THURSDAY JAISHANKAR FLAGS INDIA’S CONCERNS OVER VIOLENCE TO MYANMAR DY PM 27 The external affairs minister on Wednesday conveyed India’s ‘deep concerns’ over the impact of violence in Myanmar on the Indian border JUNE, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard POPE FRANCIS BATS FOR SOLAR POWER IN VATICAN 1,640 KM IS THE LENGTH OF INDIA’S BORDER WITH MYANMAR He has ordered the Vatican to install a solar plant that will provide electricity to the entire city state, as the pontiff does his bit to tackle climate change. FIRST ENGAGEMENT WITH SENIOR JUNTA LEADER A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 NEW DELHI J8.00 PAGES 12 Jaishankar’s meeting with Myanmar’s Deputy PM U Than Shwe in New Delhi is the government’s first publicly acknowledged engagement with a senior leader of the Myanmar military junta in India. Jaishankar told Shwe that the continuing violence in Myanmar has led to a rise in illegal arms and narcotics arriving at the Indian border | P7 in court, Birla stays in LS Speaker’s saddle Kejriwal arrested custody sent to 3-day CBI Second presiding officer to get two terms; elected by voice vote SC allows CM to withdraw plea against HC order S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi NATIONAL Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Om Birla was on Wednesday elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second consecutive term after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adopted through voice vote. The Speaker election for the 18th Lok Sabha was keenly watched as it witnessed a rare contest between Birla and the Opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate Kodikunnil Suresh after both sides failed to arrive at a consensus. Birla became the only presiding officer to serve two terms after Balram Jakhar. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab made the announcement after the Opposition did not press for division of votes to the motion. While elections to the Speaker’s post were common before Independence, the position witnessed contests only thrice in Independent India — in 1952, 1967 and 1976. Three-term BJP MP Birla represents Kota in the Lok Sabha. NDA allies Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-S), Prataprao Jadhav (Shiv Sena) and Chirag Paswan (LJP-RV) also moved motions in Birla’s favour. Shiv Sena (UBT) member Arvind Sawant moved the motion to elect Congress’ Suresh to the post. After the voice vote, Mahtab announced that all other motions, barring the prime minister’s, became infructuous. Birla’s election was a foregone conclusion as the NDA has 293 members as against the INDIA bloc’s 237 in the Lok Sabha. Congratulating Birla on his re-election, Modi expressed confidence that he will guide parliamentarians and play a big role in the House in fulfilling people’s expectations. In his speech, Birla said that in the last decade, the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people have increased. “Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to make collective efforts to fulfil their expectations and aspirations effectively The 18th . Lok Sabha is the world’s largest celebration of democracy More than 64 crore voters participated . with great enthusiasm. On behalf of the House, I express my gratitude to them,” he said. P7 Video grab of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in a rare handshake before escorting Om Birla to the Speaker’s chair, in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI SHARP STATEMENT “The nation turned into a prison... Emergency brought with it anti-social and dictatorial policies that destroyed the lives of the poor, the Dalits and the deprived,” Speaker Om Birla said Massive Oppn protest after Chair’s Emergency rap P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi SOON after his election as Speaker, Om Birla on Wednesday sparked a row by reading out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency as an attack on the Constitution by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, triggering massive protests by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. “This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. We appreciate the determination of all those who opposed Emergency , fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting democra- cy 25th June 1975 will always be . known as a black chapter in the history of India,” he said. The House was adjourned after chaotic scenes of protests and sloganeering by the Opposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Speaker’s reference to Emergency. “The happenings during the Emergency exemplified what a dictatorship looks like,” Modi said. For his part, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “What we saw was the Speaker unfortunately raising a matter that had not been discussed in the House and in a manner that came across as confrontational.” P7 CHIEF Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Wednesday sent to three-day CBI custody after his arrest by the central probe agency in the excise policy case. The CBI, which produced Kejriwal in the Rouse Avenue Court, sought five-day remand to interrogate him in the case, but Judge Amitabh Rawat gave three days of custody . After serving production warrant late Tuesday night, the CBI on Wednesday sought court’s permission before formally arresting him. Kejriwal is in Tihar Jail in connection with his alleged role in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy scam. There was high drama during the hearing in the courtroom, with Kejriwal himself addressing the court and saying he and other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, are innocent. “I am innocent, mylord,” he told the judge. Refusing the CBI’s plea that he had blamed Sisodia for the alleged scam, Kejriwal said that the central probe agency’s objective was to ensure headline management. “This is completely incorrect,” he said. Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari, appearing for Kejriwal, submitted that the CBI has been acting in a biased manner. “He is arrested in a case pending since August 2022. Kejriwal was called as a wit- S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi CBI officials leave Rouse Avenue Court with Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday | PTI LEGAL ROUTE The CM on Sunday moved SC challenging HC’s order staying his bail on June 21. On June 20, Rouse Avenue Court’s Judge Niyay Bindu granted Kejriwal bail. | P3 ness once, and he cooperated. He has never been named an accused,” he told the court. Chaudhari also alleged that the CBI didn’t give any notice to Kejriwal and said the timing of his arrest was illegal. Opposing the arguments, CBI’s lawyer DP Singh said that the liquor policy was formed on the behest of ‘South Group’ during the peak of Covid pandemic. “What was the need of this,” he asked and sought Kejriwal’s custody saying he needed to be confronted with other accused. “We need to confront him with documents that we have. We are not asking him to admit to something,” he said. “Kejriwal was evasive in his answers to CBI’s questions before his arrest,” Singh added. 5G spectrum auction fetches just 12% of targeted revenue R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi LUKEWARM RESPONSE THE Central government’s second 5G spectrum action on Wednesday saw subdued bidding by telecom companies, which collectively bid `11,340 crore for a total 141.4 MHz of airwaves. The bid value, amounts to just 12% of the reserve price of `96,238 crore. The auction concluded in two days with seven rounds of bidding. Bharti Airtel emerged the top bidder by acquiring airwaves worth `6,856.76 crore, followed by Vodafone Idea at `3,510 crore. India’s largest telecom operator Reliance Jio had deposited the highest earnest money of `3,000 crore but it bid only `973.62 crore to pick up additional spectrum. In the last 5G spectrum auc- This year’s auction included spectrum across various bands — 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz. However, telcos showed interest only in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands tion held in August 2022, the gover nment had fetched a record `1.5 lakh crore. The lukewarm response this time is attributed to the fact that most telecom service providers (TSPs), except Reliance Jio, participated in the auction mostly to renew their expired spectrums. Bharti Airtel, led by Sunil Mittal, acquired 97 MHz of spectrum to renew its expiring licences and also to bolster its mid-band spectrum holdings across select circles. Bharti Hexacom, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, acquired 15 MHz of airwaves for `1,001 crore. Vodafone Idea picked up 50 MHz spectrum across low band and mid band series (900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2500 MHz) in as many as 11 circles. Reliance Jio acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Bihar and West Bengal. The radiowaves on offer carry voice and data signals for mobile phones. “Spectrum auction 2024 was part of a continuous allocation process... TSPs have taken spectrum not only for continuity of service but for expanding their services but the volume is limited because already a large part of the spectrum required was auctioned only last year,” said Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. EXPRESS READ Advani in hosp, condition stable Pitroda to lead overseas Cong Veteran BJP leader and former Deputy PM LK Advani was admitted to AIIMS late on Wednesday night where he is kept under observation. His condition is stated to be stable. The 96-year-old is learnt to being treated by doctors from the Department of Urology. Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday reappointed Sam Pitroda as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, weeks after he resigned from the post following his controversial remarks in the middle of Lok Sabha polls elections, which the BJP termed as “racist”. Pitroda is considered a close aide of Rahul Gandhi. THE Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Arvind Kejriwal to withdraw his plea challenging the Delhi High Court order granting an interim stay on the trial court’s bail order in the alleged excise scam. A two-judge vacation bench of Justices Manoj Misra and S V N Bhatti allowed Kejriwal to withdraw his petition and file a fresh one. The SC noted that Abhishek Manu Singhvi, a senior lawyer for Kejriwal, sought permission to withdraw the SLP (Special Leave Petition) and file a fresh plea. “The same is allowed and the petition is permitted to be withdrawn under the aforesaid terms. Thus, SLP dismissed as withdrawn,” the apex court said in its order. The SC said that the SLP was filed by Kejriwal against the HC order of June 21, whereby the HC reserved the order. On June 26, the final order was passed by which the HC allowed the appeal of the ED, which challenged the trial court’s order of granting him bail. Senior lawyer for the ED, Additional Solicitor S V Raju, said that he has no objection to Kejriwal’s plea of withdrawing the SLP the court observed. , FREE MAN’S FREEDOM HUG WikiLeaks founder back in Australia on a charter jet on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing US military secrets in a deal with Justice Dept prosecutors. The 52-year-old entered his plea in a US district court in Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands. Julian Assange meets his wife Stella after landing at Canberra, Australia, on Wednesday | AP | P9 SAD story: Vertical split in Sukhbir party likely H A R P R E E T BA J WA @ Chandigarh THE Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) stares at a vertical spilt after a section of senior leaders revolted against party president Sukhbir Singh Badal even as its working committee on Wednesday reposed faith in Badal’s leadership. MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Sukhbir, said that some “BJP stooges” are trying to break the SAD as it did to parties in Maharashtra. But the rebel leaders claimed that the public sentiment towards the SAD leadership is changing. Asking Badal to quit, rebel leaders announced that ‘Akali Dal Bachao Lehar’ will be launched from July 1. The rebels include former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, exMLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and former ministers Sikandar Singh Maluka, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Surjit Singh Rakhra. “The party is fighting for its existence. Many workers left the party during the Lok Sabha polls. The party is going down since 2017 assembly polls. The sentiment of people and cadres is that the president should be changed if the party is to be revived,’’ Wadala told this newspaper. Harsimrat Kaur said, “The SAD is united and standing with Sukhbir Badal. Some BJP stooges are trying to break SAD like the way did in Maharashtra. Of our 117 leaders, only five are against Sukhbir Badal.’’ The working committee in its meeting asked “detractors” not to play into the hands of the enemies of ‘Panth’. “A dangerous conspiracy is already at work for communal polarisation in Punjab for petty political gains. The old game is being played out again to inject communal hatred and violence in the state and to put the blame on the Sikhs to vilify the youth as was done in the 80s,” read a resolution passed at the working committee meeting. Though there was a demand from members for “disciplinary action against some leaders who have been playing into the hands of enemies of ‘Panth’ and Punjab,” Sukhbir Badal called for “patience and a largehearted approach taught by Guru Sahiban.” ED sends dossier to DGP, says 23.6L units of sand mined illegally in TN BIG TIE MEN IN BLUE SEEK S I D D H A R T H P R A B H A K A R @ Chennai THE Enforcement Directorate has sent a dossier to the Tamil Nadu DGP flagging collusion between government officials and excavator-owning private contractors in the alleged `4,730 crore sand mining scam. The ED has also indicated that the state government failed to take adverse action against the illegal activity that allegedly caused a massive revenue loss tractors owning excavator mato the government exchequer. chines illegally mined sand In the letter sent to the DGP across vast areas adjacent to a few days ago under the PMLA those leased out for mining by Act, the central the Public Works agency, after their Department. At PRESS nine-month invesCLUSIVE four sand quartigation, pegged ries, contractors the excessive illemined sand 10-30 gally mined sand at 23.64 lakh times more than the actual perunits (66.21 lakh cubic metre) mitted quantity. In these four in the 2020-2023 period. quarries, though the TN govThe ED has detailed how con- ernment had permitted mining only in an area of 4.9 hectares, mining was found to have been carried out across 105 hectares, which included areas adjacent to the approved sites. Violations were found in terms of depth of excavation as well. The total lease area given to contractors was around 190 hectares across 28 sites in five districts, but the total area mined was estimated at 987 hectares, the ED added in its letter. It arrived at this figure based on the technical report submitted by Terraqua UAV Solutions, a firm incubated under IITKanpur, which was roped in to The total lease area given to contractors was around 190 hectares across 28 sites in five districts, but the total area mined was estimated at 987 hectares — Enforcement Directorate conduct a technical study to ascertain the extent of excessive mining in the sites. The firm used high-resolution satellite images to analyse before and after mining periods of sites. The ED has also substantiated excess mining by analysing GPS coordinates of 273 excavator machines sold by M/s Kobelco and JCB to 16 customers in TN, which were used for sand mining. T20 WC FINAL BERTH India will take on England, the defending champions against whom they lost in 2022 T20 semifinals, in Guyana. A win on Thursday will take India to their first T20 WC final since ’14 | P11
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