TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard ISRAELI KREMLIN SAYS ASSAD GRANTED POLITICAL ASYLUM IN RUSSIA Palestinian medical officials said Israeli strikes killed at least six people. Among the dead were Raed Ghabaien, who was released from Israeli detention. The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia has granted political asylum to the former Syrian president who fled the country on Sunday STRIKES KILL 6 IN CENTRAL GAZA A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEET Russian President Vladimir Putin personally made the decision to offer asylum to Assad, Kremlin said. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency consultation on the situation in Syria later Monday at Russia’s request. In Syria, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets of Damascus. Most shops were shut and public transport was unavailable | P7 & 9 Revenue Secy Stop attacks on Hindus, Dhaka told Sanjay Malhotra is new RBI chief Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi To assume charge on Wednesday; will have to fight high inflation and slowing growth B E N N K O C H U V E E D A N @ Mumbai Sanjay Malhotra IIT GRAD, MASTER’S FROM U.S. An engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Sanjay Malhotra also holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Princeton University, US INFLATION DATA ON THURSDAY The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will release the November retail inflation data on Thursday, a day after new guv takes charge THE government on Monday appointed Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Malhotra, 56, will assume charge on Wednesday a day af, ter the six-year tenure of incumbent Shaktikanta Das ends. A 1990 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, Malhotra has been appointed for three years. He has extensive administrative experience of over 33 years working with various central and state government departments across finance, taxation, power, IT, and mining. Malhotra’s appointment comes at a challenging time as the central bank has to keep the country’s retail inflation within the mandated range of 2-6% while clearing the path for economic growth. His decisions will be watched keenly as the latest data shows retail inflation remains above RBI’s allowable limit at 6.21% in October while GDP growth has slumped to 5.4% in the second quarter of FY25. The delayed announcement of the new RBI governor’s appointment, made a day before Das’s tenure was to end, created a buzz that the incumbent might get another extension. That Das met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday fuelled the speculation. Das was appointed as RBI governor after the abrupt exit of Urjit Patel on December 12, 2018. In 2021, he was given a three-year extension, which will end on December 10. According to experts, the appointment shows the Central government’s preference for IAS officers as RBI governors, rather than bringing economists from outside. Malhotra’s experience in the finance ministry is expected to ensure smooth coordination with the government in matters of monetary policy . INDIA BLOC PUSH COMING, NO-TRUST MOTION AGAINST V-P P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi IN a breakdown of ties between the Opposition and the BJP-led NDA government, the INDIA bloc on Monday said it is contemplating an impeachment motion against Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Several Opposition MPs, including TMC and SP members, have signed a resolution for a no-trust motion against Dhankhar under Article 67(B) of the Constitution, which says the V-P may be removed from office with a resolution passed by a majority of members in the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha, too, has to approve it. During the Monsoon session of Parlia- ment in August, the Opposition had made an attempt to push a no-confidence motion against Dhankhar after days of run-ins between both sides. As many as 80 members had signed that motion, said sources but the INDIA bloc did not move it as they decided to give Dhankhar ‘another chance’. But his pro-NDA ‘slant’ on Monday convinced them to go ahead with it. The Congress on Monday took the lead and the others joined in. However, the CPI(M) and CPI told this paper they were not consulted. BJP sources said the Opposition does not have the numbers as the NDA’s 119 seats puts it just past the majority mark as the RS strength is 238. P7 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri with his counterpart Md Jashim Uddin | PTI During the meetings, I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN, CLAIMS BANGLADESH FOREIGN Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday raised the issue of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh during the first high-level diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Dhaka since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government took power in August. Voicing concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, Misri told his counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin that the attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties were regrettable. Misri also called on the chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Md Touhid Hossain. Misri expressed New Delhi’s desire for a “positive, constructive and mutually beneficial” relationship with Dhaka. “Today’s discussions have Bangladesh on Monday claimed there is a ‘negative campaign’ about attacks on minorities. “We drew their attention and sought appropriate steps regarding dissemination of misleading and false information in Indian media about... alleged hostile attitude to the minority communities here in the post-revolution,” Jashim Uddin said A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE AAP on Monday announced its second list of 20 candidates for the Assembly poll, scheduled for February next year. This list involves major changes, as the party has dropped 13 of its MLAs. With the second list, AAP has announced names of 31 candidates for the 70 seats. Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Bidlan have been assigned tickets from new constituencies: Jangpura and Manipur, respectively instead of their , traditional seats. Avadh Ojha, an UPSC coaching teacher, has replaced Sisodia in Patparganj. The list also features Jintender Singh Shunty , fielded from Shahdara, and Surinder Pal Singh Bittu, contesting from Timarpur, who recently quit BJP and joined AAP. Additionally, Vikas Bagga and Punardeep Singh Sawhney the sons , of MLAs Krishna Nagar’s S K Bagga and Chandni Chowk’s Parlad Singh Sawhney, have also been named as candidates by the party . The party had announced 11 candidates in its first list for the assembly elections. It has decided to drop several MLAs, including Sharad Chauhan (Narela), Dilip Pandey (Timarpur), Pawan Kumar Sharma (Adarsh Nagar), Dharampal Lakra (Mundka), Parhlad Singh Shawney (Chandani Chowk), Rajesh Rishi (Janakpuri), Bhupender Singh Joon (Bijwasan), Bhawna Gaur (Palam), Praveen Kumar (Jangpura), Prakash Jarwal (Deoli), Rohit Kumar (Trilokpuri), S.K. Bagga (Krishna Nagar), Ram Niwas Goel (Shahdara), and Adil Ahmad Khan (Mustafabad). Ram Niwas Goel and Dilip Pandey opted out of the ticket race just before the list was released. Raaj Kumar Anand, who won on the AAP ticket from Patel, resigned from the party . 31 Candidates Named: In the first list, 11 candidates named; total now 31 of 70 seats 13 MLAs Dropped: Key reshuffle as MLAs lose tickets AAP’S FRESH New Entrants: PICKS: NEW FACES Ex-BJP leaders & KEY SHIFTS Jitender Singh Shunty MANISH SISODIA AND RAKHI BIDLAN MOVED TO NEW CONSTITUENCIES and Surinder Pal Singh Bittu fielded Family Legacy: Sons of MLAs S K Bagga and Parlad Sawhney get tickets Grassroots Focus: Candidates chosen based on public feedback `800 cr in 4 days, Pushpa rules box office EVER since he rose on the screen in 2021, Allu Arjun’s Pushparaj has become an unstoppable force of nature. His staggering refusal to bow down to authority found universal resonance as the film became among the first blockbusters in the post-pandemic era. With Pushpa 2: The Rise, he goes to the next level, bringing more style to his persona as he swings around in a sari, breaking bones with a touch of vulnerability His over-the-top ac. tion and rousing dialogues are finding an immense release in audiences globally as is evident , from it box-office numbers. With a worldwide gross of `800.50 crore, the film has collected `529 crore in India (net) in four days in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. It opened at the box office, earning a whopping `164.25 crore, surpassing the opening day numbers of Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal (`63.8 crore), Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan (`75 crore), Yash’s KGF: Chapter 2 (`116 crore) and Prabhas starrer Baahubali 2: The ment cooperation and multifaceted engagements with Bangladesh, including in the areas of connectivity, trade, power, energy and capacity building, are all geared towards the benefit of the people of Bangladesh. He said India expected an overall constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities and looked forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive and constructive direction. During these meetings, Misri highlighted India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh, the MEA said in a statement. P7 Sisodia shifted to Jangpura in AAP 2nd list of 20 names HINDI BELT LAPS IT UP S H R E YA S PA N D E given both of us the opportunity to take stock of our relations. I appreciate the opportunity today to have had a frank, candid and constructive exchange of views with all my interlocutors,” he told reporters after meeting Uddin. While expressing anguish over the recent incidents of violence against minorities during the meetings, Misri said he also underlined India’s desire to work closely with the i n t e r i m g o ve r n m e n t o f Bangladesh. Misri emphasised that people are the main stakeholders in India-Bangladesh relations, and noted that India’s develop- Conclusion (`121 crore). The Sukumar directorial, however, saw a steep decline on Day 2, making `93.8 crore. It picked up again over the weekend, raking `119.25 crore on Saturday and `141.5 crore on Sunday. The film has been receiving unprecedented acclaim expecially in the Hindi belt, minting `285.70 crore against `197.70 crore in the original Telugu version. On Sunday, it became the first Hindi film to have earned `85 crore (India net) in a day . Part 1 mop up in 3 days Interestingly, the second part surpassed the lifetime collection of Pushpa: The Rise – Part 1 (`267.55 crore) in just three days. The film is expected to cross `1,000 crore globally before it completes the first week run Reservation can’t be based on religion: SC S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi RELIGION cannot be the basis for granting reservation, the Supreme Court said on Monday, while hearing a batch of pleas, including one by the West Bengal government, challenging the Calcutta High Court’s decision to quash the Other Backward Class (OBC) classification of 77, mostly Muslim, communities. A two-judge bench of the court, led by Justice B R Gavai and Justice K V Viswanathan, observed, “Reservation cannot be on the basis of religion.” In its May 22 verdict, the high court had said, “Religion indeed appears to have been the sole criterion for declaring these communities as OBCs.” Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state government, told the court that, “This reservation is not based on religion but backwardness which has been upheld by the court. Even for Hindus, its on the basis of backwardness.” The Supreme Court adjourned the matter to January 7 for a detailed hearing. RISING RAJ MODI SHOWCASES STATE AS INVESTMENT DESTINATION FLIGHT VALIDATION TEST The first test flight being accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute upon its landing at Noida Int’l Airport amid the ongoing trials, at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, UP, on Monday | PTI | P4 At a global business meet, PM Modi on Monday said the immense potential of Rajasthan acts as a magnet for investors. | P8 City braces for chilly days as temp may dip to 6o C this week, light fog expected Cold wave condition expected Delhi-NCR is set to experience a sharp dip in temperatures this week, with the mercury possibly plunging to as low as 6OC by December 10. This drop will bring cold wave conditions to the city and the neighbouring states of UP. Punjab EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi A night after the national capital witnessed its first winter rain, the city woke up to a cold morning on Monday, with the minimum temperature settling at 8.2 degrees Celsius, 1.2 notches below the season’s average. The fall in temperature was due to isolated rain and an increase in wind speed on Sunday as per meteorologi, cal experts. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, the national capital is set to experience a sharp dip in temperatures this week, with the mercury possibly plunging to as low as 6 degrees Celsius by December 10. This drop will bring cold wave conditions to the capital and the neighbouring northern states such as Punjab, Haryana, and EXPRESS READ Diljit invokes Rahat Indori’s poem to silence VHP-Bajrang Dal protest Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh performed live in Indore on Sunday evening amid protests against the concert by VHP and Bajrang Dal. Dosanjh used Indore’s famous Urdu poet Rahat Indori’s poem to silence those opposing the concert. Series of controversies had cropped up days before the concert. | P8 Leopard on prowl in Farrukhabad, forest dept staff among 14 injured A maneater leopard, on the prowl, wreaked havoc by injuring 14 people, including two students and four forest department staff, before being captured in Farrukhabad in UP on Monday. The feline, which sustained injuries, was successfully sedated and caged, was moved for medical intervention at Kanpur’s Allen Forest Zoo. western Uttar Pradesh, with the chill expected to persist until December 14. Despite a moderately foggy Monday the city will likely ex, perience clear skies in the coming days, as per IMD. With similar temperatures, moderate fog in Delhi will likely persist on December 10 and 11. Under the influence of a mild western disturbance from De- cember 12 to 14, light fog is expected in the Delhi-NCR region. During these days, the maximum temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees, while the minimum temperature will range between 6 and 8 degrees. In its latest forecast on Sunday the weatherman predicted , a cold wave that would sweep most of northern India beginning Monday December 9. , However, the city’s air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category with an Air Quality Index , (AQI) of 212 at 9 a.m., according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The CPCB classifies AQI levels between 201 and 300 as “poor”. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good,” 51 and 100 “satisfactory,” 101 and 200 “moderate,” 201 and 300 “poor,” 301 and 400 “very poor,” and 401 and 500 “severe”. 40 schools get hoax bomb calls, $30K ransom sought S H E K H A R S I N G H @ New Delhi OVER 40 schools across the national capital received bomb threats via email, prompting panic and immediate police action, officials said on Monday . The email also included a ransom demand of $30,000 and threats of detonating hidden explosives if the demand wasn’t met. However, the threat was later turned out to be hoax. The email, which was mailed at 11.38 pm on Sunday when the schools were closed from scottielanza@gmail.com. It stated: “I planted multiple bombs (lead azide, an explosive compound used in detonators) inside the building. The bombs are small and hidden very well. It will not cause very much damage to the building, but many people will be injured when the bombs detonate. You all deserve to suffer. If I don’t receive USD 30,000, I will detonate the bombs.” The threats had caused concern among parents and students, leading to heightened security measures and temporary closures in several schools. Bomb squads, along with dog units, conducted searches but found no explosives.