CMYK Rs. 3 KOLKATA TUESDAY, 10 MAY, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—8, ISSUE—345 (RNI NO.: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) Morning India ‘Atta’ price soars high MI News Service, kolkata: The ‘Atta’ price has now risen to a record high in last twelve years. As per sources, the ‘Atta’ price as off first week of May is going at Rs 32.78 per Kg. As per sources, the centre government is envisaging for an increase production of ‘Atta’ and has also asked for preservation of at least 100 lac metric tons ‘Atta’ as grand reserve. According to sources, not only the Covid situation in last two years aggravated this problem, but also the current Russia Ukraine war has also acted as a negative catalyst to this grave problem. The wheat crisis is not just persisting in Indian subcontinent alone , it is also soaring at Europe and entire western nation as well, courtesy, double impact of Covid and ongoing Ukraine Russia war. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid floral tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his 161th birth anniversary in Kolkata, on Monday. PIC: PRABIR BHATTACHARYA Cyclone Asani likely to weaken, moderate to heavy rains in West Bengal, Odisha MI News Service Kolkata: Severe cyclonic storm 'Asani' in the Bay of Bengal which is moving northwesterwards at a speed of 25 Km per hour towards coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm in the next 48 hours, the weather department said on Monday. According to the Indian Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), thunderstorms and moderate rainfall are likely over some parts of Howrah, Kolkata, Hooghly and West Midnapur districts of West Bengal today. The weather forecaster has advised people to take shelter during thunderstorm activity. The cyclonic storm with gusting 120 km per hour wind speed lay centred about 550 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam and 680 km south-southeast of Puri today according to an IMD bulletin this morning. "It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 10 and reach Westcentral and adjoining Northwest Bay of Bengal off North Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts," the IMD said. "Thereafter, it is very likely to recurve north-northeastwards and move towards Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha coast. It is likely to weaken gradually into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 48 hours," the bulletin said. The Met department has predicted light to moderate rainfall over some districts of coastal Odisha and moderate to heavy rainfall from May 10 over some coastal districts of the state. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the deep sea area over the central parts of the Bay of Bengal on May 9-10 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal from May 10-12. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has put on alert its employees and disaster management teams in view of the Cyclone Asani. In May 2020, Cyclone Amphan hit the region, which was catastrophic and caused widespread damage in West Bengal and Odisha. One year later, another Cyclone Yaas appeared on May 26. Cyclone Amphan had uprooted hundreds of trees in the city, blocking thoroughfares and snapping power supply for days in some areas. Cyclone Asani is a name given by Sri Lanka that means 'wrath' in Sinhalese. SL PM Mahinda Rajapaksa hands over resignation MI News Service, Colombo: Amidst violent clashes and unrest in Colombo, Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday resigned from his post. He handed over his resignation to President and his younger brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation following violent clash between proRajapaska supporters and anti-government protesters which has injured over 100. The violence started when progovernment protesters attacked the ant-government protesters who had occupied entrance to the President's Office and Prime Minister's resi- dence for nearly a month demanding the government to step down. ProRajapaksa supporters met Mahinda Rajapaksa in the morning and insisted he not step down. They later armed themselves with clubs and attacked the anti-government protesters who had been in front of PM's house first and burnt the huts. Later, they marched to the main anti-government protest site near President's House and attacked the protesters there too. Main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who visited the site, too was attacked by pro-Rajapaksa supporters. However as the attackers who were going back in buses, public on various locations at- tacked them and some of them were thrown into rivers. As the violence was continuing, curfew was imposed across the entire island. Soon after, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie J. Chung, in a tweet, condemned the violence in Colombo. "We condemn the violence against peaceful protesters today, and call on the government to conduct a full investigation, including the arrest & prosecution of anyone who incited violence. Our sympathies are with those injured today and we urge calm and restraint across the island," the Ambassador Continue PG 3 said. ❑ Jailed Khalistani operative alleges SC snubs CPM torture, HC over Shaheenbag MI News Service, New Delhi: seeks status report demolition MI News Service, Kolkata/New Delhi: The Supreme Court today showered diatribe at CPM over Shaheenbag issue. The reason why Supreme Court got red faced is that earlier CPM has filed a petition at Supreme Court appealing proper rehabilitation of the people dispersed from Shaheenbag via demolition process and asked for tough action against those who were responsible for this. The Supreme Court snubbed CPM for their appeal and said that this act is just a political game on their part. The Court also took cognizance of the fact that in spite the victims of the shaheenbag, CPM as a political party has taken up the ‘uncalled for’ responsibility regarding this issue. Gandhi's personal belongings to bring nearly Rs 5 crore in UK auction CMYK Delhi High Court on Monday sought a status report from jail authorities on a plea on behalf of Hardeep Singh alias Shera, who is accused of trans-national Khalistani operations among other charges by the NIA, alleging discrimination and torture in prison. Directing the prison authorities to file their reply in the matter, Justice Chandra Dhari Singh posted the case for further hearing on August 18 The plea, moved by his father through advocate Harpreet Singh Hora, contended that the jail authorities deprived him of his 'Right to Life' by not providing the basic amenities and medical assistance de- spite being aware of the fact that he has several injuries and body aches. The plea also sought medical treatment, telephonic calls, the conduct of an X-ray, and a chair/stool to sit on. During the course of the hearing, the petitioner's counsel submitted that his client is unable to communicate from jail with his father and family members in Punjab where other inmates are provided with telephonic calls as per the jail manual. It is settled law that the prisoners cannot be made laboratories of torture, warehouses in which human commodities can be sadistically kept, counsel said. Indigo CEO issues apology after furor over stopping teenager from boarding MI News Service, New Delhi: IndiGo airline on Monday issued an apology and "sincere regrets" to the family of a teenager with special needs who was barred from boarding a plane along with his parents at the Ranchi airport on Saturday. The airline said that it had reviewed MI News Service, New Delhi: the situation and "made the best possible decision under difficult circumstances." The airline has also offered an electric wheelchair to the teenager. The statement has been issued on behalf of Ronojoy Dutta, Whole Time Director and Chief Executive Officer of In- Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings kept in Britain will be auctioned and are likely to fetch Rs 4.74 crore (5,00,000 British pounds), a media report said. According to the report, there are 70 items belonging to Gandhi including his hand-made khadi loincloths, letters he wrote while he was imprisoned and diGo. "We had a very unfortunate incident at Ranchi airport on May 07, 2022, when a speciallyabled teenager and his parents could not board their scheduled flight to Hyderabad," the statement reads. It further said that all the staff at IndiGo ❑ Continue PG 3 two pairs of his sandals, a pair of his sunglasses, an inkwell from his desk and a pair of spectacles, along with other items that will be auctioned.The online sale, which will end on May 21, is being arranged by East Bristol Auctions in the UK which sold a pair of Gandhi's spectacles for 260,000 British Continue PG 3 pounds in 2020. ❑ Mamata pioneer recipient of Special ‘Bangla Academy award’ MI News Service, Kolkata: The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today received the prestigious ‘Special Bangla Academy Award’ for her immense contribution to the society in multifarious domain. The award was conferred to her by Bangla Academy. Mamata was the first to receive the award of this kind. She herself did not take the award as the state Education Minister Bratya Basu himself took on behalf of her. According to the spokesperson of the Bangla Academy, “this award custom now starts with the Chief Minister and this honor would be given to those whose contribution to the society would be be considered as remarkable.” This award would be given to the respective recipients every three years. Noted Bengali writer Sirsendu Mukhopadhaya was also given away Special Bangla Academy for his contribution to literature. Earlier, Mamata offered tribute to “KabiGuru” Rabindranath Tagore at Rabindra Sadan to celebrate the ‘Ravindra Jayanti Utsov’. The state minister Indranil Sen offered the Chief Minister want to sing. Mamata agreed with the minister. She sang the whole song. This was the 161 birth anniversary of world poet Rabindranath Tagore. On that occasion, programs were organized in different places. A function was organized on behalf of the state to pay homage to the poet at Rabindrasadna on Cathedral Road this afternoon. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Minister Indranil Sen, Bratya Basu and many others were present. However, this is not the first time that the Chief Minister has sung on multiple occasions. Mamata Banerjee released an album of her songs on Nazrul Mancha on the same day. He also sang songs. Standing on the same stage, Nachiketa, Babul Supriyo and Indranil Sen joined hands with Mamata Banerjee.