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All-party meet on K’taka Constitution bench may

Krothi: Aani 32
Tithi: Dasami
CJI TO DECIDE
Star: Visakam
Rahukalam:

stand on Cauvery today hear pleas on money bills

3 pm to 4.30 pm
Yamagandam:
9 am to 10.30 am
PRAYERS
Fajar: 4.32 am
Zuhar: 12.20 am
■ K’taka refuses to honour CWRC order to release water: Stalin
Asar: 3.38 pm G. BABU JAYAKUMAR,
Maghrib: 6.39 pm
Isha: 7.57 pm
D. SEKAR | DC
CHENNAI, JULY 15
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
has called for an all-party
meeting on Tuesday to dis-
cuss the imbroglio arising
out of the Karnataka gov-
ernment’s refusal to share
the waters of river Cauve-
ry as per the stipulations
of the Cauvery Water
Regulation Committee
Nepal’s newly-elected Prime (CWRC) with Tamil Nadu
Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, and to find a solution to
right, and outgoing PM the problem.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, talk The meeting of leaders of
before the oath of office in political parties having
representation in the state
Kathmandu on Monday. PM
Assembly will be held at
Narendra Modi in a message the state secretariat at 11
congratulated Mr Oli. — PTI am with state minister for
PM pays homage to water resources Duraimu-
rugan presiding over it.
State’s stand
As on July 15, the total
amount of water storage in Karnataka stand
the four reservoirs of amounts to victimising
Karnataka was 75.586 TMC; Tamil Nadu farmers.
more inflow predicted.
ble means to be adopted to
bring around the recalci-
trant Karnataka govern-
ment that has bluntly
refused to release more
water by consulting legal
and other experts, the
Chief Minister said in a
statement, announcing the
meeting.
As on July 15, the total
amount of water storage in
the four reservoirs of
Karnataka was 75.586 TMC
and more inflow into the
Storage in Mettur
reservoir was just
13.80 TMC
normal rains in the com-
ing days, the statement
said, adding that the stor-
age in the Mettur reser-
voir was just 13.80 TMC.
While the CWRC has
ordered the release of one
TMC every day from July
12 to 31 at Biligundlu by
taking into account the
storage positions in the
dams of Karnataka, the
government had expressed
its decision to not release
more water was shocking,
Karnataka amounted to
victimising the farmers of
Tamil Nadu, the govern-
ment wanted to find a solu-
tion to it and hence had
called for the all-party
meeting, he said.
Though the Cauvery
Water Monitoring
Authority (CWMA) and
the CWRC were formed on
February 16, 2018, on the
basis of a Supreme Court
order to decide on the
release of water to the
state in the Cauvery,
Karnataka had never hon-
oured the orders of the two
regulatory bodies, always
depriving Tamil Nadu of
its share.
With the farmers in the
Cauvery delta region total-
ly depending on the water
released in the river from
RAKESH K. SINGH | DC
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The Supreme Court on
Monday agreed to consid-
er a submission for setting
up a Constitution Bench to
hear pleas challenging the
validity of passage of laws,
like the Aadhaar Act, as
money bills allegedly to
bypass the Rajya Sabha.
Senior advocate Kapil
Sibal told a bench com-
prising Chief Justice of
India D.Y. Chandrachud
and Justices J.B.
Pardiwala and Manoj
Misra on Monday that the
pleadings are complete
and the petitions needed
to be listed for hearing.
Mr Sibal said since the
matter is already there in
the list of scheduled
Constitution Bench hear-
ings, such a bench should
The passage of bills
like the Aadhaar Act
and PMLA as money
bills has been at the
centre of a major politi-
cal and legal row.
“I will take the call when I
form the constitution
benches.”
Earlier, the top court had
said it would constitute a
seven-judge bench to con-
sider the issue of the valid-
ity of passage of laws like
the Aadhaar Act as a
money bill.
The passage of bills like
the Aadhaar Act and even
amendments to the
Prevention of Money
Laundering Act (PMLA)
as money bills, ostensibly
to circumvent the Rajya
Sabha when the NDA did
not have a majority there,
row. Currently, the BJP
has 86 MPs, and the ruling
NDA has 101 in the 245-me-
mber Rajya Sabha, where
the majority mark is 123.
Welcoming the move,
Congress general secre-
tary in-charge of commu-
nications Jairam Ramesh,
in a post on X, said, “In the
last 10 years many bills
have been bulldozed
through Parliament by
having them declared
‘Money Bills’ under
Article 110 of the Constitu
tion. A good example of
this is the Aadhar Act of
2016.” The party hoped a
final verdict would come
before Justice Chandra
chud retires in November
this year. Mr Ramesh is
one of the petitioners who
have challenged the pas-
sage of the Aadhaar Act of
2016 as money bill under

former CM Kamaraj The meeting would delib-

erate on the various possi-
dams are being expected
as the IMD has forecast
Mr Stalin said.
Since the refusal of
Karnataka...
■ P7
be created on a priority
basis. To this, the CJI said,
has been at the centre of a
major political and legal
Article 110
Constitution.
of the
■ P4
New Delhi: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Monday

Tangendco hikes power tariff by 4.83%

paid tributes to former
Congress president and
Tamil Nadu chief minister
K. Kamaraj on his birth
anniversary. “Remembering
Thiru K. Kamaraj on his
birth anniversary. He is
widely respected for his
visionary leadership and
efforts to uplift the poor.
His contribution to sectors
like education remain
unparalleled. We reiterate
our commitment to fulfil
his ideals and build a soci-
ety that is just and com-
passionate,” the PM wrote
on X.
SC notice on transfer
of Neet cases to itself
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Monday issued
notices to private parties
on a batch of pleas filed by
the National Testing
Agency (NTA) seeking
transfer of cases pending
against it in various high
courts on the NEET-UG row
to the top court to avoid
multiplicity of litigations.
Wholesale inflation
DC CORRESPONDENT for all consumers across for huts in villages and 4.80 as against the present attributed to inflation, the
CHENNAI, JULY 15 the board by 4.83 per cent TAHDCO has been rate of Rs 4.60. For those in announcement was
from July 1 and the Tamil increased from Rs 9.35 per the above 100 kWh catego- delayed in view of the
In a surprise announceme- Nadu Electricity Regulat- unit to Rs 9.80 per unit. In ry the rate has been raised Model Code Conduct that
nt, the Tamil Nadu Gener- ory Commission also inc- the low tension category, from Rs 11.25 to Rs 11.80. was in place due to the by-
ation and Distribution reased the non-tariff relat- domestic and handloom While the increase in elections to the Vikravandi
Corporation (Tangendco) ed miscellaneous charges. consumers consuming 400 rates for all categories of Assembly constituency,
hiked the electricity tariff Even the single slab tariff kWh will be charged Rs power consumers has been the notification said.
SI THROWN OF BIKE
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin offers food to a student dur-
ing the launch of expansion of the breakfast scheme for
AFTER HITTING COW,
primary school children to state-aided private schools
in rural regions at a function in Thiruvallur district on
RUN OVER BY BUS
Monday O.P. ARULN | DC
CHENNAI, JULY 15
Put education back A 57-year-old special sub-
inspector lost his life after
his bike collided with a
on state list: Stalin
G. BABU JAYAKUMAR, studying in government
cow and was fatally struck
by a government bus near
Virddhachalam in Cudda
lore district on Monday.
According to sources
D. SEKAR | DC aided rural schools at an Bharathi Dasan (57) from
CHENNAI, JULY 15 event organised at St Thazhnallur village near
Anne’s Primary School at Vriddachalam in Cudda
The sinister agenda of
anti-people forces to cre-
Keelachery in Thiruv-
allur district, Mr Stalin
lore district, had gone to
the Virddachalam Govern

surges on food price ate wrong impressions

New Delhi: Wholesale infla-
tion in the country surged
to a 16-month high of 3.36
per cent in June on
account of rise in prices of
food articles, especially
vegetables and manufac-
tured items. This was the
fourth consecutive month
when inflation witnessed
an upward journey.
about the welfare mea-
sures launched by the
DMK government throu-
gh the dissemination of
fake news would not work
as the schemes were being
well appreciated by the
beneficiaries on the
ground even if newspa-
pers did not have a word
of praise and skeptics,
reveling in exaggeration,
were making up negative
stories to run them down,
said his government did
everything to ensure a
better future for students
by breaking all the barri-
ers that came their way,
be it hunger or the Neet or
the New Education Policy.
When the Dravidian Mo-
del government protested
against Neet, the all-India
entrance examination for
medical admissions,
everyone one asked why
they were doing it but
now the Supreme Court
ment General Hospital to
obtain a medical fitness
certificate on his bike after
recovering from ill-health.
While passing through
Sithalur village near Vir
ddachalam, his bike hit a
cow that suddenly crossed
the road and he was thr
own off it. He was then run
over by a government bus
going from Virudhachalam
to Thiruchirappalli, killing
him instantly.
Vriddachalam police

COUNTER POINT Chief Minister M. K.

Stalin said on Monday.
Inaugurating the expan-
sion of the Chief Minist-
er’s Breakfast Scheme for
primary class students
had raised questions on
the manner in which the
examination was being
held and many states had
started opposing it, he
said. ■ P7
reached the scene recov-
ered his body and sent it
for autopsy.
They have also initiated
an investigation into the
incident.

BIHAR SEEKS SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS

DC CORRESPONDENT
WITH AGENCY INPUTS
NEW DELHI/PATNA, JULY 15
Ahead of the Union bud-
get, NDA ally JD(U) has
begun to mount pressure
on the Union government
over the grant of “special
category” status for Bihar.
On Monday, Bihar govern-
ment ministers claimed
that the latest report of the
Niti Aayog’s Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG)
India Index 2023-24 vindi-
cated the state’s long-sta
nding demand for greater
Central financial assis-
tance.
The SDG India Index
2023-24 released by the
Niti Aayog on July 12 puts
Bihar at the bottom in the
assessment of sustainable
development. The Oppos
ition, particularly the RJD
and the Congress, have
begun targeting Chief Min
ister Nitish Kumar over
the issue. Former Lok Sab
ha speaker and Congress
leader Meira Kumar hit
out at Mr Kumar and the
Centre for the delay in gra
nting such a status. ■ P7

Floods: Shah speaks to Assam, UP, Guj CMs Cremation

DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
Union home minister Amit
Shah on Monday spoke to
the Chief Ministers of
Assam, Uttar Pradesh and
Gujarat to take stock of the
situation there due to floods
and heavy rains and
assured them of all central
help, sources said.
While talking to Assam
Chief Minister Himanta
Biswa Sarma over the tele-
phone, Mr Shah enquired
about the flood crisis in the
state and he was briefed by
the CM about the situation
Ministers Yogi Adityanath
being per- and Bhupendra Patel, the
formed at home minister took stock of
Manikarnika the UP and Gujarat situa-
Ghat amid ris- tion due to the rising water
ing water level levels in rivers following
of river Ganga heavy rains.
due to mon- Mr Shah assured the three
soon rains in chief ministers of all possi-
Varanasi on ble assistance from the cen-
tral government to tide over
Monday.
the situation, the sources
— PTI further said. So far 109 peo-
and the steps taken so far by ple have lost their lives in
the administration. Assam in floods and rain-
In his calls to Chief related incidents. ■ P7
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 2

SHORT TAKES
Plea to provide
Kuruvai package
benefits to all
farmers in Thanjavur
G.SRINIVASAN I DC
THANJAVUR, JULY 15
Farmers of Thanjavur dis-
trict have appealed to the
government to provide the
Kuruvai package benefits to
all the ryots.
Led by Kakkarai Sukumar,
vice-president of Tamil
Nadu Vivasaya Sangangalin
Koottiyakkam, the farmers
squatted on the steps leading
to the collector's office and
made their demands. After
the police intervened, the
farmers agreed to give a peti-
tion to the collector.
Mr Sukumar said that the
Kuruvai package is now
given to the farmers who
used machines to transplant
crops. Rs 4,000 is given per an
acre as subsidy to farmers
who transplanted crops
using transplanters under
the Kuruvai package. It
should be given to all farm-
ers, including those, who
used farm labourers and
transplanted crops, he said.
They also said that
Karnataka should not con-
struct a dam across river
Cauvery at Mekedatu. Tamil
Nadu should take steps to get
our due share of Cauvery
water from Karnataka, he
added.
They gave the petition to
Thyagarajan,
Thanjavur.
DRO of
Laptops
distributed to
school teachers
DC CORRESPONDENT
ARIYALUR, JULY 15
Transport Minister S.S.
Sivasankar distributed lap-
tops to 1,274 elementary and
middle school teachers that
cost Rs 1.63 crore, at a func-
tion held at Irumbulikurichi,
near Ariyalur, on Monday,
under the presidentship of
Ariyalur Collector J. Anne
Mary Swarna.
A media release said the
minister also distributed
various educational instru-
ments to the school students.
He handed over sanction-
ing orders to 28 beneficiaries
to construct houses under
the ‘Kalaignarin Kanavu
Illam Thittam’ at an estimat-
ed cost of Rs 98 lakh and gave
away sanctioning orders to
20 persons to undertake
repair and renovation of
their houses at an estimated
cost of Rs. 16.70 lakh under
Abandoned quarries,
mines to be restored
■ Project to start in Chengalpet & Kanchipuram
N. RAVIKUMAR | DC
CHENNAI, JULY 15
The state natural
resources department has
started collecting a green
fund for reclamation,
restoration and rehabilita-
tion of abandoned mines
and quarries which
become useless and turn
dangerous for the people
living around them. The
first phase of the project
will commence in
Chengalpet and
Kanchipuram and a feasi-
bility study will be carried
out.
The green fund was con-
stituted through a the water-filled quarries,
Government Order on
February 23, 2022, and the
government has started
the collection at 10 per
cent and 50 per cent of
seigniorage fee remitted
by the lessees.
Till March 313 this year,
Rs. 125 crore was collected
as green fund, according
Participants perform at the Youth Festival 2024 organised by Confederation of Tamil Nadu Malayalee Association.
Three found charred to death in house
OP ARULN | DC
CHENNAI, JULY 15
to the officials of the natu-
ral resources department.
Each year, several people
are injured or killed while
exploring, swimming or
playing in abandoned
mines and quarries.
Quarries filled with water
conceal rock ledges,
machinery and electrical
current. Though the water
looks refreshing and lur-
ing for the swimmers, it
could be deceptively deep
and very cold. The swim-
mers, when caught inside
the water, would not be
able to come out due to the
steep and slippery walls.
Besides those entering
those travelling on the
roads near them could
also be killed when loose
materials from the hills
collapse on the vehicle-
user. Large tracts of land
remain unused after the
extraction of mines and
they are a source of air,
water and groundwater
According to sources,
pollution. The deforesta-
tion, land surface defor-
mation and biodiversity
degradation should be rec-
tified once the mines and
quarries are not used.
The green fund will be
used to bring the aban-
doned mines and quarries
to public utility. The
department officials said
they have identified 720
abandoned quarries and
the process of restoration,
reclamation and rejuvena-
tion process would begin
in Chengalpet and
Kanchipuram. Feasibility
study of the adoptive re-
use of the abandoned
quarries in the two dis-
tricts will be carried out.
The natural resources
department is also taking
steps to protect the fossils
which are important to
study the living organ-
isms through the ages
from mining activities.
Fossils are the preserved
remains or traces of ani-
charred remains of the
mals, plants and other
organisms from the
remote past. The govern-
ment project of construct-
ing a Fossil Geological
Park at Ariyalur is near-
ing completion.
Construction of the muse-
um, guard room, watch
tower, overhead tank and
barbed wire fencing will
be completed soon.
Both Ariyalur and
Perambalur districts have
rich fossiliferous deposits
and are considered to be
geological hotspots. They
consist of pockets of phos-
phatic nodules and fossils
like ammonites and
belemnites. The spots
draw a large number of
scientists from through-
out the world for geo-sci-
entific studies and the gov-
ernment considered it
very important to protect
and preserve the forma-
tions to study about life
through the
ages. A scene from a road on Monday when the city witnessed mild showers. — E.K.Sanjay
Parking of autos, bikes along
GST Road leads to traffic jams
N. RAVIKUMAR & Singaperumalkoil. On along the GST Road and
P.A. JEBARAJ | DC Monday, though there two-wheelers are parked
CHENNAI, JULY 15 were not many people
returning from other dis-
outside leading to block-
ing of traffic, people said.
The GST Road from
Tambaram to Guindy was
tricts, the stretch from
Tambaram to Guindy wit-
Besides, auto drivers park
their vehicles for hours at
choked with traffic on the
first working day of the
nessed bumper-to-bumper
traffic as most of the peo-
any place they want to,
caring the least about the
week on Monday, and peo- ple were keen to go on traffic problems of others.
ple found it difficult to go time to their offices, com- People said the traffic
to their workplaces and panies and educational police should focus on
educational institutions institutions on the first removing the vehicles
as it took hours to cross working day of the week. parked along the roads
the stretch. People said The people said the and reduce the traffic con-
autos and two-wheelers Tambaram traffic police gestion. They should not
parking on the roadsides were only keen on enforc- think that their only job is
are adding to the traffic ing traffic rules on wear- to collect fines for traffic
woes every day and ing helmets and seat belts violations. The auto driv-
demanded their removal. and collecting fines. They ers, besides parking the
Usually, people return- are not keen to reduce the vehicles on the roadside,
ing from their native traffic congestion, and drop and pick up passen-
places on Monday add to allow the parking of autos gers in the middle of the
the heavy traffic on the and two-wheelers on the road without bothering
Chennai-Tiruchy national roadside. about the other road-
—N.Sampath highway from There are many eateries users.
2.53 lakh students apply for engg

In a suspected case of grue-

some murders, three mem-
bers of a family were found
Kamaleeswari was resid-
ing in Rajaram Nagar,
Nellikuppam, near Cudd-
alore. Her husband Suresh
Kumar, 70, a former phar-
family members were dis-
covered in a pool of blood
inside
house.
the

the ‘Kiramapura
Veedugalukkaana Pazhuthu
Paarkkum Thittam’.
Later, he also distributed
orders to 22 persons to take
alluvial soil (vandal mun)
from lakes and tanks and
other water bodies of the
water resources and rural
development departments,
free of cost, for agricultural
purpose and to make earth-
enware pots.
charred to death in their
home near Cuddalore on
Monday. The victims have
been identified as S.
Kamaleshwari, 60, her son
Sudhan Kumar, 40, who
worked as an IT profession-
al in Hyderabad, and her
grandson Nishanth, 10. The
superintendent of police
formed five special teams
to investigate the case.
macist, died six months
ago. Her son Sudhan
Kumar came to the house
10 days ago and was staying
with his mother and son.
Local authorities were
alerted when neighbours
noticed smoke emanating
from the house. The Fire
and Rescue Services and
the Nellikuppam police
doused the fire. The
Superintendent of police
R. Rajaram supervised the
initial investigations,
marking the incident as a
suspected case of murder.
To expedite the search for
the perpetrator, five special
investigation teams have
been deployed. Police have
registered a case and are
pursuing leads to deter-
mine the motive and appre-
hend the culprit.
seats, counselling from July 22
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 15
Higher education minister
K. Ponmudy on Monday
said a total of 2.53 lakh stu-
dents have applied for
admission to engineering
seats and the counselling
process would commence
on July 22.
Talking to reporters here,
Mr Ponmudy said that
elaborate arrangements
have been made for the
counselling of engineering
admissions, which would
continue till September 11.
The first round of coun-
selling would be held for
students of special reser-
vation category.
The counselling would be
held online in three rounds
and the candidates would
take part in the process in
corresponding rounds
based on their ranking in
the merit list. The coun-
selling for students under
the 7.5 percent government
reservation category will
be held on July 29-31 while
the provisional allocation
of seats for the students
would be made on August
10.
The minister said that
students were eager to join
engineering courses due to
the effect of the 'Naan
Mudhalvan' scheme and
the number of applica-
tions for engineering had
increased. If the engineer-
ing seats were vacant even
after counselling, the
process of verandah
admission would be con-
ducted. Through this, stu-
dents would be directly
admitted to the colleges.

Kauvery Hospitals Ooty shivers as monsoon gains strength Plumber working in

performs 3 hand
replantations in a month
R. VALAYAPATHY | DC
TIRUCHY, JULY 15
Kauvery Hospitals, Tiruchy, has
achieved three consecutive hand
replantations within a month with
patients in their rehabilitation period
and expected to make good recovery.
Two patients were young men in
their 20s, while the third was in his
mid-forties. Two of the patients had
their hands hacked off in vicious
assaults, while the last patient suf-
fered a crushing amputation after his
hand got stuck in a high-pressure
hydraulic press.
At a press conference at Tiruchy on
Monday, hospital's co-founder and
executive director Dr. Senguttuvan
and Dr. S. Skanda senior consultant
and head, plastic surgery, on the side-
lines of launching of Kauvery
Lymphedema Centre and Regional
Replant Centre by former HoD and
Professor of Government Stanley
Medical College Hospital Prof.R.
Krishnamoorthy, said replantations
represent the very pinnacle of
microvascular surgery with bony fix-
ation, tendon, nerve and blood vessels
which are a few millimetres in size,
being repaired under a specialised
operating microscope using sutures
which are thinner than a human hair.
Replantation is a team effort and
refers to restoring an amputated part
of the same patient as opposed to
transplantation, which involves
using parts from another donor, they
added.
On the occasion of National Plastic
Surgery Day, the hospital inaugurat-
ed these two unique services:
Kauvery Lymphedema Clinic and
Regional Replant Centre.
B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC
OOTY, JULY 15
Intermittent rains and
inclement weather have
made this hill centre shiver
as the Southwest monsoon
turned active again in the
Nilgiris.
After a lull, the monsoon
returned with a vigour as
heavy rains lashed the
Nilgiris, especially in Ooty,
Kundah, Gudalur and
Drop Sipcot Industrial Park plan: NGO
O.. P. ARULN | DC
CHENNAI, JULY 15
In a plea against environmen-
tal degradation and agricultur-
al displacement, the NGO
'Povulagin Nanbargal' has
sought abandonment of the
proposed Sipcot Industrial
Park in Gummidipoondi.
Spread over 215.834 hectares of
land in Soorappondiy and
Vaniyamalli villages near
Gummidipoondi in
Thiruvallur district, the project
is in the eye of a storm over its
potential impacts on local
water bodies and agricultural
lands.
In a statement, the NGO stat-
ed that initially granted envi-
ronmental clearance under the
8(b) category by the Tamil
Nadu State Environment
Impact Assessment Authority
in April 2024, the project
bypassed a crucial state-level
Pandalur taluks.
Though the rains began to
drench the hills from
Saturday evening, it lashed
across the central and west-
ern Nilgiris on Sunday. On
Monday, heavy rains pounded
the hills during the daytime
after a break in the early
morning.
The rains over the past two
days with overcast sky and
gusty winds have made the
central and western Nilgiris
■ “The Tamil Nadu
Industrial Policy's
contradictory
stance on existing
and planned indus-
trial parks exacer-
bates uncertainty,”
notes the NGO.
public hearing, raising proce-
dural concerns and such large-
scale industrial projects should
fall under the stricter 7(c) cate-
gory, emphasising the need for
comprehensive environmental
assessments and public consul-
tation. Another concern is that
the proposed industrial park is
closer to the ecologically-sensi-
tive Pallikaranai bird sanctu-
ary, within a 10-kilometer
radius. Despite past suspen-
sions of environmental clear-
reel under cold waves. Hill
residents took umbrellas,
rain coats and woolen gar-
ments to protect
themselves.
Sporadic incidents of
uprooting of trees were
reported at a couple of places
in the Nilgiris. The disaster
management teams in the
taluks are on vigil to respond
to any emergencies to clear
wind-fallen trees and other
mess to keep the traffic
ances for similar projects due
to inadequate ecological assess-
ments, the government contin-
ues to pursue expansions,
including the ambitious Sipcot
Manellur Phase III in nearly
985 hectares.
The Sipcot, which is seeking
separate clearances for seg-
mented phases rather than a
cumulative impact assessment,
undermines transparency and
accountability. The south zone
National Green Tribunal bench
has already intervened, warn-
ing of potential suspensions
pending proper assessments.
The NGO alleged that the
local communities, predomi-
nantly agrarian, fear displace-
ment and loss of livelihoods as
fertile agricultural lands and
vital water bodies face prospec-
tive industrial encroachment.
Villagers in Manellur,
Soorappondiy, Madhavaram,
Sannaputhur, and Vaniyamalli
glitch-free.
Heavy rains in major catch-
ment areas near here such as
Upper Bhavani and
Avalanche have made the
reservoirs brim to help in
irrigation and hydro-power
generation.
The rainfall(in mm) at vari-
ous centres on Monday is:
Avalanche-120, Upper
Bhavani-108, Emerald-63,
Kundah-43, Gudalur-32 and
Ooty-22.
practise sustainable agricul-
ture, cultivating rice, sesame,
and mangoes, and raising over
20,000 livestock reliant on local
water sources is threatened by
the proposed industrialisation.
''The Tamil Nadu Industrial
Policy's contradictory stance
on existing and planned indus-
trial parks exacerbates uncer-
tainty,'' notes the NGO. They
underscore the inconsistency
between the policy's acknowl-
edgment of current industrial
operations and the simultane-
ous proposal for expansive new
developments, casting doubt on
the government's commitment
to sustainable development.
The NGO urged the Tamil
Nadu government to prioritise
environmental stewardship
over industrial expansion, safe-
guarding agricultural liveli-
hoods and preserving critical
ecosystems for future genera-
tions.
Sipcot construction
falls to death from
ninth floor
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 15
A plumber working on the
ninth floor of a building
near Sriperumbudur fell
down and died on Monday.
Five Sipcot industrial
parks are situated in
Sriperumbudur and sur-
rounding areas. Thousands
of factories are located in the
Sipcot parks and workers
from Tamil Nadu and
migrant labourers from
North India are staying in
the area and working in the
factories.
Sipcot planned to build a
quarters for 35,000 workers
at Sriperumbudur and the
building has 13 floors.
Manikandan alias Rajesh
(26) was working as a
plumber in the construction
and he was working on the
ninth floor of the building on
Monday.
He slipped and fell from the
ninth floor and suffered crit-
ical injuries. He was taken to
the Sriperumbudur govern-
ment hospital for treatment
but the doctors said he had
already died.
The workers said the
Sipcot officials have not fol-
lowed the safety precautions
and did not provide safety
equipment to the workers.
This led to the death of
Manikandan, they com-
plained
138 star tortoises
on way to
Malaysia seized
at airport
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, JULY 15
The Air Intelligence unit of Chennai
Air Customs recovered 138 star tor-
toises from a man going to Malaysia
from Chennai. The investigation
showed that the smuggler purchased
the star tortoise from marshy lands
in Andhra at a price of Rs. 100 each
and sold them at Rs. 5,000 each in
Malaysia.
The man was about to board a
Malysia-bound flight on Sunday and
he was intercepted by the Customs
officers in the departure terminal.
When the officials asked him about
the contents in a few boxes, the pas-
senger said he was taking rice, dhal
and other items required for cook-
ing. However, the suspicion of the
officials were raised when there was
movement inside the boxes.
When the officials checked the bag-
gage, they found 138 star tortoises.
Since the species are listed in sched-
ule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972, the passenger was arrested.
The tortoises were handed over to
the Guindy National Park for safe
custody and release into their habi-
tat.
The passenger said he used to buy
the star tortoises at a price of Rs. 100
each in Andhra and sold them in
Malaysia at a cost of Rs. 5,000 each.
The star tortoises are kept in glass
tanks at houses and they are used as
meat in hotels. They are used to pre-
pare medicines and their shells are
used to make decorative
items.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 3

SHORT TAKES ■ Prime suspect in Armstrong’s murder case killed by police

Kerala man stuck in
college elevator for Law minister justifies encounter
Chennai, July 15: Law
two days, rescued minister S. Regupathy on
Monday justified the
DC CORRESPONDENT police action in opening
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, fire at a prime suspect in
JULY 15 the Bahujan Samaj Party
leader Armstrong’s mur-
A middle-aged man who went der case and said all those
to Trivandrum Medical Colle-
ge hospital for a check-up on
Saturday got trapped inside
arrested in the case were
the real culprits.
Police had no option but
to open fire at the murder
suspect who attacked
them, he said.
“Police can only shoot at
and nab the culprits who
try to escape after attack-
ing the police. What else
can be done?” he asked
during a brief interaction
with the media here.
On July 14, police shot at
the murder suspect K
Thiruvengadam when he
allegedly opened fire at
the police and attempted
to flee after he was
taken to a spot here to
recover the weapons that
he and others used to kill
TN BSP chief K Arm-
strong on July 5. Thiruv-
engadam later suc-
cumbed.
The Law Minister said
the state government was
determined to curb crimi-
nal activities.
Asked about BJP state
chief K Annamalai's sus-
picion over the death of
Thiruvengadam, minin-
ster Regupathy replied
“the police recovered
CCTV footages of Thiru-
vengadam involved in the
murder of Armstrong.
Only the real culprits in
the murder case have
been arrested.” SC, ST commission: Don’t
—PTI

2 tribals held with use the term ‘Chandala’

an elevator for two days.
The incident came to light
when a lift operator came for
duty on Monday morning. G.BABU JAYAKUMAR nels and outside of them
& D.SEKAR I DC with many activists point-
Kerala medical education
directorate immediately sus-
pended two lift operators and
tiger claws, teeth CHENNAI, JUL 15: ing out that the term actual-
ly referred to a community
a duty sergeant in connection B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC The Tamil Nadu State and hence employing it to
with the incident. The action Commission for Scheduled run down somebody was an
was taken after Health Minis- OOTY, JULY 15 Castes and Scheduled offence.
ter Veena George ordered an Tribes has warned against Many social media users
inquiry into the incident. Two tribesmen were he- the use of the term said that Seeman and
Narrating his harrowing ld here for possessing ‘Chandala’ as a pejorative Saatai Duraimurugan
experience, Raveendran Nair, tiger claws and teeth in the public sphere since it should be booked under the
59, who is also a temporary and trying to make arra- was the name of a particu- SC & ST (prevention of
employee of the legislative ngements to sell them. lar community listed as a atrocities) Act during the
assembly, said he had gone to The foresters at Ooty Scheduled Caste. debates as the public per-
the Orthopaedics department south division received The Commission, in a ception earlier was that it
for a check-up.He got into the information about two press release on Monday, was just a case of defama-
lift to go to the first floor. But persons in Manjoor lim- urged the state government tion and hurting the senti-
it went down and the doors its trying to sell tiger to invoke the Scheduled ments of the admirers of
didn't open. claws and teeth. Caste and Scheduled Tribes Karunanidhi.
Raveendran, who is current- The forest team, which (Prevention of Atrocities) The SC & ST Commission
ly under observation at the held enquiry in the area, Act of 1989 against those pointed out that the use of
casualty wing of the hospital, nabbed two persons, ide- using the term to defame or the term as pejorative was
said with no sign of help ntified as Lakshmanan ridicule people and pointed happening in many
coming, the fear of death and Chandran, both out that it was happening in spheres, including films,
gripped him. tribals hailing from social media and other and said that it had hurt the
On Monday morning, the lift T humbanerikomabi forums of late. feelings of the people
operator was shocked to see tribal hamlet in A debate over the use of belonging to the communi-
him lying exhausted inside Manjoor limits. the term broke out on social ty that was involved in per-
the elevator. He was immedi- Children pay shower floral tributes to the statue of Kamaraj on the occasion of his 122nd birth anniversary at his Upon investigation, th- media after Naam Tamilar forming socially responsi-
ately shifted to the casualty. residence in the city on Monday. —DC ey found that the duo Katchi (NTK) chief coordi- ble jobs.
are said to have collect- nator Seeman defended his In political circles, the

Governor and CM pay tributes to

ed the claws and teeth political lieutenant, Saatai announcement of the
from the carcass of a Duraimurugan, for using Commission is suspected to
TNCC chief blames tiger deep inside the
jungle at Mulligoor jun-
the term in a song that he
reeled out to personally
be a forerunner to the
arrest of Seeman, who had
Centre for K’taka not gles when they ventured abuse former Chief Mi- earlier alleged that the

releasing Cauvery water

M. ARULOLI | DC
THOOTHUKUDI, JULY 15
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
president K. Selvaperunthagai shift-
ed the blame for Karnataka not
releasing the 11,500 cusecs of water
ordered by the Cauvery Water
Regulation Committee (CWRC) to
the complacency of the BJP-led
NDA government at the Centre.
Responding to mediapersons at
Thoothukudi airport on his way to
Kanyakumari on Monday,
Selvaperunthagai said his party in
Tamil Nadu severely condemned the
Karnataka government for not
implementing the CWRC order.
Adding that Karnataka should
release 20 tmc ft of water to Tamil
Nadu by releasing 11,500 cusecs on a
daily basis for 20 days from July 12,
Selvaperunthagai said, “The
Karnataka government, however,
refused to release the water, which is
against the riparian right of Tamil
Nadu.”
The Congress leader criticised the
Union government for being a pas-
sive onlooker on the issue. “Prime
Minister Modi, however, has the
responsibility to intervene and
make Karnataka release the water
to Tamil Nadu as per the CWRC
order,” he demanded.
Reacting to the demand for a CBI
inquiry into the murder of
Armstrong, Selvaperunthagai said
his party has full confidence in the
efficiency of the Tamil Nadu police.
Kamaraj on his birth anniversary
Chennai, July 15: Gove-
rnor R N Ravi, Chief Min-
ister M K Stalin and a host
of leaders paid tributes to
former CM K Kamaraj on
his 122nd birth anniversary
on Monday.
Paying floral tributes to a
portrait of Kamaraj at the
Gandhi Mandapam here
the Governor hailed the
late leader as “a great
nationalist and builder of
modern Tamil Nadu.”
He made possible univer-
sal access to education,
mid-day meal, laid the foun-
dation for industrialisa-
tion, power generation, and
built numerous dams that
boosted agricultural pro-
duction, Ravi said.
“He was the champion of
social justice. His life of
honesty and utter simplici-
ty should be a lesson for our
present-day leaders. His life
and work remain an inspi-
ration for all,” the
Governor said in a post on
X.
Chief Minister said in a
post on X that he honoured
the late leader by launching
the expansion of the Chief
Minister's Breakfast
scheme on the birth
anniversary of Kamaraj.
Stalin paid floral tributes
to a portrait of the leader at
Kamaraj provided corruption-free rule
during his tenure as CM of TN: Rangasamy
Puducherry, July 15: Pudu-
cherry Chief Minister N
Rangasamy said on Mon-
day that the territorial
government was imple-
menting education related
schemes and student wel-
fare programmes as visu-
alised by former Tamil
Nadu Chief Minister K
Kamaraj.
Inaugurating a library
named after Kamaraj at
the Kamarajar Maniman-
dapam (memorial) on the
occasion of the birth ann-
iversary of the late chief
minister, he said, “Kam-
araj gave importance to
the education of young
boys and girls and imple-
mented various schemes
to promote education.”
Puducherry government
has been implementing
several schemes to pro-
mote education, provide
facilities for the students
the official launch of the
CM Breakfast scheme for
primary school children in
Tiruvallur district.
State ministers garlanded
and also established infra-
structures for the younger
generation.
The manimandapam has
all facilities including coa-
ching for students to ap-
pear in competitive
examinations like civil
service exams. It has been
constructed at a cost of
`29 crore, the chief minis-
ter said.
The library has 50,000
books and would meet the
requirements of the stu-
dents, the elders and oth-
ers in the vicinity. Online
facilities are available to
download information on
various subjects, he said.
Books written by writers
and scholars in Puduche-
rry would be purchased as
that would be a big fillip
for the writers and they
also deserved to be
encouraged by the govern-
ment, he added.
the statue of Kamaraj near
the Pallavan House in the
city.
The Congress members
led by TNCC president
into the jungles to col-
lect honey. The forest
team visited the spot
where the carcass was
found and collected sam-
nister M Karunanidhi dur-
ing the campaign for the by-
election to the Vikravandi
Assembly constituency.
When Saatai Duraimur-
arrest of his party aide was
aimed at stifling him and
challenged the police to lay
their hands on him.
Or, perhaps the announce-
ples from the carcass for
analysis.
ugan was arrested by the
police following a com-
ment was just aimed at pre-
venting the NTK leaders
The foresters main-
tained that investiga-
tion is under way to
plaint, Seeman sang lines
from the same offensive
song to the media openly
from singing the song in
public again as they had
claimed that it was an old
“Already we have a big ascertain the reasons and challenged the govern- propaganda song of the
library named after Rom- for the tiger death deep ment to arrest him. AIADMK and that nobody
ain Roland situated in the inside the jungle and to Soon it sparked a discus- could stop them from
town with around four la- confirm whether poach- sion on social media chan- singing it.
kh books. This library wo- ers were involved in it.
uld soon get more books,”
the chief minister said.
The manimandapam
would soon have a photo
section which would high-
light the various events
and history of life of
Kamaraj, he said.
Puducherry Assembly
Speaker R Selvam, BJP
MLA A John Kumar, and
officials of the Depar-
tment of Art and Culture
were also present.
Earlier, Lieutenant Gove-
rnor C P Radhakrishnan
and Rangasamy garlanded
the statue of Kamaraj at
the Pattanikadai junction
in the town to mark the bi-
rth anniversary celebrati-
on of the late leader.
—PTI
K Selvaperunthagai and
AIADMK general secretary
Edappadi K Palaniswami,
too, paid floral tributes on Former students and the children of the school run by Government Queen Mary
the occasion. —PTI College, Kamarajar Road, celebrate 110 years of the college by cutting a cake. —DC

Annamalai demands white paper on medical admissions pre and post Neet TMMK won’t merge with EPS’s AIADMK: TTV
Salem, July 15: State BJP
president K. Annamalai on
Monday reiterated his
demand that the Tamil Nadu
government issue a white
paper on medical admissions
pre and post Neet and
claimed that the central qual-
ifying test is beneficial to the
poorer sections of the socie-
ty.
The ruling DMK continues
to do politics over the
National Entrance-cum-
Eligibility Test and "we are
very clear Neet is required,"
he told reporters here.
"Tamil Nadu recorded its
best performance this year in
Neet, with a 59 per cent pass
percentage....the National
Testing Agency (NTA) is con-
over Neet.
" Neet is 10 years old.
Release a white paper on how
many government school
students have joined govern-
ment medical colleges pre
and post Neet," he demanded.
This data is available with
the Directorate of Medical
Education (DME), he
claimed. "That (data) will
show to the people of Tamil
Nadu that Neet is helpful for
State BJP president K. Annamalai pays poor and middle classes," he
tributeto Kamaraj’s portrait in Salem added.
on Monday. —Zakeer Hussain On the killing of K
Armstrong recently, he reit-
ducting Neet and the rounding the qualifying test He pointed out that NTA was erated his demand for a CBI
Supreme Court is looking if this year. conducting many other tests. probe into the matter, saying
there are any shortcomings," He said the Neet question The BJP leader accused the who had hired the henchmen
he said in an apparent refer- paper was "localised," and ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu to kill the BSP leader must be
ence to the controversies sur- that action was being taken. of "continuing to do politics" found out. —PTI
R. VALAYAPATHY | DC
TIRUCHY, JULY 15
Amma Makkal Munnetra
Kazhagam (TMMK) presi-
dent T.T.V. Dhinakaran has
declared that under no cir-
cumstances will his party
merge the AIADMK led by
Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
He said the ground and rea-
son why they launched the
TMMK was to achieve and
implement late Jayalalit-
haa’s policies and ideolo-
gies for the people of Tamil
Nadu.
He told mediapersons so-
on after garlanding the late
Chief Minister K. Kamar-
aj’s statue on the occasion
of his 122nd birth annivers-
ary at Tiruchy, that the
TMMK may be defeated
today, but their journey of
ideals will continue. They
will win in the future elec-
tions to spread Jayal-
alithaa’s ideologies all over
Tamil Nadu, he added.
The shooting of one of
the key accused in the BSP
leader Armstrong’s mur-
der in a police encounter
creates a very big doubt
among people, he said, and
added that three DMK men
were held in connection
with the murder. Police
killing one of the accused
in the case raised a lot of
questions and created do-
ubts, and time will answer
all these issues, he said.
He hoped that the court
would take suitable action
in this regard.
To a question, he said it is
the prime duty of Chief
Minister M.K. Stalin to get
Tamil Nadu’s legitimate
share of Cauvery water
from Karnataka. He can
approach Congress leaders
and INDIA bloc’s key per-
sons Sonia Gandhi and
Rahul Gandhi to get water
for Tamil Nadu from
Karnataka, he added.
Earlier, municipal admin-
istration minister K.N.
Nehru, school education
minister Anbil Mahesh
Poyyamozhi, TNCC gener-
al secretary Advocate Sar-
avanan, district Congress
presidents L. Rex and
Kalai, and leaders of vari-
ous political parties and
other like-minded organi-
sations also garlanded the
statue of Kamaraj.

Ministers, Collector inaugurate CM’s breakfast scheme in Tiurchy district

DC CORRESPONDENT ool at Jayankondam, near Musiri,
TIRUCHY, JULY 15 on Monday, and school education
minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi
Municipal administration minister inaugurated the scheme at a govern-
K.N. Nehru, along with Tiruchy Col- ment-aided school at Asur, near
lector M. Pradeep Kumar and oth- Thiruverumbur, in Tiruchy district.
ers, inaugurated the Chief Transport minister S.S. Sivasank-
Minister’s morning breakfast ar inaugurated the scheme along w-
scheme at a government-aided sch- ith Perambalur Collector K. Karpag-
am at a government-aided school at
Periyavenmani West in Perambalur
district. Environment minister Siva
V. Meyyanathan, accompanied by
Mayiladuthurai Collector A.P. Ma-
habharathi and Poompuhar MLA
Nivedha Murugan, at Parasalur vil-
lage, in Mayiladuthurai district, and
minister S. Reghupathy and Puduk-
kottai Collector I.S. Mercy Ramya man U. Mathivanan at
inaugurated the scheme at a village Kameswaram village in Nagapatt-
near Thirumayam. Karur collector inam district, Tiruvarur Collector T.
M. Thangavel inaugurated the Charusree along with
scheme at Nerur North village and Nagapattinam MP V. Selvaraj and
Nagapattinam Collector Johny Tom Tiruvarur MLA Poondi. K. Kalaiva-
Varghese, Tamil Nadu fisheries de- nan inaugurated the scheme at
velopment corporation chairman N. Thappalaampuliyur village, in
Gowthaman and THADCO chair- Tiruvarur district.

10,870 more students to benefit from breakfast scheme in Thanjavur district

G. SRINIVASAN I DC
THANJAVUR JULY 15
The breakfast scheme has b-
een extended to 141 governm-
ent-aided schools in Thanja-
vur district to benefit 10,870
students, said Deepak Jacob,
Thanjavur collector, at Thir-
ukkanurpatti near here on
Monday.
He broke fast with students
at the government-aided St.
Mary's Primary School at
Thirukkanurpatti in Than-
javur panchayat union, after
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
inaugurated the expansion
scheme in Thiruvallur dis-
trict. MLAs Durai Chandra-
sekaran (Thiruvaiyaru),
T.K.G. Neelamegam (Thanja-
vur), and mayor Shan Rama-
nathan joined him and had
breakfast along with the stu-
dents.
The collector said that in
Thanjavur panchayat union
(PU), the scheme is imple-
mented in 13 schools to bene-
fit 835 students, 17 schools to
benefit 1,354 students in
Thiruvaiyaru PU, 13 schools
to benefit 853 students in
Budalur PU, one school to
benefit 84 students in
Orathanadu PU, one school
in Thiruvonam PU, to benefit
280 students in Thiruppan-
andal PU, 21 schools to bene-
fit 1,696 students in Kumbak-
onam PU, 21 schools to bene-
fit 1,570 students in Thiruvi-
daimariuthur PU, 23 schools
to benefit 1,797 students in
Thiruppanandal PU, 14 sch-
ools to benefit 1,832 students
in Papanasam PU, nine sch-
ools to benefit 509 students in
Ammapettai PU, four schools
to benefit 294 students in
Pattukottai PU, one school to
benefit 74 students in Madu-
kkur PU and three schools to
benefit 142 students in
Peravurani PU. Balaganesh,
project director, DRDA and
S. Shanthi, project director,
Mahalirthittam participated
in the function.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 4

SHORT TAKES
SC extends stay on LS privileges ■ Shankaracharya against Kedarnath replica

Govt sets uniform 5% Uddhav victim of betrayal,

GST on aircraft parts
New Delhi: Civil aviation
minister Kinjrapu Rammohan
panel notices to Bengal DGP, CS Modi not my enemy: Seer
Naidu on Monday announced
the implementation of a uni-
form Integrated Goods and
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15 CONSTITUTION BENCH MAY BHAGWAN PARAB
with agency inputs
Services Tax (IGST) rate of
5% on all aircraft and aircraft
engine parts. This will be
The Supreme Court on
Monday extended till July
19 the stay on notices
HEAR PLEAS ON MONEY BILLS MUMBAI, JULY 15

effective from July 15, 2024.
This decision marks a signifi-
cant milestone for the
domestic maintenance,
repair, and overhaul (MRO)
industry, aimed at making
India a global aviation hub,
ministry officials said. Mr
Naidu said, “The introduc-
tion of a uniform 5% IGST
rate on MRO items is a major
boost for the aviation sector.
Previously, the varying GST
rates of 5%,12%, 18%, and
28% on aircraft components
created challenges, including
an inverted duty structure
and GST accumulation in
MRO accounts.”
Dhami seeks Centre’s
nod for hydel plants
Dehradun: Stating that only
40 per cent of Uttarakhand’s
total capacity for hydro elec-
tricity generation is being
utilised at present, chief
minister Pushkar Singh
Dhami sought the clearance
of 21 new hydel power proj-
ects with a capacity of 2123
MW for the state from the
Centre. The request was
made by the CM at a meet-
ing with Union minister
Manohar Lal Khattar when
the latter met him at his resi-
dence here. Mr Khattar is on
a visit to the state to review
the progress of Tehri Hydro
Power Complex and various
projects in the state. — PTI
issued by the Lok Sabha
Secretariat summoning
the West Bengal chief sec-
retary, DGP and others in
a matter related to alleged
breach of privilege of the
House by them.
On April 15, the top court
had granted two weeks to
the Lok Sabha Secretariat
and others to file their
replies to the plea moved
by top bureaucrats of
West Bengal against their
summoning by the privi-
leges committee of the
Lok Sabha.
They were summoned by
the committee over a com-
plaint of “misconduct”
filed against them by BJP
MP Sukanta Majumdar
when he was trying to
visit the violence-hit
Sandeshkhali in North 24
Parganas district.
A bench of CJI D.Y.
Chandrachud and Justices
J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj
Misra adjourned the hear-
ing on the plea of the
bureaucrats to July 19
after it was informed by a
lawyer appearing for the
LS Secretariat that solici-
tor-general Tushar Mehta
was unavailable as he was
out of the country.
The CJI said, "We will
list it on Friday. And, in
the time, the ad-interim
relief (of stay on notices)
will continue."
Senior Advocates Kapil
FROM PG 1
A money bill is a legisla-
tion which can be intro-
duced only in the Lok
Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha cannot amend or
reject it. The Upper House
can only make recommen-
dations which may or may
not be accepted by the
Lower House.
In November 2019, a five-
judge bench of the top
court referred to a larger
bench the issue of exam-
ining the validity of the
passage of the Finance
Act 2017 as a money bill.
“The issue and question
of Money Bill, as defined
under Article 110(1) of the
Constitution, and certifi-
cation accorded by the
Speaker of the Lok Sabha
in respect of Part-XIV of
the Finance Act, 2017 is
referred to a larger
Sibal and Abhishek
Singhvi, appearing for the
five bureaucrats and offi-
cials of the West Bengal
government, said that no
breach of privileges can
be alleged for the acts
which were committed
outside the House.
On February 19, the apex
court had for the first time
stayed the notices issued
by the privileges commit-
tee to the West Bengal
Bench,” it had said.
The five-judge bench had
then struck down in
entirety the rules govern-
ing the appointment and
service conditions of the
members of various tri-
bunals that formed part of
the Finance Act.
Earlier, another bench of
the court, while upholding
the constitutional validity
of PMLA, had kept the
issue of passage of the
amendments to it as a
money bill open for adju-
dication by a larger bench.
In the Aadhaar verdict,
the court upheld the valid-
ity of the passage of the
law as a money bill.
However, Justice
Chandrachud had penned
a dissenting judgment and
called designating the
Aadhaar Act as a money
bill a “fraud on the
Constitution”.
chief secretary, director
general of police and oth-
ers.
The MP was hospitalised
after BJP workers clashed
with police personnel over
not being allowed to visit
Sandeshkhali, where
women were agitating
over alleged atrocities
committed against them
by now-suspended TMC
leader Shahjahan Sheikh
and his aides.
Several women have
accused Mr Sheikh, who
was arrested in February
after being on the run for
55 days, and his support-
ers of land grabbing and
sexually assaulting them
under coercion.
Chief Secretary
Bhagwati Prasad
Gopalika, the then DGP
Rajeev Kumar and others,
including the district mag-
istrate and superinten-
dent of police of North 24
Parganas, were sum-
moned to appear before
the privileges committee
of the Lok Sabha on
February 19.
In a major development,
S w a m
Av i m u k t e s h w a r a n a n d
Saraswati,
Shankaracharya
Jyotirmath
Uttarakhand, who turned
down the invitation to the
Ram temple consecration
ceremony in Ayodhya, has
voiced his support to Shiv
Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav
Thackeray calling the lat-
ter as a victim of betrayal.
The pain over the betrayal
would persist until Mr
Thackeray was reinstated
as the chief minister of
Maharashtra, he said on
Monday.
Shankaracharya met
with Mr Thackeray at his
residence “Matoshree” in
Mumbai. He expressed sol-
idarity with
Thackeray, who was forced
to resign as Maharashtra
chief minister after senior
Shiv Sena leader Eknath
Shinde engineered a verti-
cal split in the party.
On Prime Minister
Narendra Modi seeking
his blessings when they
met at the “Shubh
Ashirwad” ceremony of
Anant Ambani and
Radhika Merchant in
Mumbai on Saturday, the
Shankaracharya said he
is Mr Modi’s well-wisher.
“Yes, PM Modi came to
me and did a ‘pranaam’. It
is our rule that we will
bless whoever comes to
i
the
of
in
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and his wife
Rashmi during a meeting with Swami Avimukteswaran
Shankaracharya in Mumbai on Monday.
us. Narendra Modi ji is
not our enemy. We are his
well-wishers and always
speak for his welfare. If he
makes a mistake, we also
point that out to him. He
is not our enemy,” he said.
Stating that betrayal is
Mr
the gravest
H i n d u i s m ,
sin in
Shankaracharya said,
“We follow the Hindu reli-
gion, which values punya
(virtue) and paap (sin).
Vishwasghat (betrayal) is
considered one of the
greatest sins and this is
what happened to Uddhav
Thackeray.”
The one who betrays
can’t be a Hindu. The one
who tolerates betrayal is a
Hindu. The entire popu-
lace of Maharashtra is
anguished by the betrayal
and this was reflected in
the recent (Lok Sabha)
elections, he said.
“I told him (Uddhav
Thackeray) that all of us
— PTI
were pained by the betray-
al he had to face. Our pain
will not go till he again
becomes the chief minis-
ter of Maharashtra,” the
Shankaracharya added.
S w a m i
Av i m u k t e s h w a r a n a n d
had opposed the Ram tem-
ple consecration ceremo-
ny in Ayodhya citing the
incomplete work of the
temple. He also criticised
the making of the
Kedarnath Temple replica
in New Delhi, whose foun-
dation stone was laid by
Uttarakhand chief minis-
ter Pushkar Singh Dhami
on July 10.
“There are 12
Jyotiralingas in the coun-
try. Its location is fixed. It
is wrong to construct
Kedarnath temple in Delhi
and other places. There
are political reasons
behind this. Political peo-
ple are interfering in our
religious places,” he said.

J’khand BJP faces leadership Shah to chair, launch narcotics NCB zonal office at Srinagar ■ SC agrees
crisis, struggles to woo tribals Key meet on drugs-free India tomorrow
to look into
AMRESH SRIVASTAVA pendium on “nasha mukt crimes and international Bhojshala
ramifications and also the
Soren’s stature among tribals soared after release in land scam NEW DELHI, JULY 15

Union home minister Amit

DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The BJP is grappling with a
leadership crisis and other
challenges in poll-bound
Jharkhand, where elections
for the 81-member Assembly
are due later this year.
Having recently lost the trib-
al seats in the Lok Sabha
polls, the party is finding it
difficult to woo the tribal
votebank.
Chief minister and JMM
leader Hemant Soren’s polit-
ical standing among the
tribals has soared following
his arrest and subsequent
release in an alleged land
grab scam. The BJP leader-
ship is now facing internal
queries about the “lack of
prominent tribal leaders” to
effectively engage with the
tribal voters.
Although the BJP is
unlikely to project a chief
◗ THE BJP’S poll plank of
corruption, misgovernance
and anti-incumbency have
faced a severe dent after
the CM’s release in the
alleged land grab scam by
the high court
After losing the five tribal
Lok Sabha seats in the state,
the biggest worry, it is
learnt, for the BJP poll man-
agers are 28 tribal-dominat-
ed Assembly seats out of the
total 81.
According to sources, a sig-
nificant concern among BJP
cadre is the absence of a
prominent and influential
tribal leader to convey the
party’s message and cam-
paign planks.
State unit chief and
Jharkhand’s first chief min-
ister, Babulal Marandi, is a
Santhal. However, party
feedback from the ground
2020, once held considerable
stature, but his influence
has waned.
Santhals are the largest
tribal community in the
state.
“(Babulal) Marandi was a
big name but then he left the
BJP, criticised us and then
came back again. And in
between, he lost the stature
which he had when he was
made the first chief minis-
ter of the state. The LoP
(Bauri) is an SC. Within the
organisation, there is no
tribal leader who is recog-
nised statewide by tribal
voters. The gains we made
among tribals after PM
Modi came to power in 2014
are slipping away. What the
party needs most is a tribal
leader who can carry the
party’s flag and message to
the tribals,” said a senior
BJP leader from the state.
The BJP’s poll plank of
corruption, misgovernance
Shah will chair seventh
apex level meeting of
Narco-Coordination Centre
on July 17 here. The meet-
ing aims to coordinate and
synergise the efforts of
various Central and state
agencies involved in coun-
tering drug trafficking and
abuse in India.
At the meeting in the
national capital, Mr Shah
will launch National
Narcotics Helpline
“MANAS” (Madak padarth
Nisedh Asuchna Kendra)
and will virtually inaugu-
rate Narcotics Control
Bureau (NCB) zonal office
at Srinagar.
The home minister will
also release NCB “Annual
Report 2023” and com-
Speaker sends
names of new
Bharat”.
Under the leadership of
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, the Government of
India has adopted a “zero
tolerance policy” against
drug trafficking to curb the
menace of drugs, an offi-
cial release said.
The ministry of home
affairs will achieve the
PM’s goal of a drug-free
India by 2047 through a 3
points strategy — strength-
ening of institutional
structure, coordination
among all narco agencies
and extensive public
awareness campaign, it
further said.
As part of this strategy, a
number of steps have been
taken, including the organ-
isation of NCORD meet-
ings with all stakeholders
at all levels of the four-tier
Congress starts quest to wrest
Amit Shah
system on a regular basis
and the launch of a dedi-
cated centralised NCORD
portal for sharing activi-
ties and best practices.
The formation of a joint
coordination committee for
coordination on opera-
tional matters of specific
large cases, which have
connections with other
setting up of a dedicated
anti-narcotics task force
(ANTF) in each state and
Union Territory and high
priority will be given to
drug disposal drive.
Besides, creation of
canine squads for drug
detection, strengthening
the forensic capabilities,
establishment of special
NDPS courts and fast-track
courts and launching
Nasha Mukt Bharat
Abhiyan (NMBA) for
awareness against drug
abuse are also part of the
initiatives.
The NCORD mechanism
was formed in 2016 for bet-
ter coordination between
states and the Union home
ministry. It has been fur-
ther strengthened through
a four-tier system in 2019.
survey plea
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The Supreme Court on
Monday agreed to con-
sider listing a petition
against a “scientific sur-
vey” of “Bhojshala”, a
medieval-era structure
in Madhya Pradesh’s
Dhar district which both
Hindus and Muslims
claim as their own.
The petition in the top
court was filed by the
Maulana Kamaluddin
Welfare Society chal-
lenging the March 11
order of the Madhya
Pradesh high court for a
“scientific survey” of
the shrine to ascertain it
belonged to which com-
munity.
In its March 11 order,
the high court order had
directed the

power back from Haryana BJP

minister’s candidate, its
decision to project a non-
tribal chief minister in 2014
in the tribal-dominated state
is still a sore issue for many
in the party.
Vikram Misri
takes over as
suggests that his tribal cre-
dentials do not match those
of fellow Santhal and cur-
rent chief minister Soren.
Mr Marandi, who merged
his outfit with the BJP in
Didi’s blue-eyed
and anti-incumbency have
faced a severe dent after the
CM’s release in the alleged
land grab scam by the high
court.
WB MLAs to gov
DC CORRESPONDENT
KOLKATA, JULY 15
To avoid further con-
frontation with West
Bengal governor C.V.
Ananda Bose over the
newly-elected MLAs’
oath-taking, Assembly
DC CORRESPONDENT question the ruling BJP
NEW DELHI, JULY 15 over various issues, includ-
ing unemployment, rise in
After its successful per- crime, farmers’ distress and
formance in the Lok Sabha,
the Congress party has hit
the campaign trail in poll-
many others. The initial
focus of the programme
will be on the GT Road belt
bound Haryana. Congress of the state that includes
Archaeological Survey
of India to carry out a
survey of the Bhojshala
complex within six
weeks.
A bench of Justices
Hrishikesh Roy and
S.V.N. Bhatti agreed to
consider listing the mat-
ter after advocate Vishnu
Shankar Jain, appearing
for the Hindu petition-

foreign secy boy Rajiv Kumar Speaker Biman

Banerjee informed on
Monday that the names
of four Trinamul
MP Deependra Hooda has
launched the “Haryana
Mange Hisaab” campaign
on Monday. Deependra Hooda
districts
Panipat,
of
Karnal
Sonepat,

Ambala amongst others.

Former chief minister
and
ers, submitted that the
ASI has already filed its
report. He also informed
the bench that the Hindu

DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
Senior diplo-
mat and Indian
F o r e i g n
Service (IFS)
officer of the
1989 batch
Vikram Misri
took over on
Vikram Misri
Monday as
India’s new foreign secretary
after the incumbent Mr Vinay
Mohan Kwatra demitted office
earlier on Sunday.
Mr Misri was earlier the
deputy national security advi-
sor (from January 1, 2022, to
June 30 this year) prior to his
new appointment announced
late last month.
MEA officials said Mr Misri
was earlier appointed India’s
ambassador to Spain in 2014,
ambassador to Myanmar in
2016 and ambassador to China
where he served from January
2019 to December 2021. His
tenure as ambassador in
Beijing was at a crucial time
during the military standoff
with China in the Ladakh sec-
tor in 2020. He is understood to
have played a major role in
keeping communication chan-
nels open with China despite
the the deadly Galwan Valley
clash in mid-June 2020.
During his long career, Mr
Misri has also been posted in
other capitals such as Brussels,
Tunis, Islamabad and
Washington DC.
back as WB DGP
RAJIB CHOWDHURI
KOLKATA, JULY 15
West Bengal chief minis-
ter Mamata Banerjee on
Monday reinstated her
favourite IPS officer
Rajeev Kumar as the state
director-general of police
(DGP). Mr Kumar was
benched by the Election
Commission (EC) ahead
of the Lok Sabha polls fol-
lowing complaints of bias
against him. He was
replaced by his batch-
mate Sanjoy Mukherjee.
Later, Mr Kumar was
made additional chief
secretary of the state
information technology
department, a position he
held before becoming the
DGP. Mr Mukherjee has
now been transferred
back to his previous post
as DG (fire & emergency
services).
According to sources,
although Mr Kumar’s
return to the DGP post
was expected, it was
delayed due to the model
code of conduct for
Assembly bypolls.
The CM had previously
reinstated Mr Kumar as
Kolkata police commis-
sioner after the Assembly
Election in 2016 when he
was removed by the EC
Rajeev Kumar
following complaints
from the BJP.Currently,
Mr Kumar is visiting
some North Bengal dis-
tricts to assess the ground
situation in light of alle-
gations of post-poll vio-
lence.
Mr Kumar, a 1989-batch
IPS officer, has faced a
number of controversies.
Just before the 2016
Assembly polls, when he
was the Kolkata police
chief, Opposition leaders
alleged that Kumar was
tapping their phones.
The first posting of Mr
Kumar was as a sub-divi-
sional police officer in
Chandannagar. He later
became the superinten-
dent of police of Birbhum.
After the Sarada chit
fund scam broke out in
2013, Mr Kumar was
appointed to head the spe-
cial task force (STF) that
investigated the case.
Congress winners of the
recent bypolls would be
sent to the Raj Bhavan
for their swearing-in
ceremony at the earliest.
The four new TMC
MLAs are Supti Pande
from Maniktala,
Krishna Kalyani from
Raiganj, Mukut Moni
Adhikari from Ranaghat
South and Madhuparna
Thakur from Bagda.
Mr Banerjee said,
“Oath taking has to take
place. Our parliamen-
tary affairs department
is contacting the office
of the governor as part
of its duty.”
Only 8 applied for citizenship under CAA: Sarma
MANOJ ANAND
GUWAHATI, JULY 15
Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma on
Monday said that only
eight people had applied
for citizenship under the
Citizenship Amendment
Act (CAA) in Assam after
four months of the rules
being notified.
“Only eight applied for
citizenship under the CAA.
Even among them, only
two have come for an inter-
view,” he told reporters.
He also claimed that it
had become clear now that
Speaking to reporters in
Karnal, Mr Hooda said,
“During this campaign, not
only will we expose the gov-
ernment, but we will also
share our resolution letter
detailing the public welfare
initiatives that will be
undertaken once the
Congress government
comes to power.” He added
that the campaign aims to
collect suggestions from the
public, which will be includ-
ed in the party’s manifesto,
ensuring that the expecta-
tions of the people are met
when the Congress forms
the government.
During the yatra, he will
members of the Bengali
Hindu community who
don’t feature on the
National Register of
Citizens (NRC) wouldn’t
apply under the CAA for
citizenship.
“They say they came to
India prior to 1971,” said
Mr Sarma, referring to the
cut-off year for citizenship
in Assam.
“I have met many people,
they are telling us that we
are confident about our
Indian citizenship, we
want to prove that in a
court of law,” said Mr
Sarma. “That is the gener-
visit 14 Assembly con-
stituencies in nine districts
in the first week, focusing
on the GT Road belt.
The Congress MP plans to
extend the campaign to all
90 Assembly constituencies
in the state, highlighting
the BJP’s misrule and the
failures of the past 10
years. The campaign will
demand answers to 15 key
questions and address
issues such as unemploy-
ment, rising crime, and
farmers’ distress.
Senior leaders of the
party will tour all Assembly
segments in the state and
Himanta Biswa Sarma
al sentiment among the
people in Assam,” CM
added.
While replying to a ques-
tion about whether the
Assam government is drop-
Bhupinder Singh Hooda
will also be joining the cam-
paign. “Party activists will
inform people about the
Congress’ announcements
and seek public inputs for
the manifesto. Congress
members will remind the
public that Haryana, which
was once the number one
state in the country in
terms of per capita income,
per capita investment,
employment, sports
achievements, and welfare
schemes until 2014, has now
become number one in
unemployment, crime,
drug addiction, and misery
under BJP rule,” he said.
ping cases under CAA
against the Hindu
Bengalis, the CM clarified,
“This is misleading... we
cannot drop any cases.. we
are only saying before fil-
ing a case they should
apply in the portal because
even if you file a case there
will be no result as they are
entitled to Citizenship.” He
reiterated, “We are not say-
ing dropping or not drop-
ping... we are just flagging
the provision of law, the
legal provision.”
Mr Sarma also said the
proceedings at Foreigners
Tribunal have to be paused
side has filed its reply to
the pending petition.
Under an arrangement
devised by the ASI on
April 7, 2003, Hindus
perform puja on the
Bhojshala premises on
Tuesdays, while
Muslims offer namaz in
the complex on Fridays.
The court on April 1
refused to stay a scientif-
ic survey of Bhojshala.
Hindus consider
Bhojshala a temple dedi-
cated to Vagdevi
(Goddess Saraswati),
while the Muslim com-
munity calls it Kamal
Maula mosque.
for two-three months and
the people given a chance
to apply for citizenship
under the CAA.
It is significant that
Assam prepared a
Supreme Court-monitored
NRC, the list of which
came out in 2019. About 19
lakh people didn’t find
their names on the updated
NRC list that proves citi-
zenship.
Citizenship is a sensitive
issue in Assam that had
triggered a massive anti-
CAA movement in which
five people were killed in
2019.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 5
■ Fireman injured, no casualty ■ 50-year-old man rescued
BJP sets eyes on dalit voters in Delhi
Huge fire erupts at café in SHASHI BHUSHAN and
BHASKAR HARI SHARMA
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
Delhi BJP extended execu-
tive meeting held earlier
this month, it was decided
The Delhi BJP SC Morcha
also planned to remember
and organise programmes
on the ground in all the 70
Assembly seats in the city to
ensure its victory in the

Mayur Vihar, shops gutted

DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15:
A massive fire broke out at
a café in east Delhi’s
Mayur Vihar and also gut-
ted several shops on the
building’s upper floors,
officials said on Monday.
The blaze, which erupted
at the café located on the
building’s ground floor on
Sunday night, spread rap-
idly and engulfed stores on
first and second floors,
they said. The fire is under
control but three to four
fire tenders are still at the
location and the cooling
process is underway, an
official of the Delhi Fire
Services (DFS) said.
However, a firefighter
was injured during the
operation after he fell
from the ladder while try-
ing to douse the fire. He
was rushed to a hospital.
“We received a call
regarding a fire at a café
and school uniform store
at 11.40 pm on Sunday in
Phase 2 and Pocket B of
Mayur Vihar area,” an
official said.
“We rushed 25 fire ten-
ders to the spot. One per-
son was rescued from the
terrace of the building,”
Firefighters douse a fire that broke out in a uniform manufacturing shop and a restaurant
at Mayur Vihar Phase 2 in New Delhi on Monday.
◗ A FIREFIGHTER was Amar Preet Singh and
Suman Jeet Singh, who
injured during the oper- have three shops on the
ation after he fell from first and second floors,
the ladder while trying had shut down their shops
to douse the fire. He at 9.30 pm and went home,
was rushed to a hospital a police officer said.
At about 11.30 pm, they
he said. were informed by some
The DFS personnel res- locals regarding the fire in
cued a 50-year-old man their shops, after which
identified as Praveen they alerted the Pandav
Pandey. Two brothers Nagar police station, the
The BJP has formulated a
plan to focus on 30 of the 70
Assembly seats which have
a sizeable presence of the
Schedule Caste (SC) voters
for next year’s state elec-
tions in the national capital.
Of the 30 seats, 12 are
already reserved for the SC
candidates.
As the BJP has not been
able to win even a single
Assembly election since
1993, the party in its recent
executive meeting decided
to aggressively address
issues concerning the
Schedule Caste community
in the city.
Sources said that in the
— PTI
officer said. No casualty
has been reported so far,
he said.
The fire erupted in the
café on the ground floor
and spread to the remain-
ing two floors, he added.
The officer further said
the fire is now under con-
trol but is yet to be doused
completely, adding that
the cause of fire has not
been ascertained so far.
that the party SC wing in to mark the birth and death Assembly election to form a
the national capital will anniversary of all the com- double-engine government
focus on the 30 per cent SC munity icons. A mega SC under the leadership of PM
dominated polling booths in rally, which will be attended Modi in the national capital.
the city in these identified by over 75,000, will be also “BJP SC Morcha in Delhi
30 Assembly constituencies held later this year. Dalits is fully ready to contribute
for the next six months till comprise over 15 per cent of to the fall of the Arvind
the polls. the capital’s population. Kejriwal government after
To reach out to SC voters, Delhi BJP SC Morcha pres- next year’s Assembly polls
Delhi BJP will be appoint- ident Mohan Lal Gihara told in the city. We have made
ing one “vistarak” each this newspaper that the some plans and are working
from the dalit community in party’s SC wing is working on it,” Mr Gihara said.
these 30 Assembly seats.
These vistarak will spend
around eight hours a day to
meet voters and explain to
them about Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s govern-
ment initiatives for the com-
munity along with BJP’s
policies and ideology.

Trial run of ‘mohalla buses’ 2 held in GTB hosp

kicks off on 2 routes in Delhi
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The trial run of the Delhi
government’s mohalla bus
service commenced on
Monday on two routes.
The trial will continue for
7 days and currently oper-
ates on two routes:
Pradhan Enclave Pushta
to Majlis Park Metro
Station, and Akshardham
Metro Station to Mayur
Vihar Phase-III Paper
Market. The Mohalla
buses have been coloured
green for easy passenger
identification. Additio-
Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot flags off the trial
of Mohalla buses in New Delhi on Monday.
nally, 25 per cent of the
seats (6 seats) are pink,
— PTI
reserved exclusively for
women passengers.
firing case, shooter
still at large
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The Delhi police has arrested
two people in connection with
the fatal shooting of a 32-year-
old man inside a ward in the
GTB Hospital, officials on
Monday said, adding that the
killing was a case of mistaken
identity as a criminal had been
shifted from the same ward only
a day before the incident took
place. The police nabbed Faiz
(20) from Loni in Uttar Pradesh
and Farhan from Chauhan
Banger area in Delhi but said
they might not have been
involved in the actual firing of
shots on Sunday evening.

SC notice on
NTA’s pleas to
transfer Neet
cases
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15

The Supreme Court on

Monday issued notices to pri-
vate parties on a clutch of
pleas filed by the National
Testing Agency (NTA) seek-
ing the transfer of cases
pending against it in various
high courts on the Neet-UG
row to the top court to avoid
multiplicity of litigations.
Earlier, a vacation bench
had on June 14 issued notices
to the parties on similar
pleas by the NTA.
The NTA had submitted
that several pleas seeking
cancellation of the Neet-UG,
2024, over allegations of
question paper leak and
other malpractices are pend-
ing in several high courts.
Advocate Vardhaman
Kaushik, appearing for the
NTA, urged a bench compris-
ing Chief Justice of India
D.Y. Chandrachud and
Justice J.B. Pardiwala on
Monday that the fresh batch
of pleas be also transferred
to the apex court.
“Issue notice and tag,” the
bench said, adding that these
pleas will also be taken up
together with the pending
petitions on the Neet-UG row
on July 18.
The NTA also urged the top
court to stay the pending pro-
ceedings in various high
courts. The CJI said that
once the Supreme Court has
issued notices on transfer
petitions, the high courts,
procedurally, do not proceed
with the hearing.
The bench asked the NTA
counsel to bring this to the
notice of the high courts con-
cerned. The top court was
hearing as many as five peti-
tions seeking transfer of
cases from various high
courts to it.
Earlier, the bench had on
July 11 adjourned till July 18
the hearing on a batch of
other petitions seeking can-
cellation, re-test, and probe
into alleged malpractices in
the conduct of Neet-UG, 2024,
as the responses of the
Centre and the NTA were not
received by some parties.
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani

16 JULY 2024

More powers for J&K L-G

sends the wrong signals
T
he Union government’s order vesting more powers with the lieu-
tenant governor of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir vir-
tually bypassing elected government raises doubts on its commit-
ment to the restoration of democracy and installation of a popular
government there. It would also question the present dispensation’s read-
ing about the issues that keep Jammu and Kashmir on the boil.
The government, by amending rules framed under the Jammu and
Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, has empowered the lieutenant gover-
nor to make decisions on crucial matters such as police and all-India ser-
vices officers and granting sanctions for prosecution in various cases. Key
decisions, like in all states, used to be taken by the ministries concerned
before they reach the governor for approval. Now the proposals will be
routed to the L-G directly through the chief secretary. The L-G has also got
the power to make key appointments related to administration of the law
including that of the advocate-general and other law officers.
The government may argue the changes as simple amendments to the
“transaction rules” which are issued to avoid ambiguity. It may, however,
LETTERS
be remembered that the Union government has repeatedly made its inten-
tion known to the public to hold elections to the Jammu and Kashmir
Assembly and restore statehood to the UT. It is under obligation, as per the
order of the Supreme Court, to the restore statehood “at the earliest” and
the Election Commission of India is to hold elections to the Assembly by
September 30 this year. Once the UT got its statehood back, the powers of
French lesson: Why India’s WHO IS BEHIND THE
TRUMP ATTACK?
the governor will be those which have been prescribed in the Constitution
for the governors of all Indian states. It is therefore for the government to
come up with a better, pliable interpretation for the present move.
However, on a pessimistic note, it appears that the latest step aligns smug
with the government’s unrealistic and ad hoc approach to the problems of
the border region. The NDA leadership had been harping on the presence
Left needs to reinvent itself The Left and the and there is a trust deficit
Just a shake of his head
may have saved the life
of former US President
of Article 370 in the Constitution as the root cause of all the problems in Right may theoreti- among voters and the Donald Trump.The lesson
Jammu and Kashmir and its abrogation would be the silver bullet for all cally be enemies, BJP’s vote share in the
its ills. The Article was in fact an article of faith between the people of recent Lok Sabha elec- leaders should learn
but on the ground, tions crossed 19.18 per from such attempts on
Shikha Mukerjee
Jammu and Kashmir and India but the saffron alliance would have none of
it, and it went ahead and hollowed it out. Five years later, it has been voters on the Left cent, up from 15.56 per
proved that Article 370 had little or no role in the troubles there; in fact, the have revealed a cent in 2019, and 10.82 per some of the world lead-
tragedy continues to play out. Terrorists continue to strike at their will preference for vot- cent in 2014. Worse still is ers in the US, Japan,
and with increased local support; Indian soldiers continue to lay their ing Right, because that since 2014, the LDF,
Ukraine, Libya, Slovakia
lives in protecting their own fellow-citizens; pilgrimages have become even though it won two
they do not want to

C
more dangerous an affair now. This, despite the fact that the people of onvention says
Jammu and Kashmir live in an open jail under surveillance. This is a zero- that the political
sum game. space is distrib-
While the security situation has worsened, people’s faith in the democra- uted in three
tic process has increased many-fold as is evidenced in the record partici- ways — Left, Right and
pation of people in the recently held Lok Sabha election. In fact, solutions Centre. Political parties
to the problems Jammu and Kashmir presents lie not in the outdated, based on their structure,
myopic, sectarian and unpopular stock of the saffron brigade but in the organising principles
democratic and constitutional processes. It is time the government and, above all, ideology,
realised that India is not a country that can be ruled by decrees; and it are therefore tagged in
applies to Jammu and Kashmir which is very much part of India. three ways. The recent
elections in India, espe-
‘King Carlos’ era begins in tennis cially in Kerala, suggest
that voters in the state
are as deviant from the
usual pattern when
T
he Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz did not just win the Wimbledon offered a choice between
championship for his fourth grand slam title. He definitively ended a the hard-right Bharatiya
majestic era of tennis that the Three Musketeers — Novak Djokovic, Janata Party, the CPI(M)-
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — had dominated with their 24+22+20 led Left Democratic
titles for a grand total of 66 Grand Slams. Front and the centrist
This win by Alcaraz had everything in it to deserve the Spanish accolade Congress-led United
of ‘olé’, which they say so expressively to praise a splendid performance. Democratic Front, as the
It was a masterly display of speed, rhythm, service accuracy and court voters in West Bengal.
craft, besides playing at will that dainty drop shot, which coming from a In contrast, voters in
tall and muscular player carries an element of surprise in its gentleness as France, faced with the
well as its execution.
Djokovic, who had undergone a knee surgery for a meniscus tear on June
probability of a far-right
National Rally coalition
5, just 19 days before Wimbledon was to begin, may not have been at his under Marine Le Pen’s
physical best. But it is a miracle that Djokovic was on court so soon after leadership, exercised
surgery and played well enough to get to make his 37th appearance in a their right to have second
final. It is the way in which the winner of 24 Grand Slams was dominated thoughts and the result
to near cluelessness in the first two sets by this young all-court player — was a stunning reversal
who has grand slam wins on hard court, clay and grass — made it seem as for right-wing forces, a
if an entire new era of dominance by one player has begun already. spectacular surge for the
Finally, it was Djokovic’s grace at the presentation that showed what a far-left New Popular
champion and considerate human being he is as he showered praise on the Front and a disappoint-
youngster and his support team and talked of there being greater things in ment for the centrist-con-
life than just tennis. servatives, especially
Another personality who nearly upstaged Alcaraz on an evening of his President Emmanuel
complete triumph was the British royal, Katherine, Princess of Wales. A Macron and his
respectful Wimbledon crowd gave her a standing ovation, which she Renaissance party. The
deserved more as the princess must now know a thing or two about adver- second-round voting put
sity as she is just recovering from cancer. the far-left on top, the
The sky’s the limit for 21-year-old Alcaraz who has matured to an extent centrists in the middle
he is displaying all the signs of time-tested champions of grand slams and
who will one day become the numerical equal of the tennis greats as his
and the far-right at the
bottom, resulting in a
talent, aggression, will to win, adaptability under pressure and tempera-
ment are assets he shares with the masters.
hung Parliament.
The contrast with
Kerala and West Bengal
DECCAN CHRONICLE is striking. In both states,
voters who have been
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR long-time supporters of
Editor Printer & Publisher
R. MOHAN the Left have switched
Resident Editor sides and voted for the
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: BJP. And, the Congress,
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254750 , which is in the middle
22254751
Coimbatore: No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O. Colony Post, Kurudampalayam Village, too, has gained in the Lok
Coimbatore-641022. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 Sabha elections, winning
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) 18 seats out of the total of
27805256. 20 seats in Kerala; the
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony,
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 BJP scoring its first win
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) from Thrissur against
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 the CPI, and the CPI(M)
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 retaining the Alathur
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903,
Fax: 08554-276904 seat.
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. The significant change
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 was in North Kerala,
Karimnagar: H .No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karim Nagar - 505186 where in the Left bas-
Phone : 9121181123
tions, the BJP’s vote
share increased by 100
per cent as reports
revealed, including in
Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan’s Dharmadom
seat. The Left and the
Right may theoretically
be enemies, but on the
ground, voters on the
Left have revealed a pref-
erence for voting Right,
because they do not want
to vote for a middle-of-
the-ground or centrist
party.
In West Bengal, voters
switched from the
CPI(M) to the BJP in
large numbers, starting
in 2014, and the trend has
not changed. The first
time this happened was
in 2014, and since then
voters seem to have
decided that even though
they throng to the
CPI(M)’s rallies, lean on
the party’s network of
volunteers and workers
in hard times like the
Covid-19 pandemic, in
elections they prefer the
BJP. The act of introspec-
tion, which includes
identifying mistakes and
shortfalls, is a part of the
routine of political par-
ties after elections. The
problem is over publicly
acknowledging that mis-
takes were made. The
recent central committee
meeting of the CPI(M),
which had much to intro-
spect on, came up with a
bland confession that the
results were “disappoint-
ing”. In France, the infu-
riated far-right National
Rally was refreshingly
transparent, saying that
it had made “mistakes.”
The CPI(M), instead of
retreating behind its
crumbling walls, would
have done better by
admitting that not only
had arrogance and cor-
ruption contributed to its
poor performance in
Kerala, but organisation-
al decay and unrealistic
expectations stopped it
from working for its
revival in West Bengal.
That is, without the diag-
nosis, there can be no
treatment.
vote for a middle-
of-the-ground or
centrist party.
There is a non-obvious
relationship between
individual choices and
overall outcomes in elec-
tions. It works in differ-
ent ways in different
places under different
circumstances.
In the recent French
parliamentary election,
in the second round, the
far-left and other Left
parties, including the
o n c e - p o w e r f u l
Communists, pooled
their collective strength,
leveraged the support of
their mass organisations
like trade unions to
emerge as the New
Popular Front, which
won the maximum num-
ber of seats. The outcome
reflected a perception
among voters that France
was not ready, as yet, to
swing to the Right
because public memory
of the collaborationist
Vichy regime with the
German Nazis was pow-
erful enough to deny Ms
Le Pen a victory.
The French election
outcome can be read as a
split verdict, ushering in
instability. It can also be
read as a signal from vot-
ers to the acrimonious
and fragile Left coalition
and the equally divided
centrist forces to find a
way of addressing the
issues that bother the
popular sovereign or face
the consequences. The
same is true of the ver-
dict delivered by the
voter in Kerala and West
Bengal, where too there
is a three-way distribu-
tion of voter support.
The CPI(M) has been
going around in circles at
the crossroads, where the
Left, Right and the
Centre meet. Its dilemma
is at the state level,
where elections are
fought and the organisa-
tion needs to be effective.
In Kerala, there are prob-
lems within the party
state Assembly elections
in a row, has now
acquired a tarnished rep-
utation, which matters
for an electorate that has
a literacy rate of over 94
per cent, tops the list of
states on human develop-
ment and multi-dimen-
sional poverty is a thing
of the past.
In West Bengal too,
there is a gap between
what the central leader-
ship thinks and what the
party does, because there
are CPI(M) veterans and
voters who believe that
the Left and the Right are
permanently locked in a
fight, therefore the imme-
diate task is to work
harder to win against the
big party in the middle,
the Trinamul Congress.
The new alignment has
rearranged the political
space by creating a hard-
right, a Left and a cen-
trist “middle of the road”
holding both ends at bay
after the 2024 elections.
The BJP’s numbers are
down, the numbers of the
Congress and its partners
in the Indian National
Democratic Inclusive
Alliance are up and the
Left is feeble, with a mere
eight seats, though it is
an increase from the five
seats it won in 2019.
The CPI(M) needs to
reinvent itself if it
expects to hold the BJP,
as the party of the hard
right, at bay. Blaming
organisational weakness
or the arrogance of the
leadership or even cor-
ruption or abuse of
power for its problems is
like an AI version of
strategic recommenda-
tions for dealing with its
shortcomings. There is
deadwood that needs to
be cut out and there is the
problem of regaining the
trust that people once
had for the
“Communists”, as self-
less principled activists.
The trust deficit is the
hardest to fill.
Shikha Mukerjee is a
senior journalist based in
Kolkata
and Pakistan is to rein in
the increasing polarisa-
tion. The forces behind
incidents such as these
are prepared to pay any
price to achieve their
goal. It becomes our
responsibility to protect
our leaders because the
threat to their lives
increases with their
stature. Else we will end
up in anarchy.
Gopalaswamy.J
Chennai
POLITICS IS LIKE SPORTS
There's more connecting politics and
sport as in it’s evident in both fields that
no one is invincible, whether it's a sport
or a political party. The young Carlos
Alcaraz brutally outclassed the hitherto
dominant Djokovic by winning the
Wimbledon title. The lesson again is
there is no permanent place for any indi-
vidual and individuals will flourish or
perish depending on their dedication to
excel at a given time, whichever field
they are in.
A.P. Thiruvadi
Chennai
PEOPLE-ORIENTED
SCHEMES
The people of Tamil Nadu have once
again endorsed that they will not get
carried away by casteist, communal or
religious sentiments. The mandate
proves that people- oriented schemes
implemented by the compassionate
CM Stalin have touched the poor and
the downtrodden who have voted en
masse for his party's candidate, irre-
spective of their political affiliations.
That CM Stalin only made an appeal to
the electorate through the media and
didn't visit the constituency even once,
is also a case in point.
Tharcius S. Fernando
Chennai
Mail your letters to
chennaidesk@deccanmail.com

D
o Indians have freedom of religion?
Meaning, do they have the right to invite
others into their faith and the right to eas-
ily leave their faith? The Constitution
says yes, but the laws say no. India is an unusual
nation where propagation is both a fundamental
Aakar Patel right and a criminal offence. A fundamental right
is defined as one that enjoys a high level of protec-
tion from encroachment by the State. But Article
25 (right to freely profess and propagate religion)
doesn’t enjoy such protection.
In effect, the Constitution tells us we are free to
propagate but when we do so the police shows up
and takes us away. On July 11 this year it was
the committee on Fundamental Rights, which dis-
cussed the issue in detail and produced a text,
which is today Article 25. It reads: “Right to free-
dom of religion: Subject to public order, morality
and health and to the other provisions of this Part,
all persons are equally entitled to freedom of con-
science and the right freely to profess, practise
and propagate religion”.
The key word here is “propagate”, which the dic-
tionary defines as to spread and promote, and to
breed. The context in which the word was debated
by India’s Constituent Assembly was of conver-
sions, specifically by Christians.
Gujarat’s K.M. Munshi, the Hindu conservative,
convert, nor are we converted. But I do appreciate
how deeply, how passionately millions of
Christians feel on this right to propagate their reli-
gion.” Anthony, the founder of a school network
around India, congratulated the majority for
retaining “in spite of its contentious character”
the words “to propagate”, “a right which is regard-
ed as perhaps the most fundamental of Christian
rights”.
T.T. Krishnamachari said Dalits became
Christian because of the status it gave them, that
Hindu reform would deter such conversions, and
that the right to propagate also applied to Hindus
and Arya Samaj members who were free to carry
should propagate their religion, let them do so”, he
said, but “only I crave, let not the Constitution put
it as a fundamental right and encourage it”. His
opposition also came from an understanding of
the right to propagate as meaning the right to con-
vert.
V.P. Bharatiya, writing in the Journal of Indian
Law Institute in 1977, says the specificity in the
debates gave the impression that the inclusion of
the word propagate “creates a specific fundamen-
tal right to convert”.
Dr B.R. Ambedkar was present in the debate but
did not speak. He said he had nothing to add to
what the others had said in defence of the right to

Constitution gives reported that the Allahabad High Court rejected

the bail of a man named Shriniwas Rav Nayak
with the observation that “the Constitution con-
fers on each individual the fundamental right to
was part of group that arrived at the text and he
said of the word “propagate” that: “I know it was
on this word that the Christian community laid
the greatest emphasis, not because they wanted to
out their conversion activities, which they called
“Shuddhi”.
The point here is that the meaning of the word
“propagate” was understood by all as the right to,
propagate. It must be noted that Ambedkar’s orig-
inal draft submitted to the Constituent Assembly’s
committees bore the words: “right to profess, to
preach and to convert, within limits compatible

right to propagate profess, practice and propagate his religion.

However, the individual right to freedom of con-
science and religion cannot be extended to con-
convert people aggressively, but because the word
‘propagate’ was a fundamental part of their tenet.”
And “so long as religion is religion, conversion by
in Munshi’s words, “persuade people to join their
faith”. That is, to convert. But what would happen
instead in India, as we see around us, is that the
with public order and morality”. He was satisfied
that propagate meant the same thing. He would
himself leave Hinduism and convert to Buddhism

religion… But laws strue a collective right to proselytise”.

On the subcontinent, Nepal doesn’t allow con-
versions, while Pakistan has the same phrasing as
India does, with the same restrictions. There is no
free exercise of conscience had to be recognised”.
People must not fear the idea of a right to propa-
gate, Munshi said, because “whatever conver-
sions take place… are only the result of persua-
State would step in to not only to remove the right
to propagate but also the individual’s right to
change his/her religion.
The only opposition in the Constituent
along with more than three lakh other Dalits in
Nagpur on October 14, 1956.
Beginning in the 1970s, India’s judiciary and
police began instituting a series of practices that

make it an offence real freedom of religion in Pakistan, just as the

honest observer will conclude there isn’t in India.
But this is not what was intended by those who
wrote the Constitution.
The Constituent Assembly debate on religious
freedom happened on December 6, 1948. It came
after meetings of the Minorities Committee and
sion and not because of material advantages”.
Note that conversion was always accepted as the
reason for propagation.
In the Interim Report on Fundamental Rights
dated May 1, 1947, Frank Anthony had spoken to
the committee and said: “My community (he was
an Anglo-Indian) does not propagate. We do not
Assembly came from a 26-year-old man from
Odisha, who wanted the word “propagate”
removed. This was Loknath Misra, brother of
Ranganath Misra, who would later become Chief
Justice of India, and uncle of Dipak Misra, also to
become Chief Justice. Loknath Misra said he did-
n't have any problem with propagation. “If people
have resulted in where we are today: a nation
whose Constitution gives citizens freedom of reli-
gion but whose establishment disallows it through
indiscriminate use of criminal law.
The writer is the chair of Amnesty International
India. Twitter: @aakar_patel
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
SHORT TAKES
EAM to travel to
Mauritius today
New Delhi: External affairs
minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar
will undertake a two-day offi-
cial visit to the Indian Ocean
nation of Mauritius starting
Tuesday. “The visit marks one
of the first bilateral engage-
ments undertaken by EAM
following his re-appointment
and follows the recent visit of
the Prime Minister of
Mauritius, the Hon. Pravind
Kumar Jugnauth, to India for
the swearing-in ceremony of
the new cabinet and Council
of Ministers. EAM had previ-
ously visited Mauritius in
February, 2021,” the MEA
said. It added, During the
visit, the EAM will call on the
Prime Minister of Mauritius,
Mr. Pravind Jugnauth and will
hold bilateral meetings with
other senior ministers of the
Government of Mauritius. In
addition, he will engage with
other prominent Mauritian
leaders. The visit will provide
an opportunity for both sides
to comprehensively take
stock of various facets of the
bilateral relationship.
MP’s Ratapani to
be 8th tiger reserve
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh
state wildlife board has
accorded approval to declare
Ratapani wildlife sanctuary,
on the outskirt of Bhopal, as
eighth tiger reserve of MP.
The state wildlife board’s
recommendation will be sent
to the Centre for final
approval to notify wildlife
sanctuary as the tiger
reserve, a senior forest offi-
cer said on Monday. “The
state wildlife board in its last
meeting has given the nod to
declare Ratapani wildlife
sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
We have received the
board’s proposal now”,
Principal Chief Conservator
of Forest (PCCF)( wildlife)
Subhranjan Sen told this
newspaper. The proposal to
declare Ratapani wildlife
sanctuary as tiger reserve
has been hanging fire since
2008 for one reason or the
other, sources said.
Chatbot launched for
info on rath yatra
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha
police has started making
extensive use of technology
to provide better policing
services, details, security and
surveillance during ongoing
Rath Yatra festival of Lord
Jagannath. After putting the
“jaga drone” to use, the
police has now introduced
WhatsApp chatbot to provide
real-time information regard-
ing traffic space and route
planning for the first time dur-
ing Bahuda Yatra on Monday.
“After overwhelming response
and cooperation from devo-
tees resulting in excellent traf-
fic management during Sri
Gundicha Yatra, Odisha Police
is going a step ahead again
for Bahuda and Sunabesha,”
tweeted the Odisha Police.
Bahuda Yatra is the return
journey of Lord Jagannath,
Lord Balabhadra and Devi
Subhadra from Srigundicha
temple, considered to be
deities’ aunt’s place, after an
annual sojourn of nine days.
SHAH TO VISIT
POLL-BOUND
HARYANA TODAY
Chandigarh, July 15: Union
home minister Amit Shah
will visit Haryana’s
Mahendragarh on Tuesday
where he will address a
meeting of the backward
classes. This will be Mr
Shah’s second visit in the
past over a fortnight
to Haryana, which goes to
polls later this year.
“Union home and coopera-
tion minister Shri
@AmitShah ji will address
the Backward Classes
Samman Sammelan,”
Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal
Badoli posted on X on
Monday. The event will be
held in Mahendragarh’s Pali.
During the past 10 years, the
BJP has reaped good elec-
toral gains in Ahirwal belt in
south Haryana in which
Mahendragarh falls. In the
recently held Lok Sabha
polls too, while Congress
wrested five of the 10 seats
from the BJP, it failed to
defeat the ruling party in
Bhiwani-Mahendragarh and
Gurugram parliamentary
constituencies. On June 29,
Mr Shah had addressed BJP
leaders and workers during
the party’s extended state
executive at Panchkula dur-
ing which he said the BJP
would fight the upcoming
poll. Mr Shah had exuded
confidence that the party
would come back to power
with full majority for its third
consecutive term. — PTI
Shia mourners carry the Palestinian flag while raising the issue of Israel-Gaza war as
they participate in the 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar on Monday.
Modi wishes Oli,
hopes to work
closely with him
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Monday congrat-
ulated new Nepalese
Prime Minister K.P.
Sharma Oli on his assum-
ing office and “expressed
hope to work closely to
further strengthen the
deep bonds of friendship
and expand the mutually
beneficial cooperation
between India and
Nepal”, New Delhi
said.
PM Modi in a post on X
wrote, “Congratulations
@kpsharmaoli on your
appointment as the Prime
Minister of Nepal. Look
forward to working close-
ly to further strengthen
the deep bonds of friend-
ship between our two
countries and to further
expand our mutually ben-
eficial cooperation for the
progress and prosperity
of our peoples.
@PM_nepal.”
While Mr. Oli, leader of
the (Communist) CPN-
UML party, has a distinct
pro-China image, he is
now in a coalition with
the Nepali Congress
which has always had
good ties with New Delhi.
India to boost ties with Pacific partners Kerala man stuck in hosp lift
Signs MoU for 4 development projects with Marshall Islands for 2 days, 3 staff suspended
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
At a time when China has
been expanding its influ-
ence among the Pacific
Ocean nations, India has
been continuing its devel-
opment assistance to these
geographically small
nations, the latest instance
of which was the signing of
an MoU on annual grant in
aid for implementation of
four community develop-
ment projects in the
Marshall Islands.
The Pacific Nations are
located close to India’s
Indo-Pacific Quad partner
Australia but Beijing has
All-party meet on K’taka BIHAR SEEKS SPECIAL
stand on Cauvery today CATEGORY STATUS
FROM PG 1
The government has to
take proactive steps to
secure the state’s right-
ful share of water in all
these years other than
those that received copi-
ous rains, making the
water sharing dispute a
Put education back
on state list: Stalin
FROM PG 1
Throwing a challenge
to the Union government
that was now speaking
vehemently against the
Emergency for political
reasons, he asked if it
could do one constructive
work by reversing the
decision taken during
the Emergency to shift
‘education’ to the concur-
rent list from the state
list.
While the DMK govern-
ment opposed Neet and
the New Education
Policy (NEP) that were
not needed at all by
launching legal and polit-
◗ WHILE MR. OLI,
leader of the
(Communist) CPN-UML
party, has a distinct pro-
China image, he is now
in a coalition with the
Nepali Congress which
has always had good
ties with New Delhi
The two large parties
joined hands to unseat
Pushpa Kamal Dahal
“Prachanda”, leader of
the CPN (Maoist Centre),
from the post of PM. But
with Mr. Oli now in
charge, New Delhi will be
watching Kathmandu’s
policies closely, even as
Beijing looks set to fur-
ther expand its influ
ence in the Himalayan
nation.
When Mr. Oli was Prime
Minister in 2020, ties
between India and Nepal
had become strained after
Nepal had then gone
ahead and unveiled a new
map that showed portions
of territory in India’s
Uttarakhand State —
Limpiyadhura, Kalapani
and Lipu Lekh
as part of Nepal. New
— 30.46 acres would also be
Delhi had objected to that
move.
mounted a strong move in
the past several years to
expand its influence in this
crucial region. In his
remarks on Monday from
New Delhi, EAM S.
Jaishankar reiterated PM
Narendra Modi’s earlier
message to these nations
by saying that “the Islands
in the Pacific are not ‘small
Islands’ but rather ‘large
Ocean countries’ and that
India consider it its
“responsibility to support
the Pacific Islands in their
quest for sustainable devel-
opment”.
Climate change, natural
disasters, poverty allevia-
tion and healthcare are
never ending saga.
In the past the dispute
had led to riots on both
sides of the border and
whenever the water was
not released on time the
farmers bear the brunt
of it by losing their
crops or even being
unable to sow. Now that
ical battles, he wanted
the students to be
focused on their studies
as education was the
only wealth that could
— PTI
Will give land
to build HC
by Sept. 10,
Maha tells SC
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The Maharashtra gov-
ernment told the
Supreme Court
Monday that it would
on
hand over 4.39 acres of
land to the Bombay high
court for construction of
a new building by
September 10.
The apex court, under
its suo motu jurisdic-
tion, was hearing a case
initiated after taking
note of an April 29 letter
petition of Bombay Bar
Association president
Nitin Thakker and other
bar leaders with respect
to the urgent need of
accommodation for the
High Court of judica-
ture at Bombay whose
existing building is 150
years old.
The case was styled as
“Heritage Building of
the Bombay high court
and allotment of addi-
tional lands for the High
Court”.
A bench of CJI D.Y.
Chandrachud and
Justices B.R. Gavai and
J.B. Pardiwala was also
told that the remaining
handed over to the high
court within a pre-
scribed time.
common challenges that
we need to address togeth-
er, is New Delhi’s strong
message as it seeks to
maintain a firm presence
in the Indo-Pacific region.
The EAM on Monday
said, “It is my pleasure to
deliver this message on the
occasion of the signing of
the MoU on Annual Grant
in Aid for implementation
of four community devel-
opment projects in the
Republic of the Marshall
Islands. … “At the third
Forum for India-Pacific
Islands Cooperation sum-
mit, PM Modi announced
our concrete commitments
to the Pacific Islands. I am
it has raised its ugly
head again, the govern-
ment is taking the other
political parties into con-
fidence ahead of taking
steps to counter
Karnataka’s refusal to
obey the Supreme Court-
ordered monitoring bod-
ies.
not be pilfered by others
and urged them to keep
learning, learning and
learning not just for
them to come up in life
but also for the nation’s
future.
The government would
remove any impediment
to education thrown at
the students, he said,
adding that the Chief
Minister’s Breakfast
Scheme was envisaged
after he interacted with
some students when he
went to a school for an
event and learnt that the
children had turned up
to school without having
breakfast.
SC refuses to cancel
CBI case against DK
Not inclined to interfere with HC order, rules court
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
In a blow to the Congress
government in Karnataka,
the Supreme Court on
Monday dismissed a peti-
tion filed by Karnataka
deputy chief minister DK
Shivakumar challenging
the CBI’s FIR against him
in the disproportionate
assets case.
A bench of justices Bela
M. Trivedi and Satish
Chandra Sharma said it
was not inclined to inter-
fere with the Karnataka
high court order. “Sorry.
Dismissed,” the bench
said.
Senior advocate Mukul
Rohatgi, appearing for Mr
Shivakumar, submitted
that the investigation in
the matter started without
obtaining the sanction
under Section 17A of the
Prevention of Corruption
Act.
Mr Rohatgi said there
cannot be a CBI FIR for the
same transaction when the
Income Tax (IT) depart-
ment is already investigat-
ing the matter. The bench,
however, declined to enter-
■ Hyderabad police suspects more drug users from film industry
Rakul Preet’s brother held in drug raid
GEETA VALABOJU
HYDERABAD, JULY 15
Aman Preet Singh, the
brother of Bollywood
actress Rakul Preet Singh,
was reportedly arrested
during a raid conducted
by the Telangana Anti-
Narcotics Bureau
(TGANB) along with the
Narsingi police.
During the raid, the
police also arrested five
drug dealers, including
two foreign nationals, and
seized 199 grams of
cocaine from their posses-
sion. The arrested individ-
uals were identified as
glad to witness the
progress in achieving
them. We are also working
on the proposals regarding
desalination units and dial-
ysis machines for the
Republic of Marshall
Islands. We believe that
today’s MoU will enable the
implementation of four
community development
projects. I am glad that
these projects cover areas
including a community
sports center in Ailuk
Atoll, airport terminal on
Mejit Island, community
centers at the Arno and
Wotje Atolls. These would
provide better infrastruc-
ture to Marshall Islands.”
FROM PG 1
Bihar’s water resources
minister Vijay Kumar Cha
udhary pointed out that
the latest Niti Aayog report
has “vindicated our long-
standing demand for spe-
cial category status (SCS)
or a special package for
Bihar”.
Mr Chaudhary pointed
out that Bihar was the
most deserving state that
needs special financial
assistance from the Centre.
“The economy of Bihar is
one of the fastest-growing
in India. Bihar has not
only grown consistently
but also outperformed
even the most developed
states. We also need a spe-
cial package for the overall
development of the state,”
Mr Chaudhary, who earlier
held the finance portfolio
in the Nitish Kumar gov-
ernment, said.
Mr Chaudhary noted that
the Bihar government has
been demanding SCS for
the state since 2011-12.
Before that, a resolution in
this regard was passed by
both Houses of the Bihar
legislature saying that the
state needs a special pack-
age/special assistance for
its overall growth.
The Niti Aayog had earli-
er admitted that Bihar
made tremendous progress
across multiple sectors in
the last decade, but owing
to its weak base in the past,
Karnataka deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar speaks as CM
Siddaramaiah looks on during the Assembly session in
Bengaluru on Monday.
tain the matter.
The apex court was hear-
ing a plea filed by Mr
Shivakumar against the
October 19, 2023 order of
the high court which
rejected his plea.
The high court had
directed the CBI to con-
clude the investigation and
file the report within three
months. The CBI alleged
that Mr Shivakumar
amassed assets dispropor-
tionate to his known
sources of income between
Onuoha Blessing, Azeez
Noheem Adeshoka, Allam
Satya Venkata Gowtham,
Sanaboina Varun Kumar,
and Mohd Mahaboob
Shareef.
Following the interroga-
tion, the five arrested drug
dealers identified 13 con-
sumers, who included
Aman Preet. Out of these,
five have been arrested
and all have tested posi-
tive for cocaine.
Aman Preet, who is also
an actor, was allegedly
found on the list of con-
sumers and has been
arrested. It was reported
that Aman, along with oth-
DC CORRESPONDENT
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
JULY 15
A middle-aged man who
went to Trivandrum
Medical College hospital
for a check-up on
Saturday got trapped
inside an elevator for two
days.
The incident came to
light when a lift operator
came for duty on Monday
morning.
Kerala medical educa-
tion directorate immedi-
ately suspended two lift
operators and a duty ser-
the state may take some
more time to catch up with
others and reach the opti-
mum growth in all aspects.
Echoing a similar view,
senior JD(U) leader and
Bihar rural development
minister Shrawan Kumar
said: “I must say that now
the Central government
should announce a special
package or special status to
Bihar without any delay.
The NDA government in
the state, under the leader-
ship of chief minister
Nitish Kumar, is commit-
ted to the overall develop-
ment of Bihar.”
Criticising Chief Minis
ter Kumar, former Lok
Sabha Speaker Meira Kum
ar had said it was sad that
the JD-U has to plead with
its allies even for its rights.
She said Prime Minister
Narendra Modi should
have given special state
status to Bihar as soon as
he formed the new govern-
ment at the Centre.
Reacting sharply to the
Niti Aayog’s latest report,
RJD Bihar unit spokesper-
son Mrityunjay Tiwary
said: “The latest report of
the Niti Aayog has exposed
the NDA government’s tall
claims about Bihar. This
shows Bihar is not on the
priority list of the double-
engine government. It is
quite ridiculous that
Bihar’s progress starts
from the bottom.”
— PTI
2013 and 2018. He was a
minister in the previous
Congress government dur-
ing this period.
The FIR was filed by the
CBI on September 3, 2020.
Mr Shivakumar chal-
lenged the FIR in the high
court in 2021.
The I-T department had
conducted a search and
seizure operation in the
offices and residence of Mr
Shivakumar in 2017, based
on which the ED started its
own probe against him.
ers, had created a network
of supply and demand for
drugs in Hyderabad and
used to get the drugs from
a Nigerian dealer who was
reportedly attempting to
distribute them to local
drug peddlers.
Asked about Aman Preet
Singh's involvement in the
drug chain, the police stat-
ed that the investigation is
still ongoing. “The arrests
were made following a tip-
off, and there are indica-
tions that more individu-
als linked to the industry
might be involved. A
detailed investigation is
underway,” according to
geant in connection with
the incident. The action
was taken after health
minister Veena George
ordered an inquiry into
the incident.
Narrating his harrow-
ing experience,
Raveendran Nair, 59, who
is also a temporary
employee of the
Legislative Assembly,
said he had gone to the
orthopedics department
for a check-up.
He got into the lift to go
to the first floor. But it
went down and the doors
did not open.
Groom dies in ‘police
custody’, bride tries
self immolation in MP
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY
BHOPAL, JULY 15
A groom in a Madhya
Pradesh village was
picked by police for inter-
rogation in connection
with a theft case late on
Sunday evening hours
before he was to leave for
his bride’s place to tie nup-
tial knot.
Twenty five-year-old
Devendra Pardi allegedly
died in police custody,
leading his bride to
attempt self immolation
by dousing fuel on her,
police said on Monday.
The incident that took
place in Bankhedi under
Myana police station in
Guna district sparked ten-
sion in the village.
The deceased had several
cases including robbery,
theft and an attempt to
murder pending against
him in various police sta-
tions, police said.
According to inspector
general of police, Gwalior
range, Arvind Saxena,
Pardi was brought to
police station for interro-
gation in the wake of con-
fession by one of his asso-
ciates of their involve-
ment in a theft case.
Pardi complained of
sickness during interroga-
pg 7
FLOODS: SHAH
SPEAKS TO
ASSAM, UP,
GUJ CMS
FROM PG 1
More than 5,97,600 peo-
ple were affected by
floods in Assam’s
Cachar, Chirang,
Darrang, Dhemaji,
Dhubri, Dibrugarh,
Goalpara, Golaghat,
Jorhat, Kamrup,
Kamrup Metropolitan,
Karimganj, Majuli,
Morigaon, Nagaon,
Nalbari and Sivasagar
districts.
However, on Monday,
the flood situation in
Assam began to improve
as water levels had been
receding fast from differ-
ent parts of the state,
state government offi-
cials said.
The India
Meteorological
Department’s Regional
Meteorological Centre
(RMC) in Guwahati has
also not issued any
warning except predict-
ing some rains in the
Barak Valley and a few
districts of central
Assam.
senior police officers.
The raid took place at
Flat No. 202, Janab Fort
View Apartments at Vishal
Nagar in Hydershakote on
Monday. The police confis-
cated 199 grams of cocaine
worth `35 lakh, alongside
two passports, two bikes,
ten cellphones, and other
materials.
The Rajendranagar
police said, “Onuoha
Blessing, a hairstylist from
Nigeria with a previous
drug-related case, is the
main kingpin who alleged-
ly transported cocaine to
Hyderabad over 20 times
using a fake passport.”
“As the elevator shook
heavily, my phone
slipped out of my hand
and fell on the floor. It
broke because of the
impact.”
“I kept pressing the
alarm button in panic
but none came to my res-
cue. Nobody responded to
the calls made from the
emergency phone
available in the lift,” he
said.
The lift operator who
locked the lift at the end
of the day’s duty didn’t
bother to open it and look
inside.
◗ GROOM HAD several
cases including robbery
and was brought to
police station for inter-
rogation in a theft case
tion and was rushed to the
district hospital in Guna
where he died, the police
officer said.
A judicial probe was
ordered into the incident
under the provisions of
BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya
Sahita) and action will be
taken on the matter on the
basis of findings in the
probe, he said.
He said that the post-
mortem report would
alone ascertain the exact
cause of his death.
The incident triggered
outrage in the village with
the irate relatives of the
deceased staging a protest
before the police station.
The deceased’s bride
attempted self immolation
by pouring fuel on her. She
was however saved by her
relatives present on the
occasion, reports reaching
here said.
The police took control of
the situation by persuad-
ing the protesters to main-
tain calm and submit their
version before the probe
officer for action, police
said.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024
SHORT
KENYAN KILLS
TAKES
42 WOMEN,
INCLUDING WIFE
Nairobi (Kenya), July 15:
Police in Kenya said on
Monday they have arrested the
main suspect after nine dis-
membered bodies of women
were found in a quarry in the
capital, Nairobi. The head of
the Directorate of Criminal
Investigations, Mohamed
Amin, said Collins Jumaisi
Khalusha, 33, had confessed to
killing 42 women, including his
wife, since 2022. They gave no
evidence to support his claim
of killing 42. He was expected
to be arraigned in court on
Tuesday.
GAMBIA BAN ON
FEMALE GENITAL
CUTTING UPHELD
Banjul, July 15: Lawmakers
in the West African nation of
Gambia on Monday rejected a
bill that would have overturn-
ed a female genital cutting ban.
The attempt to become the first
country in the world to reverse
such a ban had been closely fol-
lowed by activists abroad.
The vote followed debate in
the largely Muslim nation of
less than three million people.
Lawmakers killed the bill by
rejecting all its clauses and pre-
venting a final vote. The proce-
dure, also called female genital
mutilation, includes the partial
or full removal of girls’ exter-
nal genitalia.
RUSSIAN-U.S.
JOURNALIST GETS
JAIL IN ABSENTIA
Moscow, July 15: A Russian-
American journalist who has
accused the Russian Army of
carrying out crimes in Ukraine
was sentenced in absentia to
eight years jail by a Moscow
court on Monday.
Masha Gessen, a regular con-
tributor to the New Yorker, was
declared wanted in Russia last
year after alleging its military
killed civilians in the Ukraini-
an city of Bucha in March 2022,
an accusation the Kremlin
denies. The court sentenced
Gessen to eight years jail for
“knowingly spreading false
information about the use of
the Russian Army”.
ESTONIAN PM
QUITS TO TAKE UP
NEW JOB AT EU
Vilnius, July 15: Estonian
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas
submitted her resignation on
Monday in order to take up a
new job as the European Uni-
on’s foreign policy chief, the
President’s office said.
Kallas, 47, has emerged as a
strong critic of neighbouring
Russia and what she says are
its expansionist aims since she
became prime minister in
early 2021.
She has pressed Estonia’s
allies in Nato and the EU to
provide unconditional support
for Ukraine in its struggle to
push back Moscow’s invading
forces.
JUDGE DISMISSES
TRUMP CLASSIFIED
DOCUMENTS CASE
Florida, July 15: A US judge
in Florida on Monday dismi-
ssed the criminal case accusing
Donald Trump of illegally
keeping classified documents
after leaving office, handing
the Republican former presi-
dent another major legal victo-
ry as he seeks a return to the
White House.
United States District Judge
Aileen Cannon, who was app-
ointed to the bench by Trump,
ruled that Special Counsel
Jack Smith, who is leading the
prosecution, was unlawfully
appointed to his role and did
not have the authority to bring
the case.
CHINA POSTS
DISAPPOINTING
GROWTH IN QTR 2
Beijing, July 15: China posted
on Monday lower than expect-
ed growth in the second quart-
er, with all eyes on how officia-
ls at a meeting in Beijing might
seek to tackle the country’s
deepening economic malaise.
China is grappling with a real
estate debt crisis, weakening
consumption, and an ageing
population. Trade tensions
with the US and the EU, which
have sought to limit Beijing’s
access to sensitive technology
as well as putting up tariffs to
protect their markets from
cheap, Chinese goods, are also
dragging growth down.
Trump cements Republican Oli, 72, sworn in
Nepalese PM
party hold surviving attack for fourth time
Ex-president, Biden seek calm; Donald undergoes precautionary CT scan
Milwaukee, Washingt-
on, July 15: Donald Tru-
mp cements his hold on
his Republican Party at its
2024 convention this week,
having survived an assas-
sination attempt and navi-
gated numerous legal tan-
gles on the road to the
party’s presidential nomi-
nation.
Trump underwent a pre-
cautionary CT scan after
he was shot in the upper
ear during a campaign
event and the scan came
back clear, according to a
media report on Monday.
Trump’s Republican Par-
ty convenes on Monday
hoping to chart his return
to the White House after
he survived an assassina-
tion attempt that prompt-
ed him and President Joe
Biden, his Democratic
rival, to call for national
unity and calm.
The former president
will announce at the con-
vention this week his
choice for a running mate,
having cited as frontrun-
ners Ohio US Senator J.D.
Vance, Florida US Senator
Marco Rubio and North
Dakota Governor Doug
Burgum, all of whom will
speak at the gathering.
“This is a chance to bri-
ng the whole country, even
the whole world, together.
The speech will be a lot dif-
ferent, a lot different than
it would’ve been two days
ago,” Trump told the Was-
hington Examiner.
Biden, too, in a televised
address from the White
House on Sunday, said:
“There is no place in
America for this kind
of violence, for any
violence ever. Period.
No exceptions. We
can’t allow this
violence to be
nor malised.”
He said: “The
political
rhetoric in
this count-
ry has
g o t t e n
very hea-
ted. It’s
Maithripala Sirisena
SIRISENA GIVEN
AUG. 30 DATE
TO PAY VICTIMS
Colombo, July 15: Sri
Lanka’s Supreme Court
on Monday ordered for-
mer President Maithri-
pala Sirisena to settle
the full payment of com-
pensation to the victims
of the 2019 Easter terror
attacks before August 30.
Sirisena informed the
SC that, out of the Rs 100
million to be paid as co-
mpensation, Rs. 58 mil-
lion has been paid and
he also requested for six
years for the remaining
amount to be paid.
In January 2023, the
Supreme Court ordered
Sirisena, the then presi-
dent, and his police and
defence hierarchy to pay
compensation to the vic-
tims in a fundamental
rights petition. The
Supreme Court ruled
that the respondents
named had violated the
fundamental rights of
the petitioners. — PTI
Court ousts Tesla 5G
patents licence suit
London, July 15: US
technology firm InterDig-
ital and a patent licensing
platform on Monday won
their bid to throw out a
London lawsuit by Tesla,
which was seeking a
patent licence ahead of
the automaker’s launch of
5G vehicles in Britain.
Elon Musk’s company
sued InterDigital and
Avanci – which licences
patents from multiple
owners, largely for auto-
motive uses – at London’s
High Court in 2023.
Tesla wanted the court
to determine the fair, rea-
sonable and non-discrimi-
Police continue to block roads around the home of Thomas Matthew Crooks as the
FBI continues its investigation into the attempted assassination of US ex-president
Donald Trump in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.
time to cool it down.”
While the event in Mil-
waukee, Wisconsin, will
be a festive affair to for-
mally nominate Trump, it
occurs at a tense moment
in US history on the road
to the Nov. 5 poll rematch
between President Joe Bi-
den, 81, and Trump, 78.
Will party leaders try to
cool tempers among Repu-
blicans? Or will they use
the occasion to accuse De-
mocrats of demonising Tr-
ump as a threat to democ-
racy and making
him a target for
political vio-
lence? —
Agencies
Pak plans to ban Imran party, file
treason case against former PM
Islamabad, July 15:
Pakistan is planning to
ban former prime minis-
ter Imran Khan’s political
party and move the coun-
try’s top court to press
treason charges against
him, the information min-
ister said on Monday.
The ruling Pakistan Mu-
slim League-Nawaz (PML-
N) party-led government
on Monday filed a review
petition in the Supreme
Court against its decision
to allocate reserved seats
to Imran’s Pakistan Tehr-
eek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
A 13-member full court
in a key judgment on July
12 ruled that the PTI was
eligible for the seats reser-
ved for women and minor-
ities in the National Ass-
embly and provincial ass-
emblies. The move to ban
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) was based on the
“proven” charge of the pa-
rty receiving foreign fu-
nds from sources that are
illegal in Pakistan, and
rioting by its supporters
last year that targeted mil-
itary installations, minis-
ter Attaullah Tarar said.
“The federal governme-
nt will move a case to ban
the Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaaf,” he said, adding
that the plan will be taken
natory (FRAND) terms of
a licence for Tesla to use
patents owned by patent
holders, including Inter-
Digital and which are
licenced by Avanci.
Tesla’s lawyers said in
May that the company
“plans imminently to lau-
nch 5G vehicles in the
UK”. InterDigital and Av-
anci asked the court to
throw out Tesla’s bid for a
ruling on FRAND terms
for a licence.
The High Court ruled in
their favour on Monday,
with judge saying that
Tesla’s bid must be
thrown out. — Reuters
Trump says he was
supposed to be dead
Milwaukee, July 15:
Donald Trump has said he
is “supposed to be dead”
after the assassination at-
tempt on him at a campa-
ign rally in Pennsylvania,
calling the incident a
“surreal experience.”
In one of his first inter-
views since the incident,
the 78-year-old former pr-
esident told conservative
US media that he felt that
he had been saved “by
luck or by God”. “I’m not
supposed to be here, I’m
supposed to be dead,” the
former US president said,
speaking to the New York
Post while en route to
Milwaukee for the
R e p u b l i c a n
N a t i o n a l
Convention starting
on Monday which
will nominate
him as the
party’s
candidate
Qureshi indicted in
May 9 violence case
Lahore, July 15: An anti-
terrorism court here on
Monday charged top Pak-
istan Tehreek-e-Insaf lea-
der and former foreign
minister Shah Mahmood
Qureshi in a case involv-
ing the burning down of a
police station during the
May 9 violence last year.
Qureshi, 68, who was
brought to Kot Lakhpat
jail here from Adiala jail
in Rawalpindi under tight
up before the Cabinet,
which was empowered to
take a decision.
The government will
also file a legal reference
against Khan and former
president Arif Alvi for
treason charges under the
country’s Constitution
before the Supreme Court,
Tarar said.
Khan’s aide Zulfikar
Bukhari said the decision
was a move towards “soft
martial law”. “This is a
sign of panic as they have
realised the courts can’t
be threatened and put
WARMEST | WINTER
Greece sounds water shortage alarm
Athens, July 15: After
Greece’s warmest winter
and earliest heatwave on
record, authorities are
sounding the alarm over
the risk of dire water sho-
rtages in the heat of the
Mediterranean summer.
“Would you like some
water? Turn off the tap!”
one public service annou-
ncement in Athens implo-
res; another daily spot ur-
ges the capital’s residents
to not fill their bath all the
way to the top.
Already, there are signs
that habits may need to
change. At the beginning
— AFP
for the November 5 presi-
dential poll.
“The most incredible
thing was that I happened
to not only turn [my head]
but to turn at the exact
right time and in just the
right amount,” he said,
adding that the bullet that
grazed his ear could have
easily killed him. “I’m
supposed to be dead, I’m
not supposed to be here,”
he said. He called the
entire incident a “surreal
experience.”
A spectator was killed in
the attack, while two oth-
er people were seriously
injured.
The 20-year-old gunman,
who also died, has been
named as Thomas
Matthew Crooks. Trump
wore a white bandage that
covered his right ear but
his aides did not allow any
photographs to be taken,
said the Post. — PTI
security, has several cases
related to May 9 violence.
The court had sum-
moned Qureshi to initiate
indictment proceedings
against him and ordered
the prosecution to present
witnesses in the next
hearing scheduled for
July 22. Qureshi, who was
produced before ATC
Judge Khalid Arshad,
however, denied the
charges. — PTI
under pressure,” he said.
The Supreme Court had
last week ruled that PTI
was eligible for more than
20 extra reserved seats in
parliament, ramping up
pressure on the country’s
weak coalition govern-
ment.
PTI candidates contested
the Feb. 8 election as inde-
pendents after it was
barred from the polls. It
was not immediately clear
what impact the planned
ban would have on the co-
urt’s decision to grant res-
erved seats. — Agencies
Millions of tourists flocking to beaches add to pressure
of July, the Mornos reser-
voir around 200 km (125
miles) west of Athens, the
main water source for the
Attica region surrounding
the capital, levels were
down 30 per cent from the
same period last year.
And overall reserves for
Attica were down by near-
ly a quarter over the same
period, according to the
water utility company EY-
DAP. Home to more than a
third of Greece’s populati-
on, the region of 3.7 milli-
on inhabitants was recent-
ly placed on “yellow alert”
by EYDAP, which urged
WHY FUNDS PLEA?
RUSSIA’S PUTIN HAS
NO PLANS TO CONTACT
TRUMP AFTER
ASSASSINATION
ATTEMPT, SAYS
KREMLIN
The
Kremlin
said on
Monday
that
Russian
President Vladimir Putin
had not contacted
Donald Trump after the
assassination attempt
on the Republican U.S.
presidential candidate
over the weekend and
had no plans to do so.
TRUMP WEBSITE
FEATURES IMAGE OF
HIS BLOODY FACE TO
RAISE FUNDS
Former U.S. President
Donald Trump’s website
featured an image of
him with a bloodied face
on Monday morning to
urge supporters to
donate to his campaign
and come together in
the spirit of unity and
peace following this
weekend’s shooting.
SINGER MARY MILLBEN
TO SING NATIONAL
ANTHEM BEFORE
TRUMP'S NOMINATION
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
Popular
African
American
singer
Mary
Millben
would sing the US
national anthem before
Donald Trump would
deliver his acceptance
speech to be the
presidential candidate
of the Republican Party
here on Thursday.
IMF BAILOUT DEAL
IN BAG, PAK TO
UP FARM INCOME
Karachi, July 15: Paki-
stan and the International
Monetary Fund reached
an agreement for a $7 bil-
lion, 37-month loan prog-
rammr with tough meas-
ures such as raising tax on
farm income, sending the
benchmark share index
.KSE to a record high on
Monday.
The staff-level agreeme-
nt caps negotiations that
started in May after Isla-
mabad completed a short-
term, $3 billion program
that helped stabilise the
economy, avert a sover-
eign debt default, and set
challenging revenue tar-
gets in its budget to get
IMF approval.
The benchmark share
index has almost doubled
since Pakistan signed its
last SLA for the $3 billion
standby arrangement, and
is up more than 10% since
Pakistan presented its
annual budget.
“The market has grown
used to the IMF deal being
a highly politicised, news
event.” — Reuters
The demand for water in
summer is sometimes 100
times greater than in win-
ter. — AFP
people to reduce consump-
tion to keep reserves at a
sustainable level.
Across Greece’s islands,
Kathmandu, July 15:
Nepal’s Khadga Prasad
Sharma Oli was sworn in
as prime minister on Mo-
nday after his Communist
Party forged a coalition
government with the cen-
tre-left Nepali Congress,
shifting power in the
country’s often-volatile
Parliament.
Oli, 72, chief of the sec-
ond-largest party in the
parliament, the Commun-
ist Party of Nepal —
Unified Marxist Leninist
(CPN-UML), returns as
Prime Minister for the
fourth time.
In the Himalayan repub-
lic of about 30 million pe-
ople, overshadowed by gi-
ant neighbours India and
China, Oli previously
trod a fine balance betw-
een the rivals, cordial to
both but reaching out to
Beijing to decrease Nepa-
l’s dependency on New
Delhi. “I, KP Sharma Oli,
in the name of the coun-
try and people, pledge
that I will be loyal to the
constitution... and fulfil
my duty as the Prime
Minister,” Oli said, as
President Ram Chandra
Poudel administered the
oath of office.
First elected as prime
minister in 2015, he was
reelected in 2018 with a
rare majority governme-
nt, and then reappointed
briefly in 2021.
His predecessor and for-
mer coalition governme-
nt ally, Pushpa Kamal
Dahal, lost a vote of confi-
dence on Friday, barely 18
months after taking offi-
ce. Dahal, a former Mao-
ist guerrilla commander
better known by his nom
de guerre Prachanda
(“The Fierce One”), was
forced to step down after
Oli’s party withdrew its
support.
Oli instead forged a deal
with Sher Bahadur Deuba
Israel launches
new Gaza strikes
Cairo, Gaza, July 15:
Israel struck the south-
ern and central Gaza Str-
ip on Monday to put more
pressure on Hamas, follo-
wing a weekend strike
targeting the militant gr-
oup’s leadership, which
killed scores of Palestin-
ians who had sought shel-
ter in a makeshift camp.
Two days after the Isra-
eli strike turned a crowd-
ed swathe of Mawasi near
the Mediterranean coast
into a charred wasteland
littered with burning cars
and mangled bodies, dis-
placed survivors said
they had no idea where
they should go next.
“Those moments as the
ground shook undernea-
th my feet and the dust
and sand rose to the sky
and I saw dismembered
bodies — was like noth-
ing I have seen in my
life,” said Aya Mohamm-
ad, 30, a market seller in
Mawasi, reached by mobi-
le text message.
“Where to go is what
everybody asks, and no
one has the answer.”
Mawasi on the western
outskirts of Khan Younis
has been sheltering hun-
dreds of thousands of Pa-
lestinians who fled to the
area after Israel declared
it a safe zone.
Israel said its strike
there on Saturday target-
ed Hamas military com-
mander Mohammed Deif,
an architect of last year’s
October 7 assault on
Israeli towns and villages
which tend to rely on wells
and desalination plants to
meet water needs, the pro-
blem is even more acute.
Added pressure comes
from the millions of touri-
sts who flock to the countr-
y’s beaches each summer,
swelling the local popula-
tions. On some islands suf-
fering from overtourism,
the demand for water in
summer “is sometimes 100
times greater than in win-
ter”, Nikitas Mylopoulos,
a professor of water res-
ource management at the
University of Thessaly,
told AFP.
pg 8
RESCUERS FIND
ELEVEN BODIES
AFTER LANDSLIDE
Kathmandu, July 15:
Rescuers in Nepal have
recovered a total of 11
bodies from the river that
two buses full of people
were swept into by a land-
slide, officials said on
Monday.
Rescuers found the bod-
ies in different spots
along the riverbanks as
they searched for the
missing buses and some
50 people who were on
board. Government adm-
inistrator Khima Nanda
Bhusal said seven bodies
were identified and rela-
tives contacted.
Three of the dead are
Indians and the remain-
ing four are Nepali
nationals. He said four
more bodies were also
recovered from the river,
but because they haven’t
been identified, it was
unclear if they had been
on board the buses. — AP
of the Nepali Congress.
He has promised to yield
the post to the former
five-time prime minister
Deuba, 78, later in the
parliamentary term.
Nepal’s next general
elections are due in 2027.
Nepal became a federal
republic in 2008 after a
decade-long civil war and
a peace deal that saw the
Maoists brought into gov-
ernment and the abolish-
ment of the monarchy.
Since then, a revolving
door of ageing prime
ministers and a culture of
horse-trading have fuell-
ed public perceptions that
the government is out of
touch with Nepal’s press-
ing problems. — AFP
ATTACK ON TWO
SHIPS OFF YEMEN,
SAYS UK AGENCY
Aden, July 15: Two ves-
sels came under attack on
Monday in the Red Sea off
Yemen’s port city of Hod-
eidah, with one ship repo-
rting it had sustained
some damage, Britain’s
maritime agency said.
A vessel 97 nautical mi-
les northwest of Hodeid-
ah was attacked by an un-
crewed surface vessel
that hit its port side caus-
ing some damage and li-
ght smoke, the United Ki-
ngdom Maritime Trade
Operations (UKMTO)
said. It added that the
ship and its crew were re-
ported safe and proceed-
ing to next port of call.
Another merchant ves-
sel, 70 nautical miles
southwest of Hodeidah,
reported three missiles
had exploded nearby,
after the ship earlier
came under attack by th-
ree small craft, UKMTO
and security firm Am-
brey said. — Reuters
that had triggered the
Gaza war.
However, the military
said it struck an open
area, with several build-
ings and sheds, adding
that it was a compound
run by Hamas and not a
tented camp. — Reuters
Mylopoulos said the pro-
blem of mass tourism was
being compounded by
poor water management.
At the end of June, a
month-long state of emer-
gency was declared for the
Dodecanese island of Ler-
os. The island’s council
noted malfunctions at the
desalination plant, alleg-
ing “poor maintenance in
the past”.
Other islands threatened
by water scarcity include
Sifnos in the Cyclades,
Chios in the north Aegean
and Lefkada and Corfu in
the Ionian Sea. — AFP
 SPECIAL
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024 | CHENNAI
pg 9

OTHER

Amazon Web
STORIES
signs MoU
with TN
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI:
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
India Private Limited will
entered into a MoU with Tamil
Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub
to launch a generative
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
startup hub program, that will
focus on accelerating the devel-
opment of generative AI solu-
tions for public-centric initia-
tives through the startup
ecosystem in Tamil Nadu.
iTNT as an innovation hub
was established by the
Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology
(MeitY, Government of India),
and Information Technology
and Digital Services
Department (IT&DS,
Government of Tamil Nadu),
with industry support.
“iTNT Hub is dedicated to
harnessing Tamil Nadu’s vast
tech capability and fostering
research, development and
innovation across the state.
The collaboration with AWS
gives startup founders access
to mentorship, resources, and
a community for the develop-
ment of citizen-driven genera-
tive AI solutions.” said Vanitha
Venugopal, CEO, iTNT Hub.
“AWS recognises the transfor-
mative potential of generative
AI, the value it can offer to pub-
lic sector organisations and
citizens, and the role that start-
ups can play in accelerating
innovation and developing
solutions for adoption,” said
Sunil PP, Lead – Channels and
Alliances, Public Sector, AWS
India Private Limited.
The Hub, located in Anna
University, is focused on build-
ing a unique deep tech innova-
tion network in Tamil Nadu by
leveraging the combined
strengths of startups, innova-
tors, academia, government,
and industry leaders. This new
program will provide mentor-
ship to founders emerging
from incubation programs of
more than 570 engineering col-
leges affiliated with Anna
University.
Anger, anxiety loom over
Republican convention
Milwaukee (US): Donald
Trump’s campaign chiefs
designed the convention
opening this week to fea-
ture a softer and more
optimistic message, focus-
ing on themes that would
help a divisive leader
expand his appeal among
moderate voters and peo-
ple of colour. Then came a
shooting that rattled the
foundation of American
politics.
Suddenly, the Democrats’
turmoil after the debate,
the GOP’s potential gov-
erning agenda and even
Trump’s criminal convic-
tions became secondary to
fears about political vio-
lence and the country’s
stability.
The presumptive
Republican nominee and
his allies will face the
nation during their four-
day convention in
Milwaukee unquestion-
ably united and ready to
“fight,” as the bloodied
Trump cried out Saturday
while Secret Service
agents at his Pennsylvania
rally rushed him to safety.
Anger and anxiety are
coursing through the
party, even as many top
Republicans call for calm
and a lowering of ten-
sions.
Sen. Tim Scott of South
Carolina, known for his
sunny and optimistic
vision of Republican poli-
tics, suggested online the
attempted assassination
had been “aided and abet-
ted by the radical Left and
corporate media inces-
santly calling Trump a
threat to democracy, fas-
cists, or worse.”
Republican House
Speaker Mike Johnson,
another likely convention
speaker, offered a more
sombre tone during a
Sunday appearance on
NBC. “We’ve got to turn
the temperature down in
this country,” Johnson
Law enforcement personnel at the venue before the Republican Party convention begins in Milwaukee. — AP
tion’s programming
wouldn’t be changed after
the shooting. The agenda,
he said, will feature more
than 100 speakers over-
whelmingly focused on
kitchen table issues and
Trump’s plans to lift
everyday working
Americans. “We have to be
able to lay out a vision for
where we want to take this
country,” he said.
Whatley said the central
message would have little
to do with President Joe
Biden’s political struggles,
Trump’s grievances about
the 2020 election or the ex-
ly give Trump the nomina-
tion, elected delegates
from across the nation will
update the GOP’s policy
platform for the first time
since 2016. The scaled-
down platform proposal —
just 16 pages with limited
specifics on key issues,
including abortion —
reflects a desire by the
Trump campaign to avoid
giving Democrats more
material on a key cam-
paign issue.
The platform approved
by a committee last week
doesn’t include an explicit
call for a national abortion
importance than it would
have otherwise given the
new threats to Trump’s
life.
His top three contenders
are North Dakota Gov.
Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen.
JD Vance and Florida Sen.
Marco Rubio, all expected
to speak this week.
Former rivals Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis and
Nikki Haley, the former
United Nations ambassa-
dor, are expected to speak
at the convention on
Trump’s behalf.
Veteran Republican poll-
ster Frank Luntz said the
Thailand PM Srettha Thavisin
Thailand to roll
out $13.8 bn
handout plan
Bangkok: Thailand's project's funding would
come out of the 2024 and
prime minister said
2025 fiscal budgets.
Monday that eligible busi-
Deputy Minister of
nesses and individuals
Finance Julapan
can register from August
Amornvivat said at a
for digital cash handouts,
news conference on
a controversial program
Monday the budgetary
that will cost billions of
funding became possible
dollars and is meant to
after the plan's estimated
boost the lagging econo-
cost dropped from $13.8
my.
bn to $12.4 bn, asserting
The government
that all estimated 50 mil-
announced in April the
lion people will still be
widely criticised ambi-
part of the program as
tious plan, named the
only up to 90% of those
“Digital Wallet,” meant to
eligible utilised them in
give 10,000 baht (about
previous handouts.
$275) to 50 million citizens
Julapan added that the
in digital money to spend
Digital Wallet committee
at local businesses.
has agreed to exclude tens
Prime Minister Srettha
of thousands of shopown-
Thavisin posted on the
ers and cash recipients
social platform X, saying
they’re furious.” who have a record of com-
the registration will
The Biden campaign mitting fraud in past pro-
begin Aug.1 and that he
over the weekend pulled grams.
has given instructions to
down its campaign ads. The plan also has cer-
ensure the smooth imple-
Vice President Kamala tain limitations, such as
mentation of the pro-
Harris postponed a excluding certain goods
gram.
Tuesday appearance in that are yet to be decided,
The “Digital Wallet”
Florida set to focus on and earlier proposals sug-
was a major campaign
Trump’s opposition to gested oil, services, and
promise of the ruling
abortion rights. And the online purchases should
Srettha’s Pheu Thai party
pro-Democratic group be among them. Julapan
ahead of last year’s gen-
American Bridge is delay- said the Commerce
eral election. The govern-
ing the scheduled Monday Ministry would handle
ment says that this
release of faux trading the exclusions set to be
scheme will cause an
cards designed to high- announced next week
“economic tornado,” and
light controversial after the detailed plan is
Srettha has said the stim-
policy positions of Trump submitted to the Cabinet.
ulus and subsequent con-
and other leading Thailand has in recent
sumption are expected to
Republicans. years suffered from a
boost gross domestic

Judge dismisses
Trump docus
case
Washington: The federal
judge presiding over the classi-
fied documents case of former
President Donald Trump in
Florida dismissed the prosecu-
tion on Monday, siding with
defence lawyers who said the
special counsel who filed the
charges was illegally appoint-
ed.
The decision by US District
Judge Aileen Cannon brings a
stunning and abrupt conclu-
sion to a criminal case that at
the time it was filed was wide-
ly regarded as the most per-
ilous of all the legal threats
that the Republican former
president confronted. Trump
faced dozens of felony counts
accusing him of illegally
hoarding classified documents
at his Mar-a-Lago estate in
Palm Beach, Florida, and
obstructing FBI efforts to get
them back. Defence lawyers
filed multiple challenges to the
case, including a legally tech-
nical one that asserted that
special counsel Jack Smith had
been illegally appointed. AP
said. “We need leaders of
all parties, on both sides,
to call that out and make
sure that happens so that
we can go forward and
maintain our free society
that we all are blessed to
have.”
There are no changes yet
to the convention pro-
gramme. Republican
Party chairman Michael
Whatley said the conven-
Journey through Powell, Pressburger films
New York: Martin
Scorsese has spent a size-
able portion of his life
talking about movies he
loves. He’s made documen-
taries about Italian cine-
ma (“My Voyage to Italy”),
Hollywood studio films (“A
Personal Journey With
Martin Scorsese Through
American Movies”) and
individual filmmakers
like Elia Kazan and Val
Lewton. But when
Scorsese talks about the
movies of Michael Powell
and Emeric Pressburger, it
means something differ-
ent. It’s getting very close
president’s promises to
exact retribution against
political enemies.
“We are going to have the
convention that we have
been planning for the last
18 months,” he said. “We
are a combination of
relieved and grateful that
the president is going to be
here and is going to accept
the nomination.”
Beyond voting to formal-
to something fundamental
for him.
In the new documentary,
“Made in England: The
Films of Michael Powell
and Emeric Pressburger,”
Scorsese recalls watching
“The Red Shoes” as a
child. He describes it as
“one of the origins of my
obsession with cinema,
itself.”
“The Powell-Pressberger
films have had a profound
effect on the sensibility
that I bring to all the work
I was able to do,” Scorsese
says in the documentary.
“I was so bewitched by
ban, two years after the
U.S. Supreme Court over-
turned Roe v. Wade and
ended a federally guaran-
teed right to abortion.
Perhaps most important-
ly, Trump will use the con-
vention to unveil his
choice for vice president,
which could come as soon
as Monday. Some
Republicans believe the
pick will take on more
them as a child that they
make a big part of my
films’ subconscious.”
“Made in England,”
which rolls out in theatres
this month, is a poignant
crescendo in one of the
great love affairs in
movies. The films of
Powell and Pressburger,
the directing-screenwrit-
ing duo known as the
Archers, has been an abid-
ing polestar for Scorsese,
who befriended Powell
late in life. Thelma
Schoonmaker , Scorsese’s
longtime editor, married
him, and since his death in
shooting ensured the GOP
is united and motivated
behind Trump, a does with NBC airs
dynamic he said will be on
display all week in
Wisconsin.
“Every single Trump
supporter will now be a
Trump voter,” Luntz said.
“The average Trump voter
is so angry at what just
happened. They were
angry before this, and now
1990 has worked tirelessly
to celebrate his legacy.
Together, Schoonmaker
and Scorsese have
restored eight of the films
already, including
Technicolor masterworks
like “The Red Shoes,”
“The Life and Death of
Colonel Blimp,” “Black
Narcissus” and “A Matter
of Life and Death,” along
with the beloved black-
and-white gem “I Know
Where I’m Going!” and,
most recently, “The Small
Black Room.” Once
Scorsese and
Schoonmaker finish edit-
Biden’s campaign said
that, after an interview he
Monday,
Democratic
it and the
National
Committee “will continue
drawing the contrast”
with Trump over the
course of the GOP conven-
tion — even though it
remains unclear when ads
would resume.
—AP
ing their own films, like
last year's “Killers of the
Flower Moon,”
Schoonmaker turns to her
other life’s work.
“I have the best job in the
world and I have the best
husband in the world.
What more could you ask
for?” Schoonmaker said in
a recent interview by
phone. “Working for
Marty is just so fantastic.
Every film is different,
every film is a new chal-
lenge. And then we sit and
talk about Michael Powell
and Emeric Pressburger.”
—AP
product growth by 1.2 to
1.6 percentage points.
Economists have criti-
cised the program, calling
it an ineffective way to
contribute to sustainable
economic growth com-
pared to other measures.
In addition, its financing
has faced several hurdles,
delaying its planned
implementation.
At first, the government
said the state Bank for
Agriculture and
A g r i c u l t u r a l
Cooperatives would cover
some of the funding need-
ed. However, after warn-
ings by financial experts,
it was announced that the
B’DESH PM’S HELICOPTER-FLYING
SERVANT SPARKS GRAFT PROBE
Dhaka: Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina says she is "taking
measures" after a slew of
corruption scandals -
including one involving
her former household ser-
vant who now travels by
helicopter after amassing
a staggering $34 million
fortune.
Recent accusations dom-
inating Bangladesh's nor-
mally pliant media have
sluggish economy that
appears to have deterio-
rated with no clear sign of
growth. This month, the
World Bank’s Thailand
Economic Monitor pro-
jected GDP growth of
2.4% for the year 2024.
The ruling Pheu Thai
party had initially sug-
gested digital wallet pay-
ments for all Thais 16 and
older, but later this was
limited to only lower-
income Thais, defined as
people with yearly
incomes not exceeding
$23,000 and savings in
financial institutions not
totalling more than
$13,700. —AFP
Hasina's office to engage
in "lobbying, tender
manipulation and
bribery".
The fat-cat servant
report spread rapidly on
social media - with oppo-
sition parties seizing on it
to accuse Hasina's admin-
istration of endemic cor-
ruption.
"If Sheikh Hasina's
peon could make such an
astronomical amount of

World’s rarest whale washes up on NZ beach

Wellington: Spade-toothed
whales are the world’s
rarest, with no live sight-
ings ever recorded. No one
knows how many there are,
what they eat, or even
where they live in the vast
expanse of the southern
Pacific Ocean. However, sci-
entists in New Zealand may
have finally caught a break.
The country’s conserva-
tion agency said Monday a
creature that washed up on
a South Island beach this
month is believed to be a
spade-toothed whale. The
five-meter-long creature, a
type of beaked whale, was
identified after it washed
ashore on an Otago beach
from its colour patterns and
the shape of its skull, beak
and teeth.
“We know very little, prac-
tically nothing” about the
creatures, Hannah
Hendriks, marine technical
adviser for the Department
of Conservation, said. “This
is going to lead to some
amazing science and world-
first information.”
If the cetacean is con-
firmed to be the elusive
spade-toothed whale, it
would be the first specimen
found in a state that would
permit scientists to dissect
it, allowing them to map the
relationship of the whale to
taonga — a sacred treasure
— of cultural significance.
In April, Pacific Indigenous
leaders signed a treaty
recognising whales as
“legal persons,” although
such a declaration is not
reflected in the laws of par-
ticipating nations.
Nothing is currently
known about the whales’
habitat. The creatures deep-
dive for food and likely sur-
face so rarely that it has
been impossible to narrow
their location further than
the southern Pacific Ocean,
home to some of the world’s
deepest ocean trenches,
Hendriks said.
“It’s very hard to do
research on marine mam-
mals if you don’t see them
at sea,” she said. “It’s a bit
of a needle in a haystack.
You don’t know where to
look.”
The conservation agency
said the genetic testing to
Scientists in New Zealand may have finally caught a breakthrough into the world of the confirm the whale’s identi-
rarest whale as a creature that is believed to be a spade-toothed whale was washed up fication could take months.
on a South Island beach. – AP It took “many years and a
mammoth amount of effort
the few others of the species Zealand’s North Island ported to cold storage and by researchers and local
found, learn what it eats beaches were buried before researchers will work with people” to identify the
and perhaps lead to clues DNA testing could verify local Maori iwi (tribes) to “incredibly cryptic” mam-
about where they live. their identification, plan how it will be exam- mals, Kirsten Young, a sen-
Only six other spade- Hendriks said, thwarting ined, the conservation ior lecturer at the
toothed whales have ever any chance to study them. agency said. University of Exeter who
been pinpointed, and those This time, the beached New Zealand’s Indigenous has studied spade-toothed
found intact on New whale was quickly trans- people consider whales a whales, said in emailed
remarks.
The fresh discovery
“makes me wonder — how
many are out in the deep
ocean and how do they
live?” Young said.
The first spade-toothed
whale bones were found in
1872 on New Zealand’s Pitt
Island. Another discovery
was made at an offshore
island in the 1950s, and the
bones of a third were found
on Chile’s Robinson Crusoe
Island in 1986. DNA
sequencing in 2002 proved
that all three specimens
were of the same species —
and that it was one distinct
from other beaked whales.
Researchers studying the
mammal couldn’t confirm if
the species went extinct.
Then in 2010, two whole
spade-toothed whales, both
dead, washed up on a New
Zealand beach. Mistaken
initially for one of New
Zealand’s 13 other more
common types of beaked
whale, tissue samples —
taken after they were
buried — revealed them as
the enigmatic species.
New Zealand is a whale-
stranding hotspot, with
more than 5,000 episodes
recorded since 1840, accord-
ing to the Department of
Conservation.
—AP
involved a former army
chief, an ex-police chief,
senior tax officers and
state recruitment offi-
cials.
"Corruption is a long-
standing problem,"
Hasina told reporters late
Sunday. "These messes
must be cleaned up... we
have been taking meas-
ures." She said that
included action against
her household assistant
who Bangladeshi media
reported had previously
been a water-bearer, in
case she needed a drink at
events.
"The man who worked
as a peon in my house --
he now owns 400,00,00,000
Taka ($34 million),"
Hasina said. "He can't
move without a helicop-
ter. How has he earned so
much money? I took
action immediately after
knowing this."
It would take an average
Bangladeshi more than
13,000 years to earn that
amount. The average
GDP per capita in the
nation of around 170 mn
people is $2,529, according
to the World Bank.
Hasina did not identify
the servant, but several
newspapers named him
as Jahangir Alam, nick-
named "Pani" or "water",
due to his old job.
The Dhaka Tribune
daily reported the orderly
had used his position in
money, you can guess how
much his boss has made,"
said A.K.M.
Wahiduzzaman, a
spokesman for the
Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (BNP), the main
opposition party.
"The most shocking
thing is he has not been
prosecuted for his crime,"
he added. "He was just
removed from his post".
Hasina, 76, won her
fourth consecutive gener-
al election in Jan., in a
vote without genuine
opposition parties, with a
widespread boycott and a
major crackdown against
her political opponents.
But since May, a series of
high-profile corruption
scandals have put the
spotlight on her more
than 15-year-long rule.
The anti-corruption
commission launched a
probe into former nation-
al police chief Benazir
Ahmed - once viewed as a
close Hasina ally -
accused of stashing an
illegal multi-million dol-
lar fortune. He rejects the
allegations.
Washington imposed
sanctions against Ahmed
in 2021, for his alleged
role in hundreds of disap-
pearances and extrajudi-
cial killings when he led
the feared Rapid Action
Battalion paramilitary
force.
– AFP
 CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024
quick
BITES
INDICATORS % MICHAEL GONSALVES
Sensex 80,664.86 0.18
Nifty 50 24,586.70 0.35
S&P 500* 5,648.32 0.59
Dollar (`) 83.6 0.07
Pound Sterling (`)
108.50 0.30
Euro (`) 91.12 0.21
Gold (10gm)* (`) 73,315▼46 0.06
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 84.69 -0.40
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.978 -0.008
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.239 0.052
* As of 8:30 PM IST
Sai Life Sciences
files IPO draft
papers with Sebi
Private equity major TPG
Capital-backed Sai Life
Sciences has filed preliminary
papers with capital markets
regulator Sebi to raise funds
through an initial public offer-
ing (IPO). The proposed IPO
comprises fresh issue of equity
shares worth `800 crore and
an offer-for-sale of 6.15 crore
shares by a promoter, investor
shareholders and other share-
holders, according to the draft
red herring prospectus.
Audi launches
Q5 Bold Edition
at `72.3 lakh
Audi, the German luxury car
maker, on Monday introduced a
new special edition version of
the Q5 SUV called the ‘Bold
Edition’ priced at `72.30 lakh
and will be available in limited
numbers. “The Audi Q5 has
always been amongst our best-
seller models and we are confi-
dent that this new Bold Edition
will only attract more buyers
and brand fans,” said Balbir
Singh Dhillon, head of Audi
India.
Zomato follows
Swiggy to up
platform fee
Food-delivery firm Zomato has
hiked the platform fee to `6
from `5 per order in Delhi,
Mumbai and Bengaluru. Its rival
Swiggy, which had also
increased the platform fee in
select cities, reverted to charg-
ing `5 per order on Monday in
Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru,
as shown on its app. The two
companies had introduced
platform fees last year, initially
at `2 per order, which has been
increased gradually.
HUL sells water
purification biz
for $72 million
Hindustan Unilever on Monday
announced the sale of its water
purification business under the
Pureit brand to AO Smith India
Water Products for $72 million
(about `600 crore) as part of a
global transaction by its parent
Unilever. “This move is in line
with our strategic intent to
focus sharply on our core cate-
gories. Pureit will thrive further
under the ownership of AO
Smith,” HUL CEO and manag-
ing director Rohit Jawa said.
Printed & Published by
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed &
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No.
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written per-
mission of The Editor, Financial
Chronicle ® is prohibited.
June automobile
sales grow 9% to
61.9 lakh units
PUNE, JULY 15
The Indian automobile
retail sales jumped 9.40
per cent year-on-year in
the June quarter FY25
with all segments clock-
ing growth except trac-
tors, the federation of
automobile dealers associ-
ations (FADA) said on
Monday.
It said total retail sales
rose to 61.91 lakh units in
the April-June period
from 56.59 lakh units in
the same quarter of FY24.
Passenger vehicle retails
increased 2.53 per cent to
9.2 lakh units as against
8.97 lakh units a year ago.
“Despite strong book-
ings and customer flow,
high competition, excess
supply and discounting
presented challenges for
sustained growth in the
PV segment,” said FADA
president Manish Raj
Singhania.
He said dealers reported
significant impacts from
elections, extreme heat
and market liquidity
issues.
Singhania pointed out
that the extreme heat led
to an 18 per cent drop in
showroom walk-ins in
May, with inventory levels
reaching an high of 62-67
days by the end of the
June.
“Despite improved prod-
uct availability and sub-
stantial discounts aimed
at stimulating demand,
market sentiment
remains subdued due to
the extreme heat and
delayed monsoons, result-
ing in 15 per cent fewer
walk-ins,” he said.
Two-wheeler retails
stood at 45.54 lakh units in
WPI inflation surges 3.36% in June
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The wholesale price
surged to a 16-month high
of 3.36 per cent in the
month of June from 2.61
per cent in May this year.
The wholesale inflation
has observed an upward
move this year, with the
figures recorded at 1.26
per cent in April and 0.53
per cent in March, accord-
ing to the government
REPORT OF G20
TASK FORCE ON
DPI RELEASED
FC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15
The government on
Monday said that work of
the task force led to
acceptance of definition
and framework of the dig-
ital public infrastructure
(DPI) during India’s G20
Presidency, and is expect-
ed to be taken forward
during the Brazilian and
South African G20
Presidencies.
The report on G20 task
force will play a key role
in defining future course
of DPI approach and
actions around the globe.
The finance ministry in
its statement said that the
report of the task force is
aimed at strengthening
the foundations of DPI
worldwide.
“The report highlights
the need to identify an
existing body of global
standard with the scope of
multinational presence,
to foster and harness DPI
ecosystem across various
regi-ons and countries
especially global south
countries,” the ministry
said.
Amitabh Kant, G20
Sherpa of India, said that
India did an incredible
pole vault in DPI. “We
achieved in nine years
what would have taken 50
years without DPI,” he
added.
● THREE-WHEELER
sales rose 11.36 per
cent to 2.72 lakh units
in the first quarter
from 2.44 lakh units in
the same period last
fiscal. Commercial
vehicle retail sales saw
marginal increase at
2.46 lakh units as
against 2.44 lakh
units earlier.
April-June, up 12.56 per
cent as compared with
40.46 lakh units in the
year-ago period.
“The recovery in the
two-wheeler segment is
promising, largely due to
the emerging perform-
ance in rural areas,
although these are early
trends,” Singhania said.
Three-wheeler sales rose
11.36 per cent to 2.72 lakh
units in the first quarter
from 2.44 lakh units in the
same period last fiscal.
Commercial vehicle
retail sales saw marginal
increase at 2.46 lakh units
as against 2.44 lakh units
earlier.
“Commercial vehicle
segment experienced a
slowdown due to the elec-
tions and a pause in infra-
structure projects,’
Singhania said.
Tractor retail sales
declined 12.44 per cent to
1.97 lakh units from 2.25
lakh units a year ago.
● THE UPWARD move
in the WPI inflation in
June 2024 was broad-
based, driven by all the
major segments except
fuel and power.
data released on Monday.
The wholesale price
index or WPI-based infla-
tion was (-) 4.18 per cent in
June 2023, while it had
touched a high of 3.85 per
cent in February 2023.
Alphabet to buy Wiz for $23 bn
New York, July 15:
Google parent Alphabet is
in advanced talks to
acquire cybersecurity
startup Wiz for roughly
$23 billion, a person famil-
iar with the matter said,
in a deal that would repre-
sent the company’s
biggest acquisition ever.
The deal, being funded
mostly in cash, could
come together soon, the
source added, speaking on
condition of anonymity.
Wiz, founded in Israel
and now headquartered in
New York, is one of the
fastest-growing software
start-ups globally, provid-
ing cloud-based cyberse-
Q4 global smartphone
shipments expand 6.5% Alternative investments win favour
Massachusetts, July 15:
Global smartphone ship-
ments rose 6.5 per cent in
the second quarter, driven
by Samsung Electronics
and Apple, preliminary
data from IDC showed on
Monday, but a full recov-
ery in demand is yet to
come around as it
remained challenged in
some markets.
Global shipments grew
for the fourth consecutive
quarter, according to the
research firm, as smart-
phone makers look to arti-
ficial intelligence (AI) to
entice price-wary con-
sumers and capture a
larger market share.
There is lots of excite-
ment in the smartphone
market, thanks to higher
average selling prices and
the buzz around GenAI
INDIA’S CURRENT
ACCOUNT DEFICIT
TO STAY LOWER
THAN ESTIMATED
SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, JULY 15
Owing to buoyant serv-
ices exports and steady
oil prices, the IMF proj-
ects India’s current
account deficit (CAD) to
remain smaller than its
estimated norm in
FY25.
India’s external posi-
tion in FY24 was moder-
ately stronger than the
level implied by medi-
um-term fundamentals
and desirable policies,
suggesting that the
CAD was somewhat
smaller than implied by
India’s level of per capi-
ta income, favourable
growth prospects,
demographic trends,
and development needs.
External vulnerabili-
ties stem from weaken-
ing demand in some
partner countries and
potentially volatile glo-
bal financial conditions
and commodity prices.
However, due to buoy-
ant services exports
and steady oil prices,
the CAD is projected to
be 1.4 per cent in FY25,
smaller than its esti-
mated norm, but will
converge to 2.2 per cent
over the medium term.
According to the IMF,
CAD of up to 2.5 per
cent of GDP is finance-
able in the medium
term by a combination
of steady FDI inflows,
public and private
external borrowing,
and portfolio flows.
In the near term, the
government’s addition-
al infrastructure spend-
ing and strengthening
of private consumption
will contribute to rais-
ing the CAD.
“Positive rate of inflation
in June, 2024 is primarily
due to increase in prices
of food articles, manufac-
ture of food products,
crude petroleum & natu-
ral gas, mineral oils, other
manufacturing etc,” the
ministry of commerce
and industry said.
As per the data, inflation
in food articles rose 10.87
per cent in June, as
against 9.82 per cent in
May. “Inflation in vegeta-
curity solutions with real-
time threat detection and
responses powered by
artificial intelligence.
If Alphabet moves ahead
with the deal, it would be a
rare example of a major
technology company atte-
mpting a mega-deal amid
heightened regulatory
scrutiny of sector in U.S.
In recent years, U.S. reg-
smartphones, which are
expected to capture 19 per
cent of market this year,
said Nabila Popal, rese-
arch director with IDC’s
Worldwide Tracker team.
“As Apple and Samsung
both continue to push the
top of the market and ben-
efit the most from the
ongoing premiumisation
trend, many leading
Chinese OEMs are
increasing shipments in
the low end in an attempt
to capture volume share
amid weak demand,”
Popal said.
Samsung held the first
spot with an 18.9 per cent
share of shipments in the
second quarter, followed
by Apple with a 15.8 per
cent share and Xiaomi
with 14.8 per cent.
— Reuters
BSE m-cap scales new
high of `455 lakh crore
Sensex closes at new-high of 80,665, Nifty-50 ends day at 24,586
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, JULY 15
Nifty-50 and Sensex made
new closing highs and
BSE market capitalisation
hit a new high of over `455
lakh crore acorss the
board rally in the market.
The Sensex closed at new
all time high of 80,664.86
gaining 145.52 points or
0.18 per cent and Nifty-50
at 24,586 gaining 84.55
points or 0.35 per cent
after hitting 24,635.05
intra-day.
BSE’s market capitalisa-
tion hit a new high of
over `455.06 lakh crore or
$5.45 trillion making
investors richer
around `2.7 lakh crore.
by
Broader market outper-
formed with BSE mid-cap
index gaining 0.95 per cent
while BSE small index
gaining 0.21 per cent.
“Domestic benchmark
indices began higher on
Apple’s India annual sales touch $8 billion
Cupertino (US), July
15:Apple’s annual sales in
India hit a record of near-
ly $8 billion (about `66,400
crore), Bloomberg News
reported Monday, under-
scoring a rapidly growing
market where the compa-
ny assembles more of its
devices and operates two
flagship stores.
Apple was named a top
pick at Morgan Stanley,
with the broker seeing the
launch of the tech giant’s
artificial intelligence (AI)
platform triggering a
record rush among users
bles was 38.76 per cent
during June, up from 32.42
per cent in May, while
onion inflation was at
93.35 per cent. Besides,
pulses inflation rose 21.64
per cent in June,” the data
showed.
“The upward move in
the WPI inflation in June
2024 was broad-based,
driven by all the major
segments except fuel and
power,” ICRA chief econo-
mist Aditi Nayar said.
ulators have indicated
growing aversion to large
technology companies get-
ting bigger through acqui-
sitions.
Wiz generated about $350
million in revenue in 2023
and works with 40 per cent
of Fortune 100 companies,
according to its website.
It recently raised $1 bil-
lion in a private funding
round that valued compa-
ny at $12 billion.
Wiz works with multiple
cloud providers such as
Microsoft and Amazon,
and counts companies
from Morgan Stanley to
DocuSign among its cus-
tomers. — Reuters
NEW | ASSETS
NIR KAISSAR
NEW YORK, JULY 15
Younger investors are
thinking about their
investment portfolios all
wrong, and it’s not entire-
ly their fault. Ultimately,
it’s up to them to recog-
nize where the best long-
term returns lie before too
much precious time is
wasted.
The mistake they’re
making is replacing
stocks and bonds with
more questionable stores
of value, such as watches,
sneakers and rare cars.
According to a recent
survey by Bank of
America Corp., about 94
per cent of wealthy mil-
lennial and Gen Z hedge funds and private
investors are looking to
invest in collectibles, and
many of them already do,
● DOMESTIC BENCHMARK
indices began higher on
Monday, boosted by
strong global cues. On the
back of this, Nifty
registered a new record
high of 24,635.05 and
concluded the day
positively at 24,586 levels.
Monday, boosted by strong on Friday.
global cues. On the back of “PSU banking sector
this, Nifty registered a was up 3 per cent after
new record high of media reports suggested
24,635.05 and concluded that the government may
the day positively at 24,586 introduce amendments to
levels,” said Hrishikesh the Banking Regulation
Yedve, technical analyst, Act 1949 and other laws to
Asit C. Mehta Investment. push banking sector
Barring IT, all other sec-
toral indices ended the
reforms during the
upcoming Budget session,
day in green with PSU said Siddhartha Khemka,
bank being the top gainer Head - Retail Research,
followed by media. Motilal Oswal Financial
BSE IT index closed in Services.
the red as frontline IT PSU banking giant SBI
stocks saw some profit gained 2.55 per cent top-
taking after a sharp rally ping Sensex gainers list,
to upgrade their smart-
phones, tablets and com- ● APPLE INTELLIGENCE
puters. will “deliver much
Analyst Erik Woodring improved, and
boosted his price target on unique-to-the-Apple-
the tech giant’s shares to ecosystem utility
$273, saying Apple value” for more
Intelligence has potential than 1.3 billion users.
to drive a record number
of device upgrades.
Morgan Stanley’s its Worldwide Developers
Woodring forecasts Apple Conference, with Senior
will ship almost 500 mil- vice-president Craig
lion iPhones over the next Federighi describing it as
two years - higher than the “AI for the rest of us.”
record cycle in 2021-2022. “We believe that there is
Apple unveiled its suite record level of pent-up
of AI services in June at demand entering the
Merchandise exports rise
SMALL-CAP MFS
GAVE MAXIMUM
RETURNS: ICRA 2.55% to $35.2 bn in June
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD SANGEETHA G.
MUMBAI, JULY 15 CHENNAI, JULY 15
As per the trends spotted Merchandise exports reg-
in the equity mutual fund istered a positive growth
category in June month, of 2.55 per cent to $35.20
small cap mutual funds billion in June against the
under equity category $34.32 billion in June 2023.
and gilt fund with 10-year Trade deficit narrowed
constant duration under sequentially to $20.98 bil-
debt category gave maxi- lion in the month.
mum returns over 10-year The growth was mainly
period, a report from rat- led by higher demand for
ing agency ICRA said. engineering goods, elec-
As on June 30, small cap tronics, coffee, drugs and
funds gave maximum pharmaceuticals, organic
returns over an invest- and inorganic chemicals.
ment horizon of 1 month,
3, 5 and 10-years period.
“The positive growth in
exports for the second
Mid cap funds gave maxi-
mum returns over an
investment horizon of 3-
consecutive month is
quite encouraging and
hopefully the perform-
month, 6-months and 1- ance will continue despite
year period. Large cap several challenges the
funds gave minimum ret- engineering exports sec-
urns over an investment
horizon of 1 month, 3
tor is facing,” said Arun
Kumar Garodia, chair-
months, 6 months, 1 year,
3-year, 5-year and 10 years,
ICRA Analytics said.
man, EEPC.
Engineering exports
clocked 10.3 per cent
Among debt mutual
fund category, “long-dura-
growth at $9.39 billion in
June, while electronic
tion funds gave maximum goods grew 17 per cent
returns over an invest- and coffee 70 per cent.
ment horizon of 1 month, In the June quarter, mer-
3 months, 6 months and 1 chandise exports were
year. Credit risk funds valued at $109.96 billion
gave maximum returns against $103.89 billion in
over an investment hori- the year ago period- regis-
zon of 3 years.” tering a growth of 5.84 per
Youth replacing stocks, bonds with watches, sneakers
● ALTERNATIVE
INVESTMENTS
traditionally referred to
hedge funds and
private investments in
companies and
commodities. Now it
apparently includes
anything money can buy.
apparently because stocks thing money can buy.
and bonds don’t pay But it’s a mistake to
enough. think all assets are inter-
“Millennials and Gen Z changeable. Stocks and
tend to be interested in bonds are uniquely appe-
alternative assets,” Drew aling: They take no time
Watson, head of art serv- or effort to own; they’re
ices at Bank of America liquid - that is, investors
Private Bank, said. can sell any time; and
Alternative investments with one low-cost index
traditionally referred to fund, investors can buy
the entire stock or bond
investments in companies market, and very likely
and commodities. Now it generate a profit over
apparently includes any- time. Those who invest for
pg 10
other PSU gainers includ-
ed Bank of Baroda(3.13
per cent), Canara
Bank(4.04 per cent),
PNB(2.68 per cent).
Foreign portfolio
investors were net buyers
of equities worth `2,684.78
crore while domestic
institutions were net sell-
ers by `331 crore.
Sectors that may get
attention in the Union
Budget are likely to see
traction in the days ahead
before the Budget, said
analysts.
“Moving forward,
traders should concen-
trate on budget-oriented
sectors and prioritise
high-earning candidates
while key indices remain
range-bound. With vari-
ous parameters entering
the overbought zone cau-
tion is needed,” said Osho
Krishan, senior analyst -
Technical & Derivatives,
Angel One.
iPhone 16 cycle later this
year,” wrote Woodring,
who has an overweight
rating on the stock.
“Coming out of WWDC -
where Apple debuted
Apple Intelligence - we
have even greater convic-
tion that FY25 could be the
start of a multi-year
device refresh cycle.”
Apple Intelligence will
“deliver much improved,
and unique-to-the-Apple-
ecosystem utility value”
for more than 1.3 billion
users, Woodring said.
— Bloomberg
cent.
Meanwhile, merchan-
dise imports in June 2024
too were up by 4.9 per cent
to $56.18 billion against
$53.51 billion in June 2023,
though it was 9.25 per cent
down compared to $61.91
billion in May 2024.
The merchandise trade
deficit narrowed to $20.98
billion in June against
$22.1 billion in May, but
widened against $19.2 bil-
lion in June 2023.
“Owing to the slightly
faster growth in imports
vis-a-vis exports, the mer-
chandise trade deficit
expanded to $62.3 billion
in Q1 FY2025 from $56.2
billion in the year ago
quarter. This is expected
to push up India’s current
account deficit to 1.4 per
cent of GDP from 1 per
cent in Q1 FY24,” said
Aditi Nayar, chief econo-
mist, ICRA.
the long term and hang on
during occasional down-
turns have a very low
chance of losing money.
There’s not another inves-
tment I can say all that
about.
The profits are generous,
considering the low risk
to long-term investors. I’m
looking at historical num-
bers going back nearly a
century for a traditional
60/40 portfolio where 60
per cent is allocated to the
S&P 500 Index and 40 per
cent to five-year Treasu-
ries. That portfolio has
returned 8.5 per cent a
year since 1926 through
April, including divide-
nds. The numbers for non-
US stocks don’t go back as
far, but the results would
be similar if a global stock
index were swapped for
S&P 500. — Bloomberg
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024
pg 11

SHORT TAKES
Satwik-Chirag get
favourable draw
New Delhi: Star Indian shuttlers
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and
Chirag Shetty have received a
favourable draw for the Paris
Olympics beginning July 26.
Satwik, 23, and Chirag, 27, who
claimed the Thomas Cup gold
and Commonwealth Games
CONTINENTAL KICK
gold in 2022, have been seeded
third. The former world number
one pair, considered one of the
favourites for the gold medal,
has been clubbed in group C
where Indonesia’s world num-
ber six combination of Fajar
Alfian and Muhammad Rian
Ardianto will be their toughest
opponent.
Satwik and Chirag, who also
won the 2023 Asia
Championships title before
securing the French Open
Super 750 and Thailand Open
Super 500 titles besides reach-
ing two more finals in 2024,
also will have to compete with
world No. 31 German combina-
tion of Mark Lamsfuss and
Marvin Seidel and world No. 43
Lucas Corvee and Ronan Labar
of France in the group.
The men’s doubles draw was
postponed on Friday due to a
Court of Arbitration of Sport
(CAS) hearing over the number
of pairs in the draw. — PTI
Spain win record WHO SAID WHAT
Kohli says good
fourth European I couldn’t be happier, we are a real
team, champions of Europe, I get
prouder of them every day. Thank
luck to Oly team Championship title you for the support from all over
Spain.
New Delhi: Indian cricket’s — Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach
reigning superstar Virat Kohli
has urged the nation to get
behind its Olympic-bound con- Spain catpain Alvaro Morata lifts the Euro trophy after winning the final against England in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday. Spain won 2-1. — AP Euphoric. Very happy. All our peo-
tingent, asking the fans to join ple deserve it. The family, the
him in supporting the athletes Berlin (Germany), July 15: until first-half stoppage time for fans... European champions and
as “they inch closer to the Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal scored a either team to manage a shot on tar- now we’re going for the World Cup
podium with dogged determi- dramatic late winner as Spain tri- get, with Phil Foden’s effort from a (in 2026).
nation” in the quadrennial umphed in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, Declan Rice free-kick being saved by — Nico Williams, Spain’s opening
showpiece starting July 26 in beating England 2-1 to confirm their goalkeeper Unai Simon. goalscorer on what it means to win
Paris. In a little over a minute re-emergence as a force on the inter- But it was just before that chance
that Rodri hurt himself, sliding into
Euro 2024.
long video post on social national stage.
media, featuring some Paris- England had been dreaming of teammate Aymeric Laporte as he
bound athletes like javelin winning a first title in almost six blocked a Kane shot. I did my job, what I had to do at
thrower Neeraj Chopra and decades and it looked as if it could be Spain’s outstanding holding mid- every moment. I was lucky enough
boxing hope Nishant Dev, Kohli their night as Spain lost influential fielder was unable to continue, and to score the winner. You value it a
said it is time for India to be midfielder Rodri to injury at half- made way for Martin Zubimendi at lot. And if you’re lucky enough to
recognised as a global sporting time. the restart. score the goal... It’s the best.”
powerhouse. “There was a time Yet Spain shrugged that off to take It felt like the loss of such a pres- — Mikel Oyarzabal on his match-
when the world could only the lead within two minutes of the ence in the middle could completely winning strike in the 86th minute
think of India as a land of snake restart through Nico Williams, who throw Spain off course, and yet they
charmers and elephants. Over was set up by his fellow star winger, wasted no time in opening the scor-
time, that has changed. Today Lamine Yamal. ing. Losing in a final is as tough as it
we are known to the world as England came from behind as they England were braced for the danger gets... We done really well to get
the largest democracy, a global have done so often at this Euros, sub- Spain players toss coach Luis de la Fuente after their Euro win. — AP to come from Spain’s two wingers, back in the game at 1-1 and then
tech hub,” he said. stitute Cole Palmer driving in the and it was they who combined for the we couldn’t use our momentum to
“We are known for cricket and equaliser on 73 minutes, moments Whether this generation, led by the Southgate. goal, as Yamal collected Dani push on... It’s as painful as it can be
Bollywood, for start-up uni- after entering the fray. brilliant Yamal playing here a day “Congratulations to Spain, they Carvajal’s pass and darted inside. in a football match.”
corns and as the fastest grow- But their resurgence in the game after his 17th birthday, manage to were the best team in the tourna- He released Williams, who scored — Harry Kane, England captain
ing economy in the world. So, was cut short when Oyarzabal, the repeat the achievements of that mag- ment and the best team tonight.” with a controlled, low shot into the
what is the next big thing for Real Sociedad forward, turned in a nificent side remains to be seen, but After the agony of their defeat on far corner.
this great nation? Well, that will cross in the 86th minute to hand theirs was a fitting victory. penalties to Italy three years ago, England would now need to come Gareth will go away and take time
be more gold, more silver and Spain a record fourth European Spain have been comfortably the England are the first side ever to lose from behind, but that was what they to decide. We wanted to win it for
more bronze,” he added. — PTI Championship crown, and a third in best team over the last month in back-to-back Euros finals. had done in their three previous him.
the last five editions. Germany and were not intimidated Captain Harry Kane, meanwhile, is knockout games. — Kane on the future of manager
“It has been a marvellous day in by the atmosphere at the left at the age of 30 still looking for Southgate took off his talisman Gareth Southgate who hinted he
More staff than which a team has been deservedly
crowned champions of Europe,”
Olympiastadion, where the majority
of the crowd were given over to
the first trophy of a career so rich in
goals.
Kane on the hour mark and sent on
Ollie Watkins, a repeat of the substi-
might step down if England failed
to win Euro 2024.
players: TT coach Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told
broadcaster TVE.
England’s cause.
England had hoped to finally claim
SPAIN OVERCOME tution that won the semifinal against
the Netherlands.
RODRI INJURY I’m devastated for everyone really...
New Delhi: The Olympic-bound They previously won in 1964, 2008 a first men’s international title since Spain had chances to increase their
Indian table tennis team is cur- and 2012, the last two titles coming their fabled victory at the 1966 World It was always likely that Spain would lead and their fans began to greet Across the 90 minutes I’m not sure
rently training in the German either side of their triumph at the Cup, but fell just short in their first control this game, and England spent every pass with an ’ole’, as Southgate we did quite enough.
city of Saarbrucken with the 2010 World Cup during the golden era ever final on foreign soil. most of the first half chasing the decided to send on Palmer for Kobbie — Gareth Southgate
support staff outnumbering the of Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso and “To lose the final is incredibly ball. Mainoo.
players who will be competing Andres Iniesta. tough,” said their manager, Gareth Despite Spain’s domination, it took — AFP
in Paris. Italy’s Massimo
Costantini, who has returned as
India’s head coach for a third

third time ahead of the Paris
Olympics, is getting help from
former player Sourav
Chakraborty as the other
national coach of the contin-
gent.
What is unusual is that as many
as four personal coaches have
been cleared by the govern-
ment to travel with the squad
with all three members of the
women’s team wanting their
own through their stay in the
Summer Games beginning July
26. Two masseurs and a physio
are the other members of the
nine-man support staff while six
members form the playing con-
tingent (three men, three
women). Manika Batra, Sreeja
Akula and Archana Kamath will
lean on their respective person-
al coaches during the course of
their campaign in Paris.
In the three-member men’s
team, India’s flag-bearer
Sharath Kamal will have Chris
Pfeiffer by his side at the
Games. Harmeet Desai and
Manav Thakkar are the other
members of the men’s unit.
— PTI
Bhavtegh shoots
silver at Jr WC
New Delhi: India’s Bhavtegh
Singh Gill bagged silver in the
men's skeet event on Monday,
the final day of the ISSF Junior
World Cup in Porpetto, Italy.
Bhavtegh, a silver winner at the
Junior Asian Championships
last year, shot 52 in the six-man
final to finish behind American
Benjamin Keller, who shot 56
out of the 60 allotted clay tar-
gets, to grab the gold medal.
Bhavtegh’s effort came after
Sabeera Haris won the bronze
in the junior women’s trap earli-
er.
With these two medals, India
finished third behind USA and
Italy in the standings.
USA’s Jordan Sapp, who won
bronze eventually, topped the
field with a perfect 125,
equalling the junior world
record. — PTI
Argentina capain Lionel Messi lifts the Copa America trophy amidst jubilant teammates
at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (USA), on Monday.
Rohit will play Tests and
ODIs at least for a while
Dallas (USA), July 15:
India captain Rohit
Sharma says he will con-
tinue to play Test and ODI
cricket “at least for a
while” after ending his
T20 international career
with a World Cup win last
month. Rohit has been on
a break since the title win
in the West Indies and is
set to miss the limited-
overs tour of Sri Lanka
later this month, which
includes three ODIs.
“I just said it. I don’t
look that far ahead. So
clearly, you will be seeing
me play at least for a
while,” the 37-year-old
said here on Sunday
night.
His statement was reit-
eration of a position he
made clear after announc-
ing his T20 retirement
after the final in the West
Indies in which India
defeated South Africa by
seven runs.
Earlier this month,
BCCI secretary Jay Shah
had confirmed that Rohit
will captain India in the
ongoing World Test
Championship cycle and
the Champions Trophy
next year in February-
March.
Rohit had led India in
the 2022 T20 World Cup
where the team was oust-
ed in the semifinals by
eventual champions
England.
A year later, India
reached the final of the
50-over World Cup at
home under his leader-
ship. — PTI
— AP
BCCI SHOULD GIVE IN WRITING THAT
INDIAN TEAM WILL NOT PLAY IN PAK
Karachi, July 15: The
Pakistan Cricket Board
wants the BCCI to provide
written proof of the
Indian government’s
denial of permission in
case the team refuses to
come here for next year’s
Champions Trophy citing
a travel ban on security
grounds, a PCB source
has said. The host Board
also wants the matter to
be sorted as soon as possi-
ble, given that the tourna-
ment is scheduled in
February-March.
While the ICC annual
conference will be held in
Colombo on July 19 does-
n’t have any discussion on
‘Hybrid Model’ about
India playing their games
SWEET SIXTEEN
Argentina pip Colombia to win record 16th Copa America
Miami (United States), five goals. The win was
July 15: Lautaro the third straight major
Martinez scored an tournament title for
extra-time winner as Argentine following
Argentina beat Colombia their 2021 Copa victory
1-0 to win a record 16th and their triumph in the
Copa America title at 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Hard Rock Stadium on There were tears before
Sunday. the celebrations though
A game of few chances, with Argentina captain
which had been marred Lionel Messi going off
by security and crowd injured in the 66th
issues, forcing a 82- minute watching the rest
minute delay, was decid- of the game distraught
ed by a quality finish on the bench, while there
from substitute Martinez was an emotional
— who finished the tour- farewell for Angel Di
nament’s top scorer with Maria in his final game
ment and in writing,” the
CHAMPS | TROPHY top PCB source also stat-
ed.
in the UAE on its agenda, The BCCI has always
the global body as usual steadfastly maintained
has earmarked additional that playing cricket in
fund in case it becomes a Pakistan is completely a
two-country tournament. government call and even
“If the India govern- the 2023 ODI Asia Cup,
ment declines permission, which was hosted by PCB
it has to be in writing and witnessed India playing
it is mandatory on the all its games in Sri Lanka
BCCI to provide that letter based on ‘Hybrid Model’.
to the ICC now,” the PCB The PCB has already
source working closely submitted its draft sched-
with organising commit- ule to ICC where all of
tee said. India’s games including a
“It is a fact that the we possible semifinal and
are insistent that the final has been scheduled
BCCI must inform the ICC in Lahore. The India vs
about its travel plans to Pakistan marquee match
Pakistan at least 5-6 has been scheduled on
months before the tourna- March 1. — PTI
for the national team. MESSI TEARS
For Colombia, whose There was concern for
only title came in the Messi in the 36th minute
2001 Copa America and when he dribbled to the
who were unbeaten in 28 byline but was halted by
games, it was a disap- a sliding challenge from
pointing night when lit- Santiago Arias which
tle seemed to work for was ruled fair left the
Nestor Lorenzo’s team. Argentine captain need-
There was chaos ing treatment.
around entry to the stadi- Messi, who now plays
um for fans, with organ- his club football in
isers blaming supporters Miami, then curled a
for trying to enter with- free-kick in from the left
out tickets while fans flank but Nicolas
blamed the lack of an Tagliafico’s header was
efficient entry system to just off target.
the venue. — AFP
FIGHT FOR SLOTS IS GOOD,
SAYS SKIPPER SHUBMAN
Harare, July 15: The competition for the openers’
slots has intensified following India’s T20I series
win in Zimbabwe and for contender Shubman Gill,
that can only be a “good thing”. Gill is expected to
open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the three T20Is
in Sri Lanka later this month.
For the major part of the series, India played as
many as four openers in the playing eleven and all
of them did well including Gill, Jaiswal, Abhishek
Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad. “It’s a good thing
that everyone’s performing. It shows that everyone
is hungry and nobody is ready to take it easy. For
any country or board, that’s always a good thing,”
said Gill on Sunday referring to the openers.
Following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and
Virat Kohli from T20Is, the selectors will have a
problem of plenty when it comes to picking the
openers for the Sri Lanka series.
“Anyone who got the opportunity grabbed it with
both hands. The openers to bowlers to all-rounders
to spinners, everyone made a mark and I think the
selectors have now seen everything and it’s up to
them to name the squad for the next series,” he said
after India’s 4-1 series win over Zimbabwe. — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 16 JULY 2024
pg 12

ALL THAT GLITTERS...

SHORT TAKES
Para-shuttler
flays Bhajji,
Raina, Yuvraj
New Delhi: World
Championship gold-medallist
para shuttler Manasi Joshi on
Monday strongly criticised for-
mer Indian cricketers
Harbhajan Singh and Suresh
Athletics biggest gainer in govt funding for Paris preparations
Raina for allegedly mocking New Delhi, July 15: One According to official the approvals are passed
people with disabilities saying
that the now deleted video
Olympic medal is all it
takes to raise the profile of data from the
after analysing all these
factors.”
CONDITIONING CAMP
uploaded on Instagram set a
very bad precedent. A police
a sport and if the colour
happens to be gold, it is
Sports Authority of
India’s (SAI) Mission
During the last three
years, 41 national camps
WILL HELP INDIA
complaint has also been filed
against the three former crick-
just icing on the cake.
Ask the practitioners of
Olympic Cell (MOC), were conducted in shoot-
ing, which is the highest
HANDLE PRESSURE
the government has
eters. The deleted instagram
video had Harbhajan, Raina
track-and-field disciplines
in India, who were the spent a whopping
among all 16 disciplines.
Archery comes a close
BETTER: ABHISHEK
and Yuvraj Singh limping and biggest beneficiaries of `96.08 crore for second with 41 camps, fol- New Delhi, July 15:
holding their backs to show government funding in athletics. lowed by athletics (36), Indian men’s hockey team
the physical toll their bodies this Olympic cycle after hockey (33), boxing (17), forward Abhishek feels
had taken during the World javelin thrower Neeraj least financial support — rowing (16), wrestling (15) the mental conditioning
Championship of Legends held Chopra’s top finish in the little more than `95 lakh, and badminton (13). camp the players under-
recently in England. All are Tokyo edition three years while tennis got `1.67 There were no national went at renowned adven-
retired cricketers. ago. crore, followed by golf (` camps for equestrian as turer Mike Horn’s base in
The former cricketers shared According to official data 1.74 crore), rowing (`3.89 most of the riders train Switzerland ahead of the
the video after India from the Sports Authority crore), swimming (`3.9 abroad, while only one Paris Olympics has helped
Champions beat Pakistan of India’s (SAI) Mission crore), sailing (`3.78 crore) camp was organised for them prepare for high-
Champions by five wickets in Olympic Cell (MOC), the and judo (`6.3 crore) golf. pressure situations.
the final of the tournament. government has spent a The Indian table tennis “We have been getting The Indian team has
“Body ki Tauba Tauba ho Gayi whopping `96.08 crore for team, which will be spear- the best of facilities pro- completed a three-day
in 15 days legends cricket... athletics. headed by star paddler vided to us at SAI, mental conditioning camp
Every part of the body is sore. It’s the biggest chunk in Achanta Sharath Kamal, Bengaluru, from food to at Horn’s base and are slat-
Straight competition to our the close to `470 crore who will be India’s joint accommodation to gym ed to play a few practice
brothers @vickykaushal09 which has been spent on flag-bearer along with and other training facili- matches in the
@karanaujla our version of India’s preparation for the Sindhu during the opening ties. We have been based Netherlands before mak-
Tauba Tauba dance. What a Games this time across 16 ceremony, got a funding of here for a long time. We ing their way to Paris
SONG,” the caption of the disciplines. In the previ- ` 12.92 crore from the gov- are also getting plenty of Games.
video read. ous Olympic cycle, athlet- ernment. foreign exposure trips,” a The expectations from
Manasi, the 2019 World ics received `5.38 crore According to the official Paris-bound hockey player the team will be high after
Championship gold-medallist from TOPS funds. data, in terms of foreign said. India’s bronze medal win
para shuttler in 2019 and sil- A strong 28-member con- exposure trips, the coun- In terms of individual or at Tokyo Olympics.
ver-medallist at the Hangzhou tingent, led by Chopra, try’s shuttlers received the sport-specific expenditure, India will start their
Asian Games in doubles, post- will represent Indian ath- maximum support, 81 the Indian men’s hockey Paris Olympics campaign
ed an Insta story saying, “You letics at the Paris Games trips to be precise. team got the highest of against New Zealand in
don’t know how much harm starting July 26 where the The shooters got 45 for- `41.81 crore, which their first Pool B match.
your behaviour can do and the country’s overall represen- eign exposure trips, fol- includes 76 national camps “After months of focus-
appreciation you are getting tation will stand at 118. lowed by tennis (40), ath- and 19 foreign exposure ing on the physical aspect
from the people around, it's The full details of the letics (31), table tennis (28), trips. of the game, this camp is
appalling to see,” wrote funding for Tokyo prepa- wrestling (27), archery Chopra is second on the exactly what we needed,”
Manasi, 35. rations are sketchy but (24), boxing (23), sailing list with `5.72 crore, spent Abhishek said in a Hockey
sources say the expendi- (22), hockey (18), judo (15), towards assistance for hir- India release.

It’s a grand
ture this time is substan-
tially higher keeping in
homecoming
mind higher expectations
after the seven medals
achieved last time.
for Pandya The country’s shuttlers
were the second biggest
Vadodara: It was a grand gainers, receiving `72.02
homecoming for Hardik crore followed by boxing
Pandya here on Monday as (`60.93 crore) and shooting
legion of fans welcomed the (`60.42 crore).
all-rounder, a key component India secured a total of
in India’s T20 World Cup tri- five badminton quotas for
umph in the Americas, to the Paris, which includes two-
city, waving the national flag time medallist PV Sindhu
and chanting his name. (women’s singles), HS
Quite reminiscent of the Prannoy and Lakshya Sen
open-top bus parade of the (men’s singles),
Indian team from Marine Satwiksairaj Rankireddy
Drive into the iconic and Chirag Shetty (men’s
Wankhede Stadium in doubles) and Ashwini
Mumbai, Pandya’s fans Ponnappa and Tanisha
arranged a grand show for Crasto (women’s doubles).
him here. The overjoyed Hockey, in which the
cricketer, wearing the Team bronze-medallist Indian
India jersey, waved to his fans men’s team will compete
and acknowledged their to match or better the
cheers. The open-top bus Tokyo performance,
with the banner "Hardik received funding of `41.29
Pandya - Pride of Vadodara" crore in the last three
weaved its way past the years, while archery got
streets filled with apprecia- `39.18 crore from the gov-
tive fans with huge posters ernment.
dotting the entire stretch of The wrestlers received
the road. Pandya emerged as `37.80 crore funding, while
one of the standout perform- weightlifting got `26.98
ers for India. crore.
Equestrian received the
golf (12) and swimming
(11).
The funding by the gov-
ernment has been done in
three categories — and
Annual Calendar
Training and Competition
for
(ACTC) Senior Paris
Cycle, Target Olympic
Podium Scheme (TOPS)
and Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR).
Elaborating on the
process, a SAI source said
that it kicks in after pro-
posals are received from
the athletes and respective
national federations.
Besides, an athlete or a
sport’s performance is
also monitored and
analysed over a period of
time.
“The athletes who are
interested in government
support for their prepara-
tions for major events send
their proposals to SAI,
which puts those propos-
als in front of Mission
Olympic Cell and after
serious deliberations and
debate, they are
approved,” the source
said.
“It’s not just that, SAI
also keeps track of ath-
letes’ performances and
ing current foreign coach “The team has been
Dr Klaus Bartonietz, assis- spending time connecting
tance towards pre-
on and off the field,
Olympic camp in Europe, improving our bond and
competition in learning to handle high-
Europe, USA and South
Africa.
pressure situations bet-
ter,” he said.
Men’s doubles bad- Abhishek, who has
minton pair of Satwik and played 74 matches for
Chirag received `5.62 India since his interna-
crore for assistance tional debut in 2022, is set
towards appointment and for his maiden appearance
extension of tenure of at the Olympics.
their coach Mathias Boe, “Ever since I was 14, it
hiring of video analyst has been my dream to play
and assistance for spar- for India in the Olympics.”
ring partners. Abhishek asserted that
Sindhu got `3.13 crore, he is someone who doesn’t
mainly towards hiring of buckle under pressure.
current foreign coach “The pressure in big
Agus Dwi Santoso, and tournaments doesn’t deter
training at Hermann- me or change my
Neuberger Sportschule approach. I just try to exe-
(LSVS) in Saarbrucken, cute on the pitch,” he said.
Germany for 36 days. For Abhishek, playing
Besides she also got for India in the Olympics
assistance towards 17 for- will be an achievement
eign exposure trips which is far beyond what
through TOPS for her per- his family had thought.
sonal support staff, “When I started doing
appointment of former well in hockey, the most we
foreign coaches Mohd expected was a govern-
Hafiz and Park Tae Sang. ment job. Seeing me reach
Tokyo silver-medallist this level is thrilling for
weightlifter Mirabai them. My brother, espe-
Chanu received `2.74 cially, has always been my
crore. Neeraj Chopra biggest supporter,” he
— PTI said.

Cummins to miss
Australia’s tour to
WHO IS CARRYING THE OLYMPIC TORCH?
England, Scotland
Melbourne: World Cup-win-
ning skipper Pat Cummins
A BTS star, a garbage collector & more
will be rested for Australia’s Paris, July 15: From the
upcoming limited-overs tour Louvre Museum to the
to Britain and Mitchell Starc Champs-Elysees, from
will miss the Twenty20 por- Paris’ posh districts to
tion of the trip as part of a working-class neighbour-
workload management pro- hoods, hundreds of people
gramme. have carried the Olympic
Australia is scheduled to torch through the French
play three T20s against capital for two days of cel-
Scotland and five one-day ebrations before the
internationals against Summer Games kick off at
England in September. the end of the month.
Cricket Australia said Joyful crowds lined up
Cummins’ absence was part along the route Sunday
of a “pre-planned, long-term and Monday.
load management strategy” “I got super emotional,?
as part of preparations for BMX world champion
the Champions Trophy next Matthias Dandois said
year. Mitchell Marsh, who led after carrying the torch in
Australia at the recent T20 front of the Eiffel Tower.
World Cup in the United ?I'm from Paris, and I grew
States and Caribbean, will be up playing so much sport
captain for the tour. and watching the
Veteran opener David Olympics, and it was a
Warner has retired and wick- dream to be a part of it.”
etkeeper Matthew Wade About 10,000 people were
wasn't selected, with selec- chosen to carry the flame
tors looking at the future. across France from the
Young batter Jake Fraser- southern city port of
McGurk was included in both Marseille, where it arrived
the ODI and T20 squads after on May 8, to the opening
being a designated traveling ceremony on July 26.
reserve for the T20 World Many are athletes. Others
Cup. were picked because they
“This tour gives us a great represent art, culture and
opportunity to bring in some gastronomy, volunteer for
new players in the absence of charities or are deeply
David Warner and Matthew involved in community
Wade, as well as giving some life.
senior players time to pre- Dressed in white, they
pare for the home summer,” ran at a slow pace to the
George Bailey, Australia's cheers of spectators.
selection chairman, said. Francky Mbotto, a 26-
year-old middle-distance
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 runner from Central
African Republic who
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on lives in Paris, carried the
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited torch near the Arc de
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses Triomphe.
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, “This is incredible! It’s
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. so emotional. It’s
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987 The Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower ahead of the
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, Olympism that is being
22254751 traditional fireworks marking the annual Bastille Day in highlighted,” he said,
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER Paris. — AFP adding that the relay is
meant to deliver a “mes-
About 10,000 peo-
ple were chosen to
carry the flame
across France from
the southern city
port of Marseille,
where it arrived on
May 8, to the open-
ing ceremony.
sage of peace.”
Another torchbearer,
Eva David, a wheelchair
basketball athlete,
described it as “a real
moment of jubilation.”
Belgian singer Mentissa
carried the torch as her
songs were played. “Sport
and music really bring
people together and make
us forget our daily lives,”
she said.
The torch made its grand
entrance in Paris for
Bastille Day on Sunday
with military horse rider
Col. Thibaut Vallette, gold
medalist at the 2016 Rio
Games. It was handed to a
relay by students from the
multicultural northern
suburbs of Seine-Saint-
Denis in front of French
President Emmanuel
Macron.
Former World Cup win-
ner Thierry Henry, who
leads France's Olympic
soccer team, later carried
the flame down the
Champs-Elysees avenue.
Among the torchbearers
who attracted the most
attention was K-Pop icon
Jin, a member of the band
BTS, who carried it
Sunday evening in front of
the Louvre.
“It was an honor to be
part of such a meaningful
moment,” he said, accord-
ing to his management
agency.
Jin's relay drew a signifi-
cant crowd. Sofia
Boukhabla, 23, said she
had very little interest in
watching the Games but
rushed with her friends to
see Jin. “He is so cute,”
she exclaimed.
Late on Sunday, Ludovic
Franceschet, a local
garbage collector, brought
the flame inside Paris City
Hall, where it spent the
night under high protec-
tion. Franceschet, who
seeks to raise environmen-
tal awareness with hun-
dreds of thousands of fol-
lowers on TikTok and
Instagram, seized the
occasion to remind resi-
dents and visitors to put
their trash in bins.
The torch relay was also
the chance to pay tribute
to victims of the 2015
attacks in the French capi-
tal at the Bataclan concert
hall and elsewhere.
Lassana Bathily, the Mali-
born employee who saved
lives during an attack at a
kosher supermarket, car-
ried the torch at the
Pantheon monument.
Some onlookers found
relief from recent chaos in
France.
Isabelle Kling, 70, took a
detour from her usual dog-
walking route to witness
the relay. “It almost makes
me want to cry, finally see-
ing the flame. It's a bit of
joy after the disastrous
weeks we’ve had,” she
said, alluding to the recent
elections in France.
The torch will continue
its journey in northern
France and through the
Paris region before head-
ing back to the French cap-
ital. — AP
ANAHAT, BAWA STORM INTO WORLD
JUNIOR SQUASH QUARTERFINALS
Chennai, July 15: Anahat Singh advanced to the
World Junior Squash Championships quarterfinals for
the third straight year in Houston on Sunday. The 16-
year-old women’s National champion, seeded 5/8, beat
Japan’s Akari Midorikawa (9/16) 11-6, 13-11, 11-2 in the
fourth round and will take on Egypt’s Nadien
Elhammamy (3/4) next. Meanwhile, Shaurya Bawa
(17/32) moved to the boys’ singles quarterfinals with a
11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 13-11 win over Segundo Portabales
(17/32) of Argentina.
TAMIL NADU DIGEST
Sirajudeen shines in Valavanur win
T. Sirajudeen scalped four wickets as Valavanur
CC beat Ammu CC by four wickets in the first
division of the Villupuram DCA league.
Brief scores: I Division: Ammu CC 178 in 35
overs (P.Ramalingam 30, V.Anbu
38,T.Sirajudeen 4/42) lost to Valavanur CC
181/6 in 34.2 overs ( D.Slimbarasan 47,
A.Parthiban 42, K.Moorthy 32)
II Division: SRTCA 116 in 19.3 overs (
V.Krishnaraj 35, R.Muthu 4/22) lost to Sachin
Brothers CC 118/7 in 21.4 overs (S.Balu 35,
N.Hariharan 3/17)
III Division: TVS CC 159/9 in 25 overs (D.
Sathish 34) lost to Phoenix CC 165/6 in 16.3
overs (K. Naveen Raj 40, M. Abniesh Babu 37, T.
Mano Pandiyan 3/30). Karna CC 111 in 20overs
(J. Rajasekar 60 n.o., D. Srithar 3/7, A. Satheesh
3/19) beat New Yg. Indian CC 78 in 22.2 overs
(A. Satheesh 37, D Manimaran 3/13). SKY CC
126 in 22.5 overs (S. SarathBabu 33, M.
Sivamurthy 32, I. Sivabalan 5/27, B. Vetrivel
3/23) beat Master Blaster CC 96 in 18.5 overs
(K. Karunagaran 41, S. Sarath Babu 3/21, N.
Ramarajan 3/23).
MOP Vaishnav College, winners of the Sree
Raghavendra 27th inter-college basketball
tournament.