PAWAR FIRM ON RESIGNATION, SAYS DECISION ON SUCCESSOR ON MAY 5

Notwithstanding the pleas to withdraw his resignation from the post, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday reaffirmed his stand and informed party workers that the committee formed to chose his successor would take a decision by May 5.

“You are complaining that I did not discuss the issue of resignation with anyone before announcing it. Had I discussed it with anyone, I would have got a negative answer. What is the use of discussing the matter with those who are anyway going to say no?” Pawar asked the agitating workers, whom he met on Wednesday afternoon at the YB Chavan Center.

Pawar clarified that the committee of senior party leaders would decide on his resignation as well as the successor. “The decision will have to be accepted by you all,” Pawar said, asking the workers to rethink on agitation demanding to withdraw his resignation.

Later in the day, addressing a press conference, senior NCP leader and RS MP Praful Patel too hinted that despite requests from the party leaders Sharad Pawar has not changed his decision yet.

MODI REITERATES: REJECT ‘REVERSE-GEARED’ CONGRESS

Keeping his guns trained on the Congress during his intense campaigning in the poll-bound Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday called the grand old party the “enemy of peace and development”, asking the voters to reject the “reverse-geared Congress which is busy defaming India’s development and democracy”.

Reaching out to first-time and young voters and calling them “my sons and daughters”, the PM urged them not to trust the Congress if they cared about their future and wanted to build their careers. He called upon them to learn from the “sufferings” of their parents that the latter allegedly saw at the hands of the Congress governments.

“In 2009, the Congress-led government at the Centre gave the guarantee that it will connect all the villages by internet broadband within three years. But in three years, they only installed it in less than100 gram panchayats…After BJP was voted to power in 2014, we provided broadband in 2 lakh gram panchayats across the country,” Modi said.

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX: INDIA SLIPS 11 PLACES TO 161ST RANK

Media associations in the country have voiced concern over India slipping 11 places to 161st rank in the World Press Freedom Index, 2023, published on Wednesday.

Global media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which publishes a yearly report on press freedom in countries across the world, had last year ranked India at 150 in a survey of 180 countries.

The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, and the Press Association released a joint statement condemning the country’s dip in the index.

“The indices of press freedom have worsened in several countries, including India, according to the latest RSF report,” the joint statement said. “For developing democracies in the Global South where deep pockets of inequities exist, the media’s role cannot be understated. Likewise the constraints on press freedom due to hostile working conditions like contractorisation have to also be challenged. Insecure working conditions can never contribute to a free press,” it added.

EAM TO MEET CHINA, RUSSIA MINISTERS TODAY, BUT TALKS WITH BILAWAL UNLIKELY

The air in south Goa remained abuzz with media frenzy over the scheduled arrival of Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday for the meeting of SCO foreign ministers, even though a formal bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar seemed unlikely. Neither side, according to diplomatic sources, had proposed a meeting till late on Wednesday although the possibility of a “pullaside” wasn’t entirely ruled out.

Official sources did confirm Jaishankar will meet his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on Thursday for what will be their second bilateral engagement in two months. Qin, who will be among the first to land there on Thursday, had met Jaishankar in March on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

The meeting is expected to take place before Jaishankar formally kicks off the SCO meeting with a gala “informal” dinner and a cultural programme on the private beach of a south Goa resort. Along with Jaishankar, his counterparts from all other member-states of the Eurasian group — Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — will participate in the dinner.

Jaishankar’s bilateral with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to take place today.

All eyes will be on Bilawal though, who is expected to land there late afternoon. A formal bilateral meeting is unlikely, but both sides haven’t ruled the possibility of a meeting in passing, or at least an exchange of pleasantries with Jaishankar at the dinner on Thursday.

Bilawal’s deputy Khar was quoted as saying that Bilawal would have gone even to Timbuktu to participate in a meeting of SCO. The Indian government has itself maintained all along that the invite to Bilawal was a formality necessitated by the SCO Charter and not a bilateral outreach.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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RUSSIA SAYS UKRAINE TRIED TO KILL VLADIMIR PUTIN

Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of attacking the Kremlin with drones overnight in a failed attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin.

A senior Ukrainian presidential official denied the accusation – the most serious that Moscow has levelled at Kyiv in more than 14 months of war – and said it indicated Moscow was preparing a major “terrorist provocation”.

The Kremlin said Russia reserved the right to retaliate, and hardliners demanded swift retribution against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

“We regard these actions as a planned terrorist act and an attempt on the president’s life, carried out on the eve of Victory Day, the May 9 Parade, at which the presence of foreign guests is also planned …Two unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin. As a result of timely actions taken by the military and special services with the use of radar warfare systems, the devices were put out of action,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

PAK GOVT, OPPN AGREE TO HOLD SAME-DAY POLLS, DATE UNDECIDED

Talks between Pakistan’s coalition government and former PM Imran Khan-led opposition PTI over the fate of elections in the country have concluded without any breakthrough, with both sides maintaining that more work was required to address the political and constitutional crisis. The talks had commenced on April 27 amid a vicious political atmosphere after the ruling coalition parties blocked, through parliament, all moves leading to implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on holding elections in Punjab on May 14.

PTI had dissolved its government in Punjab this January in an apparent attempt to force the federal government to dissolve the National Assembly and call for early elections. Days later, the party had also dissolved its provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest. However, with barely 10 days left for the deadline, it seems unlikely that polls in Punjab would be held on May 14. The SC orders directing the government to release funds to the election commission to conduct the polls and to provide security on polling day have already been defied by parliament.

Speaking to reporters at midnight after the third and final round of talks, finance minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar, who was leading the government delegation, said both sides agreed to hold national and provincial elections on a single date under the watch of caretaker setups, but the date was yet to be decided.

THE REST

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PROTESTING WRESTLERS INJURED IN SCUFFLE WITH POLICE

A scuffle allegedly broke out between the wrestlers staging a protest at Jantar Mantar here and some police personnel, leading to head injuries to a couple of protesters.

Three people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, were detained following the incident, police said.

In a video being circulated on social media platforms, some of the protesters can be heard accusing a police personnel of attacking two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol.

Deputy Commissioner Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said Somnath Bharti came to the protest site with folding beds without permission. On being asked about the beds, his supporters became aggressive and tried to get the beds from a truck. Subsequently, a minor altercation took place following which Bharti, along with two others, was detained, the officer added.

Bajrang Punia has called for farmers and their leaders to assemble at the protest site on Thursday morning. "Delhi Police ki gundagardi ab nahi chalegi (Delhi Police's high-handedness will not work anymore). We will call farmers to assemble here in numbers. We will not tolerate it anymore. Tractors or trolleys. whatever you get, just come here," he said.

The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against WF chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the WFI president on Friday.

WOMEN WRESTLERS MOVE SC SEEKING PERMISSION TO FILE AFFIDAVIT IN SEALED COVER

The seven women wrestlers, who have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to file an affidavit in sealed cover.

On Wednesday, the counsel representing the women wrestlers mentioned the matter before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha and said he was seeking permission to file the affidavit in sealed cover before the court, which is slated to hear the matter today.

He said they don’t have any problem in supplying the copy of the affidavit to the solicitor general but it should not go in public domain.

The bench permitted the counsel to bring the sealed cover affidavit on Thursday with advance copy to Mehta.

ARREST OF 8 EX-NAVY OFFICERS: QATAR COURT ADJOURNS HEARING

A court in Qatar on Wednesday adjourned a hearing in the case of eight former Indian navy officers jailed on charges that have not been made public, after their defence lawyer informed the judge that he was yet to receive all the documents from the prosecution.

The first hearing in their trial was held on March 29. But even as speculation has swirled about the accusations against the Navy veterans, family sources said they had not been informed of the formal charges under which the trial is being held, either by Qatari authorities or by Indian officials who have had consular access with the prisoners.

On April 6, the MEA spokesman said the Indian government would provide legal assistance to the men.

Eight months have passed since the men, who held senior management positions at a company working closely with the Qatar Navy, were bundled out of their homes by Qatari intelligence officials on the night of August 30 last year. Their families are still no wiser about how these former Indian Navy officers went from being the leaders of a favoured company to solitary cells in a Doha prison.

The case has presented a challenge for Indian diplomacy in a region where Delhi boasts of “better than ever before” relations.

GOVT'S OFFERS PANEL TO ADDRESS 'HUMANE CONCERNS', NO SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday it will constitute a committee headed by the cabinet secretary to examine administrative steps that could be taken for addressing 'genuine humane concerns' of same-sex couples without going into the issue of legalising their marriage.

The Centre's submission came pursuant to the apex court asking it on April 27 whether social welfare benefits like opening joint bank accounts, nominating life partner in provident funds, gratuity and pension schemes can be granted to same-sex couples without going into the issue of legal sanction to their marriage.

"I have taken instructions and government is positive. What we have decided is, of course subject to your lordships' approval, that this would need coordination between more than one ministries. So, therefore, a committee headed by no less than the cabinet secretary will be constituted," Mehta told the bench, which also comprised justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha.

The top court was hearing arguments for the seventh day on a batch of petitions seeking legal validation of same-sex marriage.

FACING FLAK OVER NREGS RULE CHANGES, GOVT HOLDS TALKS ON ITS INITIATIVES

Facing criticism over mandatory use of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) app to capture attendance of those claiming work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Centre has, in a first such initiative, held a “Samvaad” with civil society organisations on the “good governance initiatives” that it says has been taken under the rural job guarantee scheme.

Following changes introduced recently in the NREGS attendance and payment system, NREGS workers, under the banner of ‘NREGA Sangharsh Morcha’, are demanding rollback of the two decisions: making the NMMS app mandatory from January 1, and the requirement of wages to be made through Aadhaar-Based Payment System (ABPS).

Among civil society organisations invited for the meeting are Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS), Swadesh Foundation, DHAN Foundation, Reliance Foundation, Swayam Shikshan Prayog, and Transforming Rural India Foundation.

'IS HE SO INDISPENSABLE?' SC RAPS CENTRE ON ED CHIEF'S THIRD EXTENSION

“Can one person be so indispensable,” the Supreme Court asked the government on Wednesday as it questioned it about the third extension of service given to Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra despite its express direction that no further extension should be granted to him.

The top court said it had categorically held in its 2021 judgment that any extension of tenure granted to officers holding the post of Director of Enforcement Directorate after attaining the age of superannuation should be for a short period and clearly mentioned that no further extension should be given to Mishra.

“Is there no other person in the organisation who can do his job? Can one person be so indispensable? According to you, there is no one else in the ED who is competent. What will happen to the agency post-2023, when he does retire,” a Bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol asked Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre.

The barrage of questions from the Bench came after the SG said Mishra’s extension was necessitated because of administrative reasons and was vital for India’s evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). "The next peer review of India’s legislation on money laundering is to take place in 2023 and, with a view to ensuring that India’s rating does not go down, continuity of the leadership in the ED Directorate is crucial,” Mehta said, adding that the person already interacting with the task force is best suited to deal with it and the skills for that is acquired after working in that position for several years.

DESPERATE FOR INDIAN VISA TO PERFORM MOTHER’S LAST RITES, HE APOLOGISES FOR LONDON PROTEST

With his mother Jay Mala’s body lying in a mortuary in Jammu for more than a week, Ankit Love, the UK-based son of J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP) founder Bhim Singh, has tendered an unconditional apology for his “mistake of pelting eggs and stones at the Indian High Commission In UK”. He said he has been waiting for his visa so he can come to India to perform his mother’s last rites, but has been told that he was “blacklisted” due to the February 2021 protest that he took part in at the high commission in London.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi dated May 2, he wrote, “I, Ankit Love, son of late Prof Bhim Singh and late Adv Jay Mala, resident of the UK, hereby sincerely apologise for my mistake of pelting eggs and stones at the Indian High Commission in the UK, which I deeply and sincerely regret.”

Seeking forgiveness, he appealed for urgent visa approval to visit “my Union Territory – Jammu and Kashmir – which is in India”. He also wrote that he was misguided by “some other people surrounding me, which led to this mistake, which I sincerely apologise for”.

IPL MATCH 45: LSG, CSK FORCED TO SPLIT POINTS IN WASHED-OUT MATCH

Ayush Badoni stood tall amidst the ruins with a classy half-century on a poor surface before a sharp downpour forced Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings to split points as their IPL match was called off on Wednesday.

This is the first game in the 16th edition of IPL that had to be called off midway due to rain.

Rain stopped play in the 20th over but by then Badoni, who came in at 44 for 5 had put his team in a position of respectability (125/7 in 19.2 overs) on a very difficult surface.

With 11 points from 10 games (5 wins and a No Result each), LSG and CSK are placed second and third on points table respectively. LSG (+0.639) have a better net run rate compared to CSK (+0.329).

IPL MATCH 46: ISHAN KISHAN, SURYAKUMAR STAR AS MI DOWN PBKS

Ishan Kishan's stylish 75 off 41 balls was complemented by Suryakumar Yadav's 360 degree effort that fetched 66 off 31 balls as Mumbai Indians powered to a six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings, in Mohali on Wednesday.

Uncapped Jitesh Sharma (49 off 27) matched T20 specialist Liam Livingstone (82 off 42) in flair and flamboyance as the duo stepped up in style in the back end to propel Punjab Kings to a fighting 214/3 after Mumbai Indians opted to bowl.

But Ishan was at his furious best in a 41-ball 75, while Suryakumar Yadav batted with his usual flair in a 31-ball 66 to make a mockery of 200-plus chase, winning with seven balls to spare.

Wins Tally: MI 5/9 (Currently Placed 6th), PBKS 5/10 (Currently Placed 7th)

INDICATORS

Sensex 61,193 (-161), Nifty 18,090 (-58)

Nasdaq 12,025 (-55) Dow 33,414 (-270), S&P 4,091 (-29)

US$-Rs. 81.77 GBP-Rs. 102.39, Euro-Rs. 90.28, UAE Dhm-Rs. 22.26, Can$-Rs. 60.04, Aus$- Rs. 54.51

GBP 0.79 /US$, Euro 0.90 /US$, Jap.Yen 135.52 /US$, Aus$ 1.49 /US$, Sing 1.33 /US$, Bang Taka 104.97 /US$, Can$ 1.36 /US$, Mal Ring 4.44 /US$, Pak Re 282.71 /US$, Phil Peso 55.29 /US$, Russian Rouble 79.48 /US$, NZ$ 1.60 /US$, Thai Baht 33.95 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 36.54 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 29,057; Dollar Index 100.89, Brent Crude 72.00, BDI 1,558.00

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 2,049 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 6,164 / 5,650, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 76,800

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I will give you a man who will make history. Give me a man without a goal, and I will give you a stock clerk. - J.C. Penny

OFF TRACK

Men socialize by abusing each other...but they don't mean it.

Women socialise by complementing each other...they don't mean it either!