Gukesh draws with white in Game 13 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 KOLLAM l thursday l December 12, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l 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 Rahul’s pitch to HC judge faces impeachment bid Birla to make LS fully functional P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Urges Speaker to expunge BJP’s derogatory remarks; wants discussion on Constitution P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Gandhigiri to put BJP in 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. 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 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 disposed it of 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 a s a n j e e t S a r k a 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 express read Stalin, Pinarayi talks on Mullaperiyar today Kochi: As protest rages in Tamil Nadu’s Theni over Kerala’s refusal to allow maintenance work at Mullaperiyar dam, TN Chief Minister M K Stalin and his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan are expected to take up the matter at their meeting on Thursday. Stalin is in Kerala to inaugurate the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial | P5 2017 actor assault case trial nears conclusion Kochi: As the trial in the 2017 actor assault case nears end, three defence witnesses from Dileep’s side appeared before the Ernakulam District Principal Sessions Court on December 5. While the examination of one of the witnesses was completed on the day, the other two were examined on December 6 | P5