NEW DELHI 07 JANUARY 2024 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  twitter.com/TheMornStandard e-volution https://epaper.morningstandard.in WAKING UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE PLUS: 12 PAGES EXCLUSIVE VOICES IT TAKES A VILLAGE POST JUDGEMENT EIGHT EX-NAVY OFFICERS FILE FIRST APPEAL IN QATAR COURT Y E S H I S E L I @ New Delhi AN appeal has been filed by the legal team representing the eight Indian Navy veterans in Qatar’s Cassation Court. This is the first appeal filed after the judgement was announced on December 28 in the court of appeal where the death sentence was commuted into jail terms for all the eight naval veterans. “The families who were in Doha for a few weeks before the last appeal was heard on December 28, had signed the appeal papers that have been submitted in the Cassation court. Most of them have returned to India. Even though the death sentence has been commuted, there are varying jail terms for each of them — from three years (which has been awarded to Sailor Ragesh) upto 25 years,” said a source. According to people familiar with the matter, the appeal will be heard in the Cassation court, a few times, before another announcement is made for the eight veterans- repatriation is what everyone is hoping for. Cassation court is a high-instance court that exists in some judicial systems. It is the highest court of appeal. Courts of Cassation do not re-examine the facts of a case, they only interpret the relevant law. The eight naval veterans, who have been under detention in Qatar since August 30, 2022, are Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vashisht, Commander Purnendu Tiwar, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh. Been Here, Dune That MAGAZINE Anand Neelakantan Ravi Shankar S Vaidhyasubramaniam Shinie Antony Day after attack, suo motu police case against ED Dinesh Singh Bibek Debroy Shankkar Aiyar Nanditha Krishna PACKING A FUZZY PEACH PUNCH ‘Antagonists Take Risks’ Artistic impression of Aditya in orbit | ISRO CONTINUOUS VIEWING From the L1 point, Aditya has the advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation or eclipses, ISRO scientists said. It will help observe solar activities and their effects in real time IN its maiden solar mission, ISRO successfully placed Aditya-L1 spacecraft into its final orbit on Saturday at 4 pm. The insertion of Aditya-L1 in the halo orbit presented a critical mission phase, which demanded precise navigation and control. A successful insertion further involved constant monitoring along with the adjustment of the spacecraft’s speed and position by using onboard thrusters. “The success of this insertion not only signifies ISRO’s capabilities in such complex orbital manoeuvres, but also gives confidence to handle future interplanetary missions,” ISRO said. The satellite placed in the orbit of the SunEarth system, which is about 1.5 million kms from Earth, has covered only 1 per cent of the distance to the Sun. It will be undertaking several studies on the impact of the Sun’s radiation, solar flares, solar storms and other particles on the Earth through payloads. Timing their bundle of joy with consecration R A M A S H A N K A R @ Patna RIYA Choudhary (name changed) is a first-time expectant mother in Patna whose due date falls on January 24. However, she, like many other pregnant women in Bihar’s capital, has requested her doctor at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) to advance the date to January 22 so that it coincides with the consecra- tion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “I want to deliver my baby at the time when the consecration ceremony of Ram temple is held in Ayodhya,” she said. She is not alone. More than 50 soon-to-be mothers and their family members have in recent days approached doctors at PMCH and other hospitals in Patna with requests to either advance the due date or postpone it so that the baby can be PLANE WINDOW BLOWS OUT Statistical handbook, released by the Delhi govt reveals that over 3.41 crore electricity bills worth zero were generated in 2022-23, under the free electricity scheme of AAP govt in which monthly use of up to 200 units is free. Compared to 21-22, electricity consumers rose by 2.8 lakh A portion of its fuselage too suffers damage shortly after takeoff 6km above Oregon. Pilots made an emergency landing as its 174 passengers and six crew members donned oxygen masks. P9 Delhi leads in electric buses THE city saw a rise of 13.5% in the annual per capita income in 2022-23 compared to the previous year. A statistical handbook released by the Delhi government revealed that the national capital’s per capita income increased from `3,89,529 to ` 4,44,768 in the current financial year. The government claimed that the figure is 158% higher than the national average, according to the handbook of the Delhi government. The handbook, released by the Economic & Statistics department containing data on the socio-economic parameters of the city, also revealed that more than 3.41 crore electricity bills wor th zero were generated in 2022-23, under the free electricity scheme of the AAP government in which monthly use of up to 200 units is free. While releasing the handbook, planning department minister Atishi said the Kejriwal government set new benchmarks in public service in 2023. Despite the continuous increase in power consumers and growing demand, the Kejriwal government ensured uninterrupted power supply to the residents of Delhi, Atishi, who also holds the power department Average of 41 lakh bus passengers commuted daily in 2023. The Handbook says city leads the electric vehicle revolution. Delhi has a fleet of 7,200 buses, including 1,300 electric buses. Over 1 lakh water connections were added in 2022-23. Govt says the city has highest minimum wages UCC U’KHAND PLANS SPECIAL ASSEMBLY THIS MONTH-END As part of its election manifesto, the Uttarakhand government has signaled its intention to implement the Uniform Civil Code by convening a special session of the Assembly. The govt is poised to take a major step towards implementing UCC, says Minister. P8 portfolio, said. She said over 3.41 crore electricity bills worth zero were generated in the past fiscal year. “The Kejriwal government significantly improved public transportation services in the city with an aver, age of 41 lakh passengers commuting daily on buses in 2023. Delhi is leading the electric vehicle revolution in the country and the city currently has 7,200 buses on the streets, including 1,300 electric buses,” she said. “Compared to 2021-22, the number of electricity consumers in Delhi increased nearly 2.8 lakh and more than 1 lakh water connections were added in 2022-23,” she said. She also said that the city has the highest minimum wages in the country — `17,494 for unskilled, `19,279 for semi-skilled, and `21,215 for skilled workers — and the government increases these wages every six months. “The Kejriwal government prioritises care for seniors, daughters, and those with special needs, providing pensions to over four lakh elderly, benefiting 1.7 lakh girls through the Ladli Scheme, and offering financial assistance to 1.13 lakh with special needs,” Atishi said. born on the auspicious day . Kalpana Kumari (name changed) is also looking forward to giving birth on the auspicious day. “The shubh muhurt (auspicious period) has been finalised by my in-laws,” she said. Her doctor, a noted gynecologist at a private hospital in Patna, had fixed January 25 as her due date. However, her in-laws requested the doctor to do the surgery on January 22. ALASKA City’s per capita annual income sees big jump, 158% higher than national average 3cr power bills with no charge Listening is an Art E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bengaluru P R A N A B M O N D A L @ Kolkata A S H I S H S R I VA STAVA @ New Delhi SWAMI SUKHABODHANANDA SPEAKS India gets bigger halo as Aditya reaches its final Sun study orbit Agency officers attacked at Bongaon as well; ex-head of civic body arrested in ration scam Bose summoned the state chief secretary and the director genA day after the horrific attacks eral of police to Raj Bhavan on on Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday, both failed to turn up officers when they raided the even a day after the incident. house of Trinamool Congress Late on Friday night, another leader Shahjahan Sheikh in set of ED officers faced a similar North 24 Parganas in a ration attack from Trinamool supportscam case, both sides filed police ers while arresting former chaircomplaints against each other. man of Bongaon civic body Besides, the police lodged a suo Shankar Adhya in the same ramotu case against the ED offic- tion scam. Adhya’s followers surers, charging them with molesta- rounded the sleuths and smashed tion, forcible entrance the rear windshield of and theft. Another FIR one of its vehicles. Fortulodged on the basis of a nately, none of the ED ofcomplaint from the careficers was injured. taker of Shahjahan’s “A group of Adhya’s house charged the agenfollowers attacked us cy’s officers with atwhen we were taking him tempted break in without of his Bongaon resiout any warrant. dence. The central police For its part, the ED e- Shahjahan Sheikh personnel had to lathimailed its complaint to charge the crowd,” said the director general of police and an ED officer. superintendent of Basirhat poFormer food and supplies minlice district, making serious ister Jyotipriya Mallick was charges, including attempt to among the first to be arrested in murder against the attackers and the `2,000 crore scam on October its perpetrators. However, no one 27. The agency also searched Adwas arrested in connection with hya’s in-laws’ house in the same the attack on the ED officers. area and recovered `8 lakh cash Parallelly, Union Home minis- and incriminating evidence. “Adter Amit Shah is understood to hya was a close aide of Mallick. have sought a report from West We found clinching evidence Bengal Governor C V Ananda showing his direct involvement Bose on Friday’s attack. Though in the scam,” said the officer. Behind Enemy Lines HASINA POISED TO RETAIN POWER IN TODAY’S BANGLADESH ELECTION BITING COLD A man warms himself near a bonfire on Saturday. Meanwhile, the winter vacation in Delhi schools has been extended till January 10 due to cold weather conditions, officials said | PTI EXPRESS READ Will decide on Ayodhya invite soon, says Kharge In his first reaction on attending the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that he will “very soon” take a decision on whether to attend the ceremony on January 22 or not. “I received the invitation from PM Narendra Modi’s former principal secretary and I will decide on it very soon,” Kharge said, while unveiling the logo of ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’. P7 BJP plans live telecast of consecration event Aimed at the next Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has arranged a live telecast of the consecration ceremony of the Ram idol in Ayodhya on January 22 at each poll booth across all Lok Sabha constituencies. BJP, seeing a growing popular religious sentiment for the temple, has activated its district units and over 610 lakh workers to show the live telecast on big screens put up at each booth across all panchayat in Lok Sabha seats. P7 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to win a fourth straight term in Bangladesh general elections today amid an Oppn call for strike 119.6 million ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION COMMISSION OPPOSITION LEADER UNDER HOUSE ARREST The main opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, of former premier Khaleda Zia, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, on Saturday began a 48-hour nationwide strike against the government amidst sporadic violence. About 27 political parties are contesting the elections, including the opposition Jatiya Party | P7 Gangs target Indo-Canadian bizmen for extortion H A R P R E E T BA J WA @ Chandigarh THE Indo-Canadian businesses community is getting extortion calls from gangsters in Canada. The Canadian police are investigating at least 18 such cases that have occurred since October last year. These transnational gangs have links in India and operating in Canada. India has expressed its deep concern over the members of the Indian community getting extortion calls from gangsters in Canada. The Edmonton Police Service in a statement released recently asked the public to come forward to report extortion and assist in identifying a person of interest in a related arson series. Police are investigating at least 18 incidents of extortion that have occurred in the Edmonton region since October. The suspects reportedly target members of the South Asian business community, using WhatsApp to text or call victims and demand large sums of money In some . cases, the suspects appear to know the victim’s personal information, such as family members, vehicles and lifestyle patterns. “Failure to pay the extorted sum results in arson or other property damage to new homes and related property The suspects have also been . known to make follow-up demands for higher sums of money leading to , an escalation of violence and driveby shootings,’’ read the Edmonton Police Service statement. Cops are probing at least 18 incidents of extortion that have occurred in the Edmonton region since October. The suspects reportedly target South Asians, using WhatsApp to text or call victims and demand large sums of money —Edmonton Police To date, six young males have been arrested for shooting and arson incidents that have been connected to the extortion series. On December 27 in a shooting incident that appeared to be targeted at the home of the son of Satish Kumar, the president of the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Surrey British Colum, bia. Although Kumar’s son was not injured in the incident, bullets hit his property in Newton area. Last year on December 22, Peel Regional Police (PRP) announced it was setting up a task force to investigate a disturbing trend of extortion attempts in Greater Toronto Area. 100 GLOBAL OBSERVERS TO MONITOR POLLS As many as 100 observers from across the world, including three from India, will be scrutinising the polls. Amid the possibility of unrest, 700 Rapid Action Battalion teams have been deputed on election duty Voting for the 12th general elections will start at 8 am and end at 5 pm. The results are expected to start flowing in early from January 8