DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024, AHMEDABAD, LATE CITY, 20 PAGES JOURNALISM OF COURAGE `5.00 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 CABINET CLEARS KOVIND PANEL’S RECOMMENDATIONS One nation, one election set in motion, will be in two phases Nationwide consultations will be held, committee to be formed for implementation of simultaneous polls: Govt DAMINI NATH & DIVYA A NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18 ASAD REHMAN NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. ANI Announcing the decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnawsaidtherewas“consen- J&K voters give thumbs-up to first Assembly BJP’s message of resolve, consensus-building; TDP polls since Art 370 end, Phase 1 turnout 61% backs move, with a rider Highest voting of 80% in Inderwal in Jammu; Valley seats too witness healthy polling; no major incident of violence BASHAARAT MASOOD, NAVEED IQBAL & ARUN SHARMA SOUTH KASHMIR, JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 18 IN ITS first Assembly elections in 10 years, and the first after the abrogationof Article370in2019, 61.11%of thevotersturnedoutin Jammu and Kashmir for the first phase of polling on Wednesday. The figures were alrepolling had been ormost the same as 2014 dered and no major inand 2008, with the cident of violence rebriskpollingatthestart ported, Pole said. of the day trickling toThe 2014 overall wards the later half. poll DECISION Assembly withturnout Chief Electoral was 66%, the 24 2024 Officer Pandurang Pole constituencies voting in J&K said voting figures are the first phase registerlikely to register a maring almost the same ginal increase once final figures voting percentage as are in from remote areas, and af- Wednesday’s. ter receiving postal ballots. No CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY LIZ MATHEW NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18 THE Union Cabinet’s nod to the Ram Nath Kovind-led high level committee's proposal for One Nation, One Election, initiating the process for simultaneous polls across the country, is a signal to detractors of the Narendra Modigovernmentthatitremains on course to implementing its agenda – the setback in the Lok Sabhaelectionsnotwithstanding. Sourcessaidthegovernment was clear about pressing ahead despite the realisation that the processisgoingtobe“elaborate” and would need the support of parties in the Opposition too, to clear Parliament. Sources said that the government is open to referring the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee once it is introduced to evolve a consensus. “There CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ‘No one is vying for Mamata’s chair’: Meet Review, modify Indus the doctors leading the RG Kar protests Waters Treaty: India serves notice to Pak, looks to renegotiate 64 YEARS OF PACT THAT SURVIVED WARS SWEETY KUMARI & PREMANKUR BISWAS KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 18 SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 18 SIXTY-FOUR years after the two countries signed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in Karachi onSeptember19,1960,Indiahas served formal notice to Pakistan seeking “review and modification” of the treaty, signalling serious political intent in Delhi to end it. This notice is qualitatively different and a step higher than India’s notice to Pakistan in January 2023 for the “modification” of the treaty. This time, it is seeking “review and modification” — an escalation that essentially underlines the intention to revoke the treaty and renegotiate it. SourcessaidWednesdaythat India served formal notice to Pakistan on August 30, seeking review and modification of the IWT under Article XII (3) of the pact. Under Article XII (3) of the IWT,itsprovisionmayfromtime totimebemodifiedbyadulyratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two gov- India is building the Kishanganga (above) and Ratle power projects in Jammu and Kashmir. NHPC ernments. Sources said India’s notification highlights “fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances” that require a reassessment of obligations under various Articles of the IWT. Amongvariousconcerns,the sources highlighted, important ones include “change in population demographics; environmental issues — need to acceleratedevelopmentof cleanenergy to meet India’s emission targets; impact of persistent cross-border terrorism”. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 IT WAS the most enduring image of the over month-long doctors’ protest against the RG Kar rape and murder. On September 14, a group of young doctors stoodintherainwiththeirhands foldedasChief MinisterMamata Banerjeeappearedtohaveanargument with them outside her home in Kolkata’s Kalighat. OnMonday,hergovernment finallyrelented,announcingthat they would accept “99 per cent” EXPRESS NETWORK At the junior doctors’ sit-in near Swasthya Bhavan in Kolkata on Wednesday. Express Minor who killed security guard with Mercedes let off, father absconding PAGE 12 AHMEDABAD, SEPTEMBER 18 AMINORdetainedinconnection with a hit-and-run accident in Ahmedabad’s Bopal area on Saturday — leading to a 34-yearold security guard’s death — was reportedly let off by the Juvenile Justice Board for appearing for an exam even as a manhunt has been launched to arrest his absconding father, a senior police official said on Wednesday. The 17-year-and-eightmonth-oldboy,whosefatherisa builder, was driving a Mercedes and had escaped from the spot after the accident, said police, adding that the car has been seized. The deceased, identified as Govind Singh, was on night duty outsideShashwatApartmentsin Bopal with his brother Jaswant Singh (44) — also the complainant — when the accident CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E Change in law, state ● consent THE KOVIND Committee has said ratification by states is not needed for the Constitutional amendments to transition to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. But Constitutional amendments related to preparation of a common electoral roll and syncing municipal and panchayat polls with LS elections must be ratified by at least half of the total states. CRITICISING THE Cabinet’s decision, the Opposition parties on Wednesday said ‘One Nation, One Election’ was not a practical ideaandthiswas“anothercheap stunt” by the BJP to distract from more important issues. Some warned that such a move would “destroy federalism and compromise democracy”. They also questioned how simultaneous polls could be held when even the Maharashtra Assembly elections were not held with the ongoing polls in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. “This is not practical and will not be allowed. At the time of elections, they can’t find any issues and they bring such things to divert from the main issues. The people of this country will not accept this,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters. AmongtheOpposition-ruled states, Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan said there was “a hidden agenda toweakenIndia'sfederalsystem and grant overwhelming power CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Hezbollah hit again: After pagers explode, hand-held devices, solar sets blow up CONTINUED ON PAGE 13 AHMEDABAD HIT-AND-RUN CASE EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE TRUMP SAYS MODI TO MEET HIM DURING US VISIT, CALLS INDIA ‘ABUSER’ OF TARIFF GOVT NOD FOR VENUS MISSION, CHANDRAYAAN-4 of the protesters’ demands — including replacing Kolkata’s police commissioner. But outside the state health department Swasthya Bhawan — the site of the protest — doctors are yet to fully back down. “We need systemic change and we know that will take time,” says Lahari Sarkar, one of the protesting doctors. As parleys with the government continued Wednesday, with the doctors being called for another meeting, The Indian Express spoke to those at the forefront of the protests. sus” in the Cabinet on the issue, and the government would now initiatenationwideconsultations EXPLAINED A queue outside a polling station at Bijbehara in Anantnag district during the first phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Shuaib Masoodi MOVING A step closer towards holding all elections simultaneously in the country — in keeping with the BJP’s long-standing 'One Nation, One Election' manifesto promise — the Union CabinetonWednesdayaccepted the recommendations of the high-levelcommitteechairedby former President Ram Nath Kovind. The eight-member panel, in its report submitted in March,suggestedthatLokSabha and State Assembly elections be held together, followed by local body polls within 100 days. Opp criticises move: Not practical, blow to federalism, cheap stunt took place, said officers from the Ahmedabad Rural police station while quoting the FIR. The boy was detained and presented before the Juvenile Justice Board Tuesday evening. However, he was let off “immediately by the juvenile court becausehehadtotakeexams”,said Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Jat. TheboyispursuingBBA,said the SP. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 At the site of an explosion in Sidon, Lebanon. Reuters BASSEM MROUE, JOHNSON LAI & JUSTIN SPIKE BEIRUT, SEPTEMBER 18 EXPLOSIONS WENT off in Beirut and multiple parts of Lebanon in an apparent secondwave of detonations of electronic devices, Hezbollahofficialsandstatemedia said Wednesday, reporting walkie-talkies and even solar equipment being targeted a day after hundreds of pagers blew up. At least nine people were killed and 300 were wounded, the Health Ministry said. (The New York Times put the deathtollat14,over450injured.) Several blasts were heard at the funeral in Beirut for three Hezbollah members and a child killed by exploding pagers the day before, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene. An AP photographer in the southern city of Sidon saw a car and a mobile phone shop damagedafterdevicesexploded inside of them. A Hezbollah official said walkie-talkies used by the group exploded. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Jugraj’s long journey: Selling flags at Attari to hockey glory for India PAGE 1 ANCHOR NITIN SHARMA CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 18 AS A child, Jugraj Singh, the son of a porter, sold Tricolour flags and water bottles to tourists at the Attari-Wagah border to help his family make ends meet. On Tuesday evening, the national anthem resounded at MoqiafterIndiabeathostsChina 1-0, thanks to a Jugraj goal in the 51st minute, to defend the Asian Champions Trophy hockey title. Jugraj’s strike was crucial. Along with the Asian Games gold last year, India are now the dominant force in Asian hockey. Jugraj, 27, is a versatile player and can play as a centre-back, full-backandadrag-flicker.Along withcaptainHarmanpreetSingh, he is one of the most powerful penalty corner experts in the sport. Scoring the winning goal, off a pass from Harmanpreet, madeTuesdaythebiggestdayon a hockey field for Jugraj. Jugraj’sfatherSukhjeetSingh watched the final on TV back in Attari. The 59-year-old has worked as a porter for 30 years and is now posted at the Attari Integrated Check Post. “I don’t know anything other than doing hard labour, but my son has made me and our family proud. He used to sell Indian flags at the Beating Retreat ceremony to help me run the family,butseewherehehasreached today,” says Sukhjeet. Whenhestartedoffinthelate 1980s,Sukhjeetrecallsunloading cementbagsweighing50kgeach from trucks that came from Pakistan.Afterthe2019Pulwama attacks, trucks from Afghanistan carrying dry fruits would arrive. Sukhjeet’s father, Dara Singh, worked as a porter as well. Jugraj’s life would have run on similar lines had it not been forcoachNavjitSingh,whospotted his athletic ability. Navjit got Hockey India Jugraj’s goal helped India lift the Asian Champions Trophy. the youngster to start playing hockey with other children on the grass field at Government Senior Secondary School, Attari. Navjit, a former hockey playerhimself,hadtakentheinitiative to be a talent-spotter and train village children at the ground. “Jugraj was well-built compared to other children his age. It perhaps had to do with him lifting heavy loads when his father needed a helping hand,” he says. To provide young trainees with proper hockey kits, Navjit would tap his NRI friends in England and Canada. He recalls how Jugraj would juggle time between training and working as a street vendor at the Attari border.“Hewouldpracticeinthe morning and afternoon before going to sell flags to tourists. Even though his day would end late, he would be the first one to be at training in the morning,” the coach recalls. To save money, Jugraj would walk2kmfromhometotheborder and back, his mother Paramjeet Kaur says. Jugraj’s big break came in 2005 when a Punjab government sports wing was established at the senior secondary school by former India captain Pargat Singh, the then Punjab sports director. “We won a title in an inter- district tournament at Moga, Jugraj scoring the winning goal with a reverse hit. He drank his favouritedrink,aFrooti,afterthe win,” Navjit says. Childhood friend and junior team-mate Girish Duggal has seen Jugraj's early struggles. “He gave all the money from the sale of flags to his father to help him support the family, which includes two elder sisters and a brother,” says Duggal. In 2009, Jugraj joined the Baba Uttam Singh National Hockey Academy in Khadoor Sahib, another border town, spending more than four years there. He was good enough to be CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Ahmedabad