FRIDAY 08 MARCH, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard CBI BUSTS NETWORK RECRUITING YOUTHS TO RUSSIA The CBI on Thursday busted a major human trafficking network spread across states. The youths were offered high-paying jobs but forced to fight in the frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine war against their wishes JOE BIDEN TO GIVE STATE OF UNION ADDRESS The US President faces one of the most critical moments of his political career PAGE 9 Punjab government on Thursday wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting that seven youths stuck in Russia be brought back safely A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS Cabinet clears L10K cr to boost AI ecosystem Centre hikes DA, DR to 50% of basic pay; extends `300 LPG subsidy through FY25 M O N I K A YA D A V @ New Delhi CLOSE on the heels of the Centre’s plan to regulate AI tools deployed in India by big tech companies, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday approved an outlay of `10,371.92 crore for the national-level IndiaAI Mission to boost the artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country . The IndiaAI Mission encompasses various components. It includes the IndiaAI Compute Capacity to build a scalable AI computing ecosystem with 10,000 or more graphics processing units through public private partnership for startups and researchers. Next, the IndiaAI Innovation Centre will focus on developing indigenous large multimodal models and foundational models in critical sectors. The IndiaAI Datasets Platform will streamline access to quality non-personal datasets and the IndiaAI Startup Financing pillar will support deep-tech AI startups and provide them access to funding to enable futuristic AI projects. The Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a few populist announcements ahead of the 2024 HAMAS LEAVES CAIRO WITH NO TRUCE DEAL general elections, including the release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to 49.18 lakh Central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to 67.95 lakh pensioners with effect from January 1, 2024. This represents an increase of 4% over the existing rate of 46% for basic pay/pension to compensate against price rise. This will set the exchequer back by `12,868 crore per annum. “This increase is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission,” the government said. The Cabinet also gave nod to the continuation of targeted subsidy of ` 300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder (and proportionately pro-rated for 5 kg cylinder) for up to 12 refills per year for 10.27 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana during FY25. The total expenditure will be `12,000 crore for FY25. The subsidy is credited directly to bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries. The Centre also cleared the commerce ministry’s proposal for `10,037 crore outlay for the UNNATI industrialisation scheme aimed at developing the northeastern states. Negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages will resume next week, Hamas said on Thursday, after its delegation left Cairo | P9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  MODI SAYS NEW J&K BREATHING FREELY NOW; CONG UNVEILS YOUTH OUTREACH PM guarantees efforts Rahul guarantees to fill to win more J&K hearts 30L govt job vacancies B’luru cafe blast: NIA sleuths in Ballari to find Bhatkal link F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar R A J E S H A S N A N I @ Jaipur K I R A N BA L A N N A N AVA R @ Ballari IN his first visit to Kashmir after the reading down of Article 370 in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said J&K is the head (mastak) of India, which is breathing freely after the removal of its special powers. “I am happy and grateful for your love today Modi will . not leave any stone unturned to return this love and affection,” the PM said. In his outreach, he said, “I am doing this hard work to win your hearts. I believe I am on the right path and will continue my efforts to win more hearts. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. J&K, Modi said, is not just a region but is the head of the country. “And a head held high is a symbol of development and respect.” He said this is the new (naya) J&K the country was waiting for since decades. It CONGRESS leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday offered a slew of guarantees to the youth, including filling up 30 lakh government job vacancies if voted to power at the Centre. Calling it Bharti bharosa (assurance on filling up vacancies), he said it would be done within specified timeframes. Rahul was speaking at a rally during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Banswara. “In addition, the Congress commits to offering at least one-year apprenticeship to every diploma holder and graduate in both government and private sectors within their first year of graduation, with a stipend of approximately `1 lakh per annum,” he said. Rahul labeled this assurance as Pehli naukri pakki (first job guarantee) and said the promise would be made legally binding akin to THE Rameshwaram Cafe blast case accused was spotted travelling to Bhatkal from Ballari bus stand on Wednesday Following . the lead, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team landed in Ballari on Thursday. The team, accompanied by a police team from Tumakuru, went through CCTV images of the bus-stand to trace the next destination of the suspected bomber, who has been absconding after the March 1 blast. The NIA team took CCTV footage, and found images of the accused in eight clippings. Following the lead, the team found that the accused had boarded the MantralayamGokarna bus from Ballari bus stand. On Thursday, the conductor of the bus confirmed that the suspect had bought a ticket and got down at Bhatkal. The NIA and the police have now intensified the search for the blast accused in Uttara Kannada district. A day before the accused arrived in Ballari, he was spotted in Tumakuru bus stand by the probe team. CCTV footage showed the accused spent some time here with his mask on. A police officer said the NIA got confirmation about the accused buying a ticket to Ballari, and boarding the BengaluruBidar bus (KA38 F1235), and followed him. “The team went through CCTV footage at Ballari bus stand. The footage showed the accused had changed his shirt thrice between Tumakuru and Ballari. As per the initial investigation, the accused is on the run from the time the bomb went off at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru. We are not sure about the destination or hiding point. At present, all efforts are being made to trace him in Bhatkal,” the officer added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Srinagar | PTI has the courage to overcome all challenges, he added. On the PM’s visit, normal life remained unaffected. There was no shutdown as no separatist or militant group had issued such a call. Recalling the surge in foreign tourist arrivals in the valley he said J&K is attract, ing more and more celebrities and international guests. “People should also come to J&K and host their weddings here,” he suggested. The PM, however, did not touch upon the restoration of statehood and assembly polls in J&K. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a public meeting in Banswara | PTI the MNREGA scheme. In all, he offered five guarantees to the youth — recruitment, trust, confirmed first job, freedom from paper leaks and youth empowerment. The party packaged it as Yuva Nyay (justice to youth). As for paper leaks, he said, “We propose a legislative solution. This law will involve revamping examination protocols, giving precedence to government agencies over private entities. Should a leak occur despite these precautions, stringent legal measures will be implemented.” P7 Be present in court on Mar 16, CM told J A I S O N W I L S O N @ New Delhi THE Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday directed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on March 16, following the ED’s fresh complaint for skipping its summons for the 8th time in the money laundering probe allegedly connected to Delhi excise scam case. “Even though this is a second complaint against the same person (Kejriwal) with similar allegations, there is merit in the argument of the complainant (ED) that every non-compliance of the summons issued by a public servant would tantamount to a separate offence,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra noted in the order. The AAP chief has so far skipped eight summons issued by the ED over the last four months. He was called on earlier dates like February 19, January 18, January 3, December 21 and November 2 in 2023. The CM has always called these notices “illegal”. The central probe agency submitted that each noncompliance was a separate offence and clubbed together in terms of Section 219 of CrPC. In the order, the judge held that “…prima facie offence under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 is made out and there are sufficient grounds for proceeding under Section 204 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 against accused Mr. Arvind Kejriwal.” As per Section 174, a person who intentionally disobeys the directions issued by the agency shall be prosecuted and shall be punished with imprisonment extending up to one month or with a fine or both. “Accordingly, issue summons to accused Mr. Arvind Kejriwal for the offence under Section 174 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 for 16.03.2024,” the court ordered. The ED argued that the AAP leader sent “frivolous” replies wherein he raised certain objections to the summons and deliberately made one or the other excuse for non-appearance to evade the processes. In relation to the nowscrapped excise policy probe, the ED told the court that its investigation revealed that the said policy was formulated as a part of a criminal conspiracy by AAP leaders with deliberate loopholes to generate and channelise illegal funds unto themselves as well as to the party . KULDEEP, ASHWIN PEAK AT DHARAMSALA Power point: Free electricity, subsidies Dad nabbed for killing son a day before marriage to continue till March 2025, says govt Opting to bat first on a good wicket, the visiting team was all out for 218. A look… A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi UJ WA L JA L A L I @ New Delhi A 29-year-old man died after he was stabbed by his father over the face and throat a day before his marriage, a police officer said on Thursday . Over a dozen stab wounds were found on the body of the deceased, identified as Gaurav Singhal, who used to run a fitness gym in South Delhi. The accused, Gaurav’s father, who had gone incommunicado after the incident, was held from Jaipur on Thursday night, police said. According to DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan, a PCR call was received on the intervening night of March 6-7 regarding a murder at Raju Park, Devli Extension in Tigri area. “When a police team reached the spot, it found that Gaurav was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon and was taken to Max Hospital by his family members,” the DCP said. He, however, was declared brought dead at the hospital. During probe, it was found that the father and the son shared a strained relationship. “The deceased’s younger brother and a relative were detained for questioning. We are investigating the matter from every angle,” the DCP said. Prakash Singh, Gaurav’s uncle, said the victim was engaged to a girl three days back and was preparing for the wedding in Kakrola in south-west Delhi. “They were nice people — father, mother and their two sons. Gaurav was the eldest son,” the uncle said. PAGES 12 In a viral video, 7 youths from Punjab and Haryana, dressed in Russian military uniforms, said they went on a tourist visa to Russia, but were forcefully inducted into the armed forces to fight in Ukraine P8 MILESTONES GALORE Kuldeep Yadav celebrates his five-wicket haul in Dharamsala on Thursday | PTI | P11 KULDEEP REIGNS SUPREME In what is his only 12th Test since debut at the same venue seven years ago, Kuldeep Yadav made the most of the breeze to generate drift, deceiving England batters to register his fourth five-wicket haul. His ball to dismiss Zak Crawley belongs to the wrist spin hall of fame INDIA ON TOP After dismissing England for 218, Indian openers — Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) and Rohit Sharma (52 n.o) — score fifties as the hosts cruised to 135/1 at stumps. How they survive the first session on Day Two will decide the direction in which the game progresses 3 get life sentence in 2018 Ankit Saxena murder case J A I S O N W I L S O N @ New Delhi SIX years after the broad daylight murder of photographer Ankit Saxena in west Delhi, a city court on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to three family members of a woman with whom he was in an interfaith relationship in 2018. “Taking into consideration your age, background, antecedents and work that you did before the incident, I am sentencing you to life imprisonment,” Additional Sessions Judge Sunil Kumar Sharma said. The woman’s father Akbar Ali, her mother Shehnaz Begum and her uncle Mohammad Salim, who were found guilty in the hate crime were also slapped with a fine of `50,000 each. The amount will be given as compensation to the family of the deceased, who was 23-year-old at the time of the incident. Saxena was stabbed to death in Khyala area in February 2018 by the family members of the 20-year-old woman with whom he was in a relationship for three years. The woman’s family had opposed her relationship with Ankit as the two belonged to different communities. India spinner R Ashwin was felicitated in front of his family for his 100th Test as the team gave him a guard of honour. England’s Jonny Bairstow too was felicitated for reaching his 100th. Ashwin would go on to take four wickets, running through the England lower-order THE Delhi cabinet on Thursday approved the power subsidy scheme for 2024-25, which will enable 22 lakh families consuming up to 200 units of electricity to continue to get zero bills. The families which consume 400 units will get 50% subsidy on their bill like before. Taking to ‘X’, the chief minister said: “Your 24 hours electricity (zero power cut) and free electricity has been extended till 31st March 2025. This also includes free electricity for the lawyers’ chambers. Many people had doubts about the electricity subsidy will it be available next year or not? Let me tell you that these people tried their best to stop it. But your son (Arvind Kejriwal) got this work done also. Power Minister Atishi stated, “The government has been providing power subsidies to the people of Delhi for the past nine years. Delhi is the only state where 24/7 power supply is ensured. Despite that, 22 lakh people receive a zero-electricity bill.” She said whenever CM Arvind Kejriwal attempts to make decisions for the welfare of people, opponents employ various tactics to hinder them. “Last year, when the power subsidy was about to be implemented, opponents made efforts to halt it,” she added. CABINET CALL 1 Power subsidy scheme approved for 2024-25 2 Free electricity extended till March 31, 2025 3 Zero electricity bills to continue for usage up to 200 units 4 50% discount for usage up to 400 units 5 Farmers, advocates, ’84 riot victims to continue receiving their subsidies 6 Scheme was introduced by the Kejriwal govt in 2019 7 Subsidies given to those consumers who apply for it Interstate fake drug racket busted, 10 arrested UJ WA L JA L A L I @ New Delhi THE Delhi Police on Thursday claimed to have busted a major interstate drug racket and arrested 10 people in this connection. In its multi-state operation, the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police seized huge quantities of standard brand fake medicines worth crores of rupees, which were being used by a large population for curing diabetes and migraine. DCP (Crime Branch) Sanjay Bhatia said they received a specific input regarding fake medicines being supplied by two people, named Upkar alias Manni, and Mukesh, in differ- ent areas of Delhi-NCR to medical stores. The police formed a team, which first gathered information and found that it was not just Upkar and Mukesh, but several others were involved in the crime. Accordingly the team , was divided into three parts to conduct simultaneous raids. During the operation, one team along with medi- cal representatives of Johnson & Johnson and Lupin intercepted one ECCO Van under Tilak Bridge, Tilak Marg, and overpowered two persons whose identity revealed as Upkar alias Manni and Jasdeep. During the search, huge quantities of fake Ultracet tablets, Amaryl 1 M tablets, Gluconorm Tablets, Defcort tablets were recovered. Ultracet, Amaryl 1 M, Gluconorm, Defcort tablets Huge quantities of fake Ultracet tablets, Amaryl 1 M tablets, Gluconorm Tablets, Defcort tablets worth crores of rupees have been recovered in a multi-state operation by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police. The drugs are used by a large population for curing diabetes and migraine. During interrogation, Upkar admitted that recovered medicines were spurious. He named Abdul Bashit, a resident of Geeta Colony as the source of supply of recovered Ultracet tablets, and Vikas, a resident of Mandoli as the source of rest of the medicines. The official said that Vikas used to manufacture most of the drugs at his factory in Rajender Nagar Industrial area, Ghaziabad, UP and rest of the drugs from Roorkee, Uttrakhand through one Shahrukh, who is already arrested in a drug related case. During their sustained investigation, others have been arrested.