,” Pyongya- for engaging in substan- on North Korean missile ts,” finance minister
nomination papers from the call. — Reuters Kim’s warning follows a clear attack by Pyongyang ng’s official Korean tive dialogue without any launches. — AFP Anton Siluanov said in
prospective candidates on an interview on the Rus-
Wednesday. sia 24 TV channel. “The
COPYRIGHT | INFRINGEMENT Companies misused books to train ChatGPT, AI software models figures are not small, the
income from using these
IMRAN PLEA IN funds is substantial and

Pulitzer winners join OpenAI, Microsoft suit

can certainly also be
TOSHAKHANA used if a decision is
made by our unfriendly
CASE DISMISSED partners,” he said.
Western sanctions and
Islamabad, Dec. 21: A high San Francisco, Dec. 21: A — told the court on Tue- filed on Monday said that Russian countermeasur-
court in Pakistan on Thursday group of 11 nonfiction sday that the companies OpenAI “scraped” the aut- es have stranded assets
dismissed Imran Khan’s plea authors have joined a law- infringed their copyrights hors’ works along with re- on both sides.
seeking suspension of the trial suit in Manhattan federal by using their work to tra- ams of other copyrighted Prosecutors in Germa-
court’s verdict in the Toshakh- court that accuses OpenAI in OpenAI’s GPT large lan- material from the internet ny said they were apply-
ana corruption case, in a fresh and Microsoft of misusing guage models. without permission to tea- ing to confiscate more
setback to the jailed former books the authors have Representatives for Ope- ch its GPT models how to than 720 million euros
prime minister whose partici- written to train the models nAI and Microsoft did not respond to human text pr- ($790 million) from a Ru-
pation in the February 8 gener- behind OpenAI’s popular immediately respond to ompts. ssian financial instituti-
al elections is now uncertain. chatbot ChatGPT and oth- requests for comment. The suit said that Mic- on’s Frankfurt bank acc-
On August 5, the ex-prime er artificial-intelligence “The defendants are rak- rosoft has been “deeply ount. The institution
minister was convicted by the based software. ing in billions from their Taylor Branch Stacy Schiff Kai Bird involved” in training and was the National Settle-
Islamabad-based trial court in The writers, including unauthorised use of nonfi- developing the models and ment Depository, the do-
the Toshakhana case which Pulitzer Prize winners Ta- ction books, and the auth- ncton first filed the propo- Franzen against OpenAI enAI to also name Micro- is also liable for copyright mestic payments agent
was about the concealment of ylor Branch, Stacy Schiff ors of these books deserve sed class-action lawsuit and other tech companies soft as a defendant. The infringement. The authors owned by Moscow Exch-
details of state gifts. and Kai Bird — who co- fair compensation and tre- last month. It is one of sev- over the alleged misuse of tech giant has invested bil- asked the court for an ange MOEX.MM, which
The verdict meant the found- wrote the J. Robert Oppen- atment for it,” the writers’ eral that have been brou- their work in AI training. lions of dollars in the arti- unspecified amount of plays an important role
ing chairman of the Pakistan heimer biography “Ameri- attorney Rohit Nath said ght by groups of copyright The companies have den- ficial intelligence startup monetary damages and an in Russia’s financial sys-
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party can Prometheus” that was on Wednesday. owners, including authors ied the allegations. and integrated OpenAI’s order for the companies to tem as a key intermedi-
was disqualified from contest- adapted into the hit film Writer and Hollywood John Grisham, George Sancton’s was the first systems into its products. stop infringing their copy- ary with international
ing elections for five years. “Oppenheimer” this year Reporter editor Julian Sa- R.R. Martin and Jonathan author lawsuit against Op- The amended complaint rights. — Reuters markets. — Reuters
 NEW DELHI | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023
pg 7

RBI allows banks Office space got 58% investments, warehousing secured 23%
quick to tokenise cards
APARTMENT
SALES IN SEVEN
CITIES TO RISE PE investors pump in
BITES for customers BY 20% IN 2024
New Delhi, Dec. 21:
Sales of apartments
$3 billion in real estate
INDICATORS % FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, DEC. 21
across seven major
cities are estimated to SANGEETHA G ada have curbed inves-
Sensex 70,865.10 0.51 rise by 20 per cent to CHENNAI, DEC. 21 ● INDIA’S tment activities from US
Nifty 50 21,255.00 0.50 The Reserve Bank of around 2.6 lakh units, resilience and and Canada. PE invest-
India (RBI) has enabled the highest since 2008, The Indian real estate economics of real ments from Singapore
S&P 500* 4,738.73 0.86 have significantly moved
card-on-file tokenisation on better demand, market received private estate assets are
Dollar (`) 83.27 -0.09 (CoFT) through card issu- according to JLL India. equity (PE) investments of anticipated to up from 31 per cent in 2022
Pound Sterling (`) 105.19 0.25 ing banks or institutions Sales stood at 2,15,621 $3 billion from 23 deals in to 53 per cent in 2023.
spark resurgence The increased attention
to provide cardholders units in the last calen- the calendar year 2023.
Euro (`) 91.14 0.07 with an additional choice dar year in Delhi-NCR, Office space led the in PE investment from Asian PE funds, par-
Gold (10gm)* (`) 62,491▲76 0.12 to tokenise their cards for Mumbai, Chennai, investments with 58 per activities within ticularly amid the impact
multiple merchant sites Kolkata, Hyderabad, cent, followed by ware- the sector. on investments from west-
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 78.32 -1.73 through a single process. Bengaluru and Pune. housing at 23 per cent, and ern countries, could sig-
IN 10-Yr bond yield 7.184 0.013 So far card tokenisation Real estate consultant residential properties at that of 2023. Before the The retail sector, which nal a positive shift for the
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 3.884 0.007 services were provided by additional factor authen- JLL India on Thursday 19 per cent. Despite the pandemic, the sector had had garnered $303 million Indian PE market. As
card issuers and card net- tication validation (AFA). said sales in the first high share, PE invest- seen investment going up last year, did not witness global challenges subside,
* As of 8:30 PM IST works at merchant web- “If the cardholder selects nine months of 2023 ments in the office sector to $6.5 billion. any PE deals in 2023. India’s resilience and the
sites or at the time of pur- multiple merchants for reached 1,96,227 units declined by 29 per cent Almost 82 per cent of the Mumbai garnered $1.6 bn, favourable economics of
chase. which to tokenise his/her as against 1,61,575 units against 2022. investments in the resi- the Delhi NCR $835 mn real estate assets are
Tokenisation is the card, AFA validation may in the year-ago period. The realty market raised dential sector were made and Bengaluru $347 mn. anticipated to spark a
Pocket FM sets process of replacing a
card’s 16-digit number on
be combined for all these
merchants,” said the
Only apartments are
covered in the report
$3.024 billion this year,
which is 44 per cent less
by foreign private equity
players. Investments in
Global geopolitical unce-
rtainties and high interest
resurgence in PE invest-
ment activities within the
aside `250 crore the plastic card with a
unique alternate card
Reserve Bank.
The tokens thus generat-
while row houses, vil-
las, and plotted develop-
than $5.3 billion last year.
In the pandemic-hit 2021,
the warehousing segment
at $684 mn, marked a
rate environment with
multiple rate hikes from
sector, said Shishir Baijal,
chairman and managing

for writers number, or ‘Token’ which

shall be unique for a com-
bination of card, token
ed shall be made available
on the merchant’s pay-
ment page, in the card-
ments are excluded.
Mumbai includes Mum-
bai city, Mumbai sub-
the sector had raised $6.1
billion, which is double
decline from the $1.9 bn in
2022.
the US Federal Reserve
and Central Bank of Can-
director, Knight Frank
India.
Audio entertainment app
requestor and device. holder’s account with the urbs, Thane and Navi
Pocket FM on Thursday said it
The token hides the true merchant. The cardholder Mumbai.
has set aside `250 crore for
writers on its platform in 2024.
The company said that the top
10 writers on its platform were
able to earn over `2 crore dur-
details of your card, so
that in case a data leak
happens from the mer-
chant website, the hacker
may tokenise the card
anytime.
“The card token so
issued may be either by
In 2024, the consultant
expects residential
sales to be around
2,90,000 to 3,00,000 units
Hospital chains shift focus to smaller cities
cannot misuse the card. the card network or the on the back of robust Bengaluru, Dec. 21: India’s ● PATIENTS ARE showing a the study said.
ing the current year. Pocket
Tokens can be used for issuer or both,” said the demand and quality prominent hospital chains “Bringing services clos-
FM co-founder and CEO Rohan
online transactions, Reserve Bank of India. launches. are shifting their focus to preference for specialised, er to customers is driven
Nayak said that the audio accessible amenities in the
mobile point-of-sale trans- “Card-on-file tokenisa- “Despite the increase smaller centres and facili- by the economies of scale,
series as a category has been post-Covid era. Indian
actions or in-app transac- tion process poses mini- in home loan interest ties as they chase growth which best works up to a
instrumental for writers, enab- healthcare market is expected
tions. mal challenges for issuer rates and rising prices, in the booming healthcare sizing of 300-350 beds,”
ling them to share their stories
This token contains no banks, as most of them the overall sentiment in market while coping with to grow nearly three-fold to said Saurabh Mehrotra,
with millions across the world.
personal information that can leverage the existing the housing market higher real estate costs $458 billion in 2030. executive director, valua-
can be directly accessed unified payment frame- remains positive, with and a dearth of land space tion and advisory at
and keeps changing mak- work for token creation. homebuyers maintain- in its cities. with 600-700 beds anymore sperson at children’s-hos- Knight Frank India.
ing it the most secure Tokenisation adds an ing an upbeat attitude Patients are showing a as you have to be catering pital chain Rainbow. Fortis is relying on
method to complete pay- extra layer of protection towards purchasing. preference for specialised- to a micro market,” India has 1.3 beds per “brownfield” sites, or land
ments. to card credentials, mak- “In 2023, residential but-accessible amenities Temasek-owned Manipal’s 1,000 people. WHO recom- that has previously been
The central bank had ing it essential for every sales are expected to in the post-Covid era. managing director and mended ratio is 3 per built on, while expanding,
Generation of CoF tokens cardholder to utilise this surpass 2.6 lakh units The Indian healthcare chief executive officer 1,000, indicating India ne- Fortis managing director
for a card through the feature to safeguard their and launches 2.8 lakh market, which, according Dilip Jose said. eds 2.4 million additional and chief executive Ashu-
card issuer. data, which would other- units to reach a historic to forecasts by global con- It plans to focus on units beds, a study by property tosh Raghuvanshi said.
Now, it can be enabled wise be vulnerable during high post-2008,” said sulting firms Boston with 250-325 beds. consultancy Knight Frank Manipal will rely on the
through mobile and inter- card transactions,” Samantak Das, chief Consulting Group and B “Metro Indian cities are and Berkadia showed. “smaller is better” formu-
net banking channels. explained Rahul Jain, economist and head of Capital, is expected to large and the traffic is It needs an additional 2 la while expanding in met-
CoFT generation should chief financial officer of research, India at JLL. grow nearly three-fold to making it difficult for peo- billion square feet of ros and Tier 2 cities, CEO
be done on explicit cus- NTT Data Payment — PTI $458 billion in 2030. ple for travel to one large healthcare space to cater Jose said.
Ashok Leyland tomer consent, and with Services India. “We don't build facilities hospital,” said a spoke- to its 1.42 billion people, — Reuters

gets TN order
for 552 buses Shipping sector charter rates to see moderation Cancer, cardiovascular
Ashok Leyland has bagged an
order to supply 552 buses from
Tamil Nadu state transport cor-
poration. The ultra-low entry
SANGEETHA G
CHENNAI, DEC. 21

Domestic shipping compa-

last fiscal, as global uncer-
tainties caused by Covid-
19 followed by geopolitical
conflicts ease. Expecting
● RATES FOR for crude
oil and petroleum
product tankers will be
growth in the last fiscal.
The volatile growth can
be attributed to the char-
ter rates which had surged
by better fleet utilisation
given higher tonne-mile
demand due to changes in
trade routes following the
ailments lead claims
FC BANKING BUREAU
buses would be used for public nies are likely to see a the current trend in global supported by growing last fiscal because of Russia-Ukraine conflict. MUMBAI, DEC. 21
transport, the company said. moderation in their rev- trade to continue, charter imports by China and geopolitical conflicts, Capacity addition for
“This order reinforces our dedi- enue losses next year as rates could further moder- India as well as by bet- including the Russia- tankers is expected to Non-communicable dis-
cation to creating very efficient the charter rates, which ate next year, but will ter fleet utilisation due Ukraine war, and higher remain limited given the eases such as cardiovascu-
and technologically advanced had shot up last year, con- remain higher than the to changes in routes. demand from China post- decadal-low order book lar disease and cancer are
products that exceed our cus- tinue to normalise. pre-pandemic level, sup- pandemic. and this will keep charter currently the leading
tomer expectations,” Ashok “We are seeing charter ported by buoyant tonne- Charter rates for crude rates much higher than causes of medical claims
Leyland managing director and rates for crude and prod- mile demand and limited In the current fiscal, rev- oil and petroleum product the pre-pandemic level of in India, according to
chief executive officer Shenu uct tankers correcting 20- new fleet deliveries,” said enues have registered a tankers will be supported $15,000-25,000 per day. According to a new report
Agarwal said. 25 per cent this fiscal from Anuj Sethi, senior direc- fall of 23-25 per cent this by growing imports by Domestic shipping fleet by leading health and ben-
the average of $50,000/day tor, Crisil Ratings. fiscal, after the 35 per cent China and India as well as is dominated by tankers. efits consultancy Mercer wearable devices, and
Marsh Benefits. remote patient monitor-
It also expects employer- ing – are contributing to

Tata Harrier, Safari get first

sponsored health insur- improved accessibility
Mahindra arm in COTTON OUTPUT ance costs in India to rise
by 11 per cent in 2024 – up
and affordability for both
employees and organisa-
pact with Attero LIKELY TO TOUCH from 9.6 per cent in 2023 –
marking a return to pre-
tions.
Already, 50 per cent of

for recycling
Mahindra Last Mile Mobility
294 LAKH BALES,
ESTIMATES CAI
Bharat-NCAP 5-star rating pandemic levels.
The report, which ques-
tioned 223 insurers across
58 countries, analysed the
insurers surveyed across
Asia including India are
already using these tools
to deliver greater pro-
has tied up with lithium-ion MICHAEL GONSAVES Land Rover’s D8 platform. key trends shaping the gramme efficiencies for
battery recycling as well as e- Mumbai, Dec. 21: Cotton PUNE, DEC. 21 The Harrier and Safari future of employer-pro- their clients.
waste management firm Attero. production may touch come equipped with 6 vided healthcare globally. Further, about 70 per
The collaboration, focused on
effective EV battery recycling,
INDIA AGRICULTURE 294.1 lakh bales in the
2023-24 season due to
Tata Motors said its SUVs
Safari and Harrier
airbags and ESC as stan-
dard across all variants.
According to the report,
plan improvements and
cent of insurers surveyed
globally expect the future
lower yields in most grow- became the first cars in The SUVs also get 3-point delivering increasingly use of artificial intelli-
in an effort to tackle concerns
linked to electric vehicle bat- EXPORTS TO REACH ing regions, according to
the Cotton Association of
India to receive a Bharat-
NCAP 5-star rating for
seat belts in all rows, seat
belt reminders for all pas-
sought after ailment and
demography specific
gence for first-line diagno-
sis to have a transforma-
tery disposal. “Teaming up with
Attero for Li-ion battery dis-
posal underscores our commit-
$53 BN THIS FISCAL India (CAI) estimates
released on Thursday.
adult and child occupant
protection. The announce-
sengers, seat belts with
retractors, pretensioners,
employee health benefits
will be the key drivers in
tive impact on employer-
sponsored healthcare over
ment to provide pollution-free New Delhi, Dec. 21: The total cotton produc- ment was made by Nitin load limiters and anchor cost containment next the next five years.
transportation,” MD and CEO India’s agriculture tion during the 2022-23 Gadkari, minister for road pretensioners. year, with half (57 per “Organisations in India
Suman Mishra said. exports this fiscal are season (Oct.-Sept.) stood transport and highways. certification with the “Bharat-NCAP is a sig- cent) of insurers globally are faced with mounting
expected to reach the last at 318.9 lakh bales of 170 “Bharat-NCAP is best-in- highest possible ratings nificant step forward as it expecting plan improve- financial pressures asso-
year’s level of $53 billion kg each, said CAI data. class global standards and and introducing the safest provides customers with a ments to take precedence ciated with rising premi-
despite restrictions impo- “The production this vehicle rating system is vehicles on Indian roads,” credible, objective score to over cost-cutting meas- ums. This is necessitating
sed on shipments of cer- year is expected to lower designed to advance road the minister said. evaluate the safety aspects ures. a renewed focus on bal-

DB Schenker tain key commodities,

including rice, wheat and
sugar, according to a sen-
by 24.8 lakh bales at 294.1
lakh bales following infes-
tation of pink ball worms
safety and vehicle safety
standards beyond manda-
tory regulations,”
This year, Tata Motors
introduced the updated
versions of the Harrier
of various vehicles,” said
Shailesh Chandra, manag-
ing director, Tata Motors
Transformational
healthcare solutions such
as digital outpatient serv-
ancing cost containment
with the provision of
high-quality benefits,”
signs agreement ior government official.
“We expect that we
in the northern region,
while the yield in the
Gadkari said.
“I congratulate them on
and Safari. Both SUVs are
based on the OMEGARC
passenger vehicles and
Tata passenger electric
ices and virtual tools –
including tele/video con-
said Prawal Kalita,
employee benefits leader,
with Concor would reach that level in
spite of a $4.5 bn-$5 bn
southern and the central
regions will be affected
the award of this coveted architecture, derived from mobility. sultations with doctors, Marsh India.

impact due to the restric- due to no rainfall for 45

Logistics operator DB Schenker tions,” additional secre- days,” CAI president Atul
India on Thursday said it has
signed an agreement with
tary in the commerce Ganatra said. NEW | GEAR Production of new headset is running at full speed at facilities in China
ministry Rajesh Agrawal The total supply till
state-owned Container said here on Thursday. November is estimated at
Corporation of India (Concor)
for a collaboration in export-
import and domestic business-
es in the logistics and supply
chain space. The agreement
The government has
prohibited exports of
wheat and non-basmati
white rice and has
92.05 lakh bales which
consists of the arrivals of
60.15 lakh bales, imports
of 3 lakh bales and the
Apple ramping up production of Vision Pro
imposed curbs on sugar opening stock of 28.9 lakh California, Dec. 21: Apple for the Vision Pro by test- two ultrahigh-resolution
was made to contribute to sus- exports. bales at the beginning of Inc. is ramping up produc- ing their apps with the lat- ● VISION PRO marks displays, two processors
tainable supply chain practices He said the government the season. tion of the Vision Pro est tools and sending their Apple’s first new and multiple external
and domestic multi-modal is promoting exports of CAI has estimated cot- mixed-reality headset, to software to Apple for feed- cameras.
solutions in the logistics indus-
product category
new products like ton consumption up to launch it by February, back. since it began sell- The Vision Pro is just the
try, DB Schenker said. bananas and value-added November at 53 lakh bales according to people with The rollout will be first of what Apple hopes
ing smartwatches in
millet products to new while the exports are knowledge of the matter. Apple’s most complex is an increasingly success-
2015. It has added ful line of mixed-reality
global destinations. pegged at 3 lakh bales. The production of new product launch yet, requ-
Printed & Published by
“In the next three years, Stock at the end of headset is running at full iring entirely new sales pressure of selling products. Apple is work-
K. Sudhakar on behalf of consumers on a still-
Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited. we are hoping to increase November is estimated at speed at facilities in China strategies and equipment. ing on a models that will
Printed at BFL Infotech Ltd, C-9 Sector banana exports to $1 bil- 36.05 lakh bales, including and has been for several The headset has cus- novel concept. be more comfortable and
3, Noida-201301. Published at 219, N D lion,” he said. 27 lakh bales with textile weeks. The goal is for cus- tomised components that lower cost, which cou-ld
Tiwari Bhawan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Exports of fruits and mills and the remaining tomer-bound units to be need to be assembled and concept: mixed reality, ing a good first impres- help the concept catch on.
Marg, New Delhi-110002. vegetables, cereals, meat, 9.05 lakh bales with CCI, ready by end of Jan., with boxed up at the stores. which melds virtual and sion for the $3,500 device. The company is also dev-
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI dairy and poultry prod- Maharashtra Federation the retail debut planned The Vision Pro marks augmented reality. Meta In addition to stocking up eloping next version of
Registration number 30074/09, ucts registered a healthy and others. The CAI has for the following month, Apple’s first new product Platforms Inc. currently on headsets, the compa- the device’s operating sys-
Air surcharge Re 1. © All rights growth rate during April- retained its total cotton the people said. category since it began leads the market, but its ny’s stores will need acces- tem, visionOS, which will
reserved. Reproduction in whole or November. Rice exports, supply till the end of the The company sent an selling smartwatches in headsets have struggled to sories like head straps, arrive later in 2024, along
in part without written permission of however, declined 7.65 per cotton season 2023-24 (up email to software develop- 2015. The company has the gain mainstream accept- light seals and prescrip- with operating systems
The Editor, cent to $6.5 billion during to Sept.2024) at 345 lakh ers on Wednesday encour- added pressure of selling ance. tion lenses. tied to Apple’s other major
Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited. the same period. — PTI bales. — PTI aging them to “get ready” consumers on a still-novel Apple is focused on mak- The headset includes devices. — Bloomberg
 GAMES
THE ASIAN AGE | NEW DELHI | FRIDAY | 22 DECEMBER 2023
pg 8

THIRD | ODI
SHORT TAKES
Gukesh pockets
Chennai GM title
Samson, Varma
Chennai: Indian Grandmaster D.
Gukesh won the Chennai Grand
Masters Chess Championship
title here on Thursday, edging
shine for India
Paarl (South Africa), Dec.
out compatriot Arjun Erigaisi 21: Sanju Samson carved SCOREBOARD
on the tie-break after they fin- a well-measured maiden
ished equal on points. The ODI hundred as India India: Rajat Patidar b
Chennai GM, who finished with posted a challenging 296 Burger 22, Sai Sudharsan
a score of 4.5 points from for eight against South lbw b Beuran Hendricks
seven rounds after a draw Africa in the series-decid- 10, Sanju Samson c Reeza
against fellow Indian GM P. ing third match here on Hendricks b Williams 108,
Harikrishna in the final round, Thursday.Samson (108 off KL Rahul (c) c Klaasen b
Mulder 21, Tilak Varma c
improved his chances of quali- 114 balls) found a perfect
Mulder b Maharaj 52,
fying for next year's Candidates sidekick in the patient Rinku Singh c Reeza
tournament. Tilak Varma, who struck Hendricks b Burger 38,
Erigaisi tied Gukesh for first his first ODI fifty (52 off Axar Patel c Mulder b BE
place with 4.5 points after he 77 balls), as they milked Hendricks 1, Washington
defeated Hungarian Sanan 116 precious runs for the Sundar c Markram b BE
Sjugirov in the final round, but Wrestler Sakshi Mallik (right) breaksdown at the press conference after announcing her retirement from sport as she puts her wrestling shoes on fourth-wicket to place Hendricks 14, Arshdeep
the latter came up trumps on the table in New Delhi on Thursday. An emotional Vinesh Phogat (left) and Bajrang Punia also addressed the media. — G. N. JHA India in a position to win Singh not out 7, Avesh
the basis of a better tie-break this series. Khan not out 1. Extras (b-1,
score. The top three places Samson and Varma lb-5, nb-1, w-15) 22. Total

WRESTLERS QUIT
were taken by the Indians, with came together when India (For 8 wickets in 50
Harikrishna finishing in the third were slightly wobbling at overs) 296.
place. 101 for three after being FoW: 1-34, 2-49, 3-101, 4-
The tournament win puts asked to bat first. 217, 5-246, 6-255, 7-277,
Gukesh in the lead in the Fide But the pair showed 8-293.
Circuit standings and greatly excellent situational
improves his qualification awareness. Bowling: Nandre Burger
9-0-64-2, Lizaad Williams
chances for the Candidates Their partnership was
10-0-71-1, Beuran
tournament. The Fide Circuit all about pragmatism Hendricks 9-0-63-3,
ends with the World Rapid without letting go of any
Championship to be held in
Samarkand (Uzbekistan) from
Sakshi gives up sport after Brij Bhushan loyalist becomes WFI chief opportunity to unfurl any
big shot.
Wiaan Mulder 7-0-36-1,
Keshav Maharaj 10-2-37-1,
Aiden Markram 5-0-19-0.
December 25-31. — PTI Usually a free-flowing
New Delhi, Dec. 21: With We fought will continue to pursue hitter, Samson shelved

Lakshya, Aakarshi
tears in her eyes, Rio
Olympic bronze medallist
Sakshi Malik put her
from our heart
but if a man like Brij
SANJAY ELECTED NEW competitive wrestling.
The wrestlers had man-
aged to mobilise huge sup-
his macho intentions for
a large part of his
innings, concentrating on
Hendricks. But at the
other end, Varma gener-
ally struggled for flow as
cruise at Nationals wrestling shoes on the
table and announced her
Bhushan, his
business partner WRESTLING PRESIDENT port from different sec-
tions of society during
singles and twos as the
Boland Park pitch also
he could find a boundary
only in his 39th ball, a
Guwahati: Commonwealth retirement from the sport their protest but the agita- had this slight bite on it. scratchy pull off
Games gold medallist and top as a mark of protest and a close aide is New Delhi, Dec. 21: Brij Bhushan loyalist Sanjay tion fizzled out the day But the right-hander Hendricks.
seed Lakshya Sen and top- against Brij Bhushan elected as the Singh on Thursday became the new President of the they planned a march intermittently brought However, the left-hander
billed Aakarshi Kashyap Sharan Singh loyalist president of WFI, I Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) with his panel towards new Parliament out his T20 avatar into gave company to Samson
reached the men’s and women’s Sanjay Singh winning the give up wrestling. comfortably winning 13 of the 15 posts in the delayed building on May 28 when play like when he to take India out of the
singles third round respectively Wrestling Federation of polls. Sanjay, who is UP Wrestling Association Vice Delhi police removed all smashed pacer Nandre woods.
in the 85th Senior National India (WFI) election for From today President and hails from Varanasi, secured 40 votes the protesters from Jantar Burger for a big six over Finally, Varma fell in his
Badminton Championships here the top job, here Thursday. onwards you will as against seven that his rival and 2010 CWG gold Mantar for rioting. mid-wicket or while exe- venture to accelerate, a
on Thursday. Sen warded off T. Sanjay, a close associate not see me on the medallist Anita Sheoran got. The wrestlers had offi- cuting an exquisite miss-timed sweep off
Sidarth 21-8, 21-5, while of outgoing WFI chief Given the tremendous interest the outgoing chief cially called off their inside-out loft over cover Maharaj ending in the
Aakarshi was made to sweat by became the new President
mat. We wanted a has in the sport, it is expected that RSS-affiliate protest on June 7 when the off left-arm spinner hands of Wiaan Mulder
Rituparna Das before emerging with his panel winning 13 female president Sanjay, who runs a construction business, will con- Sports Minister Anurag Keshav Maharaj for a in the deep. But Samson
a 21-18, 21-11 winner in 32 min- of the 15 posts in the elec- but that did not sult him in policy decisions. “It’s a triumph for thou- Thakur assured them that four. His fifty came off 66 carried on and was not to
utes. tions — a result that happen. sands of wrestlers in the country who suffered in the none of the family mem- balls with a single to third be denied a hundred this
Later, BWF 2023 World Junior expectedly brought disap- past 7-8 months,” Sanjay said after his huge win. bers or close associates of man off pacer Beuran time. — PTI
Championships bronze medal- pointment for the top — SAKSHI MALIK, “We will respond to politics with politics and Brij Bhushan will be
list Ayush Shetty faced a tough three wresters — Malik, wrestling with wrestling,” Sanjay replied when asked allowed to enter the WFI
challenge from Neer Nehwal Vinesh Phogat and a teary-eyed wrestler about politics being played within federation. — election fray.
but emerged victorious 23-25, Bajrang Punia — who had said and kept her The panel of Sheoran, a CWG gold medallist, “With Sanjay Singh
21-18, 21-12. aggressively pushed for a though managed to win the key post of secretary gen- becoming president, I
Second-seeded Ashmita change of guard at the fed- shoes on the table in eral with Prem Chand Lochab, a former RSPB secre- don’t think women
Chaliha defeated Suzen eration. a dramatic tary, defeating Darshan Lal 27-19. — PTI wresters will get justice
Burhagohain 21-13, 21-10 to set The top wrestlers had announcement because back door politics
up a face-off with Delhi’s early this year, launched is still on to break their
Rishika Nandi. an agitation against Brij me on the mat,” a teary- which she won three CWG Sonam Malik, who beat resolve. About 15-20 girls
Unnati Hooda, the 2023 Abu Bhushan who they had eyed Sakshi said and kept medals, including gold in her during the national met with the sports minis-
Dhabi Masters champion, tri- accused of sexually her shoes on the table in a the 2022 edition, and four selection trials a number ter and told him about the
umphed over Manisha Rani exploiting women dramatic announcement. Asian Championship of times. exploitation and today
Tirkey of Jharkhand 21-11, 21-17, wrestlers. The matter is in “We wanted a female medals. Sakshi had Olympic medallist Punia they are down to just six
setting up a third-round clash court. president but that did not become India’s first and Phogat also addressed and they too are being
with Tanvi Sharma. “We fought from our happen,” the 31-year-old, woman wrestler to win an the media. coerced to pull out,”
Sharma faced a tough time heart but if a man like who is also a Olympic medal. “It’s unfortunate that alleged Bajrang.
against Shreya Lele, ultimately Brij Bhushan, his busi- Commonwealth Games The Haryana wrestler, government did not stand Bajrang said the min-
securing a 21-18, 22-24, 21-13 ness partner and a close gold medallist, added. though, was struggling on by its word that no Brij istry has gone back on its
win in 56 minutes. — PTI aide is elected as the presi- Winning a bronze medal the mat before the latest Bhushan loyalist will con- word that no Brij Bhushan
dent of WFI, I give up at the 2016 Rio Games was CWG edition and had con- test the WFI elections,” loyalist would be allowed
wrestling. From today the highlight of Sakshi’s ceded her spot in the rued Bajrang and added to contest the elections.
Zim cricketers use onwards you will not see 13-year old career in national team to young that he is not sure if he — PTI

drugs, suspended
Harare: Zimbabwe Cricket said
on Thursday that two national
players had been suspended for
“recreational drug use”.
Liverpool dominate West Ham MBAPPE SCORES
BRACE AS PSG
“The concerned players, Wesley
Madhevere and Brandon
Liverpool
Kingdom), Dec.
(United
21: END YEAR ON
Liverpool destroyed
Mavuta, both tested positive for
a banned recreational drug in
an out-of-competition case
West Ham 5-1
Wednesday to set up a
on TOP OF FRANCE Tahlia McGrath of Australia celebrates her half-century
on Day One of the Women’s Test against India at the
recorded during a recent in- League Cup semi-final Paris (France), Dec. 21: Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.
house doping test,” the Board against Fulham, easing Kylian Mbappe marked — DEBASISH DEY
said in a statement. the frustration of their his 25th birthday with a
Madhevere and Mavuta have weekend Premier brace as Paris Saint-
been suspended “with immedi-
ate effect” until a hearing is
held on the breach of anti-dop-
ing rules.
League
against
United.
stalemate
Manchester

Curtis Jones scored

Germain beat Metz 3-1 in
Ligue 1 on Wednesday to
reach the halfway stage
of the season five points
India bundle out
The board did not say what
drug was involved nor when
they had failed the tests.
But the suspensions are a new
blow after coach Dave
twice and Dominik
Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo
and Mohamed Salah
were also on the score-
sheet for Jurgen Klopp’s
clear at the top of the
table.
PSG, who had been
held 1-1 at Lille at the
weekend, laboured in
Australia for 219
Mumbai, Dec. 21: Seamer
Houghton resigned this week dominant team, who the first half before Pooja Vastrakar and off- SCOREBOARD
over Zimbabwe’s failure to were trophyless last sea- Vitinha opened the scor- spinner Sneh Rana Australia Women 1st Innings:
reach next year’s T20 World son. No team have won ing early in the second showed enough craft to Beth Mooney c Rana b
Cup. “They have been charged more League Cups than half by turning in a exploit a pitch offering Vastrakar 40, Phoebe
under the Zimbabwe Cricket Liverpool, who lifted the cross from Lee Kang-in. variable bounce to bundle Litchfield run out 0, Ellyse
Code of Conduct for players trophy for the ninth time Mbappe then took cen- out Australia for a modest Perry b Vastrakar 4, Tahlia
McGrath c Gayakwad b Rana
and team officials and will in the 2021/22 season. tre stage by making it 2-0 219 in their first innings 50, Alyssa Healy b Sharma 38,
appear for a disciplinary hear- The Reds had 34 shots with a superb strike in on the opening day of the Annabel Sutherland lbw b
ing soon,” the statement said. against United in off the underside of the one-off Test here Vastrakar 16, Ashleigh Gardner
Twenty-three-year-old all- Sunday’s Premier crossbar from the edge Thursday. c Bhatia b Vastrakar 11, Jess
rounder Madhevere is consid- League match without of the area. In their first essay, India Jonassen lbw b Sharma 19,
Alana King c Bhatia b Rana 5,
ered one of the national team’s finding the net, failing to Matthieu Udol pulled raced to 98/1 at stumps as Kim Garth not out 28, Lauren
rising talents. — AFP win at home for the first one back for the strug- openers Smriti Cheatle c Mandhana b Rana 6.
time this season to their gling visitors but Mandhana (43 not out, 49 Extras (lb-1, nb-1) 2. Total ( in
intense frustration. Mbappe pounced on a balls, 8x4) and Shafali 77.4 Ov) 219.
Seven newcomers Manager Jurgen Klopp
said he was delighted
short backpass to round
the goalkeeper and make
Verma (40, 59 balls, 8x4)
added 90 runs.
FoW: 1-2, 2-7, 3-87, 4-103, 5-
143, 6-159, 7-160, 8-168, 9-198.
in WI Test squad with his team’s “joyful
football” as they once Liverpool’s Curtis Jones celebrates after scoring against West Ham United during the
it 3-1 towards the end for
his 18th league goal of
But India’s march to
ascendancy began
Bowling: Renuka Singh 7-0-
35-0, Pooja Vastrakar 16-2-53-
St. John’s, Antigua: Seven again clicked in front of English League Cup quarterfinal match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool on the campaign. through Vastrakar (4/53) 4, Sneh Rana 22.4-4-56-3,
uncapped players will travel to goal against West Ham. Wednesday. Liverpool won 5-1. — AP His birthday was made who teamed up with Sneh Rajeshwari Gayakwad 13-4-
29-0, Deepti Sharma 19-3-45-
Australia among a 15-man West “We were brave in our even more memorable Rana (3/56) and Deepti 2.
Indies cricket squad to play two positioning, our second when his 16-year-old Sharma (2/45) to snap

Roberto guides struggling

Test matches Down Under in ball game was exception- brother Ethan came on Aussies innings in 77.4 India Women 1st Innings:
Shafali Verma lbw b Jonassen
January. al,” he said. for his senior debut in overs despite an even fifty 40, Smriti Mandhana not out
Cricket West Indies said “It is really tough for stoppage time. by Tahlia McGrath. 43, Sneh Rana not out 4.
Wednesday that the team will all of us, there’s a lot of PSG end the year with However, Australia Extras (b-8, lb-1, nb-2) 11. Total

Barca to win over Almeria

again be led by Kraigg games and the boys a comfortable five-point made a poor start as they (for 1 wicket in 19 overs) 98.
Brathwaite, with fast bowler played a lot of football cushion over nearest lost opener Phoebe FoW: 1-90.
Alzarri Joseph named as the already.” challengers Nice, who Litchfield in the first over
Bowling: Lauren Cheatle 4-2-
new vice captain. The much-changed defeated Lens 2-0 on itself after a mix-up with 12-0, Kim Garth 4-0-34-0,
The uncapped players are bat- home side, with Salah Barcelona (Spain), Dec. and Edgar Gonzalez but it headed effort. Wednesday thanks to her partner Beth Mooney. Ellyse Perry 4-0-31-0,
ter Zachary McCaskie, wicket- and Trent Alexander- 21: Barcelona ground out was eventually the home The hosts then got a two late goals from Four deliveries later, Ashleigh Gardner 5-3-8-0,
keeper Tevin Imlach; all- Arnold on the bench and an unconvincing 3-2 home team who held out to warning shot at the other Nigerian striker Terem Vastrakar produced a Jess Jonassen 2-1-4-1.
rounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Alisson Becker rested win against basement claim the spoils. end after Ronald Araujo Moffi. jaffa to remove Ellyse
Hodge and Kevin Sinclair and completely, launched club Almeria on The opening 45 minutes missed a cross and Joao Monaco are seven Perry (4) and reduced ball move into her to dis-
fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and wave after wave of Wednesday thanks to a threw up several good Cancelo desperately had points behind the lead- Australia to 7/2 inside the turb the stumps. But
Shamar Joseph. Team officials attacks, with West Ham late Sergi Roberto goal, chances for both sides as to intervene to block ers in third place after first two overs. McGrath (50 off 56 balls,
said Jayden Seales was unavail- struggling to lay a glove moving them up to third Barcelona set about Largie Ramazani’s effort coming from behind to Vastrakar beat the 8x4s) came out firing on
able for selection due to a on their opponents. in La Liga. methodically trying to in the 13th minute. win 2-1 at Toulouse, with defence of star all-round- all cylinders to put pres-
shoulder injury and that Jason Harvey Elliott blasted Xavi Hernandez’s side break down the visitors. Later, Athletic Bilbao Wissam Ben Yedder er Perry by getting the sure back on India. — PTI
Holder and Kyle Mayers were over the bar in the 14th ended 2023 with a win It was nearly an early went level on points with scoring both of their
not available because they minute and Szoboszlai thanks to Sergi Roberto’s set-piece that did the trick fourth-place Atletico goals. Published by K. Sudhakar for and on behalf of Deccan Chronicle
wanted to explore Twenty20 fired wide but the double and a first-half for the Catalans when cap- Madrid after beating Las The principality side Holdings Limited at Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen
league opportunities in January. Hungary midfielder goal from Raphinha. tain Sergi Roberto was left Palmas 1-0 and near the held on to take all three Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi 110 002. and Printed by him at BFL
“The squad has been affected gave Liverpool the lead Twice the 20th-placed all alone in the centre of foot of the table, Rafael points despite having Infotech Limited, C – 9, Sector – III, Noida – 201301.
by the unavailability of some they deserved shortly visitors pegged back the the box but ‘keeper Luis Benitez’s Celta Vigo lost 3- Aleksandr Golovin sent Editor – Kaushik Mitter,
RNI Registration number 57290/94
key players,” said lead selector before the half-hour Catalan giants courtesy of Maximiano did exception- 2 at Villarreal. off early in the second
Price in Nepal - Nep.Rs. 20.00 per copy.
Desmond Haynes. — AP mark. — AFP goals from Leo Baptistao ally well to keep out his — AFP half. — AFP
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