thursdAY 12 december, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard former minister in detention tried to kill self Gukesh draws with white in Game 13 South Korea’s ex-defence minister was stopped from attempting suicide while in detention over last week’s martial law declaration. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS Page 9 l New Delhi l J8.00 l Singapore: Indian GM D Gukesh tried his best but could not overcome a resilient Ding Liren of China and had to settle for a draw after 68 moves in the 13th and penultimate game of the World Chess Championship. With the scores tied at 6.5-6.5 and one classical game to go, it will be crucial for Gukesh to hold on with black pieces on Thursday | P11 PAGES 12 Rahul’s pitch to HC judge faces impeach bid Birla to make LS fully functional P r e e tha Nai r @ New Delhi Urges Speaker to expunge BJP’s derogatory remarks; wants discussion on Constitution P r e e tha Nai r @ New Delhi Gandhigiri to put BJP on the mat Rahul Gandhi and his party’s MPs were joined by some other INDIA bloc MPs outside Parliament in greeting BJP members with placards and the national flag, as they urged them to allow the LS to function Rajnath sidestep Rahul Gandhi also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought to present him the flag but the veteran leader moved on after exchanging pleasantries Amid continuing political showdown over Congress’ alleged links to US investor George Soros, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday and urged him to expunge remarks made by BJP MPs against him, and ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. “I had a meeting with the Speaker and I told him that our party is saying that derogatory comments against me should be expunged. The Speaker said he will look into it. We want the House to function,” he said. Rahul accused the BJP of running away from discussion on the Adani issue, adding he would not be provoked by any of its charges. With the Opposition protesting outside Parliament demanding a discussion on the US indictment of the Adani group, the treasury benches stepped up their counter attack on the Congress’ alleged links to Soros inside the House. Rahul said the Congress wants a discussion on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha starting December 13, adding his party will ensure the House functions properly despite provocation, even though it is not their responsibility . He said BJP MPs can speak against “me on whatever issue, but the debate on the Constitution should happen”. On Tuesday Congress Deputy Leader in Lok , Sabha Gaurav Gogoi wrote to the Speaker, urging him to examine the party’s complaint against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s defamatory remarks against Rahul Gandhi and remove them from the record. Gogoi said after the Speaker announces his decision, the Congress would be keen to participate in the legislative business in Parliament. P7 india bloc rift AAP says will fight polls on own strength, rules out ties e x p r ess n e ws s e rvi c e @ New Delhi RULING out the possibility of an alliance with the Congress, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced on Wednesday that the party will contest the upcoming Delhi assembly election independently . Taking to ‘X’, Kejriwal stated, “AAP will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress.” Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “The AAP national convenor has clarified that there is no alliance happening with the Congress in Delhi. The AAP will contest the elections independently In the last three elec. tions, the party has decisively defeated the BJP .” Meanwhile, MP Raghav Chadha said, “I want to categorically state that the AAP will fight the upcoming Delhi election based on its organisational strength and political capabilities. The question of any alliance does not arise. Reports suggesting a possible alliance between AAP and Congress are completely baseless.” Reacting to the statements of AAP leaders, DPCC president Devender Yadav said that the state unit would contest the upcoming assembly elections alone, as it was in a very strong position to win the polls and come back to power. Yadav stated that the Delhi Congress will not have any tieup with the “corrupt Kejriwal party” for the Assembly elections, as the Congress had to pay a heavy price for aligning with the AAP for the Lok Sabha elections. a day after the Supreme Court asked the Allahabad High Court to furnish details of the controversial speech delivered by Justice Shekhar Yadav at a VHP event, Opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday started the process to move an impeachment motion against the HC judge. According to sources, more than 40 INDIA bloc MPs have signed the petition initiated by Rajya Sabha MP and senior lawyer Kapil Sibal. The motion is likely to be submitted on Thursday said , an opposition MP . The signatories include Congress MPs Digvijaya Singh, Vivek Tankha, Renuka Chowdhury, AAP’s Sanjay Singh, TMC’s Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose, RJD’s Manoj Jha, SP’s Javed Ali Khan, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, A A Rahim, and CPI’s Sandosh Kumar and P P Suneer. The notice said that by making divisive and prejudiced statements, Justice Yadav eroded public confidence in the judiciary “His statements, which have been . widely documented and reported, encouraged animosity and division among different religious and communal groups,” it said. The notice further said: “The remarks are in blatant violation of the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life, adopted by the Supreme Court in 1997, which mandates judges to maintain impartiality , equality and restraint, both in their judg, ments and conduct outside court.” 50 RS MPs need to sign the motion The motion will be moved under Section 3 (1) (B) of the Judges (Inquiry) Act. A complaint against a judge has to be made through a resolution signed by 100 members if moved in the Lok Sabha and 50 MPs if it’s in the Rajya Sabha Rape accused jumps bail, kills & dismembers victim in Odisha two-wheeler to a place under Lathikata police limits where he allegedly killed the In a horrific crime, a 24-year-old youth ac- 18-year-old girl. The two places are about cused of raping a minor girl last year, 145 km apart. jumped interim bail and murdered the vicKisan who was arrested in August last tim before dismembering her body year on charges of raping the victim – a miand disposing it in Brahnor then — was granted mani river at Rourkela. Non-bailable warrant interim bail three months The incident came to later on December 4. As the accused had jumped light on Wednesday when IG (Northern Range) the bail granted to him in the rape Jharsuguda police brought Himanshu Lal informed case and did not appear before the the accused to Rourkela that the victim was staycourt, a non-bailable warrant was and recovered the body ing at her aunt’s house at issued against him parts, including torso of Jharsuguda and worked the victim, with the help at a beauty parlour. After of a forensic team and Odisha Disaster Rap- she went missing, a complaint was lodged id Action Force (ODRAF), from near Tark- with Jharsuguda police on December 7. era pump house. Search for the victim’s The IG said Kisan told investigators he head was still underway . was apprehensive about being convicted in Before committing the heinous crime, the rape case if the victim’s statement was the main accused Kunu Kisan kidnapped recorded during the trial and decided to the victim from Jharsuguda town and, take the extreme step after failing to conalong with an accomplice, took her on a vince her to give a favourable statement. P r asa n j e e t S a r ka r @ Rourkela /Jharsuguda Will put the best foot forward to deliver trust, growth, and stable and certain policy Sanjay Malhotra, RBI governor Continuity New RBI guv to ensure policy stability After taking charge on Wednesday, Sanjay Malhotra said ensuring growth is a ‘huge responsibility’ and that decisions will be made with public interest in mind | P10 AAP smells consipracy in deletion No liquor without hard of names from poll roll, moves EC copy of age proof: Govt A n u p V e r m a @ New Delhi an AAP delegation, led by national convener Arvind Kejriwal and also comprising senior leaders, on Wednesday met the Election Commission amid allegations of mass deletion of names from the electoral rolls. Delhi will go to polls in February next year. The delegation submitted 3,000 pages of evidence and alleged that the BJP was conspiring to delete names. “The BJP is orchestrating mass vote deletion in key seats. We are grateful to the EC for granting us a meeting on short notice. We presented 3,000 pages of evidence before the poll panel, highlight the BJP’s conspiracy . These are votes of residents, particularly the poor, SCs, Dalits, Purvanchalis and those living in slums and unauthorised colonies,” Kejriwal said. “We presented evidence of how a BJP office-bearer in the Shahdara assembly constituency secretly submitted a list to EC for deletion of 11,008 voters, and the poll panel began acting licenced vendor, or their employees or agents to sell or deTHE government has issued in- liver alcohol to individuals who structions to hotels, clubs, and are apparently under 25 years restaurants serving alcohol to old, either for personal or othensure compliance with the le- ers’ consumption. The departgal drinking age of 25 years. ment emphasised the imporOperators are now required to tance of following these verify customers’ age using guidelines in a circular issued hard copies of government-is- to licence holders, stating, “All sued identity documents. the licence holders of hotels, The directive comes clubs, restaurants are in response to violahereby directed to be tions detected during more careful and to routine inspections not serve liquor to any All the licence by the excise departperson under the age ment, which found in- holders of hotels, of 25 years without clubs, restaurants stances of underage ve r i f y i n g t h e a g e are directed to drinking at various through governmentnot serve liquor establishments. issued IDs.” to any person Officials revealed To strengthen enunder the age of that some customers 25 years without forcement, the excise under 25 were found verifying the age department has adthrough govtconsuming liquor vised licencees to veriissued IDs” while pretending to fy customers’ ages usmeet the age requireing physical IDs rather Government ment. Complaints than vir tual ones were also received s av e d o n m o b i l e against excise licencees for phones, except for those stored serving alcohol to minors, in Digilocker app. This step prompting a review of these aims to curb use of fake or tamviolations by the department. pered digital IDs. Non-compliUnder the Delhi Excise Act, ance with the legal drinking 2009, it is illegal for any person, age norms will invite action. PR A B H AT S H U K L A @ New Delhi AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, along with Atishi, Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha and others, after a meeting with EC at the Nirvachan Sadan on Wednesday | Parveen Negi on it. In Janakpuri, 24 BJP workers applied seeking deletion of 4,874 votes. In Tughlakabad, 15 BJP men applied to delete 2,435 votes,” he said. Calling the meeting successful, the AAP supremo said that the EC assured him that no mass deletion would take place ahead of the elections. “If the EC decides to delete a vote, a field inquiry will be conducted. During the inquiry, BLOs will be accompanied by representatives of all political parties. Any deletion will take place only after the process. If implemented, it will end wrongful deletions,” Kejriwal said. The AAP delegation included CM Atishi, Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, senior party leader Jasmine Shah, among others. Former deputy CM Manish Sisodia alleged that BJP was submitting bulk applications for removal of names from the electoral rolls as it feared defeat in the upcoming polls. Express read Maoists kill C’garh BJP man, 5th civilian in 1 wk Maoists killed a BJP worker on suspicion of being a police informer at Somanpalli village in Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. The deceased was dragged out from his house by a suspected small action group of Maoists and strangled him to death, the police said. Mercury goes below 5oC, cold wave grips capital Delhi’s minimum temperature on Wednesday dipped to 4.9°C, the lowest of the season so far. The minimum temperatures in early December have been recorded below 5 degrees Celsius for the first time in 14 years, the Indian Meteorological Department said. It issued a yellow alert, warning of similar cold wave conditions for the next two days. | P3 10-year-old critical after botched blood transfusion In a case of medical negligence, a 10-year-old child suffering from kidney disease was administered ‘AB+’ blood instead of his ‘O+’ blood group at Jaipur’s JK Lone Hospital. The boy was admitted to the hospital on December 4 after complaint of breathing difficulties. The hospital has formed an investigation panel headed by a senior professor. Haqqani Afghan minister for refugees killed in Kabul The Afghan minister for refugees Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani was killed by a suicide bomber at the ministry’s office in Kabul | P9 Altruistic gesture In a 1st in India, body of 2-day-old donated to Doon hosp for med education N A REN D R A S E T H I @ Dehradun THE family of a two-day-old baby donated her body for medical study at Doon Hospital in Dehradun, making her the youngest donor in the country . Saraswati had been suffering from a heartrelated condition known as asphyxia and passed away shortly after birth. This act is being recognised as the first instance in India where a newborn’s body has been donated. The bereaved family made this difficult decision in hopes of contributing to medical education and research. Dr Rajendra Saini from Haridwar stated, “The baby girl had a heartrelated ailment that led to her passing on Wednesday morning.” The infant’s father, Ram Mihir, works as a factory employee in Haridwar. Reports say Dr Saini encour- Better understanding of pediatric health The newborn was suffering from a heart-related condition known as asphyxia and died shortly after birth. On being counselled by a doctor, the family contacted Mukesh Goyal from Dadhichi Body Donation Committee. Through this committee, the body was donated on Wednesday morning. The donation will serve as a resource for students and researchers, enhancing their understanding of pediatric health. aged the family to consider organ donation. Following his guidance, the family contacted Mukesh Goyal from Dadhichi body donation committee, which carried out the process. Hospital sources said the compassionate decision by the family not only honours the memory of their child but also contributes to medical education and research. According to hospital officials, the donation will serve as a valuable resource for medical students and researchers, enhancing their understanding of pediatric health and potentially saving future lives. This selfless act also raises awareness about the vital importance of organ donation in India. Dr M K Pant, head of the Anatomy Department, said, “Such cases are extremely rare, especially when it involves the body donation of a child just a few days old.” He explained that a thermal coating will be applied to preserve the child’s body for an extended period. Assistant Professor Dr Rajesh Kumar Maurya said, “This is the first case in the country where a body donation has taken place at such a tender age.” The donated body will be preserved at the Doon Medical College museum to raise awareness about organ donation.