CMYK MAY 12 The newly elected MLA from Ballygange constituency Babul Supriya takes oath in the presence of Deputy Speaker Dr Ashes Banerjee in the state Assembly on Wednesday. THURSDAY 33 33 28 Precipition: 40% Humidity: 73% Wind: 21 KM/H PG 3 Rs. 3 KOLKATA THURSDAY, 12 MAY, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—8, ISSUE—347 (RNI NO.: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) TMC to make dent in Assam polls in 2024, Abhishek claims Veteran Congress leader Pandit Sukh Ram, 95, passes away MI News Service, New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Pandit Sukh Ram passed away on Wednesday. He was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after he suffered a brain stroke. "He was admitted to AIIMS and was undergoing treatment for the brain stroke," his son Anil Sharma told reporters. His grandson Aashray Sharma wrote in a Facebook post, "Goodbye grandfather; Now the phone will not ring." (Roughly translated from a video post along with the caption in Hindi). Sharma posted several messages over his personal Facebook account mentioning the "end of an era". According to a press note shared by the former leader's grandson, he (Sukh Ram) suffered a brain stroke on May 4 in Manali, from where he was later taken to AIIMS, Delhi. Leaving the Congress in 2017, the 95-year old leader had rejoined the party in 2019, calling it his 'homecoming'. He had served in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology from 1993 to 1996. The former Lok Sabha member from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi constituency was a fivetime MLA in Himachal Pradesh Assembly and had won the Lok Sabha elections thrice. ED arrests IAS Pooja Singhal in money laundering case MI News Service, Ranchi: The Enforcement Directorate arrested Jharkhand mining secretary Pooja Singhal on Wednesday in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds and other charges. Earlier on Wednesday, Singhal was summoned for questioning. Notable, She was questioned for around nine hours on Monday also. This is the second arrest in this case as Chartered Accountant Suman Kumar is already arrested by ED on May 7. ED recovered Rs 17.51 crore from the premises of Kumar and Rs 1.8 crore from pulse Hospital. Singhal was arrested after ED got credible evidence of her connection with CA Suman Kumar. Earlier this month, ED conducted raids at Pulse Hospital, Ranchi. The hospital is owned by Abhishek Jha, husband of Pooja Singhal, Secretary, Mines and Geology, in Jharkhand. Senior advocate of Jharkhand High Court, Rajeev Kumar, submitted a complaint against her to the ED in February 2022. Earlier on Sunday, the ED interrogated Abhishek Jha, husband of Pooja Singhal, IAS, in connection with searches at Pulse Hospital. CMYK MI News Service, Guwahati: All India Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee reaches Assam on Wednesday to garner political strength ahead of Lok sabha election in 2024. SC puts sedition law on hold, no new FIRs to be lodged till review is complete MI News Service, New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday urged the Centre and state governments to refrain from registering any FIRs invoking sedition provision, Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, till review of the law by the Centre is complete. A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said till the review of the sedition provision by the Centre is complete, the governments should not use the sedition provision. In an interim order, the bench said no new FIRs should be lodged under the sedition provision and those already in jail can approach courts for relief. The Centre proposed issuing an advisory to the state governments that only a police officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) -- who may record in writing the reasons for a case involving sedition provision (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code) -as it cannot prevent police from registering a cognizable offence under sedition provision. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted that the government proposes that a police officer of the level of SP or above should decide, for now, on whether a sedition charge should be filed in future FIRs. He added that as the government reviews the sedition law, pending sedition cases can be reviewed, and the courts can decide on the bail application of those under Section 124A IPC, expeditiously. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing one of the petitioners, contended that Section 124A has become prima facie unconstitutional and the apex court must stay application of the sedition provision, till the Centre reviews the provision. Mehta submitted that as far as pending cases are concerned, gravity of each case is not known, maybe there is a terror angle, and also the pending cases are before judicial forum. "We need to trust the courts," he added. Justice Kant told Sibal, "What is this argument...Can it be struck down today?" The bench added that it is looking for an answer who can be an impartial authority, in the view of Centre's proposal, and asked Sibal what an ❑ Continue PG 3 Deepika Padukone is the first Indian to be signed as a House Ambassador by Louis Vuitton MI News Service, New Delhi: Louis Vuitton is delighted to unveil its Dauphine bag campaign, starring Deepika Padukone, Emma Stone and Zhou Dongyu, shot by Ethan James Green. Newly announced as Louis Vuitton's latest House Ambassador, esteemed Indian actress, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Deepika Padukone, stars in her first leather goods campaign for the Maison. With over 30 feature films to her credit including Piku, Padmavaat and most recently Gehraiyaan - the actress has notably been named a member of the jury of this year's 75th Cannes Film Festival. In 2018, Time Magazine named Padukone as one of their "100 Most Influential People". She was also recently awarded the TIME 100 Impact Award for her contribution to the Field of film and Entertainment. In 2015, she set up "The Live Love Laugh Foundation", whose programmes and initiatives aim to destigmatise mental illness and raise awareness regarding the importance of mental health. Padukone has been touted as one of Indian Cinema's most loved and successful actresses to date and her achievements have made her an icon of recent times. Padukone is the first Indian to be signed as a House Ambassador by Louis Vuitton. Following a strong collaborative relationship with the Maison, including an appearance in Nicolas Ghesquiere's novel-inspired Pre-Fall 2020 campaign, the award-winning actress begins an exciting new chapter of her journey with Louis Vuitton. Against clean backdrops of white and gradient blue, the Dauphine is incarnated by three internationally acclaimed actresses, each independently embodying a characteristic of the femme Dauphine. Deepika Padukone captures her free-spirited nature, ready to seize the day, Dauphine in hand. Oscar-winner and long-standing House Ambassador, Emma Stone, nods to her timeless elegance, a classic yet contemporary companion; while Zhou Dongyu, a pillar of contemporary Chinese cinema, looks to a woman of sophistication and strength, adept at navigating the world as the universes of Louis Vuitton alike. Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has brought unique designs to the world, combining innovation with style, always aiming for the finest quality. Today, the House remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented a genuine "Art of Travel" through luggage, bags and accessories which were as creative as they were elegant and practical. Since then, audacity has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its heritage, Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists and designers across the years, all the while developing disciplines such as ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories, watches, jewellery and fragrance. These carefully created products are testament to Louis Vuitton's commitment to fine craftsmanship. Abhishek Banerjee has set a target of winning 10 seats in Assam in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also directed to set up booths in every booth of Assam within this year. TMC party office has been set up in Assam. Abhishek also demanded that the Trinamool Congress would gradually seize power by removing the BJP from Tripura and Meghalaya in the Assembly elections in a year and a half. Abhishek claims that TMC will fight in Assam with BJP. He also reminded the leaders and workers of Assam how the Trinamool led by Mamata Banerjee had defeated the BJP in West Bengal in the Assembly election last year. Earlier in Assam, Congress leader Ripun Vora joined the Trinamool Congress Apart from this, Sushmita Dev has also been given the responsibility of expanding the organization of the party in this state The Trinamool MP also said that their goal is to strengthen the Trinamool by breaking the Congress in Assam. He said, "We all were in Congress at one time. But it will not be with the Congress The BJP cannot be defeated with big speeches sitting at home. We respect all political parties, big and small But in the last eight years, the Congress has been losing to the BJP, and we are winning against the BJP. That is the difference between us and the Congress. " Abhishek said the Trinamool had won 24 per cent of the vote in Tripura in just a few months. Abhishek claimed that there was much more time in Assam than what he said, Apart from this, Abhishek has also sharply attacked the central government over the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. He complained that people in Assam are not getting cheap medical treatment and there is a lack of employment The Trinamool MP also alleged that the central government was cheating the people with the NRC. He complained, 'The Home Minister came to Assam a few days ago He went to Bengal and talked about NRC in one way or another In fact, it is a completely empty promise There is a government that withholds taxes on movies to spread hatred, but does not withdraw taxes on oil and gas." Measures against those refusing govt health cards MI News Service, Kolkata: It has been instructed to be 'rough and tough' when someone returns the health card. Strict legal action must be taken against those persons refusing to accept government health cards. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, a committee has been formed under the leadership of the Chief Secretary. They will advise the government. The Chief Minister advised to seek treatment in the state on the health card issued by the government. The Chief Minister said, "We will check the health of all the nursing homes which are returning the health cards this time. Ordinary people should get the benefit of health partner. I will apply, get treatment in this state without going abroad. It has all the medical facilities now." The Chief Minister directed to expedite the recruitment in the health department. "The health recruitment committee has been asked to do this with special care," he said. Doctors, nurses, pathological staff are needed. The health secretary has been asked to complete the appointment immediately. Medical services are much more in Bengal than in other states. I would like the people of the state to get the treatment at the state hospital using the health card. Al-Jazeera journalist killed in West Bank MI News Service, Ramallah: Shireen Abu Akleh, a journalist with the Qatarbased Al Jazeera broadcaster, was killed in the West Bank on Wednesday amid an Israeli raid. Taking to Twitter, the broadcaster said: "Israeli forces have shot and killed veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank." The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that the reporter was shot while covering the Israeli military raid and died shortly after, reports Xinhua news agency. The Ministry also claimed that another Palestinian reporter was shot. In a statement, the Israeli Army said it has launched an investigation into the incident and was looking into the possibility that the journalists were hit by "armed Palestinians". The raid triggered clashes with armed residents, and "massive fire was shot toward Israeli forces by tens of armed Palestinian gunmen", ❑ Continue PG 3 Ambedkar memorial in Mumbai to be ready by March, 2024 MI News Service,Mumbai: The works on the memorial to Dr. Babasaheb R. Ambedkar in Mumbai are progressing smoothly and the world-class monument is expected to be completed by March 2024, officials said here on Wednesday. A 3-Minister delegation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government inspected the Indu Mills compound site in south Mumbai where the memorial, executed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is coming up. The much-anticipated monument of global standards is being built in the now defunct mills' 12 acres compound in Dadar, near the Chaityabhoomi and adjacent to the Arabian Sea, with the tallest statue of Dr. Ambedkar which will be known as 'Statue of Equality' planned here. Besides the delegation - comprising Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde, School Education Minister Prof. Varsha Gaikwad and Minister of State for Social Justice Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam, MMRDA Commissioner S.V.R. Srinivas and renowned architect Shashi Prabhu also visited the area. "We have gone around and seen it. The work is progressing well. We are confident the memorial will be ready by March 2024," said Munde, adding there will be no paucity of financial resources required for the project estimated to cost over Rs 1,000 crore.