YK MYK LAW ALONE CAN NOT TACKLE DIVISIVE ACTIVITIES LIKE HARIDWAR HATE CALL OPINION Rs. 3 KOLKATA THURSDAY, 13 JAN, 2022 PG-8, YEAR—8, ISSUE—223 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) AT A GLANCE JNU TO HOLD ADMISSIONS THROUGH CUET FROM 2022-23 NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University in its Academic Council meeting on Wednesday decided to hold admissions through the Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET) from the next academic session. The decision was "overwhelmingly endorsed" by the members, read the statement issued by Jayant K Tripathi, Director of Admissions. "During the deliberations in the Academic Council, a large number of members including the Deans of Schools, Centre Chairpersons, and External Members of the Council emphasized that CUET would provide a level playing field to numerous eligible students from across the country reducing the burden of taking several entrance examinations," it said. ROCKET SCIENTIST S SOMANATH APPOINTED ISRO CHIEF NEW DELHI: Eminent rocket scientist S Somanath has been appointed as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as well as the Space Secretary, a Personnel Ministry order issued on Wednesday said. Somanath, who is at present Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), will succeed K Sivan who completes his extended tenure on Friday. Sivan was in January 2018 appointed as the ISRO chief, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman Space Commission. He was in December 2020 given a one-year extension till January 14, 2022. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 36,070,510 TOTAL DEATHS: 484,655 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 314,430,186 TOTAL DEATHS: 5,523,788 JAYANT, SAINI ADDED TO INDIA'S ODI SQUAD VS S AFRICA; SUNDAR OUT SPORTS Morning India COVID has been won, I will stop Omicron too: Mamata Banerjee 'Wear double mask if you can': CM MI NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA: The surge in Coronavirus infection has been eye-popping since the beginning of the New Year. The new COVID strain Omicron is gradually rearing its ugly head. In the first 9 days in the State, the daily COVID-19 infection rate created record of sorts one after another. To prevent this, restrictions came into force in Bengal that will last till January 15. Despite this, panic is not diminishing at all by looking at the statistics of victims and deaths every day. This time, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself sounded alarm to bring the people of the State out of the atmosphere of panic. Appearing at Babughat on Wednesday, she said, "COVID has been won. Everyone should follow the hygiene rules, wear a mask. Wear double mask if necessary. Don't be afraid. " Apart from this, the Chief Minister also instructed the government officials on how they are working risking their lives in severe COVID War. She urged the people to co-operate with the officials. Incidentally, the journey for Gangasagar Mela has started from Babughat. So she went there on Wednesday and cautioned the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Benerjee speaks during a programme at the transit camp for Gangasagar pilgrims at Babughat in Kolkata on Wednesday. Prabir Bhattacharya pilgrims about the steps to be taken at Gangasagar Mela. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier hinted that if the infection did not subside in the face of such restrictions, then stricter steps would have to be taken. Recalling the rules on Wednesday, she said: "The key is to be careful. We have taken all possible measures. But regarding Coronavirus or Omicron infection we cannot do anything. Concerns have grown as it has spread all over the world. If you want to prevent Coronavirus in this situation, you have to understand its severity. Keeping that in mind, we have taken all precautionary measures. " In this context, the Chief Minister has repeatedly men- Modi, Naidu pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda tioned about the frontline warriors or the doctors in particular. In the words of the Chief Minister, "Many of my officers are affected. And the rest of us are working hard to stop COVID's growth. You have to co- operate with them. "The State government has always taken several important steps to prevent the pandemic. Those were the brainchild of the Chief Minister. With the initial spread of Omicron, Mamata Banerjee has imposed strict restrictions since the start of the New Year. This time she herself gave a convincing message to the people of the State. She said, "COVID has been won, I will stop Omicron too." Rain washes State; temperature likely to drop Swami Vivekananda devoted life to national regeneration: PM MI NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "I pay tributes to the great Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. His was a life devoted to national regeneration. He has motivated many youngsters to work towards nation building. Let us keep working together to fulfil the dreams he had for our nation." Remembering Swami Vivekananda, Naidu tweeted, "My humble tributes to the great son of this soil, #SwamiVivekananda on his birth anniversary.Swami Ji was a visionary spiritual leader & an iconic ambassador of India.Through his noble thoughts & exemplary eloquence,he drew the world's attention to India's rich cultural heritage." "Swami Ji played a stellar role in infusing the spirit of nationalism among Indians. He was an ardent advocate of universal brotherhood and believed in the uplift of humanity. Swami Ji's teachings are of inestimable value and remain an eternal source of guidance for humanity," Naidu said. On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the 25th National Youth Festival. The Prime Minister had tweeted on Tuesday evening: "Tomorrow, on the special occasion of Swami Vivekananda's Jayanti, I would be addressing the 25th National Youth Festival being held in Puducherry. The programme begins at 11 AM." The Festival aims to shape the minds of India's youth and transform them into a united force for nation building. It is one of the biggest exercises in social cohesion and intellectual and cultural integration. It aims to bring diverse cultures of India and PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary and said that Vivekananda devoted his life to national regeneration and motivated many youngsters to work towards nation-building. PM Modi also urged the nation to work together to fulfill the dreams of Swami Vivekananda had for the country. "I pay tributes to the great Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. His was a life devoted to national regeneration. He has motivated many youngsters to work towards nation-building. Let us keep working together to fulfill the dreams he had for our nation," the Prime Minister tweeted. Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day across the country. Meanwhile, PM Modi inaugurated the 25th National Youth Festival on Wednesday in Puducherry via video conferencing on the National Youth Day. integrate them into a united thread of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. Meanwhile, as India observed National Youth Day on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah remembered how Swami Vivekananda made the whole world flourish with the values of Indian culture and awakened a new consciousness among the youth for nationbuilding with his inspirational thoughts. "Swami Vivekananda, the inspiration of every Indian, made the whole world flourish with the values of Indian culture and awakened a new consciousness among the youth for nation-building with his inspirational thoughts. I bow down to him on his birth anniversary and wishing everyone a very Happy National Youth Day," the Home Minister tweeted. The birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is celebrated across India as National Youth Day, to honor one of the greatest philosophers and spiritual leaders. It also marked his ideas on how the young should participate in the modern world while upholding their values. National Youth Day is celebrated to mark the teachings and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. A towering spiritual philosopher, Vivekananda, was born in 1863 in Kolkata and is credited for popularising the Vedantic ideas. The decision to celebrate Vivekananda's birthday as National Youth Day was taken in 1984, and it was first marked on January 12, 1985. MI NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA: The day was chilly and overcast since Wednesday morning. The meteorological office has forecast light to moderate rains in Kolkata and Howrah. The possibility of hailstorms in several districts of North Bengal has also been mentioned. It has been raining in torrents and strong winds since Tuesday evening. As a result, the night temperature dropped from 18.6 degrees Celsius to 17.5 degrees Celsius. The temperature will remain like this for the next 48 hours. However, although the winter has disappeared in the last few days due to the western storm, the temperature will drop consid- Pak aims peace with India in new National Security Policy ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to ease down continued tensions with its neighbours, especially with India, Pakistan's Imran Khan-led government is gearing up to unveil its new National Security Policy with an aim to normalise tensions with New Delhi and work towards opening gateways of economic diplomacy. The National Security Policy, a 100-page document carries with it a new change of policy Islamabad will be looking to adopt towards India, shifting its principal stance over the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir from The Calcutta High Court has conditionally allowed the Gangasagar mela to be held in the time of covid. While inspecting the Gangansagar Mela transit camp at Babughat, the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a message to the devotees to abide by the Covid Protocol. She said, 'Ministers and bureaucrats affected by covid. Workers are working at the risk of their lives. Wear a mask everyone. If possible, wear a double mask. Obey the administration.' A public interest litigation was filed in the High Court seeking closure of Gangasagar Mela. The case is being heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Kesang Doma Bhutia. In the situation of covid, permission has been granted conditionally for Gangasagar Mela. However, the High Court has constituted a two-member committee for the fair. The court directed that RTPCR test is compulsory 72 hours before the fair. If the report is negative, then only one can enter the fair. Also, one to carry the double vaccine certificate. Gangasagar Island should be declared as a notified zone. A two-member committee will look into whether these conditions are being met. On Wednesday, on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's 160th birthday, the Chief Minister first went to Shimla Street. She did not enter Swamiji's house. Outside the house she paid homage to the bust. After that the CM went to Babughat and visited Gangasagar Transit Camp. Addressing the devotees there, she said, 'Work is being done as per the order of the court. Cannot go to fair without RTPCR test. You can't go to the Ganges without testing for covid. Everyone needs to work together. Obey the administration. Covid is not in our hands. Be aware, go to Gangasagar Mela. Gangasagar Mela Committee is by your side '. primary to a secondary pending dispute. As per the new security policy details, Pakistan will be looking forward to having more deliberations and engagements with New Delhi over trade and economic opportunities. "We are not seeking hostility with India for the next 100 years. The new policy seeks peace with immediate neighbours. If there was a dialogue and progress in it, there would be a possibility of normalising trade and commercial ties with India as it had happened in the past," said an official with knowl- edge of details of the new security policy. While the country's new security policy showcases a clear shift in its approach from geo-strategic to geoeconomics; the change is being seen with optimism over the relationship between the two nuclear powered arch-rivals. "Economic security will be the central theme of the new security policy," said the government official. Pakistan and India have been eyeball-to-eyeball over their issues against each other, which have been on a consistent rise in the past. However, some hopes of normalcy or de-escalation were witnessed when both sides agreed to reinforce a ceasefire understanding along the Line of Control (LoC) during February last year. But the process could not make any further progress and reflect onto other bilateral understandings. Pakistan and India relations came to a complete standstill in August 2019, when the Modi-led government abrogated Article 370 and 35A, changing the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. In reaction to the decision, Pakistan suspended all diplomatic ties and stopped bilateral trade with India. While the new policy will be focused on economic diplomacy with immediate neighbours, the official emphasised that geo-strategic importance will not be ignored. "Geo-economics does not necessarily mean we overlook our geo-strategic and geo-political interests. The longstanding Kashmir dispute with India has been identified as a vital national policy issue for Pakistan," he said. It was also revealed that all details of the national security policy will not be made public and will be kept classified. erably in the next few days. The day-time temperature will drop to at least 2 degrees in the next 48 hours. There is a possibility of rain in all the districts of South Bengal on Thursday. Meanwhile, because of western disturbance the direction of the wind has reportedly changed. As a result, humid air will blow from the Bay of Bengal. And due to the effect of these two, such untimely rainfall is going on in the State. The western districts will be most affected. Jhargram, West Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, East and West Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad districts are likely to receive moderate rainfall in 48 hours. On the other hand, light rainfall is expected in Kolkata and other districts of Gangetic South Bengal. Dry weather will start again in the State on Saturday. The night temperature will start falling again from Sunday. However, the temperature will not drop below 14 or 15 degrees Celsius Besides, in case of North Bengal, there is a possibility of rain in all districts in the next 48 hours. The meteorological office has also forecast hail in some parts of North Bengal on Wednesday. Light rain will continue till Jan 13 in North Bengal. There are chances of light rain in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar on Saturday and Sunday. RANCHI WITNESSES LIGHT RAIN; SKY WILL BE CLOUDY TILL SATURDAY RANCHI: The state capital on Wednesday witnessed rain accompanied with thundering and hailstorm owing the impact of the western disturbances. Ranchi city registered a rainfall of 24 millimetres in the evening. The daytime temperatures remained below normal at 20 degrees centigrade while the night temperature was above normal at 11.7 degrees centigrade in the city in the last 24 hours. The weather department predicted rain accompanied with light to moderate thunderstorm for several districts including Pakur, Sahibganj, Bokaro, Deoghar, Dhanbad, East Singhbhum, Giridih, Jamtara and Saraikela Kharsawan. The department said that some places of the southern, central and north eastern parts of state would register light to moderate rain while the remaining part would witness light rainfall at a few places. The weather would generally be cloudy in Ranchi and the surrounding areas till Saturday with the possibility of light rainfall. —Sanjay Sahay