DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES BY UNNY IN POSTINGS, VETO EXERCISED BY COLLEGIUM AS WELL: CJI Deals are not cut like this (in meetings with Govt)... please trust Judges: CJI ‘I have granted bail from A to Z — Arnab to Zubair... that is my philosophy’ Chairperson bulldozing, we may be forced to dissociate: Opp to Speaker SHUBHAJIT ROY & MANRAJ GREWAL SHARMA NEW DELHI, CHANDIGARH, NOVEMBER 4 Jagdambika Pal taking unilateral decisions: Opposition members NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 4 IN A letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, some Opposition membersof theJointCommittee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill have threatened to “disassociate” from the panel, accusing its chairperson and BJP leader Jagdambika Pal of “bulldozing the proceedings” and “stonewalling” them. The letter, dated November 3, has been signed by six Opposition members — Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Kalyan Banerjee (TMC), Mohammad Jawed (Congress), SanjaySingh(AAP),Mohammed NadimulHaque(TMC),andMM Abdulla(DMK).The31-member committee includes 13 Opposition members (nine Lok Sabha, four Rajya Sabha). While the panel is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, the Oppositionmembersarealsoexpected to meet Birla in the afternoon. “We, the members of the JPC from Opposition feel that the constitution of JPC, i.e. a mini Parliament,shouldnotbetreated asamereventilatingchamberto get the Bill passed as desired by the government, ignoring the parliamentary process by using theso-called‘majority’undemocratically. Hence, it is our duty to bring to your notice with pain that bulldozing the proceedings of theJPCwithoutassigningreasonableandplausibletimepause as against the will of the membersisnothingbutanactof atrocious onslaught on the Constitutional religion and Parliament,” says the letter. Accusing Pal of taking CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE WORLD Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud in conversation with National Opinion Editor Vandita Mishra and National Legal Editor Apurva Vishwanath at the Express Adda in New Delhi on Monday. Renuka Puri EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 4 DIALOGUEBETWEENthejudiciary and the executive, even if some of these exchanges are in socialsettings,isaroutineimperative of the court's functioning, said Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud Monday, as he urgedthepublicto“trust”judges. “The fact of the matter is, as I said, deals are never cut like this (during such interactions). So please, trust us, we are not there to cut deals,” Justice Chandrachud said. The50thChief Justiceof India was the chief guest at the Express Adda held in New Delhi and was in conversation with National Opinion Editor Vandita MishraandNationalLegalEditor Apurva Vishwanath. Hewasrespondingtoaquestion on the political context of photographs of the CJI praying with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11. “The Prime Minister visited my home for a purely private PAGE 1 ANCHOR INSIDE SC TO RULE TODAY ON UTTAR PRADESH MADRASA ACT PAGE 8 REFERRING TO clashes that erupted Sunday after proKhalistanseparatiststargetedthe Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Ontario, during a visit byIndianconsularofficials,Prime MinisterNarendraModiMonday condemnedthe“deliberateattack on a Hindu temple” and “cowardly attempts to intimidate our diplomats”. He also asked the Canadiangovernmentto“ensure justiceandupholdtheruleoflaw”. Amid strained ties with Canada, this is the first time that Modi has spoken out publicly since September last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged “potential” involvement of the Indian government in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The PM’s comments come days after senior Canadian officials alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah was behind the tar- geting of Khalistan separatists in Canada. India has lodged a protest “in the strongest terms” through diplomatic channels, calling the allegations “absurd and baseless”. While Khalistan separatists have targeted Indians and Indian officialsinthepast,thisisthefirst time that Modi has spoken out against the acts of violence — underliningtheIndiangovernment's CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E Fresh strain in ● ties THE INCIDENT has further buttressed India's allegation that Canada is giving a free run to separatists and extremists. While the Nijjar assassination plot has been the major point of discord, such incidents add to the hostility. EXPRESS NETWORK Daily hearing in the trial from Nov 11 36 KILLED AS BUS FALLS INTO GORGE IN UTTARAKHAND Court lists charges, sole accused says he is being framed CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PAGE 5 ATRI MITRA KOLKATA, NOVEMBER 4 THREEMONTHSaftera31-yearold junior doctor was raped and killed at state-run RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, a special CBI court in Sealdah on Monday framed charges against sole accused Sanjay Roy. Roy has been charged under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) section64(rapepunishablewith rigorous imprisonment of life GOVT & POLITICS Accused Sanjay Roy outside the special court in Sealdah on Monday. Express STORMY START FOR J&K HOUSE: PDP MOVES RESOLUTION ON ART 370 RELATED REPORT In TN, Harris’s village awaits results — but LAST DAY FOR WITHDRAWAL OF NOMINATIONS not with bated breath All parties face mixed luck on rebel front, Congress candidate pulls out CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE A PRESIDENTIAL election unlike any other in US history entered its last full day on Monday with Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and their campaigns scrambling to get supporters to the polls in a contest each portrays as an existential moment for America. Even after the astonishing blur of events over the last few months,theelectorateisdivided down the middle, both nationally and in the seven battlegroundstatesexpectedtodecide At the consular camp in Brampton on Sunday. PTI RG KAR RAPE-MURDER At Thulasendrapuram in July this year, after Kamala Harris’s name was proposed for the US presidential race. Express ARUN JANARDHANAN CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 4 RALEIGH, DETROIT, NOV 4 PAGE 12 event, it was not a public event. Well, I do feel that, you know, there was absolutely nothing wrongforthesimplereasonthat these are continuing meetings between the Judiciary and the Executive, even at a social level,” Justice Chandrachud added. When asked if, looking back, hewouldhavelikedtotweakthe frame by having other judges or the Leader of the Opposition, Justice Chandrachud said that would have made it a selection committee. Trump or Harris: US votes today in an election most bitter and close STEVE HOLLAND & NANDITA BOSE QUINCY JONES, GIANT OF AMERICAN POP MUSIC WITH 28 GRAMMYS, DIES POOR AIR QUALITY: LAHORE SCHOOLS SHUT FOR A WEEK Pro-Khalistanmentarget temple;PMtoCanada: Cowardly,upholdthelaw Indian officials were present at consular camp held with Hindu Sabha Mandir; violence unacceptable: Trudeau WAQF PANEL ASAD REHMAN CLASHES AT TEMPLE IN BRAMPTON EXPLAINED BUSINESS AS USUAL `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES, `17 IN ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 Donald Trump at a rally in Macon, Georgia; Kamala Harris at a rally in East Lansing, Michigan. Reuters thewinneronTuesday,although the closeness of the contest means it could take days for a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 MORE REPORTS PAGES 12, 14 TWO DAYS before the United Statesannouncesitspresidential election results, a quiet Tamil Nadu village is observing the run-up with subdued interest. Thulasendrapuram, known as KamalaHarris’sancestralvillage, lacks the grandeur seen during her previous campaigns — yet there is a subtle curiosity about her potential win. Her maternal grandfather, P V Gopalan, briefly lived here before moving to Madras (now Chennai) and later to Zambia, where he worked as a diplomat for the Indian government. Her mother,ShyamalaGopalan,grew up mostly outside the village, eventuallypursuinghigherstudies in the US. Despite the limited physical connection, Harris has maintained a fondness for her heritage, woven through stories andmemoriesof herfamily’sactivism and resilience. OnMonday,shesaidinapost on X: “My mother, Dr Shyamala Gopalan Harris, came to the United States from India at 19. She taught me and my sister, Maya, about courage and determination. It is thanks to her that CONTINUEDONPAGE2 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, NOVEMBER 4 AT THE end of Monday, the last day of withdrawal of nominations in Maharashtra, all six major political parties in the state were looking at the prospect of rebels,havingachievedonlypartial success in getting them to drop out. In the multi-corner contest that the state is headed for on November 20, the presence of the rebels and their splitting the votes could prove crucial. PAGE 3 PAGE 8 BJP sources exconference announcing pressed confidence that all rebels had been abouthavingtackledall contacted and asked to the rebels who posed a withdraw. “Those who significant threat, atwill not withdraw will tributing it to rounds of facedisciplinaryaction,” DECISION said Thackeray. meetingsheldbetween 2024 SundayandMondayby Among the big MAHARASHTRA top party leaders. names who agreed to Maharashtra BJP president withdraw was senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule and former Mumbai North MP claimed that almost 95% of the Gopal Shetty, who had earlier party’s 27 rebels had withdrawn filednominationtocontestfrom from the fray. Borivali, thus posing a challenge Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav to the party’s official candidate, Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sanjay Upadhyaya. Sharad Pawar held a joint press CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Husband killed, her video viral, MP woman says everything is a blur ANAND MOHAN J BHOPAL, NOVEMBER 4 ROSHINI MARAWI’S memories from the violent Diwali day are a blur. Except, a video that went viral — of her cleaning a bloodsoaked hospital bed in Madhya Pradesh’sDindorihamlet—now serves as a reminder of what she went through. Ontheeveningof October31, Roshni,whoisfivemonthspregnant, eagerly waited for her husbandShivrajMarawi(40),anauto driver, to return home. Her two daughters, aged three and five, were supposed to dress in new clothes he had bought for them. Roshni and Shivraj fell in love and got married in 2016 despite objections from her family. “My family said he has no money; I said it is not important. I could not be with any other man,” she told The Indian Express. The family lives in a mud and brick home and does not have much to their name. Roshni works at a stone mill, earning just about enough to sustain her children. On Thursday evening, Shivraj, his brother Raghuraj (35), and their father Dharam Singh (65) were killed by a mob of 20-25 people armed with sticks, rods and sickles, police said. The mob, which included their relatives, killed them over a land dispute, police said, adding that the victims were harvesting paddy at the time. Another brother of Shivraj is in a critical state. A police officer said four persons have been arrested and efforts were on to trace the rest. Roshni and their two daughterswatchedasShivrajcollapsed in front of them. “We had grown some dhaan (paddy) on the disputed land... They turned up with axes and cut down my husband. We were supposed to celebrate Diwali together; the A video grab of Roshini Marawi cleaning a hospital bed clothes he bought for his daughtersarestillunopened,”shesaid. Roshni said she made frantic phone calls to police but no one fromthestationreachedontime. Hours later, she found herself at the Gadasarai Primary Health Centre. “My two daughters kept askingfortheirfather,buthisface was so badly mangled that they couldnotrecognisehim.Isobbed next to his body... then, I was asked to clean a hospital bed where my brother-in-law (Raghuraj) had died. I did not think much back then. I only fearedformysafetyasallthemen inourfamilyweredead.Onlythe women are left,” she said. “I later watched that video and can’t believe what I went through... I don’t remember much,everythingisablur.Iwent back home and saw that the video had gone viral,” she said. Asthevideosparkedoutrage, the Dindori administration took action. On Saturday, the Chief Medical and Health Officer (Dindori) issued orders to transfer the attending doctor, Chandrashekhar Singh, and suspended two nurses, Rajkumari Markam and Chhoti Bai Thakur. Singh,inhisdefence,claimed thehospitalstaff neveraskedthe woman to clean the bed. “The men were shot at during a land dispute on Thursday and two of them were brought to our facility.Thewifeof themanwhodied askedustoletherwipetheblood from the bed with a cloth so she coulduseitasevidenceof theextent of the bleeding. She was not askedtocleanthebed.Ihavenot receivedanycomplaintfromthe woman or her family,” he said. Roshni claims otherwise. “I was asked by two women at the hospitaltocleantheblood.Since my husband's death, all I have got is a packet of rice and some bananas from the Collector. We want financial support from the government and security for my family,” she said. Kolkata