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COUNTER POINT
IN BRIEF
Cong. declares
names for 3 seats
Hyderabad: The Congress
on Wednesday named can-
didates for Khammam, Kari-
mnagar and Hyderabad Lok
Sabha constituencies, a day
before the window for the
filing of nominations for LS
polls shuts on April 25. The
party announced the candi-
dature of Ramasahayam
Raghuram Reddy for the
Khammam Lok Sabha seat,
Velichala Rajender Rao for
Karimnagar and Mohammed
Waliullah Sameer for
Hyderabad.
■ Full report on Page 5
TMC moves SC
against HC order
Kolkata: The TMC govern-
ment on Wednesday mov-
ed the Supreme Court to
challenge the Calcutta High
Court’s judgment cancelling
the jobs of 25,753 West
Bengal school education
department employees
over “fraudulence” in their
recruitment. During the
day, the School Service
Commission (SSC), which
recruited the candidates,
including teaching and non-
teaching staff, in 2016, filed
a special leave petition at
the SC against the order of
the HC division bench.
■ Full report on Page 7
US warns Pak
of Iran ‘curbs’
Washington: The US has
warned of a “potential risk
of sanctions” for anyone
considering a business deal
with Iran, a day after Pakis-
tan and Iran inked several
agreements during Iranian
President Seyyed Ebrahim
Raisi’s maiden visit to Isla-
mabad to boost bilateral
ties. The latest warning co-
mes days after the US imp-
osed sanctions on suppliers
to Pakistan’s ballistic mis-
sile programme even as it
claimed to maintain good
relations with Pakistan.
■ Full report on Page 10
Modi: Cong. wants to ‘loot’
Rahul: No force can stop it, if Cong. forms govt
Modi scared of ‘X-ray’
people with inheritance tax
of caste census: Rahul Asserts grand old party’s ‘evil intension’ out in open
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, APRIL 24
Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Wednesday
launched a scathing
attack on Prime Minister
Narendra Modi saying
those who call themselves
“deshbhakt” are scared of
the “x-ray” of the caste
census but “no force” can
stop it.
Addressing the “Samajik
Nyay Sammelan” in the
national capital, Gandhi
said he is not interested in
caste but in “nyay” (jus-
tice) and asserted that it is
his life’s mission to ensure
justice for the 90 per cent
of the population against
whom injustice has been
done.
“As soon as our govern-
ment is formed, the first
thing that will be done is a
caste census,” he said.
Congress Secunderabad Lok Sabha candidate Danam Nagender files nomination
papers in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad on
Wednesday. Khairatabad DCC (Hyderabad Central) president C. Rohin Reddy is also
seen.
Revanth credits Warangal
for ‘people’s govt’ in state
DC CORRESPONDENT
WARANGAL, APRIL 24
Only because of the voters
in Warangal, the Congress
was able to form the peo-
ple’s government in
Telangana, said chief min-
ister A.Revanth Reddy. He
promised to transform
Warangal into a global
city like Hyderabad.
Addressing a massive
gathering in the Jana
Jatara Sabha held in sup-
port of the Congress MP
candidate Dr Kadiam
Kavya here at Madikonda
in Hanamkonda district
on Wednesday, Revanth
Reddy recalled that people
of the erstwhile Warangal
district helped the Congr-
ess win 10 out of 12 seats.
RESULTS | OUT
70% clear Inter 2nd year, pass percentage dips in 1st year
RACHEL DAMMALA | DC
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The Telangana State Board
of Intermediate Education
(TSBIE) reported a shift in
the academic performance
of students in the 2024
Intermediate Public
Examinations, with first-
year students experiencing
a slight drop in pass rates
to 61.06 per cent from last
year’s 63.85 per cent, while
second-year students
improved, registering a
69.46 per cent pass rate, up
from 67.27 per cent.
These results, released
more than two weeks earli-
er than the previous year,
HYDERABAD
wants justice in the country.
A deshbhakt wants India to
move forward and become a
superpower. One has to use
the strength of 90 per cent of
the population.
Gandhi said the
Congress manifesto talks
about the X-ray and the
income inequality created
by the Modi government.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi has transferred
`16-lakh crore to select
business people and the
Congress is going to
return a small amount to
90 per cent of the popula-
tion. “We have calculat-
ed...What we felt is justice
and that help should be
— BY ARRANGEMENT ■ Report on Page 3
Similarly, he asked peo-
ple to support the Cong-
ress candidate Kadiam
Kavya in the Lok Sabha
elections.
By seeing the huge
crowd which turned out
for the meeting, Revanth
Reddy showered many
promises on them. He said
that the Congress govern-
ment will complete all the
irrigation projects which
are pending and will sup-
ply water to every village.
It will establish an indus-
trial corridor that will pro-
vide employment opportu-
nities to the youth along
with developing the mega
textile park.
He said the underground
drainage system will be
taken up under Greater
Board tells students not to be disheartened if their results weren’t up to their expectations
HIGH-ACHIEVERS
TOP FIVE PERFORMING DISTRICTS
(GENERAL CATEGORY)
1ST YEAR
Ranga Reddy
Medchal
Mulugu
Khammam
Karimnagar
were announced by princi-
pal secretary, education,
Burra Venkatesham, and
secretary, TS BIE, Shruthi
Ojha at a press conference
in Hyderabad on Wednesd-
I THURSDAY I 25 APRIL 2024
What does a deshbhakt
want? A deshbhakt
— RAHUL GANDHI,
Congress leader
given, we put it down in
the manifesto,” the former
Congress president said of
the party’s guarantees
mentioned in its mani-
festo.
“What does a deshbhakt
want? A deshbhakt wants
justice in the country. A
deshbhakt wants India to
move forward and become
a superpower,” he said.
■ Page 9: Ensuring justice
is my life mission: Rahul
Warangal Municipal Cor-
poration limits since the
people of Warangal are fa-
cing a lot of problems with
submerging of colonies
even for a mild rainfall.
“By appointing a new
vice-chancellor for the
Kakatiya University, all
vacant posts will be filled
along with scrutinising
the entire university. A
permanent solution will
be shown to get rid of the
garbage problem in
Warangal and Karimn-
agar district by establish-
ing a huge recycling unit
and also to generate
power from the wastage,”
the Chief Minister said.
■ Page 7: Revanth takes
oath to waive farm loans
TOP FIVE PERFORMING DISTRICTS
(GENERAL CATEGORY)
2ND YEAR
71.7% Mulugu
71.58% Medchal
70.01% Ranga Reddy
63.84% Karimnagar
63.41% Khammam
ay. “The early announcem-
ent aims to streamline stu-
dents’ transition into high-
er education,” Venkate-
isham told reporters.
Venkatesham also asked
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY | DC
RAIPUR, APRIL 24
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Wednesday waded
into the raging debate on
inheritance tax, triggered
by Congress leader Sam
Pitroda, saying that the
grand old party wants to
loot the common people by
imposing it. Modi used the
row to whip the Congress
with the zindagi ke saath
bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi
(during lifetime and after
death) jibe.
Addressing a rally in
Ambikapur, district head-
quarters of Surguja dis-
trict in Chhattisgarh, the
Prime Minister also said
that the “votebank hun-
gry” Congress wants to
implement reservations on
the basis of religion.
“The Congress is about to
set a dangerous precedent
by imposing an inheri-
tance tax that aims to
impose unreasonable taxes
on everything and any-
thing, depriving people of
their wealth. This will
shatter the financial back-
bone of ordinary people,”
he said.
At the rally, Modi cau-
tioned that by implement-
ing inheritance tax, the
Congress wants to loot the
people zindagi ke saath
bhi, zindagi ke baad
bhi.
“The dangerous inten-
tions of the Congress are
now out in the open as it
toys with the idea of intro-
ducing inheritance tax,”
he said and warned, “They
(the Congress) want to
snatch your assets and
rights of your children.”
Congress veteran Sam
Pitroda has mooted the
idea of implementing an
inheritance tax.
■ Page 9: Cong. planning 15%
quota on basis of religion: PM
PG 9 | MODI ADDRESSES MEETINGS AT SAGAR, BETUL IN MADHYA PRADESH
We cannot control elections: SC
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, APRIL 24
The Supreme Court on
Wednesday reserved its
verdict on a batch of pleas
seeking complete cross-
verification of votes cast
through Electronic Voting
Machines with Voter Veri-
fiable Paper Audit Trail af-
ter taking note of answers
to its queries from the
Election Commission.
A bench of Justices
Sanjiv Khanna and
Dipankar Datta sought
answers from an official of
the poll panel to five ques-
82.95%
79.31%
77.63%
74.39%
Intermediate students check their
74.2%
results on the phone.
students not to be disheart-
ened if their results
weren’t up to their expecta-
tions. “Some might take it
to heart even if it is a mat-
ter of only a single mark or
Vol. 87 No. 115 Established 1938 | 20
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public meeting at Surguja district in
Chhattisgarh on Wednesday for Lok Sabha elections. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister
Vishnu Deo Sai is also seen.
Cong. ‘plays down’
Pitroda’s remark
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, APRIL 24
As the Congress on
Wednesday distanced
itself from its leader Sam
Pitroda’s “inheritance
tax” remarks, saying sen-
sationalising them are
attempts at diverting
attention from Prime
Minister Narendra Modi’s
“malicious” poll cam-
paign, the BJP slammed
the grand old party, call-
ing it yet another brazen
display of the “anti-India,
anti-people” mindset of
the Congress.
Amid the ongoing
debate, the Congress
asserted that it has no
plans whatsoever to intro-
duce an inheritance tax
and cited BJP leader and
former Union minister
tions related to the func-
tioning of the EVMs, inc-
luding whether the micro-
controllers fitted in them
are reprogrammable.
Senior Deputy Election
Commissioner Nitesh
Kumar Vyas, who had ear-
lier made a presentation to
the court on the function-
ing of EVMs, was sum-
moned by the bench at 2
pm to answer the queries.
The bench had said it
needs clarification on cer-
tain aspects as there was
some confusion over the
answers given by the EC to
“frequently asked ques-
— R. PAVAN
two. You can always reach
out to the help desk for any
queries or complaints.
Please remember that this
is only an exam and not
your entire life. Several
Jayant Sinha’s remarks to
allege that it is the Modi
government that wanted
to do so.
Pitroda, the president of
the Congress’ overseas
wing, talked about the
inheritance tax law in the
United States while
answering a query on the
“redistribution of wealth”
issue.
Clarifying his position
after his remarks trigger-
ing a political row, Pitroda
said on X, “It is unfortu-
nate that what I said as an
individual on inheritance
tax in the US is twisted by
Godi media to divert atten-
tion from what lies the PM
is spreading about the
Congress manifesto.”
■ Page 9: Cong.: No plan to
introduce inheritance tax
tions” about EVMs. “We
have some doubts and ne-
ed clarification and that’s
why we have listed the
matter for directions,” the
bench said. The top court
said, “We don’t want to be
factually wrong but dou-
bly sure in our findings.”
It flagged some points on
which the court wanted
clarification which relates
to storage of EVMs,
microchip in the control-
ling unit of EVMs and
other aspects.
After the clarifications
from Vyas, the bench
reserved its judgment
IAS toppers have today
barely passed their exams
in the third division, many
who are sitting at top posi-
tions today have once
failed, so please don't
worry, understand that life
goes on,” he said while
speaking to the media.
The exams, which took
place from February 28 to
March 19, girls continued
to outshine boys, particu-
larly in the first year,
where 2,41,682 female can-
didates took the exam, and
1,65,190, or 68.35 per cent,
passed.
This contrasts with the
2,37,041 boys who
appeared, with 1,22,071, or
cmyk
PAGES | `6.00
— PTI
MODI TO ADDRESS
THREE MEETINGS
IN TELANGANA
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi will address three
public meetings in Telang-
ana ahead of the Lok Sabha
polls. Modi will speak in
the Andole constituency in
the Zaheerabad Lok Sabha
constituency on April 30.
In the evening, he will
interact with IT employees
in Serilingampally.
On May 3, he will address
a meeting in the Warangal
LS constituency. On the ne-
xt day, he will address two
meetings — one at Naray-
anpet in the Mahabubn-
agar LS constituency and
another at Vikarabad in
the Chevella LS segment.
■ Page 5: Shah to attend
Medak meeting today
again and told Advocate
Prashant Bhushan that,
“We cannot control the
elections. Bhushan, we
cannot control another
constitutional authority.”
To this, Bhushan said, “I
am on increasing VVPAT
paper trails.”
Justice Datta said, “Out
of the five per cent
VVPATs counted, any can-
didate can show if there is
any mismatch. Can we
issue a mandamus on the
basis of suspicion?
■ Page 7: Court is only
clearing doubts: Bench
51.50 per cent, managing to
pass. “The examination
integrity was meticulously
maintained, resulting in
117 students being booked
for malpractice,” the board
said.
For students who may
seek to improve their
grades or who need to
retake examinations, the
board has scheduled the
Advanced Supplementary
Examinations to begin on
May 24, 2024. Registration
for these exams will be
open from April 25 to May
2, 2024.
■ Page 5: Temporary memos
available on TSBIE website
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 2

SHORT
CONGRESS EX-MP
TAKE
Penultimate day rush: Cong. hopes to trump
SARVEY TO FIGHT
AS INDEPENDENT
DC CORRESPONDENT
Many file nominations in 3-cornered Medak
DC CORRESPONDENT ● HYDERABAD BJP can-
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24 didate Madhavi Latha
seat Danam Nagender
said he possessed `80 District got BHEL, BDL during Cong. rule: Party leader
Senior Congress leader and Kompella declared assets crore worth properties.
former Union minister Sarvey With the last date for fil-
worth `264 crore. The Hyderabad BJP can- CONSTITUENCY MEDAK MPs SINCE 1980 with the people of

Sathyanarayana filed nomina-
tion papers as Independent
candidate for Malkajgiri Lok
Sabha seat on Wednesday.
Sarvey, who won from
Malkajgiri seat on Congress
ticket in 2009, is now contest-
ing as a rebel candidate after
Congress leadership chose
Patnam Sunitha Mahender
Reddy for Malkajgiri seat.
Sarvey Satyanarayana won
Malkajgiri seat with a majori-
ty of over 90,000 votes in 2009
and became minister of state
in UPA-2 government.
However, he lost 2014 Lok
Sabha polls from Malkajgiri
seat. Sarvey was among the
contenders for Malkajgiri Lok
Sabha ticket this time. But the
party high command declared
candidature of Sunitha
Mahender Reddy for
Malkajgiri, who is the
Vikarabad zilla parishad
chairperson from BRS and
wife of BRS MLC Patnam
Mahender Reddy.
ing nominations coming
to an end on Thursday,
many candidates from dif-
ferent political parties
filed their nominations on
Wednesday along with
affidavits declaring their
assets.
Bhongir Congress candi-
date Chamala Kiran
Kumar Reddy declared his
assets, which included
assets worth`34 crore, and
liabilities to the tune of
`three crore. This includ-
ed `22.23 crore worth
properties, while his wife
had properties
worth`12.07 crore.
Senior Congress leader
K. Jana Reddy filed his
nomination for the
Nalgonda Lok Sabha seat
and declared properties
worth `26 crore. Jana
Reddy's son K. Raghuveer
after filing his nomina-
tion declared that he pos-
sessed `35 crore worth
According to the affi-
davit, a case was regis-
tered against her for her
gesture of drawing an
imaginary arrow and
shooting at a masjid at
Siddiamber bazaar.
● BHONGIR CONGRESS
candidate Chamala Kiran
Kumar Reddy declared
his assets, which includ-
ed assets worth `34
crore, and liabilities to
the tune of ` three crore.
properties and he had lia-
bilities to the tune of `17
crore.
Khammam Congress
nominee Ramasahayam
Raghuram Reddy filed his
nominations and declared
that he possessed `40
crore worth properties,
while the Congress candi-
date for the Secunderabad
didate Madhavi Latha
Kompella declared assets
worth `264 crore.
According to the affidavit,
a case was registered
against her for her ges-
ture of drawing an imagi-
nary arrow and shooting
at a masjid at Siddiamber
bazaar.
While Latha possessed
assets worth `38 crore,
her businessman-hus-
band Viswanath Kompella
possessed assets worth
`180 crore.
Her three daughters
have investments and
shares in several compa-
nies to the overall tune of
45.84 crore.
The Medak BRS candi-
date P. Venkatram Reddy
possessed `62 crore worth
properties. While his wife
possessed properties
worth `24 crore, he
had `39 crore worth
properties.
WISE
MEDAK
BALU PULIPAKA | DC
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
For two decades, the
Medak Lok Sabha con-
stituency has been the
crown jewel for the BRS
and the opposition party
is desperately keen on
winning the seat, which
covers two Assembly seg-
ments - Gajwel and
Siddipet - that BRS chief
K. Chandrashekar Rao,
and senior leader T.
Harish Rao represent.
The BRS held its sway
over Medak Lok Sabha
constituency since the
2009 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress, which had
seen its leader and former
prime minister Indira
Gandhi win from Medak
in the 1980 elections and
having its another candi-
date getting elected four
times subsequently, wants
to win its previous strong-
hold. So does the BJP
which won twice in 1999
and 2004.
Expressing confidence
that the Congress is all set
to wrest the seat this time,
Neelam Madhu Mudiraj,
the party candidate, said
his party had done a lot
for Medak district and the
constituency. “People still
recall Indira Gandhi's
Siddipet, Medak, and
2019 - K. Prabhakar Reddy - BRS Sangareddy as a district
collector.
2014 - K. Prabhakar Reddy - BRS
“I was given the party
2009 - Vijayashanti - BRS
ticket, because people
2004 - A. Narendra - BJP
from every village know
1999 - A. Narendra - BJP
me. I appeal to the voters
1998 - M. Baga Reddy - INC to think for a minute
1996 - M. Baga Reddy - INC about the qualities of the
1991 - M. Baga Reddy - INC candidates before you
1989 - M. Baga Reddy - INC vote. The Congress has
1984 - P. Manik Reddy - TDP shown that it cannot be
1980 - Indira Gandhi - INC trusted, while the BJP's
candidate is one who
MEDAK ASSEMBLY SEGMENTS AND cheated the people by
THEIR REPRESENTATIVES making impossible prom-
ises in the Dubbak bypoll
Gajwel - K. Chandrashekar Rao - BRS to win from there.”
Siddipet - T. Harish Rao - BRS Countering his oppo-
Dubbak - Kotha Prabhakar Reddy - BRS nents, BJP's M
Medak - Mynampally Rohit - INC Raghunandan Rao has
Narsapur - V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy - BRS been going hammer and
Sangareddy- Chinta Prabhakar - BRS tongs at both the Congress
Patancheru - Gudem Mahipal Reddy - BRS and the BRS and
explained how many
Central funds were used
term as an MP from here. the Congress in the state, for various programmes
It was during Congress five have already been and schemes in the con-
rule that the district got implemented,” he said. stituency under the BJP
BHEL, and BDL. It was the The BRS is also working rule.
Congress which created hard to ensure the victory He has particularly tar-
employment and provided for its candidate, former geted the BRS candidate
assignment lands for the Siddipet district collector saying Venkatram Reddy
poor here,” he said. P. Venkatram Reddy, with was not a local person and
Neelam Madhu also said senior BRS leader T. that it was only after he
that all the communities Harish Rao being given bowed to Chandrashekar
from BCs, SCs, STs, and the responsibility for the Rao that he was made a
minorities, were support- party's success in BRS MLC.
ing the Congress this Chandrashekar Rao’s “As an MLC he could not
time. home district. even get `100 crore sanc-
“As a BC candidate from Speaking to media after tion to the constituency
the Mudiraj community I filing his nomination when his party was in
am getting a lot of support papers, Venkatram Reddy power. This is a person
from them. And people said on Wednesday that he who people should not
appreciate that of the Six has 11 years of association trust and vote for,”
Guarantees promised by with the constituency and Raghunandan Rao said.

Etala dares CM on farm loan waiver

DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24

BJP leader Etala Rajendar

on Thursday said that he
would resign from politics
if the Congress success-
fully implements the farm
loan waiver and their Six
Guarantees in one-go in
August. If the BJP gets
more MP seats from the
state, he said the state will
get more jobs in IT and
boost its development.
Campaigning in the
Malkajgiri parliament
constituency, he said,
“Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy made some
promises as they were not
sure of coming to power.
The promise of a `2 lakh
loan waiver for farmers is
impossible. He himself is
saying that the state cof- BJP candidate from Malkajgiri Etala Rajendar during campaign for the Lok Sabha
fers are empty. So how will elections on Wednesday. — BY ARRANGEMENT
he give `2,500 allowance to
women, `4,000 pension war there. The tricolour is The BJP leader further and get things done for the
and `12,000 to auto drivers flying high at Lal Chowk said that if he wins from state and ensure develop-
and workers and `500 in Srinagar and Kashmir the Malkajgiri constituen- ment of Malkajgiri. The
bonus for paddy growing was freed from bomb cy, he would ensure that nation currently gets `1.85
farmers”. blasts and bullets. The the central housing lakh crores as GST, which
Recounting the achieve- entire nation is pitching scheme is properly imple- is `73,000 crores more
ments of Prime Minister for Narendra Modi. I have mented in the state and than when it was intro-
Narendra Modi, Rajender been in politics for 22 given directly for the poor. duced. India has grown
said, “He won laurels in years now and fought for “The Chief Minister is from the 11 largest econo-
the US Senate. He ensured Telangana statehood for not looking at the develop- my in the world to the fifth
that Indian children 14 years. I ensured poor ment of people. I have the largest now and is all set
returned safely from children get fine rice as capacity to meet Prime to become the third
Ukraine by stopping the their food.” Minister Narendra Modi largest,” he added.

POLL | HEAT Party’s policy is ‘antyodaya’, says Chevella candidate

BJP stands for nation first,

says Konda Vishweshwar
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
BJP candidate for the
Chevella Parliamentary
constituency Konda
Vishweshwar Reddy
appealed to voters to sup-
port the BJP, highlighting
what he said was its
robust ideology centered
on national interests to
foster the nation's prosper-
ity. He said the party’s pol-
icy is “antyodaya”, which
is aimed at upliftment of
the last person and its
overarching ideology is
nation first.
In an informal discus-
sion with morning walk-
ers at Vikarabad he said,
“Prime Minister
Narendra Modi's unwa-
vering focus played a piv-
otal role in elevating the
country from being the
tenth largest economy to
the fifth largest. His
relentless efforts in assist-
ing impoverished families
with free rice ration, res-
cuing farmers in distress,
and supporting sarpanch-
es who built infrastruc-
ture in the villages have
garnered him a legion of
devoted fans.”
Responding to questions
BJP candidate for Chevella Parliamentary Constituency
Konda Vishweshwar Reddy interacts with morning
walkers in Vikarabad on Wednesday.
from a journalist on who
his real competitor is, he
said, “It was Congress ear-
lier, but off late we find
the BRS gaining support
and there is a fierce com-
petition for second posi-
tion between the BRS and
the Congress. In fact the
Congress is losing ground
and rapidly slipping to the
third position in several
places. The erosion of peo-
ple's trust in the Congress
Government in Telangana
is accelerating, primarily
because they have shown
— BY ARRANGEMENT
a lack of initiative in ful-
filling their promises. It’s
a double whammy for
Congress as people have
no confidence in their can-
didate Ranjit Reddy. The
constituents are profound-
ly disillusioned with his
performance over the last
five years. They are unani-
mous in their belief that
he disregarded both the
people and their issues
throughout the past five
years. Consequently, there
is scant optimism among
the populace regarding
● PRIME MINISTER
Narendra Modi's unwaver-
ing focus played a pivotal
role in elevating the coun-
try from being the tenth
largest economy to the
fifth largest, Konda
Vishweshwar Reddy said.
his ability to effect any
positive change in the
coming five years and
are averse to voting for
him.”
Sangita Reddy, spouse of
Vishweshwar Reddy,
speaking at Meerpet,
Maheshwaram, said,
“Konda Vishweshwar
Reddy has remained a
steadfast companion of
the people, empathising
with their challenges
and celebrating their joys.
He consistently addresses
the concerns of the com-
mon man, dedicating him-
self to finding effective
solutions. His commit-
ment to securing funds for
the development of
Chevella is unwavering,
and with the BJP set to
form the central govern-
ment, he pledges to ensure
that necessary fund flow
to the region to foster its
growth and progress.”
 POLITICS
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 3

SHORT

KCR: MAKE ME
TAKES
STRONGER TO
FIGHT CONGRESS
DC CORRESPONDENT
NALGONDA, APRIL 24
BRS president K Chandrashe-
khar Rao on Wednesday asked
people to vote for his party
candidates in the LS polls to
make him stronger to mount
pressure on the Congress gov-
ernment to implement its pre-
poll promises.
Launching his 17-day bus
yatra from Miryalaguda in the
Nalgonda Lok Sabha con-
stituency, he recollected that
his padayatra to highlight
injustice to Telangana in irri-
gation in united AP had
passed through Miryalaguda
about 21 years ago.
Since 1956, the Congress has
been acting like an enemy of
us. It did injustice to the peo-
ple of Telangana by merging
the region with AP. The pres-
ent Congress government
handed over the Nagarjun-
asagar project to the Krishna
River Management Board that
brought back the days in
which farmers struggled to get
irrigation facility to their
crops. Earlier, five vehicles in
the former chief minister’s
convoy collided with each
other at Vemulapally in the
district. The incident took
place when he was on his way
Ranjith: Only Cong. can
ensure all-round growth
Says despite 10 years in power, BRS failed to develop Chevella
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Congress Lok Sabha candi-
date from Chevella, Gaddam
Ranjith Reddy said that only
the Congress can ensure all-
round development of the
constituency, which was neg-
lected by the BRS govern-
ment in the last 10 years. ?
He said that the people of
Chevella elected BRS twice
but its government had
failed to undertake any
major development pro-
grammes in Chevella despite
being in power for ten years.
Ranjith Reddy said that as
Chevella MP for the past five
years he did his best to
secure funds and projects for
the area but there was no
cooperation from the state
CPM TO SUPPORT
RAGHUVEER FOR
Congress Raghuveer, Chamala
NALGONDA
DC CORRESPONDENT
NALGONDA, APRIL 24
Kiran file papers for LS seats
P. SRINIVAS | DC
Congress Chevella MP candidate G. Ranjith Reddy campaigns
ahead of Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday.
and Union governments.
He urged Chevella voters to
teach a fitting lesson to both
parties in the ensuing Lok
— DC
Sabha elections. Reddy on
Wednesday undertook hectic
campaigning in Kulkacharla
mandal.
He said that crop loans of
farmers up to `2 lakh would
be waived soon after the elec-
tion code ends.
He accused his BJP oppo-
nent Konda Vishweshwar Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy participates in Jana Jatara Sabha in
Reddy of spreading false Warangal to support party candidate Kadiam Kavya. — BY ARRANGEMENT
propaganda against him.
Ranjith Reddy said that the
Congress government has
implemented five of its Six
Guarantees within 100 days
of coming to power.
Good response to CM’s
All guarantees and other
poll promises will be imple-
mented after the election
code ends in June. Ranjith
rally, Danam files papers
Reddy said only Congress DC CORRESPONDENT Hyderabad and Secun- party which wins this
can protect communal har- HYDERABAD, APRIL 24 derabad were affected seat comes to power at
mony and integrity of the due to flooding. Where the Centre.
country adding that there is Chief Minister A. was Kishan Reddy "In 2004 and 2009,
an urgent need to eradicate Revanth Reddy held a then? He did not bring Anjan Yadav won from
caste and religious fanati- spectacular roadshow any flood relief from here and the UPA came
cism in the state. in Secunderabad on the Centre despite to power at the Centre
Wednesday in support being a union minis- on both occasions. This
of the Congress Secun- ter,” Revanth said. time around, our
derabad LS candidate
Danam Nagender.
Supporters in large
numbers, especially
People from all walks
of life joined the road-
show and cheered for
Revanth and Nagender
Nagender will win and
the
INDIA
Congress-led
government
will come to power," he
women and youth,
showed their support
for Congress, giving jit-
ters to BJP, which is
holding the seat for the
as they waved and
greeted them across
the streets from the
famed Ujjaini Maha-
nkali temple to Patny
said.

failing
The

to Miryalaguda from
Hyderabad by road. An SUV in
the convoy applied brakes all
too sudden causing a collision
of multiple vehicles. However,
no one was injured. The bus,
in which Chandrashekar Rao
was travelling, was not
involved in the collision.
KTR: GIVE BRS 10
The CPM has annou-
nced its support to the
Congress candidate for
Nalgonda LS constituen-
cy Kunduru Raghuveer
Reddy and decided to go
on a friendly contest in
Bhuvanagiri Lok Sabha
segment.
Along with the Cong-
ress senior leader and
to
Chief
Minister lashed out at
the BJP and BRS for
develop
Hyderabad and Secun-
NALGONDA, APRIL 24 past ten years. centre. After perform- derabad despite being
The overwhelming ing a special puja in in power for the last
The Congress candidate for response to Revanth's Mahankali temple, ten years. He alleged
the Nalgonda Lok Sabha con- rally has bolstered the they participated in that BRS had colluded
stituency Kunduru Raghu- confidence of Congre- the nomination rally. with BJP to defeat
veer Reddy on Wednesday ss, which is confident Khairatabad DCC Congress in Secund-
filed a set of nomination of regaining the seat (Hyderabad Central) erabad and appealed to
papers for the upcoming Lok that it had lost to BJP president C. Rohin voters not to back BRS.
Sabha elections. in 2014 and 2019. M. Reddy, mayor Gadwal Revanth alleged that
Accompanied by ministers Anjan Kumar Yadav of Vijayalaxmi, Anjan BRS chief K. Chand-
N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and
Komatireddy Venkat Reddy,
Congress won the seat
successively in 2004
Kumar Yadav, RS mem-
ber Anil Kumar Yadav,
rashekar Rao
struck a deal with
has

SEATS, WATCH his father Jana Reddy,

Raghuveer Reddy arriv-
Raghuveer Reddy submitted
a set of nomination papers to
and 2009. On the other
hand, Kishan Reddy is
senior leaders Md
Azharuddin, Feroz
Prime Minister Nare-
ndra Modi to ensure

KCR CALL SHOTS

DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar
Rao can call shots if people
ensure its victory in at least 10
constituencies in the state in
the Lok Sabha elections, said
party working president K.T.
Rama Rao. Addressing a BRS
roadshow in Malkajgiri after
party candidate Ragidi Laxma
Reddy filed his nomination,
Rama Rao said the Congress
and BJP were in cahoots for
the Lok Sabha elections and
“this is why chota bhai
Revanth (Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy) has set up a
dummy candidate in Malka-
jgiri.” While Rahul Gandhi
says ‘chowkidar chor hai’,
Revanth Reddy says ‘Modi
hamara bada bhai hai’. Not
only in Malkajgiri, the Cong-
ress has fielded dummy candi-
dates to help BJP win in sever-
al other constituencies also.”
ECI TO HC: ACTION
ed at the CPM district
office here and invited
the party leaders for his
nomination filing pro-
gramme.
Speaking to the media,
CPM state secretariat
committee member Jul-
akanti Ranga Reddy said
that though there were
ideological differences
between the Left parties
and the Congress, his
party decided to support
the candidates of the
Congress in 16 Lok
Sabha segments and go
on a friendly contest in
one LS constituency.
The sole aim of the
CPM is to prevent the
BJP from coming again
to power at the Centre,
he said.
Vote for Modi, says Kishan
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Telangana BJP presi-
returning officer Haricha- facing rough weather Khan and others took the victory of BJP here
ndana Darasari at the district in the constituency due part in the rally. adding that Secunder-
collectorate. to internal bickering Addressing the gath- abad was one of the
On behalf of Raghuveer Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy in the party and anti- ering, Revanth urged five Lok Sabha seats in
Reddy, senior Congress take part in the nomination rally of party’s Nalgonda MP candi- incumbency due to his voters of Secunde- which BRS is working
leader and his father K. Jana date K. Raghuveer Reddy, on Wednesday. — P. ANIL KUMAR failure to secure any rabad to elect Nagen- for BJP wins as part of
Reddy also filed a second set major funds or devel- der with a majority of a deal to secure bail for
of nomination papers to the their deposits. He also criti- ment Chamala Kiran Kumar opment projects to over one lakh. He said his daughter Kavitha.
returning officer. cised the BRS for spreading Reddy also filed a set of his Secunderabad despite that the Congress-led He said Rao has decid-
Raghuveer Reddy conduct- false propaganda on irriga- nomination to the returning being a union minister I.N.D.I.A. would come ed to make BRS candi-
ed a huge rally from VT tion and electricity to mis- officer Zendage K. Hanumant for five years. to power at the Centre date Padma Rao Goud,
Colony to ITI college, which lead voters ahead of the elec- at the district collectorate of Revanth Reddy came and if Nagender is a scapegoat.
was located near the district tions. Ya d a d r i - B h u v a n a g i r i . down heavily against elected, he will become "Padma Rao is a good
collectorate. Roads and buildings minis- Congress MLAs Vemula Kishan Reddy stating a minister in the new person but Rao is plan-
Addressing a rally at the ter Komatireddy Venkat Veeresham, Mandula Samuel that he had done noth- cabinet and ensure all- ning his defeat. That's
clock tower centre here, min- Reddy reiterated that the and Kumbam Anil Kumar ing for Secunderabad round development of why he and K.T. Rama
ister for civil supplies and BRS would bite the dust in were accompanying the in the last five years. the constituency. Rao stayed away dur-
irrigation N. Uttam Kumar the Lok Sabha elections and Congress candidate when he “Hyderabad faced Revanth said Secun- ing when Padma Rao
Reddy exuded confidence pledged to help Raghuveer filed nomination. heavy floods in 2021. derabad holds senti- filed his papers,”
that the Congress party Reddy win the seat with the Before submitting his nomi- Lakhs of people in mental value as any Revanth Reddy said.
would win the Nalgonda Lok highest majority. nation, Kiran Kumar Reddy
Sabha seat by a record mar- On the other hand, performed pooja at Yadadri
gin and both the BRS and Congress candidate for Sri Lakshminarsimha
BJP candidates would lose Bhuvanagiri Lok Sabha seg- Swamy temple.
mentioned, that loans
HC URGED TO DIRECT SPEAKER
TO ACT ON OF 2 DEFECTORS
worth `20 lakh are being VUJJINI VAMSHIDHAR I DC
offered self-help groups
to encourage industrial
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24

WILL BE TAKEN dent and Union minister

G. Kishan Reddy said,
setup.
Kishan Reddy credited
A petition has been filed before the
Telangana High Court seeking a direc-

ON SUREKHA
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The Election Commission of
India (ECI) on Wednesday
informed the Telangana High
Court that it will act upon the
complaint lodged by BRS
spokesperson Dr Dasoju
Sravan against environment
minister Konda Surekha for
violating the MCC by passing
derogatory and defamatory
remarks against BRS working
president K.T. Rama Rao.
The poll panel submitted that
it will take a decision on the
on Wednesday that the
ensuing elections will
determine the security
of the nation and the
future of our children.
He urged the people to
vote for Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on 13
May, citing his achieve-
ments, including the
provision of free vac-
cines during the Covid
pandemic and the distri-
bution of five kilo-
grammes of rice to the
underprivileged.
Addressing a gather-
ing in Jubilee Hills, he
Modi with ending
female foeticide, saying,
"The Beti Bachao Beti
Padhao scheme has
helped eradicate female
foeticide." ?
He further noted that
G. Kishan Reddy communal clashes and
bomb blasts, prevalent
highlighted the Modi during the previous
government' s initia- Congress administra-
tives such as opening tion, are now things of
free bank accounts, pro- the past. He expressed
viding LPG cylinders confidence that the
and offering medical development activities
coverage up to ?500,000 undertaken under
under the Ayushman Modi's leadership would
Bharat scheme. He also continue.
tion to the Speaker of the Legislative
Assembly to take immediate action on
the disqualification petitions before
him against two BRS legislators
Kadiam Srihari and Tellam Venkat Rao,
who have recently defected to the
Congress party, without resigning from
their posts nor from the BRS party on
whose ticket they were elected. In his
petition Kuna Pandu Vivekananda, BRS
MLA from Quthbullapur constituency,
complained that the speaker was not
taking action on the applications for-
warded by him April 10 seeking the dis-
qualification of Venkata Rao (MLA of
Bhadrachalam) and Srihari (Station
Ghanpur-SC reserved) for defecting to
the Congress party.

Revanth speaking out

said complaint by Friday. The
division bench, comprising
Chief Justice Alok Aradhe
and Justice Anil Kumar

of fear of defeat: Aruna

Jukanti, was adjudicating the
petition filed by Dasoju, seek-
ing action against Surekha.

ALL MIM LEADERS DC CORRESPONDENT

RALLY BEHIND
OWAISI
NABINDER BOMMALA
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
In a major setback to BJP’s
Hyderabad Lok Sabha candi-
date Kompella Madhavi Latha,
senior AIMIM leaders, who
were speculated to have
rebelled against their party
leadership, supported their
party chief and Hyderabad
candidate Asaduddin Owaisi.
The three former MIM legis-
lators - Mumtaz Khan, Ahmed
Pasha Quadri and Moazam
Khan - were denied the party
tickets during the Assembly
elections. However, they have
been actively campaigning for
Asaduddin Owaisi after he
filed his papers. MBT is not
contesting the LS polls from
any constituency including
Hyderabad. “If MBT candi-
dates contest, there will be a
split in Muslim and secular
Hindu votes which may weak-
en secular forces,” said Majeed
Ullah Khan, MBT president.
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
BJP national vice pre-
sident D.K. Aruna flayed
Chief Minister
Revanth Reddy and said
A.
instead of delivering on
his promises he was vis-
iting the district to criti-
cise her and Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi. The Chief Minist-
er, she opined, had come
six times to the district
indicating that he fears
Congress defeat in
Mahbubnagar.
Addressing the media,
she said, “Apart from
abusing me the CM has
entrusted the task to his
acolytes also. The CM is
on a temple spree and is
making promises in the
name of gods in view of
the elections. They are
trying to cheat the peo-
ple. The CM has failed to
keep his promise of
farm loan waiver by
December 9. The pled-
ged `4,000 pension, allo-
wance for women, une-
mployment dole for you-
th, `500 bonus for paddy
LAXMAN: CONG.
SPREADING
FALSEHOOD
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
D.K. Aruna
BJP OBC Morcha natio-
have not been given and nal vice president Dr K.
Congress has no right to Laxman said the Cong-
seek votes.” In contrast, ress was spreading fear
Aruna opined the BJP among the people that
was seeking votes on the the BJP is seeking votes
basis of funds allocated in the name of religion.
by the Centre to Telan- He questioned as to
gana for developing rail- what Chief Minister A.
way lines and national Revanth Reddy is doing
highways. “We brought in the state when he vis-
CAA, constructed a tem- its temples.
ple in Ayodhya, abol- Addressing the media
ished Article 370, bann- in Hyderabad, he said,
ed Triple Talaq and "The Chief Minister is
introduced 33% reserva- swearing by the Gods to
tion for women in leg- whichever district he
islative bodies. The Cen- visits and is promising
tre is giving mudra to waive farm loans of
loans, free ration to the `2 lakh after the elec-
poor and is providing tions. He is spreading
input subsidies to farm- falsehood that the BRS
ers. What is the state is trying to benefit the
government doing?” she BJP by fielding weak
asked. candidates.”
 CRIME/LEGAL
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
SHORT
DENTAL CLINIC
TAKES
RECEPTIONIST
DIES BY SUICIDE
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
A 19-year-old receptionist at
Lavanya dental clinic,
Maheshwari, died by suicide
in the office in Manikonda.
According to Raidurgam
police, the victim D.
Maheshwari left her house for
work in Panchavati colony
Tuesday morning, according
to her mother D. Veeramani.
When she did not turn up
with her brother Anand, they
were worried as she was not
responding to calls. Around 9
am on Wednesday, Anand went
to her work place. The door
was locked from inside. Anand
peeped through the window
and found his sister dead. He
informed the police immedi-
ately. Raidurgam police have
registered a case of suspicious
death. The victim’s body was
shifted to OGH hospital mortu-
ary for postmortem.
EC ORDERS
TRANSFER
OF DCP (SOUTH)
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
On the instructions of the
Election Commission (EC),
deputy commissioner of
police (south) P. Sai Chaitanya
has been transferred and
asked to
report to the
Telang ana
DGP office on
Wednesday.
T h e DC CORRESPONDENT
Election
Commission
ordered the
T e l a n g a n a P. Sai
C h i e f Chaitanya
Secretary to
transfer the DCP, sources
said.In communication to the
Chief Secretary, the EC specif-
ically mentioned that the offi-
cer should hand over charge to
an official who is immediately
below his rank and should not
be assigned any election-relat-
ed work till the end of the cur-
rent General Elections, police
sources disclosed. The Chief
Secretary also asked the Chief
Secretary to send a panel of
names of three IPS officers by
tomorrow to fill the vacancy.
COURT RESERVES
ORDERS IN
KAVITHA’S BAIL
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The Delhi Rose Avenue Court
on Wednesday reserved orders
in the regular bail petition
filed by Kalvakuntla Kavitha
in the case filed by
Enforcement of Directorate on
charges of money laundering
in the Delhi Excise Policy
issue. The court will pro-
nounce the orders on May 6.
Earlier, the Special court for
ED had rejected Kavitha’s
interim bail petition, in which
she sought interim bail on the
ground of examinations to
her minor child. The regular
bail petition has been heard
by the court at Delhi on
Wednesday. During the hear-
ing, the Enforcement
Directorate submitted to the
court that Kavitha was deeply
involved in the scam of Excise
policy. It also brought to the
Notice of the court that the
phones used by Kavitha dur-
ing the excise policy time and
later, were formatted by delet-
ing the information.
Snooping: Red corner
against ex-SIB chief
First red corner notice against any officer or politician
SYED OMAR
FAROOQ | DC
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
State police have issued
a red corner notice
against former SIB chief
T. Prabhakar Rao, the
prime accused in the
phone tapping case.
This is the first red cor-
ner notice against any
officer or politician from
among the names
revealed by the four
arrested former police
officers during their
interrogation.
As of now the present
investigation team,
headed by S.M. Vijay
Kumar, DCP (west zone),
will continue to probe
the case, police sources
confirmed.
Prabhakar Rao was in
Tirupati district when
Vijay Kumar's special
team arrested D.
Praneeth Rao from his
house in Srinagar
Colony, Rajanna Sircilla
DCA seizes meds She Teams arrest 120
with misleading for stalking, eve-teasing
advertisements
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Drugs Control
Administration officials
on Monday seized two
medicines in Hyderabad
which had misleading
advertising, and raided a
quack doctor’s clinic and
seized the medicines from
his clinic in Bhadradri
Kothagudem.
Officials in Hyderabad’s
Mozamjahi Market and
Madhuranagar detected
two medicines circulating
with misleading claims
on their labels, stating
that they treat 'heart dis-
eases' and 'disorders of
menstrual flow'.
They detected a Unani
medicine Cardinol
Joshanda which adver-
tised as treating heart dis-
eases, and Colinol-Spas
advertised as treating dis-
DCA officials at a clinic on Wednesday.
HC takes on file plaint about sound
pollution caused by Metro trains
L. RAVICHANDER
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
A two-judge panel of the
Telangana High Court
on Wednesday took on
file a PIL complaining of
noise pollution at the
Metro Rail Station in
Bhoiguda. Dr G.
Hanumanlu, a resident
of Secunderabad addre-
ssed the letter to the
Chief Justice of India
complaining about the
noise generated by mov-
ing Metro trains at the
curved portion of the
track near metro Pillar
No. B-1006, New
Bhoiguda. It is stated in
the letter that frequency
of the noise has
increased so much that
it is posing a real threat
to human life. He point-
ed out that excess noise
may cause temporary or
permanent hearing loss
in addition to annoyance
and irritation, noise con-
stricts the arteries and
increases the flow of
adrenaline and forces
the heart to work faster
and thereby increases
the rate of cardiac ail-
ments such as heart
attacks. He further
pointed out that such
noise can lead to high
blood pressure, which
increases the cholesterol
levels in the body and
causes stress, anxiety
and tension, which leads
to hormonal imbalance
and causes many dis-
eases. It was also
T. Prabhakar Rao
district.
Reliable sources dis-
closed that Prabhakar
Rao had in the first week
of December instructed
Radha Kishan and
Praneeth Rao to destroy
technical evidence from
SIB units in the city,
Warangal and Rajanna
Sircilla districts. By
December 4, over 70 per
cent of technical evi-
dence was destroyed
from the SIB-SOT war
orders of menstrual flow.
Officials seized the stocks
of medicines under the
Drugs and Magic
Remedies Act.
Officials also raided a
quack doctor’s clinic in
Yamanpalle village of
Jayashankar Bhupalpally
district.
They raided the clinic of
K. Narender, who was
practising medicine with-
out qualifications.
Officers also seized huge
stocks of medicines at the
premises, which were
sold without any drug
licence.
29 varieties of medi-
cines, including antibi-
otics, analgesics, anti-
ulcer drugs, etc., were
found stocked at the
premises. DCA officials
seized the stock, worth a
total of Rs 26,800 during
the raid.
— DC
informed that a team
from HMRL, consisting
of deputy chief engi-
neer, deputy executive
engineer and train track
leader visited the prem-
ises near New Bhoiguda
Metro Rail on Corridor
II JBS-MGBS and
recorded the screeching
sounds and noise gener-
ated by moving trains on
March 6 midnight. The
panel adjourned the
matter by six weeks for
the respondent authori-
ties’ reply and also
impleaded Larsen and
Toubro as party to the
list.
HC RESERVES VERDICT ON
GHIAL’S PLEA ON
REGISTRATION CHARGES
Justice N.V. Shravan
Kumar of the Telangana
High Court reserved its
verdict in a writ plea
filed by GMR Hyderabad
International Airport
Limited (GHIAL) and
another challenging levy
of five times registra-
tion fee for registering
conveyance deed and
sub-lease deed. Earlier, it
was submitted to the
court that the petition-
ers had made an applica-
tion on May 5, 2021, to
the commissioner and
IG (registration & Election Commission of
stamps) requesting him
to waive the penalty, and
in turn he addressed a
letter to the chief secre-
tary on June 18, 2021. It
was further stated that
rooms. “As of now we have just
After getting confirma- oral statements. A sus-
tion that the evidence pect or accused can men-
that could land him in tion any political
trouble had been leader's name in order to
destroyed, Prabhakar save his skin but techni-
Rao escaped to the US cally and logically it is
without informing even very important to prove
his family members, it during the prosecu-
reliable sources pointed tion," a police officer
out. His mobile phone said.
was switched off. During investigation,
Meanwhile, the investi- the police found that
gation teams retrieved Prabhakar Rao was
data from the dumped granted six months visit
and damaged devices visa to the US.
from SIB-SOT war “Two months have
rooms. These will be lapsed. Where will he go
used against the accused after another four
during prosecution, reli- months? He has to
able police sources said. return and face
The teams probing the charges,” said a police
illegal phone tapping are officer.
waiting for Prabhakar Meanwhile, the police
Rao to record his state-
ments. All former police
have informed US immi-
gration officials in
officers who have been Texas about Prabhakar
arrested put the blame Rao's involvement in
on Prabhakar Rao while criminal cases. His
stating that they had movements in the US are
acted on his instruc- under 24x7 surveillance,
tions. sources said.
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
A hundred and 20 per-
sons involved in stalk-
ing and harassing
women during the past
15 days were caught by
the Rachakonda She
Teams. Rachakonda ● THE SHE Teams
police commissioner, conducted decoy
Tarun Joshi, said that
operations in
the She Teams would
not allow hooligans to Rachakonda areas
go scot-free who were and arrested 105
involved in harassing outlaws who were
girls and women, and harassing women
also appealed to women and girls on the road
and college going girls and registered cases
to come forward to against them. The
report the incident of arrested were also
eve teasing or staking
if any. “Stern action
counselled.
will be taken against
the culprits and the counselling to them,”
victim’s identity will Joshi said.
not be disclosed,” said
the commissioner.
Among the 120 people
caught, 76 were major,
“Our She Teams in
mufti armed with sur-
44 minors. On
Wednesday, the arrest-
veillance devices are ed were counselled.
deputed at the hotspots
such as bus-stands,
Altogether 142 com-
plaints had been
railway stations, metro received between April
stations, schools, col- 1 and April 15 by the
leges and vegetable Rachakonda Women
markets. The teams Safety Wing, DCP T.
move around in public Usha Vishwanath said,
places 24x7 and carry adding the investiga-
out decoy operations,” tion was completed
he said. after taking up the
“In case of child in inquiry on the com-
conflict with law, our plaints.
Women Safety Wing in Among the com-
the presence of their plaints, 13 were harass-
parents was providing ment through phone, 34
dismissed a PIL chal-
lenging an order of the
commissioner of police,
Rachakonda Commiss-
ionerate, Neredmet,
directing to deposit his
weapon prior to the
General Election 2024.
LEGAL STORIES The panel, comprising
Chief Justice Alok
pending consideration Aradhe and Justice J.
of the said application, Anil Kumar, was dealing
the official respondents with a PIL filed by Dr.
may be directed to regis- D.V. Rao, a practicing
ter and release the docu- advocate of the High
ments submitted by the Court. Earlier, the panel
petitioners and that in had directed police com-
case the application of missioner to produce
the petitioners is reject- minutes of a meeting of
ed, or the present writ the screening committee
petition is dismissed, for surrendering licen-
the petitioners under- sed arms because of the
take to pay the penalty election code. The peti-
as levied by the sub-reg- tioner contended that
istrar office at the commissioner had
Shamshabad. Accor- issued proceedings with-
dingly, it was directed to out following the due
register and release the process and directed the
documents as per the petitioner to surrender
provisions of the Indian the licensed weapon
Registration Act, 1908, before elections. The
and Indian Stamps Act, petitioner contended
1899 and the rules made that ever since 2014 he
thereunder. However, it has been exempted from
was made clear that surrendering the license
such registration and since he does not fall
release shall be subject under the category
to the final orders likely which is mandated to
to be passed in this writ surrender the gun
petition. After hearing license. Avinash Desai,
the parties, the judge senior counsel appear-
reserved its verdict. ing on behalf of the
HC DISMISSES PLEA India (ECI), contended
AGAINST SURRENDER that guidelines have
OF GUN LICENCE been issued for surren-
dering the gun license
A two-judge panel of the and within the city lim-
Telangana High Court its, the commissioner
pg 4
Protective gear
Girls covering their face with ‘chunni’ to protect themselves from scorching summer heat
while heading home from college, on Wednesday. — K. DURGA RAO
DA CASE AGAINST TSSPDCL ENGINEER OBITUARY
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the
DC CORRESPONDENT death of his faithful servants” Psalm 116:15
Kumar amassed illegal
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24 assets worth ` 1.76 crore.
The ACB officials regis-
The TSSPDCL Assistant tered a Disproportionate
Engineer, Operations, Assets (DA) case against
Keesara, Sanku Anil the accused officer.
2 FAILED INTER
STUDENTS DIE SRI MANDA DAVID RAJU
Retd. Accounts Officer, A.G.’s Office
DOB: 01-07-1939 DOD: 18-04-2024
BY SUICIDE Funeral: Thursday, April 25, 2024
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Chicago time at
Maryhill Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum.
Inserted by: Wife, Sons, Daughter,
DC CORRESPONDENT Daughter-in-Law, Son-in-Law &
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
related to harassment Grand Children.
Contact: 9885185258.
through social media
(S/2425/D00090)
sites, 95 cases were of Two Intermediate stu-
direct harassment, she dents ended their lives by
said, adding, among suicide after they failed
them, 19 were criminal the exam in the district.
cases and 65 (petty Tejaswini, an
cases). Around 43 peo- Intermediate first-year
ple were counselled. student, died by suicide
The Rachakonda She after failing the exam at
Teams also conducted Doragaripalle in
decoy operations in Mancherial district head-
Metro trains and
quarters on Wednesday
caught four persons and another first-year stu-
travelling in the ladies dent, Maidam Satwik,
compartment. A fine ended his life at
was slapped on them by Achalapur in Tandur
the Metro officials. mandal in Mancherial dis-
Besides, the She trict as he failed in a few
Teams conducted subjects in the exam. The
decoy operations in results were announced
Rachakonda areas and by the BIE on Wednesday.
arrested 105 outlaws Satwaik was studying at
who were harassing a private college in
women and girls on the Bellampalli.
road and registered
cases against them.
The arrested were also
RTC BUS RUNS
counselled.
As the summer vaca- OVER STUDENT
tions have begun, the A 14-year-old SSC student
She Team appealed to
parents that they
died on the spot after she
was run over by an RTC
should take special bus in Yousufguda around
care for the safety of 9.50 am on Tuesday.
their children, espe- According to Jubilee
cially keeping an eye Hills police, the victim D.
on the movement of Sirisha was pillion riding
their wards. What their with her brother at Kotla
wards were doing or Vijay Bhaskar Reddy sta-
seeing on mobile dium when three persons
phones and often riding an Activa hit their
talked to them so as to vehicle while overtaking.
keep tabs on their
activities, said the She
Team. BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE
WINNIFRED WILSON
W/o. Late Paul Wilson
gave instructions per- “Mother you are always in our Hearts
taining to the same. your sweet memories will stay on forever.”
“May your Soul RIP”
HC TO LOOK INTO Love and Prayers,
From:
ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL Your loving Daughter: Wendy La Touche
CONSTRUCTIONS Son-in-law: Warren la Touche
Grand Sons: Neil and Lennon
Justice T. Vinod Kumar
of the Telangana High
Court will examine the
allegations of illegal and
unauthorised construc-
tion by the managing
committee of Lanco
Hills Residents Owners
Welfare Association
[LHROWS]. The judge
was dealing with a writ
plea filed by P. Anil
Kumar Reddy and eight
others. It is the case of
the petitioner that the
managing committee of
LHROWS had taken up
some illegal and unau-
thorized construction at
Lanco Hills Residential
Towers Manikonda,
Hyderabad and the
respondent authorities 45th DEATH ANNIVERSARY
failed to take action
against the same. It is
contended by the peti-
tioner that representa-
tions were addressed to
the authorities in
February, which fetched
no results. Earlier the
judge had ordered
notices to the authori-
ties to respond to the
said plea. On Wednesday,
the judge deferred the
hearing for the standing KONKA VIJAYALAXMI
W/o Late Konka Ramakrishna
counsel to seek instruc- Your Memories are always remembered
tions. in our hearts Forever.
Inserted by:
KONKA FAMILY MEMBERS
Full reports on Anand Sanitary Engineering Co.
deccanchronicle.com Arka Enterprises.
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 5

EVENTS
TODAY
TODAY Students overjoyed, BRS heading towards
chart out future plans extinction, says Uttam
IPL Sunrisers Hyderabad
v/s Royal Challengers
Bangalore
Time: 07:30 PM
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi
International Stadium First-year MPC student Praharsha secured 468/470
Osmania University
Open Day DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: OU Campus As the results for the
Colleges intermediate exams
rolled out, several stu-
Drama Festival By dents, especially those
Paruchuri Raghu Babu who cleared the
Memorial Trust Intermediate second
Time: 09:00 AM year exam, firmed up
their future plans
Venue: Ravindra Bharathi towards a professional
Hindi & Telugu Film career.
Orchestra By Jk Praharsha K, a first-
year MPC student,
Musical Events secured an impressive
Time: 04:30 PM 468 out of 470 marks. He
Venue: Sri Thyagaraja switched his focus to the
Gana Sabha JEE & IIT entrance
exams a few months
Pottery Workshop before her finals but
Time: 04:00 PM managed to balance his
Venue: The Moonshine preparations excellently.
“In 10th, I studied in a
Project CBSE board and scored
Dear Future Children: 95 per cent. A few
months ago, I got more
German Film Screening interested in JEE & IIT
Time: 07:00 PM and, three-four months
Venue: Lamakaan before my final exams, I
focused on the
REACH US AT Telangana board exam
eventsatdc@gmail.com as well. I used to study
daily for a couple of
hours, it was a daily
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The BRS is on its way to
extinction and once the Lok
Sabha elections are over,
there will be no signs of that
party, senior Congress
leader and irrigation minis-
ter N. Uttam Kumar Reddy
said on Wednesday.
“The BRS will lose the
security deposits, and, in
and around 14 to 15 seats, it
will come third. The BRS
will not win even a single
seat and its existence after
the elections is very doubt-
ful,” Uttam Kumar Reddy
told a news conference in Uttam Kumar Reddy addresses a press conference along
the evening. Also addressing with R&B minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy.
the media with him was
roads and buildings minis- watch that Andhra Pradesh has ordered stoppage of rel-
ter Komatireddy Venkat used more Krishna river ease of water to AP from Na-
Reddy who added to the water than its allocation garjunasagar. “We are the
attack on BRS declaring that while Telangana could not ones who are protecting and
if at all, it might just be able even use what was given to it fighting to correct the wro-
to retain the security as its share.”He said, “I am ngs of the BRS government
deposit in Medak con- giving my word to the people and protect and increase our
stituency. Venkat Reddy of Telangana. We will com- share of river water. Every
Girl students of Resonance College at Madhapur celebrate their passing the said, “KCR appears to be los- plete the Dindi Lift Irrgation single irrigation woe in
Inter exams after the results were announced on Wednesday. — . R. PAVAN ing it and it is now evident Scheme and the Srisailam Telangana is thanks to
from the way he is speaking Left Bank Canal tunnel proj- KCR,” he said.
and levelling baseless alle- ect in our first term and give On phone tapping, he said,
gations.” water for drinking and irri- “Unless such an act is exe-
Pouring scorn on BRS pres- gation to the former unified cuted to protect the country
ident K. Chandrashekar Nalgonda district. We are from extremist, terrorist, an-
Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy setting right things that the ti-national activities, it is pl-
and Venkat Reddy slammed BRS destroyed on the irriga- ainly illegal and is punish-

IN BRIEF effort. I want to thank

my mentors, they were
the former chief minister
calling the latter’s comments
tion front.”
On the drawal of water
able by law. KCR may claim
he did not know about it but

Nala desilting on
available all the time on irrigation and power sup- from Nagarjunasgar tail he cannot escape from the
and really helpful,” he ply in the state outright lies. pond by Andhra Pradesh and responsibility. What the BRS

track: GHMC
Hyderabad: The Greater
Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation (GHMC) said 53.96
km of nala desilting has been
completed out of the 171.25 km
of nala flowing through
Khairatabad zone. As regards
the Balkapur nala desilting,
which was inspected by MA&UD
principal secretary M. Dana
Kishore recently, out of total
9.64 km, a length of 4 km has
already been desilted, said a
press release on Wednesday.
Clinics run without
told Deccan Chronicle.
Similarly, Sanjana
Priya, in her second year
with an MPC focus,
scored 467 out of 470
marks, attributing her
success to last-minute
rigorous preparations.
“Usually, we start
preparing in the last
month before the exam.
My faculty, principal, SL
& JL were very helpful
students have
in the exam preparation.
We had a lot of prepara-
tion for the board exams,
we had lots of revisions
and multiple exams,
(75% or more):
which helped me a lot. It
was very easy to score
Uttam Kumar Reddy said, that state’s allocation by the government did was not just
“KCR’s claims are hollow. Krishna River Management illegal, it was immoral and
The fact is it is under his Board, Uttam said the KRMB debased.”
Over
RAGHURAM TO
CONTEST FROM
Cong. eyes people’s
1.8 lakh
got the A
KHAMMAM
DC CORRESPONDENT
assets, says Anurag
DC CORRESPONDENT
grade in 1st HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
year HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The Congress on Wedn-
A GRADE esday named candidates Union minister Anurag
for Khammam, Karim- Singh Thakur on Wednesday
1,86,025
nagar and Hyderabad
Lok Sabha constituen-
said that the Congress has an
eye on the property of people

dermatologists good marks on the exam

Hyderabad: Officials of the
Health Department have raided
Deepti Permanent Makeup and
Cosmetics Clinic in Raidurgam
and Sparkwell Clinic in
Madhapur and served notices
on them. The establishments
were running the clinic without
a dermatologist and the inspec-
tion was based on complaints
from customers, official said. “If
they are running a beauty par-
lour, we don't have an objection
, but these establishments
claimed to be clinics without
even a dermatologist,”said an
official from the department.
Traffic curbs on
CM’s roadshow
if we focused more,” she
said.
Kusma Sree and
Manasmini T, both first-
year MPC students,
scored 465 out of 470.
Their journey was
adorned with support
from their families and
teachers. Kusma
expressed her gratitude,
saying, “My parents and
teachers are really
happy with my marks;
they congratulated me, I
couldn't ask for me.”
Manasmini shared a
similar sentiment and
spoke about the unex-
pected nature of her
success, “I'm over-
whelmed, I didn't expect
those marks. My teach-
ers and my parents are
Temporary memos can be
Students
B. Akshaya Reddy
cies, a day before the
window for the filing of
which it wants to distribute
among minorities for their
B GRADE Praharsha K. N. Sanjana Priya nominations for Lok vote bank.
Sabha elections shuts on Addressing the media after
(65 to 75%): April 25. participating in a massive
68,985 The party high com- road show of the party can-
students mand announced the didate K. Madhavi Latha, he Anurag Singh Thakur
candidature of Rama- said, “Rahul Gandhi and
C GRADE sahayam Raghuram Red- Owaisi have studied from ● ADDRESSING THE MEDIA
(50 to 60%): dy, a son of former War- Aurangzeb’s University and after participating in a mas-
angal MP R. Surender speak his language. Why did sive road show of the party
23,968 Reddy for the Khammam Rahul Gandhi not field a can- candidate Madhavi Lata,
students seat, Velichala Rajender didate against Owaisi? Is Union minister Anurag Singh
Rao for Karimnagar and Owaisi Rahul Gandhi's B
D GRADE Mohammed Waliullah team or Rahul Gandhi Thakur said, “Rahul Gandhi
Sameer for Hyderabad. Owaisi's B team?” and Owaisi have studied
(35 to 50%): from Aurangzeb’s University
Rajendar Rao is the son “When our Hindu sisters
8,283 Manasmini T.
of former MLA Velichala and daughters are brutally and speak his language. Why
students Saicharan Kusma Sree Jagapathi Rao. He con- killed in the Congress-ruled did Rahul Gandhi not field a
tested on a Praja Rajyam states, where did his (Rahul candidate against Owaisi? Is
Party ticket in 2009 from Gandhi) quest for justice go? Owaisi Rahul Gandhi’s B
Karimnagar and came
third with more than one
lakh votes. He subse-
quently joined the
A Congress councillor is
demanding a CBI probe into
the death of his daughter
Neha but injustice is being
team or Rahul Gandhi
Owaisi’s B team?”

Hyderabad: Cyberabad police

issued a notice of traffic restric-
tions to commuters in Attapur
area for Chief Minister A
Revanth Reddy’s corner meet-
ing and roadshow. As the pro-
gramme will be held from Pillar
No. 152 to Pillar No. 121 at
Attapur, police issued restric-
tions for traffic coming from
Aramghar towards
Mehdipatnam, and traffic com-
ing from Mehdipatnam towards
Aramghar. Police requested
very proud. My friends
are proud of me too. The
journey was tough, I
took help from many
people and attributed
this victory to them all.
Chemistry was the
hardest subject, but I
was surprised to have
scored 59 out of 60. To
be honest, Sanskrit was
also very hard since it
was a new subject for
us, but I scored more in
Sanskrit and
Chemistry,” she shared
downloaded from BIE website Congress. Mohd Waliu-
llah Sammer is the presi-
dent of Hyderabad Dist-
done to him. Rahul Gandhi is
going all over the world pre-
tending to do justice but not
himself a great barrister, is
opposed to women's freedom
and safety.
FROM PAGE 1 dential junior colleges rict Congress Committee. ensuring justice to his own “Why did he oppose the
● IN THE INTERIM, stu- saw the highest pass per- The filing of nomina- people because vote bank Centre’s move to give 33 per
Additionally, the board dents can obtain a tem- centage of 86.84 per cent tions for the Lok Sabha politics is important for him. cent reservation to our moth-
offered services for rec- porary memorandum of in the first year and 92.53 polls commenced on The Congress has only ers and sisters,” the Union
ounting and re-verifica- marks from the TSBIE per cent in second year, April 18. But the spread hatred in the name of minister asked.
tion of answer scripts, website, which will while government col- Congress kept the names either caste or religion or Anurag Thakur further
charging `100 for recou- remain valid until the leges saw the pass per- of the candidates for even language. They talk of asked why Owaisi did not
nting and `600 for a official pass certificates centage of 38.21 in the three seats pending till breaking the country into support us on triple talaq.
scanned copy-cum-rever- with marks are issued. first year, and 49.13 per April 24, giving anxious north and south,” he said. The minister added that he is
ification, emphasising cent in the second year. moments to party lead- Anurag Thakur further also not for equal rights to
the board’s commitment load the TS inter 1st and In addition to provid- ers and cadre as the asked why Owaisi, who calls Pasmanda Muslims.
to transparency and fair- 2nd year marks memo ing the results, TSBIE deadline to file nomina-
ness. and keep it as a record partnered with Tele- tions is April 25.

commuters to avoid the routes
and co-operate with traffic
police.
Career Chronicle
excitedly. In the interim, stu- till the pass certificate MANAS (Tele Mental All these three candi-
B. Akshaya Reddy, dents can obtain a tem- (with marks) is supplied Health Assistance and dates filed nomination
another first-year MPC porary memorandum of by the board. Networking across the papers in respective con-

SHAH TO ATTEND
MEDAK MEETING
TODAY
FROM PAGE 1
On April 25, Union home min-
ister Amit Shah will address a
public meeting in Siddipet in
support of his party’s Medak
candidate Raghunandan Rao.
BJP’s Karimnagar candidate
Bandi Sanjay will file his nom-
ination on April 25. He will be
accompanied by Gujarat Chief
Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel
and BJP state president G.
Kishan Reddy. Afterwards,
they will join the party’s can-
student, surpassed her
own expectations by
scoring one mark more -
467 out of 470! “I expect-
ed 466, but I got 467 so
I’m very happy. I have
way too many people to
thank. I want to thank
my faculty for guiding
me, especially my
English and Sanskrit
lecturers who were
available all the time.
Physics, chemistry, and
maths were relatively
easy,” she said.
Saicharan, also in his
ABSOLUTE | JOY
marks from the TSBIE In the inter second States) to support stu- stituencies on Tuesday.
website, which will rem- year exams, 16,198 stu- dents emotionally and The delay was on acc-
dents have been placed psychologically during ount of the Khammam
ain valid until the offi-
cial pass certificates wi- in the compartment cat- the exam and results seat for which there was
th marks are issued. The egory, and eight students period, particularly cru- heavy competition betw-
hard copies of the TSB-
IE memorandum of ma-
have been withheld.
At the district level,
cial in helping students
manage the stress and
een ministers. Deputy
CM Bhatti Vikramarka
rks will not be supplied Rangareddy and Medc- anxiety associated with sought ticket for his wife
separately. Students ha- hal were highlighted as their academic perform- Nandini, revenue minis-
ve been asked to down- top performers. TS Resi- ance. ter Ponguleti Srinivas
Reddy sought for his br-
other Ponguleti Prasad
first year of MPC, “I absolutely did not ly. I was a little worried Reddy and agriculture
achieved a remarkable see this coming, I’d like about my mathematics minister Tummala Nag-
467 out of 470. His feel- to thank my parents and paper and was surprised eshwar Rao sought tick-
ings were a mix of sur- teachers who put a lot of to see I scored full marks et for his son Tummala
prise and satisfaction. effort into me, personal- in it,” Sai Charan said. Yugandhar.
Parents more concerned during kids’ Intermediate phase

Celebrations break out after results

didate Bharat Prasad in filing
his nomination from the Naga-
rkurnool Lok Sabha constit-
uency.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar
Singh Dhami and BJP OBC
morcha president Dr K.
Laxman will be in attendance
when BJP Nizamabad candi-
date Dharmapuri Arvind files
his nomination on April 25.
The party’s Warangal candi-
date Aroori Ramesh will be
joined by BJP state executive
member Eatala Rajender and
state general secretary
Premender Reddy for filing the
nomination. Peddapalli candi-
date Gomasa Srinivas will file
nomination on April 25 accom-
panied by BJP legislature
party leader Maheshwar
Reddy and MLA Hari Babu.
SANJAY SAMUEL
PAUL | DC
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
Parents on Wednesday
broke into celebrations
as their children cleared
their Intermediate exa-
ms with flying colours.
In the IPE system, stu-
dents transition directly
from the structured sch-
ool environment to the
more independent col-
lege life. This transition
often brings about behav-
ioural changes, includ-
ing a shift from the regi-
mented school uniform
to more casual attire.
Typically, most parents
remain concerned about
their children’s academ-
ic pursuits in the Inter-
mediate phase, as they
take up new subject com-
binations, which are dif-
ferent from what they
studied at school level.
It is considered that
this period brings about
greater mental strain for
parents than for the stu-
dents, especially in the
wake of the academic
pressure on today's
● IT IS considered that
this period brings about
greater mental strain for
parents than for the stu-
dents, especially in the
wake of the academic
pressure on today's
teenagers.
teenagers.
Nila Jyothi, a resident
of Alwal, shared her
delight in her daughter’s
achievement, highlight-
ing the dedication she
exhibited by waking up
early to study, alongside
pursuing her passion for approach seemed to have
painting and maintain- paid off, as Achsah’s
ing social connections. achieved commendable
As her daughter's aca- results, without the bur-
demic performance den of unrealistic expec-
holds weight for future tations.
engineering studies, Rachapalli Lakshmi, a
there was undoubtedly a resident of
sense of relief tinged Peerzadiguda, said her
with pride. daughter’s success in the
Similarly, Shara Sheba, Intermediate exams
who resides in KPHB sparked celebrations in
Colony, said she never their household. As the
exerted pressure on her sole daughter, the weight
daughter, Achsah, and of educational expecta-
allowed her to chart out tions only heightened the
her academic journey family's joy at this mile-
independently. This stone.
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 6

Subhani

25 APRIL 2024

Unopposed poll victories

not good for democracy
E
ven though only one phase of the Lok Sabha election is over as yet,
and several phases remain, the Bharatiya Janata Party has won its
first seat — in Surat where its candidate Mukesh Dalal was
declared a winner from the seat, unopposed.
This was rendered inevitable after the Election Commission found the
official nomination paper filed by Nilesh Kumbhani, the Congress candi-
date, and the alternate one he submitted subsequently, both invalid and
declared his candidature void, following which all of the eight other can-
didates in the fray withdrew their nominations. It is neither clear, nor
ascertainable beyond doubt, as to why they did, making the election for the
Surat Lok Sabha seat moot.
Interestingly, the last candidate who withdrew from the electoral fight
was not an Independent but a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate, Pyarelal
Bharati. This has denied the over 16.50 lakh voter of Surat a chance to par-
ticipate as voters in the great festival of democracy.
While the BJP was delighted and congratulated itself, as when its state
party boss C.R. Patil tweeted, “…Surat offered first lotus to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi. Congratulations to Surat Lok Sabha candidate
Mukeshbhai Dalal for being elected unop-

Can dialogue, diplomacy

A few weeks ago, in posed”, no one gave any thought to the voters
the Arunachal whose fingers won’t be inked this time. The rest LETTERS
Pradesh Assembly of Gujarat would go to polls only as part of
polls, too, the BJP Phase III.
While it is a rare if not a black swan event for
EC EXAMINES
won 10 Assembly anyone to win a Lok Sabha seat uncontested, After repeated complaints
seats without a the trend of several candidates winning in other

be effective in Mideast?
filed by the Congress, the
contest, when on elections without any polling is not unheard of. Election Commission of
March 30 the Historically, while this was found to happen in India is still in a process of
the early phase of democracy, with 10 of the 23
Election Commission candidates ever elected to Lok Sabha since examining the
declared them Independence happening in the elections in the Israel should look at should include the “with-
winners 1950s, this is still the first time a BJP leader got drawal of Israeli armed speeches/videos (EC
India’s speedy,
elected unopposed to the Lower House.
A few weeks ago, in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly polls, too, the BJP
Sunanda K. voluntary and total
forces from territories
occupied in the recent
examining Modi speech,
won 10 Assembly seats without a contest, when on March 30 the Election Datta-Ray withdrawal from conflict”; and “termina-
April 24). It’s like “blowing
a conch in a deaf man’s
Commission declared them winners. Interestingly, the all-time single Bangladesh tion of all claims or states

Reflections
Assembly record for maximum winners without an election is held by the of belligerency and ear” in his case.
Congress Party in Arunachal, when its 11 candidates won a decade ago.
immediately after respect for and acknowl-
This time, the unopposed winners included Chief Minister Pema an incomparably edgment of the sovereign- Jyothi David Raj
Khandu, deputy CM Chowna Mein and eight other MLA candidates. complete victory, ty, territorial integrity Hyderabad
Again, CM Khandu celebrated the event attributing it to “…because of and similarly and political indepen-

I
people’s love and trust in #ModiKiGuarantee and our dedication in ensur- t’s ironical that
ing all-round development of the state”. Israel’s greatest out-
Thankfully, there were elections to the remaining 50 seats of the 60-mem- rages in West Asia
ber state Assembly, and the two Lok Sabha seats. — setting for the
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was critical of the Surat development, say- last stand of white
ing, “…taking away rights of people to elect a leader is another step supremacism — should
towards ending the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Ambedkar”. also appear to hold the
Sadly, not many people reacted with rightful consternation to the grow- promise of a solution to
ing trend of having elections without voting. It is time the Election the “Nakba” (catastro-
Commission and lawmakers make it mandatory for polls to be held, if only
six months later, in such circumstances.
phe) of 76 years ago when
European Jewish settlers
drove some 800,000
Palestinian Arabs out of
in Hamas captivity in
Gaza. None of this can be
excused. But so far, as the
bigger picture is con-
cerned, it is abundantly
clear that left to its own
devices, European Israel
will never grant Asiatic
Palestinians their free-
dom. Nor will Israel will-
ingly honour any of the
pious resolutions passed
by the United Nations
gratuitous release
of 93,000 Pak PoWs
the Sinai Peninsula and
Gaza Strip from Egypt,
Jordan’s West Bank and
the Old City of
Jerusalem, and Syria’s
Golan Heights. The sta-
tus of these territories
has since been both a
dence of every state in
the area and their right
to live in peace within
secure and recognised
boundaries free from
threats or acts of force”.
These stipulations
deserve respect if the
rule of law is to prevail
and not jungle law. Given
the reality of great power
politics, an American
President may not be
The way democracy is being throt-
tled is unfortunate by the speeches
of BJP leaders with provocative
comments to dilute the minds of
innocent public to conceal its fail-
ures and false promises.
Abdul Mateen
Hyderabad
NEHRU’S POLICY
It looks foreign minister S.
Jaishankar, to please Prime

Kids on flights: Welcome move the only homes they had

ever known. Whether
that promise will ever be
General Assembly.
As for the October 7
raid, the UN’s envoy on
major point of contention
in the Arab-Israeli con-
flict as well as a pointer
expected to declare, as
China’s representative,
Ma Xinmin, did at the
Minister Narendra Modi, has start-
ed criticising former prime minis-
ter late Jawaharlal Nehru on
International Court of

I
ndia’s national civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil realised depends on the sex crimes during con- to a possible territorial Indian foreign policy after
Aviation (DGCA) has made it mandatory for airlines to allot a seat for United States of America flict presented a 24-page solution. Justice, that: “In pursuit Independence (Jaishankar con-
children aged below 12 years next to the one of their parents without heeding Prime Minister report indicating that The war, which added a of the right to self-deter- demns Nehru’s foreign policies,
any extra payment as part of preferential seating. Narendra Modi’s enig- rape and gangrape had million second-class Ar- mination, the Palestinian April 24). He is forgetting that the
On May 2, 2013, the aviation regulator unbundled some services, which matic warning that “this likely occurred during abs to Israel’s population, people’s use of force to foreign policy of the country
are considered not essential for every passenger, to make the air travel is not an era of war, but the onslaught with “clear began in November 1966 resist foreign oppression changes from time to time as per
affordable. Ever since, the regulator has amended its regulations on it’s one of dialogue and and convincing” evi- with an Israeli strike on and complete the estab- the need and situation in favour of
unbundled services eight times — the latest diplomacy”. dence showing that the village of Al-Samu in lishment of an indepen- the country.
The DGCA has being on April 23, 2024. When Modi said that in hostages were raped the Jordanian West Bank dent state is (an) inalien- T. Kailash Ditya
amended rules to In all previous regulations on unbundled ser- June 2023, a gleeful while being held in Gaza. that left 18 people dead able right well founded in Hyderabad
make airlines ensure vices, the passenger was supposed to pay an Western media swiftly Those held captive still and 54 wounded, followed international law”. But
that children up to extra fee which is in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 600
per ticket for getting preferential seats. If the
concluded that he was
ticking off Russia’s Presi-
face such abuse. Not
unexpectedly, Israel ac-
by an air battle with
Syria in April 1967 when
he brings dishonour on
himself by saying, as CHESS CHEER
the age of 12 years passenger does not opt for the preferential seat- dent Vladimir Putin for cused the UN of playing the Israelis shot down six Richard Visek, the US Take a bow Dommaraju Gukesh for
are allocated seats ing arrangement, all members of a family may invading Ukraine. Per- down Hamas’ atrocities Syrian MiG fighters. state department’s acting being the youngest winner of FIDE
alongside a parent not be given adjacent seats. As this rule did not haps he was. If so, howev- and dragging its feet on Although Soviet intelli- legal adviser, did, also to Candidates Tournament (Chess
er, increasingly grim ref- looking into the allega- gence reports indicating the ICJ, that: “The court
travelling on the exempt children travelling with their parents,
it led to the instances of passengers expressing erences to a third world tions — something that that Israel was planning should not find that
cheer for India, April 24). Kudos to
Koneru Humpy and R. Vaishali as
same PNR without their disappointment with airlines and regula- war looming ahead rem- the UN Secretary-Gen- a campaign against Syria Israel is legally obligated well for their sterling performance
the payment of an tors. Responding to these complaints, DGCA ind us ten months later eral swiftly denied. turned out to be inaccu- to immediately and ending up as joint second in the
extra fee has amended rules to make airlines ensure that that the catchy comment While Hamas’ brutality rate, the information fur- unconditionally with- tournament. India has now
children up to the age of 12 years are allocated has had absolutely no cannot be condoned, it ther heightened tensions draw from occupied ter- emerged as a new powerhouse in
seats alongside one of their parents/guardians who are travelling on the impact on Russian mili- did not start the war. The between Israel and its ritory”. international chess. Hope the
same PNR without the payment of an extra fee for preferential seating. tarism. But “dialogue occurrences of October 7, Arab neighbours. Visek should look at media encourages other sports too
While this amendment is welcome and logical in nature, it is surprising and diplomacy” can horrible though they The silver lining was India’s speedy, voluntary as much as cricket.
that aviation authorities took so long — 11 years to be precise — to realise prove effective in West were, were only another that the Six-Day War led and total withdrawal B.T. Kumar
this basic requirement of children and their parents/guardians. It high- Asia if the United States episode in a continuing on November 22, 1967 to from Bangladesh imme- Hyderabad
lights how much Indian bureaucrats are unaware about the functioning of is able to rise above its horror story that began the UN’s unanimous diately after an incompa-
the real world, which does not share the privileges that babudom enjoys. Israel-right-or-wrong with the “Nakba”. There Security Council rably complete victory, Email your letters to
This incident must make the government ensure that civil servants — blindness and accept that was another brutal Resolution 242 which and similarly gratuitous
even after getting promoted to ranks above district collector — work in the while Asian parties like episode on February 29, started a peace process to release of 93,000 info@deccanmail.com,
field with people at regular intervals so that they are in tune with fast- Iran, Iraq, Syria, Hamas 2024, when Israeli forces which even Israeli Prime Pakistani prisoners of editor@deccanmail.com.
changing India. and Hezbollah may be killed more than a hun- Minister Benjamin war. As for comparisons

part of the “evil empire”,
DECCAN CHRONICLE innocent Palestinians
are victims of a vicious
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR genocide by whites.
Editor Printer & Publisher Israel’s colonisation of
the Gaza Strip and the
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: West Bank is the main
threat today to global
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256
Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866-2555284. peace and stability. More
Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, than 34,000 Palestinians
Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 have been killed and
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- another 77,000 wounded
2417208 in Gaza since October 7
Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: when Hamas, admittedly
08554-276904 terrorist in its opera-
Karimnagar: H. No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karimnagar-505186, PH.
tions, however patriotic
NO. 9121181123.
Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore, Ph: its original motivation,
0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 raided southern Israel.
Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51; The death toll from that
Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 grim night stands at
Coimbatore: Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O Colony Post, 1,139, while dozens of
Kurudampalayam village - 641 022 Israeli hostages are still
dred Palestinians and
wounded more than 700
while flour was being dis-
tributed in Gaza City.
Having shot down hun-
gry refugees, Israel sent
its tanks to crush the bod-
ies of the dead and the liv-
ing in a straightforward
massacre.
Earlier, the world wit-
nessed what is called
“Naksa”, meaning the
defeat and setback the
Palestinians suffered in
1967 when an additional
300,000 of them were eth-
nically cleansed. As a
result of this decisive Six-
Day War (June 5-10, 1967,
the third between Arabs
and Israel), Israel seized
Netanyahu paid lip ser-
vice initially. There have
been references to
“unconditional negotia-
tions”, Arab guarantees
that Israel’s borders
should be “secure” and
peace treaties covering
all the parties.
Resolution 242 recognis-
es the “inadmissibility of
the acquisition of territo-
ry by war and the need to
work for a just and last-
ing peace… in which
every state in the area
can live in security”. It
“affirms that the fulfil-
ment of UN Charter prin-
ciples requires the estab-
lishment of a just and
lasting peace” … which
with the Good Friday
Agreement of April 10,
1998, ending 30 years of
conflict in Northern
Ireland, the difference is
that all the Irish players
were white.
Not only is Israel a
flourishing technological
hub, one of the world’s
largest weapons expor-
ters, and the recipient of
billions of US dollars, but
its white Jews are pitted
against coloured Asians
in what one hopes will be
the last stand of white
supremacism.
The writer is a senior
journalist, columnist and
author
50
YEARS AGO IN
Sadat escapes
Unhurt
BEIRUT (Lebanon), April 24.
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
escaped unharmed but shaken
from an attempted assassination
in a Cairo suburb last week, the
Beirut newspaper Al Anwar
reported. Quoting reliable Arab
sources, the pro-Egyptian newspa-
per said the attempt took place at 4
pm on Thursday when a motor-
cade carrying the 52-year-old
leader came under fire.

I
n the middle of the Lok Sabha elections
frenzy, the Haryana government finds
itself tangled in a peculiar accusation of
discriminatory practices and bureau-
Dilip Cherian cratic tangles. Y. Puran Kumar, a senior IPS
officer with a knack for details, has written a
Chief Secretary to investigate the murky
world of staff cars and operational vehicles,
hoping to unravel the mystery behind the
“wheels of fortune”. However, he may have
got the timing wrong, with the senior mem-
bers of the state administration more con-
United Nations couldn’t be more grateful,
expressing their thanks to all the member
states who had our back and threw their sup-
port behind India’s nominee. Pavadia report-
edly received the highest number of votes
among all the 15 candidates for this position.
Suman Billa assuming responsibilities in the
ministry of tourism, and Aradhana Patnail
joining the department of health and family
welfare, there is a clear emphasis on enhanc-
ing efficiency and effectiveness in critical
sectors.

Dilli Ka Babu
whimsical complaint to Chief Secretary
T.V.S.N. Prasad. His lament? The rather lack-
lustre car he has been allotted.
It’s a tale as old as time, Puran Kumar is
upset that while his counterparts and peers
cerned with the elections than an aggrieved
babu nervous about his status.
RETIRED IRS OFFICER RE-ELECTED TO
PRESTIGIOUS INCB, GETS THIRD TERM
Her victory ensures that Pavadia will get an
unprecedented third term on the prestigious
board.
Meanwhile, in another win, India was re-
elected to the executive board of the UN’s
Additionally, the in-situ upgradation of offi-
cers like Hemani Pande and Kamal Kishore
Soan further underscores the government's
commitment to optimising administrative
capacities.

Wheels of wrath: zip around in shiny new Innovas, he’s been

handed the keys to a relic — a seven-year-old
Honda City — with more character than reli-
IPS officer in ability.
Now, in a profession governed by strict pro-
tocols and meticulously crafted rules, the
choice of official transportation holds more
This bit of good news seems to have got lost in
the heat and dust of the poll fray. It is now
certain that retired IRS officer Jagjit Pavadia
is going to keep her seat on the International
Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for another
term. She has been re-elected for the 2025-2030
stint, and it appears like she has many back-
World Food Programme (WFP) for another
three years, 2025-2027.
SENIOR IAS APPOINTMENTS SIGNAL
FOCUS BEYOND ELECTIONS
The government may be focused on the cur-
rently underway Lok Sabha elections, but the
These appointments bring fresh perspec-
tives and signify a proactive approach to gov-
ernance. Readers will recall that just before
the announcement of elections and hitting
the poll trail, Prime Minister Modi had
“instructed” babus to prepare and be ready
with a 100-day programme, to be implement-

Haryana has an worth than one might think. The choice of

car becomes a symbol of status and prestige.
And it is here that Puran Kumar feels short-
ers in the United Nations Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC), and back home. In
fact, external affairs minister S Jaishankar
government's business continues. The recent
appointment of senior IAS officers to addi-
tional secretary positions reflects the govern-
ed once his government is re-elected.
Overconfidence? Perhaps, but this drive to
look ahead and keep pushing has been a hall-

odd complaint changed. He accuses the system of playing

favourites. Barely two weeks after parting
ways with his previous official ride, he wrote
to the Sarkar alleging favouritism and selec-
was quick to spread the good news on social
media, letting everyone know about
Pavadia’s victory in the Big Apple. Former
permanent representative of India at the UN,
ment’s aim to restructure the bureaucracy
and bolster key departments with experi-
enced leadership.
With Rakesh Kumar Verma taking charge
mark of the Modi Sarkar.

Love them, hate them ignore them at

national peril, is the babu guarantee and
tive distribution among the IPS elite. Syed Akbaruddin, also tweeted in the department of water resources, river Dilip’s belief. Share significant babu
The aggrieved IPS officer has implored the The Permanent Mission of India to the development and Ganga rejuvenation, escapades dilipcherian@hotmail.com.
 STATE/NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 7

SHORT

BJP IS BOGUS
TAKES
JANATA PARTY,
SAYS UDDHAV
Chhatrapati,
Uddhav
April
Thackeray
24:
on
Wednesday hit back at BJP
and dubbed it a “Bogus”
Janata Party, days after the
ruling party termed the Shiv
Sena (UBT) led by him as a
“nakli” (fake) Sena.
Campaigning for Maha Vikas
Aghadi (MVA) candidates in
Marathwada region, Thack-
eray raked up the Adarsh
Housing Society scam to target
the BJP over the induction of
former Congress leader Ashok
Chavan into the party fold.
“The ruling party has also
become a part of the multi-
crore Adarsh Housing Society
scam,” he said.
ENCOUNTER
WB moves SC against Chandrayaan-3 success energised
space-related disciplines: Isro chief
HC’s SSC scam order Kolkata, April 24: Indian
Space Research Organisation
(Isro) chairman S. Somanath
has said the essence of
Didi tries to distance self from recruitment scandal Chandrayaan-3
beyond a mere call to
extends
RAJIB embrace space studies; it
CHOWDHURI | DC urges participation in the
KOLKATA, APRIL 24 broader realms of engineer-
ing and science, fostering a
As Trinamul Congress dynamic scientific communi-
government on Wedne- ty.
sday moved the Supr- Somanath highlighted the
eme Court to challenge importance of cultivating a
the Calcutta high court's scientific pool that not only
judgment cancelling the fuels space exploration but
jobs of 25,753 West also explores diverse indus-
Bengal school education trial avenues.
department employees He underscored that
over “fraudulence” in Chandrayaan-3’s signifi-
their recruitment, Chief cance lies in catalysing inter-
Minister Mamata Bane- est not only in space research
rjee tried to distance but also in science and tech-
herself from the monu-
mental scam under her
nology domains, attracting
the younger generation by
● Isro’s EVOLVING role from
space exploration to estab-
lishing a robust manufactur-
ing base, poised to cater to
the global market demands,
says Isro chief
S. Somanath.
mathematics, and cutting-
edge technologies like elec-
tronics, he added.
“We have to attract the
young generation and tell
them about the challenges in
science and engineering and
improvement in working
environment. The success
and enthusiam in moon mis-
sion brought that excite-
ment,” he said.
“We are very good in the IT
sector and continue to be one
of the leading employers, but
now we have started elec-
moon mission’s ripple
effects, foreseeing increased
interest in AI, robotics, IoT
applications in agriculture,
remote sensing for crop
insurance, telecom equip-
ment manufacturing, med-
ical technical instrument
production, among others.
He noted Isro’s evolving
role from space exploration
to establishing a robust man-
ufacturing base, poised to
cater to the global market
demands.
Speaking about collabora-
tions with other space agen-
cies, said Isro is building a
joint satellite Nisar (Nasa-
Isro Synthetic Aperture
Radar). “An international
space station is coming up
with other nations as part-
ners,” he said, adding Isro is
tying up with European

UNDERWAY IN rule. During the day, the

School Service Commi-
presenting the challenges
and advancements in these
tronics. If you are looking
into electronics industries,
Space
Germany and
Agency, Japan,
Australia

J&K’S BANDIPORA
Srinagar, April 24:
Helicopters were pressed into
service for aerial surveillance
of hiding terrorists after an
encounter broke out between
security forces and ultras in
Jammu and Kashmir's Band-
ipora district on Wednesday,
officials said. “A contact was
established between #terror-
ists and security forces in the
early morning in Renji forest
area of Aragam, #Bandipora,”
Kashmir Zone Police said on
X. Officials said there are no
reports of any casualty so far
on either side. The Army has
pressed helicopters into serv-
ice for aerial surveillance to
prevent the terrorists from
fleeing, the officials said.
They said a massive search
operation is underway and fur-
ther details are awaited.
67 SUSPECTS
ssion (SSC), which recr-
uited candidates, includ-
ing teaching and non-
teaching staff, in 2016,
filed a special leave peti-
tion at the SC against
the order of the HC divi-
sion bench.
SSC chairman Siddha-
rtha Majumdar said,
“There have been allega-
tions against 5,000 can-
didates of illegally get-
ting jobs. But why sh-
ould nearly 26,000 candi-
dates lose jobs for that?”
The CM later raised
the issue at a Lok Sabha
rally in Burdwan East
while campaigning in
support of Bolpur TMC
candidate Asit Mal. She
claimed: “It is the deci-
sion of a concerned de-
partment how it recruits
employees. I do not int-
erfere with it. But nearly
26,000 employees were
terminated from their
jobs. They were asked to
TMC candidate Mahua Moitra during her campaign for Lok Sabha elections, in
Krishnanagar on Wednesday.
● NCW CONDEMNS con-
troversial remark by
TMC MP Abhishek Ban-
erjee against BJP leader
Sreerupa Mitra.
Where will these 26,000
people go? Will the scho-
ols in Bengal go for clo-
sure? Won’t teachers’ re-
cruitment happen fur-
ther?” She added: “I still
have 10 lakh govern-
ment jobs to offer. But
court is stalling them if
any appeal is filed. It is a
big pilgrimage for BJP
leaders. If they file a
PIL, they get what they
ask for. But if others
pray for justice, the door
is closed for them.”
Meanwhile, amid the
din of campaigning for
fields. we are not looking at the top. for the purpose.”
The success of the moon We are supplier of systems. Additionally, he highlight-
mission has not only ener- But not creator of hardware ed Isro’s contributions to cli-
gised space-related disci- systems. Slowly that is com- mate monitoring, weather
— PTI plines, but also opened ing in,” he said. forecasting, agriculture and
avenues in engineering, Somanath envisioned the cartography. — PTI
4K teachers protest LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?
over court verdict We have it for you
Kolkata, April 23:
Around 4,000 people,
decision.” Azharuddin
Rocky, a spokesperson of DECCAN
whose teaching appoint-
ments have been
the retrenched teachers,
told reporters, “We lost
CHRONICLE
declared null and void our jobs for no fault of
by the Calcutta High ours. We had qualified
Court due to irregulari- for the exams based on
ties in the recruitment our merit and cleared
process, on Tuesday the written test and viva
demonstrated at Shahid voce. After appoint-
Minar Ground in ment, we have taken
Kolkata. classes and no fingers
A five-member delega- were raised at us at our
tion of those who lost workplace all these
their jobs also met offi-
cials of the West Bengal
years.” “If around 5,000
candidates had alleged-

DETAINED OVER return their salaries wi-

th interest. I felt bad
the ongoing LS polls, the
National Commission
Board of Secondary
Education at its head-
ly taken recourse to
unfair means as stated

RAJOURI KILLING
Jammu, April 24: As many as
67 suspected people were
detained for questioning in
connection with the killing of
a civilian by two Lashkar-e-
Taiba (LeT) terrorists in a vil-
lage in Rajouri district of
Jammu and Kashmir, police
said on Wednesday.
During investigations, credi-
ble evidence was obtained and
the police identified one of the
two terrorists involved in com-
mitting this act as a foreign
terrorist with code name Abu
Hamza, the officials said.
Police further released the
pictures of Hamza and
announced a cash reward of
`10 lakh on him, they said.
RETIRED JAWAN
ARRESTED WITH
ILLEGAL ARMS
Kaushambi (UP), April 24:
Two children drowned while
playing near a pond here,
police said on Wednesday.
SP Brijesh Kumar Srivastava
said the incident occurred on
Tuesday evening when Aryan
(8) was playing with his cousin
Shivani (6) around a pond near
their home in Rahimpur
Maulani village in the Karari
police station area.
While playing, Shivani
slipped and drowned in the
pond.
In an attempt to save her,
Aryan jumped into the pond
and drowned, the SP said.
The family, with the help of
the locals, fished out the bod-
ies and rushed them to a hos-
pital where the doctors
declared them dead on arrival,
he said.
The bodies have been sent for
post-mortem, he added.
about it.”
She alleged: “I am ask-
ing those BJP leaders,
who are snatching jobs
like this, whether they
will be able to return sa-
laries of their entire go-
vernment service if
they were told similarly.
Court is only clearing
doubts: Justice Khanna
FROM PAGE 1
“If there is something to
improve, we can certain-
ly improve. Courts inter-
vened twice. Once, when
we said VVPAT should
be mandatory. Second
time, when we increased
from one to five (ran-
domly selected polling
booths per Assembly
constituency for the pur-
pose of counting VVPAT
trails). This is not a
rehearing but only for
clearing out doubts,”
Justice Khanna said.
The poll panel official
clarified that all three
units —ballot units,
VVPAT and the chip —
have their own micro
controllers. These micro
controllers are housed
in secured unauthorised
access detection mod-
ules and it cannot be
accessed.
All the micro con-
trollers are one time pro-
grammable. It is burned
when inserted and can-
not be changed. After
the counting, all
machines are stored for
45 days, on 46th day, we
write to the respective
for Women has condem- quarters and discussed in the CBI probe, why
ned a controversial rem- the situation. should we be vic-
ark by TMC MP Abhi- A board official said, timised?” he asked.The
shek Banerjee against “The meeting lasted for bench cancelled 25,753
Malda South BJP candi- over two hours. We appointments of teach-
date Sreerupa Mitra heard their issues. We ing and non-teaching
Choudhury and sought a are sympathetic to their staffers of the State
report from the state situation. But we have to Level Selection Test
DGP within four days. abide by the high court's (SLST), 2016. — PTI
FINAL VERDICT
● The SC says the Constitution intended
to bring about a “sense of social trans-
formation” and it would be “danger-
ous” to say that the private property
of an individual cannot be regarded as material
resources of community and taken over by state
authorities to subserve “common good”.
● Dealing with pleas includ- ● Former Jharkhand
ing those on culling stray Chief Minister
dogs, the SC said it was not
Hemant Soren
shying away from handling moved the SC say-
issues related to orders ing the high court is
passed by various civic not pronouncing
bodies regarding untamed verdict on his plea
canines, especially in challenging arrest
Kerala and Mumbai, but by the Enforcement
will not allow the scope of Directorate in a
the matter under consider- money
ation to be expanded.
laun-
● The SC stayed the con- dering
struction of four proposed case.
dams inside Kalesar
Wildlife Sanctuary in
Haryana's Yamunanagar
district.
high court registrar and the polling data so it is
on receiving response, sealed. During commis-
we then do the needful, sioning, all three units
Vyas told the bench. are also sealed with a
The control unit stores pink seal.

Revanth takes oath to waive loans

FROM PAGE 1
The TPCC chief also said
that the Congress govern-
ment will complete the
Outer Ring Road works
along with establishing an
airport built with interna-
tional standards at Mamn-
oor. “Warangal will be dev-
eloped on all fronts so that
not only the entire north
Telangana region but the
nation should get sur-
prised. I myself will come
to Warangal and by sitting
in the chair take the respon-
sibility to transform
Warangal into an interna-
tional city like that of
Hyderabad,” he assured.
Revanth came heavily
against BRS chief K.
Chandrasekhar Rao and his
nephew former minister T.
Harish Rao. He alleged that
both mama (uncle) and
alludu (nephew) are still
thinking that they are in
power. “Being the leader of
the opposition, Chandras-
hekhar Rao never came to
the Assembly, but by sitting
in a media channel office
for four hours, he also
boasted about Kaleshw-
aram project works.
“Chandrashekhar Rao
might have designed the
Kaleshwaram project after
drinking alcohol. That is
why it collapsed within a
year. If he had guts and was
confident that the project
that he constructed was
wonderful, he must come
for a discussion on the qual-
ity of it,” Revanth said.
Revanth also took oath on
Lord Shiva of Ramappa
temple and Thousand Pi-
llars temple along with
Sammakka and Saralamma
and promised that he will
waive off `2 lakh farm
loans by August 15.
After fulfilling the prom-
ise on August 15, Revanth
Reddy said he will take care
of both mama KCR and
alludu Harish Rao.
He also came down heavi-
ly against BJP and the PM
Narendra Modi. He alleged
that Modi promised the
farmers that he will stop
farmer’s suicide by increas-
ing their income, but in the
past 10 years of his ruling
neither he stopped farmer
committing from suicide
nor increased their income,
instead increased the prices
of gas cylinders, petrol and
diesel along with daily com-
modities and increased the
burden on poor and middle
class people. “By not allo-
cating the Bayyaram steel
factory and shifting Kazipet
railway coach factory to the
Maharashtra state, Modi
did a lot of injustice to the
people of Telangana state,”
he said. “The BJP is trying
to create disputes among
the people in the name of
communities and religions.
The party has gone mad
about religious feeling and
trying to gain political
mileage by utilising the fes-
tivals like Rama Navami
and Hanuman Jayanti for-
getting that gods must be in
the temples but devotion
must be in the heart of the
people,” he added.
Revanth said BJP MP can-
didate Aroori Ramesh wa-
nts to fool people by chang-
ing his shirt colour from
pink to saffron. He forgot
that the people had taught a
fitting lesson to him in the
recently held Assembly
polls. He also gave clarity
about Station Ghanpur
MLA Kadiam Srihari join-
ing the Congress. He said he
himself had invited Srihari
into the party by sending
Congress leaders to his hou-
se. “The people of Warangal
must think wisely and de-
cide whom they want to see
as their MP — an educated
person like Dr Kadiam
Kavya who can fight on
public issues in Parliament
or “anaconda” Aroori Ram-
esh who will try to grab all
the remaining lands of the
people,” he appealed.
cmyk cmyk

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024 pg 8

 LOK SABHA
2024
GENERAL ELECTIONS
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
SHORT TAKES
BJP HAS AN EDGE
OVER CONGRESS
IN SECOND PHASE
MANOJ ANAND | DC
GUWAHATI, APRIL 24
With electioneering for the
second phase of polling com-
ing to an end on Wednesday,
the focus will be on Muslim
voters who have sizeable pres-
ence on at least three out of
five Lok Sabha seats going to
polls on Friday in Assam.
If BJP is largely banking on
division of Muslim votes, the
Congress has been appealing
to Muslim voters to go for
strategic polling to defeat the
saffron party. The polling will
be held in the five constituen-
cies —Karimganj, Silchar (bo-
th in southern Assam’s Be-
ngali-majority Barak Valley),
Nagaon, Darrang-Udalguri
and Diphu. Nagaon is held by
the Congress while the others
are with the BJP. Except Diphu
which is reserved for Sche-
duled Tribes, all the other four
constituencies have the pres-
ence of sizeable Bengali-spea-
king Muslim voters.
MUSLIM LEADER
EXPELLED FOR
CRITICISING PM
Jaipur, April 24: Bikaner BJP
Minority Morcha district pres-
ident Usman Ghani, who
expressed displeasure with
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's recent remarks in
Rajasthan, was on Wednesday
expelled from the party for
“tarnishing” its image.
Ghani, while talking to a
news channel, said that the
party was going to lose three-
four Lok Sabha seats out of 25
seats.
He also condemned Modi’s
remarks made regarding
Muslims during election ral-
lies in the state.
BJP state disciplinary com-
mittee chairman Onkar Singh
Lakhawat said here that an
attempt was made by Usman
Ghani to “tarnish” the image
of BJP in the media.
“The party took cognizance
of the act of Usman Ghani to
tarnish the image of the BJP
and expelled him from the pri-
mary membership of the party
for six years, considering it a
breach of discipline,”
Lakhawat said.
CONG. CAMPAIGNS
AGAINST OWN
CANDIDATE IN RAJ.
Banswara, April 24: A pecu-
liar poll battle is on the cards
in the tribal-dominated
Banswara-Dungarpur Lok
Sabha constituency in
Rajasthan where the Congress
is appealing to the people not
to vote for its candidate.
The reason: After much flip-
flop, the Congress decided to
support Bharat Adivasi Party
(BAP) candidate Rajkumar
Roat — a day before the last
date of withdrawal of nomina-
tions — despite fielding its
own candidate Arvind Damor.
In accordance with the
party's announcement to sup-
port the BAP, Damor was sup-
posed to withdraw his nomina-
tion papers but he was
nowhere to be seen till the last
date of withdrawal of nomina-
tions was over.
Later, appearing before the
media, Damor feigned igno-
rance about the developments
and declared that he would
contest the election.
VOTERS OFFERED
DEMOCRACY
DISCOUNTS
Noida, April 24: Restaurants
and hospitals in Noida and
Greater Noida are offering dis-
counts on their services to citi-
zens who exercise their right
to vote for the Lok Sabha elec-
tion here on April 26.
While restaurants are offer-
ing up to 20 per cent discount
on bills, hospitals are offering
free full body check up to vot-
ers, they said.
The private initiatives are
aimed at encouraging citizens
to cast their votes during the
polls to elect their representa-
tive in Parliament from
Gautam Buddh Nagar con-
stituency.
National Restaurants
Association of India (NRAI)
has exhorted member compa-
nies for the initiative, which
has seen about two dozen
restaurants in the constituen-
cy coming on board till
Wednesday. The initiative is
called “Democracy Discount”
and voters who show proof of
voting can avail up to 20 per
cent discount at these restau-
rants on April 26 and 27.
“The idea is to encourage cit-
izens for more voter turnout,”
Varun Khera, the Uttar
Pradesh unit head of NRAI,
said.
Prices of petrol, diesel and other
essential commodities have risen
exponentially in the last 10
years of the BJP’s rule.
— PRIYANKA GANDHI, INC leader
I.N.D.I.A. mulls one year, Campaigning ends for
one PM formula: Modi phase 2 of LS elections
Slams Oppn for not finalising PM face if coalition wins
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY | DC
BHOPAL, APRIL 24
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Wednesday said
that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc is
mulling ‘one year, one PM
formula’ to settle its PM
candidate issue.
Addressing an election
rally in Betul in Madhya
Pradesh, Modi said that
the BJP has already
declared “Modi” as its PM
candidate, whereas
I.N.D.I.A. bloc has yet to
settle the issue over who
will be their PM if the
coalition comes to power.
“Some media reports
suggest that the coalition
partners are discussing
who will become the
Prime Minister after their
victory. It is said that these
people are now thinking
about the ‘one year, one
PM formula’”, Modi said.
“Their intention now is
to wrestle for the PM’s
chair. One will sit on top,
while four people pull the
chair’s legs together”, he
said sarcastically.
Modi hit out at Congress,
saying that the party
planned to implement
reservation on the basis of
religion in the country
after making similar pro-
vision in Karnataka.
He said that the
Congress government in
Karnataka has introduced
reservation on the basis of
religion which is against
the spirit
Constitution.
of
The Karnataka govern-
the
ment also included all the
Muslim castes in the other
backward class (OBC) cat-
egory which is illegal.
“Today, a truth of the
Congress has come to the
fore that stunned every-
one. Our Constitution pro-
hibits providing reserva-
tion based on religion.
Congress is preparing to
cut the quota of ST-SC-
OBC by 15 percent and
then apply reservation
based on religion”, he
said. This would hurt the
SC, ST and OBC, he added.
Modi gave indications on
the political future of for-
mer chief minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
saying that he wanted to
take him to the Centre.
Cong. protected terrorism: Shah
Alappuzha (Kerala),
April 24: Senior BJP
leader and Union Home
Minister Amit Shah on
Wednesday attacked the
Congress and the ruling
Left in Kerala, accusing
them of protecting terror-
ism in the state and taking
the support of a banned
organisation, Popular
Front of India, to win in
the LS polls. Shah alleged
that during the rule of the
CPI(M)-led LDF and the
Congress-led UDF in Ke-
rala over the years, terror-
ism was protected in the
state. He further alleged
that to garner favour from
minority vote-banks in the
state, both the Left and the
Congress worked to sup-
port the PFI.
Presently, the Social
Democratic Party of India
(SDPI), political wing of
PFI, has openly pro-
claimed its support for the
Congress-led UDF
Kerala and the LDF was
in
WAR OF WORDS
The future of I.N.D.I.A. bloc
depends, to a large extent, on the
performance of his party in West
Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP
will be astonished to see the results on
June 4, and a democratic and secular
government will be established in Delhi.
— Abhishek Banerjee, TMC leader
The country’s farmers,
poor, youth and minority
communities are standing together
against the BJP and will ensure its
defeat in the Lok Sabha polls,
— Akhilesh Yadav, SP chief
Congress will conduct a survey
of people’s properties and then
distribute it. They are making the
caste census its basis, the chief
minister said, claiming that the
Congress has expressed such an
intention in its manifesto.
Congress’s intention has always
been to gain power by any means.
They want power at the expense of the country. For
this, they will bring in Talibani tendencies in India that
will cause barbaric atrocities of women.
— Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Oppn leaders only want to
work for the betterment of
their families and they
shelter corrupt politicians.
— J.P. NADDA, BJP leader
1 2
3 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Cong.’s quota planning
on religion basis: PM
FROM PAGE 1 bank-hungry Congress
never bothered about the
Taking a dig at the words of the great person-
Congress for “planning” alities, the sanctity of the
to implement reservations Constitution or the words
on the basis of religion, of Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Modi called it a Muslim Years ago, the Congress
League mindset. “Today,
when I have come to
Surguja, I want to present
the Muslim League mind-
made an attempt to imple-
ment reservations on the
basis of religion in
Andhra Pradesh. There-
set of the Congress in
front of the country. When
their manifesto was
released, on the same day
after, the Congress had
planned to implement it in
the entire country,” he
said. Modi said that the
I had said and am saying Congress plans to imple-
today also, that the ment 15 per cent reserva-
Congress manifesto has tion on the basis of reli-
the imprint of the Muslim gion by curtailing the quo-
League,” he said. tas of scheduled castes,
Modi maintained that scheduled tribes and
when the Constitution other backward classes.
was being drafted, intel- The Congress had made
lectuals and great person- similar pledges in its 2009
alities under the leader- election and in the 2014
ship of Babasaheb Amb- manifestos and had
edkar decided that there pledged not to leave the
will be no reservation on issue, Modi said, Congress
the basis of religion in
India. “If there is a reser-
would curtail reservation
quotas for scheduled cas-
vation, then it will be for tes, scheduled tribes and
my dalit and tribal broth- other backward classes to
ers and sisters,” he said, implement reservation on
adding, “But the vote- the basis of religion.
KERALA
LOK SABHA POLLS
20
SEATS
CONG CPM
IUML KC(M) OTHERS
37.5%
15
5.5%
VOTE SHARE
VOTE SHARE
26.0%
2019
2014
2019
2.1%
28.9%
2
1
1
1
2019 SWING FACTOR
SEATS
+7
2014
-5
0 within 8 months of assu-
0
-5 5 -10
-4 0 OTH
CONG IUML KC(M) -10 10
-3 CONG
CPM
+6.0%
silent on the ban on PFI, the Welfare Party of India
the senior BJP leader
alleged. Shah further
— a political outfit backed
by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
claimed that the Congress
also enjoys the support of
— while the Left has the
backing of the Peoples
PEOPLE’S | VOICE
GST emerges as major poll issue for traders
Aligarh (UP), April 24:
High GST rates, pandemic
effect and Chinese locks
the triple whammy under-
cutting the livelihoods of
thousands of workers and
traders in Uttar Pradesh’s
famed Tala Nagri’ has
emerged as a major con-
cern this election and vot-
ers are looking for a candi-
date who will pull the lock
industry out of the slump.
The `4,000 crore indus-
try of Aligarh, where lock
making is likened to an art
dating back to the Mu-
ghals, is not so robust any-
more with shifting global
market dynamics taking
their toll. With LS elec-
tions just two days away,
the clamour for decisive
action that will save the
livelihood of the estimated
one lakh people dependent
on the lock industry is
growing. And at the centre
with Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Mohan Yadav and others
during a roadshow ahead of the
second phase of Lok Sabha elec-
tions in Bhopal on Wednesday. 2.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari faints
while addressing a public meeting
at Pusad in Maharashtra. 3.
Supporters during a public meet-
ing of Rashtriya Lok Dal leader
Jayant Singh Chaudhary in support
of BJP candidate Kanwar Singh
Tanwar for in Amroha. — PTI
CONG.: NO PLAN
TO INTRODUCE
INHERITANCE TAX
FROM PAGE 1
Congress general secre-
tary incharge of commu-
nications Jairam Ramesh
said the Congress has no
plan whatsoever to intro-
duce an inheritance tax.
In fact, former Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi
had abolished estate duty
in 1985, he said, adding
that it is the Modi govern-
ment that wanted to do so.
Ramesh also claimed
that BJP leader Amit
Malviya had also tweeted
in favour of the views of
Sinha. Labelling Pitroda’s
“inheritance tax” remarks
as a “nefarious design” to
rob common people of
their hard-earned money
and property, the BJP
claimed that the Congress’
“high tech guru” has
made it clear that both the
lives and wealth of the
people of the country are
in danger. BJP claimed
that the US’ inheritance
tax concept, as mentioned
by Pitroda, is against
Indian family values.
20 KERALA LOK SABHA
CONSTITUENCIES TO GO
TO POLLS IN SECOND
PHASE ON APRIL 26.
31.5%
0 essed contrast with his
4.6%
-5
21.8%
-10
2.4% OTHERS
39.7% -10.8%
0 emes. Of the assurances
-5 5
0 -10
5 CPM +4.2%
0
10 -5 5 ming office,” he affirmed.
IUML
+0.9% -10
KC (M)
-0.3%
Democratic Party (PDP)
which is led by Abdul
Nazer Mahdani — an
accused in the 2008 Ben-
galuru serial blasts case.
Covid effect, Chinese locks hitting lives of workers in U.P.
of the problems, say
industry insiders, are high
GST rates, which in turn
have led to a surge in
Chinese lock imports.
“The steep GST rates
have made it increasingly
challenging for us to com-
pete with Chinese locks
flooding the market at sig-
nificantly lower prices,”
said Omvir Singh, owner
of a cottage lock factory.
Traditionally a BJP sup-
porter, Singh said he
would however like to give
another chance to BJP in
the upcoming polls. “I was
hopeful that the incum-
bent MP would be repl-
aced because he did noth-
ing for us in the past 10 ye-
ars despite relying on our
votes as we are his core-
voter base but for Modi
and Hindutva, I will give
this government a last
chance,” he said. PTI
Polls in 89 seats across 13 states tomorrow
New Delhi, April 24: The
curtains came
Wednesday evening on a
down
high-voltage campaigning
for the second phase of
Lok Sabha polls in 89 seats
across 13 states on April
26.
Staggered over seven
stages, the first phase of
the elections held last
Friday for 102 seats across
21 states and Union terri-
tories saw a voter turnout
of around 65.5 per cent.
Polling is scheduled in
all 20 seats of Kerala, 14 of
the 28 seats in Karnataka,
13 seats in Rajasthan, 8
seats each in Maharashtra
and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats
in Madhya Pradesh, 5
seats each in Assam and
Bihar, 3 seats each in
Chhattisgarh and West
Bengal, and 1 seat each in
Manipur, Tripura and
Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the prominent
contestants are Union
minister Rajeev Chandra-
sekhar (Thiruvananth-
apuram), BJP’s Tejasvi
Surya (Karnataka), Hema
Malini and Arun Govil
(both Uttar Pradesh),
Congress leaders Rahul
Gandhi (Wayanad) and
Shashi Tharoor (Thiruva-
n a n t h a p u r a m ) ,
Karnataka Deputy Chief
Minister D.K. Shiva-
kumar’s brother D.K.
Suresh (Cong), former
Karnataka chief minister
Constitution in danger under
BJP administration: Sidda
GURURAJ A.
PANIYADI | DC
KALABURAGI, APRIL 24
Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah said that
the Constitution is in dan-
ger in the BJP administra-
tion and stressed the need
to protect it.
“People must support
the party committed to
safeguarding the nation's
interests when entrusted
with power,” Siddara-
maiah said while address-
ing the Prajadhwani pro-
gram in Aland.
Pointing fingers at the
BJP government, Siddar-
amaiah lamented the lack
of programs benefiting
the underprivileged, Dal-
its, backward classes, and
minorities during Nare-
ndra Modi’s decade-long
tenure as Prime Minister.
“BJP stands against
social justice, the welfare
of the impoverished,”
Siddaramaiah accused.
Highlighting the unful-
filled promises by the
Modi government, he str-
5 own administration’s tra-
ck record. “During our
10
last term, we realized 158
out of 165 promises and
introduced 30 new sch-
in the 2023 manifesto, we
delivered on 82 promises
10
and initiated 5 guarantees
Earlier, speaking at
Source ECI
10 Afzalpur, Siddaramaiah
urged voters to defeat BJP
MPs neglecting the griev-
ances of the state.
Challenging Modi’s gov-
ernance, Siddaramaiah
called for evidence of any
substantial programs ben-
efiting the poor and mid-
Election a ritual in Tripura with
no motorable road, electricity
Chawmanu (Tripura),
April 24: Bikramjoy
Tripura, a ‘jhumia’ (shift-
ing cultivator) residing at
remote Vidya Kumar
Roaja Para village in
Tripura's Dhalai district,
said politicians come to
his hamlet during elec-
tions and promise develop-
ment but none of their
promises has been ful-
filled but still, he will vote
in the Lok Sabha elec-
tions.
The main problem of the
village, which is located
around 62 km away from
Ambassa, the district
headquarters of Dhalai is
● AMONG PROMINENT
faces are Union minister
Rajeev Chandrasekhar
and BJP’s Tejasvi Surya.
H.D. Kumaraswamy
(JDS). During the cam-
paigning, Prime Minister
Narendra kicked up a row
on Sunday while address-
ing a rally in Rajasthan’s
Banswara.
Slamming the Congress
manifesto, he alleged that
the opposition party was
planning to give people's
hard-earned money and
valuables to “infiltrators”
and “those who have more
children” and referred to
former prime minister
Manmohan Singh’s spee-
ch in 2006 to contend he
had said that Muslims
have the “first claim” on
the country’s resources.
The Congress was quick
to react, saying that after
facing “disappointment”
in the first phase of Lok
Sabha polls, the prime
minister was resorting to
“lies” and “hate speech”
to divert people from the
real issues.
The party also urged the
Election Commission to
take action against Modi
for his remarks, alleging
they were ‘divisive’, ‘mali-
cious’ and targeted a par-
ticular religious commu-
nity. The next day, Modi
again accused the
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with party
leader V.D. Satheesan and party candidates for Lok
Sabha polls Shashi Tharoor and Adoor Prakash during a
function at party office in Thiruvananthapuram on
Wednesday.
Ensuring justice is
my mission: Rahul
FROM PAGE 1
“So if you want to become
a superpower and move
ahead of China, one has to
use the strength of 90 per
cent of the population.
Those who call them-
selves deshbhakt are
scared of X-ray,” Rahul
Gandhi said.
“For 10 years, Modi said
he is an OBC, but as soon
as I talked about the caste
census, he said ‘there are
no castes’. If there are no
castes, how are you an
OBC? Then you should
have said I have no caste.
He then says there are two
castes — rich and poor... If
you say so, I say take out
dle-class Indians during
his ten-year tenure as
Prime Minister.
Expressing confidence in
the Congress candidate
connectivity as the village
does not have a motorable
road from Chawmanu, the
block headquarters, he
said the reporter who vis-
ited this remote village.
There is no electricity,
mobile connectivity or
healthcare facility in our
village, he said.
“The Lok Sabha election
is coming and we all will
vote on April 26 but it
remains a five-year ritual
for us because it will bring
no solution to our prob-
lems”, the 41-year-old
said.
“During monsoon, the
village which houses 763
pg 9
Congress of planning to
redistribute people’s prop-
erty if it is voted to power,
but stopped short of say-
ing that the wealth would
go to Muslims.
Addressing a rally in
Aligarh, a western Uttar
Pradesh constituency
with a sizeable Muslim
population, Modi further
said he wanted to “alert”
people about the “inten-
tions” of the Congress
and the opposition INDIA
bloc. As campaigning was
drawing to a close, rem-
arks by Congress leader
Sam Pitroda on inheri-
tance tax gave enough fod-
der to Modi and other BJP
leaders to launch an all-
out attack on the issue of
“wealth redistribution”.
In his poll rallies on
Wednesday, Modi framed
Pitroda’s comments in his
wider onslaught against
the Congress, asserting
that they have exposed its
hidden agenda and that
the party has become so
removed from the coun-
try’s social and family val-
ues that it wants to legally
rob people of their assets
and lifelong savings they
want to bequeath to their
children.
The Congress swung
into damage control, dis-
tancing itself from the
comments of the US-based
president of its overseas
wing. — PTI
— PTI
the list of poor and
you will get (the popula-
tion of) dalits, adivasis
and backwards,” Gandhi
said.
The Congress leader
asserted that ensuring
justice for 90 per cent of
the population is not
about politics but is his
life’s mission.
There is a difference
between life’s mission and
politics, as one can com-
promise in politics but not
in life’s mission, Gandhi
said, alleging that the
BJP’s aim is to divert the
attention of the dalits,
OBCs, tribals by raising
Pakistan, China and
Bollywood.
Radhakrishna’s victory in
the Gulbarga Lok Sabha
constituency, Siddaram-
aiah urged voters not to
repeat past mistakes.
jhumia families, all
involved in shifting culti-
vation, remains cut off
from the rest of the
state.
The road from
Chawmanu to Vidya
Kumar Roaja Para
(Thalcherra) turned into a
death trap because of the
lack of repair for the past
several years. Jhumia
families living in 11 vil-
lages need to travel 10 to 20
km on foot to collect ration
as there is no road from
Vidya Kumar Roaja para
to their villages,” said
Bikramjit, a local BJP
leader. — PTI
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 10

SHORT

BIDEN PARDONS
TAKES
11, COMMUTES
SENTENCES OF 5
Washington, April 24: US Pr-
esident Joe Biden on Wednesd-
ay pardoned 11 people and com-
muted the sentences of five
others who had been convicted
of non-violent drug offences,
the White House said, the latest
in a series of such actions.
“Many of these individuals
received disproportionately lo-
nger sentences than they wou-
ld have under current law, poli-
cy, and practice,” Biden said in
a statement.
The United States has less
than five per cent of the world’s
population but a fifth of its
prisoners.
NORTH IRELAND’S
DONALDSON IN
COURT OVER RAPE
Newry, April 24: The former
leader of Northern Ireland’s
Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP), Jeffrey Donaldson, fac-
es 11 historical sex offence cha-
rges, including one count of
rape, prosecutors told a North-
ern Irish court on Wednesday.
Donaldson, 61, stepped down
suddenly as head of the British
region’s largest unionist party
last month after the DUP said
he had been charged with alle-
gations of an historical nature.
He appeared in court where he
was also accused of one count
of gross indecency towards a
child and nine counts of inde-
cent assault on a female.
SAUDI KING IN
US Senate passes
Bill to get TikTok
sold or banned
Washington, April 24:
The US Senate voted by a
wide margin late on Tue-
sday in favour of legislat-
ion that would ban TikT-
ok in the United States if
its owner, the Chinese
tech firm ByteDance, fails
to divest the popular sho-
rt video app over the next
nine months to a year.
Driven by widespread
worries among US law-
makers that China could
access Americans’ data or
surveil them with the
app, the bill was passed
by the US House of Rep-
resentatives on Saturday
and US President Joe
Biden has said he will
sign it into law on
Wednesday.
“For years we’ve allow-
ed the Chinese Commun-
ist party to control one of
the most popular apps in
America that was danger-
ously shortsighted,” said
Senator Marco Rubio, the
top Republican on the
Intelligence Committee.
“A new law is going to
require its Chinese owner
to sell the app. This is a
good move for America.”
Asked about the Senat-
e’s vote, the Chinese fore-
ign ministry referred on
Wednesday to comments
the ministry made in Ma-
rch when the House of
Representatives passed a
similar bill.
At the time, the minist-
U.S. MILITARY AID
FOR TAIWAN ‘RISKS
CONFLICT’: CHINA
Beijing, Apr 24: China
on Wednesday blasted the
latest package of US mili-
tary assistance to Taiwan
on Wednesday, saying
that such funding was pu-
shing the self-governing
island republic into a
“dangerous situation.”
China claims the entire
island of Taiwan as its
own territory and has th-
reatened to take it by for-
ce if necessary. The main-
land’s Taiwan Affairs Off-
ice said the aid “seriously
violates” US commitmen-
ts to China and “sends a
wrong signal to the Tai-
wan independence sepa-
ratist forces.” — AP
IN CHINA, BLINKEN
SEEKS PRESSURE
BESIDES STABILITY
Shanghai, April 24: US
secretary of state Antony
Blinken returned on Wed-
nesday to China on his
second visit in a year, as
the US ramps up pressure
on its rival over its sup-
Palestinians flee homes as
Israel pounds northern Gaza
Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel trade heavy fire, target border towns
Gaza, Beirut, April 24:
Some Palestinian civilians
were fleeing their homes
in northern Gaza on Wed-
nesday just weeks after
returning because of an
Israeli bombardment whi-
ch they said was as inte-
nse as those at the start of
the war.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah
said it fired dozens of ro-
ckets at an Israeli border
town on Wednesday and
sources in Lebanon repor-
ted heavy Israeli airstri-
kes on a Lebanese town
just across the frontier, fol-
lowing an escalation of
violence in recent days.
The Iran-backed Hezboll-
ah and Israel have been
waging their worst hostili-
ties in nearly two decades
since war erupted in Gaza
last October, stirring con-
cern about the risk of a
wider and more destruc-
tive conflict between the
heavily armed foes.
Much of the shelling was
focused for a second day
on Beit Lahiya on the nor-
thern edge of Gaza, where
the Israeli military gave
evacuation orders to four
neighbourhoods on Tuesd-
ay, warning they were in a
“dangerous combat zone”.
After weeks of relative
calm, Israel intensified its
attacks overnight on Mon-
day, focusing on areas —
particularly in the north
US students: Stop
business with Israel
Washington, April 24: Gaza. They should stop
Students at a growing investing in this genocide.
number of US colleges are Campus protests began
gathering in protest enca- after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7
mpments with a unified attack on southern Israel,
demand of their schools: when militants killed
A girl walks through rubble in Gaza Strip’s Rafah after Stop doing business with about 1,200 people, most of
reported Israeli air strikes overnight. — AFP
Israel or any companies them civilians, and took
that empower its ongoing roughly 250 hostages.
EU FOR PROBE INTO MASS GRAVES war in Gaza. During the ensuing war,
● The Gaza Strip The German govern-
The demand has its roots
in a decades-old campaign
Israel has killed more
than 34,000 Palestinians in
could surpass famine
thresholds of food
ment plans to resume
cooperation with the
against Israel’s policies
toward the Palestinians.
the Gaza Strip, according
to the local health minis-
insecurity, UN agency for The movement has taken try, which doesn’t distin-
on new strength as the guish between combatants
malnutrition “We are getting Palestinians Israel-Hamas war surpass- and noncombatants but
and closer by the day to (UNRWA) in Gaza. es the six-month mark and says at least two-thirds of
mortality in a famine situation,” It follows an stories of suffering in the dead are children and
six weeks. said Gian Caro Cirri, review by the for- Gaza have sparked global women.
Geneva director of mer French for- calls for a cease-fire. The students are calling
● Iran has the World Food
eign minister Inspired by ongoing pro- for universities to separa-
reduced its Programme.
military foot-
Catherine Colonna
into UNRWA’s ability
tests and the arrests last
week of more than 100 stu-
te themselves from any
companies that are empo-
print in Syria dents at Columbia Unive- wering Israel’s military ef-
after a succession of strikes
to ensure neutrality
and respond to any
rsity, students from Mass- forts in Gaza and in some
blamed on Israel. breaches after
achusetts to California are cases from Israel itself.
● The European Union on Israel’s allega-
now gathering by the hun-
dreds on campuses, set-
The demands vary from
campus to campus.
Wednesday called for an tions that 12 of ting up tent camps and Among them:
independent probe into the its staff took pledging to stay put until Stop doing business with
reported discovery of mass part in the their demands are met. military weapons manu-
Hamas- “We want to be visible,” facturers that are supply-
graves at two Gaza said Columbia protest ing arms to Israel.
hospitals destroyed led Oct. 7
in Israeli sieges. attacks.
leader Mahmoud Khalil,
who noted that students at
Stop accepting research
money from Israel for

HOSPITAL FOR
ry criticised the legislati- port for Russia while also — from where it had previ- the university have been projects that aid the coun-
on, arguing “though the seeking to manage tensi- ously withdrawn troops, pushing for divestment try’s military efforts.

‘ROUTINE’ TESTS
Riyadh, April 24: Saudi Arab-
ia’s ageing King Salman enter-
ed hospital for “routine exami-
nations” on Wednesday, the
Royal Court said, in a rare pub-
lic statement about his health.
The tests were taking place at
King Faisal Specialist Hospital
in the Red Sea coastal city of
Jeddah and were expected to
last “a few hours”, the Royal
Court said, according to the
official Saudi Press Agency
(SPA). King Salman, 88, has
been on the throne since 2015,
though his son, Mohammed bin
Salman, 38, was named crown
prince in 2017 and acts as day-
to-day ruler.
US has never found any
evidence of TikTok posi-
ng a threat to the US’s
national security, it has
never stopped going after
TikTok.”
The four-year battle
over TikTok, which is
used by 170 million people
in the US, is just one front
in a war over the internet
and technology between
Washington and Beijing.
Last week, Apple said Be-
ijing had ordered it to
remove Meta Platforms’
WhatsApp and Threads
from its App Store in Chi-
na over Chinese national
security concerns.
TikTok is set to chal-
lenge the bill on First
Amendment grounds and
ons with Beijing.
The US diplomat will
meet China’s top brass on
Friday in Beijing, where
he is also expected to ple-
ad for restraint as Taiwan
inaugurates a new leader,
and to raise US concerns
on Chinese trade prac-
tices — a vital issue for
President Joe Biden in an
election year. — AFP
of TikTok would “set an
alarming global precede-
nt for excessive governm-
ent control over social
media platforms. ...If the
United States now bans a
foreign-owned platform,
that will invite copycat
measures by other coun-
saying the Palestinian mil- launch a ground assault ground offensive. from Israel since 2002. The Stop investing college
itant group Hamas was no on Rafah, which it regards The operation will pro- university should do som- endowments with money
longer in control. as Hamas’ last bastion and ceed when the military ething about what we’re managers who profit from
Israel’s military said on which is the only part of receives government app- asking for, about the geno- Israeli companies or con-
Wednesday it was ready to Gaza not yet subjected to a roval. — Reuters cide that’s happening in tractors. — Reuters
US warns Pak of ‘curbs’ Horses bolt in
after it inks Iran MoUs London, hurt 4
Washington, April 24: ding three companies signed during Raisi’s visit London, April 24: Five with cars and smashed
The US has warned of a from China even as the US and Pakistan government riderless military horses into a tourist bus.
“potential risk of sanc- also said it maintains spokesperson’s assertion that bolted during a rout- The British Army later
tions” for anyone consid- good relations with Pakis- that it does not need a ine exercise on Wednesd- confirmed that all its hor-
ering a business deal with tan and described it as an waiver from US curbs to ay morning unleashed ses had been recovered
Iran, a day after Pakistan important security part- build its portion of a Pa- rush-hour mayhem on the and returned to their
and Iran inked several ner in the region. kistan-Iran gas pipeline. streets of central London camp, where they were re-

ARGENTINA SEEKS TikTok users are also

expected to again take
tries.” TikTok, which
says it has not shared and
agreements during Irani-
an President Seyyed Ebr-
During Raisi’s three-day
visit that concluded on
“Just let me say broadly
... We advise anyone con-
near Buckingham Palace,
injuring at least four peo-
ceiving medical attention.
“All of the horses have

IRAN MIN. ARREST

legal action. A US judge would not share US user ahim Raisi’s maiden visit Wednesday, Iran and Paki- sidering business deals ple. Scenes of one blood- now been recovered and
in Montana in November data with the Chinese to Islamabad to boost stan signed eight MoUs with Iran to be aware of covered horse galloping returned to camp. Several

OVER BOMBING
blocked a state ban on government, did not bilateral cooperation. while vowing to increase the potential risk of sanc- along Aldwych near the personnel and horses
TikTok, citing free speech immediately comment The latest warning com- trade to $10 billion in the tions. But ultimately, the High Commission of have been injured and are
grounds. but has told employees it es days after the US imp- coming years. Vedant Pat- Government of Pakistan India and the West End receiving the appropriate
Buenos Aires, April 24: Arg- The American Civil Lib- would quickly go to court osed sanctions on suppli- el, deputy spokesperson of can speak to their own for- theatre district were shar- medical attention,” a spo-
entina has asked Interpol to erties Union said banning to try to block the legisla- ers to Pakistan’s ballistic the US state department, eign policy pursuits,” Pat- ed widely on social media kesperson said.
arrest Iran’s interior minister or requiring divestiture tion. — Reuters missile programme, inclu- was asked about the deals el said. — Reuters after the horses collided — PTI
over the 1994 bombing of a
Jewish community centre in
Buenos Aires that killed 85 peo-
ple, the foreign ministry said.
The Iranian minister, Ahmad
Vahidi, is part of a delegation
Biden signs Bill to provide
from Tehran currently visiting
Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and
Interpol has issued a red alert
seeking his arrest.
$61 billion aid for Ukraine
On April 12, a court put blame Washington, April 24:
on Iran for the 1994 attack on US President Joe Biden
Jewish community centre in on Wednesday signed
Buenos Aires and for a bomb- legislation authorising
ing two years earlier against $61 billion in military
the Israeli embassy. aid for Ukraine, with the
Pentagon quickly annou-

7 ISIS-K MEN
ncing a new $1 billion
package headed for Kyiv,

FACE ATTACK
PLOT CHARGE
Berlin, April 24: Germany
has charged seven foreign nati-
onals for allegedly plotting ter-
rorist attacks on behalf of the
Islamic State Province of Kho-
rasan (ISIS-K), the federal pros-
ecutor’s office said.
The suspects, identified as
Turkey’s Ata A., Tajik citizens
Mukhammadshujo A., Nuridd-
in K., Shamshud N., Said S., Ra-
boni Z. and Kyrgyzstan’s Abr-
orjon K. are charged with fou-
nding a terrorist organisation.
They intended to carry out
high-profile attacks in Germ-
any and Western Europe but
had no concrete plan.
featuring desperately
needed air defence and
artillery munitions.
The legislation — whi-
ch also includes aid for
Israel and Taiwan and a
potential ban on TikTok
— comes after months of
delay that saw Ukraini- Polish police officers speak with Ukrainians in front
an forces run short of of a closed Ukraine’s passport service point at a
ammunition and suffer shopping centre in Warsaw, on Wednesday. — AFP
battlefield setbacks.
“I just signed into law
the national security
package that was passed RUSSIA DETAINS PRIEST PRAYED AT
by the House of Repres-
entatives this weekend,
and by the Senate yester-
DEF. MIN. SHOIGU NAVALNY’S GRAVE
day,” Biden told report-
ers, saying he is “mak-
ALLY OVER GRAFT NOW SUSPENDED
ing sure the shipments Moscow, April 24: A Moscow, April 24: A
start right away, in the Russian deputy defence Russian Orthodox priest
next few hours.” “It’s go- minister exposed in an who led a memorial
ing to make America sa- investigation by late op- service last month at the

2022-23 UNREST:
IRAN SENTENCES
RAPPER TO DEATH
Dubai, April 24: An Iranian
revolutionary court has sente-
nced Iranian rapper Toomaj
Salehi to death for charges
linked to Iran’s 2022-23 unrest,
his lawyer told Iranian newspa-
per Sharq on Wednesday.
Salehi in his songs supported
months of protests in Iran in
2022 sparked by the death in po-
lice custody of Mahsa Amini, a
22-year-old Kurdish Iranian wo-
man who was arrested for
allegedly wearing an “improp-
er” hijab.
Salehi was initially arrested
in October 2022 after making
public statements in support of
the nationwide protests.
fer, it’s going to make the
world safter and it con-
tinues American leader-
ship in the world and
everyone knows it,” he
said of the legislation.
“It gives vital support
to America’s partners so
they can defend them-
selves against threats to
their sovereignty and to
the lives and freedoms of
their citizens.” The Pe-
ntagon quickly announ-
ced a $1 billion package
for Kyiv using the new
funding, including air
defence munitions, arti-
llery rounds, ammuni-
tion for HIMARS preci-
sion rocket launchers,
anti-tank weapons and
armoured vehicles.
The aid legislation —
valued at a total of $95
billion — only passed
position leader Alexei grave of late opposition
Navalny’s team was re- leader Alexei Navalny
manded in custody on has been suspended
Wednesday on suspi-
cion of taking large
from clerical duties and
ordered to serve three
bribes.
The arrest of Timur
years of “penance”.
Dmitry Safronov has
Ivanov, a long-time ally prayed several times at
of defence minister Ser- the Moscow grave of
gei Shoigu, is the most Navalny and conducted
dramatic graft case in a service there on March
Russia in recent years. 26 to mark 40 days since
Ivanov, 48, oversaw co- Navalny’s death. His
nstruction and procure- suspension was an-
ment for the armed forc- nounced by the Moscow
es, and was linked to re- Diocese of the Russian
building Ukrainian city Orthodox Church.
of Mariupol. — AFP — Reuters
the House of Represen- against Russia’s inva-
tatives after months of sion, which it launched
acrimonious debate am- in February 2022.
ong lawmakers over how A similar aid package
or even whether to help passed the Senate in
Ukraine defend itself February. — AFP
 HYDERABAD | THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024
pg 11
Emerging as alternative investment instruments for HNIs
quick Pharma exports
REITs, InvITs receive up 9% to $28 bn
BITES `1.3 lakh crore in 4 yrs in FY24: Centre
INDICATORS %
Sensex 73,852.94 0.16
New Delhi, April 24:
Investment vehicles for ● SEBI’S PROGRESSIVE
itate pooled investment in
a wider range of real esta- Reserve Bank New Delhi, April 24: The
country’s drugs and phar-
Nifty 50
S&P 500*
22,402.40
5,066.00
0.15
-0.09
realty and infrastructure
sectors, REITs and InvITs,
have garnered `1.3 lakh
regulations, particularly
the reduction in lot size
to bring it on par with
te assets as a regulated
financial product, thereby
facilitating further grow-
warns against maceuticals exports
increased 9.67 per cent
year-on-year to $27.9 bil-
Dollar (`)
Pound Sterling (`)
83.32
103.55
0.03
0.52
crore in the past four
years till March-end, and
are expected to facilitate
other listed companies
to buy even single units,
th of REITs in India,” said
the article authored by a
team led by RBI deputy
unauthorised lion in 2023-24, even as the
total exports dipped by 3
per cent in the last fiscal.
Euro (`)
Gold (10gm)* (`)
89.03
70,959▼70
0.22
0.10
more pooled funds,
Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) said in a report.
has transformed REITs
into an attractive asset
class for investors.
governor
Debabrata Patra.
Michael

Indian REITs associa-

Brent crude ($/bbl)* 87.77 -0.74 Experts and stakehold-
IN 10-Yr bond yield 7.186 0.019 ers are of the view that
with India growing at a fa-
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.646 0.048
st pace, REITs and InvITs
* As of 8:30 PM IST are emerging as alterna-
tive investment instru-
ments, especially for high
Tata arm secures
net-worth individuals.
“India has been a late
order for 2,000
adopter of real estate
investment trusts (REITs)
and infrastructure invest-
flourishing - REITs and
InvITs have mobilised `1.3
lakh crore since 2019-20
(up to March 2024),” said
an article on ‘State of
Economy’ published in
the RBI’s April Bulletin.
March witnessed the list-
ing of an InvIT, which
raised `2,500 crore throu-
from foreign investors.
The article noted that
market regulator Sebi has
reduced minimum invest-
ment size and trading lot,
enabling greater retail
participation in these hyb-
rid instruments. To furth-
er develop this space, Sebi
notified regulations for
tion said Sebi’s progres-
sive regulations, particu-
larly the reduction in lot
size to bring it on par with
other listed companies to
buy even single units, has
transformed REITs into
an attractive asset class
for investors. “This has
enhanced accessibility
but also ensured liquidity,
allowing reach to a broad-
forex trading
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, APRIL 24
The Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) on Wednesday
raised concerns about
unauthorised entities
offering foreign exchange
(forex) trading facilities
to Indian residents with
promises of disproportio-
nate/exorbitant returns.
According to the com-
merce ministry data,
pharma exports in March
grew by 12.73 per cent to
$2.8 billion. In 2022-23, the
exports stood at $25.4 bn.
The top five export mar-
kets, for the sector during
the last fiscal, are the US,
the UK, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom,
South Africa and Brazil.
The US accounts for over
31 per cent of India’s total
pharma exports, followed
● INDIA’S PHARMA
industry is the third
largest by volume and
the 13th largest by
value in the world, pro-
ducing more than
60,000 generic drugs
across 60 therapeutic
categories.

electric sedans ment trusts (InvITs).

Tata Passenger Electric Mobili-
ty (TPEM ) has secured an
order to supply 2,000 units of
XPRES-T electric sedans from
integrated fleet electrification
platform Vertelo. The company,
a unit of Tata Motors, has inked
a non-binding memorandum of
understanding, with Macquarie
managed Vertelo for the deliv-
ery of EV units. The company
will begin deliveries of the cars
to Vertelo in a phased manner,
TPEM said.
However, the market is
CAPITAL NEEDS OF
ARCS ENHANCED
TO `300 CRORE
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, APRIL 24
To ensure prudent and
efficient functioning of
ARCs, the Reserve Bank
of India on Wednesday
increased the minimum
capital requirement for
asset reconstruction com-
panies (ARCs) to com-
mence business to `300 cr
from the earlier `100 cr.
Under the new direc-
tives, ARCs, as of October
11, 2022, have been grant-
ed a transition period to
achieve the revised mini-
gh a public issue, attract-
ing substantial interest
RBI bars Kotak Mahindra
Bank online onboarding
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, APRIL 24
The Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) on Wednesday
barred private lender
Kotak Mahindra Bank
from onboarding new cus-
tomers through its online
and mobile banking chan-
nels and issuing fresh
credit cards.
The bank, however, con-
tinue to provide services
to its existing customers,
including its credit card
customers.
small and medium REITs.
“This is expected to facil-
around the bank’s IT sys-
tems over the last two
years (2022 and 2023).
er investor base,” the asso-
ciation said. — PTI
business continuity and
disaster recovery rigour
and drill.
Similarly, during the
subsequent assessments,
the regulator said that the
lender was “significantly
non-compliant” with the
corrective action plans for
2022 and 2023, as the com-
pliances submitted by
Kotak Bank were found to
be either “inadequate,
incorrect or not sus-
tained”.
“The Bank has taken
measures for adoption of
The central bank said
that banks
promptly report such
should
transactions to the
Enforcement Directorate
when detected.
The RBI said that on
investigation, it found
that to facilitate unautho-
rised forex trading, these
unauthorised foreign
exchange entities have
employed local agents to
open accounts at various
bank branches for the
purpose of collecting
money related to mar-
gins, investments, charg-
es, and more. These acco-
unts are established
under the names of indi-
viduals, proprietary con-
cerns, trading firms, etc
and the transactions in
such accounts are not
found to be commensu-
rate with the stated pur-
pose for opening the
account in several cases.
The RBI said that there
by UK and Netherlands
(about 3 per cent each).
In 2023-24, the outbound
shipments also entered
new geographies like
Montenegro, South
Sudan, Chad, Comoros,
Brunei, Latvia, Ireland,
Chad, Sweden, Haiti and
Ethiopia.
An industry expert said
that increasing market
opportunities and healthy
demand in countries like
the US are helping exports
to record healthy growth
rates month after month.
Experts have said that
India's pharmaceutical
business may exceed $130
billion by 2030, supported
by expanding market
opportunities and height-
ened demand in the over-
seas markets. The busi-
ness stood at over $50 bil-
lion for the 2022-23.
On average, India
exports pharma products
worth $2-3 billion every
month.
India's pharma industry
is the third largest by vol-
ume and the 13th largest
by value in the world, pro-
ducing more than 60,000
generic drugs across 60
therapeutic categories.
The government has
rolled out two production-
linked incentive (PLI)
schemes to promote dome-
stic manufacturing of key
pharm ingredients and
generic medicines.
Earlier, reports suggest-
ed that the pharmaceuti-
cal sector companies will
continue to benefit from
growth in the domestic as
well as export markets.
The report suggested the
Indian pharmaceuticals
market to grow 8-9 per
cent in FY25. — PTI

Vodafone Idea FPO

mum net owned fund The central bank said RBI said it found “seri- new technologies to is a need for vigilance to
PayU gets nod (NOF) requirement. They
are expected to hit the
that its actions were
necessitated as the private
ous deficiencies and non-
compliances” in IT inven-
strengthen its IT systems
and will continue to work
prevent the misuse of
banking channels in facil-

to be payment `300-cr mark by March lender was found deficient tory management, patch with RBI to resolve bal- itating unauthorised

aggregator
Fintech firm PayU has received
an in-principle approval from
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
to operate as a payment
aggregator, the company said
on Wednesday. With in-princi-
ple approval in place, PayU can
now onboard new merchants
to provide them digital pay-
ment services. “This licence is
pivotal in our mission to estab-
lish a globally renowned digital
payment infrastructure rooted
in India,” said Anirban Mukhe-
rjee, CEO, PayU.
2026.
The guidelines allow
ARCs to deploy surplus
funds available in instru-
ments like money market,
mutual funds, certificates
of deposit, corporate
bonds and commercial
papers which have a
short-term rating equiva-
lent to the long-term rat-
ing of AA- or above by a
credit ratings agency.
LIC FLAGS MISUSE
OF COMPANY LOGO
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
in its IT risk and informa-
tion security governance.
It said that Kotak Bank
repeatedly failed to
address the concerns
FSIB recommends MDs for SBI, Indian Bank
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
NEW DELHI, APRIL 24
The Financial Services
Institutions Bureau
(FSIB), the headhunter
bureau for selecting direc-
tors of public sector
banks (PSBs) and finan-
cial institutions, on
and change management,
user access management,
vendor risk management,
data security and data
leak prevention strategy,
the post of MD of Indian
Bank.
“Keeping in view of
their performance in the
interface, overall experi-
ence and the extant
parameters, the bureau
recommends Rana
Ashutosh Kumar Singh
for the position of MD in
ance issues. We want to
reassure our existing cus-
tomers of uninterrupted
services,” said Kotak
Bank in a statement.
ommendation would be
taken by the
Appointments Committee
of the Cabinet.
As SBI is the country’s
largest lender, it has four
managing directors and
one chairman. Singh is
currently serving
deputy managing director
as
forex trading. Banks are
therefore advised to be
more vigilant and exer-
cise greater caution, cen-
tral bank said.
department of personnel
and training secretary
Bhanu Pratap Sharma
interviewed 16 candidates
on April 23, 24 and final
recommendations were
taken after the interview.
Other members of the
headhunter are Animesh
Chauhan, former CMD of
gets oversubscribed
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, APRIL 24
Vodafone Idea had a roller
coaster ride during the
further public offer (FPO)
period as the already list-
ed shares were extremely
volatile as investors were
clueless how new FPO
shares when listed would
impact the share price.
Prior to the FPO,
Vodafone Idea had 38.18
lakh shareholders, mak-
ing it one of the top listed
companies with one of the
highest number of share-
Now the volatility is
likely to come down with
the listing of new FPO
shares scheduled on April
25. Vodafone Idea shares
closed over 9 per cent
down at `13.10 after rising
over 14 per cent in the pre-
vious session on Tuesday
as the FPO was oversub-
scribed over all.
On the final day of the
Vodafone FPO bidding
again the share price fell
to a low of `12.10 before a
sharp recovery as the
`18,000 crore FPO was a
success and was hugely

Bayer to aid in
New Delhi, April 24:
Life Insurance Corpor-
ation (LIC) on Wednesday
delivery of farm cautioned the public
against certain individu-
Wednesday recommended
Rana Ashutosh Kumar
Singh for the post of man-
aging director (MD) of SBI
and Asheesh Pandey for
SBI and Asheesh Pandey
for the position of MD in
Indian Bank,” the FSIB
said, adding that the final
decision on the FSIB’s rec-
at SBI. Currently, Pandey
is serving as an executive
director of Bank of
Maharashtra.
FSIB, headed by former
erstwhile OBC, RBI’s for-
mer ED Deepak Singhal,
and Shailendra Bhandari,
ex-MD of erstwhile ING
Vysya Bank.
holders in the country.
The FPO received 11.62
lakh applications with
retail portion getting sub-
scribed 0.92 times.
subscribed at 6.36 times.
This resulted in the share
price rising further in the
next session touching a
high of `14.75.

inputs to farmers als or entities engaging in

fraudulent advertising
practices on social media
■ FINANCIAL SERVICES ■ DIGITAL SERVICES
Bayer CropScience has tied up
with the government’s
Common Service Center (CSC)
platforms by misusing the
image of senior officials
and the brand name and
IHG Hotels plans NIPPON LIFE INDIA Q4 NET LTIMINDTREE Q4 NET
to double presence
logo of the company.
and agri-tech firm Gram Unnati
to facilitate last-mile delivery In a post on X, LIC asked PROFIT AT `343 CRORE STANDS AT `1,100.7 CR
of agri-inputs to smallholder its policyholders and pub-

farmers in India. As part of the
memorandum of agreement,
smallholder farmers will be
able to access timely crop
advisory, transfer of good agri-
cultural practices and access to
premium Bayer products
through CSC’s online portal.
lic to exercise caution and
verify the authenticity of
any such advertisements.
It asked the public to
report URL links of such
fraudulent advertise-
ments on LIC’s official
social media accounts.
“We will pursue appro-
priate legal action and
those found engaging in
fraudulent activities usin-
Mumbai, April 24:
Hospitality company IHG
Hotels and Resorts on
Wednesday said it is plan-
ning to double its presen-
ce in India in next 5 years
with 100 operating hotels.
Last year, the company
signed a record 13 deals
across its brands in luxu-
ry, premium and essen-
Goa.
Around 70 per cent of
the deals were in midscale
and upper midscale seg-
ments, a growth driver for
the company in India, fol-
lowed by the premium and
luxury segments, it stated.
“We have plans to grow
our portfolio in India
across all brand segme-
N Iperndian
ippon Life India Asset
Management Ltd on
Wednesday reported its
highest-ever quarterly profit after
tax (PAT) at `343 crore for the
March quarter, marking a 73 per
cent jump from the year-ago peri-
od. The company had posted a
PAT of `198 crore in the year-ago
period, the company said. Total
income rose to `560.57 crore dur-
ing the fourth quarter of FY24
HINDUSTAN UNILEVER Q4
NET PROFIT AT `2,561 CR
F MCG major Hindustan Unile-
ver (HUL) on Wednesday
reported a 1.53 per cent decline in
consolidated net profit to `2,561
crore for the fourth quarter of
FY24 on account of deflation due
IT company LTIMindtree
on Wednesday reported a 1.2
cent decline in consolidated
net profit to `1,100.7 crore for the
March quarter. The company had
posted a net profit of `1,114.1
crore in the year-ago period.
Revenue from operations was
pegged at `8,892.9 crore in the
fourth quarter of FY24, up 2.32
per cent from `8,691 crore in the
year-ago period. For the full FY24,

Groww to launch g our brand without auth-

orisation,” LIC said, addi-
tials categories, strength-
ening its footprint in
nts,” IHG Hotels and Reso-
rts managing director,
from `388.03 crore in the year-ago
period. the company’s board has
to softening of commodity prices.
The company had posted a net
the net profit stood 4 per cent hig-
her at `4,584.6 crore. The revenue

new non-cyclical
ng that it to ensure that
policyholders are not mis-
led by such deceptive adv-
index fund ertising practices. — PTI
Gurugram, Jim Corbett, South-West Asia, Sudeep recommended a final dividend of profit of `2,601 crore in the year- from operations for the full FY24
Mumbai, Amritsar and Jain said. — PTI `11 per equity share for the finan- ago period, according to a regula- was `35,517 crore, 7.03 per cent
cial year ended March 31, 2024. tory filing from HUL. higher than the previous fiscal.

Groww Mutual Fund has
received markets regulator
Sebi’s approval to launch Nifty
non-cyclical consumer index
fund through a new fund offer-
ing (NFO). This would be the
country’s first non-cyclical
index fund and the NFO is
expected to go live in the first
week of May, the company
said. It will be an open-ended
scheme tracking the Nifty con-
cyclical consumer Index-TRI
(Total Return Index).
Printed & Published by
K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed at
Deccan Chronicle Press at Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E,
Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh,
Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter,
RNI Reg No.APENG/2008/24282.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written
permission of The Editor,
Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited.
NEW | DRIVE
Huawei unveils software for EV segment
Beijing, April 24:
Chinese tech company
Huawei unveiled on
Wednesday a new soft-
ware brand for intelligent
driving, marking its latest
push to become a major
player in the electric vehi-
cle (EV) industry.
The new brand Qiankun,
symbolising a combina-
tion of heaven and the
Kunlun Mountains, plans
to provide self-driving sys-
tems involving the driving
chassis, audio and driver’s
seat, Jin Yuzhi, chief exec-
utive officer of Huawei’s
intelligent automotive sol-
ution business unit, said
during an event ahead of
Within a year more than 10 car models to adopt Qiankun system: CEO
the Beijing auto show.
“2024 will be the first
year for mass commercial-
isation of smart driving
and the cumulative num-
ber of cars on road
equipped with the Huawei
self-driving system will
top 5,00,000 by the year-
end,” Jin said.
He also expected within
a year more than 10 car
models adopting Huawei’s
Qiankun system would hit
the market.
The Shenzhen-based
tech conglomerate launc-
hed its smart car unit in
2019 with the aim that it
could become the equiva-
lent of German automo-
● SHENZHEN-BASED
tech conglomerate
launched its smart car
unit in 2019 with the aim
that it could become the
equivalent of German
automotive supplier
Bosch of the intelligent
EV era.
tive supplier Bosch of the core technologies and
intelligent EV era and resources and take invest-
supply software and com- ment from partners such
ponents to partners. as Changan Auto.
Huawei said in It has also unveiled
November that the unit seven EV models in part-
would be spun off into a nership with Chinese aut-
new company which omakers so far and they
would receive the unit’s are selling well, Jin said.
They include three Aito
brand models under part-
nership with Seres, the
Luxeed S7 sedan co-devel-
oped with Chery, two mod-
els with Changan Auto-
backed Avatr and one with
Beijing Automotive Group
(BAIC)-owned Arcfox.
On Tuesday, Huawei also
unveiled the S9 sedan, the
first model under the pre-
mium Stelato brand it
launched with BAIC.
Its diversification into
EVs comes amid an inten-
sifying price war in the
world’s largest auto mar-
ket, which is grappling
with slowing sales
momentum. — Reuters
IT sector to grow
5-7% in FY25: Crisil
Mumbai, April 24: Crisil
Ratings said it expects the
sector to grow at 5-7 per
cent in FY25, after a
growth of 6 per cent esti-
mated to have been
achieved in FY24.
The overall industry size
is pegged at $250 billion
and it creates over 50 lakh
direct jobs.
“The slowdown in tech-
nology spending will con-
tinue this fiscal, weighing
on the revenue growth of
IT service providers,” said
Aditya Jhaver, director at
Crisil.
The industry is, howev-
er, expected to sustain in
the key metric of prof-
itability, as the operating
profit margins will be sta-
ble at 22-23 per cent, the
agency said, attributing it
to prudent management of
employee costs.
Crisil said the sectoral
revenues achieved a com-
pounded annual growth
rate of 12 per cent for the
decade through FY24.
High interest rates and
economic slowdown in
client markets led to a
modest single-digit
growth in tech spends by
companies in the BFSI,
retail, technology and the
communications sectors
in FY 2023- 24, the agency
said. — PTI

BLITZCRICK
SEASON-17
RISHABHASH!
ORANGE
Virat Kohli,
RCB 379
Ruturaj
Gaikwad, CSK 349
Rishabh
Pant, DC 342 Dashing Pant powers Delhi to victory over Titans
DEEPIKA DAS | DC
PURPLE NEW DELHI, APRIL 24
Delhi Capitals returned
to winning ways but not
Jasprit
Bumrah, MI
Yuzvendra
13 before giving cold feet as
the Rishabh Pant-led side
eked out a four-run win
over Gujarat Titans on
13
Chahal, RR
Harshal Patel,
13
the last ball at the Arun
Jaitley Stadium
Wednesday night.
This is the second win
for Delhi over GT in eight
on
PBKS
days one that helped DC
swap the sixth spot with
Gujarat, who are now sev-
short takes enth. Batting first, Delhi
rode on steady knocks
from Pant and Axar Patel
Lucknow’s captain to post a competitive
praises Giant Stoinis 224/4.
In reply, GT lost captain
L ucknow Super Giants skip-
per K. L. Rahul was all
praise for Marcus Stoinis’
Shubman Gill cheaply but
Wriddhiman Saha (39 in
25 balls) and Sai
match-winning 63-ball-124 not Sudarshan (65, 39b, 7x4,
out against Chennai Super 2x6) stitched an 87-run
Kings as he felt that the home stand for the second wick-
team’s score of 210 for 4 was at et to help the side to 98/2
least 30 runs above-par on that at the half-way stage.
particular Chepauk track. Kuldeep though broke the
Sending Stoinis at No. 3 was a partnership as Saha’s
smart move by LSG manage- shot landed straight into
ment and Rahul feels they had Axar’s hands at mid-off.
to take a “brave” call. “We want- Within three balls
ed to be a lot braver as a team. Azmatullah Omarzai also
We had three games, a couple at returned to the pavilion,
home, and some away where we much to Delhi’s joy.
couldn’t go past 170. We needed Gill, playing his 100th
one power hitter in the top match of the IPL, mis-
three. That was the thought judged the shot and was
process. I have also realised that caught by Patel at the slip
T20 cricket has changed in the off Anrich Nortje. David
last couple of years,” he said. Miller (55 in 23 balls, 6x4,
3x6) held fort and led the
chase with his accurate
Sprinter Bolt is T20 and sub-lime shots. Then,
a late surge from Rashid
WC’s ambassador Khan (21, 11b, 3x4, 1x6)
raised Gujarat’s hopes
T he International Cricket
Council (ICC) on Wednesday
named sprint legend Usain Bolt
but only just as they fin-
ished at 220/8.
Rasikh Salam, who was
as the ambassador of the named the impact player,
upcoming T20 World Cup to be was the pick of the
played in the West Indies and bowlers for the winners
USA from June 1 to 29. as he returned with fig-
Jamaica-born Bolt had created ures of 3/44.
history at the 2008 Olympic Earlier, Pant’s 88 off 44
Games in Beijing where he won balls with five fours and
the 100m, 200m and 4x100m eight sixes was the high-
races in world record times. light of the Delhi’s
Bolt currently holds world innings. After a shaky
records in the 100m, 200m and start (44 for 3), Pant and
4x100m with times of 9.58 sec- Patel’s (66, 43b, 5x4, 4x6)
onds, 19.19 secs and 36.84 secs. put on 113 for the fourth
Bolt was delighted about his wicket to help take Delhi
new role as the World Cup to 158/3. Their entertain-
comes to his home. “I am ing knocks were studded
thrilled to be an ambassador for with a flurry of sixes and
the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 fours.
World Cup. Coming from the After Axar fell to Noor
Caribbean where cricket is a Ahmad, Pant was well
part of life, the sport has always supported by Tristan
held a special place in my Stubbs, whose quickfire
heart,” Bolt stated. 26 off 7 balls helped Delhi
cross the 200 mark.
CITY CLIPS
State age group chess Gunners shoot to EPL top
tourneys on Sunday London, April 24: Kai
Havertz and Ben White
T he Telangana State Chess
Association is conducting
the 45th Telangana State
scored twice as Arsenal
thrashed Chelsea 5-0 on
Tuesday to surge ahead in
Ranking Chess Championship the Premier League title
for boys and girls in the age race and ramp up the pres-
groups of Under-7, 9, 11, 13 and sure on Liverpool and
15 on April 28 at the Yoga Hall at Manchester City.
Lal Bahadur Stadium in Leandro Trossard was
Hyderabad. also on target for the
Those born on or after 01-01- Gunners, who move three
2009 are eligible to participate in points clear of Liverpool
the tournament which will be and four of Manchester
played under Swiss format over City.
five rounds. Players should reg- The destiny of the title
ister through www.chesstelan- remains in City’s hands as
gana.com or on phone numbers the defending champions
7337578899 or 7337399299 have two games in hand.
(WhatsApp only), TSCA presi- Liverpool have also
dent K. S. Prasad stated. played one fewer game
than Arsenal and are in
Telangana footballers action at Everton in the
Merseyside derby on
Wednesday.
register a 3-0 victory However, Mikel Arteta’s
men’s goal difference
T elangana defeated Andaman
& Nicobar 3-0 in the Swami
Vivekananda U-20 National
advantage now looks
unassailable should it
become decisive in the
Football Championship being title race.
played at Ramakrishna Mission
Ashrama Ground in Narainpur,
Chelsea and Arsenal’s
title rivals were dealt a
Chhattisgarh. Sai Yashwanth
(22nd minute) and Man-of-the-
huge blow before kick-off
as the Blues’ danger man
Match Imtiyaz (49th, 65th) were Cole Palmer was ruled out
the goal-scorers. Telangana will due to illness.
now take on Sikkim on April 26. Palmer has scored or
assisted nearly 50 per cent
of Chelsea’s Premier
Regd. No. HQ/SD/509/2024-26 League goals this season
Printed and Published by K. Sudhakar
on behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings
and his presence was
Limited. Printed at Deccan Chronicle badly missed by the visi-
Press situated at Plot No. 9 Alwal Village, tors. Despite enduring a
Vallabh Nagar Taluk, Medchal Malkajgiri disappointing first season
Dist. Telangana and Published at 36, under Mauricio
S.D. Road, Secunderabad-3. Pochettino, Chelsea had
RNI Registration No. 3081/1957. been unbeaten in eight
Editor: Kaushik Mitter
consecutive league games
THURSDAY | 25 APRIL 2024 | DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD
Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant goes down on his knee to play an off-balance shot during his unbeaten 88
against Gujarat Titans in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw c Noor
Ahmad b Warrier 11, Jake Fraser-
McGurk c Noor Ahmad b Warrier 23,
Axar Patel c Sai Kishore b Noor Ahmad
66, Shai Hope c Rashid Khan b Warrier
5, Rishabh Pant not out 88, Tristan
Stubbs not out 26. Extras (lb-2, w-3) 5.
Total (for 4 wickets in 20 overs) 224.
Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-36, 3-44, 4-157.
Bowling: Azmatullah Omarzai 4-0-33-0,
Sandeep Warrier 3-0-15-3, Rashid Khan
Experienced Mohit
Sharma proved to be the
costliest bowler for the
Titans, leaking 72 runs in
four overs while Sandeep
Warrier (3/15) was most
successful.
Opener Prithvi Shaw
(11, 7b, 2x4) struck four at
deep extra cover on the
very first ball with Jake
Fraser-McGurk (23, 14b,
2x4, 2x6) at the other end.
Azmatullah Omarzai
opened the bowling but
after leaking 10 runs in
the opening over, Sandeep
Warrier was introduced
and his accurate line and
length proved too hot to
handle for Delhi batters.
Arsenal’s Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard (left) is fouled by Chelsea’s
Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez during their English Premier League match at
the Emirates Stadium in London on Tuesday.
prior to their FA Cup
semifinal defeat to
Manchester City on
Saturday.
But they were blown
away by an Arsenal side
keen to reaffirm their title
credentials after losing
their last home game to
Aston Villa.
The hosts flew out of the
blocks and were in front
SCOREBOARD
4-0-35-0, Noor Ahmad 3-0-36-1, Mohit
Sharma 4-0-73-0, Shahrukh Khan 1-0-8-
0, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore 1-0-22-0.
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha c
Patel b Kuldeep Yadav 39, Shubman
Gill c Patel b Nortje 6, Sai Sudharsan c
Patel b Rasikh Salam 65, Azmatullah
Omarzai c Fraser-McGurk b Patel 1,
David Miller c Rasikh Salam b Mukesh
Kumar 55, M. Shahrukh Khan c Pant b
Rasikh Salam 8, Rahul Tewatia c Pant b
Impact Player rule unfair on allrounders
Chennai, April 24:
Joining the raging debate
around Impact Players in
the IPL, Lucknow Super
Giants consultant Adam
Voges said he prefers
something like the ‘Power
Surge’ rule in the
Australian Big Bash
League where the batting
team gets to decide a two-
over phase of fielding
restrictions.
The Impact Player sub-
stitution rule, introduced
inside five minutes.
Chelsea were lucky to
not have their bad start
compounded by a red card
when Nicolas Jackson
escaped unpunished for a
studs-up challenge on
Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Petrovic redeemed him-
self for fault at the open-
ing goal with two brilliant
saves to turn away
Kuldeep Yadav 4, Rashid Khan not out
21, Sai Kishore b Rasikh Salam 13, Mohit
Sharma not out 0. Extras (lb-4, nb-1, w-
3) 8. Total (for 8 wickets in 20 overs)
220.
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-95, 3-98, 4-121, 5-
139, 6-152, 7-181, 8-206.
Bowling: Khaleel Ahmed 2-0-26-0,
Anrich Nortje 3-0-48-1, Rasikh Salam 4-
0-44-3, Mukesh Kumar 4-0-41-1, Axar
Patel 3-0-28-1, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-29-2.
last season, has been a
heavy topic of debate this
season with lot of players,
including India captain
Rohit Sharma calling it
detrimental to the growth
of all-rounders.
Voges agreed and said
while the rule makes for
entertaining cricket, it
hurts allrounders. “The
scores have been going up,
and the teams have got
genuine batters coming in
at number seven or eight,
— AFP
Havertz’s low effort and a
deflected shot by Trossard
to keep his side in the
game before half-time.
Chelsea did, though,
have chances to level
before the break.
Petrovic briefly held
Arsenal at bay early in the
second period with saves
from Declan Rice and
Havertz. — AFP
— AP
while the batters have
gone hard right from the
start,” the Australian said
after the six-wicket win
over CSK on Tuesday.
“Certainly makes for
entertaining cricket, but it
takes the allrounders out
of the game for a little bit
and their effectiveness.
The all-rounder always
balances the side and per-
haps it is not as important
with the Impact Sub,” he
explained.
DEEPANSHU
WINS JAVELIN
GOLD AT ASIAN
U-20 EVENT
New Delhi, April 24:
Deepanshu Sharma
secured the gold medal
in men's javelin as
Indian athletes pro-
duced a good show on
the opening day of the
21st Asian U-20 Athletics
Championships in
Dubai on Wednesday.
Deepanshu won the top
prize with a throw of
70.29 metres, while
Rohan Yadav clinched
silver with a distance of
70.03m.
In men's 1500m,
Priyanshu claimed sil-
ver after clocking
3:50.85.
Earlier, in the morning
session, Ritik bagged the
silver in men's discus
throw, while Prachi
Ankush Devkar missed
bronze in women's
3,000m, finishing fourth.
Indian middle-distance
and sprinters were also
successful in heats on
the opening day.
In women’s 800m,
Laxita Vinod Sandliea
and Tanvi Malik sailed
into the medal round in
the two-lap event.
In the 800m heats,
Laxita was second in her
heat with a time of
2:09.39, while Tanvi
clocked 2:12.82 to cross
the finish line at fourth
place in her heat.
— PTI
● Chennai Super Kings
● Delhi Capitals
● Gujarat Titans
● Kolkata Knight Riders
● Lucknow Super Giants
● Mumbai Indians
● Punjab Kings
● Rajasthan Royals
● Royal Challengers Bengaluru
● Sunrisers Hyderabad
POINTS TABLE
Teams P W
RR 8 7
KKR 7 5
SRH 7 5
LSG 8 5
CSK
DC
8
9
4
4
GT
MI
9
8
4
3
PBKS 8 2
RCB 8 1
Shiny Sun look to
turn heat on RCB
MOSES KONDETY | DC
HYDERABAD, APRIL 24
The Sun is shining bright
in Hyderabad. The heat
will be on Bengaluru on
Thursday night.
The game at Rajiv
Gandhi International
Cricket Stadium (RGICS)
is a mismatch, on paper
as well as the points table.
Scorching Sunrisers are
flying high — third on the
table — while a wretched
run has kept the Royal
Challengers locked at the
bottom.
The last time the two
teams met, SRH smashed
the record IPL total of 287
for the loss of just three
wickets, in an away game.
At home, they have an all-
win record this season,
which includes the now
second highest total of
277 for 3 against the
Mumbai Indians.
It’s orange all the way
and RCB are red in the
face already, having lost
seven of their eight
matches. They are surely
struggling to strike a bal-
ance, evident from the
team’s poor form even as
star batsman and former
captain Virat Kohli leads
the batting chart with 379
to his credit.
Runs in the other camp?
They are aplenty! Fuelled
Asked if the rule is com-
parable to Power Surge in
Australia’s Big Bash
League, Voges said the lat-
ter adds to the contest, and
he is a fan of it. Unlike the
IPL, which has a six-over
power play at the start of
the innings, the BBL fea-
tures a four-over power
play. Power Surge is then a
two-over phase of only two
fielders outside the circle,
sought by the batting team
at any point following the
Mumbai escape
to semi victory
Margao (Goa), April 24:
Mumbai City FC scripted
a sensational late resur-
gence, scoring three goals
in the second-half stop-
page time, to snatch a 3-2
win from FC Goa in the
first leg of their Indian
Super League semifinal
here on Wednesday.
The Gaurs, powered by
strikes from Boris Singh
(16th minute) and
Brandon Fernandes
(56th), looked like they
would be sealing off a key
win as they maintained a
comfortable 2-0 lead until
the 90th minute of the
match.
But the Islanders pulled
off the absolute unthink-
able, scoring thrice in the
final six-odd minutes of
the match to grab a hold
WRESTLER NARSINGH HEAD
OF ATHLETES COMMISSION
Varanasi, April 24: Former Commonwealth
Games gold-medallist Narsingh Pancham Yadav
was elected chairman of the Wrestling Federation
of India’s Athletes’ Commission here on Wednesday,
completing a process that was mandated by the
sport’s world governing body.
Eight candidates were in fray for seven positions
and after polling, the seven chose Narsingh as chair-
man of the Commission. The other elected mem-
bers of the athletes commission were Sahil (Delhi),
Smitha AS (Kerala), Bharti Bhaghei (UP),
Khushboo S Pawar (Gujarat), Nikki (Haryana), and
Sweta Dubey (Bengal).
PAGE
12
L N/R Points Net RR
1 0 14 +0.698
2 0 10 +1.209
2 0 10 +0.914
3 0 10 +0.148
4
5
0
0
8
8
+0.415
-0.386
5
5
0
0
8
6
-0.974
-0.227
6 0 4 -0.292
7 0 2 -1.046
ACTION TODAY
SRH VS RCB
FROM 7.30 PM,
LIVE ON STAR SPORTS
by fiery starts from open-
ers Travis Head and
Abhishek Sharma — who
have pounded the Power
Play record score of 125
in 6 overs in the previous
match against Delhi
Capitals — the Sunrisers
have been toying with the
cricket ball.
Then, there are
Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden
Markram, Nitish Reddy
and Shahbaz Ahmed ever
eager to unpack the big
shots that spell trouble
for the opposition, whose
attack could be led by
Hyderabad pacer
Mohammed Siraj, who
has been off-track of late.
RCB’s not-so-impressive
bowlers surely have a
daunting task to keep a
check on the explosive
SRH batters who have
thumped totals in excess
of 250 thrice this season
and are licking their lips
in anticipation of another
run feast at the RGICS.
11th over of its innings. “I
like the Power Surge back
at home. It just adds anoth-
er element to the game.
While chasing, you never
feel like you are out of the
game. But we have also
seen multiple wickets fall
during that period,” he
said.
Marcus Stoinis’ unbeat-
en 124 ensured LSG pulled
off a double over defend-
ing champions CSK in the
ongoing edition. — PTI
of this crucial victory,
thanks to a brace by
Lallianzuala Chhangte
accompanied by a goal by
Vikram Partap Singh.
Jayesh Rane had a key
role to play in both of
Chhangte's goals, setting
them up with his slick
deliveries amidst close
spaces inside the FC Goa
box.
Vikram's strike two
minutes later was
through a rebound, with
the attacker perfectly
placed on the run to col-
lect and hammer the ball
in to equalise the scores.
Finally, Chhangte
capped off the game a few
minutes later with a goal
fairly identical to his first
one of the night.
— PTI
— PTI