05

I request the Union home minister with folded hands to scrap the
new system as people have been facing a lot of problems
DELHI DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER MANISH SISODIA
ON THE RULE REQUIRING COVID PATIENT TO VISIT GOVT FACILITY FOR ASSESSMENT NEW DELHI, THURSDAY 25 JUNE 2020

‘Embezzlement’ of
`332 cr funds: CBI
China reiterates India to Nadda hits back at Cong top
leaders for ‘fake narrative’
grills Manipur ex-CM blame for border clash STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, 24 JUNE

A day after Congress Working

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
NEW DELHI, 24 JUNE
The CBI questioned Congress
for a meeting with central lead-
ers to salvage the situation in
the northeastern state, BJP
sources said.
backed the government in
determining the way ahead.
He however said one family
was an exception.
Beijing blames MEA, Indian media for ‘some false reports’during border tensions Committee’s allegation about “It is the Opposition’s right
mishandling of situation to ask questions. The All Party
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA were held between Naveen Sri- ference, the Chinese defence along India-China border by Meeting saw healthy delib-
BEIJING, 24 JUNE vastava, Joint Secretary (East ministry spokesman said the Modi government, BJP nation- erations, with several Oppo-
Asia) in the MEA, and Wu two defence ministers are al president J P Nadda on sition leaders giving their

leader and former Manipur
chief minister O Ibobi Singh
in Imphal for nearly three
hours on Wednesday in con-
nection with alleged misap-
propriation of Rs 332 crore
development funds for the
state, officials said.The probe
agency has summoned retired
IAS officer O Nabakishore
Singh, also a former chairman
of Manipur Development
Society, for questioning on
Thursday, they said.
Both O Ibobi Singh and
O Nabakishore Singh have
been booked as they held the
post of chairman, Manipur
Development Society, where
the alleged embezzlement
of funds took place, they
said.
The CBI action came at
a time when BJP-led coalition
government in the state gov-
ernment has plunged into
crisis after nine MLAs with-
drew support.
The BJP on Tuesday took
four National People's Party
(NPP) ministers who resigned
from the N Biren Singh-led
Manipur government to Delhi
C
A CBI team from the agency
headquarters here had reached
Imphal on Tuesday for ques-
tioning the accused based
there. When asked about the
timing of the questioning,
the agency officials had said
it was part of an ongoing
investigation in which some
persons have already been
examined.
It is alleged that Ibobi
Singh conspired with others
during his tenure as the chair-
man of the Manipur Devel-
opment Society (MDS) from
June 2009 to July 2017, and mis-
appropriated government
funds worth approximately Rs
332 crore, out of Rs 518 crore
that was entrusted to them for
development works, accord-
ing to the officials.
Along with Singh, the CBI
has also named three former
MDS chairmen- D S Poonia,
PC Lawmuknga, O Nabak-
ishore Singh- all retired IAS
officers. Y Ningthem Singh, the
former project director of
MDS and S Ranjit Singh, its
administrative officer have also
been named in the FIR.
hina on Wednesday
said maintaining
peace along the Sino-
India border is in the
common interests of both
the countries and requires
joint efforts, even as it accused
the Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) and the Indian media
of making “some false reports”
during the border tensions.
In separate statements,
the Chinese foreign and the
defence ministries also repeat-
ed Beijing's stand that India
was responsible for the June
15 violent face-off in eastern
Ladakh. While Defence Min-
istry Spokesman Col Wu Qian
asserted that China and India
are “important neighbours to
each other” and the two sides
should make great efforts to
jointly ease the current bor-
der situation, Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Zhao Lijian again
accused India of “provok-
ing” a border clash, saying “the
onus is not on China's part.”
Zhao also alleged that the
MEA and the Indian media
have made “some false
reports.”
Asked why after a positive
meeting between the army
commanders of India and
China, he is making these alle-
gations, Zhao said, “what I
have just said is meant to clar-
ify the whole situation, tell the
truth to everyone. We made
this statement because the
MEA in India and also Indi-
an media have made some
false reports.”
In New Delhi, the MEA
issued a release after the
countries held diplomatic
talks which said India and
China have agreed that expe-
ditious implementation of
the previously agreed under-
standing on disengagement
of troops from standoff points
in eastern Ladakh would help
ensure peace and tranquilli-
ty in the border areas.
During the talks, which
Jianghao, Director General in
the Chinese foreign ministry,
through video conferencing,
the situation in the region was
discussed in detail and the
Indian side conveyed its con-
cerns over the violent face-
off in Galwan Valley on June
15. Twenty Indian Army per-
sonnel were killed in the
clash, the MEA said.
“In this regard, it was
emphasised that both sides
should strictly respect and
observe the Line of Actual
Control,” the MEA added.
Asserting that “China and
India are important neigh-
bours to each other” and
maintaining a peaceful and
tranquil border region is in
the common interests of both
sides and requires common
efforts as well, the Chinese
defence ministry spokesman
said, “the two sides should
make great efforts to jointly
ease the current border sit-
uation and uphold peace
and stability in the border
areas.”
In the Chinese text circu-
lated in his online press con-
negotiating on the phone
but English text circulated later
made no reference to the
defence ministers' talks.
“The two sides held a
second military-level meet-
ing on June 22 to exchange
in-depth views on controlling
tensions and maintaining
peace and stability in the
border areas,” the Chinese
defence ministry spokesman
said.
In New Delhi, when asked
whether the two defence
ministers are negotiating on
the phone, the ministry offi-
cials said it was “not cor-
rect.”
Zhao said the foreign min-
isters of the two sides during
their telephone talk on June
17 agreed to deal with this seri-
ous matter in a just way.
“The two sides will stick
to the commander-level meet-
ing consensus and cool down
the situations soon as possi-
ble. The two sides will also try
to maintain peace and tran-
quillity of the border areas,
in accordance with the agree-
ment reached so far,” he said.
Wednesday hit back, likening
Congress top leaders to ‘‘royal’
dynasty’ and accusing their
‘‘loyal’ courtiers’ of peddling
‘fake narrative’ on the gov-
ernment’s handling of the
situation along the LAC.
In a series of tweets J P
Nadda pointed out that except
‘one family’ the entire Oppo-
sition fully supported the
Central government over its
handling of border issue with
China. He said the Congress
party had the ‘grand dilu-
tion’ that ‘one dynasty’ rep-
resented the entire opposition.
“One ‘royal’ dynasty and
their ‘loyal’ courtiers have
grand delusions of the Oppo-
sition being about one dynasty.
A dynast throws tantrums
and his courtiers peddle that
fake narrative. Latest one
relates to the the Opposition
asking questions to the Gov-
ernment,”, Nadda said.
The BJP president said it
is the Opposition right to ask
question and they had done
so at the recent all party
meeting convened by Prime
Minister Modi where fully
valuable inputs. They also
fully supported the Centre in
determining the way ahead.
One family was an excep-
tion. Any guesses who?,”
Nadda said.
“A rejected and ejected
dynasty is not equal to the
entire Opposition. One
dynasty’s interests are not
India’s interests. Today, the
nation is united and sup-
portive of our armed forces.
This is the time for unity and
solidarity. Relaunch of ‘the
scion’ for the nth time can
wait,” Nadda in a jibe at the
Congress added.
Nadd also sought to put a
question mark over the Con-
gress and its electoral popu-
larity saying that ‘misadven-
ture of a party’ resulted in its
rejection by India.
“Due to the misadven-
tures of one dynasty: We lost
thousands of square
kilometers of our land.The
Siachen glacier was almost
gone. And much more. No
wonder India has rejected
them,”the BJP national pres-
ident tweeted.

YSRCP issues show cause notice to MP Raju
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
HYDERABAD, 24 JUNE
Ruling YSRCP has issued a
show cause notice to its dis-
gruntled MP from Narsapu-
ram, Ramakrishna Raju after
he criticised the policies of the
state government and had
even appealed for security to
the Lok Sabha Speaker citing
threats from his own party
men.
It is evident from the show
cause letter that internal rifts
exist and discontent has been
brewing inside the ruling
party within a year of com-
ing to power. There have
been rumblings that Mr YS
Jagan Reddy is mostly inac-
cessible to party legislators and
MPs save a few who are close
to him.
Mr Raju, a businessman
and a first time MP was quick
to retract and denied that
he had criticised chief min-
ister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
soon after the party’s Rajya
Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy
issued the show cause letter.
He has been vocal in the
media against the party local
leaders accusing them of
being involved in smuggling
of sand from river bed as
well as against YSRCP gov-
ernment's decision to intro-
duce English as medium of
instruction in government
schools.
“In recent times you have
shown your disinclination
to being a primary member
of the party which is dis-
cernible from various state-
ments made by you on many
party and governmental pro-
grammes in the state of AP and
you have publicly adopted a
stand discordant with the
YSRC party line,”read the
show cause letter and went
on to cite his interviews to var-
ious media where he open-
ly criticised the party and
was critical of the chief min-
ister. The errant MP has been
given seven days to respond
to the letter otherwise the party
would take action against
him “in accordance with law”
said Mr Vijayasai Reddy before
signing off.
Although the MP was quick
to say he had not criticised
the party president and chief
minister YS Jagan Mohan
Reddy political sources said
he might be angling to join
BJP. YSRCP had come to power
with absolute majority and
won 22 MP seats with TDP
reduced to only three.
PITTER-PATTER Digvijaya rides bicycle to
protest against fuel price hike
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
BHOPAL, 24 JUNE
Former Madhya Pradesh chief
minister Digvijaya Singh rode a
bicycle onWednesday morning
asheleadstheCongress’statewide
demonstrations against the
unionandstateBJPgovernments
overtherecordpricehikeinpetrol
and diesel.
The continuous price hike
for the past 18 days has result-
ed in the country’s highest rate
of petrol per litre in MP.
The main protest was held
A man riding a cycle during monsoon rain in Shimla on Wednesday. LALIT KUMAR
in the state capital Bhopal.
Digvijaya Singh along with sev-
eral Congress leaders and work-
ers set out pedalling a cycle to
thehouseofMPCMShivrajSingh
Chouhan.
The Congress activists
attempted to reach the CM res-
idence and stage a gherao there
in protest of the fuel prices. Police
stopped Singh and others mid-
way and prevented them from
reaching Chouhan’s house.
Singh said on the occasion that
Chouhan had bicycled against
fuel price hike in 2008.

MHRD issues Karnataka woos firms wanting to leave China

roadmap STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE demic. The state believes that it is also being conducted with investors tory in the post-covid global eco-

for NCERT BENGALURU, 24 JUNE

Karnataka has set up a task force

STATESMAN NEWS
SERVICE
NEW DELHI, 24 JUNE
The ministry of
h u m a n re s o u rc e
development
(MHRD) has issued
a roadmap for the
National Council for Educational
Research and Training (NCERT), for
2020-21.
The NCERT roadmap has been
designed keeping in view the deci-
sion to set up the Foundational Lit-
eracy and Numeracy Mission under
Atma Nirbhar Bharat, with focus on
Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and an
approach that emphasises learning
outcomes. The ministry has set dead-
lines for the NCERT to meet certain
targets. All material required to
explain the desired learning out-
comes for each subject will be ready
and available by October 2020 for pri-
mary school and by March 2021 for
Classes 6 to 12. Online teacher train-
ing courses will be introduced in
phases for teachers teaching all lev-
els from December 2020 till June
2021.
Assessment tools will be designed
and collated for Classes 1 to 5 by
November and for the remaining
classes by March 2021.
Material to “demystify” the “hard
spots”-or sections of content students
find difficulty with-identified through
the National Achievement Survey
2017 will be made available over
much the same timeframe - Decem-
ber 2020 to March 2021.
NCERT will make the changes in
the textbooks in accordance with
the National Curriculum Framework
(NCF) for School Education.
A ministry statement said that in
view of the decision of setting up of
Foundational Literacy and Numer-
acy Mission under AtmaNirbhar
Bharat, and in view of the focus of Sam-
agra Shiksha towards a Learning
Outcome centric approach, it is nec-
essary that NCERT develops the
required resources for implementing
these in an effective and timely man-
ner, leading to all around improve-
ment in learning outcomes and learn-
ing levels of students.
ideally placed to provide the rele-
vant infrastructure, technical
resources and allied incentives to
from these countries currently
operating in India and the state in
particular. Not surprising,there-
nomic order. Importantly Kar-
nataka which was gearing up to host
the global investors’ meet in Novem-
to woo investors who are leaving the firms to locate here. fore, to learn that the task force head- ber this year,has already initiated
China even as it makes a determined Besides, The Statesman learns ed by the chief secretary interacts steps to help the corporates by eas-
bid to invite the companies to that several companies housed in with representatives from the Japan ing up norms for purchase of land
invest in the state in sectors like elec- China have already approached External Trade Organisation and the for setting up industries. In addi-
tronics,pharmaceuticals, auto, and leading Indian corporates in help- chambers of commerce and allied tion it has started moving fast to
aerospace. ing them to relocate in India,par- bodies from Germany,Taiwan,not relax labour laws.among other
The task force , headed by the ticularly, Karnataka. In fact, senior to mention those from France. things, if only to woo the investors.
state chief secretary, Vijay Bhaskar, officials from the state industry min- According to the state govern- State industries minister,Jagdish
is also examining ways to work out istry are also going out to market ment, there is a pushback against Shettar,cannot hide his excite-
encouraging packages compris- Karnataka, seeking to tap compa- China by several countries. This fol- ment as he underlines the seri-
ing incentives and related infra- nies from South Korea, Japan, lows the growing cost of labour, cou- ousness of his government in pur-
structure to realise the govern- France, Germany and Taiwan,to pled with the shortage of work- suing the objective and is
ment’s objective. mention but a few. force, not to mention its on-going confident of getting a good response.
The initiative follows reports of Recently they interacted with trade war with the US .. Its efforts are also being compli-
scores of MNCs and related com- French companies with the con- Government officials believe mented by the Federation of Kar-
panies seeking to relocate from sulates of Germany and Japan to that China may not be able to nataka Chamber of Commerce
China following the Covid-19 pan- follow suit. In this context, talks are retain its position as the world's fac- and Industries.
Darj tourism industry set to resume operations
REZA PRADHAN tong and Mungpo, with the tourist spots that will reopen
DARJEELING, 24 JUNE other one at Rangpo, check- on 1 July under the GTA
ing tourists coming in from include Rock Garden,
With the Covid-19 pan- Sikkim. Thermal screening Gangamaya Park, and Tiger
demic not showing signs of will also be done in hotels Hill in Darjeeling.
easing any time soon, the where the tourists check He also appealed to
Gorkhaland Territorial in. Medical Fitness Certifi- tourists to come in individual
Administration (GTA) has cates from their medical vehicles as much as possi-
decided to resume tourism- centre at their place of ori- ble, and urged hotels not to
related activities from 1 gin will also be a must for take in group bookings at
July. While hotels have decid- the tourists. present.
ed to resume operations, the "There are a lot of other Asked about cases where
GTA has said tourist spots guidelines set by the Cen- communities were not
under it will also be reopened tre, which should all be fol- allowing tourists to get near
for lowed. It must be made their areas, Mr Sharma said,
visitors. sure that the safety and "If such cases arise, we will
Tourists will, however, them too," the GTA Assis- was taken recently in a security of all concerned sit with the community
have to follow the Stan- tant meeting where, apart from should be kept in mind, there and try and make
dard Operating Procedure Director of Tourism, Suraj GTA representatives, officials along with those nearby," them understand."
(SOP) of the central gov- Sharma, said. from the district adminis- said Mr Sharma. Hotels, especially home-
ernment issued in view of "The central govern- tration, police, and repre- Speaking on some guide- stays, had been getting a lot
the pandemic. ment has already issued sentatives from hotels and lines, he added, "When of enquiries and bookings
"A maximum number directions that the sector workers' unions of different tourists check out from recently. However, they had
of people here are directly could reopen on 8 June, political parties were pre- rooms, the hotel will have not been able to confirm the
or indirectly dependent on and we are doing this after sent. to keep that room empty for bookings in lack of no
tourism. It is a matter of their a gap of about one month. According to Mr Sharma, 24 hours and sanitized. proper guidelines.
livelihood. There are many We had done nothing as thermal screening points will Regular santisation of the Those associated with the
hotels that have not been there were no proper guide- be set up at different entry hotel premises, along with tourism industry have been
able to pay their workers as lines, but now that the cen- points to the GTA like Simul- tourist spots, will also be maintaining that a lot of
they have no earning at tral government has pre- bari, which will check done. Things like masks enquiries had been coming
present. Similarly, others pared them, we will follow tourists coming in to will also be mandatory for in for June, while many
dependent them," Mr Sharma added. Kurseong, Mirik and Dar- everyone. Vehicles that bring were interested to make
on tourism like shops and According to him, the deci- jeeling. Similarly, the one at in tourists will also carry only prior bookings for the
taxis also have no earning sion to restart the tourism Kalijhora will check tourists 50 percent their capacity." month of October and Sep-
and we have to think of sector from next month coming in to Kalimpong, Sit- Among the different tember.