NEW DELHI 27 OCTOBER 2024 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard The New Don https://epaper.morningstandard.in PLUS: 12 PAGES Melodies of Longing and Belonging MAGAZINE The Price of Pragmatism EXCLUSIVE VOICES The Dawn of the Sleepmaxxer Pushpesh Pant Ravi Shankar Ajai Sahni Anu Aggarwal Debashis Chatterjee P S Raghavan Shankkar Aiyar Nanditha Krishna ISRAEL HITS IRAN’S MILITARY SITES Nuclear sites, energy infrastructure spared; two Iranian soldiers killed The first wave of attacks targeted Iran’s air defence capabilities to ensure the IDF’s freedom of operations during Saturday’s sorties, and to lay the ground for further strikes, should Iran retaliate Spl Parliament session to mark 75th anniv of Constitution DRONE, MISSILE SITES HIT The second and third waves of attacks targeted Iran’s drone and ballistic missile manufacturing sites as well as sites used to launch such weapons RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi THE BJP-led NDA government is reportedly planning a special joint sitting of Parliament on November 26 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India. The joint session will be held in the historic Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan (old Parliament building), the venue where the first Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, after which it came into effect on January 26, 1950. Sources indicated that a formal call on the joint session will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs shortly Traditionally, the win. ter session of Parliament begins in the last week of November or the first week of December. But this year, it appears the session may follow shortly after the Constitution Day is observed. This year’s event is particularly significant, as the ruling alliance and the Opposition INDIA bloc are at odds regarding constitutional matters. The joint session on November 26 is expected to feature discussions on the Constitution’s enduring relevance and its role in shaping Indian democracy, with participation from leaders of various political parties reflecting on the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity President Droupadi . Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries are expected to address the joint session. From the next calendar year, November 26 will be observed annually as Constitution Day . OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED, SAYS IDF IDF spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said the goals of the overnight attack on Iran were achieved successfully. “The reprisal strike was completed,” he told reporters ‘The Fantasy is Based on Real Theories’ Flight radar data shows airspace over Iran, Syria, and Iraq closed amid Israeli strikes on Saturday AGENCIES ISRAEL on Saturday launched retaliatory strikes against Iran, 25 days after the Tehran attacked Tel Aviv with nearly 200 missiles and drones. Israel’s airstrikes started around 2 am Iranian time on Saturday and ended by 6 am. Only military sites were hit. The Israeli military termed its attack ‘precise and targeted’ strikes to knock down Iran’s air defence systems and other defence capabilities. Owing to US pressure, Israel did not target Iran’s nuclear or energy facilities, which were initially seen as possible targets for Israel’s response to Iran’s October 1 attack. The extent of damage the Israeli strikes caused was not immediately known, though some reports quoting anonymous Israeli officials said 20 targets were hit. Iran’s state-run media reported that blasts could be heard in Tehran and some of the sounds came from air defence systems around the city . According to US media reports, the Iranian military complex at Parchin near Tehran was hit. Iran confirmed the attack, saying two of its soldiers were killed. It claimed its forces thwarted damage to its military sites. Iran’s military said the Israeli strikes targeted military bases in Ilam, Khuzestan and Tehran provinces and caused ‘limited damage’, without elaborating. Iran’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying the country has a responsibility to defend itself, but added Iran “recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security”, signalling it would not strike back. Reports said Israel’s strike was designed to minimise casualties and to give Iran a face saver. Some reports also claimed that Iran was tipped off ahead of the attack, to ensure the damage was limited. Saturday’s retaliatory strike marked the first time Israel’s military has openly attacked Iran, which hasn’t faced a sustained barrage of fire from a foreign enemy since its 1980s war with Iraq. In response to the latest attack, several countries, including India, called for an end to the cycle of confrontation. The US termed the Israeli attack as an act of self-defence and warned Iran against targeting Israel again. India said it was deeply concerned and urged all sides to take the diplomacy route. “We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy The ongoing hostilities are to . nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer,” the Ministry of External P9 Affairs said. SEVEN police officers, including two deputy superintendent-rank officers (DSPs), have been suspended for allegedly felicitating an interview of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Punjab Police custody . The order was issued late Friday by Punjab home secretary Gurkirat Kirpal Singh. Action was taken against the police officers on the basis of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) report that the interview of Bishnoi, aired on a private TV channel, was done through video-conferencing while he was in custody on September 3 and 4, 2022. The SIT was headed by Special DGP (human rights) Prabodh Kumar. The seven policemen are Gursher Singh Sandhu and Sammer Vaneet (both DSPs); sub-inspectors Reena, Jagatpal Jangu, Shaganjit Singh; assistant sub-inspector Mukhtiar Singh and head constable Om Parkash. Bishnoi is an accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala and also a key conspirator in the Baba Siddique murder case in Mumbai. There are more than three dozen cases registered against him in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi. The Canadian government has accused host, display, publish, store, update, or share any unlawful WITH hoax bomb threats or false information, the adviagainst airlines continuing un- sory said. abated, the Ministry of ElecOver 275 Indian carrier tronics and Information Tech- flights received bomb threats in nology issued an advisory 12 days, mostly via social medirecting social media plat- dia. On Saturday at least 10 ho, forms to promptly remove tels in Gujarat’s Rajkot resuch misinfor mation ceived hoax bomb threats. and refrain from hostAnd a 25-year-old man ing similar content. based in Delhi was arStating that such rested for allegedly hoax bomb threats posting threat messagpose a potential threat es to a flight. to public order and The ministry also distate security, the minrected intermediaries istry warned that interto provide information mediaries, including or assistance to governAll the social media platforms ment prove agencies intermediaries like X (formerly Twit- including social within 72 hours. ter), Facebook, TeleCiting IT rules 2021, media gram, and other apps it said it is mandatory intermediaries that fail to exercise due for the intermediaries must make reasonable diligence will be liable to provide information efforts to for action under the IT under their control or disallow such Act and the Bharatiya extend assistance to the malicious acts Nyaya Sanhita 2023. g ove r n m e n t p r o b e As part of their due agencies or cyber secuGovt advisory diligence obligations, it rity activities for verifiis the responsibility of cation of identity or for , concerned intermediaries, in- the prevention, detection, including social media platforms, vestigation or prosecution of to promptly take necessary ac- such elements as soon as possition by not allowing any user to ble but not later than 72 hours. THE Delhi Police arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly sending a bomb threat to IGI Airport in a bid to “gain popularity” following a series of hoax threats to airlines, the police said on Saturday . The accused, Shubham Upadhyay, from Uttam Nagar, had sent the threat on the intervening night of October 25 and 26 through social media. DCP (IGIA) Usha Rangnani said two bomb threat messages were received at the IGI Airport via a social media account during the intervening night of October 25 and 26. “The threat was soon found to be hoax,” the DCP said. During probe, the police traced the origin of the messages to an account registered to Upadhyay. Based on manual intelligence and technical surveillance, he was arrested. “Upon interrogation, he admitted to sending the messages after seeing similar news reports on TV in an attempt to , draw attention to himself,” the officer said. In 12 days, over 275 flights have received bomb threats. Most of the threats were issued through social media. E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE ED has conducted searches across Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Bengaluru in connection with illegal ticket sales for Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh concerts. The searches led to seizure of incriminating materials, including mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards, believed to be essential to the fraud operations, ac- cording to ED officials. “Normally, tickets are available on platforms like Zomato, Bookmyshow, and others. However, when the concert demand is very high, these tickets sell out quickly, leading people to seek alternate sources,” said a senior ED official, adding that searches revealed information on people providing such tickets, including fake ones through social media using Instagram, The Mumbai Police along with its Punjab counterpart arrested one more suspect in connection with the killing of former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Baba Siddique from Ludhiana. So far, 15 accused have been arrested in the case. singer Sidhu Moosewala. Balkaur Singh Sidhu, father of the singer, had alleged that the police were hand-in-glove with the gangster. Later, the SIT found his charges true. On January 5 this year, the SIT registered cases of extortion, concealment of evidence, intentionally withholding in- formation about an offence, criminal intimidation, abetment of offences that are punishable by imprisonment, criminal conspiracy and Prisons (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2011. However, in its final report submitted to a Mohali court on October 9, the charges were filed only under criminal intimidation against Bishnoi. The Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the proceedings the very next day. The next hearing is on October 28. Gursher Singh was DSP (investigations) at the time when Bishnoi was brought from Tihar to Kharar in Moosewala case. HISTORIC OUTCOME Duodecennial defeat: India’s fortress breached by New Zealand S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N @ Pune THE oxygen had been sucked out of the place. A cheery afternoon crowd were refusing to believe what was unfolding. The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium was bearing witness to the death of a dynasty, a kingdom being knocked down in front of their eyes... an end of an incomparable era. Shortly after Tea on Day 3, as Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin tried to string together a couple of commas towards achieving the improbable, there was a cer- tain element of tragicomedy. The two spinners, so often who have bowled India to victory in these conditions to preserve their proud home record, were merely delaying the inevitable. Even as hundreds of fans started making their way to the exits, the two veterans fought gamely for 44 minutes. Once Ashwin fell to Mitchell Santner, the Kiwi picking up his 13th scalp of the Test, any sense of a miracle evaporated. The Black Caps, the inaugural World Test Championship champs, had mastered one of the hardest New Zealand players celebrate Rohit Sharma’s wicket in Pune on Saturday | PTI U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi Dosanjh, Coldplay concerts: ED raid in 5 states over illegal sale of tickets BABA SIDDIQUE CASE him of being involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year. In March last year, two interviews of Bishnoi were aired by a TV channel when he was in the Punjab Police custody The interviews coin. cided with the first death anniversary of popular Punjabi God in Myriad Forms Gives Us Love ‘Gain popularity’: 25-year-old held for threatening to bomb flights 7 Punjab cops suspended over Bishnoi interview H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigah AMMA SPEAKS Social media told to purge content on hoax bomb threats R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi THREE WAVES OF STRIKES NOVEMBER 26 Inside Outside in Cordoba Man in Charge challenges in the sport; win a Test series in India. The most unlikely team to end more than a decade of dominance. It’s hard to put into words the enormity of this upset for a few reasons. Since the beginning of 2013 till the end of the Bangladesh series earlier this month, the hosts had played 53 Tests at home and won 42 (16 of them by an innings). The Kiwis had won only two away Tests since the beginning of the 2019 WTC cycle till two weeks ago. Put it this way — a team that seldom wins away from home beat the team that always wins at home 2-0 in 10 days. It will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest shocks the sport has known this century. However, skipper Sharma refused to do any immediate ‘postmortem’ following the loss. “This is the first time we have had collapses,” he said. “We are not able to bat properly. So, it is allowed once in 12 years. If it had been happening for 12 years, we would not have won. But, we have high expectations in India. We have to win all the MORE ON P11 matches.” WhatsApp and Telegram. With fans clamoring for tickets on platforms like BookMyS h ow a n d Z o m a t o L ive, scammers saw an opportunity to create fake tickets and charge e xo r b i t a n t p r i c e s. M a ny fans later found that they had been duped, receiving either counterfeit tickets or being charged exorbitant rates for legitimate tickets by unauthorised sellers. Paddy purchase sparks political slugfest ahead of Punjab bypoll H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh DAYS before bypolls in four Assembly constituencies, the “tardy” paddy procurement in Punjab has led to political slugfest between the ruling AAP and the Centre with Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu hitting out at the Mann government calli n g i t “ i n e f f e c t ive ” a n d “immature.” This prompted a swift counter from AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang who blamed the Centre for not lifting the harvested crop. Bittu said CM Bhagwant Mann in a meeting with the Union food minister had claimed that the state had space twice of what was required for storing the crop. “We will meet the Punjab governor for his intervention in the matter,’’ Bittu told mediapersons. He blamed the state government for failing to ensure hassle-free crop purchase. The minister said the Centre has already given over `44,000 crore to the state government for purchasing the crop, adding that it was ready to give more funds for procurement. “Why didn’t he (Mann) go to any mandi? Punjab is on roads, but where is the CM? This is my first question before the government,” Bittu added.