DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2024, KOLKAYTA, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES & ANDAMAN) 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 PROTEST OVER RAPE-MURDER AT RG KAR HOSPITAL Junior doctors to continue cease work as talks remain inconclusive SWEETY KUMARI KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 18 AFTER A marathon 6-hour-long meeting with the top officials of the West Bengal government, the junior doctors on Wednesday night said their cease work would continue as theyreceivedonly“verbalassurances” on their demands. The junior doctors have been protesting foroveramonthafter a 31-year-old trainee doctor was rapedandmurderedatstate-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. “Whileweappreciatethegovernment’s verbal commitments, wearehopefulforawrittendirective that formally acknowledges our demands. Until then, we will maintainourcurrentcourseofaction,”DebashishHaldar,aleading memberofthejuniordoctors’delegation said after coming out of Nabanna,thestatesecretariat,on Wednesday night. Thejuniordoctors,underthe banner of West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), emphasized that including the verbal assurances in the official minutes of the meeting minutes would have been a “sign of good faithandcommitment”fromthe government. Expressing disappointment that their demands were not included in the minutes of the meeting, the delegation said they would discuss with their colleagues. “We could not do the video streaming of the meeting. Many of our friends are protesting day and night and are on the roads. They couldn’t be here. So for them, we wanted to include their verbal assurance in minutes of the meeting. However, it was not done... We understand that government directives take CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 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- ‘No one is vying for CM chair’: Meet the doctors BJP’s message of resolve, leading Kolkata protest consensus-building; TDP backs move, with a rider SWEETY KUMARI & PREMANKUR BISWAS KOLKATA, SEPTEMBER 18 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” of the protesters’ demands — including replacing Kolkata’s police commissioner. But outside the state health departmentSwasthyaBhawan– the site of the protest — doctors are yet to fully back down. "We need systemic change and we knowthatwilltaketime,"Lahari Sarkar,oneof theprotestingdoctors, says. 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. 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 sus” in the Cabinet on the issue, and the government would now initiatenationwideconsultations CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E EXPLAINED The delegation of junior doctors at Nabanna, the state secretariat, in Howrah on Wednesday evening. Express 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 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 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 J&K voters give thumbs-up to first Assembly Hezbollah hit again: Review, modify Indus polls since Art 370 end, Phase 1 turnout 61% After pagers explode, Waters Treaty: India hand-held devices, B U serves notice to Pak, solar sets blow up looks to renegotiate 64 YEARS OF PACT THAT SURVIVED WARS BASHAARAT MASOOD, NAVEED IQBAL & ARUN SHARMA USINESS AS BY UNNY SOUTH KASHMIR, JAMMU, SEPTEMBER 18 IN ITS first Assembly elections in 10years,andthefirstaftertheabrogation of Article 370 in 2019, 61.11% of the voters turned out in Jammu and Kashmir for the first phase of polling on Wednesday. Thefigureswerealmostthesame as 2014 and 2008, with the brisk pollingatthestartofthedaytrickling towards the later half. 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 CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 GOVT & POLITICS At a polling station at Bijbehara in Anantnag district during the first phase of Assembly polls Wednesday. Shuaib Masoodi Fed cuts rate by half-point, cites ‘greater confidence’ on inflation HOWARD SCHNEIDER & ANN SAPHIR TRUMP SAYS MODI TO MEET HIM DURING US VISIT, CALLS INDIA ‘ABUSER’ OF TARIFF GOVT NOD FOR VENUS MISSION, CHANDRAYAAN-4 PAGE 11 SUAL WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 18 THE US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half of a percentage point on Wednesday, kicking off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy with a larger-than-usual reduction in borrowing costs that followed growing unease about the health of the job market. “The committee has gained greater confidence that inflation ismovingsustainablytoward2%, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflationgoalsareroughlyinbalance,” policymakers on the US central bank’s rate-setting committee said in their latest statement,whichdrewadissentfrom Governor Michelle Bowman who favored only a quarter-percentage-point cut. Policymakers see the Fed’s benchmark rate falling by another half of a percentage point by the end of this year, another full percentage point in 2025, and by a final half of a percentage point in 2026 to end in a 2.75%-3.00% range. The endpoint reflects a slight upgrade,from2.8%to2.9%,inthe longer-run federal funds rate, considered a “neutral” stance that neither encourages nor discourages economic activity. Even though inflation “remains somewhat elevated”, the Fedstatementsaidpolicymakers CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 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 Kolkata