DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2024, PUNE, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY President turns down mercy plea of Red Fort attack convict on death row `6.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 PRIME MINISTER CONDOLES DEATHS, SAYS EMBASSY MONITORING Around 40 Indian workers among 49 killed in Kuwait building blaze SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 78 DIVYA A NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 India’s Ambassador to Kuwait Adarsh Swaika visits one of the injured Indian workers in a hospital in Mangaf Wednesday. (Below) The six-storey builing where the fire broke out. PTI ‘He was to get his daughter admitted to college’: Many livelihoods snuffed out SHAJU PHILIP THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 12 A MECHANIC who became a supervisor, an electrician who learntaccountancy—thosewho perished in the Kuwait fire had worked their way up to a better life, so they could sustain their families back home in Kerala. Among them was 48-yearold Vadakkottuvilayil Lukose, a supervisor with NBTC group, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Shameer Umarudheen from Kollam worked as a driver which has K G Abraham, a businessmanfromKerala,asitsmanaging director. Lukose hailed from Adichanalloor panchayat in Kollam, and had been in Kuwait CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CARPENTERS,MASONS,domestic workers, fabricators, drivers and even food delivery riders and courier delivery boys — to a very large extent, Kuwait depends on the Indian workforce. With a million-strong diaspora and the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, Indians constitute 21 per cent of Kuwait’stotalpopulationand30 per cent of its total workforce. According to the latest statistics released by the Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) of Kuwait, the population of Kuwait was 4.859 million (1.546 million citizens and 3.3 million expatriates) as of December 2023. Of this, labourers and workers comprised 61 per cent of the total population (almostthreemillion)and75per cent of the country’s total expat population. The Indian community remains the largest expatriate community in Kuwait and has already crossed the one million mark. Often living in harsh conditions — cramped rooms in semiconstructed buildings or in labour camps like the one in INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS within thegovernmentsuggestthatthe demandforspecialcategorystatus by the BJP’s two key allies, TDP and JD(U) for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, respectively, will be hard to meet since there are several states which may need a higher percentage of grants given their socio-economic and fiscal health. One of the biggest benefits for states classified as a special category earlier was that 90 per cent of funds under centrally sponsored schemes was contributedbytheCentre,withonly 10 per cent being the state contribution. For all other states, the split was 60:40 with the Centre contributing just 60 per cent. Further, Normal Central Assistance from the Union government for special category states comprised 90 per cent grants and 10 per cent loan; for other states, it was 30 per cent grants, and 70 per cent loans. The Central government fears that opening such a window for Andhra Pradesh and E E X P L A I NE D NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 More funds, projects ● likely IF NOT special category status, the BJP-led government may be willing to allocate extra funds to states for specific projects. For example, it may extend more loans to build Andhra’s capital or even plan central projects in Amaravati. Bihar will trigger similar demandsbyotherstates,especially those which are stressed for resources, and are backward. The sources said, support for the two states held by the allies, could be in the form of special packages, like funds for building acapitalcityAmaravatiinAndhra PradeshormoreCentralprojects for the city, the sources said. “The Planning Commission ceased to exist and the Finance Commission did away with the conceptofspecialcategorystatus. Even then the special treatment CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE ARMED Forces are discussing possible tweaks to the Agnipathschemeformilitaryrecruitment including changes in the retention percentage of Agniveers from the current 25 per cent and increase in their training period. Thisfollowsfeedbackfromthe threeservices—asurveywasconducted recently — that flagged certain issues with the scheme, The Indian Express has learnt. These changes, however, are not yet formal recommendations to the government. These are proposals that are still being discussed by the Armed Forces. One of the changes to the scheme being discussed within theArmyisincreasingtheretentionpercentagefromthecurrent 25 per cent to 60-70 per cent for regular troops and nearly 75 per cent for technical and specialist soldiers,includingSpecialForces. The feedback collated by the Armyhasindicatedlackof cohesivenessandcamaraderieamong the Agniveers and a tendency to Currently, only 25% are retained after 4 years. File compete, and not collaborate, to get absorbed, leading to lack of trust between the Agniveers. “Thisisnotadesirablequality intheArmedForcesandincreasing the retention percentage is aimed at addressing it,” an official said, adding that discussions are also underway to retain at least 50 per cent of Agniveers in the other services. The aim, the official said, is to increase bonding and willingness to carry each other along than compete. “The larger interest of the organisation is to have soldiers with good camaraderie and regimental spirit to fight together,” the official said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SPORT T20 WORLD CUP: INDIA IN SUPER 8 AFTER 7-WICKET WIN OVER USA CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PAGE 17 Pride in tatters, Ajit Pawar ‘wants’ wife to don mantle of RS MP Why Bihar, Andhra are unlikely to get special status, may get package instead AANCHAL MAGAZINE On Armed Forces table: Let double the Agniveers stay back, train them longer Carpenters to delivery boys: Lateral absorption of graduates as technical personnel being discussed Indians are in demand, living AMRITA NAYAK DUTTA conditions poor NEW DELHI, JUNE 12 Over50injuredin fireincident;MoS settoleavefor Gulf nationto overseeassistance AT LEAST 49 people, around 40 of them Indians, died early Wednesday morning after a fire DIVYA A brokeoutinanapartmentbuildNEW DELHI, JUNE 12 ing where they were staying near Kuwait City. PRESIDENT DROUPADI Murmu Theincidenttookplaceinthe has turned down the mercy pe- Mangaf area, south of Kuwait tition of Mohammed Arif alias City, which is heavily populated Ashfaq, a Pakistani national and with migrant workers. Around amemberof theLashkar-e-Taiba 200 workers were living in the who was sentenced to death in six-storey building where the the December 2000 Red Fort at- fire incident took place, accordtack in which three Army per- ing to local media reports. sonnel were killed. Kuwait Times quoted Major According to Rashtrapati General Eid Al-Owaihan, head of Bhavan, the mercy petition of the interior ministry’s General Arif, received on May 15, was DepartmentofCriminalEvidence, turned down on May 27. as saying, “Unfortunately, we reThisis the second mercy plea ceivedareportofafireat...exactly rejected by President Murmu 6:00 am (0300 GMT) in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mangaf area.” “Asforthedeathsinthebuilding behind me, the number has exceeded35sofar,”hesaid,standing at the site. Kuwait’s interior ministry later updated the toll to 13/06/2024 49, and Indian officials said 131 around 40 are Indians. The Ministry of External 159 Affairs spokesperson Randhir JaiswalsaidMinisterof StateKirti 198 VardhanSinghwillbeleavingfor Kuwait on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to FEEDBACK FROM INTERNAL SURVEY MANOJ MORE PUNE, JUNE 12 PM Narendra Modi greets N Chandrababu Naidu after the latter was sworn-in as the CM of Andhra Pradesh in Vijayawada, Wednesday. (Right) Odisha’s CM-designate Mohan Charan Majhi meets former CM Naveen Patnaik, in Bhubaneswar. PTI Modi attends return of partner in Andhra, his own party’s debut in adjoining Odisha Chandrababu takes oath as Andhra CM for fourth time with team of 24 SREENIVAS JANYALA HYDERABAD, JUNE 12 TELUGU DESAM Party president NChandrababuNaiduwassworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth term Wednesday at a ceremony at GannavaramnearVijayawadathat was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leadersof NDAallyBJP. Naidu, who won the recent Assembly election from his hometurf Kuppamfortheeighth consecutive time, took oath at 11.27 am. This was the second time he took oath of office after bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. His previous two tenures were before the bifurcation. Apart from the Prime Minister,theeventwasattended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president and Union Minister J P Nadda, along with Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Majhi takes oath as CM, BJP forms its first govt in Odisha SUJIT BISOYI BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 12 ODISHA’S FIRST BJP Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took oath of office Wednesday along with two Deputy Chief Ministers, eight Cabinet ministers and five Ministers of State with independent charge at a grand swearing-in ceremony at Janata Maidan here. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, half a dozen Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of at least nine BJP-ruled states joined the event. Outgoing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also attended the ceremony. “It’s a historic day in Odisha! With the blessings of my sisters and brothers of Odisha, @BJP4Odisha is forming its firstevergovernmentinthestate.Iattendedtheswearing-inceremony inBhubaneswar.Congratulations CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THOUGH HIS wife lost the Lok Sabha election from the Baramati where he had made it a prestige issue, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in a strong riposte to his detractors, has decided to still make her the MP. SourcesintheNCPsaidtheparty has finalised the name of Sunetra Pawar for Rajya Sabha bypoll which will be held on June 26. The election is likely to take place unopposed as the Mahayuti has nearly a strength of 180 MLAs. ''The name of the candidate for Rajya Sabha election is being finalised. It will be declared tomorrow at 11 am,'' said NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare. The seat had fallen vacant due after NCP leader Praful Patel had resigned two years into his tenure. If Sunetra Pawar is elected, she willhave afour-year term as MP. When her reaction was sought, Supriya Sule, who has been elected for the fourth time asMP,said,"Itistheinternalmatter of NCP as to whom they shouldfieldforRajyaSabhaseat." Askedwhetherthereisapossibilityof clashesoverBaramati's development in case Sunetra Sunetra Pawar Pawar becomes an RS MP, Sule said,"If a person becomes an MP, they can raise the issue of development of their constituency..." she said. On whether Sunetra Pawar has congratulated her after her victory, Sule replied in the negative. "But I have reached out to her, I have texted her...," she said. Though there are a few claimants for the Rajya Sabha's vacant seat, Ajit Pawar has managed to convince party leaders that they should help him make his wife the MP, sources said. When asked whether Sunetra Pawar will be fielded, the NCP spokespsrson said various names are under consideration. ''The name will be finalised by tonight and tomorrow it will be announced,'' he said. To ensure his wife's victory from Baramati, Ajit Pawar had staked his own prestige. He had gone flat out to get her elected, roping top leaders of Mahayuti and himself leading from the CONTINUEDONPAGE2 Stains gone, stink remains: Madrasa teachers cleared in trafficking case PAGE 1 ANCHOR VIJAY KUMAR YADAV MUMBAI, JUNE 12 WHAT IS the cost of a “misunderstanding”? For Mohammed AnzarAlam,35,itisajailstintfor a crime not committed, a younger brother failing his Class 12 board exams, the loss of a family’s only source of income and a debt of over Rs 1 lakh, besides the stink of suspicion that refuses to dissipate. Alam was one of the five madrasa teachers “mistakenly” arrested on charges of trafficking 59 children from Bihar to Maharashtra on May 30, 2023. The teachers were travelling on the Danapur-Pune Express when they were detained by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Maharashtra’s Manmad and Bhusawal railway stations on the suspicion of supplying child labourers. In May 2024, GRP officers said the case against the five teachers had been closed in March this year, 10 months after their arrest, when it was concluded that the First Information Reports(FIR) was lodged due toa “misunderstanding”. Sharad Jogdand,inspector,ManmadGRP, said,“Afterdueverification,weascertained (that) there was no humantraffickingandfiledaC-summary (closure report) in court.” For Alam, however, everything has changed. He says, “Aapke kapde se daag agar hatt bhi jaaye, lekin uske nishan reh jaate hain. Log ab hume shaq ki nazar se dekhte hai (The stink stays on even when the stains The five madrasa teachers (from left) — Ejaz Ziyabbul Siddiqui, Mohammed Shahnawaz Haroon, Mohammed Anzar Alam, Noman Alam Siddiqui, Saddam Hussain Siddiqui. wash off. People look at us with suspicion now).” While Alam claims he spent three months in jail, teachers Saddam Hussain Siddiqui, 23, Noman Alam Siddiqui, 29, Ejaz Ziyabbul Siddiqui, 40, and MohammedShahnawazHaroon, 23, spent 12 days in police custody and 16 days in Nashik jail. On May 30, 2023,59 children aged between eight and 17 years from Bihar’s Araria district were travellingwiththeirfiveteachers to Pune and Sangli to study in madrasas.Actingona“tip-off”by a senior officer linked to the JuvenileJusticeBoardinDelhiand the Railway Board, the Railway ProtectionForce(RPF),alongwith anNGO,“rescued”thesechildren and arrested the teachers. Atthetimeof the arrests, RPF officials had claimed the five men had failed to provide ade- quate documentation for their travel, leading to the filing of an FIR under Sections 370 (traffickingof persons)and34(common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.Thechildrenweretakento shelter homes in Nashik and Bhusawal for 12 days since officials suspected they were being trafficked.Whentheirangryparents demanded their return, the children were escorted back to Bihar by the Nashik district administration. Meanwhile, labelled “child traffickers”,theteacherssaythey are still struggling to get their lives back on track. An upset Alam told The Indian Express on the phone, “I was shocked when afriendof mine,whohasknown me for a decade, asked me, ‘Kyon kiyaaisa?(Whydidyoudothis)’.” Beforehisarrest,Alamtaught in a madrasa based in Walwa, Sangli.Thesolebreadwinnerina family of eight, including his three children, he earned Rs 23,000 per month. Stating that he is still looking for a job with a stable income, Alam says the madrasa gave his job to another teacher while he was in jail. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2