SATURDAY 02 NOVEMBER, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard O Z S E N AT O R FAMILIAR INDIAN BATTING COLLAPSE AGAINST NEW ZEALAND IN 3RD TEST TELLS RIVAL TO RETURN TO PAK Senator Pauline Hanson has breached racial discrimination laws by telling Pak-born Senator Mehreen Faruqi to return to her homeland, a court said on Friday. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 Oct registers 2nd best GST revenue at L1.87 lakh crore  NEW DELHI  J8.00 NEW DELHI  PAGES 12 After bowling out New Zealand for 235, India lost three wickets in eight balls to throw away the advantage. They ended Day One at 86/4 on Friday ROHIT, KOHLI’S BELOW PAR RETURNS CONTINUE ■ ■ Skipper Rohit Sharma scored 18 off 18 balls before being caught at second slip. His scores in last five innings are 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18. Virat Kohli once again got out cheaply when he fell short of the crease attempting a quick single. His wicket meant the hosts were reduced to 84/4 from 78/1 in the last two overs | MORE ON P11 BHUBANESWAR CHENNAI Festive season-driven domestic demand, enhanced compliance push up collection M O N I K A YA D A V @ New Delhi A surge in festival demand pushed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collected by the Union and state governments in October to `1.87 lakh crore, marking it the second-highest collection since the new indirect regime was rolled out on July 1, 2017. ROBUST The highest GST collection was recorded in REFUNDS April 2024, at `2.10 lakh crore. In October The October figure comes with annual growth 2024, refunds of 8.9%, finance ministry data released on Friday of `19,306 showed. In October 2023, the total GST revenue crore were was `1.72 lakh crore. issued, The latest growth is on account of a rise in doreflecting a mestic sales as well as enhanced compliance. The gross GST collection includes Central GST of `33,821 crore, State GST of `41,864 crore, Interise compared grated GST of `99,111 crore, and Cess collection of to the `12,550 crore for the month of October 2024. same period In the month under review, GST revenue from last year domestic transactions increased by 10.6%, reaching `1.42 lakh crore. Meanwhile, revenue from taxes on imports saw a rise of approximately 4%, totalling `45,096 crore. According to Saurabh Agarwal, tax partner at As we look EY, the recent GST collections indicate a potential ahead to the slowdown in consumer spending in India, which November surged in the previous fiscal year. The single-digit GST Council growth signals a cooling-off period. meeting, key “The collections made this month on account of discussions on festive season, particularly the performance of the streamlining automobile sector, will be crucial in determining the tax rate structure and the short-term trend. While the festive season is expected to boost collections, the overall outlook continued focus on trade for the near future remains cautious. Despite shortfacilitation term uncertainties, the long-term prospects for areas are GST collections remain promising due to India’s expected expanding consumer base and the government’s pro-growth policies,” Agarwal added. Mahesh Jaising, The net GST collections (after the refunds) durpartner and ing the month show a growth of 8% to `1.68 lakh leader, indirect tax, Deloitte India crore. Refunds recorded a growth of 18.2%. 18.2% TOP STATES BY GST REVENUE (D CRORE) STATE Maharashtra Karnataka Gujarat Tamil Nadu Haryana Uttar Pradesh OCT 2024 OCT 2023 `31,030 `27,309 `11,971 `9,730 `10,761 `13,081 `11,407 `11,188 `8,716 `10,045 `8,964 `9,602 ‘Enfant terrible’ who redefined Indian fashion E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi CELEBRATED fashion designer Rohit Bal passed away after a heart attack in a Delhi hospital on Friday. He was 63. He was suffering from heart and kidney complications since last year. Despite prolonged illness, Bal briefly returned to the runway at the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week in Delhi last month, showing his latest collection ‘ K a ay n a a t : A Bloom in the Universe’. Few knew it was to be his last public appearance. In its tribute on instagram, the Fashion Design Council Of India (FDCI) mourned the passing of the designer, known as fashion’s “enfant terrible”. “Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion, and inspired generations. Rest in peace GUDDA. You are a legend.” Shalini Passi, art patron who considered Bal a dear friend, said, “He was a master of his craft who never compromised on his embroideries and the cuts of his clothes. He embodied Indianness. His work was always exquisite and worthy to be in a museum.” THE MORNING AFTER A thick sheet of smog hangs over three cities at dawn on Friday after Diwali revelry the previous day. In Delhi, water spray trucks were deployed to reduce the smog | SHEKHAR YADAV / DEBADATTA MALLICK / SHIBA PRASAD SAHU PEAK AIR POLLUTION New Delhi 446 | Chennai 379 | Ahmedabad 377 | Kolkata 274 | Mumbai 257 | Bengaluru 191 | Hyderabad 171 Capital shame: Cracker ban goes up in smoke IFRAH MUFTI & J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi ON the face of it, the national capital has kept its dystrophic form since Diwali: large-scale firecracker bursting, unbreathable air and a resounding defiance of court and government orders. By early Friday morning facts showed who owns Delhi as it featured among the top polluted cities of the world. T he sk y took an ashen hue as heavy smog hung over the city, unmasking the claims of a cracker ban and large seizures of them. The fireworks happened across the city despite the government banning the production, sale and use of firecrackers until New Year’s Eve. The social media was abuzz with residents uploading videos of the sky filled with the lights from crackers. The air quality index on Friday touched 400 and above which was a ‘very poor’ state. The city’s air quality dropped to the “very poor” category, with an air quality of 395 and above at 10 pm on Diwali. Key areas, including Anand Vihar, saw the AQI plunge into the “severe”category while PM2.5 concentrations created hazardous conditions. However, owing to the good wind speed observed on Friday morning, the pollution levels did not aggravate. The police said that legal actions were taken a g ainst the people caught bursting crackers on Diwali night in some parts of the city . However, Atul Goyal, president of United RWAs Joint Action, blamed the gover nment. “There were no teams to check the flouting of rules. In local streets, in the inner markets, there were shops openly selling firecrackers.” The Delhi Pollution Control Committee reported extreme AQI levels across parts of Delhi, with Anand Vihar registering PM2.5 concentrations high enough to categorise it as “severe.” P3 Army begins patrolling at Demchok M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi WITH the completion of disengagement of troops from the two friction points in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army on Friday resumed regular patrolling at Demchok. Ar my sources told this newspaper that patrolling at the second stand-off point, Depsang Plains, would begin soon. The Army had on Wednesday announced completion of the agreed disengagement of troops from Demchok and Dep- sang, confirming a fresh thaw in the frosty India-China ties. And on Thursday the troops ex, changed sweets at several border points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to mark Diwali. Depsang has been one of the most complex and significant stand-off locations along the 832-km LAC in eastern Ladakh. As per the agreement between the Corps Commanders inked on October 21, the disengagement along with dismantling of temporary structures began on October 23 while the ground verification followed by modalities pertaining to patrolling was awaited. These are aimed at forces returning to their April 2020 positions. The troops have moved back from their points near Y-Junction in Depsang and Charding Nullah Junction (CNJ) in Demchok. However, they remain in the vicinity which means there , has been no change in overall troop strength or infrastructure in the area. LAC passes through CNJ where the Chinese had built a few tents. On Diwali, 484 stubble burning cases in Punjab HARPREET BAJWA @ Chandigarh THE biggest spike in stubble burning cases in Punjab took place on Diwali: 484 farm fire incidents were reported. So far 2,950 incidents of crop residue burring have been reported from the state and the number is likely to rise. The AQI level on Friday in Punjab and Haryana was recorded in “very poor” and ‘poor’ category. In Chandigarh, it was ‘very poor’. Sources said the number of farm fires may rise as the 15day wheat sowing period has begun from November 1. Meanwhile, the bad air has crossed the border. Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Maryam Nawaz has called for united efforts, saying she might write to CM Bhagwant Mann as it is “not a political but a humanitarian issue.’’ EXPRESS READ US POLL RECORD EARLY VOTER TURNOUT Pollution monitored between 12 pm on Oct 31 and 12 pm on Nov 1 P3 More than 62 million voters have already cast their ballots in the 2024 election, breaking records in some states and leading both sides to hope it gives them an edge | P9 SOREN IN NEW ROW, THIS TIME OVER AGE M U K E S H R A N J A N @ Ranchi WHAT is Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren’s actual age? 47? 49? Does it matter anyway ? If you were to go by the sworn affidavit he submitted to the Election Commission on December 12, 2019 while filing his nomination papers for the Jharkhand assembly polls, he should be 47 now because he had claimed he was 42 at that point in time. But in the affidavit he filed on October 24 this year for contesting from the Barhait seat, he mentioned his age as 49. Election affidavits are filed with utmost care because false declarations could end up in the candidate’s disqualification. While the BJP predictably went for his jugular and sought legal action, the Congress, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) ally, played it safe saying it needs verification. However, the JMM was confident that the affidavit was kosher. As for Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar, whose personnel scrutinised Soren’s latest af fidavit, he said no complaint on the matter has reached his office yet. The electoral officer of Barhait has the right to take a decision on the matter, he said, adding that the nomination process and its scrutiny are already over. As such, if there is any complaint, it can be resolved through legal process, he added. The BJP’s former state chief Deepak Prakash said, “appropriate legal action should be taken against Hemant Soren as law is equal to everyone in this country .” Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Congress in-charge for the state, said, “It is subject to verification… It would be inappropriate to comment on anything without checking the facts.” JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey dismissed the allegations as baseless. 2 workers from UP hurt in J&K terror attack, 5th such strike since Oct 18 Two labourers from Uttar Pradesh were shot at by terrorists in J&K’s Budgam district on Friday evening, officials said. Sufiyan and Usman were injured after they had come under attack in Mazhama area of Magam in the central Kashmir district, they said, adding the duo was taken to a hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable. This was the fifth terror attack in the Valley since a new government, led by Omar Abdullah, was formed in the Union Territory last month. | P8 PDF files downloaded from the Election Commission’s site show the age discrepancy All documents filed for the nomination were fully verified — Jharkhand Mukti Morcha spokesperson Manoj Pandey 25 JAN 1955-1 NOV 2024 BIBEK DEBROY LIVED MANY LIVES IN ONE SHORT LIFE SHANKKAR AIYAR Author of The Gated Republic, Aadhaar: A Biometric History of India’s 12 Digit Revolution, and Accidental India ‘DON’T dwell on the words’. It was his mantra for writing. Basically move on. How does one not dwell on the words while reminiscing about a loss and life…and Bibek Debroy lived many lives in one life — just the bibliography of his writings and the books he authored would take up this page and more! Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the PM, Bibek passed away at AIIMS, Delhi on Friday He was 69. . I first met Bibek in the 1990s while researching water — over cups of tea we discussed the chemistry, geography and therefore the politics of water. It set the stage for a treasured f r i e n d s h i p, e x c h a n g e o f thoughts, information and oddities — for instance the role of Lord Linlithgow in cattle farming or Shakespeare’s thoughts on money . Bibek embodied the term genius — he could infuse Kasparov’s opening gambit to explain implications in global trade, induct the concept of dharma while debating on taxation and present economic policy as a game with many outcomes. The skill and talent to make things simple was accompanied by felicity of language from Russian to Sanskrit – on one occasion, at a function hosted by the RSS, unsure of his Hindi, Bibek spoke on the global economy in Sanskrit. His ability to traverse across a tapestry of subjects effortlessly reflected extraordinary curiosity and therefore grasp of knowledge. He could quote chapter and verse from dense texts and decode them — whether it was nuances from the Constitution, provisions of WTO, or delineation of Kuznets Curve. Fiercely independent Bibek reserved the right to differ and disagree with- out being disagreeable and often termed his disagreements as disappointments. Bibek will be remembered as the quintessential interpreter of maladies and a repository of hopeful resolution. He brought forth deep analysis of the cause and consequences. For decades, he was the go-to person for governments at the Centre and across states on complex issues. This is manifest in the spectrum of his work - the challenge of deprivation in districts, economic freedom and competitiveness, restructuring of the railways, impact of judicial delays and corruption in governance. He was a rare raconteur of history with an uncommon sense of humour and a huge collection of anecdotes — he once recalled how while in the ministry of finance he was admonished for answering a Parliamentary question! Always willing to share, you could dial him with doubts or for a hearty chin wag on anything from the potential for an Indian version of Yes Minister to quirks of politicians to parallels of King Lear in Indian politics. India will miss his scholarship. I will miss the friendship. I wish I had met him earlier, known him longer. P6