BHUBANESWAR l thursday l july 04, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE CITY EDITION Poll finds Harris, not Biden, has better chance of beating Trump Indian-origin US Vice President Kamala Harris is better placed to beat Donald Trump than President Joe Biden, according to a CNN poll Trump has 6-point lead over president More pressure on Biden to step down About 47% of registered voters support Trump, while 45% back Harris in a hypothetical matchup, the poll found. In the Biden vs Trump matchup, 49% of registered voters said they would vote for Trump as against 43% for Biden. His poor performance in last week’s debate with Trump has put the spotlight back on Biden’s advanced age and ability to lead the US | P9 ■ Pressure is mounting on Biden to step down as Democratic party’s presidential nominee. “There’s a large and increasing group of House Democrats concerned about (his) candidacy,” a Democratic lawmaker said ■ According to one Democratic aide, at least 25 party lawmakers in the House of Representatives are preparing to demand that Biden step aside Sept 10 is when Biden and trump will face off in the next debate 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 Judicial probe into Hathras stampede Markets on a roll, Sensex at 80,000 level Ex-Allahabad HC judge Brijesh Srivastava to head 3-member panel, submit report in 2 months; Yogi flags conspiracy angle N A M ITA B A J PA I & PR A B H AT SHU K L A @ Lucknow / Hathras A RSH A D K H A N @ New Delhi Registering a new landmark for India’s equity market this year, the BSE Sensex for the first time scaled the 80,000-mark on Wednesday The 30-share benchmark hit . a high of 80,057.90 during the first 30 minutes of the trading session. The Nifty50 index also touched an alltime high of 24,294.60. The Sensex has added the latest 10,000 points in less than seven months as it had first breached the 70,000 mark on December 11, 2023. Its journey from 60,000 to 70,000 was a lengthy one as it took 1.5 years for the market to add the previous 10,000 points. Sensex had scaled the 60,000 mark on September 24, 2021. What is notable is that the benchmark index has added about 8,000 points from the lows of June 4, the general election results day Sensex . had ended the June 4 session with a massive loss of 4,390 points, or 5.74%, at 72,079.05. Much of Wednesday’s early gain is attributed to a sharp pick-up in HDFC Bank shares. The stock opened 3% higher and hit a high of `1,792 per share as its weightage is expected to shoot up in the MSCI index. “The focus of market activity today will be HDFC Bank which will continue its upward move factoring in the news of potentially increasing the weightage of the stock in the MSCI Index. The delivery based buying in the stock witnessed in the last many days has the potential to continue for a few more days pushing the stock further up and imparting resilience to it. As the weightage of HDFC Bank in Nifty increases there will be more delivery based buying by ETFs and also active funds,” said V K Vijayakumar, chief investment strategist, Geojit Financial Services. He added that the US Fed’s latest take on inflation is also positive news for equity markets globally “The Fed’s next rate action is likely to be a rate . cut. RBI also is likely to follow suit with a rate cut in the next policy meeting,” he said. Road to 80K Sensex has given a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8% since July 1990 1K Jul 1990 10K 20K 30K 40K 50K 60K 70K 6 Feb, 19 Oct, 4 Mar, 23 May, 21 Jan, 24 Sep, 11 Dec, 2006 2007 2015 2019 2021 2021 2023 BSE m-cap ( lakh cr) 80K 3 Jul, 2024 445 lakh crore 6.9 25 73 100.4 188 2000 2005 2010 Justice BR Sarangi is CJ of Jharkhand High Court E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Cuttack Justice BR Sarangi, the senior most judge of Orissa High Court, was on Wednesday appointed as the Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court. A notification by Union Ministry of Law and Justice said: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Dr Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Judge High Court of Orissa, to be Justice BR Sarangi Chief Justice of High Court of Jharkhand, with effect from the date he assumes charge of his office.” He will fill up the post which was lying vacant since December 28, 2023. Justice Sarangi was elevated from the Bar to the Bench as a permanent judge of the Orissa HC on June 20, 2013. He is set to retire on July 20. 2015 2024 2020 Bags and other belongings lying at the scene a day after a massive stampede that took place after a satsang in Sikandara Rao area in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday | PTI Baba on the run, police raid trust A day after the stampede in Hathras claimed 121 lives, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a judicial probe led by for mer Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastava into the tragedy Re. tired IAS officer Hemant Rao and former IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar Singh are the other members in the judicial commission. Speaking to reporters after visiting the spot and meeting the injured persons admitted in hospitals, Yogi said the conspiracy angle can’t be ruled out. He said the panel will look into all aspects of the tragedy . The panel will complete its probe and submit its report within two months. To prevent such mishaps from recurring, the judicial commission will also suggest the standard oper- Hathras deputy superintendent of police Sunil Kumar said the baba is on the run and yet to be traced. On Wednesday, police raided Baba’s abode at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district Modi finally ends silence, says Manipur violence is declining R A J E SH K U M A R TH A K UR @ New Delhi Breaking his silence on Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that violence in the troubletorn state is declining and security and social stability are improving. He saw in them a positive trend towards peace. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, Modi said normal life has been restored in most parts of Manipur with schools, colleges, offices, businesses and other institutions functioning normally in Manipur. The state, however, is facing floods now, he added. Amid walkout by the Opposition, Modi said law enforcement agencies have lodged more than 11,000 FIRs and arrested over 500 suspects in Manipur after the eth- nic violence erupted in the state. “Our government is continuously making efforts to restore normalcy and it is showing results. Union home minister Amit Shah camped there and steered all efforts of peace,” he said. In a stern message, he said, “I want to warn all the elements trying to add fuel to the fire in Manipur to stop such activities. A time will come when Manipur itself will reject such people.” Keeping up his tirade against the Congress, Modi said the grand old party was the “biggest opponent of the Constitution” and was anti-SC, ST and OBCs. Taking a swipe at the Opposition for its walkout, he said, “They are unable to digest the people’s mandate to the NDA to serve the nation. That’s why they never face the government on the floor.” Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren on Wednesday staked his claim to form the Jharkhand government, hours after Champai Soren resigned as chief minister. Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam case in January. He was released on bail last week. Hours before his arrest, he had resigned as Jharkhand chief minister and Champai Soren was sworn in. Earlier on Wednesday, a meeting of INDIA bloc MLAs was held at the official residence of the chief minister in Ranchi. During the meeting, it Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan (centre) receives the resignation letter from Chief Minister Champai Soren (fourth from right) at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi | PTI was decided to make Hemant Soren the chief minister again. Soon after the meeting, he was unanimously elected as the leader of the JMM legislative party. Hemant Soren told reporters that all the formalities have been completed. “Every- thing will be disclosed soon,” he said. Confirming his resignation, Champai Soren said, “Earlier, a change of guard was done in the state and I was given the responsibility. You all are aware of the developments 38-year-old law professor stabs father to death in front of mother in city A s i s h M e h ta @ Bhubaneswar Kharge with Sonia Gandhi after walking out of the Rajya Sabha | PTI Kharge raps RSS Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of being antiConstitution, quoting an article from Organiser’s November 30, 1950 edition Champai exits, Hemant stakes claim to be CM M U K E SH R A N J A N @ Ranchi ating procedure to be followed during such events, Yogi said. Referring to the initial report filed by the special investigative team led by ADG Agra zone Anupam Kulshreshtha, Yogi said the volunteers of Bhole Baba, in whose event the stampede happened, were managing it and district administration officials were not allowed inside the pandal. Police personnel were stationed outside the pandal. Yogi said the baba’s volunteers fled immediately after the stampede without making any effort to help the injured. Referring to pictures and videos of the baba with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, he said it showed the baba’s political connections. On why the baba’s name was missing in the FIR, which only named the organisers, Yogi said the initial report was filed against those who sought permission for the event. “As the investigation progresses, the ambit of the FIR will also expand to include all those responsible and accountable for the tragedy he added. ,” Meanwhile, eyewitnesses and locals who rushed to the spot immediately after the tragedy blamed the organisers for poor management. Locals said the crowd was so large that the national highway abutting the venue was cut off for up to 5 km on both sides, blocked by buses carrying devotees from far-off places. Because of this, ambulances took an hour to reach. since then. Now Hemant Soren is back and the alliance partners took a decision to choose Hemant babu as our leader once again,” said Champai Soren. Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta said a copy of the letter of support from alliance members has been handed over to the Governor. “It is an appeal to the Governor to pave the way for the formation of a new government in the state,” he said. If sworn in, Hemant Soren will be the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand. Sources said Champai Soren is likely to be appointed as the chairman of the UPA coordination committee or the working president of the JMM. his loans. “The accused had pursued LLM from a foreign instiIN a shocking incident, 38-year- tute. However, he is yet to receive old former law professor of a the degree. He resigned from his city-based private university al- job on Tuesday and was upset as legedly stabbed his father to he had loans amounting to about death in the wee hours of `25 lakh. He was finding it difWednesday . ficult to clear them,” said Hours after a heated exchange sources. erupted between them on TuesOn Tuesday evening, Sunil reday evening, Anirudha Choud- portedly denied help to Anirudhury attacked his 68-year-old ha to repay his loans following father Sunil Choudhury when which an argument ensued behe was asleep. Police said the tween the two. Hours later, he victim was found stabbed on the stabbed his father while he was chest and abdomen. asleep. Anirudha’s mother Sunita Anirudha, however, did not atwas present when the ghastly tempt to flee and was present in crime took place at around 4 am. the apartment when the police In a bid to save her husarrived. The police took band, she telephoned a him into custody and family friend who imlater seized the weapon mediately arrived only of offence from the to find Sunil in a pool of crime scene. blood. Along with a few “The accused went to neighbours, they his parents flat a few rushed the victim to days back. Preliminary Capital Hospital where probe suggests he killed File photo of the doctors pronounced his father over some fiAnirudha Choudhury nancial dispute,” said him dead. Sunil was a retired Bhubaneswar DCP Praemployee of central PSU Na- teek Singh. tional Aluminium Company A case on charges of murder Limited (NALCO) while Anirud- has been registered and more ha served as an assistant profes- details behind the motive of the sor and his engagement with the crime will emerge during invesuniversity had apparently ended tigation, he said. on Tuesday . The victim’s friends said they Initial investigation revealed were unaware of any dispute beSunil was staying with his wife tween the father and son. “Sunil in a flat at DHPL Apartments in has immovable assets at various Rangamatia area under Man- places. However, there was nevcheswar police limits, while An- er any issue between the father irudha lived with his spouse in and the son over property,” one a nearby apartment. Anirudha’s of the deceased’s friends told wife had gone to her parents’ mediapersons. house on June 28 after which he Mancheswar police and a sciwent to his parent’s place. entific team have launched a Police said, Anirudha is re- probe. DCP Singh also visited ported to have asked Sunil to the spot to take stock of the lend him some money to clear investigation. Govt to notify Ratna Bhandar opening date shortly: Law minister SC slams E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar AMID growing speculation over opening of the Ratna Bhandar of Shree Jagannath temple in Puri, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Wednesday informed that a decision will be taken shortly and the state government will make an official announcement on it. Speaking to mediapersons, he said the issue of opening of the treasury has been discussed at various levels. “The decision will be taken within the next two days. But the process of opening the treasury, modalities and duration of the inventory will be informed by the state government to the people of Odisha through an official notification. Till then, do not believe rumours doing rounds on social media,” he said. The speculation rose following reports of Justice Arijit Pasayat’s visit to Odisha on July 4 for inventory work. Justice Pasayat heads the high-level committee formed by the previ- ous government on the direction of Orissa High Court to supervise the inventory of the Ratna Bhandar. According to the official schedule, he will attend a meeting of Ratna Bhandar inventorisation committee on July 5 and take up related work from July 8 to 27. Meanwhile, Gajapati Maharaj of Puri Dibyasingha Deb welcomed the measures being taken by the government to open the Ratna Bhandar and said its conservation and inventory are the need of the hour. “The Bhitara Bhandar (inner chamber of the treasury) has remained closed for 45 years. Opening it has The process of opening the treasury, modalities and duration of the inventory will be informed by the government through an official notification. Till then, do not believe rumours on SM — Prithviraj Harichandan been a long-pending demand and was raised in many of the managing committee meetings,” he said. Stating that the Bhitara Bhandar is in a poor shape as per the ASI reports, the Gajapati said the government’s efforts to open it for both conservation and inventory is a welcome step. “It is learnt that the high-level committee formed in March for the purpose will be meeting on July 5. Utmost care should be taken to do the work in a safe way,” he said. Manipur govt for not taking care of undertrial The Supreme Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the Manipur government for not taking an undertrial at the Manipur Central Jail to a hospital for necessary medical examination just because he belonged to the minority Kuki community | P7
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