BHUBANESWAR  WEDNESDAY  JANUARY 15, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 14  LATE CITY EDITION J&K INCOMPLETE WITHOUT PoK, SAYS DEFENCE MINISTER IN AKHNOOR Rajnath Singh on Tuesday described PoK as India’s ‘crown jewel’ and said that Pakistan is using the ‘foreign territory’ ‘for terrorism’ END TERROR OR FACE CONSEQUENCES, PAK TOLD BATTLE OF AKHNOOR HOLDS SIGNIFICANCE Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan to end terrorism or face consequences. “J&K is incomplete without PoK. People there are deprived of a dignified life. Pakistan makes efforts to mislead and provoke them against India in the name of religion. PoK’s land is being used for terrorism,” he said, adding that Pakistan will have to put an end to its nefarious designs ■ ■ The Battle of Akhnoor is significant as the Army successfully thwarted Pak’s Operation Grand Slam and advanced towards Lahore ‘History stands as a testament that Pakistan has lost every war against India — be it the tribal invasion of 1948, 1965, 1971, or 1999 Kargil. In each case, Pakistan has faced humiliation and defeat’ P9 42,241 SQ KM IS THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR 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 House panel to summon Meta Make climate-smart over Zuckerberg election claims India, predict quakes Will seek an apology for ‘factually incorrect’ statements by him R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi CHAIRMAN of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology Nishikant Dubey announced on Tuesday that the panel would summon Meta chairman Mark Zuckerberg over his “factually incorrect” statements about the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. The panel will seek an apology from the social media giant for “tarnishing” India’s image. On Monday, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had lashed out at Zuckerberg for his remarks. Zuckerberg founded Meta, which owns Facebook. “My committee will summon Meta for this incorrect information. Incorrect information about any democratic country tarnishes its image. This organisation will have to apologise to Parliament and the people here for this mistake,” Dubey wrote on ‘X’. On Monday Vaishnaw react, ed strongly on ‘X’, tagging Meta and saying, “It is disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility .” TARNISHING INDIA’S IMAGE, SAYS DUBEY Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and IT chairman Nishikant Dubey said, “This organisation (Meta) will have to apologise to Parliament and the people here for this mistake.” META FOUNDER’S PODCAST REMARKS In a podcast with Joe Rogan, Meta founder Mark Zukherberg said that 2024 was a big election year globally, and in several countries, including India, incumbents lost the polls. Vaishnaw said: “From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fast- est-growing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust.” Vaishnaw said that Zuckerberg’s “factually incorrect” remarks failed to acknowledge India’s achievements and the strong mandate secured by the government. The remarks are part of the Meta founder’s comments in a podcast with Joe Rogan. Zuckerberg said that 2024 was a big election year globally, and in many countries, including India, incumbents lost the polls. “There is some sort of global phenomenon — whether it was inflation due to the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments handled Covid — which seems to have had a broad effect not just in the US, but globally leading , to a decrease in trust in incumbents and perhaps in democratic institutions overall,” he stated in the podcast. In the 2024 elections, while the BJP fell short of a majority on its own, its alliance secured enough seats to form the government, reinstating Modi as PM for a third straight term. better: PM tells IMD R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi called on the scientists on Tuesday to focus on innovating early-warning systems for earthquakes and launched initiatives to make India “climatesmart”. Emphasising the importance of research, he said, “There is a need to develop warning systems for earthquakes and scientists and researchers should work in this direction.” Commemorating the 150th year of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Modi described its journey as a significant chapter in India’s modern science and technology . Modi also launched ‘Mission Mausam’, the initiative to boost weather monitoring using state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced radars, satellites, and high-performance computing systems. He underscored the necessity of making India more “weather-resilient” and “climate-smart”. The objective is to improve “the under- AKHADAS GET RIGHT OF WAY TO SANGAM PA R A M I TA G H OS H @ Prayagraj THE day of the first Shahi Snan of Maha Kumbh, 2025, was, like always, primarily the day of the akhadas. Shahi Snans are the red-letter days on the Kumbh timetable, and for the devout, who have come from far and wide to take a dip in the Sangam on the occasion of the first Shahi Snan of Makar Sankranti, there is a slight interruption in programme — when the Naga sadhus, their lithe bodies resplendent with ash and health, break into a run for the river. For most, this is the marquee event of the mela, as sadhus wielding swords, maces, and tridents, blissed out on life, wave to the crowds, creating a few moments of intense connection as they move towards the Sangam. It is believed that the dip taken after the babas have bathed will yield great spiritual benefits. The gesture of making way for others is part of the Kumbh tradition. “It all began in 1801 when fights broke out between the different sects and denominations, or the akhadas. On being petitioned to broker a peace, the Peshwa intervened and decreed the sequential order of the akhadas at the Shahi Snans,” says Herambh Chaturvedi, a retired professor of Allahabad University Ever . since, that order — which gives the sects of Naga sanyasis the first right of way to the Sangam — has been en- At least 1.38 crore people took holy dip on Makar Sankranti on Tuesday | PTI Special celestial alignment after 144 yrs Purna Kumbh happens every 12 years. The Maha Kumbh happens when a special celestial alignment takes place — once in 144 years. The Shahi Snan builds up an atmosphere of spiritual frenzy and divine immersion. forced by the Akhada Parishad and followed by the different sects of ascetics and renunciants. Tuesday’s Shahi Snan passed without incident except for a brief period of chaos when devotees pushed through the security cordon and entered the area reserved for the sadhus. Bathers started crowding the banks of the river by 4 am and the wave of excitement rippled through them at the first sighting of the sadhus. It seemed a carnival of spirits. Sadhus began bathing at 5.15 am. Sri Panchayati Akhada Maha Nirvani and Sri Sambhu Panchawati Atal Akhada were among the early entrants. Conch shells were blown, and dhol (drums) and tasha, nagare (kettle drums) were beaten, even as chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, ‘Jai Ganga Maiyya ki Jai’ and ‘Har Har Gauri Shankar’ rent the air. P10 RIGHT MOVE Odisha tribe ostracises four families for poaching & consuming leopard meat M AYA N K B H U S A N PA N I / D A N I S R O Y @ Nuapada THIRTEEN family members of four tribal men who were arrested for poaching and consuming leopard meat in Nuapada district of the state have been ostracised by their community for the more than a month-and-half since November last. The Chinda Bhunjia tribe, which holds in high regard traditional values rooted in nature and wildlife conservation, took the stern action, deciding to expel the families from community gatherings a n d eve r y o t h e r s o c i a l interaction. The move was intended to send a strong message to the community about importance of protecting wildlife and upholding traditional beliefs. The incident had come to light when the four men were apprehended by forest officials for hunting a leopard and consuming its meat in Deodhara village under Komna police limits of the district on November 18. The men were charged with violating wildlife protection laws which led to widespread condemnation from environmentalists, wildlife enthusiasts and the local community . Making a decisive move, the Chinda Bhunjia tribe, to which the accused belong, decided to boycott the family members for their men’s involvement in the heinous act which sparked outrage within the village. President of Chinda Bhunjia community Jaysingh Chinda said the community had convened a meeting and found about repercussions of such acts. Subsequently after con, sulting with other members of the tribe in nearby villages, the decision was taken collectively and a resolution passed by taking everyone’s signature, he said. CONTINUED ON P7 The move was intended to send a strong message to the community about importance of protecting wildlife and upholding traditional beliefs Jaysingh Chinda, chieftan standing of weather and climate processes and provide air quality data that will help strategise weather management and intervention in the long run”. Commending the IMD’s efforts in delivering weather-related services, especially to vulnerable communities, the PM said, “A decade ago, only 10% of the farmers could access weather-related services, but today, this number has risen to over 50%. With the support of IMD, fishermen receive timely info on weatherrelated aspects.” Highlighting India’s regional leadership in meteorological services and disaster management, he expressed satisfaction over “our flash-flood guidance system providing critical info to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka”. He elaborated on India’s initiative, ‘’Early Warning to All’’, which currently covers more than 90% of the population, and mentioned the ‘Meghdoot mobile app’, which provides weather updates in local languages. AFTER DRUBBING, DOs & DON’Ts BCCI is possibly launching a pushback against its players after the embarrassing loss in Australia. After a review meeting in Mumbai to assess the team’s performance, the cricketing bosses appear convinced that a dose of discipline is what the players require. THE CURBS Wives/family can’t stay more than a fortnight in a 45-day long tour Anything less than that, they stay only for a week All players to travel in team bus; no separate travel Players will bear luggage charges in excess of a 150kg limit Personal manager of head coach cannot stay in same hotel as players or travel in the team bus or enter the VIP box