SUNDAY
com
June 16, 2024
INTERNATIONAL
EDITION
24 Pages
Chennai » Coimbatore » Bengaluru
INSIDE
쑽
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Will tackle
cross-border
threat: J&K DGP
JAMMU/SRINAGAR
Jammu & Kashmir Director-
General of Police R.R. Swain,
who visited an encounter site
in Kathua district on Saturday,
said a war was being “imposed
on us from across [the
border]”, and the strategy in
response would be to “reduce
the damage and eliminate”
the enemy. » PAGE 3
Precautions were
taken against fire,
says NBTC MD
KOCHI
Frequent safety audits used to
be held at the labour camp of
the NBTC Group in Kuwait
where 49 employees died in
the wake of a fire on
Wednesday night, K.G.
Abraham, managing director of
NBTC Group and chairman of
KGA Group, told mediapersons
in Kochi on Saturday. » PAGE 4
Ukraine peace
summit begins
in Switzerland
BURGENSTOCK
The global summit hosted by
Switzerland to find a ‘path to
peace’ 52 months since the
Russian invasion of Ukraine
opened on Saturday with
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy hoping the dialogue
would find a resolution to the
war even as expectations
remained low. » PAGE 12
South Africa’s Ramaphosa re-elected At outreach summit, G-7 commits to
President after coalition agreement promoting infrastructure initiatives
Agence France-Presse
CAPE TOWN
South African President
Cyril Ramaphosa was re-
elected for a second term
on Friday after his hum-
bled ANC cobbled together
an unprecedented coali-
tion government.
Lawmakers in Cape
Town voted overwhelm-
ingly to put Mr. Ramapho-
sa, 71, back in office for
another five years after the
May 29 general election
produced no outright win-
ner.
“I am humbled and ho-
noured that you, as mem-
bers of the National As-
sembly, have... decided to
CM
YK
» Hyderabad » Madurai » Noida
MVA vows to fight Assembly polls
in Maharashtra as a united force
Those who left us will not be taken back, insists former Chief Minister and Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray; NCP (SP)
chief Sharad Pawar rules out the possibility of taking back his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar, to his party
Ateeq Shaikh
MUMBAI
T
he constituents of
the Maha Vikas
Aghadi (MVA), the
Opposition alliance in
Maharashtra, on Saturday
put up a show of unity, and
declared that they would
contest the Assembly elec-
tion in the State in October
in an alliance.
“The Lok Sabha election
victory for Maha Vikas
Aghadi is not the end, it is
the beginning. Our alliance
will win the Assembly elec-
tion in the State as well,”
said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader
and former Chief Minister
Uddhav Thackeray.
The people of the State
demonstrated how hollow
the myth of the BJP’s invin-
cibility is, he said. On the
possibility of having room
within the MVA for more
Royal drink
In this photograph taken earlier this month, a tiger drinks water from a pond at the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. AFP
Retaining power: Cyril Ramaphosa casts his ballot as MPs vote for
the President of South Africa in Cape Town on Friday. AFP
elect me to be the Presi-
dent of the Republic of
South Africa,” Mr. Rama-
phosa said in his accep-
tance speech.
The election marked a
historic turning point for
» Visakhapatnam » Thiruvananthapuram
THE PUZZLE TOY
Fifty years
of the ‘magic
cube’
How a Hungarian professor’s
humble teaching tool, which he
invented in 1974, charmed the
world and continues to hold sway
in the digital age
»
MAGAZINE PAGE 1
partners, he said that if
anyone else wanted to join,
it would be considered.
Such a partnership would
be without any tug-of-war,
he added.
“Those who left us and
now want to come back
will not be taken back at
all,” Mr. Thackeray said. He
was addressing a joint
press conference with his
alliance partners, National-
ist Congress Party (SP) pre-
sident Sharad Pawar and
Prithviraj Chavan of the the
Congress.
On the Lok Sabha elec-
tion results, Mr. Thackeray
said the INDIA bloc has
managed to resize the Mo-
di government into an NDA
government.
Mr. Sharad Pawar ruled
out any possibility of tak-
ing his nephew and Depu-
ty Chief Minister, Ajit Pa-
war, back into his party.
South Africa, ending three
decades of dominance by
the African National Con-
gress (ANC) of the late Nel-
son Mandela. The party
that led the anti-apartheid
struggle won only 40% of
» Kochi » Vijayawada
MVA leaders Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Prithviraj Chavan
and Balasaheb Thorat in Mumbai on Saturday. EMMANUAL YOGINI
There were discussions
that following the MVA’s
performance in the Lok
Sabha election, many
elected representatives
and leaders from the rebel
factions of the Shiv Sena
and the NCP are in touch
with the Opposition to
switch sides well before
the Assembly election.
After the Lok Sabha
election results, a change
the vote and, for the first
time, lost its absolute ma-
jority in parliament. It has
now struck a deal to form
what it calls a government
of national unity.
ANC Secretary General
Fikile Mbalula said on Fri-
day the broad coalition
brings together a majority
of the 18 parties that won
representation in the 400-
seat National Assembly.
These include the
centre-right Democratic
Alliance (DA), the Zulu na-
tionalist Inkatha Freedom
Party and other smaller
groups.
Mr. Ramaphosa was re-
elected by fellow MPs with
283 votes in a secret ballot.
» Mangaluru » Tiruchirapalli
Eight soldiers killed
after armoured vehicle
struck by bomb in Gaza
WORLD » PAGE 12
of government was immi-
nent in the State, Mr. Cha-
van, a former Chief Minis-
ter, said.
Seat-sharing equation
Asked about the seat-shar-
ing equation among the
MVA partners, Mr. Chavan
said, “Preliminary discus-
sions on seat-sharing have
begun. We will look at each
Assembly seat and accord-
Press Trust of India
BARI (ITALY)
The Group of Seven indus-
trialised nations have com-
mitted to promoting con-
crete infrastructure
initiatives such as the In-
dia-Middle East-Europe
Economic Corridor (IMEC)
in the G-7 Summit Commu-
nique issued at the end of a
three-day G-7 Outreach
Summit, attended by
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
The communique was
issued on Friday after the
customary “family photo”
at the luxury resort of Bor-
go Egnazia, where the G-7
also reiterated a commit-
www.thehindu.
» Kolkata » Hubballi » Mohali » Malappuram
The rise of
Rassemblement
National in France
PROFILES » PAGE 9
ingly decide on the same.”
While thanking party
workers, alliance partners
and voters, Mr. Sharad Pa-
war took a swipe at Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
and thanked him for mak-
ing the political atmosph-
ere conducive for the MVA.
“Wherever PM Modi
held roadshows, MVA won
those seats in Maharashtra.
It is my duty to thank the
Prime Minister for making
it conducive for MVA to
gain politically,” he said.
His remarks pertained
to the Lok Sabha elections
in which the MVA won 30
out of 48 seats in Maha-
rashtra and the ruling Ma-
hayuti bagged 17. One seat
of Sangli was won by Con-
gress rebel Vishal Patil,
who contested as an Inde-
pendent candidate. He la-
ter lent his support to the
party.
14 dead as
vehicle falls
into gorge in
Uttarakhand
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Fourteen people lost their
lives and 12 were critically
injured after a van fell into
a gorge in Rudraprayag dis-
trict of Uttarakhand on Sa-
turday.
As many as 26 people
were travelling from the
National Capital Region to
the hills for a vacation,
when the driver reportedly
lost control over the van.
FULL REPORT
» PAGE 3
Narendra Modi, along with other leaders, poses for the G-7
Outreach Summit’s ‘family picture’, in Apulia on Friday. ANI
ment to a “free and open
Indo-Pacific” based on the
rule of law. Mr. Modi at-
tended the G-7 Summit at
the invitation of Italian
Prime Minister Giorgia Me-
loni, the host.
“We will further pro-
» Mumbai » Tirupati
Weather washes out
India vs Canada game
in Florida
Eight Naxals, 1 jawan
killed in exchange of
fire in Chhattisgarh
Shubhomoy Sikdar
RAIPUR
Eight Naxals were killed in
a gun battle that also left a
jawan from the Special
Task Force (STF) dead in
the Abujhmad area in Na-
rayanpur district of Chhat-
tisgarh on Saturday, the
police said.
The joint anti-Naxal op-
eration was carried out by
personnel from the District
Reserve Guards (DRG) and
the STF, from the four dis-
tricts of Narayanpur, Kon-
dagaon, Kanker and Dante-
wada, along with the 53rd
Corps of the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP).
The gunfight began at 7
a.m. in the forest of Abujh-
mad, as security personnel
were cordoning off the
area.
Intermittent firing
This was followed by inter-
mittent firing till the after-
noon in the forests of Ku-
tul, Farsebeda and
Kodtameta villages.
“After the encounter,
during the search of the
spot by the security forces,
a total of eight Maoist bo-
dies and a large quantity of
weapons and other Naxal
material including INSAS
rifle, .303 rifle, BGL
launcher have been reco-
vered so far. The Maoist
bodies recovered after the
mote concrete G7 PGII
(Partnership for Global In-
frastructure and Invest-
ment) initiatives and com-
plementary initiatives to
develop transformative
economic corridors for
quality infrastructure and
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SPORT » PAGE 13
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
encounter are being identi-
fied. There is a strong pos-
sibility of more Naxalites
getting injured or killed in
this encounter,” a police of-
ficer said.
On the casualties suf-
fered by the force, the of-
ficer said that one “STF ja-
wan has been martyred by
the bullets of the Maoists
and two other STF jawans
have been injured” but ad-
ded that the injured jawans
were out of danger.
Operation intensified
Since the beginning of this
year, anti-Naxal operations
have been intensified in
the State, with a total of 131
Naxals being killed, 22 civi-
lians dead in Naxal vio-
lence, and 10 security per-
sonnel killed by Naxals.
The latest anti-Naxal op-
eration in this series in the
Abujhmad area began on
June 12 in areas such as Ku-
tul, Farasbeda and Kodta-
meta, the officer added.
Chief Minister Vishnu
Deo Sai said his govern-
ment is fully committed to
eradicating the Naxal
threat. “The Naxalites are
frustrated by the strict ac-
tion taken against them.
Our government is fully
committed to eliminating
them, and we will not sit
quietly until the target is
achieved,” he said in a post
on X.
investment,” read the com-
munique. Billed as a path-
breaking initiative, the
IMEC envisages a vast
road, railroad and shipping
network to ensure integra-
tion among South Asia,
West Asia and the West. It
is also seen as an initiative
by like-minded nations to
gain strategic influence in
the face of China’s Belt and
Road Initiative, which has
faced increasing criticism
over disregard for the sove-
reignty of nations.
Among the other priori-
ties of the summit’s agen-
da, the communique regis-
ters “unwavering support”
for Ukraine in its ongoing
conflict with Russia.
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
2 Sunday, June 16, 2024

States Chennai

INBRIEF
쑽 Cong., SP alliance likely Civic body razes
‘encroachments’
to continue in bypolls to near Jagan’s house
10 Assembly seats of U.P.
Alliance based on mutual trust, ideology, says Cong. State unit’s general secretary; will collectively
defeat BJP, says senior SP leader; SP-Cong. combine recently wrested 43 out of 80 LS seats of U.P.
Odisha CM allocates portfolios,
retains Finance, Home depts. Mayank Kumar where the Congress might
LUCKNOW fancy its chances.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Congress’s Dolly Shar-
retained portfolios of Finance, Home, General ndian National Deve- ma had polled over five
Administration, Water Resources, and
Information and Public Relations in the first
Bharatiya Janata Party government in Odisha.
I lopmental, Inclusive
Alliance (INDIA) bloc
partners Samajwadi Party
lakh votes in the Ghazia-
bad Lok Sabha seat in the
recent election.
The GHMC workers demolishing illegal structures in front of former
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s residence
at Lotus Pond, Hyderabad, on Saturday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The allocation of portfolios was made on (SP) and Congress, which In the recent parliamen-
Saturday, three days after the swearing-in fought the parliamentary tary election, the SP chief, The Hindu Bureau defeat ever, giving way to
ceremony. Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP election in Uttar Pradesh who had won from Karhal HYDERABAD the coalition government of
leader K.V. Singh Deo would be in-charge of together, are likely to join in the 2022 State election, TDP, BJP and Jana Sena
Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment and forces for the upcoming bagged the Kannauj Lok Demolition of a few struc- parties.
Energy while the other Deputy CM Prabhati Assembly bypolls to 10 Sabha seat. tures on the footpath oppo- While there is specula-
Parida would be handling Women and Child seats. The two Opposition Similarly, SP MLAs Ziaur site the former Andhra Pra- tion that the demolition of
Development, Mission Shakti, and Tourism. parties, which had entered Rehman Barq, Lalji Verma, desh Chief Minister Y.S. the security quarters had
into a pre-poll alliance, and Awadhesh Prasad had Jaganmohan Reddy’s resi- something to do with the
bagged a total of 43 Lok won Kundarki, Katehari dence at Lotus Pond in change of guard in Andhra
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4

Sabha seats in U.P., upset-
Two T.N. fishers die as boat ting the BJP, which won 33
seats.
sinks mid-sea; two rescued Byelections are necessi-
tated in nine Vidhan Sabha
A pall of gloom descended on Pamban in seats after the MLAs, in-
Ramanathapuram district following the death of cluding SP chief Akhilesh
two fishermen on Saturday. According to the Yadav, won the parliamen-
Fisheries Department, after the 61-day ban on tary election.
fishing ended on June 14, many fishers had gone One Assembly seat,
out to sea. Among them were five fishermen Sishamau, will be vacated
from the Mandapam north jetty who had with its MLA, SP’s Irfan So-
ventured into the sea on Friday noon, without lanki, set to lose the Vid-
obtaining the mandatory token from the han Sabha membership af-
department. Around 4 a.m. on Saturday, some ter being sentenced to
fishermen spotted a mechanised boat sinking, seven years imprisonment
five to eight nautical miles from the shore. They in an arson case.
rushed to the spot and rescued two persons: “Our alliance is based
Mohamed Hanifa, 52, and Arockia Prasath, 37. on ideology and mutual
trust. We emerged victo-
rious in the Lok Sabha poll
and were able to bring
NRI assaulted in H.P.; SAD, down the BJP’s tally in the
Decision on seat sharing will be taken by the central leadership, said
Anil Yadav, general secretary of the Congress’s State unit. FILE PHOTO
State to 33 seats (out of a
total of 80),” Anil Yadav,
general secretary of the
Congress’s U.P. unit, told
The Hindu.
“This partnership will
continue in the bypolls.
The decision on seat-shar-
ing will be taken by the
central leadership. But we
are sure of defeating the
BJP in the 10 Vidhan Sabha
seats,” Mr. Yadav said.
Sunil Singh Yadav ‘Sa-
jan’, the SP’s national spo-
kesperson, said, “Our al-
liance will definitely
continue, there is no
doubt. We fought most of
these seats in 2022. Howev-
er, each worker of the al-
liance will collectively de-
feat the BJP in these
Vidhan Sabha seats.”
Seats in rural belt
Among the Assembly seats
due for bypolls, most be-
long to the rural belt
where, in the 2022 State
election, the BJP and the
SP were in a direct contest,
except in Meerapur (in Mu-
zaffarnagar district),
where the Rashtriya Lok
Dal, which was then part of
the Opposition, had defeat-
ed the BJP.
Ghaziabad and Meera-
pur may be the two seats
and Milkipur Assembly
seats respectively.
While Mr. Barq won
from the Sambhal Lok Sab-
ha seat, Mr. Verma and Mr.
Prasad won from Ambed-
kar Nagar and Faizabad
parliamentary seats
respectively.
Four MLAs from the
Bharatiya Janata Party —
Anoop Valmiki (MLA from
Khair), Atul Garg (Ghazia-
bad), Praveen Patel (Phul-
pur), and Vinod Bind (Maj-
hawan), are also set to
vacate their seats and
move to the Lok Sabha.
Chandan Chauhan of
the RLD is an MLA from
the Meerapur seat. He won
the parliamentary seat of
Bijnor.
Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills
has given rise to a political
controversy on Saturday.
The structures, erected
for use by security person-
nel posted for 24x7 surveil-
lance of Mr. Reddy, were
brought down by the Town
Planning staff of the Grea-
ter Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation (GHMC) using
excavator machinery. The
structures reportedly in-
cluded rest rooms and even
toilets for the personnel.
They were constructed
almost five years ago, after
Mr. Reddy assumed charge
as Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh post-2019 elec-
tions. During recent elec-
tions, his YSR Congress Par-
ty has tasted the worst
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Pradesh, this is also the
year when Hyderabad ceas-
es to be the joint capital of
both the States.
Town Planning officials
could not be reached for
their version.
“There were three fur-
nished rooms occupying
the pavement, with cots
and toilets. The road would
get blocked with barricades
every time Mr. Reddy came
here in relation to his case.
Later, his sister Y.S. Sharmi-
la stayed here for a while af-
ter she started a political
party in Telangana. We can
heave a sigh of relief now as
there will not be any hin-
drance to traffic,” said a re-
sident of the area under the
condition of anonymity.

Cong. link it to Kangana case

A Punjab-origin NRI on Saturday alleged that he
was assaulted by some men after an argument
over parking while he was visiting Dalhousie in
Communal tension Son’s death result of a conspiracy,
Himachal Pradesh. Kawaljit Singh, undergoing
treatment in Amritsar for his injuries, said he was
targeted as he was from Punjab. The incident has
in M.P. town: NSA says mother of IIT Kharagpur student
sparked a row with Punjab NRI Affairs Minister
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Amritsar MP Gurjeet
invoked against four Press Trust of India The guilty should be pun-
Singh Aujla and Akali leader Bikram Singh KOLKATA ished. Let the court pro-
Majithia demanding action. Mr. Majithia and Mr. Mehul Malpani — were arrested for alleg- nounce its verdict. There
Aujla said the attack was linked to the incident BHOPAL edly slaughtering the The mother of IIT Kharag- should not be any media
involving BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who was animal. pur student Faizan trial,” the official said.
allegedly slapped by a CISF constable at The Madhya Pradesh Pol- Jaora City Superinten- Ahmed, whose decom- Forensic expert Dr A.K.
Chandigarh airport. PTI ice on Saturday invoked dent of Police Durgesh posed body was found in Gupta, who submitted his
the National Security Act Amor told The Hindu that the hostel around two findings to the Calcutta
against the four accused the proceedings under the years ago, on Saturday said High Court, said there was
who had allegedly slaught- NSA were initiated against she is “hopeful of getting The body of IIT Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed was exhumed on a sign of a wound under the
Cow ‘vigilante’ shot at by ered a bovine animal and
threw its body parts on the
the accused after the Dis-
trict Collector issued a war-
justice after a court-ap-
pointed forensic expert
the court’s order for a second post-mortem. FILE PHOTO ear near the jaw of the de-
ceased student, which indi-
cattle ‘smugglers’ in Nuh premises of a temple in rant. The four men have said the youth from Assam ning,” she said. teriously in higher educa- cates the use of a weapon
Ratlam district’s Jaora been sent to jail, he added. might have been hit by an Expressing hope that tional institutions in the and that he might have
A cow ‘vigilante’ was allegedly shot at by cattle town. According to the pol- Mr. Amor said Naushad object and shot at”. her family will finally get country. been hit and shot at.
‘smugglers’ on Saturday morning in Haryana’s ice, the body parts were is a habitual offender with Wondering how some- justice, Ms. Rehana said “Even if you consider The HC, which had or-
Nuh district, the police said. The victim, Sonu found on the premises of 28 cases against him, most one could carry a firearm she had written to Union cases of death by suicide, dered exhumation and the
Sarpanch of Rewari district, was rushed to a old Jaagnath Mahadev tem- of them of animal cruelty inside a high-security zone Education Minister Dhar- why aren’t those thorough- second post-mortem of the
private hospital in Faridabad and was later ple on Friday, leading to and illegal cattle trading. like IIT Kharagpur, Rehana mendra Pradhan and West ly probed? They take ad- body, said it was surprised
referred to Gurugram’s Medanta Medicity, they communal tensions and Ratlam Additional SP Ahmed said her son’s Bengal Chief Minister Ma- missions in search of a that the first autopsy mis-
said. Nuh SP Narendra Bijarnia said the incident vandalism in the town. Rakesh Khaka said, death was the result of a mata Banerjee, but none bright career, not to end sed the injury marks on the
took place on the Delhi-Mumbai expressway The police arrested two “Naushad and Shahrukh “conspiracy”. of them responded. up in coffins,” she said. back of the head.
when the cow ‘vigilantes’ were chasing a vehicle men — Salman, 24, and had slaughtered a cow, “We have all along been “If truth comes out, it A senior official of IIT The matter is likely to be
of cattle ‘smugglers’. Chaman Khatana, a cow Shakir, 18, — for allegedly they gave the body parts in saying that my son was will also be a trendsetter,” Kharagpur rejected the al- taken up for hearing before
‘vigilante’, said the incident took place when a throwing the body parts, a bag to Salman and Sha- murdered. There had been Ms. Rehana said. legation of hushing up Fai- the court next week, peti-
team of seven of them chased the pick-up jeep of while two others — Shah- kir....the act appears to be attempts to hush up the is- She also wondered why zan’s death. “We also want tioner Salim Ahmed’s la-
the ‘smugglers’. PTI rukh, 25, and Naushad, 40, intentional.” sue from the very begin- so many students die mys- the truth to be unravelled. wyer Aniruddha Mitra said.

Smarting from Haryana LS poll setback, BJP govt. launches drive to resolve public grievances
Ashok Kumar
GURUGRAM
With widespread public re-
sentment over the Haryana
government’s e-initiatives
being cited as one of the
factors for the ruling Bha-
ratiya Janata Party’s dismal
show in the Lok Sabha
election, the Nayab Saini-
led regime has decided to
focus on quick resolution
of public grievances in the
run-up to the Assembly
poll due later this year.
Despite changing the
Chief Minister just before
the general election to con-
solidate the OBC vote and
abate the anti-incumbency
sentiment, the BJP lost five
out of the 10 Lok Sabha
seats in the State to the
Congress, and its vote
share dipped from 58% in
2019 to 46% in 2024.
Several e-initiatives in-
troduced by Mr. Saini’s
predecessor, Manohar Lal,
to achieve the State govern-
ment’s vision of “paper-
less” delivery of services
had been marred by large-
scale discrepancies in user
details, causing inconve-
nience to people. Sensing
public ire over the poor im-
plementation of the e-in-
itiatives, the Opposition
had made it a poll issue.
Taking a dig at the State
government, Congress
leader Bhupinder Singh
Hooda had termed it “Por-
tals Ki Sarkar” and vowed
to scrap the ‘Parivar Peh-
chan Patra (PPP)’, a plat-
form to create verified and
reliable data of all families
in Haryana, and the “Meri
Fasal Mera Byora” pro-
gramme, which provides
multiple services to farm-
ers through a single portal,
if voted to power.
Though Mr. Lal has
vehemently defended the
e-initiatives and described
them as stepping stones to
curb corruption and en-
sure doorstep delivery of
3,86,000 votes in 2019,
was reduced this time.
At meetings to review
the BJP’s performance,
there were even sugges-
tions to take up these in-
itiatives offline for a few
months before the As-
sembly election to contain
public anger. Sensing the
urgency, the government
announced on June 9 that
‘Samadhan Shivirs (Resolu-
tion Camps)’ will be held
Patient hearing: Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav every working day from 9
at a ‘Samadhan Shivir’ in the city. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT a.m. to 11 a.m. at the dis-
trict and subdivision levels
services, BJP leaders and ping of PPP during the for people to seek redres-
workers partly put the election campaign for the sal for their grievances.
blame on the poor imple- party’s Lok Sabha candi- “It shall be the endea-
mentation of these online date, Rao Inderjit Singh. vour of the administration
programmes for the par- In a tight contest, Mr. to resolve each and every
ty’s poor show during the Singh registered his fourth public grievance presented
post-poll evaluation. straight win from the seat, in the ‘Samadhan Shivir’ as
A BJP worker said he defeating the Congress’s far as possible. People can
noted that people in the actor-turned-politician Raj put up any grievances in
Gurgaon Lok Sabha consti- Babbar by 75,079 votes. these camps, including
tuency were unhappy over However, the victory mar- those related to Property
lack of civic amenities and gin of Mr. Singh, who had ID, PPP, land registration,
frequent power outages, defeated the Congress’s no dues certificates from
and demanded the scrap- Captain Ajay Yadav by over local bodies, map approval
from municipal commit-
tees, social welfare pen-
sions, ration card, and pu-
blic distribution system,
besides complaints related
to crime, power, irrigation,
and public health,” said
Chief Secretary T.V.S.N.
Prasad while announcing
the launch of the initiative.
He also announced the
setting up of a ‘Samadhan
Parkosth (Resolution Cell)’
at his office in Chandigarh
for day-to-day monitoring
of the ‘Samadhan Shivirs’,
with officials required to
submit daily progress re-
ports with details of the
complaints received and
resolved. While the resolu-
tion cell would work on
policy-related issues per-
taining to these com-
plaints, the camps would
take care of the administra-
tive hurdles, he said.
Speaking to The Hindu
over phone, Mr. Prasad
said the grievance resolu-
tion programme has been
receiving an “extremely
good” response within a
few days of its launch.
The Chief Secretary’s of-
fice said of the 4,802 com-
plaints received at the
camps organised across
the State so far, 1,362 have
been resolved.
“The officials of all de-
partments concerned have
been directed to be pre-
sent at these camps for im-
mediate resolution. It also
ensures better inter-de-
partment coordination.
The issues involving any
policy gaps or budget allo-
cation would be taken up
at the cell level,” Mr. Prasad
said. He added that PPP
was a “good IT initiative”
but there were some teeth-
ing troubles in its imple-
mentation and those
would be set right soon.
Gurgaon Additional De-
puty Commissioner Hitesh
Meena told mediapersons
that the complaints re-
ceived at the daily district
camps pertained to all de-
partments, but a majority
of them were related to
PPP and Property IDs. He
said the department con-
cerned would be given 24
hours to seven days to re-
solve the complaints and
special camps will be or-
ganised across the State for
people to air their grie-
vances regarding PPP.
‘Admission of failure’
Reacting to the govern-
ment’s latest initiative, Mr.
Hooda said it was actually
an “admission of failure”
by the BJP government and
came a little too late as the
party has been in power
for the past 10 years. “The
PPP is actually ‘Permanent
Pareshani Patra’, causing
constant hassle to the peo-
ple. Same is the case with
‘Mera Fasal Mera Byora’
and other e-initiatives as
most of these portals don’t
function properly, adding
to people’s woes,” he said.

Published by Nirmala Lakshman at Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT.LTD. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRP Act). ISSN 0971 - 751X

CM A IN-X
YK

Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
Hello from the
Melodi team,
says Italian
PM Meloni
Press Trust of India
BARI
“Hi friends, from #Melo-
di”, this is how Italian
Prime Minister Giorgia Me-
loni captioned a small sel-
fie video showing her cam-
araderie with
Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime
The two leaders met on
Friday towards the end of
Mr. Modi’s day-long visit to
Apulia, southern Italy, dur-
ing which he thanked Ms.
Melodi for the invitation to
attend the summit. This
was his first foreign visit af-
ter assuming charge.
Mr. Modi re-shared the
video and wrote, “Long
live India-Italy
friendship!”.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Delhi govt. appeals
to Haryana to release
additional water
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Delhi Water Minister Atishi
on Saturday said the Delhi
government has urged Ha-
ryana to release additional
water into the Munak canal
for the national capital on
“humanitarian grounds”.
The Minister said she
had also spoken to Hima-
chal Pradesh Chief Minis-
ter Sukhwinder Singh Suk-
hu over the phone for
additional water. “He has
assured me of coopera-
tion,” she told reporters,
adding that Himachal Pra-
desh was ready to share its
surplus water with Delhi.
Ms. Atishi told reporters
India has a ‘significant role’ in resolving Gaza
violence, bringing aid: Palestinian PM Mustafa
Kallol Bhattacherjee
NEW DELHI
India has a “significant
role” in finding a solution
to the ongoing violence in
Gaza, said Palestinian
Prime Minister Muham-
mad Mustafa in a congratu-
latory letter to Prime Mi-
nister Narendra Modi.
In the letter dated June
12, Mr. Mustafa described
the Israeli action against
Palestinians as “genocide”,
and called for an imme-
diate ceasefire.
“Excellency, as a global
leader and a nation that va-
lues human rights and
peace, India holds a signifi-
cant role in bringing an
end to the genocide in Ga-
Two injured in gun
violence in Bengal
The Hindu Bureau
KOLKATA
At least three incidents of
firing in Kolkata and sur-
rounding districts over Fri-
day and Saturday have left
residents anxious and
tense.
In one of the incidents,
gunshots were fired at Mir-
za Ghalib Street in central
Kolkata around half past
Friday midnight. Witness-
es said a member of a gang
allegedly shot 29-year-old
Ikhlas Beg in his right leg.
The Park Street Police re-
corded Mr. Beg’s statement
and lodged an FIR on Sa-
turday.
Around 2 p.m. on Satur-
day, a group of three peo-
ple on motorbikes fired
CM
YK
Kumaraswamy retracts statement
on semiconductor unit in Gujarat
Promoting the sector is strategic as it is a basic requirement for electronics and automobile industries, the Minister says, a
day after questioning the Centre and Gujarat government’s decision to offer a subsidy of ₹3.2 crore to the U.S.-based firm
The Hindu Bureau
BENGALURU
day after publicly
A asking if the subsi-
dy given to a U.S.-
based semiconductor ma-
nufacturer for every job it
creates at its unit in Gujarat
was justifiable, Janata Dal
(S) leader and Union Minis-
ter for Heavy Industries
and Steel H.D. Kumaraswa-
my retracted the state-
ment, and said he was
“misquoted” in the media.
Addressing JD(S) work-
ers on Friday, he ques-
tioned the Centre and Guj-
arat government’s decision
that the issue related to the
share of the Yamuna water
could be discussed after
the heatwave abates. The
Minister has repeatedly ac-
cused the BJP-ruled Harya-
na of not releasing the ci-
ty’s share of water in the
Yamuna river through the
Munak canal. The Minister
said Delhi is facing a shor-
tage of 70 million gallons
per day following a drop in
water production at the ci-
ty’s treatment plants.
AAP’s chief whip in the
Delhi Assembly, Dilip Pan-
dey, wrote to Jal Shakti Mi-
nister C.R. Patil, seeking
his intervention to get
more water for Delhi from
the neighbouring States.
za. It is imperative for India
to utilize all diplomatic
channels to call for an im-
mediate ceasefire, increase
humanitarian aid to Gaza
to help alleviate the suffer-
ing,” said Mr. Mustafa in his
letter after congratulating
Mr. Modi on being sworn in
as Prime Minister for a
third time.
multiple rounds at a mov-
ing car at Belgharia’s Rath-
tala area in North 24 Parga-
nas.
“There are five bullet
marks on the car, which
means five bullets were
fired,” said Alok Rajoria,
Police Commissioner of
the Barrackpore Police
Commissionerate. The fir-
ing was allegedly targeted
at Ajay Mondal, a local bu-
sinessman. The suspects
fled immediately, said the
police.
At Basirhat in North 24
Parganas, Trinamool work-
er Alkab Mali was shot at
around 8 p.m. on Friday.
He was taken to R.G. Kar
Medical College and Hospi-
tal. The Basirhat Police are
investigating the matter.
semiconductor related
initiatives taken by the
Prime Minister’s Office
and will work towards
fulfilling them
H.D. KUMARASWAMY
Union Minister for Heavy Industries
to offer a subsidy of ₹3.2
crore to Micron Technolo-
gy for the jobs created. He
also asked if the country
required such an invest-
ment at all. The company
was generating about
5,000 jobs, and receiving
Distress call
Students of the Government Medical College, Palakkad, continuing their strike on Saturday demanding better facilities. The medical college,
which was started 10 years ago, is still hobbled by inadequate infrastructure. K.K. MUSTAFAH
It is imperative
for India to
utilize all diplomatic
channels to call for an
immediate ceasefire,
increase aid to Gaza to
alleviate the suffering
MUHAMMAD MUSTAFA
Palestinian Prime Minister
“The situation in Gaza
constitutes a humanitarian
catastrophe that demands
immediate and decisive ac-
tion,” he said.
Mr. Mustafa had earlier
written two letters to Mr.
Modi and External Affairs
Minister S. Jaishankar in
May. In his last letter to Mr.
Jaishankar, the Palestinian
Nagpur firecracker factory
blast: death toll rises to eight
The Hindu Bureau
MUMBAI
The death toll in the explo-
sion at the firecracker ma-
nufacturing unit near Nag-
pur increased to eight after
two more workers died of
burns.
Danasa Kolansa Maras-
kolhe (26) and Pramod
Chaware (25) had suffered
over 70% burns and died
late on Friday evening and
Saturday, respectively.
Six people were killed
when a blast occurred on
Thursday at the Chamundi
Explosives factory at Dam-
na village, 25 km from
Nagpur.
Shraddha Patil (22), the
last worker still being treat-
ed for injuries, continued
THE HINDU
News
I greatly
appreciate the
$2 billion in return through
subsidies, he said. It would
recover 70% of the $2.75
billion investment through
subsidies from the State
and Central governments,
he added.
“I asked officials how
Prime Minister held the Is-
raeli Defence Forces (IDF)
responsible for the murder
of former Indian Army Co-
lonel Waibhav Anil Kale,
who was working in Gaza
as a security coordinator
with the United Nations.
India had not blamed any
side for the death of Col.
Kale and it was understood
that the Indian response
would come after the Unit-
ed Nations completed its
investigation into the
matter.
India has maintained its
long-held position on a
“two-state solution” for the
Israel-Palestinian crisis
while also maintaining re-
lations with Israel which —
in the absence of a large
The charred remains of the
firecracker manufacturing
factory in Damna village.
to be in a critical condition.
The incident occurred
around 1 p.m. on Thurs-
day, when the lunch hour
had reduced the number
of workers inside the facto-
ry. Had the explosion hap-
pened during peak work
hours, there could have
been more casualties.
many jobs have been creat-
ed in Peenya [an industrial
area in Bengaluru] and
what benefits have been
provided to them,” he had
said.
“I need to understand
the Ministry better and
create employment oppor-
tunities in the country. Un-
employment was an elec-
tion issue,” he had said, in
his first address to the JD(S)
workers after assuming
charge as a Union Minister.
With his statement
threatening to snowball in-
to a major embarrassment
for the Centre, Mr. Kuma-
raswamy on Saturday post-
number of Palestinian la-
bourers — opened up its la-
bour market for Indian mi-
grant workers.
The conflict has also
cast a shadow on the India-
Middle East–Europe Eco-
nomic Corridor (IMEC)
project that was launched
in New Delhi during the
2023 G-20 meeting.
The IMEC, which also
includes Israel, featured in
the G-7 Outreach Summit
in Borgo Egnazia. The G-7
communique issued at the
conclusion of the summit
in Italy on June 14 said the
group of seven industrial-
ised nations has commit-
ted to promoting concrete
infrastructure initiatives
such as IMEC.
Ravindra Singhal, Com-
missioner of Police, Nag-
pur, said that a magisterial
inquiry had been launched
and they arrested two per-
sons — the company’s di-
rector Jay Khemka and fac-
tory manager Sagar
Deshmukh — on Friday.
They were produced in a
local court, where they
were granted a cash bail of
₹50,000 each.
A day after the incident,
Union Minister Nitin Gad-
kari visited the site of mis-
hap. Later, he shared that
the factory’s management
has promised to provide
₹25 lakh to the families of
each of the deceased and
the State government will
give ₹10 lakh to the next of
kin of each of them.
ed on X: “Semiconductor
is a strategic industry. It is a
basic requirement for elec-
tronics and automobile
manufacturing. Both these
sectors generate lots of em-
ployment. I greatly appre-
ciate the semiconductor
related initiatives taken by
the Prime Minister’s Office
and will work towards ful-
filling them through my
Ministry.”
Later, he told reporters
at the Vidhana Soudha that
promoting the semicon-
ductor sector in a big way
was strategic. “Parallelly,
we have to create jobs in
small-scale industries.”
Rescue workers inspect the van that fell down a gorge into the
Alakananda river in Rudraprayag on Saturday. ANI
14 dead, 12 injured
as vehicle falls into
gorge in Uttarakhand
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Fourteen people lost their
lives and 12 were critically
injured after a van fell into
a gorge in Rudraprayag dis-
trict of Uttarakhand on
Saturday.
As many as 26 people
were travelling from the
National Capital Region to
the hills for a vacation,
when the driver reportedly
lost control over the
vehicle.
State Disaster Response
Force (SDRF) Comman-
dant Manikant Mishra told
The Hindu that the acci-
dent took place near a turn
ahead of Rudraprayag city.
The vehicle had a Haryana
registration number. “After
the police got information
about the accident, rescue
teams were immediately
rushed to the spot. Ten pe-
ople were found dead
while two each died on
their way to the AIIMS,
Rishikesh and the Rudra-
prayag government hospi-
tal, respectively,” he said.
Most of the victims were
in their twenties.
The district administra-
tion said 10 of the 12 de-
ceased had been identi-
fied. Of the five injured
J&K DGP warns of
strict action against
cross-border threat
Peerzada Ashiq
JAMMU/SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Direc-
tor-General of Police R.R.
Swain, who visited an en-
counter site at Saida village
in Kathua, on Saturday said
that a war was being “im-
posed”, and the strategy in
response would be to “re-
duce the damage and elim-
inate” the enemy.
“We should accept a
war being imposed on us
from across [the border].
The enemy will try to in-
flict damage. Our strategy
and tactics will be to re-
duce the damage and elim-
inate them. And we will kill
them selectively soon,” he
said.
The statement came in
the wake of four militant
attacks in a week in the
Jammu region. Nine pil-
grims, one Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) jawan,
and two militants had been
killed in four separate inci-
dents of militancy since
June 9.
“The threat or challenge
is coming from across [the
border]. They [the han-
dlers] have taken a deci-
sion to keep sending peo-
ple in the wake of major
setbacks in Kashmir. Those
who thrived on it [militan-
cy] will not abandon it easi-
ly. To keep themselves rele-
vant and alive, they [the
handlers] will keep send-
ing people,” he said.
The DGP, however, was
quick to add that the num-
ber of terrorists entering
J&K “was not huge”. “They
[terrorists] are like rats.
The fact is they exist, and
carry guns, and could con-
front innocent civilians,”
he said.
“We have village de-
people brought in, two
were in a critical condition,
said the doctors at AIIMS,
Rishikesh.
Probe ordered
Chief Minister Pushkar
Singh Dhami ordered the
District Magistrate to inves-
tigate the cause of the inci-
dent. “We are committed
to providing all possible as-
sistance to the injured,”
said Mr. Dhami, who also
visited the AIIMS and took
stock of the treatment.
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi announced an ex
gratia of ₹2 lakh to the next
of kin of each of the de-
ceased, and ₹50,000 for
the injured, said the PMO
in a communique.
Home Minister Amit
Shaha took to X and said,
“Received the sad news of
the road accident in Rudra-
prayag, Uttarakhand. My
condolences are with the
families of those who lost
their lives in this accident.
All possible help is being
provided to the injured. I
pray to God for the speedy
recovery of the injured.”
President Droupadi
Murmu also condoled the
deaths in the accident and
prayed for the speedy re-
covery of the injured.
3
The Centre has instructed
security agencies to augment
arrangements, the DGP says.
fence group members,
Special Operations Group
personnel, Army, and
CRPF. These terrorists can-
not survive for long,” he
said. Mr. Swain urged the
local people to verify suspi-
cious activity before in-
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
forming
forces.
the security
He said the Centre had
instructed security agen-
cies “to augment security
arrangements” in the wake
of the recent attacks. “We
are instructed to streng-
then vigil and upgrade
weapons as well as train-
ing. We will act decisively
against them [terrorists],”
he said.
Mr. Swain warned
against offering support to
terrorists in J&K. “Such pe-
ople [offering support] are
very few. We will act strict-
ly against them. Such peo-
ple will be turned into an
example for others, so that
they shiver at the thought
of repeating such acts,” he
said.
The Station House Offic-
er, Pouni, was transferred
for alleged negligence in
working with intelligence
inputs. Suman Singh has
been posted as the new
SHO, an official said.
Pakistani
delegates to
visit J&K to
review power
projects
The Hindu Bureau
SRINAGAR
A five-member delegation
from Pakistan, along with
neutral delegates of the
World Bank, is scheduled
to visit Jammu and Kash-
mir from June 17 to 28, in
the wake of Pakistan’s ob-
jection under the Indus
Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960
to at least 10 hydroelectric
power projects under way
in the Union Territory.
A government official on
Saturday appointed 25 liai-
son officers for the visit by
neutral experts, along with
“delegations from India
and Pakistan”. The officers
were directed to report to
the office of the Managing
Director, Jammu & Kash-
mir Power Development
Corporation, Jammu and
Srinagar, respectively, “for
briefing about the duties
and responsibilities during
the visit”.
Changing stance
Sources said that a joint in-
spection of several power
projects in the Union Terri-
tory by the delegates is
likely during the tour.
This is the first time
since the Centre ended
J&K’s special status in 2019
that the Union government
is facilitating the visit of a
Pakistani delegation to the
territory to “work towards
resolving outstanding is-
sues through coordination
and dialogue”.
The Pakistani delega-
tion’s visit is also a depar-
ture from the previous
stand, where Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi has
hinted at revoking the IWT
on several occasions.
A IN-X

4 Sunday, June 16, 2024
‘Rahul can pressure Centre to make MSP a legal right’
The Punjab Congress leader says former Congress chief reflects the collective voice and aspirations of the people, particularly farmers, making him the ideal choice for Leader of the Opposition;
he opines that BJP, AAP, SAD need to focus on genuine development issues rather than emotional exploitation, adds that religious division and related politics do not resonate in diverse Punjab
INTERVIEW
Partap Singh
Bajwa
Sandeep Phukan
NEW DELHI
attling factionalism
B and desertions,
the Punjab Con-
gress put up an impressive
electoral performance in
the Lok Sabha election.
The Leader of the Opposi-
tion in the Punjab Assemb-
ly, Partap Singh Bajwa,
shares his assessment.
Edited excerpts.
The party president,
Mallikarjun Kharge,
told the Congress
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
NC, PDP
rally behind
Arundhati
Roy, Hussain
The Hindu Bureau
SRINAGAR
Regional parties in J&K, in-
cluding the National Confe-
rence (NC) and Peoples De-
mocratic Party (PDP), on
Saturday rallied behind
author Arundhati Roy and
former law professor
Sheikh Showkat Hussain.
On Friday, Delhi Lieute-
nant-Governor V.K. Saxena
sanctioned their prosecu-
tion under the Unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act
for alleged statements at an
event in 2010.
A NC spokesperson, in a
statement, said the party
strongly disapproved the
prosecution of Ms. Roy and
Dr. Showkat. “The use of
anti-terror laws to suppress
dissent and criminalise
speech is deeply concern-
ing. It is essential to uphold
the fundamental right of
every citizen to free speech
as guaranteed by Article 19.
It is also imperative to note
that this permission has
been granted 14 long years
after the alleged speech
took place. In the interven-
ing years the speech has
been all but forgotten and
didn’t vitiate the atmosph-
ere in J&K,” a NC spokes-
person said.
PDP president Mehboo-
ba Mufti expressed her
shock over the prosecu-
tion. “Shocking that
Arundhati Roy, world re-
nowned author and a
brave woman who has
emerged as a powerful
voice against fascism has
been booked under the
draconian UAPA. GOI con-
tinues its rampage violat-
ing fundamental rights
with impunity,” she said.
Power sector probe panel biased,
its chief should step down, says KCR
The Hindu Bureau
HYDERABAD
Former Telangana Chief
Minister K. Chandrashekar
Rao said on Saturday that
the remarks made by the
Justice L. Narasimha Reddy
Commission, probing the
alleged irregularities in the
power sector under the
previous government led
by him, were biased. He re-
quested Mr. Reddy to step
down as the panel head.
The commission, which
was appointed by the State
government, had served
notices on 25 officials and
non-officials, including Mr.
Rao, seeking their written
explanation.
In a letter to the com-
mission on Saturday on the
CM
YK
Working Committee
(CWC) that the Indian
National
Developmental,
Inclusive Alliance
(INDIA) bloc should
function cohesively. You
were present at the
meeting, but you
continue to target the
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
in Punjab every day. Are
you not defying the high
command?
It was clear from the outset
that our alliances were tai-
lored for specific regions,
goals, and circumstances.
While we aligned with the
AAP in Haryana and Delhi,
we had valid reasons for
contesting against the AAP
in Punjab, which we com-
municated to the high
BJP MP team to visit West Bengal
to take stock of post-poll violence
The Hindu Bureau
KOLKATA
With political violence con-
tinuing in West Bengal in
the aftermath of the Lok
Sabha election, the BJP lea-
dership on Saturday decid-
ed to send a four-member
team of MPs to visit the
State and take stock of the
situation.
The team, set up by BJP
president J.P. Nadda, will
be led by former Tripura
Chief Minister Biplab Ku-
mar Deb. The other MPs
on the team are Ravi Shan-
Let’s work as Team
India, Rijiju tells
Opposition parties
The Hindu Bureau
NEW DELHI
Ahead of the special Parlia-
ment session from June 24,
Parliamentary Affairs Mi-
nister Kiren Rijiju on Satur-
day appealed to all parties
to “work together as Team
India”.
“We want to start the
new session on a positive
note,” he said in a video
statement on social media
platform X.
“After elections, we are
meeting for the first time.
My appeal to all the mem-
bers, all the parties is to
work together as Team In-
dia. After all, we are all MPs
of India and we have to
work for our country,” the
Union Minister said.
He said he would not
In a letter, former
CM says the projects
and pact in question
were meant to
address power crisis
alleged irregularities in the
execution of two thermal
power projects — Bhadra-
dri Thermal Power Station
(BTPS) with sub-critical
technology and Yadadri
TPS — and also the power
purchase agreement (PPA)
with Chhattisgarh, Mr. Rao
said the approach of the
commission was like giving
a judgment without hear-
ing all sides. “Every com-
ment made by the Judicial
Commission clearly indi-
cates that it has made up
command. The election re-
sults in Punjab speak for
themselves — we outper-
formed all other parties.
The high command’s di-
rective should be interpret-
ed in spirit, not just in let-
ter. Our mission is to
uphold democracy, pro-
tect the Constitution, and
preserve our social fabric.
My criticism of the AAP
stems from their inefficien-
cies in governance. The
plight of the poor is ig-
nored, the law and order
situation is deteriorating
every day, and the drug
menace is rampant.
My sole aim is the wel-
fare and safety of Punjabis,
and this objective aligns
with serving the greater
good, not defying any
directive.
Biplab Kumar Deb
kar Prasad, Brij Lal, and
Kavita Patidar. The team
will visit different areas of
the State and meet people
affected by the violence.
The BJP statement said
elections had concluded
make a distinction bet-
ween the ruling party and
the Opposition.
“The country wants to
see a vibrant democracy
through a sound debate
and discussion in Parlia-
ment,” he added.
New speaker
The special session will see
the election of the new Lok
Sabha Speaker on June 26
and the swearing-in of the
newly elected members.
In response to another
X post by the Minister,
Congress MP from Tamil
Nadu Manickam Tagore
said: “We want people’s is-
sues to be discussed in the
18th Lok Sabha with digni-
ty… We can’t be cheerlead-
ers for the Treasury bench-
es.”
its mind to give its report
against the previous go-
vernment without examin-
ing the issues referred to it
comprehensively,” he said.
Defends projects
Explaining the decision ta-
ken by the previous BRS
government led by him,
Mr. Rao said the commis-
sion had tried to draw a
conclusion that the State
suffered huge loss with the
sub-critical technology
project, without consider-
ing the fact that 90% of the
power plants in India were
running on that technolo-
gy when the BTPS was ta-
ken up. There was no ban
or restrictions on the use
of sub-critical technology
when the BTPS was taken
THE HINDU
News
Before the 2022
Assembly election, the
Punjab Congress had
almost imploded, and
the party lost badly.
What changed in the
2024 Lok Sabha
election for the
Congress to win seven
out of 13 seats?
I have always maintained
across 28 States and eight
Union Territories with no
instance of political vio-
lence reported from
anywhere else. “All this has
happened peacefully, with
no instance of political vio-
lence reported from
anywhere. Except for West
Bengal, which continues to
be in the vice-like grip of
post-poll violence, the kind
we saw post 2021 Assembly
elections,” the BJP state-
ment said.
West Bengal Chief Minis-
ter Mamata Banerjee “re-
mains a mute spectator
Ready to take off
Making the grade: Cadets at the Indian Air Force Academy at Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad celebrate after their combined
graduation parade on Saturday. G. RAMAKRISHNA
up. The decision to go for it
was taken in view of the
power crisis in the State.
On YTPS, Mr. Rao said
the decision on the project
location was taken on the
premise that there should
be one major thermal pow-
er project in the Krishna
Basin as all others were in
the Godavari Basin.
The commission had
even forgotten to convey to
the State government that
it was illegal to have an in-
quiry commission on the
approvals given by two
Electricity Regulatory
Commissions (Telangana
and Chhattisgarh in the-
case of PPA), Mr. Rao said,
adding that the PPA to
meant address the power
crisis as early as possible.
that those who abandon
ship in tough times or ex-
ploit crises never achieve
true success. We must trust
the collective wisdom of
the people, especially in
Punjab. A significant
change was the departure
of opportunists, leaving
only dedicated workers
and leaders. Our ticket se-
lection focused on choos-
ing the best candidates to
represent Punjab in Parlia-
ment, rather than relying
on arithmetic, caste com-
binations, or expert jar-
gon. Our clear intention
was to make our parlia-
mentarians a source of
pride for Punjab. When in-
tentions are pure, people
connect with the cause,
leading to victory. Despite
a multi-cornered contest,
while criminals of her par-
ty attack and intimidate
Opposition workers and
voters with impunity”, the
statement said.
The Trinamool Con-
gress leadership, however,
said that the BJP was mak-
ing more noise than the ac-
tual incidents on the
ground.
Suvendu Adhikari,
Leader of the Opposition
in the West Bengal As-
sembly, met BJP workers
affected by post-poll vio-
lence in Coochbehar dis-
trict on Saturday.
All precautions were taken against
fire in structure: MD of Kuwait firm
The Hindu Bureau
KOCHI
Frequent safety audits
used to be held at the la-
bour camp of the NBTC
Group in Kuwait where 49
employees died in the
wake of a fire on Wednes-
day night, K.G. Abraham,
founder managing director
of NBTC Group and chair-
man of KGA Group, told
mediapersons in Kochi on
Saturday.
The fire was apparently
triggered by a short-circuit
in the building having cen-
tralised AC that had been
taken on lease. All precau-
tions had been taken
against fire in the struc-
ture, he said.
our dedication to this ide-
ology secured us the most
seats.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha
election, there were
some clear trends in
Punjab — the BJP
doubled its vote share,
the Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD) almost got wiped
out, and the AAP is on
the wane. What is your
assessment for the next
Assembly election?
The BJP’s increased vote
share may result from their
rhetoric but in Punjab, ge-
nuine connection with the
people matters more than
numbers. Those with ill in-
tentions are invariably
punished. Akalis, Captain
Amarinder’s government,
NC leader pitches for release
of detained youth in J&K
The Hindu Bureau
SRINAGAR
National Conference (NC)
leader Aga Syed Ruhullah
Mehdi, MP-elect for the Sri-
nagar constituency, on Sa-
turday set off the process
of collecting details of de-
tained youth in south Kash-
mir for their release.
“Everyone, especially
our elders, here is con-
cerned about detained
youth. We have decided to
collect details of such
youth who were arrested
in the past three years.
There are many minors,
K.G. Abraham
To a question on wheth-
er the camp had smoke
alarms and emergency ex-
its, in which case the occu-
pants could have been fo-
rewarned and evacuated to
safety, he said the struc-
ture had been built in ad-
herence to a plan approved
by the regional municipali-
and now the AAP have
faced consequences for
making false promises.
Religious division and
related politics do not reso-
nate in Punjab, a land en-
riched by its diverse, com-
posite culture. The BJP,
AAP, and SAD need to fo-
cus on genuine develop-
mental issues rather than
emotional exploitation.
It appears that you tried
to persuade Rahul
Gandhi to take up the
position of the Leader of
the Opposition in the
Lok Sabha for the sake
of farmers. Can you
explain what you
meant?
Rahul Gandhi is undoubt-
edly the best candidate for
Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi
only 16 and 17 years old.
There are many who do
not face any charges and
are innocent. I assure all I
will raise their issue not on-
ly in Kashmir but on all the
platforms. I will also raise it
ty. “It is possible that thick
smoke affected visibility,
leading to increase in ca-
sualties. The agencies con-
cerned in Kuwait are prob-
ing the accident,” he said.
Denies reports
He denied reports that
more than the permitted
number of employees had
been accommodated in
the camp. The building
was well-built and not very
old. A total of 176 em-
ployees were in the camp
at the time of fire, while 20
employees who too used to
reside there were away on
night shift.
While 49 people died, 31
are in hospital. Their con-
dition is reported to be sta-
Chennai
the Leader of the Opposi-
tion. Parliamentarians re-
present their electorate
and his extensive efforts —
walking across the coun-
try, meeting people, and
understanding their issues
— demonstrate this deep
connection. His leadership
was crucial in uniting the
INDIA bloc to protect the
Constitution. He reflects
the collective voice and as-
pirations of the people,
particularly farmers, mak-
ing him the ideal choice for
this role. He can put pres-
sure on the government to
ensure that MSP (mini-
mum support price) be-
comes a legal right, and
the Agniveer scheme is
rolled back. After all, ki-
sans and jawans come
from the same family.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
with the local administra-
tion. I want their early re-
lease and return to home,”
Mr. Mehdi said.
The NC leader warned
against any further delay in
conducting Assembly elec-
tions, due in September.
“Unfortunate (militant) at-
tacks took place recently.
An atmosphere is being
created to deny people
their democratic right and
keep them away from the
Assembly. This is being
done after an unprece-
dented [number of ] voters
turned up during Parlia-
ment elections,” he said.
AIADMK to
boycott bypoll
in Vikravandi
The Hindu Bureau
CHENNAI
The AIADMK on Saturday
decided to boycott the by-
poll in Vikravandi Assemb-
ly constituency, slated for
July 10, on grounds that it
would not take place in a
“free and fair” manner.
In a statement, party
general secretary Edappa-
di K. Palaniswami said the
DMK Ministers and func-
tionaries would misuse the
State machinery and com-
mit “atrocities and irregu-
larities using muscle and
money power”.
He said the DMK had
“intimidated” voters of the
Erode (East) Assembly con-
stituency during the bypoll
last year. “Though the
AIADMK flagged these is-
sues, the authorities took
no action,” he said.
ble. A total of 127 em-
ployees were evacuated
soon after the fire broke
out.
On the compensation to
the kin of the victims, he
said their legal heirs would
get ₹8 lakh, apart from the
insurance amount equiva-
lent to four years of salary.
Moreover, their depen-
dants would be given pre-
ference in jobs.
The companies of Mr.
Abraham employed a total
of 28,000 people in Kuwait
till the pandemic outbreak
and at present have about
8,000 employees in the
country and 20,000 across
West Asia in the construc-
tion, retail, and other
sectors.
A IN-X

Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
INBRIEF
쑽 Rajasthan’s SHGs help African women to farm and flourish
Mohammed Iqbal
JAIPUR
A women’s self-help group
(SHG) model in Rajasthan’s
Dholpur district has
helped about 12,500 wo-
men in the western African
countries of Mali and Sene-
gal earn livelihoods, con-
Major fire breaks out near serve environment and es-
tablish cooperative
Manipur CM’s bungalow federations to take up
farming, biogas produc-
A major fire broke out at an abandoned building tion, poultry farming and
near the Manipur Secretariat complex close to goat rearing.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s official bungalow Women leaders from
here on Saturday evening, the police said. Three nine cooperatives in the
fire tenders were pressed into service and they two countries were on a vi-
put out the blaze within an hour, an official said. sit to Rajasthan recently to
No damage was caused to the Chief Minister’s get trained in new avoca-
bungalow where security was tightened following tions. Women from Dhol-
the fire. The reason for the fire in the private pur’s SHGs, established by
abandoned building is yet to be ascertained, an the Rajasthan Grameen
official said. The building belonged to the family Ajeevika Vikas Parishad
of the late T. Kipgen, former Chief Secretary of (Rajeevika), had earlier tra-
Goa. The house has been abandoned since velled to Mali and Senegal
violence broke out in Manipur last year. PTI to share their expertise in
rural income generation
activities.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Sheena Bora’s remains are
untraceable, CBI tells court
The bones and other remains of Sheena Bora, Centre launches portal to
who was allegedly murdered, are untraceable,
the CBI court was told by the prosecution during
the hearing of the murder trial. Former media
executive Indrani Mukerjea is the prime accused
ecologically monitor Ganga
in the case of killing her daughter Sheena. Ms.
Mukerjea has been out on bail since May 2022. The new system has been developed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga; it will give real-time
Special Public Prosecutor C.J. Nandode told the
CBI court that the bones and other remains of
analysis of water quality of Ganga, Yamuna and their tributaries and check performance of STPs
Sheena, who was 24 when murdered, are
untraceable. The crucial piece of evidence going The Hindu Bureau
missing was realised when Sir J.J. Hospital’s NEW DELHI
forensic expert Dr. Zeba Khan testified in the
court. he Union Jal Shakti
T Ministry launched
an e-flow ecologi-
cal monitoring system that
allows real-time monitor-
IGNCA, Sansad TV to air show ing of river quality. This
on Indian cultural heritage will aid the planning and
monitoring of projects, riv-
A half-hour weekly capsule on Indian cultural er water quality, and other
heritage, curated by the Indira Gandhi National key parameters, according
Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), will be aired from to officials.
next month on the Sansad TV, the official The Environmental
broadcast channel of Parliament. Sansad TV is flows (E-flows) monitoring
also expected to offer an additional time slot for system has been deve-
an interview-based podcast show by the IGNCA, loped by the National Mis-
an autonomous body under the Union Ministry sion for Clean Ganga, an
of Culture. The programme aims to bring diverse arm of the Jal Shakti Minis-
content on art, culture, history, and literature to try, and was launched in
a broader audience, a senior official in the Union the presence of Jal Shakti
Culture Ministry said, adding that plans are afoot Minister C.R. Patil on Fri-
to increase the time slot to one hour per week in day. Along with real-time
a couple of months. analysis of the water quali-
ty of the Ganga, Yamuna,
and their tributaries, it also
allows monitoring of the
Namami Gange pro-
Names of Yuva Puraskar, Bal gramme activities at the
Sahitya awardees announced central level. This includes
monitoring the perfor-
The Sahitya Akademi on Saturday announced the mance of sewage treat-
names of 23 writers, who will receive the Yuva ment plants (STPs), and
Puraskar across as many languages. The National ensuring that they operate
Academy of Letters also announced the names of at their rated capacity. Riv-
24 winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for 2024. er water quality is also
“The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi monitored at various loca-
approved selection of 23 writers who were tions. The Namami Gange
selected on the basis of recommendations made programme is a flagship
by the Jury,” it said. While English writer K. programme of the Ministry
Vaishali will be honoured for her memoir
Homeless: Growing up Lesbian and Dyslexic in
India, Hindi author Gaurav Pandey won the
award for his poetry collection Smritiyon Ke
Beech Ghiri Hai Prithvi. Pocket version of Constitution flies off the shelves
Soma Basu
SUDOKU NEW DELHI
쑽 Gopal Sankaranarayanan,
senior advocate at the Su-
preme Court, is glad that
his idea of bringing out a
coat-pocket edition of the
Constitution to create
awareness of, and generate
interest in, constitutional
laws is finally flourishing in
circles beyond legal.
Talking to The Hindu, he
said it was not quite his
concern how the message
of protecting the Constitu-
tion reached the masses.
He was happy that this
election brought into focus
“the empowering and es-
sential document every ci-
tizen needs to keep at
home and have easy access
to”.
Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku The recent rise in sales
of the coat-pocket edition
started to some extent af-
ter Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi flaunted the book
with the red black cover at
his election campaigns last
month and was falsely ac-
cused by leaders of the BJP
of promoting the Chinese
Constitution. It helped to
raise a general curiosity
CM
YK
THE HINDU
News
Dholpur’s SHG model is
based on five principles of
Rajeevika — weekly meet-
ing, weekly savings, inter-
nal borrowing, loan repay-
ment and maintenance of
records.
Additional Chief Secre-
tary (Rural Development)
Abhay Kumar said the
“Pancharatna Mission”
had immensely helped in
the reach of the SHGs’ pro-
ducts in the market. “As
the rural women in Rajas-
than have good exposure
to agricultural technology,
they have ensured success
of the SHG model,” Mr. Ku-
mar said.
Saving funds
Women representatives
from Mali and Senegal,
who are saving up to ₹17
crore a year and utilising
the money for inter-loan-
ing to connect other wo-
men with income genera-
tion activities, have
Fresh attempt: People taking boat ride in the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh. In 2018, the Centre
mandated minimum e-flow for various stretches of the Ganga to be maintained year-round. R.V. MOORTHY
that involved cleaning the
Ganga, and now includes
its tributaries.
“The launch of the E-
flow Monitoring System
marks a significant step to-
wards ensuring the contin-
uous and sustainable flow
of the Ganga. Utilising data
from quarterly reports by
the Central Water Commis-
sion, the system will track
key parameters such as in-
flow, outflow, and mandat-
ed E-flow across 11 projects
along the Ganga Main
Stream,” the Ministry said.
Mr. Patil, who took
The pocket version of the Constitution; and senior advocate Gopal
Sankaranarayanan who conceived it. PTI, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
among people, and also gave
a shot in the arm to the Luck-
now-based publishers, the
Eastern Book Company
(EBC), to boost sales in the
last quarter.
According to one of the
EBC directors, Sumeet Ma-
lik, the 16th edition of the
sleek book in print this year
has already sold more than
5,000 copies between Fe-
bruary and May. In the past,
the print run was low with
the book selling 3,000 to
4,000 copies a year mostly
among lawyers and in law
schools. “In 2024, a bulk or-
Members of cooperative federations in Mali and Senegal received
training in Rajasthan. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
supported one another
with funds during emer-
gencies.
The model has empo-
wered the rural communi-
ties to take collective ac-
tion for promoting
economic development
and self-governance.
Women from Dholpur
gave training in the two
African countries for the
charge of the Ministry this
week, said that he would
focus on completing the
ongoing projects under the
Namami Gange Mission, in-
cluding those involving the
Ganga and its tributaries,
within the stipulated time
frame.
He highlighted the need
for innovative solutions to
address emerging chal-
lenges, and outlined a
commitment to developing
new strategies and visions
for areas currently without
river rejuvenation pro-
grammes. During the
der was also placed by the
Congress office,” he said.
In the law book trade, any
order above 100 is bulk
and there has been a de-
mand for multiple batches
of 80 to 100 copies from
the Congress this year.
Confirming this, the
Congress national coordi-
nator (SC, ST, OBC, Minori-
ties Cell), K. Raju, said the
idea of Mr. Gandhi carry-
ing a pocket-size Constitu-
tion to election rallies and
also the post-result press
conference had not been
merely symbolic. “It was a
formation of SHGs, fol-
lowed by the establish-
ment of cooperative feder-
ations.
The African women
learnt about running the
federations and manufac-
turing of products.
The African representa-
tives visited Dholpur, Bha-
ratpur, Ajmer, Jaipur and
Udaipur districts to get
event, the Minister also re-
viewed the progress of the
cleaning projects under
the Namami Gange pro-
gramme aiming to ensure
the uninterrupted flow and
cleanliness of the Ganga.
In 2018, the Centre man-
dated minimum e-flow for
various stretches of the
Ganga to be maintained
year-round.
This was after concerns
were raised by several en-
vironmentalist groups that
dams of the river were im-
peding its flow and des-
troying its ecology.
gesture that will continue
and keep reminding the
people of their rights and
recognising the power to
be aware,” Mr. Raju said.
The copies of the coat-
pocket edition have been
distributed among the par-
ty workers and other peo-
ple as well, he added.
The idea of a small-sized
edition that would “fit easi-
ly in the coat pocket of la-
wyers” was pitched by Mr.
Sankaranarayanan when
he found an increasing
number of young lawyers
not clued in what the con-
stitutional laws were. It
prompted him to publish
the first edition in 2009.
The design team at EBC
worked with him on print-
ing the 624-page book in
the lightweight expensive
Bible paper with gilt edges
and an imported flexi-
bound soft touch cover in
red with black border and
gold lettering.
The price of the book in
the past decade has dou-
bled from ₹450 to ₹875.
“The Preamble of the Con-
stitution starts with the
three most powerful
words, We The People...
training from the Rajeevika
groups. Mr. Kumar said
since the climate in Rajas-
than, suitable for millet
production, was similar to
that in the two African
countries, the federation
members received tips
about growing millet dur-
ing the training.
Cooperation to go on
Mr. Kumar, who interacted
with the African women at
the Indira Gandhi Nahar
Mandal’s headquarters
here, said the cooperation
between the two sides
would continue in future.
He said Rajeevika had
played an important role in
the socio-economic deve-
lopment of rural commun-
ities.
Throwing light on simi-
larities in the vegetation in
Africa and Rajasthan, Mr.
Kumar said the coarse
grains were suitable for the
environment of African
Diphtheria outbreak
in Odisha village;
govt. orders probe
Satyasundar Barik
BHUBANESWAR
The Odisha government
has directed the Health De-
partment and the Regional
Medical Research Centre
(RMRC) to enquire into the
reasons for a suspected
diphtheria outbreak at Ma-
nuspadar village in Rayaga-
da district.
Five children died in the
interior village in a span of
13 days in June. The RMRC
confirmed that the fifth
death was caused by diph-
theria, a bacterial infec-
tion. The RMRC, Bhuba-
neswar comes under the
Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR).
The government said
the first four cases had not
been brought to any health
facility or to the notice of
any health worker, and the
bodies were cremated at
the community level. “But
they are suspected to be
cases of diphtheria,” the
Chief Minister’s Office
(CMO) said in a statement.
Another nine persons,
mostly children, have been
affected.
Manuspadar is situated
in Kashipur block of Raya-
gada district, which was in-
famous for diarrhoea out-
breaks in the past. The
village is difficult to access.
Doctors and health work-
ers can reach the village
and the Constitution is re-
turning to where it be-
longs, the people; the com-
mon citizenry is willing to
spend and buy a copy,” Mr.
Malik said.
Mr. Sankaranarayanan,
over the years, has been
gifting copies of his book to
judges and lawyers, stu-
dents of various academic
institutions, and even
players of the Indian crick-
et team. “People have to
fight against excesses of
the government when Con-
stitutional values are sub-
verted by political parties,”
he said, and recalled that
when the nine-judge
Bench of the Supreme
Court upheld the validity
of Article 31C in April,
Chief Justice of India D.Y.
Chandrachud lauded the
coat-pocket edition for its
easy availability, quick re-
ference, and making a pre-
sence in political circles.
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi gifted a copy to
President Ram Nath Ko-
vind after he assumed of-
fice in 2017. The publishers
presented the book to
Home Minister Amit Shah
earlier this year.
5
countries as well.
Fatouma Diallo Sero,
president of a women’s
cooperative federation in
Mali, said she was im-
pressed with the election
process of the federation
leaders in Rajasthan. She
said her federation would
adopt a similar process
and train other women in
entrepreneurship.
Niama Ivonne Sacko,
another woman leader
from Mali, said she would
implement the five princi-
ples of Rajeevika with an
emphasis on institution
building to enable them to
play a meaningful role in
increasing the income of
women farmers.
She said she would mo-
tivate the farmers to adopt
water harvesting tech-
niques, which she had wit-
nessed in Rajasthan, to irri-
gate their agricultural
fields in a productive man-
ner.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Mohan Majhi has asked officials
to take steps to bring the
situation under control. PTI
only after walking five km
and crossing a stream.
Door-to-door screening
Chief Minister Mohan Cha-
ran Majhi reviewed the sit-
uation and directed offi-
cials to take steps to bring
the situation to normal.
The CMO statement said
the Panchayati Raj Depart-
ment had been directed to
provide drinking water
supply and construct a
motorable road to the
place at the earliest.
“A team from the State
Health Department visited
the village and camped
there. It has done neces-
sary investigations, door-
to-door screening and
treatment,” the CMO said.
A prophylactic dose of an-
tibiotics has been given to
all susceptible persons in
the community, it said.
In M.P., 58
children with
burnt hands
rescued
The Hindu Bureau
BHOPAL
At least 58 children, includ-
ing 20 girls, were rescued
from a liquor factory in
Raisen district of Madhya
Pradesh, where they were
working, with the skin on
their hands found to be
burnt from exposure to
chemicals.
National Commission
for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR) Chairper-
son Priyank Kanoongo said
that a team from the com-
mission inspected the pre-
mises of Som Distillery and
found that it had employed
child labour.
“Due to being in contact
with chemicals, the skin of
many children’s hands has
also been burnt. Action is
being taken to rescue the
children and register an
FIR. Notice is being issued
to the [State] government
to take action against the
excise officer,” Mr. Kanoon-
go wrote on X.
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
6 Sunday, June 16, 2024

News in Frames Chennai

X X
Work in progress: The king of Linga oversees the maintenance work being taken up by his son on their house. Household routine: The daughter-in-law of the king of Linga busy with daily chores.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4

ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4

X
Royal proclamation: Chatrasinh Bhavarsinh Suryavanshi shows a certificate from the Gujarat government. Though his position does not give him the right to rule, he is recognised as the King of Linga in Dang district.

King and commoner

Meet Chatrasinh Bhavarsinh Suryavanshi, the 39-year-old king of Linga in Dang district of Gujarat, who continues a tradition of tribal monarchy

D
ang in southeastern Gujarat is a
tribal district, with the major
tribes being Bhil, Konkani or
Kunbi and Warli. Dang has a monarchy,
with its very own king and a darbar too.
Started in 1842, the Dang darbar is one
of the oldest tribal events organised in
the State.
Initially, the darbar was an annual
Vijay Soneji meet held between the kings of five
soneji.v@thehindu.co.in tribal states — Vasurna, Gadhvi, Linga,
Daher and Pipri — under the British
rule. After the bifurcation of erstwhile
Bombay State into Gujarat and
Maharashtra in 1960, the Gujarat
government started giving all the Dang
kings an annual sum as a pension, and
they were felicitated every year during
the Dang darbar festival.
Chatrasinh Bhavarsinh Suryavanshi,
the 39-year-old king of Linga, says that
income from farming comes only
during the monsoon, and, after that,
the money from the State’s samiyana
(annual political pension) just about
sees him through. He has requested the
government to help him build a house.
Dang is famous for its forest — with
bamboo, teak and mahuda (butter tree)
— but as many other places, it is fast
losing its green cover notwithstanding
the heavy rainfall in the region. Local
CM
YK
people allege that a Forest Department
initiative to allow private bodies to fell
dead trees usually ends up with felling
of live trees, one of the reasons
resulting in the slow but sure denuding
of Dang forests. And this becomes very
evident during the summer season,
with Dang facing a drinking water
shortage, though the district has the
highest rainfall in Gujarat, says former
forester Vijay Bagul.
There may be very few districts in
the State that can equal the heritage
held by Dang. Folklore has it that Dang
was also known as “Dandakarnya”
during the period of the Ramayana, a
reason many folk songs here are replete
with stories from the epic. Stories place
the birth of Hanuman in Anjankund, in
Dang.
During the monsoon, the king rolls
up his sleeves and works shoulder to
shoulder with others in the village in X
farming. His family members too are Cleaning up: A tribal farmer burns paddy stubble in Linga. Farming is the main occupation here.
very hands-on with the work. But being
king, he has another important role in
society: to mediate during quarrels
among villagers. And perhaps, that is
the extent of his powers as king of
Linga, with 115 villages under his rule.
After the State’s bifurcation, 40 villages
went to Maharashtra.
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
Sunday, June 16, 2024 7
Chennai
News in Frames

X X
Fun time: Children playing in a primary school compound at Payarghodi village in Dang. Basic needs: The framework for a hut being built in Kumbharia village near Linga.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4

ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
X X
Storied peak: A view of the tribal village of Anjankund, believed by some to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Daily toil: A farmer ploughs a piece of land in Kosabia village in Dang district.

X
Finishing touch: A tribal woman applies cowdung on the walls of her new hut ahead of the monsoon at Anjankund village.
CM A IN-X
YK

8 Sunday, June 16, 2024
Why is a district
in Manipur on
edge?
After remaining unaffected by the
ethnic violence that began last May, why
is there a flare-up now at Jiribam?
Vijaita Singh
The story so far:
iribam district, located along National
J Highway-37 on the Assam and Manipur
border, is the latest target of violence in
the northeastern State. Manipur has been in the
throes of ethnic violence between the tribal
Kuki-Zo-Hmar people and the Meitei community
since May 3, 2023. Over 50,000 people have
been displaced and at least 221 killed so far.
What triggered the violence at Jiribam?
On June 6, Soibam Sarat Singh (59), a Meitei
farmer was found dead with injuries on his neck
around 5.30 pm. A resident of Sorok Atingbi in
Khunou, he had gone with his family to tend to
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
his farm. It is suspected that while returning, he
was allegedly abducted by three people and
killed at Mullargao, close to a Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) camp. The murder was
followed by the torching of homes of the tribal
Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities and the Meitei
people. Police pickets and a forest beat office
were also set on fire in the subsequent days.
Tribal groups allege that one person from the
Kuki-Zo community is missing.
What is the demographic profile of Jiribam?
The district with a population of around 50,000
people has a presence of 13 communities which
includes a large number of Hindu and Muslim
Bengalis and Nagas. There are around 5,000
Kuki-Zo and about 18,000 Meiteis who live in the
232 sq km area. Situated
The violence at around 220 kilometres
Jiribam apart, from Imphal, it is
cases of extortion surrounded on the east
and south by
and abductions
Tamenglong and
have increased Churachandpur districts
manifold in the respectively, and on the
valley areas, west and north by the
dominated by Cachar district of
Meiteis Assam. NH-37 which
passes through Jiribam,
connects Silchar in Assam and Imphal in
Manipur, and is important for the transport of
essentials to the valley areas of the State.
What has been the situation in past one year?
According to Achab Uddin, a Janata Dal (United)
MLA of Jiribam, the district witnessed violence
in the past but community leaders ensured that
large-scale violence did not break out. “A day
after the May 3, 2023 violence, we convened a
meeting with all community leaders and formed
peace committees. We were successful till June 6
this year when violence was reported. Though it
has been peaceful for the past four days, a
thorough investigation is needed as to who
instigated the violence,” said the MLA.
What is the current status?
The MLA pointed out that a bridge divides the
Kuki-Zo and Meitei villages. While each village
has its own bunkers or makeshift defence
structures, they were being dismantled by the
police and security forces in the aftermath of the
violence. He said around 800 Kuki-Zo have
taken refuge in the State of Assam while 900
Meiteis are living at seven camps in Jiribam.
The farmer’s family continues to stay in their
house and have demanded justice, Mr. Achab
Uddin said. A joint action committee of civil
society groups formed after the farmer’s murder
submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N.
Biren Singh and the police naming a Kuki-Zo
individual for committing the crime. They even
provided the vehicle number of the suspects.
What has been the police response?
On June 9, Chief Minister Singh sought a report
from the police regarding security measures
taken to contain the violence. The letter sent to
the Director General of Police (DGP) alleged that
the CM’s office had written three letters on
January 15, January 27 and January 31 apprising
them about the movement of “200 armed
Kuki-Zo militants” in areas bordering Jiribam but
no action was taken. A police source, however,
said the presence of forces is decided based on
security audit and since the district witnessed
negligible violence in the past, it had adequate
presence. Around 5,000 troops withdrawn from
the State for the general elections from
April-May were gradually returning. Around
36,000 personnel from the army and the
Central armed police force (CAPF) are deployed
in the State, with a sizeable presence in the
buffer zones, to segregate the areas inhabited by
the two warring communities.
The violence at Jiribam apart, cases of
extortion and abductions have increased
manifold in the valley areas, dominated by the
Meiteis. The presence of radical militant groups,
such as the Arambai Tenggol and the United
National Liberation Front (UNLF), has added to
the problems. Important security decisions are
being taken by the Unified Command headed by
Security Adviser, Kuldiep Singh, a former CRPF
Director General. Though appointed by the
Manipur government, he was handpicked by the
Centre and sent to Manipur on May 4 last year. A
source said this was done to provide a sense of
neutrality as the State police has also been
divided on community lines.
CM
YK
THE HINDU
FAQ
What is next for the Indian economy?
Will the reforms push be affected with a coalition government in place? Which are the sectors
that will get priority? Will there be challenges in tackling issues such as inflation, fiscal
consolidation, consumption, and taxation? What are the expectations from the Budget?
Vikas Dhoot
The story so far:
he National Statistical Office (NSO) has
T
estimated that India’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) grew 8.2% in 2023-24,
outperforming all economic
forecasters’ projections. The NSO number even
surpassed its own advance estimates that had
indicated a 7.6% uptick in GDP last year,
imputing a 5.9% rise in the January to March
2024 quarter from 8.4% in the third quarter.
However, the fourth quarter is now reckoned to
have clocked 7.8% growth, a tad slower than an
upgraded 8.6% rise in the previous three
months. Private consumption, a key metric that
the revival of industrial investments hinges on,
remained weak but was slightly better than in
the first half of the year.
What are the growth prospects for this year?
In its latest monetary policy review earlier this
month, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
projected a 7.2% GDP growth for 2024-25 as
opposed to its earlier estimate of 7%, with retail
inflation trending down to 4.5% from 5.4%
averaged last year. Initial indicators for the first
two months of this year suggest a sedate start.
Industrial output growth slowed to a
three-month low of 5% in April, as per data
Should recent market volatility be probed?
What happened in the stock market after the exit poll results? What are the allegations made by
Opposition parties? What are the rules on insider trading? What is SEBI’s role? Is a joint
parliamentary committee inquiry warranted?
Prashanth Perumal
The story so far:
he Indian stock market witnessed
T
extreme volatility right after the
release of the exit poll results earlier
this month and on June 4 when the
results of the latest Lok Sabha election were
declared. The benchmark indices, the Nifty and
the Sensex, have since managed to recover the
losses. The Congress alleged that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah
had manipulated the stock market through their
statements to favour certain investors.
What is the controversy about?
The Nifty and the Sensex gained 3.2% and 3.4%,
respectively, to hit all-time highs on June 3, the
first day of trading after the exit poll results,
which were released over the preceding
weekend, suggested that the BJP would win a
resounding majority in the election. The biggest
gainers were stocks of companies that were seen
to be close to the government, such as the Adani
Group stocks, and stocks of public sector
companies which were expected to benefit
during Mr. Modi’s third term in power. Both the
benchmark indices, however, slumped by
almost 6% the very next day after the actual
results failed to match exit poll predictions. The
decline on June 4, which was the worst
single-day fall in the stock market since March
2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic’s
Shocking claims: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shows a stock market
movement chart during a press conference in New Delhi, on June 6. AP
‘There is a released on June 12. Goods and Services Tax
broad (GST) collections, a proxy for consumption,
surged to a fresh high of over ₹2 lakh crore in
expectation
April, thanks to year-end compliances.
of
While collections in May, based on
continuity transactions concluded in April, were healthy
in too, the growth rate slipped to just under 10%,
government the lowest since July 2021. But some of this slack
policy’ could be spurred by the heat waves that have hit
several parts of the country this summer,
economists reckon. A projected above-normal
monsoon is expected to help farm output
rebound and perk up the rural economy. “We
expect GDP growth for 2024-25 to be around
7.3%-7.4%, with the base effect pulling down the
growth,” said Bank of Baroda chief economist
Madan Sabnavis. Rating agency CRISIL’s
estimate is a little lower than the RBI forecast at
6.8%, said its chief economist Dharmakirti Joshi.
Would a coalition govt. affect the economy’s
management and reform momentum?
Following the Lok Sabha election verdict, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has returned to office
for a third term as the head of a coalition
government this time. There is a broad
expectation of continuity in government policy,
with the Prime Minister retaining top ministers
with their portfolios unchanged, including
Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal at the
helm of key economic ministries of finance, and
commerce and industry, respectively. “We
expect India’s strong medium-term growth
outlook to remain intact, underpinned by the
government capex drive and improved
corporate and bank balance sheets. But upsides
to medium-term growth prospects are likely to
be more modest if reforms prove more
challenging to advance,” said Fitch Ratings
director Jeremy Zook.
While “broad policy continuity” is expected
in areas such as the thrust on public capex to
spur the economy and gradual fiscal
consolidation, a BJP-led government that needs
“to rely more heavily on its coalition partners”
could find it tougher to push contentious
reforms, particularly around land and labour,
recently flagged as the party’s priorities, he
noted. Moody’s Ratings was not as sanguine
about fiscal management prospects as Fitch. The
NDA’s “relatively slim margin of victory as well
as the BJP’s loss of its outright majority in
Parliament” may delay more far-reaching
economic and fiscal reforms that could impede
progress on fiscal consolidation, it said in a note.
GETTY IMAGES Moreover, it has cautioned that the near-term
A thorough outbreak in India, wiped out investor wealth
investigation worth about ₹30 lakh crore. Prior to the exit poll
based on results, the Prime Minister and the Home
Minister had made statements encouraging
more
investors to buy stocks before June 4 in order to
granular benefit after the election results.
data from
the What is the Opposition’s allegation?
exchanges The Congress has alleged that Mr. Modi and Mr.
can offer a Shah deliberately made comments exhorting
definite retail investors to purchase stocks before the day
of the election results and that this was an
answer to
attempt to manipulate the market to favour
whether certain foreign investors. To back this claim, the
there was party’s data wing head Praveen Chakravarthy
manipula- has drawn attention to the doubling of the value
tion of stocks traded for cash in the market on May
31, the last trading day before the release of the
exit poll results. The total value of stocks traded
on May 31 was ₹2.3 lakh crore against ₹1.1 lakh
crore the previous day. Mr. Chakravarthy has
noted that more than half the buying that
happened on May 31 came from foreign
investors and further added that foreign
investors were largely net sellers prior to May 31,
when they suddenly turned net buyers of stocks.
According to him, the PM’s statements
encouraging investors to buy stocks before June
4 would have benefited these foreign investors
who managed to load up on stocks before the
exit poll results gave a sharp 3% bump to the
stock market on Monday. The Opposition parties
claim that these foreign investors had insider
information about the exit poll results. They also
add that the foreign investors managed to
offload their stocks on Monday to retail investors
who were not just late to the party but also
suffered huge losses on Tuesday. The Opposition
parties have called for a joint parliamentary
committee ( JPC) to probe the matter.
What do the market regulator’s rules say?
The Securities and Exchange Board of India’s
Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade
Practices relating to Securities Market (FUTP)
Regulations state that “planting false or
misleading news which may induce sale or
purchase of securities” is illegal. But there are
exceptions. Comments on the overall market
trend when broadcast to the wider public
through mass media such as TV and
newspapers, are not considered to be the same
Chennai
economic momentum masks structural
weaknesses that pose risks to long-term
potential growth, such as “high levels of youth
unemployment”, “weakness in productivity
growth” in India’s large farm sector that still
accounts for 40% of all employment, and the
decline in inward foreign direct investment (FDI)
flows in each of the past three years.
What should one look for in the full-year
Union Budget to be presented next month?
Taking charge of the Finance and Corporate
Affairs Ministry this Wednesday, Ms. Sitharaman
has said the reforms drive initiated after 2014
with an eye on bolstering India’s
macroeconomic stability and growth, shall
continue. The ministry will kick off Budget
consultations with industry and other
stakeholders in the coming week. While Ms.
Sitharaman signalled that ‘ease of living’ for
citizens will be a key pursuit for the government,
industry expects the Budget to address ongoing
policy challenges such as reining in inflation,
spurring consumption and investments, and
untangling knotty taxation issues such as the
recently introduced 45-day payment deadline
mandate for micro, small and medium
enterprises that has inadvertently ended up
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
hurting them.
With the GST Council expected to meet next
week, the Budget may also indicate the Centre’s
plans to pursue rationalisation and reforms of
the indirect tax regime that completes seven
years on July 1. Some elements of the 100-day
agenda items drawn up by ministries should also
find space in the Budget, along with more
concrete details of initiatives announced in the
interim Budget presented before the polls. Ms.
Sitharaman, who has recently voiced the need
for Indian manufacturing to become more
sophisticated and be part of global value chains,
may also unveil some steps to catalyse this
transition, including a reduction in some of
India’s high import tariffs. While BJP allies like
the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata
Dal (United) will, of course, expect some
measures, or a package, to meet their
aspirations for Andhra Pradesh and Bihar,
respectively, at a broader level, this
administration’s first Budget is expected to
outline its agenda for this tenure and offer
glimpses of the blueprint to make India a
developed nation by 2047 that the Niti Aayog
has been drawing up. The last few decades of
India’s economic reforms story show that
coalitions have also been effective in driving
critical and contentious changes, such as the
privatisation drive kicked off by the Atal Bihari
Vajpayee government. This Budget could reveal
if this coalition-dependent government has a
fresh and possibly more consensual approach in
mind to deliver on India’s reform agenda.
as information secretly leaked to certain
investors to benefit from a coming market move.
If not for such exceptions, it would be
impossible for anyone to voice their opinion on
the market. So, experts contend that unless, say,
an investigation can prove that Mr. Modi acted in
collusion with certain investors to boost the
market prior to the exit poll results, there is
probably nothing illegal about his statement
urging investors to buy before June 4.
How has the Centre responded?
Union minister Piyush Goyal responded to the
Opposition’s accusations by arguing that foreign
investors actually bought stocks at a high price
and sold at a low price while Indian investors
deftly used the market’s volatility to sell high
and buy low. NSE data appeared to back this
contention as it shows the umbrella category of
‘retail investors’ were net sellers of stocks on
May 31 and June 3, when the market rose, while
they were net buyers of stocks worth ₹21,179
crore on June 4, when the markets crashed.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), meanwhile,
were net buyers on May 31 and June 3 when the
markets went up and were net sellers on the day
the markets crashed. Some market experts,
however, point to the fact that the NSE’s ‘retail
investors’ category includes not just small
ordinary retail investors but also non-resident
Indians (NRIs), HUFs, individual/proprietorship
firms and partnership firm /Limited Liability
Partnership (LLP) that encompass the
investment vehicles used by ultra high net worth
and high net worth individuals. These experts
observe that shares worth a net amount of more
than ₹21,000 crore were bought by ‘retail
investors’ from FPIs and domestic mutual funds
and that such heavy buying was unlikely to have
been done by small ‘retail investors’ alone.
Further, while FPIs bought stocks worth
₹96,155 crore on May 31, the highest-ever in
history, they also sold stocks worth ₹93,977
crore on the same day. In other words, despite
the sudden rise in trading activity, foreign
investors were not huge net buyers of stocks on
May 31. This is, however, not to categorically say
that there was no mischievous activity during
the day. Data on net purchases or sales may not
reflect how individual foreign investors with
insider information may have benefited.
Further, whether an investor group profited or
lost money can also depend on exactly when
during a trading session they managed to buy or
exit a stock regardless of whether the indices
closed higher or lower that day. Only a thorough
investigation based on granular data can offer an
answer to whether there was manipulation.
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
Sunday, June 16, 2024 9
PROFILES
Chennai

France’s rally towards the right

Rassemblement National
The far-right party, whose neo-fascist predecessor was once on the margins of French politics, is aiming to win the coming parliamentary polls under the leadership
of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, after trouncing President Macron’s centrists in the EU elections
ILLUSTRATION: R. RAJESH
Joan Sony Cherian the ideal candidate to lead the ON’s 2017 to 41% in 2022. A survey THE GIST
electoral party, the Front National published in December 2023 by 쑽

I
n the elections to the European
Parliament conducted from June
6 to 9 across the EU, France’s
far-right party, the
Rassemblement National (RN), or
National Rally, became the biggest
party nationally, winning 31.5% of the
vote while President Emmanuel
Macron’s coalition won just 14.6% of
the vote share. Prompted by the
results and in an attempt to dislodge
far-right forces, Mr. Macron called for
snap elections, which are to be held on
June 30 and July 7. However, experts
say this political gamble might fail as
the RN’s parliamentary party leader
and president, Marine Le Pen and
Jordan Bardella, respectively, have
gained much ground with the former
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
(FN), or the National Front, in 1972. Franceinfo and Le Monde showed that The National Rally’s roots go
However, the stint between the ON 45% of those interviewed believed the back to the Ordre Nouveau, the
and the FN was short-lived as Mr. Le RN “does not represent a danger for neo-fascist party, formed in
Pen quickly took over the reins of the democracy in France”, while 41% 1969, which called for banning
party. In the 1973 elections, the FN believed the opposite to be true. Ms. political parties and preserving
campaigned on the basis of Le Pen has also appealed to a much the ‘white race’
conservative values such as wider audience by defending women’s
‘depoliticising’ education, defending rights (in opposition to Islam’s 쑽
small businesses, asking mothers to patriarchal practices) and advocating The ON formed an electoral
stay home, etc., with the ON’s radical for environmentalism. party, the Front National (FN),
leanings nowhere to be found. which fought the 1973
Irrespective of the break from the The Bardella effect elections under the leadership
ON, Mr. Le Pen, while leading the FN The RN balances its protectionist of Jean Marie Le Pen, a
since its formation till 2011, did not economic policies with populist ones far-right veteran of the Algerian
gain widespread electoral approval. He such as increasing public spending. It war
ran for presidential elections five was severely critical of Mr. Macron’s
times, even qualifying for the second move to increase the age of retirement, 쑽
round in 2002, a major victory. At the and has promised to roll it back with Marine Le Pen, Jean Marie Le
same time, he has courted much time. Additionally, the RN has Pen’s daughter, later took over

being dubbed as one of the most
popular politicians in the country.
For a country which once had
‘Anything but Le Pen’ as its mantra,
the rise of the RN has come after years
of strategic manoeuvring. During this
phase, the RN, under Ms. Le Pen’s
leadership, has distanced itself from its
fascist roots, making it more
acceptable for French voters and
elites.
‘Devil of the Republic’
The roots of the RN go back to the
1960s, a tumultuous period in French
history. The Algerian war, which led to
the independence of the North African
country from France; the formation of
the Fifth Republic (France’s current
system of governance); and the May
1968 protests by university students
and trade unions, brought otherwise
scattered neo-Nazi and far-right groups
together, under a unified banner called
the Ordre Nouveau (ON), or New
Order, in 1969. A neo-fascist
organisation, it propounded ‘a defence
of the West’ by banning political
parties and establishing a fascist state.
It was also anti-immigrant and called
for preserving the ‘white race’.
However, fearing being left on the
fringes of political discourse, the ON
wished to enter the electoral domain.
It wanted a leader to become the
movement’s face. They chose Jean
Marie Le Pen. A veteran of the Algerian
war, the 44-year-old was considered
controversy over his anti-Semitic
remarks and attempts at holocaust
denial. Mainstream media and parties
considered him a threat to the very
idea of French democracy, dubbing
him as a ‘Devil of the Republic’.
A thorough detox
How then did the FN (now RN) rise in
popularity in France? There is usually
just one answer — Marine Le Pen. In
2011, Mr. Le Pen was succeeded by his
daughter as president of the FN.
Compared to her father, Ms. Le Pen
was seen as more moderate. She strove
to distance herself and the party from
his controversial statements. These
efforts eventually led to Mr. Le Pen’s
expulsion from the party in 2015. To
completely cut ties with her father, she
renamed the party from the National
Front (FN) to the Rassemblement
National (RN) in 2018.
However, such a rebranding was not
smooth. Ms. Le Pen had to roll back
some of her own contested opinions.
For example, in 2017, she said the Euro
was an ‘economic failure’, and that the
EU had become too globalist,
constraining France’s growth. She
advocated for ‘Frexit’, on the same
lines as that of the U.K’s Brexit. She has
now, however, softened the party’s
position and officially dubbed it as
being EU-sceptic.
The RN’s main policies are based
around immigration and ‘national
priority’. The party is completely
opposed to immigration. It calls for the
deportation of all ‘illegal’ immigrants,
strict border controls, the abolishment
of birthright citizenship, etc. The
burgeoning immigrant population and
the record number of refugees and
asylum seekers requesting entry into
France have made the once ‘extreme’
policies more inviting now.
Moreover, conspiracy theories such
as the ‘invasion by terrorists’ of France
and instances of violence where a
school teacher was killed by extremists
in 2020 for showing caricatures of the
Prophet Mohammed, and more
recently the killing of a 17-year-old boy
of Algerian and Moroccan descent by a
police officer, have created concerns
about safety and a possible cultural
clash in the country. The RN’s
spokespersons have always played up
the idea that certain immigrants (read
Muslims) are not properly ‘integrating’
into French culture and are not
adhering to the French principle of
‘laïcité’ (separation of religion and
state). Furthermore, the party
advocates for a ‘French first’ attitude,
wherein the RN promises French
citizens priority when it comes to
employment, housing and social
benefits.
The RN has thus grown as a populist
right-wing movement as can be seen in
Ms. Le Pen’s jump in vote share during
her presidential runs — from 34% in
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
promised to cut down VAT on energy, the reins of the party and
fuel and a number of other essential brought it to the mainstream
products. It has retained its hold over by dissociating herself from her
southern France, comprising rural father and rebranding FN as
towns, and has made inroads in the the National Rally
northern industrial province as well.
However, the appointment of Jordan
Bardella, the savvy 28-year-old protege
of Ms. Le Pen and possible prime
ministerial candidate of the RN, has
brought in even white-collar workers
to the fold. He is also appealing to the
youth who after the COVID-19
pandemic, the energy crisis due to the
Russia-Ukraine war and the ongoing
cost-of-living crisis have increasingly
shifted to the right as a reaction against
establishment politics.
With Mr. Bardella’s prowess and Ms.
Le Pen’s planning, the RN is set to win
the first round of the French election
with a 35% vote share, a recent poll
predicts. However, while the RN’s
policies are popular, it does not make
them devoid of their characteristic
‘extremeness’. The policy of ‘French
first’ is against the Constitution. Ms. Le
Pen had said she would call for a
referendum so as to change the
Constitution. Similarly, the RN’s
proposal to cut down VAT and bring
down the age of retirement could
increase France’s large debt burden,
currently estimated at over 5% of the
GDP. It remains to be seen whether the
RN’s populist policies and leadership
would come at the cost of the Fifth
republic.

A new beginning Rebel’s second turn

Mohan Charan Majhi Prem Singh Tamang
The BJP’s tribal face, who rose through party ranks to become Odisha’s Chief Minister, has great By winning 31 seats in the 32-member Assembly, the Sikkim Chief Minister’s SKM has emerged as
challenges to tackle and big shoes to fill the new dominant political force of the State
ILLUSTRATIONS: SREEJITH R. KUMAR
Satyasundar Barik the cynicism, saying he Rahul Karmakar tan Sankalp Yatra’ that cul-
was an efficient chairman minated in what came to

O N
n June 11, the day
he was chosen by
his party as the
next Chief Minister of Od-
isha, Mohan Charan Majhi
spent over two-and-a-half
hours near a mortuary,
comforting the grieving fa-
mily of his personal assis-
tant who had died in a road
accident earlier that day.
Mr. Majhi stayed by their
side until the post-mortem
was completed.
Mr. Majhi knew that he
was a front-runner for the
top job. BJP central obser-
vers were already in the
State. But he did not let his
aspirations get the better of
his values. Before finally
leaving for the BJP’s party
office, he made sure that
the family members of his
associate did not have to
face any hassle. This ap-
proach towards service
helped him win over the
trust of both the voters and
his party colleagues.
Mr. Majhi, the BJP’s pro-
minent tribal face of Od-
isha, looks calm and com-
posed even in the face of a
historic victory. After his
ascend to the top post, he
has already displayed that
his humble upbringing,
grounded values and dog-
gedness to get works done
would define his tenure.
Mr. Majhi has already
traversed a long distance in
his political journey: he be-
came a sarpanch on his de-
but and has won the Keonj-
CM
YK
har Assembly constituency
four times before holding
the CM’s post.
“The humility and es-
pousing people’s cause are
defining traits of his cha-
racter. He could go to any
length, even at the cost of
his own reputation, to
stand by his constituents,”
remarks Birakishore Mo-
hanta, a mentor who guid-
ed Mr. Majhi in the early
stages of his career.
Hailing from the Santal
tribe, Mr. Majhi began his
professional journey as a
teacher at Saraswati Sishu
Mandir, a school associat-
ed with the RSS, in Jhum-
pura, Keonjhar district,
earning a modest salary.
Assembly performance
When Mr. Majhi was first
elected to the Odisha As-
sembly in 2000, he was
shy, reticent and kept a dis-
tance from the complex
political circles. However,
by his second term as a le-
gislator in 2004, he be-
came more active, with the
party making him the de-
puty chief whip. During a
decade-long lean period af-
ter losing two consecutive
elections, he focused on
furthering his education.
On his return to the As-
sembly in 2019, Mr. Majhi
emerged as a key BJP lead-
er. With the Leader of Op-
position, Pradipta Naik,
bedridden due to CO-
VID-19, and his successor,
Jayanarayan Mishra, fre-
quently absent, Mr. Majhi
seized the opportunity to
become the leading voice
of the BJP in the Assembly.
He was credited to have
moved seven private mem-
ber Bills, including the Od-
isha Whistle Blowers’ Pro-
tection Bill, 2020, and the
Odisha Mahila Gram Sabha
Bill, 2021. Very few MLAs
come to the Assembly for
discussion as well-pre-
pared as Mr. Majhi.
Does humility alone
make someone a good
leader? Critics have raised
scepticism about his vi-
sion, pointing out that the
new CM lacks administra-
tive experience. However,
those who have closely
worked with him dismiss
of the Public Accounts
Committee.
During past five years,
Mr. Majhi had written
3,007 letters to the Central,
State and district authori-
ties to bring administrative
improvements in Keonj-
har, which boasts of having
India’s 25% of iron ore de-
posit in a single district,
but also has the dubious
distinction of having the
highest number of stunted,
underweight children and
anaemic pregnant women
in Odisha.
Despite facing humilia-
tion from the State govern-
ment and mining entities,
Mr. Majhi, the only opposi-
tion MLA in the district at
one point, did not step
back from taking up peo-
ple’s issues.
The new BJP CM has
never been apologetic
about his Sangh Parivar
connection. He was seen
openly supporting a cam-
paign for the release of Da-
ra Singh, who has been
sentenced to life imprison-
ment for the murder of
Australian missionary Gra-
ham Staines and his two
minor sons.
Now, as the BJP’s first
Chief Minister of Odisha,
the 52-year-old former RSS
worker has great responsi-
bilities on his shoulder and
pretty big shoes to fill, as
he replaced Naveen Pat-
naik, who led the State for
24 years.
amchi, about 2
hours drive from
Sikkim’s capital
Gangtok, sports two of the
tallest statues on earth.
One is the 87-foot statue of
Lord Shiva on the Solo-
phok Hill within the Char
Dham complex that hous-
es the replicas of some of
the major temples in India.
The other is the 118-foot
statue of Padmasambhava,
or Guru Rinpoche, the
Buddhist patron saint of
Sikkim.
The two projects, land-
marks in southern Sikkim’s
Namchi-Singhithang As-
sembly constituency, were
executed when Pawan Ku-
mar Chamling, leader of
the Sikkim Democratic
Front (SDF), was Chief Mi-
nister for a record 24 years
and 165 days. He was seen
invincible in Namchi-Sing-
hithang, a constituency he
held since its inception in
2009. But in this year’s
election, the Sikkim Kranti-
kari Morcha (SKM) of Chief
Minister Prem Singh Ta-
mang broke the SDF hold
in Namchi-Singhithang.
Mr. Tamang’s wife,
Krishna Kumari Rai
clinched a huge victory in
Namchi-Singhithang, while
the SKM won a landslide in
the Assembly election, al-
lowing Mr. Tamang, who
came to power five years
ago, to continue as Chief
Minister of the Himalayan
State.
Ms. Rai resigned as MLA
11 days after wresting Nam-
chi-Singhithang from the
SDF. It was perhaps the
SKM’s answer to Mr. Cham-
ling’s pre-poll barb that Mr.
Tamang practised ‘pari-
waar-tan’ — a pun on ‘pari-
vartan (change) — by let-
ting members of his family
run the government.
Rise of the rebel
Politics in Sikkim, an erst-
while Himalayan kingdom
that merged with the In-
dian Union in 1975, has re-
volved around regional sa-
traps. Each ceded power to
a rebellious protege or col-
league who went on to
form another party. The
trend began with Mr.
Chamling’s SDF dislodging
Nar Bahadur Bhandari’s
Sikkim Sangram Parishad
(SSP) from power in 1994.
Mr. Chamling was a Mi-
nister in Mr. Bhandari’s Ca-
binet from 1989 to 1992 be-
fore the two fell out. The
SDF chief had a taste of his
own medicine when Mr.
Tamang, one of his Minis-
ters, rebelled to chart a dif-
ferent path.
Better known by his
clan’s name Golay, the 56-
year-old Mr. Tamang be-
came a government teach-
er in 1990, two years after
graduating from the Dar-
jeeling Government Col-
lege under North Bengal
University. He quit his job
after joining the SDF in
1993 and won his first elec-
tion the following year
from the Soreng-Chakung
constituency, defeating the
SSP’s Tika Gurung by a
margin of 1,606 votes.
He served as a Minister
in the Chamling govern-
ment handling several
portfolios from 1994 to
2009. Cracks began to ap-
pear in the alliance bet-
ween Mr. Tamang and Mr.
Chamling soon after his
2009 electoral victory
from the Upper Burtuk
seat. He rejected the SDF’s
offer to make him the
chairperson of the Indus-
tries Department instead
of continuing as a Minister.
The two leaders began
drifting apart after Mr. Ta-
mang launched a ‘Parivar-
be known as Rolu Picnic, a
political conclave held at a
stadium in south Sikkim on
December 21, 2009.
Mr. Tamang resigned
from the SDF in September
2013 and founded the SKM
a month later. In the 2014
Assembly elections, he led
the SKM to victory in 10
seats in the 32-member As-
sembly. Between 2015 and
2016, the SKM lost seven
MLAs to the SDF. Mr. Ta-
mang was disqualified
from the Assembly and
convicted for “misappro-
priating government
funds”. He was sentenced
to a year in prison with a
fine of ₹10,000. But he did
not quit fighting.
In the 2019 elections,
the SKM won 17 seats, two
more than the SDF. Mr. Ta-
mang was sworn in as Sik-
kim’s sixth Chief Minister
in May that year. And in the
2024 election, the SKM
won 31 seats, while the SDF
was reduced to one.
“The SDF lost because
they could not do in 25
years what we did in five.
The overwhelming man-
date is a challenge to live
up to the people’s expecta-
tions,” says Mr. Tamang.
A member of a Sche-
duled Tribe, he says he will
continue with the govern-
ment’s “pro-poor” benefi-
ciary programmes, while
pursuing “ecologically via-
ble” projects to develop
Sikkim.
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
10 Sunday, June 16, 2024

SCIENCE
Chennai

New fabric found to make urban ‘heat islands’ more bearable SNAPSHOTS
쑽

The Hindu Bureau
As global temperatures
and urban populations
rise, the world’s cities have
become “urban heat is-
lands,” with tight-packed
conditions and thermal ra-
diation emitting from pave-
ment and skyscrapers trap-
ping and magnifying these
temperatures. With 68% of
all people predicted to live
in cities by 2050, this is a
growing, deadly problem.
In a paper published in
Science, researchers from
the University of Chicago
detail a new wearable fa-
bric that can help urban re-
sidents survive the worst
impacts of massive heat
caused by global climate
change, with applications
in clothing, building and
car design, and food stor-
age.
Test results
In tests under the Arizona
sun, the material kept 2.3
degrees Celsius cooler
than the broadband emit-
ter fabric used for outdoor
endurance sports and 8.9
degrees Celsius cooler
than the commercialised
silk commonly used for
shirts, dresses and other
summer clothing. This, the
team hopes, will help ma-
ny avoid the heat-related
hospitalisations and deaths
seen in global population
centres this year alone.
Existing cooling fabric
for outdoor sports works
by reflecting the sun’s light
in a diffuse pattern so it
does not blind onlookers.
But in an urban heat is-
land, the sun is only one
source of heat. While the
sun bakes from above,
thermal radiation emitted
from buildings and pave-
ment blast city-dwellers
with blistering heat from
the sides and below. About
97% of the clothes are be-
ing heated by the thermal
radiation coming at them
from the sides and below,
which broadband emitter
fabric does not fight. This
means many materials that
perform well in lab tests
will not help city-dwellers
in Arizona,Southeast Asia
and China when massive
heat waves hit them.
The University of Chica-
go team’s new textile,
which has received a provi-
sional patent, can help
provide a passive cooling
system that can supple-
ment and reduce the need
for energy- and cost-inten-
sive systems.
The applications go far
beyond clothing. A thicker
version of the fabric pro-
tected by an invisible layer
of polyethylene could be
used on the sides of build-
ings or cars, lowering inter-
nal temperatures and re-
ducing the cost and carbon
impact of air conditioning.
Similarly, the material
could be used to transport
and store milk and other
foods that would other-
wise spoil in the heat, cut-
Antimalarials may relieve
ting refrigeration’s impact. polycystic ovary syndrome
Plant-derived compounds best known for their
antimalarial properties relieve polycystic ovary

Gene therapy offers hope for

syndrome, a major public health problem that
affects millions of women worldwide. These
compounds, called artemisinins, achieve their
effect by suppressing ovarian androgen
production in multiple rodent models as well as

patients with hearing loss in a small cohort of human patients. Nineteen

women taking dihydroartemisinin, a drug used
to treat malaria, for 12 weeks substantially
reduced key PCOS biomarkers.
It is widely estimated that approximately 50-60% of congenital hearing loss cases are attributed to genetic causes; among
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4

ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
the various populations, genetic variants play a significant role

Vinod Scaria showed significant im-

Rahul Bhoyar provement in all patients
reported and all patients
earing loss is regained the ability to un-

H one of the
most prevalent
disorders and
it is estimated that over
one billion people suffer
from hearing loss and ap-
proximately one-two chil-
dren in every 1,000 births
are born with congenital
hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a com-
plex condition that can re-
sult from a variety of envi-
ronmental and genetic
factors including ear infec-
tions. Often, hearing loss
serves as symptoms indi-
cating defects or patholo-
gies in the ear’s process
that converts sound into
electrical signals sent to
the brain.
It is widely estimated
that a significant majority,
amounting to approxi-
mately 50-60% of congeni-
tal hearing loss cases, are
attributed to genetic caus-
es. Among the various
populations, genetic var-
iants play a significant role.
For example, mutations in
the GJB2 gene are the most
common genetic cause of
hearing loss in Caucasian,
Asian and Hispanic popu-
lations. In Africa, the
MYO15A and ATP6V1B1
genes are more frequently
implicated.
In total, over two dozen
genes have been linked to
genetic causes of hearing
loss. Besides genomic mu-
tations, mitochondrial ge-
netic defects can also lead
to hearing impairment. Ge-
netic variants could also
play a role in the complex
interplay with other fac-
tors, like medications. For
instance, a prevalent ge-
netic defect in the mito-
chondrial MTRNR1 gene
can predispose individuals
to hearing loss when admi-
nistered with the amino-
glycoside antibiotics, wide-
ly used in treatment of TB.
Emerging therapies
Correction of the gene de-
fect underlies the genetic
cause of hearing loss, and
therefore gene therapy and
genome editing have been
touted as one of the possi-
ble emerging therapies for
hereditary or genetic caus-
es of hearing disability.
Gene therapy typically in-
volves replacing or supple-
menting a dysfunctional
gene with normal or func-
tional genes. There are a
number of molecular ap-
proaches that have been
widely used for such re-
placement or supplemen-
tation.
Adeno-associated virus
(AAV) is one of the most
well-studied and widely
used vectors for this pur-
pose. AAV offers several
advantages: it is a safe vec-
tor, as it does not cause hu-
man diseases, and it can
infect both dividing and
non-dividing cells, thus
having a broad spectrum
of cells it can target for ge-
netic editing.
In a recent report pu-
blished in Nature Medicine,
Chinese researchers pro-
vide early promise towards
using gene therapy for at
least one genetic hearing
loss. Researchers at the Fu-
dan University, in collabo-
ration with a number of re-
search and clinical centres
in China, proposed that
gene therapy could effec-
tively treat a form of genet-
ic deafness involving the
OTOF gene, known as he-
reditary deafness 9. Muta-
tions in the OTOF gene ac-
count for approximately
2-8% of all genetic hearing
loss cases. In this clinical
trial, researchers em-
ployed Adeno-associated
virus vectors with the in-
tention of inserting a
healthy OTOF gene into pa-
tients’ ears using a harm-
less virus. All patients ex-
perienced improved
hearing in both ears. In-
itially performed on one
ear, the study was expand-
ed to test bilateral (both
ears) therapy in five pae-
diatric patients.
The researchers in the
report suggest that no sev-
ere side effects were ob-
served, while among the
recorded 36-odd minor
side effects, the most com-
mon were increased lym-
phocyte counts and chol-
esterol levels apart from an
increase in lactate dehy-
drogenase levels, which is
a marker for tissue damage
in the body. Hearing tests
derstand speech and lo-
cate sound sources. The
promising results indicate
that AAV gene therapy is
safe and effective for treat-
ing hereditary hearing dis-
ability.
Set of caveats Gene editing prolongs life
While the initial results are
encouraging, Adeno-asso-
of pig kidney transplants
ciated virus vectors come A new study shows how gene editing and
with their own set of ca- immune suppression strategies can prolong the
veats. The foremost being survivability of pig kidney transplants.The
that our immune system findings indicate that genetically modifying
can recognise and elimi- donor pigs could extend transplant lifespans and
nate the virus making it improve clinical outcomes. Kidneys from pigs
less effective in individuals that had three genes knocked out and expressed
who are immunised, and seven human transgenes were transplanted into
also limits the re-adminis- three macaques, which didn’t show
tration of the gene therapy antibody-mediated rejection of the organs, and
vector, since the primary the transplanted kidneys survived until
administration would pro- immunosuppression was withdrawn.
duce antibodies against the
virus. Previous studies
have suggested that ap-
proximately one-fifth to
one-third of the patients
have neutralising antibo-
dies against AAV.
The present report is li-
mited by the small number
of patients studied and re-
ported over a short follow-
up period. However, it is
encouraging that the clini-
cal trial is ongoing and lon-
ger-term follow-up data of
the patients would be avail-
able soon. While the re-
Migraine drug weakens
sults are encouraging and
provide immense hope, we
leukemic stem cells in mice
are not yet on a firm A drug approved for the treatment of migraines
ground to assert that gene can also disrupt energy-producing processes that
therapy for hearing loss is fuel hardy leukemic stem cells, according to a
paving the way towards a new study in mice. The findings show that the
sound future. medication, named lomerizine, could sensitise
(Vinod Scaria is a consul- treatment-resistant leukemia tumors to drugs
tant at Vishwanath Cancer such as imatinib, suggesting a new potential type
Care Foundation, and Ra- of combination therapy. Combining imatinib and
hul Bhoyar is a senior scien- lomerizine shrank chronic myeloid leukemia
tist at Karkinos Healthcare. tumors in mice, suppressed leukemic stem cells,
Opinions are personal) and prolonged survival.

Study reveals alarming economic burden of TB treatment

Maitri Porecha
A study of 1,482 TB patients
across four States revealed
shockingly high rates of catas-
trophic costs, with 30% to 61%
experiencing financial hard-
ship exceeding 20% of pre-TB
annual household income
mainly due to delays in diag-
nosis and income loss because
of unemployment during long
TB treatment.
The study was con-
ducted by the George Institute
for Global Health, New Delhi,
Indira Gandhi Government
Medical College (Nagpur), and
the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine
(U.K.) and studied the patients
from Assam, Maharashtra, Ta-
mil Nadu, and West Bengal
from March 2019 to Septem-
ber 2022.
Of the cohort, 529 patients
from the general population,
526 patients from urban slum
areas and 427 patients from
tea garden areas, from 118 TB
units and 182 tea gardens
across 16 districts from four
States. Results of the study
CM
YK
were published in the jour-
nal PLOS Global Public
Health.
The study notes that of par-
ticular concern was the fact
that for over half of the partici-
pants who faced catastrophic
cost, costs became catas-
trophic even before com-
mencing TB treatment due to
delays in diagnosis.
Delay in detection
“The average delay of seven-
nine weeks from symptom on-
set to treatment initiation,
twice the accepted delay pe-
riod, resulted in substantial fi-
nancial burdens from repeat-
ed consultations, tests, and
travel expenses… During that
period, they made an average
eight to eleven visits to diffe-
rent providers…,” it states.
“Reason of much higher
pretreatment cost for extra-
pulmonary TB patients was
expenses incurred in tests for
confirming TB, as they were
not available in government
hospitals and patients relied
on private labs for these tests,”
the study says.
Protracted: There was a delay of seven-nine weeks from TB symptom
onset to treatment initiation. GETTY IMAGES
According to the human
capital approach, which mea-
sures lost productivity but
does not capture indirect
costs due to reduced produc-
tivity, for patients among the
general population, treatment
cost (out-of-pocket expendi-
ture) ranged between ₹32,829-
₹34,315. For urban slum
dwellers this ranged from
₹30,782-₹30,806, while for tea
garden workers this was
₹22,981-₹29,960.
In the output approach,
which was the second form of
modelling, reduced produc-
tivity in the form of income
loss was captured and treat-
ment costs soared to ₹30,347
for tea garden families,
₹57.992 for urban slum dwell-
ers and ₹61,181 for general
population patients.
Most tea garden families
and slum dwellers had pre-TB
annual income ranging from
under ₹50,000 to under
₹2,50,000, and a total cost of
treating TB which ranged
from under ₹50,000 to
₹1,00,000.
The patients were inter-
viewed during five to six
Question Corner
months of treatment and
about
treatment.
one-year post
Pigeon proximity
This delay can be reduced
by ensuring early case detec- Does seeking social proximity to the other
tion through intense engage- proximity improve flight pigeon; the remembered
ment with private providers routes among pigeons? route; and general
as 71-75% of our study partici- consistency, since the
pants from general popula- A new study looked at the birds are unlikely to make
tion and urban slum dwellers social influences on pigeon erratic turns. The younger
first visited private providers flight routes. Researchers agent benefits from the
after symptom onset and have found that flight older agent by learning the
through active case finding. paths are improved as route. However, it also
Further, reimbursement of younger birds learn the shows that the older agent
expenses incurred in the pre- route from older birds, benefits from the younger
treatment phase through leading to overall more agent. Since younger
health insurance can also pro- efficient routes over agents are not following an
tect TB patients from the de- generations. The internal route, they are
vastating economic conse- researchers compared the more oriented to the final
quences. pigeon flight data to a destination. The agents’
However, the study showed computer model that desire for social proximity
poor health insurance cover- prioritised four main between the two balances
age and limited usage among factorsrepresenting what these draws, leading to an
study participants, therefore, might be involved in overall more efficient
improved insurance coverage choosing a flight path with route.
and reimbursement of ex- minimal cognition,
penses through insurance can including: direction to the
Readers may send their questions /
play a crucial role in reducing goal, representing the answers to
catastrophic cost. bird’s internal compass; questioncorner@thehindu.co.in
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
Sunday, June 16, 2024 11
Chennai
Business

INBRIEF
쑽 Hyundai India unit files for IPO Textiles,
apparel
exports grew
Offer for sale of 142,194,700 equity shares by South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company entails a likely dilution of about 15-20%
stake by the parent; IPO’s size of about ₹25,000 crore, if it goes through as sources had suggested, would be India’s largest
9.7% in May
M. Soundariya Preetha
Press Trust of India had confirmed that Hyun- share-sale by an automak- COIMBATORE
NEW DELHI dai Motor was looking to er in over two decades, fol-
raise at least $3 billion lowing Maruti Suzuki’s list- Textiles and apparel ex-

H
yundai Motor In-
dia Ltd. (HMIL),
Greaves Electric unveils the unit of South
Korean automaker Hyun-
Ampere Nexus at ₹1.09 lakh dai, has filed initial papers
with SEBI for an initial pu-
Greaves Electric Mobility Pvt. Ltd., the e-mobility blic offering (IPO).
division of Greaves Cotton Ltd., unveiled its latest The IPO, if it goes
family electric scooter Ampere Nexus here for through as reportedly en-
₹1.09 lakh (ex-showroom) Chennai. Company ED visaged, would be the lar-
and CEO K. VIjaya Kumar formally unveiled the gest in India, surpassing
product in the city. The e-scooter will be LIC’s ₹21,000 crore share
available at 11 touchpoints of Ampere in Chennai, sale.
as per a statement. The Ampere Nexus is entirely The proposed IPO is en-
designed and developed at the company‘s tirely an offer for sale (OFS)
factory at Ranipet in Tamil Nadu. PTI of 142,194,700 equity
Candy Toy eyes $2 lakh in
monthly revenue via UAE unit India an important market for us,
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Gaining speed: Hyundai’s will be the first IPO by an automaker in
over 2 decades, following Maruti Suzuki’s listing in 2003. REUTERS
shares by Hyundai Motor
Company, with no fresh is-
sue component, according
to the draft red herring
prospectus (DRHP).
In February, sources
(about ₹25,000 crore)
through an IPO. It may di-
lute 15-20% stake in HMIL
to raise funds, they added.
Since the public issue is
completely an OFS, HMIL,
the second largest carmak-
er in India after Maruti Su-
zuki India, will not receive
any proceeds of the IPO.
Automaker IPO
This development marks a
significant milestone for
the Indian industry as it
will be the first initial
ing in 2003.
In its draft papers, HMIL
said it expects that the list-
ing of the equity shares
“will enhance our visibility
and brand image and pro-
vide liquidity and a public
market for the shares”.
HMIL commenced oper-
ations in 1996 and current-
ly sells 13 models across
segments. It reported a 7%
year-on-year increase in to-
tal sales at 63,551 units in
May 2024. Exports grew
31% in May to 14,400 units
NCLT orders
Supertech
ports registered a 9.7%
growth in May this year
compared with the same
period in 2023 and apparel
exports saw a year-on-year
(YoY) decline of 16% in
April, giving a boost to the
domestic industry.
Exports in May were
worth $3,089.19 mn rising
from $2,816.1 mn last May.
While textiles exports grew
9.59% YoY in May, apparel
exports rose by 9.84%.
‘Rise in global demand’
Import of textile yarn, fa-
brics and made-ups de-
clined 0.45% in April-May
2024, against the same pe-
riod last year. Apparel im-
ports fell 16% in April com-

Indore-based Candy Toy Corporate, which has
two brands SM Toys and Hoppins, will says Emirates CCO Adnan Kazim
commission a plant in Jebel Ali, Dubai, by the
end of this month. Director Gaurav Mirchandani
said the plant will initially run on a trial basis and Jagriti Chandra
scale up production later. It is expected to yield a DUBAI
revenue of $ 2,00,000 a month. The firm is into
production of candy and promotional toys and India is an important mar-
sees huge potential in GCC countries. In India, it ket for Emirates, and re-
can now produce 10.2 million toys per day. ceives the largest number
of flights operated by it
across its global network,
Chief Commercial Officer
Portfolio management firm Adnan Kazim said about
the recent decision to an-
Unifi unveils two new funds nounce Ahmedabad and
Mumbai among the first set
Unifi Capital, a portfolio management firm, has of destinations to be con-
introduced two new funds via its subsidiary nected by Airbus A350.
‘Unifi Investment Management LLP (UIML)’ at “India is an important
GIFT City, IFSC in Gujarat. The primary offering market,” Mr. Kazim told
is the Rangoli India Fund, an Inbound Category The Hindu recently on the
III AIF registered with SEBI as a Category 1 FPI. It sidelines of IATA Annual
invests in Indian companies that are beneficiaries General Meeting 2024. “It
of growing middle-class and household income. always gets some attention
The second fund is the G20 Portfolio, an from Emirates such as
Outbound PMS, currently in the works. when we are deploying a
new product.” India has 171
weekly flights, followed by
133 weekly flights to the
U.K. and 96 weekly flights
to the U.S., he said.
In May, the airline an-
nounced the first set of
nine destinations to be
served by its A350 aircraft
that will join the fleet from
September. The airline will
be taking delivery of 10 of
the planes by March 2025.
These will be deployed for
Mumbai and Ahmedabad
from October 27.
The first 10 Emirates
A350 aircraft will offer
three cabin classes viz. 32
next generation Business
Class seats, 21 seats in Pre-
mium Economy, and 259
Economy Class seats with
improved legroom.
So, does this mean a de-
parture from First Class for
Emirates? Mr. Kazim dis-
missed the suggestion.
“We are fully committed
behind the first class. All
our 777-8s and 777-9s
(which will be delivered)
until 2038 will have the
first class offering with 14
of them onboard,” he said
while explaining the deci-
sion to not have them for
the A350s was because the
markets they were being
deployed on were those
where traffic was heavier
for Business and Premium
Economy classes.
On high airfares, Mr. Ka-
zim said there were multi-
ple factors, including ca-
pacity gap apart from
supply-chain issues and
crude oil price remaining
above $80 per barrel. Du-
bai has also requested the
Indian government to raise
bilateral seat capacity by
50,000 seats per week
from the current 66,000.
(The writer was in Dubai
at the invitation of IATA)
Realtors into
IBC process
Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI
The National Company
Law Tribunal (NCLT) has
ordered insolvency pro-
ceedings against Supertech
Realtors, which is develop-
ing residential apartments,
office, retail and luxury ho-
tel at its Supernova project.
A Delhi bench of NCLT
admitted the insolvency
plea filed by the Bank of
Maharashtra over a default
of ₹168.04 crore and ap-
pointed Anju Agarwal as
interim resolution profes-
sional (IRP), suspending
the board of Supertech
Realtors, a step-down sub-
sidiary of Supertech.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
pared with last April and
for the period January to
April, apparel imports
were 18.4% lesser than Ja-
nuary-April, 2023.
According to the Con-
federation of Indian Textile
Industry secretary general
Chandrima Chatterjee, a
slight improvement in glo-
bal demand is leading to
better exports of Indian
textiles and apparel.
‘Lower imports’
On the import front, Ban-
gladesh and China are two
major countries from
where India imports gar-
ments. Better demand
from the western markets
and higher production
costs in Bangladesh could
be reasons for the fall in
imports. However, it needs
to be seen whether this
trend will continue in im-
ports, she said.

‘Urge Indians to use MM Forgings to commence production of e-motors soon

Zayed International N. Anand
CHENNAI
as Dubai airport is Automotive components
manufacturer MM Forg-
reaching its capacity’ ings Ltd. (MMF), through
its subsidiary Abhinava Ri-
zel, will start producing EV
The Hindu Bureau motors of up to 100 kilo-
NEW DELHI
watt by June end, said a top
executive.
“We are gearing to pro-
duce motors up to 100 kilo-
watt by June end,” CMD Vi-
dyashankar Krishnan said
during an interaction.
“The production has
been slightly delayed as we
are yet to get EB power. Be-
sides, making Permanent
Magnet Synchronous Mo-
tors, we will also add gear-
boxes and controllers.”
Besides, one more line
will be erected by January
2025 to produce motors of
up to 160 kilowatt, though
the subsidiary has the abil-
ity to design motors up to
300 kilowatts.
Abhinava Rizel can pro-
duce powertrain compo-
nents for two- and three-
wheelers and LCVs.
In FY24, MMF produced
85,000 tonne of forgings
and sold 77,000 tonne.
This fiscal, MMF aims at
producing 92,000-95,000
tonne, a growth of 10-12%,
for which it will be focus-
ing on front axle beams,
knuckles and crankshafts.
Of the proposed capex
of ₹500 crore, ₹300 crore
will come from internal ac-
cruals and balance via bor-
rowings. About ₹75 crore
will be spent on EVs, ₹250
crore on machining and
₹175 crore for forgings. “We
are targeting to more than
double the revenue of
₹1,552 crore,” he said.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Interna-

tional Airport with an ex-
panded capacity and a
new terminal building will
be a good “solution” for
passengers at a time when
footfalls at Dubai airport
are expected to breach its
capacity, according to its
CEO Elena Sorlini.
“Dubai airport has hit its
capacity, they will grow a
bit more but they will need
expansion at Dubai World
Centre. But we are here
now to cater to the extra
demand. I think we are go-
ing to provide good solu-
tions until they are going to
be ready,” Ms. Sorlini told
The Hindu during an on-
line interaction.
India is the largest mar-
ket for Abu Dhabi, enjoy-
ing 21% of the market share
with 4.78 million passen-
gers annually. In the
month of May, 28% of the
total flight movements (ar-
rivals and departures)
were to and from India.
Zayed International Air-
port - one of five airports in
Abu Dhabi, recorded 22.5
million passengers last
year and expects this to
grow to 27 million passen-
gers by the end of 2024. It
has a total capacity of 45
million passengers, which
can be expanded to 65 mil-
lion passengers.
‘Unique experience’
“India is the fastest grow-
ing market, and therefore
the interest that it stays re-
levant for all of UAE,” Ms.
Sorlini said.
Passengers can expe-
rience a beautiful building
which is a piece of art and
a high level of service, Ms.
CM
YK
Elena Sorlini, MD and CEO, Abu
Dhabi Airports
India biggest market
for Abu Dhabi with
21% market share
and 4.78 million
annual passengers
Sorlini said about the new
terminal that began opera-
tions in November 2023.
Spread over 7,42,000 sq
metre, the terminal can
process up to 11,000 pas-
sengers per hour and oper-
ate 79 aircraft at any given
time. It also has 160 retail,
food and beverage outlets.
“The level of attention
to the customer we offer is
peculiar. Passengers are at
the centre of our focus,
whether it is retail, food
and beverages and biomet-
ric experience for faster
and safer passenger pro-
cessing. There are also a lot
of people on the ground to
provide passenger assis-
tance. The airport is also
intuitive such as enabling
passengers to locate their
boarding gates. There is no
need to take a train and
change terminals, as it is all
under one roof. For de-
parting passengers too
there is one access point,”
Ms. Sorlini said explaining
the airport’s benefits.
SBI Mutual Fund
assets grow faster
than SBI’s deposits
Suresh P. Iyengar
K. Ram Kumar
MUMBAI
Thanks to booming equity
markets and growing in-
vestment culture, the as-
sets under management of
SBI Mutual Fund are grow-
ing faster than the domes-
tic fixed deposits of its pa-
rent, State Bank of India.
The AUM of SBI MF was
up 27% in the financial
year ending March to ₹9.14-
lakh crore against ₹7.17-
lakh crore in the same pe-
riod last year, as per the As-
sociation of Mutual Funds
in India data. In compari-
son, the domestic deposits
of SBI increased 11% in the
same period to ₹47.24-lakh
crore against ₹42.53-lakh
crore logged in the pre-
vious year.
Similarly, SBI MF assets
rose 11% in FY23 while
domestic deposits mopped
up by parent rose 8%. Rid-
ing high on buoyant equity
markets and record mop-
up via new fund offers, SBI
MF crossed ₹10-lakh crore
of average AUM on June 3.
Taking risks
Palka Arora Chopra, Direc-
tor of Master Capital Ser-
vices said MFs are narrow-
ing the gap with traditional
bank deposits as investors
demonstrate a willingness
to assume a small risk in fa-
vour of potentially higher
returns. As investors be-
come financially literate
and seek avenues for bet-
ter returns, MFs are seen as
attractive alternatives to
traditional bank deposits.
Rajiv Anand, DMD, Axis
Bank, at a recent IMC
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Banking sum-
mit said retail investors can
invest as little as ₹250 in a
MF scheme and the cost of
entry is zero, thereby ena-
bling financial inclusion.
Currently, SBI offers a
maximum interest rate of
7% on domestic retail term
deposits of 2-3 years. In
sharp contrast, SBI Mag-
num Gilt fund delivered an
8.45% return over two
years while SBI Flexi Cap
has given 20%.
(The writer is with The
Hindu businessline)
FSSAI orders
spice brands
to halt sales
after failing
lab tests
Meenakshi Verma
Ambwani
NEW DELHI
The Food Safety and Stan-
dards Authority of India
(FSSAI) is learnt to have
asked some spice brands to
stop the sale of certain
batches of their products
after receiving adverse lab
reports.
It initiated a pan-India
sampling and exhaustive
testing drive of various
spice brands on April 22.
This comes at a time
when Indian spice brands
are under heightened scru-
tiny from FSSAI as well as
some international regula-
tors. “Over 4,000 samples
of spices were picked up as
part of the pan-India test-
ing drive. We have received
lab reports of about 2,000
samples. About 100 sam-
ples failed on certain pa-
rameters such as pesti-
cides. These food business
operators have been asked
to stop sale of batches of
their products that failed
the tests,” officials told
businessline.
As per procedures,
these brands can appeal
this decision and request
the samples to be retested.
(The writer is with The
Hindu businessline)
NPS: Private sector leads
39% NPS asset surge to
₹2.42-lakh cr. till June
K.R. Srivats
NEW DELHI
Aided by a strong show
from the private sector, the
overall National Pension
System (NPS) assets under
management (AUM) grew
by a robust 28% to ₹12.28-
lakh crore as of June 8, ac-
cording to the latest
PFRDA data.
The private sector,
which has been behind
NPS assets’ sharp increase
in recent years, continues
to lead the charge with a
whopping year-on-year
growth of 39.02% at ₹2.42-
lakh crore as of June 8, it
showed.
However, this is much
lower than the government
sector NPS assets under
management of ₹9.43-lakh
crore, which are up 25%.
Private subscribers rise
As of June 8, the number of
private sector subscribers
— both corporate and all-ci-
tizen models — stands at
56.47 lakh, up 18.53% YoY.
The number of sub-
scribers in the corporate
category stood at 20.13
lakh. About 15,900 compa-
nies are part of NPS and go-
vernment sector subscrib-
ers total 93 lakh.
The growing signifi-
NPS AUM doubled to
₹10-lakh crore as of
August 25 last year
from ₹5-lakh crore
in just 2.10 years
cance of the private sector
in the NPS is evident, as its
AUM share increased from
13.1% in March 2019 to 20%
in March 2024.
Also, the share of priv-
ate subscribers in NPS in-
creased from 21.6% in
March 2019 to 37.5% in
March 2024.
Subscriber onboarding
In 2023-24, as many as 9.47
lakh subscribers (both go-
vernment and private sec-
tor) onboarded NPS.
Of these new subscrib-
ers, 8.10 lakh were from
the ‘all citizen model’ and
1.37 lakh were corporate
employees. The number of
new NPS and APY sub-
scriber registrations till
June 9 stood at 1,47,901,
PFRDA data showed.
Pension assets as a per-
centage of GDP are about
16.5%, while the same ratio
in developed countries like
the U.K., the U.S. and Aus-
tralia is beyond 100%.
The same ratio of OECD
countries was 81% in 2022.
Further, for some Scandi-
navian countries like Den-
mark, the Netherlands and
Iceland, it was more than
200% in 2021.
Growth journey
The rapid growth of overall
NPS assets is evident, as
they reached the ₹10-lakh
crore mark only in August
last year. In nine months,
the overall assets of NPS
have jumped ₹2-lakh crore,
PFRDA data showed.
After its implementation
in 2009, the NPS took six-
and-a-half years to reach
the milestone of ₹1-lakh
crore AUM. It then took
four years and 11 months to
hit the AUM to ₹5- lakh
crore. The NPS AUM had
doubled to ₹10-lakh crore
as of August 25 last year
from ₹5-lakh crore in just
two years and ten months.
(The writer is with The
Hindu businessline)
A IN-X

12
SYDNEY
Chinese Premier Li Qiang calls for Ukraine-sceptic Peter Pellegrini
‘shelving differences’ with Australia sworn in as new Slovakia President ahead of country’s snap elections
X X
Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for "shelving differences" with
Australia as he embarked on a four-day trip on Saturday to ease
their rivalry. Economic ties between the two countries have eased
since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government took power in
2022 and adopted a softer diplomatic approach to Beijing. AFP
Eight soldiers killed after armoured Beijing can detain foreigners
vehicle is struck by bomb in Gaza
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
This was among the military’s heaviest losses since Israel began its invasion of Gaza on October 27; preliminary inquiry
says the magnitude of the explosion suggested that the bomb had set off a secondary explosion inside the vehicle
Agence France-Presse
GAZA STRIP
The Israeli military said
eight soldiers were killed
in Gaza on Saturday when
their armoured vehicle
was struck by a bomb, in
one of the deadliest blows
for the Army since the war
began in October.
Captain Wassem Mah-
mud, 23, and seven other
soldiers “fell during opera-
tional activity in southern
Gaza,” the military said in a
statement.
“Their families have
been notified.”
The military said the
vehicle was hit in the Tal al-
Oman brokers Damage control
a prisoner
exchange by
Iran, Sweden
Agence France-Presse
STOCKHOLM
Iran and Sweden an-
nounced a prisoner ex-
change that saw a former
Iranian official released in
Sweden in exchange for a
European Union diplomat
and a second Swede.
State media in neutral
Oman, which has acted as
a mediator between Iran
and Western governments
in the past, said that follow-
ing its mediation, the two
governments had agreed to
the “mutual release” of de-
tained nationals.
Iran thanked the Omani
government for brokering
the swap.
Ukraine peace summit opens in Switzerland with low expectations
Smita Sharma
BURGENSTOCK
On a rainy, misty, damp
day up in the Alpine re-
sorts in Burgenstock, Uk-
rainian President Volody-
myr Zelenskyy tried
portraying an upbeat
mood. At the inaugural glo-
bal summit hosted by Swit-
zerland to find a ‘path to
peace’ 52 months since the
Russian invasion, Mr. Ze-
lenskyy hopes this dia-
logue would find a resolu-
tion to the war. However,
there were notable absen-
tees in the room, including
Russian President Vladimir
Putin, who was not invited
by the Swiss.
“Even If they are not
here today at the first sum-
mit, we have succeeded in
bringing back to the world
the idea that joint efforts
can stop war and establish
just peace. This idea will
definitely work because
the world has power,” Mr.
Zelenskyy said.
In his initial remarks to
CM
YK
REUTERS
in South China Sea as Coast
Tall cost: The Israeli military said the incident happened as the
soldiers were carrying out operational activities in Gaza. AP
Sultan area of Gaza’s far-
southern city of Rafah,
where troops are engaged
Workers clean up the beach following an oil slick on Tanjong Beach in Sentosa in Singapore on Saturday. REUTERS
the press, Mr. Zelenskyy
stressed that “views, ideas
and leadership of each na-
tion are equally impor-
tant”. However, he refused
to take questions before
the inaugural ceremony.
“Everything that will be
agreed upon today at the
summit will be part of the
peacemaking process that
we all need. I believe that
we will witness history be-
ing made at the summit,”
Mr. Zelenskyy said.
First initiated at the Bali
G-20 summit in 2021 and
followed up with four
rounds of talks between
National Security Advisers,
the attendance count at
the two-day summit in
Switzerland stood at 101
countries and organisa-
tions, including 57 heads of
state. The conference
kicked off on Saturday af-
ternoon with a plenary ses-
sion. And on Sunday, work-
ing groups will discuss
three key agendas — nu-
clear safety, freedom of
shipping and food safety,
BRATISLAVA
French protest against far right
Peter Pellegrini, ally of Ukraine-sceptic Prime Minister Robert Fico,
was sworn in as Slovakia's new President on Saturday. Analysts
have predicted Slovakia's international isolation will increase with
Mr. Pellegrini as President and expect the government to crank up
its pro-Russian rhetoric now that its ally is head of state. AP
in fierce street battles with
Palestinian militants.
Preliminary enquiries
and humanitarian aspects,
including prisoners of war.
India has shied away
from political representa-
tion, sending its senior di-
plomat in charge of the re-
gion instead. Brazil, the
G-20 Chair, is attending on-
ly as an Observer with the
envoy present.
Wide participation
“Europe is strong in its pre-
sence here at the summit.
But that is not all. India,
Saudi Arabia, South Africa,
Kenya and Mexico are also
here among others,” Swiss
President Viola Amherd
said pointing to the wide
canvass of representation
at the talks amid criticisms
of a fractious summit.
While the leaders tom-
tom the historic signifi-
cance of the summit, the
expectations remain low
and the mood grim.
Lotte Krank-van de
Burgt, a journalist with the
Finnish broadcaster YLE,
says Helsinki can only
hope that the conflict does
THE HINDU
World
AFP
suggested the vehicle “got
hit as a result of an explo-
sion of a side bomb,” the
military said.
It said the magnitude of
the blast suggested that the
bomb had set off a secon-
dary explosion inside the
vehicle.
‘Significant explosion’
“The explosion was signifi-
cant and may have been
caused by the initiation of
the explosive material on
the vehicle,” the military
said.
“There was a very se-
rious damage to the vehi-
cle and those in it, and a
large explosion making it
Swiss President Viola Amherd and Ukraine President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy at the summit in Burgenstock on Saturday. SMITA SHARMA
not further escalate and
spill over to immediate
neighbours such as
Finland.
“I would not say life has
changed so much but
maybe we are more wor-
ried about our big neigh-
bour in the east. We are
more worried about Russia
than we have ever been be-
fore because it was such a
shock that the war started,
that they could attack a so-
vereign country. Everybo-
dy was thinking it could
PARIS
X X
Anti-racism groups joined French unions and a brand-new left-wing
coalition in protests in Paris and across France on Saturday against
the surging nationalist far right ahead of snap parliamentary polls.
21,000 police and gendarmes would be deployed at the rallies with
authorities expecting between 3,00,000 and 5,00,000 protesters. AP
difficult to identify and lo-
cate the bodies.”
Thousands of Israelis
meanwhile gathered in Tel
Aviv for the weekly protest
against the hard-right go-
vernment’s handling of the
war.
Saturday’s losses were
among the heaviest for the
military since it began its
ground offensive in Gaza
on October 27.
Twenty-one soldiers
were killed on January 22
when rocket-propelled
grenade (RPG) fire hit a
tank near two buildings
where they were carrying
out an operation, the mili-
tary said at the time.
have been us also.”
She points to reports of
Russian incursions into
Finnish and more recently
Swedish air space to stress
that Moscow is reminding
its neighbours of its pre-
sence in the region and the
looming fear of what could
come next.
Liliane Bivings is living
the fear in Kyiv, where she
moved as a U.S. Peace
Corps volunteer in 2017. Af-
ter COVID-19, she joined
the Kyiv Post but as the
AFP
Guard issues new regulations
Agence France-Presse
SHANGHAI
New Chinese coast guard
rules took effect on Satur-
day, under which it can de-
tain foreigners for trespass-
ing in the disputed South
China Sea, where neigh-
bours and the G-7 have ac-
cused Beijing of intimida-
tion and coercion.
Beijing claims almost
the entirety of the South
China Sea, brushing aside
competing claims from
several Southeast Asian na-
tions including the Philip-
pines and an international
ruling that its stance has no
legal basis.
China deploys coast
guard and other boats to
patrol the waters and has
turned several reefs into
militarised artificial is-
lands. Chinese and Philip-
pine vessels have had a se-
ries of confrontations in
disputed areas.
Detention upto 60 days
From Saturday, China’s
coast guard can detain fo-
reigners “suspected of vio-
lating management of bor-
der entry and exit”,
according to the new regu-
lations published online.
Detention is allowed up
to 60 days in “complicated
cases”, they say. “Foreign
ships that have illegally en-
tered China’s territorial
waters and the adjacent
waters may be detained,”
the coast guard added.
Manila has accused the
Chinese coast guard of
“barbaric and inhumane
behaviour” against Philip-
pine vessels, and President
Ferdinand Marcos last
month called the new rules
a “very worrisome”
escalation.
China Coast Guard ves-
newsroom was shut down
after the war began, the
team launched Kyiv Inde-
pendent.
“Right now the situation
is quite difficult. The war
can be felt quite intensely
even in Kyiv which is far
from the frontline,” she
said, adding that residents
are subjected to 10 hours
or more of power outages
daily. But Ms. Bivings is not
hopeful of the summit
throwing up any concrete
solution. “I am not expect-
ing outcomes. Not just be-
cause Russia is not here
but mostly because the sit-
uation in Ukraine on the
battlefield is not really one
that is conducive to any
kind of negotiations.”
“Russia is in a stronger
position on the battlefield
right now. It does not have
any reason to come to the
negotiating table. Also
there is no appetite in Uk-
raine yet to give up anyth-
ing to Russia,” she adds.
On Friday, ahead of the
Swiss summit, Mr. Putin
STOCKHOLM
Russian bomber violated Swedish
airspace near Baltic Sea island
A Russian SU-24 bomber violated Swedish airspace near the Baltic
Sea island of Gotland, leaving only after Sweden scrambled two
JAS-39 fighter jets, Sweden's military said. The incident on Friday
occurred three months after Sweden became a full member of
NATO, dropping two centuries of military non-alliance. AFP
Manila has accused the Chinese Coast Guard of ‘barbaric and
inhumane behaviour’ against Philippine vessels. REUTERS
sels have used water can-
non against Philippine
boats multiple times in the
contested waters.
There have also been
collisions that injured Fili-
pino troops.
Philippine military chief
General Romeo Brawner
told reporters on Friday
that authorities in Manila
were “discussing a number
of steps to be undertaken
in order for us to protect
our fishermen”.
Philippine fishermen
were told “not to be afraid,
but just to go ahead with
their normal activities to
fish there in our Exclusive
Economic Zone”, Mr.
Brawner said.
The G-7 bloc on Friday
criticised what it called
“dangerous” incursions by
China in the waterway.
“We oppose China’s mil-
itarisation, and coercive
and intimidation activities
in the South China Sea,”
read a G7 statement at the
end of a summit on Friday.
G-7 criticism
The South China Sea is a vi-
tal waterway, where Viet-
nam, Malaysia and Brunei
also have overlapping
claims in some parts.
Most recently, however,
demanded the complete
withdrawal of Ukrainian
troops from the territories
of Donetsk, Luhansk, Za-
porizhzhia and Kherson
for peace negotiations to
begin. Ukraine slammed
the offer. Ms. Bivings ar-
gues Burgenstock will
hardly lead to any start of
public negotiations bet-
ween the two warring
sides, even on humanitar-
ian issues like swapping of
children or prisoners.
“Putin just said that the
path to peace for Russia is
Ukraine giving up a bunch
of territory, and surrender-
ing and giving up any NA-
TO aspirations. Ukraine is
not going to do that not on-
ly because people don’t
want that, but because it
will be a bad move for Eu-
ropean security, global se-
curity,” she says.
Elsewhere in Europe a
certain sense of war fatigue
is setting in and the gains
made by far-right parties in
European parliament elec-
tions is a sign of worry for
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
REUTERS
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
confrontations between
China and the Philippines
have raised fears of a wider
conflict over the sea that
could involve the United
States and other allies.
Trillions of dollars in
ship-borne trade passes
through the South China
Sea annually, and huge un-
exploited oil and gas depo-
sits are believed to lie un-
der its seabed, though
estimates vary greatly.
The sea is also impor-
tant as a source of fish for
growing populations.
China has defended its
new coast guard rules. A
foreign ministry spokes-
man said last month that
they were intended to
“better uphold order at
sea”. And the Chinese De-
fence Minister warned this
month that there were “li-
mits” to Beijing’s restraint
in the South China Sea.
China has also been an-
gered in the past by U.S.
and other Western war-
ships sailing through the
South China Sea.
The U.S. Navy and oth-
ers undertake such voyag-
es to assert the freedom of
navigation in international
waters, but Beijing consid-
ers them violations of its
sovereignty.
many. The refugee crisis is
a divisive issue. Add to it
uncertainties about the
U.S.’s policy on Ukraine
should Republican conten-
der Donald Trump get a
shot back at power and the
war persists.
India and the world is
looking at the prolonged
conflict with increasing
worries even as another
conflict continues in West
Asia. Some 2,000 Ukrai-
nian refugees have sought
shelter in Japan, more than
8,000 km away. This is a
high number compared to
refugees in the past wel-
comed by Tokyo, which
has taken a pro-Ukrainian
stand. In an important
move, Toyota ended its
vehicle production at its
Saint Petersburg plant in
Russia in September 2022.
Today, Prime Minister Fu-
mio Kishida, at the Swiss
meet, confirmed his sup-
port for Kyiv.
Smita Sharma is an in-
dependent journalist based
in Delhi.
A IN-X

Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
AUTOGRAPH, PLEASE
Indian team members interact
with fans at Lauderhill stadium
X X
Even though weather played spoilsport, some members of the
Indian squad took some time out to interact with the fans at the
Lauderhill stadium. Rishabh Pant and Rahul Dravid went to the
boundary to sign autographs. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli was seen
posing for a picture with some of the Canada players.
Wet outfield has the final
say in the Sunshine State
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
There was no rain on the India-Canada match-day, but a heavy downpour the previous night does
the damage; Rohit’s men, who topped Group A, will next face Afghanistan in the Super 8 stage
Different ball game: Rohit & Co. try their hand at football as cricket was too risky with rain around. K.R. DEEPAK
T20 WORLD CUP
Ashwin Achal
LAUDERHILL
n hour after sche-
A duled start of play,
umpires Richard
Kettleborough and Shar-
fuddoula took a brisk walk
across the Central Broward
Park & Broward County
Stadium outfield here and
called off proceedings.
India’s last Group-A
match, against Canada,
was abandoned without a
ball being bowled.
The umpires had an ea-
sy decision as the outfield
was nowhere near ready
for play. There was no rain
on match-day, but a heavy
downpour the previous
night did the damage.
India (seven points) fin-
Jones and USA ready for their mighty test
Ashwin Achal
LAUDERHILL
The USA’s colossal achieve-
ment has shown that crick-
et does not belong just to
the traditional powerhous-
es. To make it to the Super
8 stage of the ICC Men’s
T20 World Cup is proof
that the USA can mix it up
with the best in the
business.
Aaron Jones, the stand-
in skipper for an injured
Monank Patel, is hopeful
that this performance will
encourage the powers that
be to schedule matches
against full-member na-
tions.
“We want to play as
much cricket as possible.
We would love to play
more cricket against the
full member nations. That
is where we’re going to test
ourselves against the best
CM
YK
K.R. DEEPAK
ished on top of the group,
and will face Afghanistan
in its first Super 8 fixture at
Barbados on June 20.
Canada (three points)
lost the chance to go up
against the fan-favourite
side, and exited the
tournament.
“As an associate nation,
we would have loved to
play against the Indian
team. But nature cannot be
stopped. There was heavy
rain in the last two days, so
it was tough to get the
ground ready,” Canada
head coach Pubudu Dassa-
nayake said.
“We were pumped up
for the game. For many of
our guys, their heroes are
in the Indian side. But even
though we could not play
the match, it was great to
spend time with the Indian
team and chat with them.
New frontier: USA reaching the Super 8 stage will provide a boost for cricket in the country. K.R. DEEPAK
in the world. We will truly
love that,” Jones said after
the USA-Ireland game was
washed out here.
Qualifying for the next
phase is a boost for the
MOVING ON
NZ’s Boult confirms 2024 edition
will be his final T20 World Cup
Veteran pacer Trent Boult has confirmed the 2024 T20 World Cup
will be his final appearance for New Zealand in the
marquee-tournament. “Speaking on behalf of myself, this will be
my last T20 World Cup. That’s all I have to say,” Boult said at the
press conference after New Zealand’s nine-wicket win over Uganda.
They gave us tips on how
to improve our game,
which was a great takea-
way,” Dassanayake added.
The Indian team’s focus,
meanwhile, will now shift
to tackling different condi-
tions in the West Indies.
Next challenge
The pitches in the Carib-
bean will not heavily assist
the pacers, as seen in New
York. Team combinations,
batting approach, a par
score — these are some of
the aspects that skipper
Rohit Sharma will have to
reassess.
India batting coach Vik-
ram Rathour stated that it
was disappointing to not
get a game here.
“It is disappointing for
fans who have turned up to
the stadium, and for us
too. We were looking for-
sport in the country, Jones
added.
“It’s a big thing for us.
Over the last couple of
years, we’ve been speaking
about playing in the World
THE HINDU
Sport
GETTY IMAGES
ward to playing the game.
It was important for us to
get match practice. But the
rain is something we can-
not control,” Rathour said.
Concerns regarding sus-
taining injuries on a wet
outfield had to be consi-
dered, he added.
“The concern about sus-
taining an injury is always
there when you play in less
than ideal conditions. We
are already in the Super 8,
and you do not want any
injuries ahead of impor-
tant matches. Of course,
the decision to call off play
is with the match officials.
We did not have any say in
that,” Rathour said.
On releasing two travell-
ing reserves from the
squad, Rathour added:
“That was always the plan.
We wanted to keep two re-
serves, and release two.”
Cup and playing more
games against full member
nations. And here we are
doing it right now. It’s big
not just for us, but for the
fans and the younger gen-
PRIORITIES
Pakistan Cricket Board to enforce
two NOCs per year policy strictly
X X
Pakistan Cricket Board will enforce its two-NOCs policy for T20
leagues strictly, following the national team’s first-round exit in the
T20 World Cup. All players, who sign central and domestic contracts
in Pakistan cricket, will only be issued an NOC for a maximum of
two overseas leagues besides playing in the PSL in a year.
Boult, Southee demolish Uganda, give
the Kiwis a morale-boosting victory
Ayan Acharya
TAROUBA (TRINIDAD)
Tim Southee and Trent
Boult’s devastating demoli-
tion job with the new ball
resigned Uganda to a nine-
wicket defeat in a Group-C
T20 World Cup match at
the Brian Lara Stadium on
Friday.
New Zealand made light
work of the chase after
Uganda was skittled for the
third-lowest all-out score of
40 at the T20 World Cup.
But credit to Juma Miyagi
and Cosmas Kyewuta, who
did not give too many hit-
me balls upfront and also
made the batters play and
miss a couple. Riazat Ali
Shah even got a break-
through when Finn Allen
was given out caught be-
hind but NZ sailed past the
finish line in just 5.2 overs.
Earlier, Uganda’s last
group match got off to a
nightmarish start as it
found itself three for three
after 18 balls.
Much like in a Test
Every aspect of our cricket has to
change: Pakistan’s Imad Wasim
Ashwin Achal
LAUDERHILL
Pakistan’s Imad Wasim
faced tough questions
from the media about his
side’s early exit from the
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The all-rounder ex-
plained that his poor show
in the India outing at New
York did not help the
cause. Imad managed only
two runs off three balls
bowled by Hardik Pandya,
in the 17th over of a tight
chase. “The plan was to
take it deep, but unfortu-
nately I could not execute.
India also bowled very
eration in America. We
really appreciate their sup-
port,” Jones said.
Unchartered territory
USA will soon travel to the
West Indies for the next
stage of the tournament.
This is uncharted territory
— a mighty test against the
cream of the crop — but the
side is ready.
“I don’t think it’s going
to change much. We’re go-
ing to go through our pro-
cesses like normal, prac-
tice like normal.
Nothing new
“We played in the regional
Super 50 competition in
the Caribbean a few years
ago. So the majority of the
boys know how to play
there. We will stick togeth-
er as a team and keep do-
ing what we’re doing,”
Jones said.
GETTY IMAGES
Incisive spell: Southee’s three-wicket burst at the start derailed
Uganda. AP
match, Boult and Southee
probed, located the right
length on this pitch —
slightly fuller — and let the
swinging ball do the rest.
In less than half an hour,
the free-spirited nature of
T20s had given way to the
well; there were no bad
balls. The 17th over, where
I could not get runs, was
the turning point. I let the
team down. There is re-
gret, but this is life,” Imad
said on Saturday, on the
eve of Pakistan’s last match
against Ireland here.
Lowest point
Imad admitted that this
was the lowest point in his
nine-year international ca-
reer. “Yes, this is the lowest
point. You cannot go any
lower. This is the fact.”
The shock defeat at the
hands of co-host USA was
“unacceptable” given the
Last-ball scramble sees
South Africa pip Nepal by a run
Agence France-Presse
KINGSTOWN
South Africa survived a
major scare from Nepal in
scrambling to a nerve-jan-
gling one-run victory in its
final Group-D match of the
T20 World Cup at the Ar-
nos Vale Stadium on
Friday.
Needing eight runs off
the final over in pursuit of
116, the Nepalese fell ago-
nisingly short at 114 for se-
ven with Gulshan Jha run
out off the final ball as he
attempted a single off Ott-
neil Baartman.
The scores: South Africa 115/7 in
20 overs (Hendricks 43, Stubbs 27
n.o., Airee 3-21, Bhurtel 4/19) bt
Nepal 114/7 in 20 overs (Sheikh
42, Sah 27, Shamsi 4/19); Toss:
Nepal; PoM: Shamsi.
13
STEPPING IN
Batter Zazai replaces injured
Mujeeb in Afghanistan squad
FILE PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA
Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been ruled out of the T20 World
Cup due to a finger injury with batter Hazratullah Zazai replacing
him in the Afghanistan squad. “The Event Technical Committee of
the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has approved Hazratullah Zazai
as a replacement for Mujeeb ur Rahman,” the ICC said in a release.
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
neth Waiswa’s square drive
for four off Boult in the
fifth over had the serenity
of an oasis.
Uganda’s nine for three
in the PowerPlay — the se-
cond-lowest total by any
team in the men’s T20Is —
became 15 for five after
eight overs. There was no
let-up in NZ’s intent as
Mitchell Santner (two for
eight), Lockie Ferguson
(one for nine) and Rachin
Ravindra (two for nine)
carried on the good work
of their teammates. South-
ee would eventually end
with jaw-dropping figures
of 4-1-4-3.
But one couldn’t escape
the feeling that the Kiwi re-
surgence came too late for
a World Cup of regret. As
for Uganda, it would take
survival instincts of Test solace in the fact that it was
cricket. Kane Williamson not its lowest score at this
had smelt blood and was T20 World Cup.
on the attack, with both his
The scores: Uganda 40 in 18.4
main pacers bowling three overs (Boult 2/7, Southee 3/4,
on the trot and slips wait- Santner 2/8, Ravindra 2/9) lost to
ing to snaffle an edge. New Zealand 41/1 in 5.2 overs;
Amid the carnage, Ken- Toss: NZ; PoM: Southee.
strength of Pakistan’s ward and compete on the
squad, he added. world level. Every aspect
Big changes have to be of our cricket has to
made in order to set Pakis- change — how to play the
tan cricket on the right game, how to take a team
path, Imad said. “There on,” Imad said.
has to be massive changes “It all comes down to
so that we can move for- having the right mindset.”
Fine margins: Sompal consoling Jha after the latter was run out off
the last ball. ICC
A IN-X
 THE HINDU
14 Sunday, June 16, 2024

Sport Chennai

INBRIEF
쑽 Plenty at stake as India hosts South Africa
Harmanpreet’s side seeks to improve its record ahead of the ODI World Cup; the visitors seek qualification points in the lead up to the show-piece

pacer Pooja Vastrakar, she made 116, and will be

SA WOMEN IN INDIA
N. Sudarshan
BENGALURU
gainst the back-
Doncic, Irving keep Mavs alive
with a win in Game 4
A drop of a T20
World Cup, India
will look to stabilise its
ODI form while South Afri-
Luka Doncic scored 25 of his 29 points in the first ca will hunt for important
half, Kyrie Irving added 21 points and the Dallas qualification points on the
Mavericks emphatically extended their season on road to next year’s 50-over
Friday night, fending off elimination by beating World Cup when the two
the Boston Celtics 122-84 in Game 4 of the NBA sides meet at the M. Chin-
Finals. The Celtics still lead the series 3-1, and naswamy Stadium here on
Game 5 is in Boston on Monday. Jayson Tatum Sunday.
scored 15 points, Sam Hauser had 14 while Jaylen India’s last six ODIs —
Brown and Jrue Holiday each finished with 10 for against Australia at home
the Celtics. and Bangladesh away —
have fetched a solitary
win, four losses and a tie.
Though they were in the
distant past — Bangladesh
Harmanpreet all for a points last July and Australia De-
system to decide winner cember-January — Har-
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Prep time: Indian women at a training session on Saturday. K. MURALI KUMAR
manpreet Kaur & Co.
would want to set the re-
cord straight.
India will be bolstered
by the return to fitness of
Jemimah Rodrigues, who
missed the recent victo-
rious T20I series away to
Bangladesh because of
back trouble. Harman-
preet also confirmed on
Saturday that medium
who was recovering from
an unspecified injury, was
also fit.
South Africa comes into
the contest having lost the
T20I series against Sri
Lanka (1-2) and then
drawn the ODIs (1-1).
It will also begin a new
life without Hilton Mo-
reeng, who was the head
coach for a decade and a
little more.
Brits boost
The Proteas will welcome
back opener Tazmin Brits
from a knee-ligament tear,
and with just six matches
remaining in its qualifica-
tion bid for the 2025 ODI
World Cup in India, it will
be a shot in the arm.
In the last match Brits
played, versus Sri Lanka,
keen to rejoin forces with
skipper and fellow opener
Laura Wolvaardt, who has
scores of 184 n.o., 110 n.o.
and 41 leading in.
Small boundaries
The Garden City, with its
flat pitches and small
boundaries, has tradition-
ally favoured such heavy-
hitting, though in the last
year, there has been the
odd curveball.
Nature may play a trick
or two. The monsoon took
a break on match-eve, and
the hope is for the rain to
stay away on Sunday too
so that the city’s fans, who
last witnessed a women’s
ODI here in 2015, can
throng the venue like they
did at the Women’s Pre-
mier League.

ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said a
points-based system to decide a women’s
multi-format cricket series winner will pump up
motivation levels. In recent times, India has
played multi-format home series against both
Aberg takes a one-stroke lead as Indian women’s
England and Australia, sans points. In contrast,
Australia and England play their women’s
multi-format Ashes series with points, ensuring other favourites struggle TT team bags bronze
that every match carries a certain heft. This is
particularly important for Tests, and often suffers
“I hit it very nicely,” Ab-
at BRICS Games
with a lack of context“I think it’s totally a BCCI or US OPEN GOLF
ICC thing,” Harmanpreet said on Saturday, ahead erg said.
Press Trust of India 11-2 but China came back
of the first ODI against South Africa. “But as Agence France-Presse Tiger Woods, a 15-time NEW DELHI strongly to win its remain-
players, if points are there, I think we are more Major winner, missed the
PINEHURST ing three rubbers to make
pumped up. I think it will be more challenging cut on 147 after a 73 on India clinched its first me- the title clash.
and we will love to have them.” Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg Friday. dal at the ongoing BRICS
ground his way to a one- Games in Kazan with the The newly-appointed
The scores: 135: Ludvig Aberg Sports Minister Mansukh
stroke lead after Friday’s (66, 69); 136: Thomas Detry (69, women’s table tennis
second round of the US team comprising Poy- Mandaviya congratulated
67), Patrick Cantlay (65, 71),
LIVE TELECAST Open, while top-ranked Bryson DeChambeau (67, 69); mantee Baisya, Moumita the women's TT team.
쑽 Scottie Scheffler and other 137: Tony Finau (68, 69), Dutta and S. Yashini
favourites struggled at Matthieu Pavon (67, 70), Rory clinching a bronze medal. Men finish fifth
Badminton: Australian Open: Sports 18-1 (SD & HD) & JioCi-
nema, 8.30 p.m. punishing Pinehurst. McIlroy (65, 72); 138: Hideki The Indian men's team of
Matsuyama (72, 66); 139: Kim
India Women vs South Africa Women: 1st ODI, Sports 18-1 Sixth-ranked Aberg, a Go down to China Anirban Ghosh, Jeet
Joo-hyung Kim (71, 68), Tim
(SD & HD) & JioCinema, 1.30 p.m. runner-up at April’s Mas- Widing (71, 68), Corey Conners Indian women lost to Chi- Chandra and Snehit Sura-
Football: Euro 2024, Sony Sports Ten 2, 3, 5 (SD & HD) & LIV, ters in his Major debut, (69, 70), Tyrrell Hatton (68, 71), na 3-1 in the semifinals to vajjula, meanwhile, fin-
6.30, 9.30 p.m. & 12.30 a.m. (Monday) fired a one-under par 69 to Zac Blair (70, 69), Xander finish with a bronze. ished fifth after a 3-1 win
T20 World Cup: Star Sports 1, 2, 3 (SD & HD) & Hotstar, 8 finish 36 holes on five-un- Schauffele (70, 69), Akshay Bhatia Up to the challenge: Aberg’s discipline and patience put him in the Yashini won the first over Bahrain in the classi-
p.m., 5 a.m. & 6 a.m. (Monday) der 135. (68, 71). van on the tough course. AFP game 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 7-11, fication match.

Chennai siblings rule the roost
in the INMRC opening round
MOTORSPORTS
Sports Bureau
CHENNAI
Two sets of siblings from
Chennai hogged the lime-
light by winning four of the
nine races in the opening
round of the MRF MMSC
FMSCI Indian National Mo-
torcycle Racing Champion-
ship at the Madras Interna-
tional Cricuit on Saturday.
The 28-year-old K.Y.
Ahamed (Pro-Stock 165cc
Open) and his 17-year-old
brother Abdul Basim (Nov-
ice 165cc), won a race
apiece. Later, the 15-year-
old Dave twins, Rakshith
and Rakshitha took the ho-
nours in the Idemitsu Hon-
da India Talent Cup (NSF
250R) and the National
Championship Girls (Stock
165cc) races, respectively.
Awesome duo: The Dave twins — Rakshitha and Rakshith — won a
race each in their respective categories.
The results (provisional, all 6
laps unless mentioned):
National Championship:
Pro-Stock 301-400cc Open
Race-1 (4 laps): 1. Sarthak
Chavan (TVS Racing) (7mins,
36.007secs); 2. Chiranth
Vishwanath (TVS Racing)
(07:39.254); 3. Sairahil Pillarisetty
(Gusto Racing India) (07:41.470).
Pro-Stock 165cc Open
(Race-1): 1. K.Y. Ahamed (TVS
Racing) (12:04.178); 2. Jagan
Kumar (TVS Racing) (12:04.192);
3. Deepak Ravikumar (TVS
Racing) (12:14.569).
Novice (Stock 165cc) Race-1: 1.
R.S. Abdul Basim (Rockers
Racing) (12:55.808); 2. Tasmai
Cariappa (Motul Sparks Racing)
(12:56.136); 3. G. Abhinav
(Chandra LGE Racing team)
(13:04.554).
Girls (Stock 165cc) Race-1 (5
laps): 1. Rakshitha Dave (RACR
Castrol Power1 Ultimate)
Powerhouses Spain and Germany lay
down a marker with emphatic wins
(10:58.183); 2. Jagathishree
Kumaresan (One Racing)
(11:03.012); 3. Ryhana Bee (Motul
Sparks Racing) (11:03.150).
Novice (Stock 301-400cc)
Race-1: 1. Kaushik Subbiah
Ganesan (RACR Castrol Power 1
Ultimate) (12:17.257); 2. Lokesh V
(Pvt.) (12:23.458); 3. Varun
Nanjundegowda (Gusto Racing
India) (12:27.927).
Idemitsu Honda India Cup
(NSF 250R) Race-1: 1. Rakshith Reuters
S. Dave (11:12.157); 2. Mohsin MUNICH
Paramban (11:16.226); 3. A.S.
James (11:16.669)
TVS One-Make Championship Spain overran Croatia 3-0,
– Open (Apache RR 310) striking three times in a
Race-1 (3 laps): 1. C. sublime first half to earn
Senthilkumar (05:56.457); 2. maximum points in its Eu-
Jayanth Pratipathi (05:59.277); 3. ro 2024 Group B opener on
Ajai Xavier (06:02.953). Saturday and confirm its
Rookie (Apache RTR 200) Off we go: Germany got its campaign off to a blistering start with Wirtz, right, scoring the first goal
status as title contender.
Race-1: 1. Harshith V Bogar
The Spaniards, looking against Scotland. AFP
(13:43.666); 2. K.M. Saranjith
for a record fourth Euro
(13:53.770); 3. Akarsh Jangam
(14:07.100). Girls (Apache RTR
crown, struck twice in
200) Race-1 (5 laps): 1. Sarah three minutes, with Fabian
Khan (11:19.075); 2. Saimah Ajaz Ruiz setting up Alvaro Mo-
Baig (11:21.156); 3. V. Aisvariya rata in the 29th and firing
(11:23.221). in himself a little later.
Dani Carvajal then vol-
leyed in from 16-year-old
Lamine Yamal’s assist,

‘Happy to see two Indian cities bid to host with the teenager becom-
ing the youngest player ev-
er to feature at a European

the World chess championship match’ Championship.

P.K. Ajith Kumar
GANDHINAGAR
FIDE president Arkady
Dvorkovich feels it is nice
that the world chess go-
verning body has received
two bids from India for
hosting this year’s World
championship match.
Chennai and Delhi have
both expressed interest to
conduct the contest bet-
ween the reigning World
champion Ding Liren of
China and D. Gukesh to be
held later this year. Also in
the fray is Singapore.
“We are happy to receive
three strong bids, which is
quite a unique situation,”
Dvorkovich said to The Hin-
du in an exclusive interview
CM
YK
Dvorkovich. P.K. AJITH KUMAR
here shortly after the World
junior chess championship
concluded. “For interna-
tional sports federations it
is important to have the
support from the national
governments. I know the
role of the States in India.
We will examine the bids
and take a decision.”
He is happy that India is
emerging as an excellent
host of major international
chess events. “India will
host more events in the
next 12 months,” he said.
Dvorkovich thinks it is
great that a 17-year-old Gu-
kesh is contesting the
World championship
match. “I think it will in-
spire all the youngsters in
the world. They now know
what they could achieve
with hard work.”
Dvorkovich is glad that
chess is growing fast across
the world. It was probably
the only sport that grew
during Covid, with FIDE
playing an active role.
“Chess also gained from
the series The Queen’s
Gambit,” he said. “But I am
not surprised by the rising
popularity of chess. It is the
world’s oldest game but is
very modern too.”
He enjoys working with
five-time World champion
Viswanathan Anand, who is
now FIDE’s deputy presi-
dent. “I value his opinions
as he has so much expe-
rience as a player. His repu-
tation also helps us.”
About the recent deci-
sion of FIDE’s Ethics and
Discipline Committee to
suspend the Russian Chess
Federation, Dvorkovich
said: “I cannot comment on
the legal issues. We will ap-
peal. We need to defend the
interests of the players.”
The Croats, desperate to
replicate their World Cup
success of recent years at a
Euro where they have nev-
er won a knockout match,
were no match for Spain’s
clever attacking play with
coach Zlatko Dalic’s game
plans going out the win-
dow after about half an
hour.
Switzerland cruises
Switzerland got its cam- the second half but Breel The Germans, also hunt- play the Swiss on Wednes-
paign off to a winning start Embolo sealed victory in ing a record fourth Euro- day.
with a 3-1 victory over Hun- added time. pean title and first major
The results: Group A: Germany
gary in its Group A opener. On Friday, Germany trophy after a barren de-
5 (Wirtz 10, Musiala 19, Havertz
Kwadwo Duah gave thrashed 10-man Scotland cade, scored through Flor- 45+1-pen, Fuellkrug 68, Can 90+3)
Switzerland an early lead 5-1 with three goals in the ian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala bt Scotland 1 (Rudiger 87-og).
with his first international first half to make a trium- and a Kai Havertz penalty Hungary 1 (Varga 66) lost to
goal before Michel Ae- phant start to its campaign before Niclas Fuellkrug Switzerland 3 (Duah 12,
bischer made it 2-0 just be- and lay down a marker and Emre Can added two Aebischer 45, Embolo 90+3).
fore the break. with the biggest opening more late in the second Group B: Spain 3 (Morata 29,
Barnabas Varga pulled game margin of victory in half. Ruiz 32, Carvajal 45+2) bt Croatia
one back for Hungary in the tournament’s history. The reeling Scots next 0.
A IN-X

Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Everyone loves a hot, cheap meal
Amma Canteens were started in Tamil Nadu as a welfare measure to provide people with healthy, hygienic meals at affordable costs. Over the decade, their number has come down
across the State, the quality of food has been watered down, the supplies have been whittled down. Yet, they remain popular in some areas. Aishwaryaa R. examines the phenomenon
O
ver a decade after the Tamil Nadu go-
vernment opened Amma Canteens to
improve food security for people of
the State, the outlets are still opera-
tional, though signs of distress are visible eve-
rywhere. In terms of government support and
clientele, not to mention the quality of food, they
are a pale shadow of what they were.
Launched on February 24, 2013, on the birth-
day of then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Amma
Canteens (or Unavagams) initially opened in
Chennai. Soon, they were expanded to different
towns and cities. In the city, the number grew to
407. The municipalities and the corporations ran
the canteens, subsidised heavily with the provi-
sions offered by the Civil Supplies Department.
The target was to operate 1,000 outlets. Idlis and
pongal for the breakfast, with piping hot sambar
and chutney, and sambar rice and curd rice for
lunch — all priced under ₹5 — were made availa-
ble to daily-wage workers, students rushing to
schools, people of itinerant communities, those
leaving for work early in the morning, and even
software employees living away from their home
towns.
V. Vasudevan, an autorickshaw driver in Chen-
nai, captures the present through the prism of
the past: “On a busy day, stopping by any Amma
Unavagam in the city would be the healthiest
break for many. But, these days, many canteens
are closed and some do not operate regularly.
Earlier, side dishes were practically unlimited,
but now they are restricted at certain Amma Un-
avagams.”
The State government operates Amma Can-
teens in several districts. Chennai leads with 399
canteens, followed by Salem, 15; Tiruchi, 14; Mad-
urai, 12; Coimbatore, 10; Tiruppur and Tirunelve-
li, 10 each; and Thoothukudi, 8. Around Chennai,
there are two canteens each at Tambaram, Pal-
lavaram, Maramalai Nagar, and Kancheepuram
and one each at Chengalpattu, Anakaputhur,
Pammal, Madurantakam, and Sembakkam. Be-
fore the bifurcation of Vellore district that includ-
ed the present-day Ranipet and Tirupattur dis-
Regular
tricts, 11 canteens were opened by Jayalalithaa in
audits of the 2015. Cheyyar, Arani, Vandavasi, Tirupattur, Jo-
canteens are larpettai, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Gudiyatham, Pe-
taking place, ranampattu, Ranipet, Walajapet, Arakkonam,
and will Melvisharam, and Arcot have one canteen each.
continue. A This is not a comprehensive figure: the status of
meeting can many canteens remains unknown.
be held Free food during floods
with the These days, pongal and idlis are served for break-
respective fast. For lunch, tomato rice, curry leaf rice, and
local bodies lemon rice, apart from curd rice and sambar rice,
for are served. Dinner options include chapathi and
addressing dal. The prices have been the same since 2013:
the idli is priced at ₹1 apiece, two chapathis are
priced at ₹3 with side dish, curd rice with pickle
problems.
at ₹3 per serving, and other rice varieties at ₹5
D. KARTHI- per serving. These canteens also came to the res-
KEYAN,
Secretary, cue of people during the floods in 2015 and 2023
Municipal and during the COVID-19 lockdown, when they
Administration provided free food to those who were stranded.
and Water
Supplies In Chennai, 399 canteens have been function-
Department ing since 2022. Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar
CM
YK
THE HINDU
TAMIL NADU
says some outlets in remote areas had to be
closed because of low footfall. It may be recalled
that after coming to power, the DMK said it
would not disrupt the functioning of these can-
teens. In 2020, the then Chief Minister, Edappadi
K. Palaniswami, launched three Amma Canteens
on wheels in Chennai. Each vehicle cost ₹5.6
lakh. The status of these vehicles is also un-
known. However, a councillor says the issue will
be discussed at the next meeting of the Greater
Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council.
Initially, the government hit upon the much-
lauded strategy of tasking women’s self-help
groups with running these canteens. Cost-cut-
ting, downsizing, poor building infrastructure,
reduction in supplies, and lack of salary increas-
es have been the complaints of the workers over
the years. AIADMK organisation secretary and
former Minister D. Jayakumar says he has re-
ceived complaints about the decline in food qual-
ity at these canteens, and the government must
address the issues.
Kannamma (name changed) was employed
for 10 years at a kitchen that supplies to the can-
teens at Korattur and Madanankuppam. She had
taken a break from the work because of health is-
sues. She claims that the Korattur canteen initial-
ly received 20,000 customers a day and the
number had come down to 4,000 a day a couple
of years ago. It now hovers around 1,400-1,500 a
day.
‘Supplies cut down’
She says, “Provisions are not provided regularly.
Earlier, the workers could request for the provi-
sions whenever there was a requirement; now,
there is a schedule to be followed. For instance,
roughly four years ago, 45 kg of toor dal would be
used a month for preparing sambar
and sambar rice. This has been re-
duced to 5 kg a month. As
against four litres of
curd a day, we
now use
Purpose not served: These days, many canteens are closed and some do not operate regularly. A canteen in Thoothukudi. N. RAJESH
just one litre. The same holds good for the supply
of sesame and groundnut oil, wheat, and rice. As
a result, the quality has come down.” Ward 84
councillor J. John confirms her statement. A list
prepared at one of the canteens near Ambattur
reveals that 16 kg of polished rice, 4 kg of par-
boiled rice, and 6.5 kg of urad dal are used for
serving 1,000 customers.
Even the utensils and kitchen equipment have
not been replaced in a decade and are beyond re-
pair, she adds. Often, the workers would have to
pay out of their own pockets for repairs, without
any reimbursement from the Corporation.
The initial Corporation budget estimate for the
financial year 2022-23 indicated an expenditure
of ₹22 lakh for canteen equipment, but the re-
vised estimate showed no expense. Similarly, ₹2
lakh was projected as expenditure for equipment
in 2023-24, but the revised estimate showed no
expenditure under this head.
Muniyammal, a member of an SHG who works
at a canteen in south Chennai, says toilets have
not been repaired since the rain last year. The
tiles had broken and are slippery at many can-
teens, including those in Tiruvottiyur, Pattaravak-
kam, Ambattur, Maduravoyal, and Korattur. The
building of the Pattaravakkam canteen has deve-
loped cracks.
G. Shanthakumari, chairperson of the Stand-
ing Committee (Public Health), GCC, says that af-
ter an audit of the canteens in the Chennai Cor-
poration limits, all the shortcomings will be set
right at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. “Those
centres with good sales, but lacking amenities,
will be prioritised and those that are in the worst
condition will come next. Cluster kitchens will be
established and free biannual health clinics for
workers will be introduced,” she adds.
When the government undertakes repairs to
the canteen buildings, it should ensure barrier-
free access for persons with disabilities, says C.
Jayaprabha of the Differently Abled Research and
Development Organisation.
The canteens at Vaniyambadi, Arani,
Ambur, and Tiruvannamalai are
said to lack proper power
backup. They are poor-
ly lit, and have dirty
floors and leaky taps.
D. Karthikeyan, Se-
15
Maintenance
missing: The
kitchen of the
Amma Canteen
at Pattaravakkam
in Ambattur,
Chennai. The tiles
are broken and
slippery at many
canteens in the
city, including
those in
Tiruvottiyur,
Pattaravakkam,
Ambattur,
Maduravoyal,
and Korattur.
The building of
the Pattaravakkam
canteen has also
developed cracks.
M. VEDHAN
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
cretary of the Municipal Administration and Wa-
ter Supplies Department, says he has received no
complaints about the Amma Canteens so far. He
adds, “Regular audits of the canteens are taking
place and will continue. A meeting can be held
with the respective local bodies for addressing
the problems.”
Still relevant
There is no doubt that these canteens still play a
key role in feeding people who struggle for a
square meal every day. S. Rajendran, an econo-
mist at Gandhigram Rural University, notes that
the Amma Canteens do not operate on a profit
model. They are based on a welfare concept
aimed at providing food security to the urban
poor. He also suggests that the project be expand-
ed with funds from private agencies, under the
corporate social responsibility initiative, or from
NGOs or philanthropists.
K. Parthsarathy, 41, of Ennore says thousands
line up every day at the outlet at Thalankuppam
in north Chennai, though the taste of the food
has come down over the years. “Despite the
mushrooming of roadside eateries, many people,
especially pushcart pullers and small vendors,
After an audit of the canteens in Chennai
Corporation limits, all the shortcomings will
be rectified at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore.
G. SHANTHAKUMARI,
Chairperson of Standing Committee (Public Health),
Greater Chennai Corporation
prefer the Amma Canteens. However, poor main-
tenance of these canteens is a big worry,” says V.
Mariappan, a trader at Vellore. M. Murali, 67, a
lorry driver, feels that an Amma Canteen is a
healthier option than roadside stalls. He is un-
happy that he is not able to spot as many can-
teens as before while driving through the State.
Even if taste goes for a toss and healthy eating
is not a consideration, the cost is. S. Velmurugan,
a construction worker in Tiruchi, says, “I have
been coming here for the past one year to have
breakfast. Although the menu is outdated, the
quality of the food is good. I pay only ₹5 for break-
fast.” This would not be possible anywhere, he
adds. These canteens have also fed lakhs of pa-
tients and their attendants at government hospi-
tals, and still do. S. Mangala Eswari of Virudhuna-
gar says the Amma Canteen at the Tirunelveli
Medical College Hospital became a saviour for
her family when she admitted her mother-in-law
there for treatment.
Even as the government continues to navigate
the challenges of running these canteens, it must
focus on providing affordable, nutritious food to
the people.
(With inputs from D. Madhavan in Vellore,
P. Sudhakar in Tirunelveli, C. Palanivel Rajan
in Madurai, Ancy Donal Madonna in Tiruchi,
M. Sabari in Salem, Avantika Krishna in
Coimbatore, and R. Srikanth in Chennai)
A IN-X

16
JAMMU & KASHMIR
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
Located on the banks of Dal Lake, the Hazratbal shrine resembles the Taj Mahal in its white-marble facade and holds a special place for Muslims as it is believed to house a strand of Prophet Muhammad’s hair. NISSAR AHMAD NISSAR AHMAD
A Kashmir preacher loses right
to pray at the Hazratbal shrine
Pulpit politics is playing out in Srinagar after a man from Haryana converted from Hinduism to Islam. The Jammu & Kashmir Waqf Board has instituted an
inquiry to find out whether the conversion was forcible, and the police have filed an FIR against the priest who oversaw the ritual, finds Peerzada Ashiq
ess than five kilometres away from the
L Hazratbal shrine, which resembles the
Taj Mahal in its white-marble facade
and dome-minaret features, is the
house of the Farooquis in Srinagar’s green Zaku-
ra area. Pansies populate the garden, English ivy
climbs along the compound wall, and cypress
trees grow tall against the blue sky.
Kamal-ud-Din Farooqui, 73, a retired scientist
from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), has not been
able to enjoy this space though.
A couple of months ago, he was barred from
entering the Hazratbal shrine, where he serves as
the Imaam-o-Khateeb, a priest who leads prayers
and delivers sermons on auspicious days.
It’s a position he has held since 2016 and his fa-
mily has been associated with the shrine for
about 350 years. Also known as Assar-e-Sharief,
the structure touches the Dal lake on one side,
and is special for Muslims, as it houses a strand of
Prophet Muhammad’s hair. Every Friday, lakhs of
devotees throng its premises for Friday prayers.
On April 5, Farooqui presided over a ceremo-
ny ahead of Friday prayers, when a non-Muslim
converted to Islam at the shrine. “My heart ach-
es,” he says. “Every Friday, it pains me to cross
the shrine but not stop there for prayers. I have to
look for a shrine or mosque elsewhere, to offer
jummah (congregational prayers).”
Hazratbal remains central to Kashmir’s polit-
ics, with the original structure built in 1623, dur-
ing Mughal times, by Sadiq Khan, emperor Shah
Jahan’s subedar. The construction of the current
structure started in 1968.
Witness to several tumultuous political uphea-
vals in the past century, the Farooquis were
forced to stay away from the shrine first in 1993,
when Kamal-ud-Din’s older brother, Bashir Ah-
mad Farooqui, then Imaam-o-Khateeb, was
barred by a militant outfit from entering it.
It was in April 1993 that the infamous siege of
the Hazratbal shrine took place, when a group of
militants hid inside and exchanged fire with se-
curity forces, turning into a major stand-off in
Kashmir’s history.
Bashir Ahmad had “dared” to describe the act
of smuggling arms by militants into the shrine as
“un-Islamic”. For this, he was punished. “My ol-
der brother was barred from entering the mos-
que for more than two years, and there was a
threat to his life,” recalls Kamal-ud-Din.
The trigger
On April 8, 2024, the executive magistrate of the
Jammu & Kashmir ( J&K) Waqf Board, which runs
the Hazratbal shrine, said in an order that did not
feature his name, that he had “relieved Farooqui
from the duties of Imaam-o-Khateeb till the com-
pletion of an inquiry or till further orders”. A
three-member committee, headed by J&K Waqf
Board chairman Syed Mohammad Hussian, is in-
vestigating the alleged conversion episode.
CM
YK
THE HINDU
“I vividly remember completing my sermon
Every
Friday, it
pains me to
when employees of the Waqf Board and two un-
known people came to me. I was requested to
help in presiding over the ceremony of conver-
sion. Around 1.5 lakh devotees were waiting for
me to lead the prayers. I couldn’t say no, fearing
the law and order situation if word of my refusal
cross the
spread among devotees. I followed Islamic prin-
shrine but ciples and asked a few questions, about induce-
not stop ment and willingness. Once he clarified that it
there for was not under duress that he was converting, I
prayers. I went ahead with the ceremony,” Kamal-ud-Din
have to look says.
for a shrine The conversion saw Sandeep, a resident of Ha-
ryana, acquiring a Muslim name, Abdullah. The
or mosque
shrine resounded with pro-Islam slogans as San-
elsewhere, deep recited Kalima (reposing faith in Islam) at
to offer the shrine. The ceremony took place in front of
jummah Kashmir’s prominent politicians, who had as-
(Friday sembled for the last Friday prayers of the holy
prayers) month of Ramzan at the shrine.
KAMAL-UD-
They included former J&K Chief Minister and
DIN FAROOQUI National Conference (NC) president Farooq Ab-
Hazratbal shrine dullah; his son, Omar Abdullah; J&K Apni Party’s
preacher Altaf Bukhari; former mayor Junaid Azim Mattu;
and Peoples Democratic Party president, Meh-
booba Mufti.
The curious case of conversion
The conversion was broadcast live on scores of
social media handles. It resulted in growing crit-
icism in Jammu and Delhi. Members of the Waqf
Board say that BJP leader and board chairperson
Darakshan Andrabi expressed her unhappiness
to Kamal-ud-Din.
The episode was followed by the registration
of a First Information Report (FIR) under Sec-
tions 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgat-
ed by a public servant), 298 (uttering words, etc.,
with deliberate intent to wound religious feel-
ings), 153 (giving provocation with intent to cause
Kamal-ud-Din Farooqui (right), who served as the chief priest of the Hazratbal
shrine, says he won’t stop fighting for his due. NISSAR AHMAD
riot), and 153-A (promoting enmity between diffe-
rent groups on grounds of religion, race, place of
birth, residence, language) of the Indian Penal
Code.
The J&K Police, in the FIR, said the incident
“evoked strong reactions beyond the borders of
J&K, potentially fuelling sectarianism and com-
munal discord”. A senior officer says, “The inves-
tigation in the case is on.”
“In view of the allegations against Dr. Kamal-
ud-din Farooqui for presiding over forcible con-
version during Friday prayers, an emergency
meeting of all leading Imam-o-Khateebs of the
Board unanimously concluded that this incident
has caused confusion and chaos among the gen-
eral public and has the potential to disturb public
harmony,” the Waqf’s order said. The Waqf felt
that “both Islamic law and government regula-
tions were not followed”.
The police questioned Sandeep, alias Abdul-
lah, and his employer Anayat Muntazir. Family
and neighbours in Nowhatta, where they live, say
Sandeep was deeply impressed by the way Mun-
tazir and his family members led their lives. The
family is religious and is respected for that in the
locality. Sandeep would even get up for sehri,
special pre-dawn meals taken by Muslims in the
Islamic holy month of Ramzan.
Neighbours recall that he would tell them he
liked Islam’s simple path to reach God. Locals
knew little of his life back home in Haryana
though, except that he was working here for the
money, and has been with the family for more
than eight years. Sandeep and Muntazir are keep-
ing low after the controversy and avoiding the
media. The family has been questioned by the
police. Even after the controversial conversion
and the FIR, Sandeep would continue to fast dur-
ing Ramzan, relatives of the family said, on condi-
tion of anonymity.
The four employees of the Waqf have been
questioned so far to piece together the sequence
of events. The CCTV footage was also surveyed
“to establish any conspiracy”, officials said. Ho-
wever, so far, neither the Waqf nor the police
have established any forcible conversion.
A caretaker of the Hazratbal shrine cited the
case of Syed Waseem Rizvi, who converted from
Islam to Hinduism in 2021, and acquired a new
name, Jitendra Narayan Singh Tyagi, in Uttar Pra-
desh. “Did an FIR follow in the Rizvi conversion
case? No. Why in J&K?” he says.
Worry and fear
However, restless in his house, Dr. Farooqui shuf-
fles the mementoes in his drawing room. He
points out one he received for participating in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’
programme and another for attending a G20
meeting in Srinagar last year. The real cause of
concern is the full wooden almirah, in which lie
piles of letters in a file cover containing three
threat letters from militant outfits like The Resis-
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Chennai
ed9ae54f-5df8-4513-92ee-3e207c009ba4
tance Front, which accuse him of supporting An-
drabi to implement the BJP’s agenda in J&K.
“I survived a bomb attack in 1992, followed by
kidnapping by militants, in 1994 and 1997. These
threatening letters have been delivered in the
past two years. I was compelled to ask for police
security, when a threat letter surfaced at my main
entry gate at home,” Farooqui said. He was also
approached by men not known to him near the
pulpit of the mosque and warned against siding
with the BJP.
It has been more than two months now. Ka-
mal-ud-Din, who holds a PhD from France’s Un-
iversity of Bordeaux, and has served as the chief
scientist and Professor Emeritus, SKUAST-K, wor-
riedly wonders about the inquiry and his chance
at resuming a traditional duty.
“As an adviser to the Waqf in the past, my re-
mit was to increase revenue from Waqf-owned
orchards from ₹32 lakh to ₹92 lakh per year. My
intervention resulted in a revenue of ₹2.5 crore in
the past,” Kamal-ud-Din said.
The Hazratbal shrine is known for its moder-
ate voices. The priests from the shrine are also
put to service to douse communal tension, in-
cluding the episode where a student from the Na-
tional Institute of Technology, Hazratbal, had
posted content against Prophet Muhammad in
2023, an act that Islam considers blasphemous. It
was followed by on-campus and off-campus prot-
ests by students as well as locals in the Kashmir
valley.
“I have always pursued the narrative of peace
and focussed on how bloodshed will not take us
anywhere. I bring parallels from the world of
science and Islam to educate people about Islam-
ic teachings,” Kamal-ud-Din said.
Pulpit politics
The Hazratbal shrine first attained centrality in
Kashmir’s politics when a relic considered holy
by Muslims worldwide was stolen on December
27, 1963. It resulted in mass demonstrations
across the Valley, with protesters carrying black
flags. Then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Neh-
ru intervened, and the relic was recovered in Ja-
nuary 1964.
The reconstruction of the shrine between 1968
and 1979 saw NC founder Sheikh Muhammad Ab-
dullah raising his political capital here. Since
then, the pulpit of the shrine has been seen by lo-
cals as being close to the NC. In 1990, the separa-
tist J&K Liberation Front ( JKLF) used the pulpit to
seek the independence of Kashmir from India.
The Waqf Board, under the BJP since 2022, has
an orientation for pulpit politics. To segregate the
pulpit from regional party politics, the Waqf
Board has centralised the appointment of imams,
khateebs (Quranic reciters), and muezzins, citing
the “advanced age” of current preachers as a rea-
son.
The board also removed donation boxes of tra-
ditional peers from the shrines in the Valley after
August 5, 2019, when the Centre ended J&K’s spe-
cial constitutional position. The curtains were al-
so drawn on the practice of dastaarbandhi (tying
the turban), especially of politicians in the
shrines.
“It seems we are also being targeted for being
traditionally perceived as close to the National
Conference,” Kamal-ud-Din said. “I will fight for
my due though. It’s unfortunate the incident was
politicised. The whole thing was a plot against
me.”
His routine of religious rites has already
changed after the incident. “I would lead prayers
on all Fridays, Mondays, and Thursdays. I would
deliver sermons on auspicious occasions. I fear I
may miss my life’s first Id prayers at the shrine.”
A IN-X