DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA PRIME MINISTER RELEASES BJP POLL MANIFESTO Amid global unrest, India needs stable govt with unequivocal majority: Modi 10 yrs on, manifesto signals continuity: Expanding welfare and infra upgrade PMflagschangein ‘mindset’,talksof next-genreforms LIZ MATHEW No NRC mention, UCC goal reiterated NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 15/04/2024 122 150 187 60 IDEA EXCHANGE PAGE 11 RELEASING THE BJP manifesto ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that kick off on April 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday stressed on the need for a stable and strong government with a comfortable majority to drive India forward in these times of global conflicts and uncertainty. “Today there is a cloud of uncertainty and tension looming POLLS BONDS IN 14 TRANCHES TMC got `23 cr from 3 firms linked to ex-MP and Saradha accused JAY MAZOOMDAAR NEW DELHI, KOLKATA, APRIL 14 THREE COMPANIES linked to the familyofformerTMCRajyaSabha MP Srinjoy Bose, who was arrested by the CBI on charges linked to the Saradha chit fund case,donated`23.30croreinelectoral bonds to the ruling party in West Bengal in 14 tranches of `13 crore each beginning July 2021. Accordingtodatareleasedby the Election Commission last month and investigated by The Indian Express, these donations began soon after the TMC won the 2021 Assembly polls and formed the state government in May that year. ■BetweenJuly2021andJuly 2023, one of these companies, Ripley & Co Stevedoring & HandlingPvtLtd,donated`11.50 crore in bonds to the TMC in seven tranches. Separately, one of its directors, Prashant Kumar Jaiswal, gave `4.30 crore in two tranchesfromOctober 2023(see chart on page 2). ■ In January 2022, Netincon MarketingPvtLtd,asecondcompany owned by the Bose family, donated `3 crore in bonds to TMC. Records show that this company made a net profit of `22.30 lakh in 2021-22. ■ A third company, Arrow Projects Pvt Ltd, donated `4.5 crore inbondsto theTMCinfour tranches between October 2022 and July 2023. The latest available records show that the company made a net profit of `20.19 lakh in 2021-22. Therearenorecordsof anyof these entities donating in bonds to parties other than TMC since April 2019. According to RoC records, Srinjoy Bose resigned as Ripley’s director in 2010 and transferred his 49 per cent share to his mother, Sampa Bose, in 2014. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Development a poll issue in Bastar where Naxal shadow looms large JAYPRAKASH S NAIDU JAGDALPUR, APRIL 14 CHHATTISGARH’S BASTAR is set to bethe state’ssoleseatgoingto pollsinthefirstphaseonApril19 owing to Maoist violence — alreadythisyear,left-wingextremism (LWE) has claimed74livestill April. Of the 74 killed, 50 were Maoists, which is more than twice DECISION 2024 thenumberacross 2023, when 24 insurgents were killed. The Bastar Lok Sabha seat falls in the state’s Abujhmad region, an unsurveyed area larger than Goa and with a population of about 40,000 that is still a Naxal stronghold. While development in the region, which `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 BASTAR SEAT Vote share in % 50.11 15.93 2014 44.1 39.83 RELATED REPORTS P 12 over the world. There are conflicts everywhere. In such an hour of crisis, the safety of Indians living abroad is our priority. In times of global unrest, the necessity for a strong, stable government with an unequivocal majority in India becomes CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 99%OFMISSILES,DRONES shot down, says Israel 16.07 2019 lacks railway connectivity, super-speciality government hospitals and access to welfare schemes, is a key poll issue, candidates are also targeting each other over left-wing extremism. The Congress has fielded CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 LIZ MATHEW & MANOJ CG NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 pleted, the BJP’s “Sankalp Patra” (manifesto) for 2024 is more a re-statement of its governance programme rather than a politically contentious document. Underlining the shift in “mindset,” from “desperation” to confi● dence, the manifesto flagsthatafter 10 yearsin government, the party promises E PITCHING FOR a third term, with two of its three coreideologicalprojects— abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to Kashmir and the construction of Ayodhya Ram Temple — com- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 WORLDURGESRESTRAINT, G7 meets, condemns Iran attack Shots fired at Salman Khan’s Bandra home, Bishnoi brother claims responsibility VIJAY KUMAR YADAV & MOHAMED THAVER MUMBAI, APRIL 14 TWO SUSPECTS on a motorcycle fired five rounds at actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area early Sunday. While police were probing all possibilities, a Facebook post purportedly uploaded by Anmol Bishnoi, the youngerbrotherofjailedgangster Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the firing. Later in the evening, police sourcesidentifiedoneof thesuspects — captured on CCTV — as Vishalalias Kalu, a shooter in the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Khan, who has Y-plus category security cover, and his family members were present at homewhenthefiringtookplace. No one was injured in the firing, the police said. An alert was sounded across Mumbai and barriers were erected on key CCTV grab of the 2 suspects at Bandra station. One of them (in red shirt) has been identified as Vishal. roads to nab the suspects. Deputy Commissioner of Police,Zone9,RajTilakRoushan, said, “Two unknown persons came on a motorbike and fired rounds outside actor Salman Khan's house around 5 am and escaped. Around 4-5 rounds were fired. We have formed 15 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Iran attack: Israel debates response, Actor’s family raises US says won’t take part in retaliation concerns over firing despite high security Tehran warns against reprisal, Tel Aviv signals response may not be imminent MOHAMED THAVER MUMBAI, APRIL 14 FAMILY MEMBERS of actor Salman Khan who has been on the radar of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar have expressed concerns over the security provided to the actor given thatfive roundswere fired at the building, of which four shots hit the building. According to a source, what particularly scared the family was that one of the four bullets was lodged in the balcony of the flat where the actor, who enjoys JAMES MACKENZIE, PARISA HAFEZI & JEFF MASON JERUSALEM, DUBAI, WASHINGTON, APRIL 14 PRESIDENT JOE Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the US will not take partinacounter-offensiveagainst IranifIsraeldecidestoretaliatefor a mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight, a WhiteHouseofficialsaidSunday. The threat of open warfare erupting between the arch West Asia foes and dragging in the US has put the region on edge, triggering calls for restraint from global powers and Arab nations to avoid further escalation. US media reported earlier on SundaythatBidenhadinformed Netanyahu he would not participate in retaliatory action in a phone call overnight. The remarkswereconfirmedtoReuters by a White House official. An Israeli anti-missile system seen in action from Ashkelon city after Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles on Sunday. Reuters FULL COVERAGE BIDEN SEEKS TO HEAD OFF WIDER WAR IN WEST ASIA CAUTION IN DELHI ON SENDING WORKERS TO ISRAEL PAGES 14, 6 NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 THE MIDDLE East is one of the most successful regions for Indian diplomacy over the last decade but it continues to test Delhi’s ability to navigate the region’s competing imperatives. India’s quick call for de-escalation today in the aftermath of Iran’s retaliatory strike against IsraelstandsincontrasttoDelhi’s instant expression of solidarity with Tel Aviv at the highest po- Delhi calls for ‘de-escalation’ as Jaishankar speaks to both Foreign Ministers SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 Contrast with Oct 7: Why Delhi’s stand marks 4 key shifts in Mideast diplomacy C RAJA MOHAN Y-plus security, resides. The actor was sleeping at his residence when the firing took place. “The family expressed concerns to senior Mumbai Police officers about the incident that took place outside Galaxy apartments. They were surprised that despite Y-plus security, in addition to security provided by the local Bandra police station, the accused could fire rounds and escape,” the source told The Indian Express. Five policemen are deployed for thosewith Y-plussecurity, in addition to a security vehicle CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 INDIA’S E.V. POLICY PUSH CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ■ Cong ■ BJP ■ Others 33.96 PM Narendra Modi with Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP chief J P Nadda at the party manifesto release in New Delhi on Sunday. Renuka Puri EXPLAINED BY UNNY REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2024, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES BUSINESS AS USUAL ● liticallevelimmediatelyafterthe October 7 terror attack by Hamas. That contrast highlights four broad transitions in India’s engagement with the region. First, the call for regional restraint underlines the difference between responding to the brutality of a non-state actor’s terrorism and a conflict between two major state actors locked in a long-standing regional rivalry. Delhi’s stakes in the bilateral relationships with both Tehran and Tel Aviv are huge and it has never been a question of choosing between them. With Iran making clear that its retaliation against the Israeli attack on its embassy in Damascus is now complete, India will hope that Tel Aviv will avoid new military actions that will trigger a dangerous and wider war in the region. If India was seen as taking “Israel’s side” on October 7, its position today urging restraint will be viewed as“balanced”andinfavourof regional peace. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 WITHINHOURSofIran’sattackon Israel, India expressed “serious concern”attheescalationof hostilitiesbetweenthetwoandcalled for “immediate de-escalation”. Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to both Iran Foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Israel Foreign Minister Israel Katz and discussed the regional situation. In his conversation with Iranian FM, Jaishankar said he “discussed the current situation in the region” and “stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy”. And with the Israel FM, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 When Musk lands: Red carpet for Tesla and a few red flags in India ANIL SASI NEW DELHI, APRIL 14 WHEN TESLA chief Elon Musk is expectedtolandinIndialaterthis month to announce his electric vehicle(EV)investmentplans,he will wish for a red carpet no doubt — but there will also be a few red flags in the wings. Under pressure in China where local players have outsmartedhim,facingtechdisruptions in the industry, and a general demand slowdown, for Musk,theIndiastoryisasimportant as the EV story is for India. NewDelhihopestheentryof the marquee EV flagbearer, just like it was in China, will be a catalystforitsdomesticelectricfourwheeler push. So much so that after turning down Tesla’s demand for upfront import duty cutstwoyearsago,itbelievesthe latest cuts, with a post-dated investmentpledgeandprogressive localisation targets, are worth it. Thekeyissuesthatwillframe the talks with Tesla: For Elon Musk, the India story is as important as the EV story is for India. Reuters ■ Policy rethink: The new EV policy, which effectively lowered import duties to 15 per cent from 100 per cent on car models costing over $35,000 if its manufacturer promised to invest $500 millioninsettingupalocalfactory, is being seen as a move to welcome Tesla. This marks a part reversal of the domestic manufacturing policy push given that the duty cuts are aimed at enabling a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Months after slapping trauma, UP boy dreams again: ‘Want to be Ronaldo’ PAGE 1 ANCHOR DHEERAJ MISHRA MUZAFFARNAGAR, APRIL 14 THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD has a smile on his face as he talks about his new school in Uttar Pradesh’sMuzaffarnagardistrict. His eyes light up as he mentions his Hindi teacher, though he doesn’t know her name. “She speaks warmly to me, and she liked the homegrown mulberries I had given her,” the class 3 student says. This represents a major change from just a few months ago,whenatanotherschoolinhis Muzaffarnagar village, another teacher had ordered the boy’s classmatestolineupandslaphim one by one. The teacher, Tripta Tyagi, had also referred to his religion and talked pejoratively about “Mohammedan children” — ostensibly because he got his multiplication tables wrong. The incident took place in August 2023, and had caused a national uproar when a video of it went viral. The matter went all thewaytotheSupremeCourtafter Tushar Gandhi — author, activist, and great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi — filed a petitionagainstdelayedactioninthe case by police. Now, the boy studies in what is considered one of the best schools in Muzaffarnagar, although it is 25 km from his home. In the new environment, he has found new interests, and a new dream. “The new school is good, and I have made some friends. The playground is big... I saw football there for the first time, and now I play every Tuesday and Saturday... I want to be like Ronaldo,” he says. Dressed in the new clothes he got for Eid — a red checked The boy with the new bicycle he got for Eid. Dheeraj Mishra shirt,blackjeansandblackshoes —heenthusiasticallydisplayshis new books and new school diary. He also flaunts his new bicycle,showingittoeveryguestthat comes home. However,lastyear’s incident, when his classmates were made to slap him, has left a mark. “I know those boys who hit me, but I do not meet them now. I only play with the children from my neighbourhood,” he says. Following the incident, the Supreme Court had raised “serious objections” and pulled up the police for delay in filing an FIR. It had also said the “state must take responsibility for the education of the child”. Subsequently,theUPgovernment had said it would enrol the boy in a new school, take care of his educational expenses, provide him with uniforms, and even provide `200 per day for transport expenses. The boy’s father says that while his son has got admission in the new school, many of the promises have not yet been fulfilled in a timely manner. “My son is going to school in oldclothesthisacademicsession because the department has not provided new uniforms. I am tired of calling(departmentofficials)—theydonotevenpickup. They are required to pay at the rate of `200 per day for fuel, because I take him to school and pick him up every day on my bike. That means I ride my bike foraround100kmdaily,butthey have not made the payments for the last two months,” the father says. A tractor mechanic and small farmer, the 43-year-old said that earlier, when the matterwasinthenews,officialsused torespondpromptly,unlikenow. Education Department officials did not respond to requests for comment. Theincident,accordingtothe father, hadamajorimpact onhis CONTINUED ON PAGE 2