The Evening Wrap: Sri Lankan official resigns amid Adani project row

Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) M.M.C. Ferdinando has resigned, days after he told a parliamentary committee that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “pressured” Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to clear an Adani Group project in the island nation. The senior Sri Lankan official subsequently withdrew the statement and apologised after President Gotabaya himself “vehemently denied” it. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said in a tweet on Monday afternoon: “I have accepted the letter of resignation tendered to me by the CEB Chairman Mr MMC Ferdinando. Vice-Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon will take over as the New Chairman CEB.” The outgoing CEB Chairman’s remarks pertained to a renewable energy project that the CEB, in March 2022, agreed to execute with the Adani Group, in Mannar and Pooneryn in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The agreement was finalised about five months after Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani’s visit to Sri Lanka, when he met President Gotabaya and explored possible investments in the power and renewable energy sector. Ferdinando’s statement to the Committee on Public Enterprises, broadcast by a private television channel, has drawn attention not only in Sri Lanka, but also in India. In a tweet on Sunday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said: “BJP’s cronyism has now crossed Palk Strait and moved into Sri Lanka.” Meanwhile, Champika Ranawaka, Opposition lawmaker and a former Minister of Power and Energy said the Adani Group had proposed a price of around 7.8 U.S. cents per unit, close to double the market rate. Opposition MP Harsha De Silva in a tweet asked President Gotabaya to instruct his office to release the MOU signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and Adani Green to the public. Rahul Gandhi appears before ED for questioning in money laundering case Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 13 in a money laundering probe linked to the National Herald newspaper after the MP reached the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi accompanied by a battery of party leaders and supporters. Gandhi, who entered the headquarters of the federal agency in central Delhi around 11.10 a.m., was put to questioning about 20 minutes later after he finished some brief legal proceedings and marked his attendance. He was allowed by the ED to leave for lunch around 2:10 p.m. and he returned for the questioning around 3:30 p.m., officials said. It is understood that Gandhi wrote down his statement under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the first round of questioning. The money laundering probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the ‘National Herald’ newspaper. National Herald is published by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt. Limited. Earlier in the day, Gandhi reached the headquarters of the federal probe agency in central Delhi around 11 a.m. after he started from the Congress office on Akbar Road accompanied by a large convoy of party leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. In view of the barricading, Gandhi took a detour to reach the probe agency’s office. This is the first time that Gandhi has appeared before a Central probe agency for questioning in a case. Ahead of the proposed march by the Congress leaders, the Delhi Police imposed Section 144 CrPC in the area around party headquarters at Akbar Road in New Delhi asking them not to violate the law. Hours before Gandhi was scheduled to appear before the ED, the Congress workers, who had gathered for the march against the ED, were detained from areas around AICC office at Akbar road in New Delhi and taken to Mandir Marg police station, officials said. The ED will record the statement of the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sonia Gandhi and Rahul are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian. Rahul is expected to be grilled about the incorporation of Young Indian company, the operations of the National Herald and the funds transfer within the news media establishment. “The Congress party will fight this oppression by the Modi government,” Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV told PTI near the ED office. “We are not scared. The Modi Government should be ashamed that they have turned central Delhi into a fortress just because our leader is going to the ED with his supporters,” he said just before he was detained by the police. “Members of the opposition party have hit the streets in support of corruption and to allegedly protect over ₹2,000 crore assets of the Gandhi family,” BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani alleged as protests were staged in multiple cities. Addressing a press conference, she said the show of strength by the Congress is aimed at putting pressure on the probe agency and asserted that nobody is above the law, (not) “even Rahul Gandhi”. China wades into Nupur Sharma row, hopes incident ‘can be properly managed’ Wading into the diplomatic firestorm over the remarks made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma, China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday said it hoped the “relevant incident can be properly managed”. The Chinese Foreign Ministry was asked to comment on the row at Monday’s daily press briefing by a Chinese television channel, which asked the spokesperson to comment on “recent remarks about Prophet Muhammed by India’s BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma” that had “sparked outrage among Muslim communities in India and Islamic countries.” Spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded saying, China’s Foreign Ministry “noted relevant reports”. “We hope the relevant incident can be properly managed,” he said. “China believes that different civilisations and different religions should respect each other and co-exist on an equal footing. It is important to abandon arrogance and prejudice and important to deepen recognition and understanding of one’s own civilisation and differences from other civilisations, and promote dialogue and harmonious co-existence.” China has come under criticism for its policies toward Muslims, particularly over sending hundreds of thousands of Uighurs to “re-education” camps that Beijing has called vocational training institutions. However, many Islamic countries, including China’s “all-weather” ally Pakistan, as well as groups such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries that have close trading relations with Beijing, have remained largely silent on the Xinjiang issue. Beijing has hit out at Western criticism over Xinjiang, describing it as interference in China’s “internal” affairs. I&B Ministry advises media to refrain from publishing advertisements promoting online betting The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has advised the print, electronic and the digital media to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms. The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, have been told not to display such advertisements in India or target them at the Indian audience. The advisory has been issued in view of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in the print, electronic, social and online media. “Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially the youth and children,” said the Ministry, adding that such advertisements had the effect of promoting a largely prohibited activity. “The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act,” it said. On December 4, 2020, the Ministry issued an advisory to the private satellite TV channels to adhere to the Advertising Standards Council of India guidelines on advertisements of online gaming that contained specific dos and don’ts for the print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming. In Brief Tribal clashes over the past week in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur have killed around 100 people, the United Nations refugee agency and a tribal elder said on Monday, the latest surge in violence in the restive region. Toby Harward, a coordinator with the UNHCR, said the fighting grew out of a land dispute between Arab and African tribes in the town of Kulbus in West Darfur province. Local Arab militias then attacked multiple villages in the area, forcing thousands of people to flee, he said. Abkar al-Toum, a tribal leader in the town, said the dead included at least 62 bodies found burned after militias set more than 20 villages on fire. India’s retail inflation eased marginally to 7.04% in May from 7.79% in April, reflecting a persistent uptick of over 6% in prices paid by consumers for the fifth successive month. Inflation faced by rural consumers fell from 8.38% in April to 7.01% in May, but for households in urban areas, the pace of price rise was virtually flat month-on-month, moving from 7.09% in April to 7.08% in May. Food price inflation, which had hit 8.31% in April, eased a little to 7.97% in May thanks to a decline in rural food inflation from 8.5% to 7.76%. However, the Consumer Food Price Index surged further for urban India from 8.09% in April to 8.2% in May. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 13 JUNE 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Sri Lankan official resigns amid Adani project row [Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) M.M.C. Ferdinando]( has resigned, days after he told a parliamentary committee that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “pressured” Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to clear an Adani Group project in the island nation. The senior Sri Lankan official subsequently withdrew the statement and apologised after President Gotabaya himself “vehemently denied” it. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said in a tweet on Monday afternoon: “I have accepted the letter of resignation tendered to me by the CEB Chairman Mr MMC Ferdinando. Vice-Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon will take over as the New Chairman CEB.” The outgoing CEB Chairman’s remarks pertained to a renewable energy project that the CEB, in March 2022, agreed to execute with the Adani Group, in Mannar and Pooneryn in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The agreement was finalised about five months after Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani’s visit to Sri Lanka, when he met President Gotabaya and explored possible investments in the power and renewable energy sector. Ferdinando’s statement to the Committee on Public Enterprises, broadcast by a private television channel, has drawn attention not only in Sri Lanka, but also in India. In a tweet on Sunday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said: “BJP’s cronyism has now crossed Palk Strait and moved into Sri Lanka.” Meanwhile, Champika Ranawaka, Opposition lawmaker and a former Minister of Power and Energy said the Adani Group had proposed a price of around 7.8 U.S. cents per unit, close to double the market rate. Opposition MP Harsha De Silva in a tweet asked President Gotabaya to instruct his office to release the MOU signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and Adani Green to the public. Rahul Gandhi appears before ED for questioning in money laundering case [Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 13]( in a money laundering probe linked to the National Herald newspaper after the MP reached the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi accompanied by a battery of party leaders and supporters. Gandhi, who entered the headquarters of the federal agency in central Delhi around 11.10 a.m., was put to questioning about 20 minutes later after he finished some brief legal proceedings and marked his attendance. He was allowed by the ED to leave for lunch around 2:10 p.m. and he returned for the questioning around 3:30 p.m., officials said. [Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) workers take out a protest march over summoning of party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case by ED, in Hyderabad on Monday, June 13, 2022. ] It is understood that Gandhi wrote down his statement under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the first round of questioning. The money laundering probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted Young Indian that owns the ‘National Herald’ newspaper. National Herald is published by the Associated Journals Limited (AJL) and owned by Young Indian Pvt. Limited. Earlier in the day, Gandhi reached the headquarters of the federal probe agency in central Delhi around 11 a.m. after he started from the Congress office on Akbar Road accompanied by a large convoy of party leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel. In view of the barricading, Gandhi took a detour to reach the probe agency’s office. This is the first time that Gandhi has appeared before a Central probe agency for questioning in a case. Ahead of the proposed march by the Congress leaders, the Delhi Police imposed Section 144 CrPC in the area around party headquarters at Akbar Road in New Delhi asking them not to violate the law. Hours before Gandhi was scheduled to appear before the ED, the Congress workers, who had gathered for the march against the ED, were detained from areas around AICC office at Akbar road in New Delhi and taken to Mandir Marg police station, officials said. The ED will record the statement of the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sonia Gandhi and Rahul are among the promoters and shareholders of Young Indian. Rahul is expected to be grilled about the incorporation of Young Indian company, the operations of the National Herald and the funds transfer within the news media establishment. “The Congress party will fight this oppression by the Modi government,” Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV told PTI near the ED office. “We are not scared. The Modi Government should be ashamed that they have turned central Delhi into a fortress just because our leader is going to the ED with his supporters,” he said just before he was detained by the police. “Members of the opposition party have hit the streets in support of corruption and to allegedly protect over ₹2,000 crore assets of the Gandhi family,” BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani alleged as protests were staged in multiple cities. Addressing a press conference, she said the show of strength by the Congress is aimed at putting pressure on the probe agency and asserted that nobody is above the law, (not) “even Rahul Gandhi”. China wades into Nupur Sharma row, hopes incident ‘can be properly managed’ [Wading into the diplomatic firestorm over the remarks made by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma]( China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday said it hoped the “relevant incident can be properly managed”. The Chinese Foreign Ministry was asked to comment on the row at Monday’s daily press briefing by a Chinese television channel, which asked the spokesperson to comment on “recent remarks about Prophet Muhammed by India’s BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma” that had “sparked outrage among Muslim communities in India and Islamic countries.” [Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. File] Spokesperson Wang Wenbin responded saying, China’s Foreign Ministry “noted relevant reports”. “We hope the relevant incident can be properly managed,” he said. “China believes that different civilisations and different religions should respect each other and co-exist on an equal footing. It is important to abandon arrogance and prejudice and important to deepen recognition and understanding of one’s own civilisation and differences from other civilisations, and promote dialogue and harmonious co-existence.” China has come under criticism for its policies toward Muslims, particularly over sending hundreds of thousands of Uighurs to “re-education” camps that Beijing has called vocational training institutions. However, many Islamic countries, including China’s “all-weather” ally Pakistan, as well as groups such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries that have close trading relations with Beijing, have remained largely silent on the Xinjiang issue. Beijing has hit out at Western criticism over Xinjiang, describing it as interference in China’s “internal” affairs. I&B Ministry advises media to refrain from publishing advertisements promoting online betting [The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has advised the print, electronic and the digital media]( to refrain from publishing advertisements of online betting platforms. The online and social media, including the online advertisement intermediaries and publishers, have been told not to display such advertisements in India or target them at the Indian audience. The advisory has been issued in view of a number of advertisements of online betting websites/platforms appearing in the print, electronic, social and online media. “Betting and gambling, illegal in most parts of the country, pose significant financial and socio-economic risk for the consumers, especially the youth and children,” said the Ministry, adding that such advertisements had the effect of promoting a largely prohibited activity. “The advertisements of online betting are misleading, and do not appear to be in strict conformity with the Consumer Protection Act, Advertising Code under the Cable Television Networks Regulation Act, and advertisement norms under the Norms of Journalistic Conduct laid down by the Press Council of India under the Press Council Act,” it said. On December 4, 2020, the Ministry issued an advisory to the private satellite TV channels to adhere to the Advertising Standards Council of India guidelines on advertisements of online gaming that contained specific dos and don’ts for the print and audio-visual advertisements of online gaming. In Brief Tribal clashes over the past week in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur have killed around 100 people, the United Nations refugee agency and a tribal elder said on Monday, the latest surge in violence in the restive region. Toby Harward, a coordinator with the UNHCR, said the fighting grew out of a land dispute between Arab and African tribes in the town of Kulbus in West Darfur province. Local Arab militias then attacked multiple villages in the area, forcing thousands of people to flee, he said. Abkar al-Toum, a tribal leader in the town, said the dead included at least 62 bodies found burned after militias set more than 20 villages on fire. [India’s retail inflation eased marginally to 7.04% in May from 7.79%]( in April, reflecting a persistent uptick of over 6% in prices paid by consumers for the fifth successive month. Inflation faced by rural consumers fell from 8.38% in April to 7.01% in May, but for households in urban areas, the pace of price rise was virtually flat month-on-month, moving from 7.09% in April to 7.08% in May. Food price inflation, which had hit 8.31% in April, eased a little to 7.97% in May thanks to a decline in rural food inflation from 8.5% to 7.76%. However, the Consumer Food Price Index surged further for urban India from 8.09% in April to 8.2% in May. 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