BHUBANESWAR  SATURDAY  JANUARY 11, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION LAURENE POWELL JOBS TO OBSERVE KALPAVAS AT KUMBH The American entrepreneur and widow of Steve Jobs is set to observe an ancient spiritual practice of austerity at Maha Kumbh UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE MAHA KUMBH: A SPIRITUAL GATHERING Kalpvas is a month-long period of austerity, meditation and selfpurification, deeply rooted in the Sanatan tradition. Practitioners, known as Kalpvasis, renounce comforts, live in temporary tents, and engage in daily worship, including holy dips, spiritual discourses and devotional music. The practice is meant for inner purification and spiritual growth ■ ■ The Maha Kumbh, organised every 12 years, is a religious gathering of Sanatan devotees attracting millions from around the world Laurene is likely to stay at the camp of Swami Kailashananda (pic), the Mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani Akhara. She will be there till the third Amrit Snan (royal bath) on Mauni Amavasya on January 29 JAN 13 WHEN THE MAHA KUMBH MELA KICKSTARTS IN PRAYAGRAJ IN U.P. 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 a policy India cagey about Prez urges overseas Indians to State to formulateCM Majhi for Pravasi Odias: join mission Viksit Bharat-2047 Starlink licence after Manipur breach B I J AY C H A K I @ Bhubaneswar B I J O Y P R A D H A N @ Bhubaneswar Govt may not give any exemption to Elon Musk firm or treat it as a special case R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi ture Jio Satellite Communications to provide satellite comIN a setback to Elon Musk’s sat- munication services in the ellite communication company country. Musk’s Starlink and Starlink, India may not allow it Amazon’s Project Kuiper have to operate in the country due to also applied for licences but neisecurity concerns. The govern- ther has been approved by the ment will do a thorough risk government. analysis and look at all aspects In 2021, Starlink courted conbefore considering the firm’s troversy when it accepted preapplication for a licence, a De- orders from Indian consumers partment of Telecommunica- before obtaining the licence to tions (DoT) official told this operate in the country. Follownewspaper. ing this, the DoT asked it to reThe gover nment’s fund the pre-orders. decision comes in the Fresh problems for wake of discovery of Starlink emerged in DeStarlink satellite antencember 2024 when the nas and routers from company’s routers and Manipur and Andaman The government antennas were discovis taking the and Nicobar Islands, ered in ethnic strifesuspected use of the DoT official said, Starlink devices torn Manipur. Additionadding: “Incidents like in Manipur very a l ly, p o l i c e i n t h e these have prompted seriously and is Andaman and Nicobar the government to scruIslands found that drug carefully considering all tinise Starlink’s licence smugglers were using aspects before application.” Starlink Mini—a portaT he Musk-owned granting licence ble satellite communifirm has been seeking to the Elon Musk cation device with an company certain exemptions to integrated WiFi routenter the Indian marer—to communicate. DoT official ket, citing technical Although Musk limitations. Sources claimed that Starlink said the Centre was earlier had “turned off ” its servopen to easing some condiices in India, security tions for Starlink as a speagencies suspect the cial case, but it is now devices were used in treading very cautiously . sensitive areas like Till date, the governManipur, providing inment has granted licences ternet access to milito Bharti Group-backed tant groups. Hence the OneWeb and the gover nment’s reJio-SES joint venthink on Starlink. HUSH MONEY CASE Don gets felony sentence without any punishment AGENCIES US President-elect Donald Trump was on Friday sentenced in the hush money case without any punishment. It will make him the first person with a felony conviction to serve as president. In a post online after the sentencing, Trump called the trial a “despicable charade” and said he will file an appeal. Trump’s sentence was his first-ever so far. Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan awarded him an unconditional discharge on all 34 counts, doing legal gymnastics since he is president-elect. He was charged with 34 felonies and convicted by a jury on every count in May last year, yet he got full discharge. Trump was found guilty of fudging his business’ records to conceal a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid in 2016 not to tell the public about her sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump, however, rejected the claim. And the allegations didn’t have an impact on voters, who elected him to a second term. Judge Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old accused to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case. Merchan said when facing any defendant, he had to consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence. But the legal protection that Trump will have as president is a factor that overrides all others. “Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict,” Merchan observed. Briefly addressing the court virtually Trump said, “It’s , been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously , that didn’t work.” The prosecution requested no prison, probation or fine as a sentence. Judge Merchan obliged. He called it an extraordinary case and a paradox with a lot of attention but ordinary court proceedings. Prosecutors, however, critiP13 cised Trump’s fierce attacks on the legal system. PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu on Friday appealed to the Indian diaspora to actively contribute to the realisation of the mission of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the centenary year of the country’s independence. Addressing the valedictory session of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Janata Maidan here, Murmu said the vision of a developed India by 2047 is not just a government initiative. It is a national mission that requires proactive and enthusiastic participation of every Indian, including those living abroad. She said the Indian diaspora is an integral part of this vision. They represent the best of the country. Their global presence gives them a unique perspective and their achievements place them in a position to significantly contribute to the realisation of a developed India. “I have seen this first-hand during my interactions with our diaspora as part of my travels abroad. I urge you all to actively engage in this journey, CHIEF Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that the state government will formulate a policy for Pravasi Odias with focus on increasing their participation in Odisha’s journey towards becoming a developed state. Addressing the non-resident Odia diaspora at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here, the chief minister urged them to take the role of a third engine for all-round growth of the state. “The Pravasi engine will work President Droupadi Murmu speaks at the valedictory ceremony of 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at Janata Maidan, in Bhubaneswar on Friday | DEBADATTA MALLICK for the state along with the double-engine of the Centre and for in your success, lies the suc“We seek to be a nation that bal- state governments,” he said. Majhi said the Odia Lancess of India,” Murmu said. ances economic progress with Making a special mention to social justice and environmen- guage, Literature and Culture the contribution of women, stutal stewardship, ensuring a department will work as the dents and the youth amongst bright future for generations to nodal department for implementation of the diaspora, Murmu said, “The come. The Inthe state govachievements of Indian women dian diaspora er nment’s globally have brought immense would play an PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS policy for pride for us, as they break baressential role Bhubaneswar Jan8-10 Pravasi Odiriers and scale new heights in in achieving as. He also anvarious fields. Our students and this vision.” nounced that a minister will be youth, with their dynamism Murmu also appreciated Chief and creativity, are the torchMinister Mohan Charan Mjahi entrusted with the charge to bearers of our future.” for announcing to appoint a coordinate with them and give Referring the India’s timeless nodal minister for dealing with a direction to their developphilosophy of Vasudhaiva Kuinvestment proposals of over- mental initiatives for Odisha tumbakam, the President said, seas Indians. CONTINUED ON P9 as well as resolve the issues  f a c e d by t h e m i n t h e i r countries. Stating that the overseas Odias are a bridge for improving ties between Odisha and the country of their residence, the chief minister said they have played a key role in the propagation of our culture and heritage in the world. “Even if you are residing in a foreign country you are always think, ing about how to take Odisha further in the path of development by protecting Odia Asmita and working in that direction also,” he said. The chief minister said as Odisha has started a journey on the path of development with renewed vigour, the overseas Odias should also take an active part in this endeavour. CONTINUED ON P9 MISTAKES ARE INEVITABLE, I’M HUMAN, NOT GOD: PM RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi in his debut podcast described himself as a person for whom designation holds no significance in his dedication to serving the nation. In a candid tete-a-tete hosted by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, the prime minister said that his designations and situations may have changed but he still remains the same individual who once used to sit on the floor. Modi said he is always willing to abandon old ideas and adopt new ones if they align with his core ideolo g y of “Nation First.” In a reply to a question if he had planned for the future beyond his tenure, focusing on training people he trusts for the next 20-30 years, Modi said, “I can see people with a lot of po- Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks to Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath in a podcast | PTI tential. When I was in Gujarat, I would say that I want to prepare a team for the next 20 years. I am EXPRESS READ C’garh police release BJD leader, PRI members after 20 hrs in detention SC junks pleas seeking speedy implementation of women’s quota Sambalpur: After spending nearly 20 hours in the custody of Saraipali police in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district, BJD leader Bishal Das was released from detention at around 6 pm on Friday. Son of late cabinet minister Naba Kisore Das, Bishal was detained by Chhattisgarh police along with some panchayat samiti members and sarpanchs of Jharsuguda | P8 New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed two public interest litigations against the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Act, which reserves one-third seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The petition filed by the National Federation of Indian Women challenged constitutional validity of the clause stipulating delimitation of constituencies as a prerequisite to implementing the Act | P9 doing it. My success lies in how I prepare my team who will be able to deftly handle things. This is my benchmark that I’ve set for myself.” Stressing the need for participation of youth in politics, he said that the country needs young leaders who are driven by a mission rather than ambition for top positions. When asked about his early approach to leadership, Modi said, “When I became CM, I said I will not do anything for myself. I will not do anything wrong out of bad intentions. I have made it a mantra of my life. Mistakes are inevitable. I must have made mistakes. I am a human too, not a god.” He also reiterated his commitment to reserving one-third of seats for women in legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha in the near future.