PM RECEIVES SENGOL FROM PONTIFF Sri Sri Ambalavanan Desika Paramacharya Swamigal handing over the Sengol amid chanting of hymns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day before the inauguration of the new Parliament building, at the latter’s residence in New Delhi on Saturday. As a symbol of transfer of power, a Sengol was made by the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu in 1947 | ANI SHIVAMOGGA  SUNDAY  MAY 28, 2023  `12.00  PAGES 24  CITY EDITION CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI PM urged states to take financially prudent decisions so as to become fiscally strong and capable of delivering programmes that meet the dreams of citizens - Niti Aayog Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the Niti Aayog meet in Delhi on Saturday Modi calls for fiscal prudence Urges all states and UTs to work in tandem with the Centre; 11 CMs skip Niti Aayog meeting RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged all states to work as a team with the Centre to achieve the goal of a developed nation by 2047 — the year India will reach the milestone of 100 years of Independence. Chairing the NITI Aayog’s 8th Governing Council meeting, he said, “When states grow, India grows.” As many as 11 chief ministers abstained, with some announcing their boycott. While not mentioning the revdi (freebie) culture, Modi requested states to take prudent decisions on financial matters to become self-sufficient. He also dwelt on the NITI Aayog’s initiatives to strengthen cooperative and competitive federalism, saying showcase the working of Team India. Modi spoke about the importance of skilling people to meet global requirements, supporting MSMEs, reducing compliances and decriminalising minor offences. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, in his address, said the Centre should respect rights of states and sought a permanent arrangement to compensate for the revenue loss suffered by states due to the GST regime. He complained that MSMEs in his state were not getting adequate coal. Both Baghel and his Himachal Pradesh counterpart Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu urged the Centre to refund the money deposited under the New Pension Scheme by their state governments as they have moved to the Old Pension Scheme. While Chhattisgarh deposited around `19,000 crore under the NPS, Himachal’s corrosponding figure is `9,242 crore. Siddu may keep Fin, DKS B’luru devpt, many seniors unhappy D EVA RA J B H I R E H A L L I @ Bengaluru CHIEF Minister Siddaramaiah will keep Finance, Intelligence and other critical unallotted portfolios, while Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is likely to be allotted two plum portfolios of Water Resources and Bengaluru Development. Although the final list of portfolios alloted to 34 ministers (including 24 sworn in on Saturday) has not been released, sources said Dr G Parameshwara will be given Home portfolio; MB Patil, Industries; KJ George, Energy; Krishna Byregowda, Revenue; Priyank Kharge, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj; Dr HC Mahadevappa, Social Welfare; KH Muniyappa, Food & Civil Supplies; Ramalinga Reddy Trans, port; Dr Sharanprakash Patil, Higher Education; Madhu Bangarappa, Primary & Secondary Education; Dinesh Gundu Rao, Health & Family Welfare; KN Rajanna, Cooperation; and Laxmi Hebbalkar, Women & Child Welfare. However, the list may be changed at the last minute as some senior ministers are unhappy with the portfolios allotted to them. Several ministers expressed their displeasure at the Cabinet meeting on Saturday afternoon after the swearing-in ceremony . The TNSE late Saturday night learnt that the final list of portfolios has not yet reached the governor’s office for formal approval. Meanwhile, several lists started doing the rounds on social media, which the Congress dubbed as ‘fake’. Governor Thaawarchand Ghelot with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and newly inducted ministers after the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Saturday | SHASHIDHAR BYRAPPA 24 in, decision on guarantees next month D EVA RA J B H I R E H A L L I @ Bengaluru THE Karnataka government, with a full-fledged 34-member cabinet under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, came into existence with the induction of 24 new ministers here on Saturday.The chief minister claimed this to be a record of sorts in forming a full-fledged cabinet within 15 days of declaration of results of the Assembly elections. Siddaramaiah told reporters that the full-fledged cabinet has been formed to deliver good governance with an impetus on implementing the five guarantees the Congress promised to the people of Karnataka. However, Siddaramaiah said: “The five guarantees will be tabled in the next cabinet meeting in June. The modalities to implement them P4 will be discussed.” WITH THIS ISSUE THE LOOK PLUS 12 PAGES ARMY CHIEF IN MANIPUR AS FORCES LAUNCH OPS P RASA N TA M A Z U M DA R @ Guwahati ARMY Chief General Manoj Pande arrived in violence-hit Manipur on Saturday for a twoday visit to take stock of the situation and chalk out strategies to restore peace. His arrival comes ahead of Union home minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to the state that is scheduled to begin on Monday Amid sporadic in. cidents of violence, the Army and the Assam Rifles stepped up combing operations to track down those suspected of involvement in activities disrupting the peace. “The Army and Assam Rifles launched large-scale combing operations in flashpoints as also the higher reaches surrounding the Imphal Valley in the wee hours of May 27 to track down armed insurgents operating in these areas,” a defence ministry statement said. The forces intervened on Friday night to stop firing between members of Meitei and Kuki communities in Imphal East and Churachandpur districts during which miscreants opened fire a n d r a n aw ay t o t h e higher reaches. The Congress, which has sought an appointment with President Droupadi Murmu over the situation, criticised the Centre’s alleged apathy towards the situation in the state. “It has been nearly a month since the violence broke out but the prime minister and the home minister have not visited Manipur so far,” Congress leader CM Okram Ibobi Singh said. Amid the turmoil, thousands of people hit the streets in Kakching on Saturday to take part in a peace rally Eminent . theatre personality Dr Ratan Thiyam appealed to the state’s religious leaders to take a proactive role in restoring peace and tranquility .