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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA

CHENNAI I MONDAY I 17 FEBRUARY 2025

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ASTROGUIDE [Link], [Link]/deccannews, [Link]/deccanchronicle, [Link]/+deccanchronicle Vol. 20 No. 323 Established 1938 | 20 PAGES | `3.00

Railways ramps up security; TN won’t give in to Centre’s

Krothi: Masi 5
Tithi: Panchami
Star: Chithirai
Rahukalam:

Oppn asks minister to quit ‘blackmail’ on NEP, says CM

7.30 am to 9 am
Yamagandam:
10.30 am to 12 noon
PRAYERS N. RAVIKUMAR | DC They (Tamil Can the
Fajar: 5.22 am
Zuhar: 12.28 am
■ Surge of Kumbh pilgrims unabated despite stampede, deaths CHENNAI, FEB. 16

Strongly condemning Un-

Nadu) have to
come to
Union min-
ister show
terms of the Indian which section
Asar: 3.43 pm BHASKAR HARI ion minister Dharmendra Constitution and that the of the Indian
Maghrib: 6.12 pm SHARMA, Pradhan’s statement that
SANJAY KAW | DC the Union government three-language policy is Constitution makes
Isha: 7.25 pm NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 funds amounting to Rs the rule of law. three-language policy
2,152 crore under the Dharmendra Pradhan mandatory?
Delhi BJP MLAs Notwithstanding the
deaths of 18 people, mostly
Samagra Shiksha
Abhiyan (SSA) scheme
Union education M.K. Stalin,
minister Chief Minister
to meet today women and children, in a
stampede at the New
will not be released for
Tamil Nadu until the state language policy mandato- unique characteristic of
New Delhi: The BJP is set to Delhi railway station, the implemented the National ry,” he asked. Posting his Tamils,” he warned.
finalise its chief minister at a surge of Maha Kumbh pil- Educational Policy, Chief reaction on X, Mr Stalin Breaking the usual trend
legislature party meeting on grims continued unabated Minister M.K. Stalin said said the Indian Union is of keeping silent when the
Monday, with several con- on Sunday. The Oppositi- Tamils would not accept made up of states and edu- Chief Minister speaks on
tenders in the fray. Prior to on parties accused the such a brazen blackmail cation is placed in the con- an issue, Mr Stalin’s cabi-
the meeting, the party will Union government of mis- and asked the minister to current list. The Union net colleagues, deputy
appoint two central observers management and demand- point out which section of government is not the chief minister Udhayani-
to officially initiate the ed the railway minister’s the Constitution makes wholesale owner of educa- dhi Stalin, ministers An-
process of electing the new resignation over the three-language policy tion, he commented. bil Mahesh Poyyamozhi
leader Monday. High-level tragedy. The security arr- mandatory. Tamils would not accept and V. Senthil Balaji also
deliberations have been angements at railway sta- The Chief Minister said the brazen blackmail that lashed out at Mr Pra-
underway in Delhi the past tions across Uttar Prade- the Union minister had Tamil Nadu would not get dhan’s comments.
few days to finalise names for A busy New Delhi Railway station on Sunday, the day after a day after a stampede
sh, Bihar and West Bengal remarked ‘They (Tamil funds till it accepted the On the Union minister’s
the top post. However, the claimed 18 lives. — PTI comments that the DMK
have been ramped up. Nadu) have to come to three-language formula,
party leadership has remained Expressing his condo- additional burden on the terms of the Indian the chief Minister said. government’s opposition
tight-lipped, amid speculation
over several names. There
have been hints the national
lences on X, Prime Mini
ster Narendra Modi post-
ed, “Distressed by the
rail infrastructure.
The railway ministry
said that several mea-
STAMPEDE TOLL 18; BLAME Constitution and that the
three-language policy is
the rule of law. “Can the
“We are asking for our
rights. If the minister
speaks in an arrogant
to the NEP was politically
motivated, Mr Udhayanidhi
Stalin said Tamils learnt
leadership may name a
woman as CM or select an
entirely fresh face.
stampede at New Delhi
railway station. My thou-
ghts are with all those
sures have been enforced
to avoid any such unto-
ward incident in the
IS ON LAST MINUTE CHANGE Union minister show whi-
ch section of the Indian
Constitution makes three-
manner as if we are asking
his private property, Delhi
will have to witness the
their politics only after
their passion for the lang
uage and race arose. ■ P4
who have lost their loved future. “It has been decid- DC CORRESPONDENT treatment at various city
ones. I pray that the inju- ed that all special trains NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 hospitals.
Small arm firing red have a speedy recov-
ery.” In the aftermath of
in the direction of Prayag
raj will be run from plat- As railway staff worked
According to the eyewit-
nesses, the Prayagraj 10 KUKI-ZO MLAS
on LoC in Poonch the Saturday night stam-
pede, a large number of
form number 16. Therefo
re, all the passengers
through the night to clear
the horrific remains of the
Express was stationed at
platform 14, while the IN MANIPUR SEEK
Jammu: A brief exchange of police personnel have wanting to go to Prayagraj tragic incident, shoes, torn Swatantrata Senani
fire took place along the Line
of Control (LoC) in the
now been deployed at the
New Delhi station. Crowd
shall come and go from
the Ajmeri Gate side of
bags, scattered clothes and
abandoned food lay across
Express and Bhubaneswar
Rajdhani Express were
POLITICAL ROADMAP
Poonch district of Jammu and management measures, the New Delhi railway sta platforms 14 and 15 -- serv- delayed, causing an over- AMRESH SRIVASTAVA |
Kashmir on Sunday, security including ropes, are being tion,” a statement by the ing as a grim reminder of whelming surge of people DC
officials said. They said an used to regulate the move- ministry said. The min- the chaos that unfolded on platforms 12, 13, and 14. WITH AGENCY'S INPUTS
Indian Army post came under ment of passengers. istry added: “Regular later on Saturday evening. The situation worsened NEW DELHI/IMPHAL, FEB.
fire from a forested area As Maha Kumbh nears trains will continue to be In all, 18 people -- 11 when a last-minute plat- 16
across the LoC around 11.30 its culmination, there is a operated from all plat- women, five children, form change was announc
am in Gulpur sector. They massive rush of pilgrims forms as usual. This is a including two under 10, ed. Confused and panicked, As many as 10 Kuki-Zo
said soldiers retaliated and at the stations across rail- step in the direction of and two men -- lost their the passengers rushed MLAs of Manipur on
the exchange of fire lasted for way zones, particularly avoiding peak-hour rush lives, while more than a towards platform 16, where Sunday expressed hope
a very brief period. There was Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and getting accumulated on dozen others who suffered an escalator became a that the Union govern-
no damage on the Indian side, West Bengal, putting an one platform.” ■ P4 injuries are undergoing choking point. ■ P4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi at ‘Bharat Tex 2025’ at the ment will lay out a com-
the officials said. Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI prehensive political
roadmap for peace and

Third US aircraft with 112 Textile exports to hit

justice following the
BJP links USAID EAM: INDIAN OCEAN imposition of President's
rule in the violence-hit
funds to Congress REGION WITNESSES state.

deportees lands in Punjab `9 L cr by 2030: PM

In a joint statement, the
New Delhi: The BJP on
Sunday claimed that a now SHARPEST CHURN MLAs — seven BJP legis-
lators, two Kuki Peoples'
cancelled US-funded pro- DC CORRESPONDENT Alliance MLAs and one
gramme, linked to voter NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 DC CORRESPONDENT sity through traditional Independent — stated that
turnout in India, is a pointer Chandigarh/Ludhiana, WITH AGENCY INPUTS garments. they also look forward to
to the previous Congress-led In Oman to attend the 8th Feb. 16: A US military air- NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 The Prime Minister said: measures to end the suf-
UPA government allegedly Indian Ocean Conference, craft carrying 112 Indians “We are currently ranked ferings of those affected
enabling infiltration of Indian external affairs minister landed at Amritsar airport Prime Minister Narendra as the 6th largest exporter by the ethnic conflict and
institutions by forces S. Jaishankar on Sunday late Sunday night, the Modi on Sunday said he is of textiles and apparel in internally displaced.
opposed to the country’s held wide-ranging discus- third such flight bringing optimistic that the textile the world, with textile “We, the 10 MLAs of
interests. BJP’s IT department sions with the foreign deportees as part of a sector will achieve the `9- exports valued at approxi- Manipur, while acknowl-
head Amit Malviya said, “It is ministers of Israel, Iran, crackdown by the Donald lakh crore annual exports mately `3-lakh crores. Our edging the centre’s deci-
becoming increasingly evi- Brunei, Bhutan, Fiji and Trump administration target ahead of the 2030 goal moving forward is to sion to place the Assembly
dent that the UPA systemati- Oman. against illegal immigrants. deadline. This assumes triple this figure and under suspended anima-
cally enabled the infiltration At the conference, Mr The plane landed at the significance in view of the achieve exports worth `9- tion express hope that the
of India’s institutions by Jaishankar called the airport at 10.03 pm, said Union budget 2025-26 lakh crores.” government of India
forces opposed to the Indian Ocean a “global sources. announcement of a five- “This success is attrib- would lay out a compre-
nation’s interests — those lifeline” and urged coun- Of the 112 deportees, 44 year Cotton Mission to uted to the hard work and hensive political roadmap
who seek to weaken India.” tries in the region to look are from Haryana, 33 from increase cotton productiv- consistent policies imple- for peace and justice
out for each other, supple- Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, ity, especially of extra- mented over the past under a negotiated settle-
ment their strengths and two from Uttar Pradesh Police escort immigrants deported from the US on their long staple varieties. It decade, which have led to ment. We also look for-
COUNTER POINT coordinate their policies
to fulfil its development,
and one each from Uttar-
akhand and Himachal
arrival at Ahmedabad airport in Ahmedabad Sunday.
They had landed in Amritsar airport late on Saturday.
allocated `500 crores for
the National Cotton
a doubling of foreign
investment in the textile
ward to time-bound mea-
sures to end the sufferings
connectivity, maritime Pradesh, said sources. Technology Mission. sector during this period… that the conflict-affected
and security aspirations.
He said at the two ends
Families of some of the
deportees have reached the FOLLOW TRUMP POLICY, Speaking at the Bharat
Tex 2025, the Prime
The way work is being
done, I think we will
and internally displaced
people continue to under-

RSS TELLS GOVERNMENT

of the ocean, there was a airport. Minister lauded the global achieve this target ahead go,” they said in a joint
churn that was at its Government sources in textile event for showcas- of the 2030 deadline,” Mr statement issued on
sharpest today. “In the the capital late on Sunday ing India’s cultural diver- Modi remarked. Sunday. ■ P4
Middle East/West Asia, evening said women and SANJAY BASAK | DC immigration policy, the
there is a serious conflict children “were not NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 RSS mouthpiece
BACKING SIDDHA
underway with the poten-
tial for further escalation
and complication. At the
restrained” on the second
US military deportation
flight from the United
At a time when the
Opposition is up in arms
Organiser writes: “Right
from the word go, in his
second innings as US No leadership CRPF opens op base
same time, longstanding States with 119 Indian over the United States’ President, Trump went on
change: DKS
issues are being revisit-
ed, sometimes with a rad-
ically different approach.
Its maritime conse-
nationals on board that
landed close to midnight at
Amritsar on Saturday.
As per reports earlier
deportation of illegal
immigrants to India, the
RSS has not only endorsed
the move but is also push-
to issue a series of execu-
tive orders, among which
a considerable number
deals with issues of illegal
Karnataka Deputy chief min-
ister D.K. Shivakumar on
Sunday asserted that Chief
in S. Bastar village
quences are visible in a from Amritsar, the men we ing the government of immigration… Trump has Minister Siddaramaiah is the DC CORRESPONDENT from the country by
serious disruption of re shackled and handcuff India to toe the line of US set the ball rolling for undisputed leader of the NEW DELHI/RAIPUR , FEB. 16 March 2026, they said.
global shipping, with con- ed as per US rules so that President Donald Trump. many other countries to party in the state. The remote area where
siderable cost to our there is no danger or threat Referring to US follow the cue and do the With an aim to further the forward operating
economies. on board. Full report ■ P4 President Donal Trump’s needful.” ■ P4 ■ REPORT ON PAGE 7 expand the reach of the base has been established,
security forces and the is surrounded by hills and
administration so as to considered as training
restrict the influence of camps, weapons and

CM, leaders condemn blocking of Vikatan website

DC CORRESPONDENT The Vikatan website has been blocked for CM, leaders If the opinions expressed hand. He strongly con-
Maoists in remote areas in
the hardcore region of
South Bastar, the CRPF
has set up a new opera-
tions base at ‘Pujari
ammunition dump and
rations units of the
Maoists from the south
and west Bastar divisions.
A commando of the
CHENNAI, FEB. 16 publishing a cartoon on the meeting condemn blocking by the media are wrong, demned "the Union govern- Kanker’ under Chhattis- CoBRA unit of the CRPF
between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and of Vikatan website solutions should be found ment’s repressive measures garh’s Bijapur district. was injured in an impro-
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin US President Donald Trump. through the judiciary and against media freedom”. The forward operating vised explosive device
on Sunday condemned the the freedom of expression He said the US adminis- base (FOB) was estab- (IED) blast when this FOB
blocking of the Vikatan media for their opinions is lishing a cartoon on the freedom and appealed to the should not be blocked, tration is transporting lished on February 13 by was being created.
website and described the not good for democracy. meeting between Prime BJP government to allow Vijay said. Such an act rais- Indian citizens with hand- the 196th and 205th CoBRA A senior officer operat-
act as an example of ‘fas- The blocked website should Minister Narendra Modi the Vikatan website to func- es a big question on the cuffs as if they are war battalion of the force along ing in the area said that
cism’. MDMK leader Vaiko, be given permission imme- and United States President tion again. rights guaranteed in the criminals and Prime with assistance from vari- this is a challenging area
Thamizhaga Vetri diately, he demanded. Donald Trump. Condemning the blocking Constitution, he added. Minister Narendra Modi ous other units of the para- because it serves as the op
Kazhagam leader Vijay and MDMK general secretary Mr Modi has been always of the website, actor Vijay CPI-M State secretary P. could not express his oppo- military force deployed in erations centre of the 1st
the CPI-M also hit out at the Vaiko in a statement here recalling the emergency said freedom for journalists Shanmugam alleged that sition against the move. and around the area, offi- battalion of the armed Ma
move and demanded the said the Vikatan group, days but his actions of who are the fourth pillar of the BJP government which The Vikatan website had cials said. oist cadres. A tall red-colo
restoration of the website. functioning for a century in media suppression always democracy should be pro- could not protect the self- only published a cartoon This base is the 13th FOB ured memo rial erected by
In a post on X, the Chief Tamil Nadu, is a part of the surpass the actions on tected. It is said that the respect of Indians brought criticising Modi and the in the latest series of these Maoists in memory of the
Minister said the Vikatan state’s social, political and emergency days, he said Union government is the with handcuffs from the Union government had centres being created as ir killed cadres was demol-
group has been functioning cultural spheres. He alleged and noted that India had reason behind the blocking United States is crushing blocked the website show- part of the central govern- ished by the CRPF by
in journalism for about a that the Vikatan website gone down to 159 in the list of the Vikatan website, he the criticism against its ing its autocratic tendency, ment's declaration of end- deploying a heavy earth-
century and blocking the had been blocked for pub- of countries with media said. government with an iron the CPI-M leader said. ing left-wing extremism moving machine, he said.
CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 2

SHORT TAKES
Vijay terms denial of Website unreachable
Engineer dies as
cylinder explodes in
Manali biogas plant
education funds ‘fascist’ after publishing cartoon Chennai, Feb 16: After the Vikatan website. Asserting its commitment
N RAVIKUMAR | DC BJP's complaint to the However, as of now, there to freedom of expression,
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, FEB 16
CHENNAI, FEB. 16 AIADMK opposes NEP, firm Centre against a Tamil
digital magazine alleging
has been no official
announcement from the
the magazine said it was
trying to ascertain the rea-

One person was killed and

another is in critical condition
Leaders of political par-
ties including MDMK gen-
eral secretary Vaiko,
on 2-language policy: EPS it published a cartoon
showing Prime Minister
Narendra Modi in an
central government
regarding the blocking of
the Vikatan website."
sons behind the blocking
of its website and that it
was taking up the matter
after a cylinder exploded at the Thamizhaga Vetri DC CORRESPONDENT Tamil Nadu had already offensive manner, the mag- Further, it said: "Earlier, with the union informa-
Greater Chennai Kazhagam leader Vijay CHENNAI, FEB. 16 developed in education azine said its portal is Vikatan Plus, the digital tion ministry.
Corporation's bio-gas plant and Naam Thamizhar and it is not proper to inaccessible to its readers magazine of Vikatan, pub- Reacting to CM Stalin's
near Chinna Sekkadu in Katchi (NTK) chief coor- AIADMK general secre- insist on the New and Chief Minister MK lished a cover cartoon (Feb criticism, BJP vice presi-
Manali, on Saturday dinator Seeman besides tary Edappadi K. Education Policy, the Stalin and leaders of polit- 10) highlighting the issue dent Narayanan
night, the Congress, CPI-M and Seeman Palaniswami on Sunday principal opposition ical parties condemned the of Indians being hand- Thirupathy asked whether
The deceased was identified BJP ally PMK strongly asserted that the leader said. "blocking" of the website. cuffed and deported from the chief minister was
as Saravana Kumar, 30. from opposed Union Minister said the imposition of the AIADMK stood by the Responding to Chief The magazine said in a the United states while aware of the concept of
Namakkal district. He was Dharmendra Pradhan’s three-language formula is two-language policy fol- Minister M.K. Stalin’s social media post that Prime Minister Modi freedom of expression.
working as an engineer at the comments refusing funds an act of snatching away lowed by the party’s icon- allegations that the there have been numerous remained silent on the "Please talk about freedom
plant. The incident occurred for Sarva Shiksha State’s rights of autono- ic leaders Anna, MGR and AIADMK leader is the reports stating that the matter. This cartoon was of expression after read-
around 10 pm. The Injured, Abhiyan (SSA) since my. His party would J. Jayalalithaa. There is dubbing voice of the BJP, Vikatan website has been criticised by BJP support- ing the list of persons who
Bhaskar, 25, a driver, has been Tamil Nadu government oppose such activities in no change in the party’s Palaniswami said the blocked by the central gov- ers, and BJP state presi- were arrested during the
admitted to Kilpauk did not accept the New any form, whether it be policy of following the AIADMK had not relied ernment. It said: "Many dent K Annamalai report- past four years for criticis-
Medical College Hospital. His Education Policy (NEP) the Union or the State gov- two-language policy in on any party from the users from different loca- edly lodged a complaint ing you and your govern-
condition is stable, which makes three-lan- ernment to stand with the Tamil Nadu, he said and days of its founder MGR. tions have reported that against Vikatan with the ment," the BJP leader said.
police said. guage policy mandatory. people, the actor asserted. appealed to the Union gov- The AIADMK depends on they are unable to access central government." — PTI
Following the incident huge While Vaiko saw it as a NTK leader Seeman who ernment to release the the people while the DMK
smoke spread across the area. bid to crush the educa- addressed the media at funds for the Sarva relies on its alliance par-
Though the local police and tional rights of States, Avinashi in Tiruppur dis- Shiksha Abhiyan scheme ties.
fire rescue force reached the Seeman asked why the trict on Sunday asked why in Tamil Nadu. Addressing a public
spot and doused the fire within Union government is col- the Centre is collecting The assertion comes meeting in Vellore on
an hour, the life of one of the lecting taxes from Tamil taxes from Tamil Nadu after allegations by Sunday night, the former
two injured could not be saved. Nadu which is refusing to which is refusing to Electricity minister V. Chief Minister said the
Saravanan was declared follow the three-language accept the three-language Senthil Balaji that the AIADMK functionaries
brought dead by doctors at the formula while Vijay formula. He also suggest- AIADMK leader is hiding and cadre are requesting
h o s p i t a l . termed the Centre’s move ed that Tamils should himself without coming him to form an alliance
The residents raised concerns as ‘fascist’. start a protest of not pay- out with an opinion for next year’s Assembly
as smoke spread across the Senior leader Vaiko ing tax to the Union gov- against the imposition of elections and assured that
area on Saturday night. pointed out that Tamil ernment if the rightful the three-language policy such an alliance would be
Nadu is practising the share of funds for the by the BJP government. formed under the
two-language policy State is not released. He said it was not proper AIADMK leadership.
implemented by Anna for States like Tamil Nadu, for the Union government From the Vellore fort, the
Drugs sale, sexual more than 50 years and
accused the Union govern-
Maharashtra and
Karnataka are contribut-
to compel the Tamil Nadu
government to follow the
AIADMK had started the
journey to St. George
assaults rising: ment of using the NEP to
impose Hindi and
ing a heavy share of tax
revenue to the Union gov-
three-language policy. Fort, he asserted.

Velmurugan Sanskrit. The attempt of

the BJP government to
ernment, Seeman said
and asked “how can they
Selvaperunthagai said the
two-language policy was
BJP ally Anbumani
Ramadoss said the Centre
crush the education rights refuse to give the funds followed in Tamil Nadu should not confuse the
[Link] I DC of States could not be they have taken from us? from 1968 and former NEP with releasing funds
TIRUCHY, FEB. 16 accepted, he said and Opposing the ‘one nation, Prime Minister to Tamil Nadu, adding the
appealed to the Union one language’ policy, he Jawaharlal Nehru had funds are not a gift for
Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi Education ministry to said India would be one given an assurance not to implementing the NEP. Corporation workers along with AIADMK former South Chennai MP Chittlapakkam S. Rajendran
leader Velmurugan has said release the funds for SSA country if there are many impose Hindi on non- Since education is in the did lake cleaning removing floating water hyacinth from boats at Chittlapakkam Lake. Water
the sale of drugs and sexual immediately. languages, but several Hindi states. India is a concurrent list, the State hyacinth is a species of vegetation that removes whatever little BOD that exists in waterways.
TVK leader Vijay termed countries will be born if Union of States and edu- government had equal —DC
assaults are increasing every
day in Tamil Nadu and wanted the BJP government’s one language is imposed. cation lies in the concur- rights to formulate its
the police department to func- approach as ‘fascist’ and TNCC leader K. rent list. own education policy.
tion efficiently and the Tamil
Nadu government to create
more awareness.
Talking to media persons at
Tiruchy on Sunday after Extend 3-language policy to TN Kanimozhi leads DMK
receiving workers who joined
his party, Mr Velmurugan
wanted the Chief Minister to
introduce a bill in the ensuing
government schools: Annamalai protest against Sri Lanka
assembly session to provide S.P. LOGANATHAN I DC
capital punishment to sexual RAMESWARAM, FEB. 16
offenders and life term DC CORRESPONDENT asked. language did not mean
to drug commodity CHENNAI, FEB. 16 Echoing the opinion of Hindi and the DMK lead- The DMK on Sunday con-
sellers. Annamalai, BJP national ers are twisting the facts to ducted a protest in front of
He said his party wants to Defending Dharmendra women’s wing leader provoke separatist politics. the Rameswaram bus stand,
make Tamil Nadu a liquor-free Pradhan, BJP Tamil Nadu Vanathi Seenivasan said Denying Hindi imposi- condemning the Sri Lankan
state. He said the new office- president K. Annamalai three language policy is tion due to NEP, she said government for attacking
bearers of the party across the said the two-language poli- being followed in the CBSE Hindi is not mentioned the fishermen of Tamil
state will be announced short- cy is an outdated one of the and private schools and anywhere in the policy. It Nadu and the Union govern-
ly. 1960s and there is no justi- denying the opportunity of only says mother tongue, ment for making fun of it.
He said though he had regis- fication for imposing the learning the third lan- English and a third lan- The demonstration was led
tered his party as TVK with same on children of Tamil K. Annamalai guage to the State govern- guage. Crores of people by DMK deputy general sec-
the Election Commission, the Nadu. ment schools alone is a with Malayalam, Telugu or retary and Thoothukudi MP ment about the issue of fish- Muthuramalingam,
EC has now recognised actor He alleged that three lan- Three-language policy is social injustice. Kannada as their mother Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. ermen, and talking about it Ramanathapuram MP
Vijay's Tamilaga Vetri guages are taught in the followed in the CBSE The students belonging tongue are living in Tamil Ms Kanimozhi said this whenever he meets the Navaskani, former MP
Kazhagam as the private schools where the schools run by the DMK to the BC, SC and ST com- Nadu and the three-lan- protest is being conducted Prime Minister. We want the Bhawanirajendran, DMK
TVK. He wrote to the EC in children and grandchil- functionaries, Annamalai munities and those who guage formula would pro- as requested by Chief Union government to find a former district secretary
this regard, but did not get a dren of the Chief Minister said, alleging that this is a are poor alone are denied vide them an opportunity Minister M.K. Stalin, who permanent solution to the Suba. T. Divakaran, town
reply. and other ministers are discrimination against the the opportunity to learn to learn their mother wants this should be our last issue. Today's struggle secretary K. E. Nasarkhan,
He condemned the Union studying. “Why Tamil, students of the State gov- three languages, Vanathi tongue, she said. Denying struggle. ''Despite raising should be the final one. DMK state and district exec-
government for disabling the English and a third lan- ernment schools. “Is the said. There should not be the right to learn their this issue umpteen times, Otherwise, our protest will utive members etc.
website of a guage could not be taught Chief Minister saying that separate educational poli- mother-tongue is against the Union government has continue in New Delhi as Representatives of fisher-
Tamil weekly. in the schools where chil- those with money alone cies for the students from the fundamental rights no answer. The Chief well,'' she added. men's association, fisher-
dren of our families are could learn several lan- different schools, she said. guaranteed in the Minister has been writing DMK district secretary men's women's wing were
studying?”, he asked. guages?”, the BJP leader She further said the third Constitution, she said. letters to the Union govern- K a t h a r p a t s a present in large numbers.

Tamil Nadu ranks No. 3 in panchayat United they stand a chance,

devolution index: Government divided they will fall
Chennai, Feb. 16: In the Singh Baghel, Union Ministry parison to its counterparts Constitutional amendment.
Panchayat Devolution Index of Panchayati Raj, on Feb. 13 and officials at the local level The assessment, commis- ■ A well-known analyst
(PDI), Tamil Nadu has been in New Delhi. are accountable to panchayats. sioned by the Union Ministry has suggested that
ranked third in the overall cat- An official release here said As regards capacity building, of Panchayati Raj was con- Vijay’s TVK should
egory and it is in the first place Tamil Nadu is ranked third the state is good in assessing ducted by Indian Institute of
in the functional devolution
dimension and it evidences
among the states in the overall
index and it topped in the
the need and in conducting
training for the representa-
Public Administration (IIPA),
New Delhi.
R. Mohan team up with AIADMK
and BJP in a large
the continuous efforts to functional devolution dimen- tives and officials. The report The report provides an in- opposition alliance if
empower village panchayats
for grassroots democracy and
sion, setting the benchmark.
According to the study, the
also mentions that the state
performs well in the indicator
depth analysis of how well
panchayats are equipped to
Namma Chennai diary his debut in politics is
to succeed with his
local self-governance, the state state has the highest score in of 'training fulfil their constitutional roles
government said on Sunday. the 'functions' dimension, sec- institutions.' in each state and measures the
party coming to share
power. The TVK might

I
The report titled "Status of ond in 'capacity building-func- The report marks a mile- overall performance of states t is an elementary existing Tamil Nadu polit-
Devolution to Panchayats in tionaries' and third in stone in the journey towards in devolving powers and game of sums. If DMK ical scene. Vijay make a splash on
States - An Indicative 'finances.' empowering panchayati raj resources to panchayats and and allies are A, The argument is simple. appearance with
Evidence Based Ranking," In Tamil Nadu, the involve- institutions, thus realising the sub-indices have been created AIADMK and allies are B, If united, the opposition common candidate con- impressive poll num-
was released by Union ment of panchayats in the vision of 'local government,' for various dimensions and BJP and allies are C and stands a chance as much cept in the Erode East bers but, on its own, it
Minister of State, Prof S P schemes is the highest in com- enshrined in the 73rd indicators. —PTI Vijay’s TVK is D, it is pos- as the INDIA alliance did Assembly bypoll, but the
sible that A could be after getting together - seat was seen as unworthy might win very few
greater than B, C and D. despite all the ego prob- of a fight so close to the seats in the existing
But it is not a given that A lems - ahead of the Lok assembly elections that Tamil Nadu political
TRIATHLETES ON THE MOVE IN CITY will be greater than B, C
and D when they are put
Sabha polls of 2024. INDIA
did not down the formida-
are coming up in the sum-
mer of 2026. In any case, a
scene.
together as B+C+D. ble NDA alliance with the bypoll is one in which the challenge is he is not seen
Political analysts who BJP getting more seats ruling party holds several as an outsider.
run professional firms to than the 28 parties com- advantages, and the result He is a Tamil who is toe-
advise parties on winning bined, but the alliance did may not have reflected the ing the Dravidian line in
polls might have suggest- deny the brute majority true chances of most issues. He is serious
ed the same to the newest BJP may have been han- a combined enough in giving up a
player on the Tamil Nadu kering for. opposition. lucrative cinema career to
political scene – actor- If TVK, AIADMK and The 2026 Assembly polls come into politics and he
turned-politician Vijay. BJP were to stand sepa- are a different kettle of brings a fresh breath of
Today’s political players rately and aim for the fish. Jayalalithaa had air in State politics by say-
may pay pretty sums for same prize of power, they done the improbable in ing the right things with-
such advice. may only see the DMK, led getting reelected in 2016, out fear. He ticks many
A well-known analyst by the formidable MK much like her mentor boxes to be a force to be
has suggested that Vijay’s Stalin, laugh all the way MGR, and gave her reckoned with in the TN
TVK should team up with back to Fort St. George. To AIADMK party another political scene, but he
AIADMK and BJP in a put up a common candi- five years in power though would need to look at the
large opposition alliance date in all 234 seats and she died too soon to enjoy simple arithmetic of
if his debut in politics is oppose the ruling party what she had achieved in polling percentages to
to succeed with his party while harping on anti- a rare retention of power know where his best
coming to share power. incumbency might be the in the State. Now the DMK chances lie.
The TVK might make a best way forward for stands the same chance of
splash on appearance with a combined retaining power if it is not (R. Mohan is Resident
impressive poll numbers opposition. challenged by a combined Editor of Chennai and
Triathletes from various countries took part at the Triathlon Asia Cup 2025 held by SDAT and Tamil Nadu Triathlon Association, in Chennai on but, on its own, it might The opposition did have opposition. Tamil Nadu editions of
Sunday. — [Link] win very few seats in the the opportunity to test the Why Vijay will pose a Deccan Chronicle)
STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 3

IN BRIEF
DMK will form government again Expedite construction
under ‘efficient’ Stalin: Nehru of hostel, says Collector
GAUR SPOTTED
NEAR THANJAVUR
G. SRINIVASAN I DC R. VALAYAPATHY I DC name of Tamil Nadu in obtaining a date from the DC CORRESPONDENT room, office room, library Science College who can
THANJAVUR, FEB. 16 TIRUCHY, FEB. 16 the last two years' budgets, Chief Minister, the new KALLAKURICHI, FEB. 16 dining hall, storage room reside here while pursuing
and the Chief Minister bus terminal will be for materials, kitchen, and their education.
A gaur has been spotted by resi- Municipal administration had questioned it. Tamil opened. All the outstation District Collector M.S. staff room. On both the He emphasised that stu-
dents of Gnanam Nagar, Kod- minister K.N. Nehru has Nadu has been totally buses will be operated Prashanth has directed the first and second floors com- dents should appropriately
iamman temple area and Sunka- reiterated that the DMK ignored in the current from the new terminal authorities to expedite the bined there are seven addi- utilise such welfare
nthodidal here on Friday will once again form a budget, he added. In fact, and the existing bus stand construction of Adi tional rooms designed for schemes provided by the
evening. They took a video of government under the the Union government did will also function, he said. Dravidar Welfare Girls’ student accommodation— Tamil Nadu government to
the animal and uploaded it on efficient leadership of not release Tamil Nadu's Asked about the Hostel for Kallakurichi making it a total of 18 achieve greater heights in
social media. Chief Minister M.K. share on the works car- Kallikudi agriculture Government Arts and rooms available for female life through education.
After being informed, the for- Stalin and ''we are not ried out by the state gov- market complex con- Science College in students to stay in comfort. He said Chief Minister
est department officials bothered about whoever ernment. When we asked structed by the previous Sadaiyampattu village, in Further, modern ameni- MK Stalin is implementing
launched a search by forming forges alliance with any for `20,000 crore, they gave AIADMK regime, the min- Kallakurichi district. The ties including restroom various programs priori-
four teams. Officials, on seeing number of parties as the only `6,000 crore. They are ister said if it is handed hostel is being built at a facilities, drinking water tising education for stu-
the video taken by residents, DMK is with the people.'' remove the DMK from creating a crisis by deny- over to the Tiruchirapalli cost of ` 5.87 crores by Adi supply, electricity provi- dents in Tamil Nadu. As
said the animal seems to be a Addressing a press con- power, saying nothing will ing funds to Tamil Nadu, city corporation, several Dravidar Welfare sions, and electrical fit- part of these initiatives,
middle aged one and will not ference at Tiruchy on happen as he thinks, and he added. constructive changes will Department. tings have been incorporat- Tamil Nadu has emerged
harm anyone. It has also not Sunday, the minister also people will be happy about He said 90 percent of the be made in the shops and The hostel building con- ed into its design. Most as a model state in higher
damaged crops. "We will trap it,'' pointed out that there was Mr Stalin becoming the works have been complet- made suitable for business sists of three floors- ground construction works on this education compared to
officials said. tremendous goodwill for Chief Minister again. ed at the Tiruchy integrat- people. Soon after opening floor, first floor, and second new building are nearing other states due to excel-
the DMK among students. Referring to the Union ed bus terminal at suburb the new bus terminal, floor. The ground floor cov- completion; relevant offi- lent schemes being imple-
SAVEETHA DENTAL He dismissed BJP state
president Annamalai's
budget, Mr Nehru said the
Union government had
Panjappur and rest of the
works will be finished
efforts would be made to
open the Kallikudi market
ers an area of 582.88 sq.m.,
while both the first and sec-
cials have been instructed
to expedite any remaining
mented by the state govern-
ment.
remark that they will even failed to mention the within a few days. After also, he added. ond floors cover areas of tasks. In line with this, he visit-
HOSTS PROF CKD 501.69 sq.m each; addition-
ally, there is a main room
District Collector M.S.
Prashanth said “once this
ed the ongoing construc-
tion work of the
LECTURE SERIES Body of retired teacher donated for medical education covering 34.96 sq.m., total-
ing an overall area of
new Adi Dravidar welfare
girls’ hostel becomes opera-
Kallakurichi Government
Arts and Science College
DC CORRESPONDENT 1621.22 sq.m. tional, it will accommodate Adi Dravidar Welfare
CHENNAI, FEB.16 [Link] I DC retired school teacher was cation purpose, as per his trict had registered his The ground floor includes up to 100 female students Girls’ Hostel building in
ARIYALUR, FEB. 16 donated to the government will, on Saturday. body for medicine educa- four rooms along with facil- studying at Kallakurichi Sadashelam Union,
Saveetha Dental College & medical college hospital, P. Ramasamy of tion. He died on Friday due ities such as a warden's Government Arts and Sadaipattu village.
Hospitals hosted the Prof. Dr. The body of a 98-year-old Thanjavur, for medical edu- Keelapalur in Ariyalur dis- to old age.
CKD Lecture Series. The annual
event dedicated to honouring
the legacy of Prof. Dr. C. K.
Dhanasekaran on his 4th
anniversary. The event was cul-
minated with an Oral Cancer
Awareness Program for the
Vijay Sethupathi hopes Deer poacher attempts
suicide during quizzing
public.
Addressing the gathering on
“Oral Cancer: The Known,
Unknown, and Beyond” Prof.
Dr. A. Thangavelu elaborated on
to act with Ajith kumar
DC CORRESPONDENT " at a private educational dom, whereas the free-
M. ARULOLI I DC
TIRUNELVELI, FEB. 16

A poacher who was arrested for hunting

sambar deer at the Kalakad-
the etiology and predisposing PERAMBALUR, FEB 16 institution at dom is less when he Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) in
factors that are associated with Perambalur on Sunday, undertakes the hero role Tirunelveli district attempted suicide by
oral cancer burden in India. Popular film star Vijay said if he did not come to swallowing his ring to avoid investigation.
Prof. Dr. M. V. Krishna Kumar, Sethupathi said he had the cine field, and He called upon the stu- KMTR forest ranger Prabhakaran and
senior consultant plastic sur- not done anything in cin- become a college profes- dents and younger gener- his colleagues found the corpse of a four-
geon in the UK, displayed his ema in a planned way so sor he may be a good ation to go through social year-old male deer at the Padmaneri jun-
surgical expertise in the lecture far. He is hoping that he teacher. media, but not take all of gle at the foothill of the Western Ghats at
titled “Local flap reconstruction will get a chance to act He wanted that both the it as truth. “Only take Kalakad. The deer was killed using explo-
of skin malignancies”. The var- jointly with film star hero and a villain role whichever is needed as sives hidden in fruits.
ious case scenarios intrigued Ajith. should be looked at as a there is a lot of dust in The forest officials detained
the students to explore the field Speaking at a character. If he did the the social media,” he Manikandan (29), son of Ramasamy of
of reconstruction following oral "Natchathira Kalai Vizha Villain role he had free- said. Devanallur near Kalakkad, and
cancer. Esakkiraja (37), son of Nainar of
The head of the department of Neduvilai, and took them to the KMTR
oral medicine and radiology,
Prof. Dr. M. Arvind delivered a
talk on “Clinical insights &
5,000 saplings planted at Varnavasi forest office at Kalakkad Thalaiyanai for
investigation. During interrogation,
Manikandan attempted suicide by swal-
challenges in managing oral DC CORRESPONDENT Tamil Nadu by the forest, Minister had launched lowing his ring.
potentially malignant disor- ARIYALUR, FEB. 16 rural development and 'Pasumaio Tamilnadu The forest officials rushed Manikandan
ders”. Prof. Dr. Pratibha local administration Iyakkam', which is being to the Tirunelveli government medical
Ramani, Head of the depart- On behalf of various departments, at Varnavasi implemented well. college hospital, where he is undergoing
ment of oral and maxillofacial organisations, 5,000 in Ariyalur district on He said under various treatment.
pathology presented a lecture saplings of 500 tree vari- Saturday. schemes, 1.40 lakh
on “Decision-making perspec- eties were planted under The collector said Tamil saplings, 4.17 lakh
tives: pathologist-surgeon in the leadership of Ariyalur Nadu's forest cover in the saplings and 2.78 lakh
oral cancer management” collector P. Rathinasamy, year 2021 was 23.84 per- saplings were planted
which highlighted the need for a as part of a programme to cent and to achieve a tar- across Tamil Nadu during
team work in managing plant 4 lakh tree saplings get of 33 percent in the 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-
patients with oral cancer. during 2025-2026 across next 10 years, the Chief 25 respectively.

Formation Day of Kumbakonam railway station celebrated

G. SRINIVASAN I DC thousands of passengers use meswaram, Coimbatore, N- Users Association (TAN-
KUMBAKONAM FEB. 16 this station for their travel ne- agercoil Sengottai, Salem etc. DRUA) distributed sweets and
eds. Kumbakonam ranks in The Prime Minister laid the railway awareness slips to
The 149th formation day of fourth place among the top re- foundation stone for redevel- passengers. M M Jameel,
the Kumbakonam railway venue generating stations in oping the station on 26-2-2024 president, A. Giri, secretary
station was celebrated at the Trichy Division. About 40 tra- at a cost of Rs 100 crore. The TANDRUA, V. Sathyanara-
station premises on Saturday. ins pass through this station detailed project report for sta- yanan, secretary, federation of
Traffic in the Mayiladuthu- to various destinations incl- tion redevelopment works is Kumbakonam all-trade and
rai-Thanjavur section was uding Bhubaneswar, Ayodhya at the approval stage. industrial associations, and T.
started on 15-2-1877. Kumb- Cantonment, Benaras, Ahme- To commemorate the 149th Saravanan, member, Divisi-
akonam has an annual ticket dabad, Kacheguda, Mysore, formation day, members of onal Railway Users Consultat-
earning of over `33 crore and Tirupathi, Tiruchendur, Ra- Thanjavur District Railway ive Committee participated.

A tepid tale of crossed paths

ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN
Movie review
KANNEERA
CAST: Kathir Raven,

S
et and filmed entirely in Maya Glammy,
Malaysia, this romantic Nandakumar, Chandinie
drama navigates the Kaur
lives of two couples.
Mithran (Kathir Raven), a Direction: Kathir Raven
young CEO, loves career-
focused Srisha (Chandinie RATING: 2/5
Kaur) but is disturbed by her
reluctance to marry. When sudden romantic interest in
Neera (Maya Glammy) joins Neera feels forced rather
his company, their paths than organic. A tauter
cross. Neera's relationship screenplay and a shorter run-
with pilot boyfriend Arun time would have made it
(Nandakumar) is strained as The Malaysian Tamil cast out in her complex role. more engaging.
she refuses to relocate to delivers capable performanc- Director Kathir attempts a Harimaran's songs work well,
Dubai with him. The story es. Kathir fits the suave CEO slick multi-relationship complemented by Yehgan-
unfolds as Mithran and role and handles emotional drama with minimal charac- esh's rich and glossy cine-
Neera, both separated from scenes well. Nandakumar ters. However, the narrative matography that showcases
their partners, find them- and Chandinie are decent, lacks depth, and a slow pace untouched locales in
selves drawn to each other. while Maya Glammy stands dampens the film. Mithran's Malaysia.

A friendship drama that plays it too safe

ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN
Movie review
S
useenthiran's latest flick
explores the age-old que-
stion of whether men
and women can be ‘just frie-
2K LOVE STORY
nds’. ‘2K Love Story’ follows CAST: Jagaveer,
Karthik (Jagaveer) and Moni Meenakshi Govindraj,
(Meenakshi Govindraj), Lathika Balamurugan,
childhood friends who run a Bala Saravanan
wedding photography busi-
ness. Their easy bond soon Direction: Suseenthiran
becomes the subject of every-
one else's scrutiny. RATING: 2.5/5
Their dynamic friendship nuance. Bala Saravanan as ventional family dynamics
faces its biggest test when a double wedding - arranging Peter steals his scenes with and relationship tropes. For a
Karthik falls for Pavithra for Karthik and Moni to sharp comic timing, provid- film about the 2K-generation,
(Lathika), who can't accept marry siblings from the same ing much of the film's gen- it sometimes hesitates
his close relationship with family, a twist that forces uine laughs. between making a bold state-
Moni. When Karthik chooses them to examine what they The film tries to bridge two ment about friendly relation-
friendship over love, Moni really mean to each other. worlds - modern friendship ships and playing it safe with
tries to fix things between the Meenakshi Govindraj stands and traditional values. While tested formulas.
couple. But tragedy strikes out, bringing depth and it addresses contemporary VS Anand Krishna's cinemat-
when Pavithra meets with an authenticity to Moni's char- themes through Instagram ography gives the film a cont-
accident. As Moni helps acter. Newcomer Jagaveer reels and Gen-Z lingo, the emporary look. Imman's
Karthik cope with the loss, shows promise, though his narrative often slips into BGM as well as songs enhanc-
their families hatch a plan for performance could use more familiar territory with con- e the film’s mood beautifully.
NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 4

SHORT TAKES After Prez Rule, Kuki-Zo

■ 44 from Haryana, Guj 33 ■ Arrangements made for transport
2 get 10-yr jail in
Bengal blast case 3rd US plane with 112 Indian legislators hope for peace
deportees lands in Amritsar
New Delhi/ Kolkata: The
National Investigation
Agency has said here that a
special NIA court in Kolkata
‘Expect measures to end sufferings of those displaced’
has sentenced two men to FROM PG 1 ◗ IN A separate develop- ment, the security forces
10 years' rigorous imprison- ment, the security forces dismantled “illegal check

Women, children not restrained

ment for their involvement in Chandigarh/Ludhiana, abroad illegally and work President's Rule was posts” put in place by “vil-
the 2021 Jaggadal bomb Feb. 16: A US military air- hard in the state to ensure imposed in Manipur on dismantled “illegal check lage volunteers” in the
blast case in West Bengal. craft carrying 112 Indians its socio-economic growth. Thursday and the state posts” put in place by state along the Imphal-
“The court sent Chand alias
Arif Akhtar and Rahul Pasi to
landed at Amritsar airport
late Sunday night, the third in US deportation flight: Sources "The mass deportation
from the US is an eye open-
Assembly was put under
suspended animation,
"village volunteers" in
the state along Imphal-
Churachandpur road. The
check posts came into
10 years' rigorous imprison- such flight bringing depor- er for all of us," he said. days after chief minister Churachandpur road. existence since the begin-
ment and slapped a fine of tees as part of a crackdown DC CORRESPONDENT from Amritsar, the men Addressing a gathering at N. Biren Singh resigned ning of the ethnic con-
`5,000 on each offender, " by the Donald Trump NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 were shackled and hand- Ghungrali village in from his post. In a separate develop- flict, the police said.
the NIA said in a statement administration against ille- cuffed as per US rules so Ludhiana during a sports
on Sunday. The duo, along gal immigrants. Government sources in that there is no danger or tournament, Mr Mann
Union Minister
with one juvenile, had hurled The plane landed at the the capital late on Sunday threat on board. said, "We are blessed to
airport at 10.03 pm, said It may be recalled that have taken birth on this Nitin Gadkari
three bombs in quick suc- evening said that women
cession at the gate next to sources. and children "were not even some of the female sacred land which is the offers prayers
ex-MP Arjun Singh's office- Of the 112 deportees, 44 restrained" on the second deportees who landed on most fertile in the world." with wife and
cum-residence — Majdoor are from Haryana, 33 from US military deportation the first deportation Due to the failure of suc- others at
Bhawan — at Jaggadal in Gujarat, 31 from Punjab, flight from the United flight at Amritsar earlier cessive governments in the Sangam after
North 24 Parganas district two from Uttar Pradesh States with 119 Indian this month had claimed to state, youth were forced to taking a holy
on September 8, 2021, the and one each from nationals on board that the media that they too migrate to other countries dip during the
statement said. While Akhtar Uttarakhand and landed close to midnight were handcuffed in in search of greener pas- ongoing ‘Maha
and the juvenile were appre- Himachal Pradesh, said at Amritsar on Satur apparent violation of the tures, he said. Kumbh Mela’
hended by the local police, sources. day. American norms if this "The mass deportation festival, in
the NIA, which took over the Families of some of the As per reports earlier was indeed so. from the US is an eye-open- Prayagraj,
case on September 14, 2021, deportees have reached the er for all of us and now we Uttar Pradesh,
arrested Pasi later. The cen- airport. immigration, verification destination. should not move abroad Sunday.
tral anti- terror probe The deportees will be and background checks. Meanwhile, Punjab chief illegally, but rather work
agency had chargesheeted allowed to head to their Arrangements have been minister Bhagwant Mann hard for the socio-econom-
the accused in Decem homes after completion of made for the transporta- on Sunday urged youth to ic growth of the state," the
ber 2021. all formalities, including tion of deportees to their shun the idea of going chief minister said. — PTI

2 killed, 2 injured in
Mumbai building fire Maha Kumbh FOLLOW TRUMP POLICY, Exchange of
Mumbai: Two women were
killed and five others injured rush leads to RSS TELLS GOVERNMENT fire at LoC,
after a fire broke out in a
high-rise building in 40 km jam at FROM PG 1 Indo-Bangladesh borders no damage
MP-UP border
Mumbai’s Masjid Bandar area has resulted in crores of
during the early hours of
Sunday. The fire was report-
ed at 6.11 am at the 11-storey
In 2022 the
Research Centre had pro-
Pew

jected that around 725,000

Bangladeshis, and
Rohingyas, surreptitious-
ly sneaking into Bharat
on India side
Panna Ali Mansion along RABINDRA NATH unauthorised Indian over decades.” The conse- Jammu, Feb. 16: A
Issaji Street in Masjid Bandar. CHOUDHURY migrants were living in quences, according to the brief exchange of fire
The deceased have been BHOPAL, FEB. 16 the US. As per Pew mouthpiece, have been took place along the
identified as Sabila Khatun Research Centre, India “massive demographic Line of Control (LoC)
Shaikh (42) and Sajiya Alam The weekend pilgrimage ranks fourth in the US for changes in many places, in the Poonch district
Sheikh (30). They were taken to Maha Kumbh in the number of illegal rising instances of radi- of Jammu and
to the BMC-run J.J. hospital Prayagraj has triggered a immigrants, following calism, human traffick- Kashmir on Sunday,
where they were declared 40 km-long traffic rush in Guatemala, Honduras ing, rise in cross-border security officials said.
dead on arrival. A man Karim Madhya Pradesh-Uttar and Haiti. illegal trade in nar- They said an Indian
Shaikh (20) and a woman Pradesh border, officials Endorsing the US policy, cotics”, among other Army post came
Shahin Shaikh (22) were also said on Sunday. the Organiser writes: crimes. under fire from a
suffocated due to smoke and The unusual traffic “Any sovereign country As the ethnic conflict forested area across
they have been taken to JJ rush from Chakghat, the has the right to protect its (between Kukis and the LoC around 11.30
Hospital. The other injured border point in Madhya borders, and prevent all Meiteis) in Manipur con- am in Gulpur sector.
people are Adil Raja Shaikh Pradesh’ Rewa district, to kinds of illegal infiltra- tinues to rage, the RSS They said soldiers
(24) Nakis Surti (24) and Prayagraj in Uttar tion that eventually has mouthpiece throws its retaliated and the
Sauda Alam Shaikh (48). Pradesh since Saturday An aerial view of devotees at Sangam amid the ongoing “Maha Kumbh Mela” festival, serious consequences on weight behind the Meiteis exchange of fire la
While Surti and Sauda Shaikh has put the local adminis- in Prayagraj on Sunday. — PTI demography, law and by arguing: “In the sted for a very brief
were discharged from hospi- tration on its toes to regu- order, indigenous culture Northeast, one can wit- period. There was no
tal, the other victims’ condi-
tion is stable.

DSP, relative die in

late the traffic and make
arrangements for the
Maha Kumbh-bound pil-
grims in the 45 km-route,
Admonition by senior at work and even the security of a
nation.”
Urging the Indian gov-
ernment to severely crack
ness how the open border
with Myanmar has result-
ed in massive influx of
illegals over decades and
damage on the Indian
side, the officials said.
They said it was not
immediately clear

Odisha road mishap

Bhubaneswar: A devastating
officials said.
“The number
Prayagraj-bound vehi-
cles on National Highway
of
not criminal offence, rules SC down on illegal immi-
grants, the RSS mouth-
piece notes that the
impact on “Bharat” has
in states like Manipur,
that resulted in the
indigenous Meitei com-
munity almost being
whether the Pakistan
Army was behind the
firing, or whether it
was terrorists hiding
road accident claimed lives no. 30 has increased in DC CORRESPONDENT ◗ THE OFFENCE, pun- scolded and reprimanded been “far worse”. It pushed to the corner, and in the forests and wait-
of two individuals in Odis- the last 24 hours. This NEW DELHI, FEB 16 her in front of other argues that “illegal on the verge of becoming ing for an opportunity
ha’s Jajpur district on apart, the number of ishable with jail term of employees for submitting Infiltration through a minority in terms of to sneak in.
Sunday, raising concerns vehicles returning from The Supreme Court has up to two years, has complaints against him to porous regions along the population.” There were a few
over road safety in the Prayagraj has also held senior's admonition at now been replaced with the higher authorities. cross-border incidents
region. The accident increased on the road”, the workplace does not Section 352 under the It was also alleged that last week, including
occurred at Chandpur
square, under the jurisdic-
in-charge inspector
general, Rewa range,
amount to an "intentional
insult" requiring criminal
Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita effective from
the director failed to pro-
vide and maintain ade- ‘Muslims & KPs need to build an IED explosion that
killed two Army per-

consensus on return to Valley’

tion of the Panikoili police Saket Prakash Pandey proceedings. The SC said quate PPE kits in the insti- sonnel including a
station when a truck collided said. allowing criminal charges
July 2024 tute, which posed a great captain.
with a car in the afternoon. According to official to be pressed against indi- voke breach of peace. risk of spreading infec- Two other soldiers
Among the victims was estimates, around 1,000 viduals in such cases may The offence, punishable tious diseases such as Srinagar, Feb. 16: not acceptable. There is a were injured in cross-
Balaram Nayak, a deputy were moving towards lead to disastrous conse- with jail term of up to two Covid-19. Hurriyat Conference significant section of border firing in
superintendent of police Prayagraj in Uttar quences, crippling the years, has now been The top court said from chairman Mirwaiz Umar Kashmiri Pandits who violation of the cease-
(DSP) from Balasore district Pradesh every hour at entire disciplinary atmos- replaced with Section 352 the bare perusal of the Farooq Sunday stressed want to be part of an inclu- fire. Indian troops
who was travelling with his Chakghat border and phere required in the under the Bharatiya Nyaya chargesheet and docu- the need for building an sive society. So there is a retaliated befittingly,
relative Krushna Chandra nearly 800 returning workplace. Sanhita effective from July ments relied therein, the intra-community consen- need for consensus," he inflicting "heavy casu-
Nayak. The two were return- from there in the same A bench of Justices 2024. The SC's judgment allegations seem to be sus between Kashmiri said. alties" on the
ing from their hometown of period. Sanjay Karol and Sandeep came while quashing a purely conjectural, and by Muslims and Pandits on After an interfaith con- Pakistani side.
Ghatgaon in Kendujhar to The first parking for the Mehta said that mere 2022 criminal case against no stretch of imagination their dignified return to ference at Budgam, the The ceasefire viola-
Jajpur when the collision Maha Kumbh in abuse, discourtesy, rude- the officiating director of they can be considered suf- the Valley. The Mirwaiz Hurriyat leader said, "We tions along the bor-
took place. The impact of Prayagraj has been set up ness or insolence do not the National Institute for ficient to constitute the said the community want- believe that the issue of ders in J&K have
the crash caused severe just six kms from the amount to an intentional Empowerment of Persons ingredients of the offences ed Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmiri Pandits is a become few and far
injuries to both of them and Chakghat border. “Elabo- insult within the meaning with Intellectual under Sections 269 (negli- return to the inclusive humanitarian matter. between since India
they were immediately taken rate arrangements have of Section 504 of the Disabilities, who was gent acts that could spread society that existed here. Kashmiri Muslims, irre- and Pakistan renewed
to the Jajpur Headquarters been made for the people Indian Penal Code. accused of insulting an a dangerous disease) and "There are some voices spective of their sect, want the ceasefire agree-
Hospital. The doctors at the ‘holding areas’ and Section 504 of the IPC assistant professor. 270 (malicious act of which want a separate them to return to their ment on February 25,
declared them dead upon help centres”, offici constitutes intentional The complainant had spreading a life-threaten- cluster in south Kashmir homes and live in harmo- 2021. — PTI
arrival. als said. insult with intent to pro- alleged that the director ing disease) of the IPC. for themselves... That is ny like before." — PTI

Railways ramps up security; TN won’t give in to Centre’s ‘blackmail’ on NEP, says CM

Oppn asks minister to quit
FROM PG 1 this, adding the state ties to Tamil youth he said, appealing to the (former chief minister
would not be patient, in an throughout the world. He Union government not to who introduced the two-
He asked how the Union apparent reference to the recalled that the BJP lead- play politics in educa- language policy) from his
minister could threaten anti-Hindi agitation in ers in Tamil Nadu were tion. party if Mr Palaniswami
Tamil Nadu to accept 1965. denying the accusations of Electricity minister V. does not have the courage
FROM PG 1 Hindi when the state School education minis- the state government that Senthil Balaji questioned to condemn the BJP gov-

The ministry has also

increased the deployment of
STAMPEDE TOLL 18; BLAME sought its financial rights.
Mr Udhayanidhi warned
that provoking Tamil
ter Anbil
Poyyamozhi
Mahesh
said
Pradhan’s public remarks
Mr
the Union government is
refusing funds for SSA
due to the state’s refusal
the silence of AIADMK
general secretary
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
ernment on the issue.
The AIADMK leader who
is distorting all individ-
the Railway Police Force
(RPF) and Government
Railway Police (GRP) forces
IS ON LAST MINUTE CHANGE Nadu is like touching fire
and anyone who has read
its history after
is an act of inciting anoth-
er anti-Hindi agitation.
The two-language policy
to accept the NEP. The
Union minister’s public
remarks had proved that
on Mr Pradhan’s com-
ments and said the
AIADMK leader should
ual cases into law and
order issues is hiding
himself now, the minister
at the New Delhi station to FROM PG 1 platform numbers 14 and 15 to Independence would know had provided opportuni- the charges were correct, drop the name of ‘Anna’ alleged.
assist passengers by guiding the ambulance.”
them towards the platform Security personnel tried to Northern Railway authori-
from which their trains are intervene, but the crowd was ties have now admitted that
scheduled to depart. too large to control. Some pas- overcrowding was a major fac-
At Prayagraj, the authori- sengers attempted to climb tor for the disaster at the New
ties are ensuring strict imple- railings to escape, while oth- Delhi station. Every hour,
mentation of the previously ers were crushed underfoot. 1,500 general tickets were
issued protocols, regulating Describing the situation, being sold, leading to a surge
the entry and exit. Also, the Krishna Kumar Jogi, a porter in footfall that became impos-
passengers are kept in the at the station, said the crowd sible to manage.
holding area till the trains swelled when a train bound “Some people who were com-
arrive at the platforms. for Prayagraj arrived. “A mas- ing down from the footover
Blaming the government for sive crowd gathered on the bridge towards platform num-
“gross mismanagement” and foot over bridge. People were bers 14 and 15 using stairs
the deaths at the New Delhi packed so tightly that many slipped and fell on others,”
railway station stampede, suffocated. Around 10-15 peo- Northern Railway’s chief
several Opposition parties, ple lost their lives right public relations officer
including the Congress, the there,” he claimed, adding, “I Himanshu Upadhyay said, cit-
Left, the TMC, the AAP and witnessed the entire incident. ing the preliminary cause of
the RJD, accused the govern- We carried dead bodies from the stampede.
ment of trying to “cover up”
the incident. They also view of the large number of ed on X.
sought railway minister devotees going to Prayagraj. Condoling the loss of lives,
Ashwini Vaishnaw’s scalp. “This incident once again AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal
In a post on X, the Congress highlights the failure of the said the stampede was a glar-
said, “The railway minister Railways and the insensitiv- ing example of “gross mis-
should resign, apologise to ity of the government. management” and “lack” of
the country.” Leader of the Better arrangements should crowd control measures.
Opposition in the Lok Sabha have been made at the sta- West Bengal Chief Minister
Rahul Gandhi said better tion in view of the large Mamata Banerjee expressed
arrangements should have number of devotees going to grief over the loss of lives in Delhi Police personnel march past during their Raising Day Parade, in New Delhi, Sunday. — PTI
been made at the station in Prayagraj,” Mr Gandhi post- the stampede.
NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 5

■ Cong wants adequate compensation ■ When will govt responsibility be fixed? Sanjay Singh ■ Aapda Sarkar: Sisodia
SHORT TAKES
Family in Bihar
loses 3 members
Muzaffarpur (Bihar): Sunaina
Devi of Muzaffarpur in Bihar
Gross mismanagement: Opp. targets BJP
recalls the scream she heard
over the phone from her
AVINASH PRABHAKAR
JHA
for the day in view of the
incident. Several BJP lead-
cause a stampede?” Mr
Singh posed. Raut: Centre is
lying, 120-150
daughter-in-law in Delhi, NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 ers, including national “When will the govern-
whom she had called to vice president and Delhi ment and the Railway min-
enquire if her 11-year-old A day after the stampede at unit in-charge Baijayant ister’s responsibility be
granddaughter Suruchi had
left for Prayagraj. “My daugh-
the New Delhi railway sta-
tion, which claimed at least
Panda, MLA Kailash
Gahlot, and former Union
fixed,” asked Mr Singh,
citing various rail-related
accidents. Extending the
died at station
ter-in-law’s parents live in 18 lives, both the Opposition minister Harsh Vardhan
Samastipur. They had recent- parties — the AAP and the also condoled the loss of AAP’s condolences to the DC CORRESPONDENT
ly gone to Delhi with the Congress — blamed the lives and prayed for speedy families of the deceased, MUMBAI, FEB. 16
plan to attend Maha Kumbh government for the mis- recovery of the injured. Mr Singh demanded ade-
in Prayagraj along with other management and demand- Slamming the BJP, AAP quate compensation for Senior Shiv Sena (UBT)
family members,” recalls the ed a detailed investigation Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay the affected persons and leader Sanjay Raut on
resident of Bahadurpur vil- into the tragic incident. Singh accused it of trying fixing the railways minis- Sunday accused the BJP
lage on Sunday. “Nothing While the AAP said the to cover up the incident ter’s responsibility in the government of hiding the
could have prepared me to stampede is a glaring exam- and said some people are incident. Delhi Congress stampede death figures at
hear the deafening scream ple of ‘gross mismanage- claiming that the number chief De vender Yadav the New Delhi railway sta-
on Saturday night after ment”, the Delhi Congress of dead was more than called for a detailed inves- tion, claiming at least 120
which the call got discon- demanded adequate com- what had been announced tigation into the stam- people were killed on
nected, leaving me in fear of pensation. On the other officially. “It is being said pede. “This is a very sad Saturday night. He also
the worst”, she said. Sunaina side, the Delhi BJP can- that an announcement incident for all of us. We claimed that more than
Devi’s husband Naresh Sah celled all their political pro- was made about a train’s stand with the families of 7,000 people have gone
said, “I am a daily wage lab- grammes for the day in platform change from 12 to those who lost the ir liv missing at the
ourer. I reached home last view of the incident. 14. That was also the cause es,” Mr Yadav said. People Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
night around 10 pm, after a Condoling the loss of of the stampede. Was rail- lost their lives in the stam- “The government is
day’s hard work. I found my lives, AAP supremo ways not aware that such pede due to a lack of falsely claiming that only
wife weeping and muttering Arvind Kejriwal in a post an announcement may arrangements, he alleged. 18 lives were lost.”
incoherently. So, I started on X said, “The tragic
frantically trying to contact death of devotees going to People board an overcrowded train for Prayagraj’s Maha kumbh at the New Delhi
my son Manoj whom I could Maha Kumbh in the inci- railway station on Saturday. — PTI
contact around midnight. He dent at New Delhi Railway
told us that Suruchi and her Station is very sad and “Aapda Sarkar...” warning about the urgent immediate reforms to
maternal grandparents died painful. May God grant Calling it a glaring exam- need for better manage- prevent such tragedi
in the stampede”, says peace to their souls. My ple of “gross mismanage- ment protocols at the rail- es in the future.
Sah. — PTI condolences to all the fam- ment” and “lack of crowd way stations, but the gov- Meanwhile, Delhi
ilies who lost their loved control measures”, AAP’s ernment ignored it.” He BJP president

Police to scan CCTVs

ones in the incident.” Rajya Sabha MP Raghav demanded that those Virendra Sachdeva
Hitting at the BJP, his for- Chadha said on X: “On responsible for the stam- and other senior lead-

from railway station

mer deputy Manish February 11, I had raised pede must be held account- ers cancelled all their
Sisodia wrote on X, this issue in Parliament, able, and emphasised political programmes

New Delhi: The Delhi police

on Sunday launched an
investigation into the stam-
pede at the New Delhi rail-
Survivors recount harrowing experience
way station, saying it will BHASKAR HARI SHARMA ing and fell, dragging oth-
analyse CCTV footage to NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 ers down with them,”
determine the sequence of recalled Gyanender Singh,
events before the chaos With the death toll in the an eyewitness.
erupted, sources said. “Our overnight stampede at the With relentless pressure
main target is to investigate New Delhi railway station from behind, many —
the main cause which caused climbing to 18 on Sunday, especially women and eld-
the stampede. We will col- people recounted their erly passengers — fell and
lect all data of CCTV footage harrowing experience of were trampled.
and announcements done carrying bodies on hand- “I couldn’t move. People
during that time,” a police carts amid the chaos. were falling on top of me,”
source said. The stampede Scattered slippers, torn said a survivor, still visi-
on Saturday night left 18 bags, and abandoned bly shaken.
people dead. It was preced- belongings lay strewn A railway worker
ed by a swell in crowd of across the staircase, the involved in the rescue oper-
passengers waiting to board bridge, and platforms 14 ation described the scene as
trains for Prayagraj — where and 15 — silent witnesses one of the worst disasters
the Maha Kumbh is under- to the tragedy that unfold- Relatives mourn death of a family member at Sangam he had witnessed.
way — on platform number ed on Saturday night. Vihar in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI “People had no time to
14 and 15 of the station. The disaster struck at pick up their belongings;
Sources said delays in train 9:55 pm on Saturday, when confusion happened already at platform 14. they just ran for their
departures and the sale of thousands of passengers, because of the announce- People who couldn’t reach lives. Shoes were left with-
1,500 general tickets every many of them Maha ment of the trains having their train at platform 14 out pairs, broken bangles
hour may have created a Kumbh pilgrims, crowded the same initial name thought their train was littered the ground, and a
chaotic situation at the New the station. A mix-up in starting with ‘Prayagraj’. arriving at platform 16 child's school bag lay
Delhi Railway station. train announcements set “The announcement of leading to the stampede. abandoned,” he said.
off a chain reaction of the Prayagraj Special “The force of the crowd Railway officials admit-
Railways announce confusion and panic,
according to eyewitnesses.
arriving at platform 16 led
to confusion because the
was unbearable. People
were trapped, unable to
ted that overcrowding
played a major role in the

relief for those killed The Delhi police said the Prayagraj Express was move. Some lost their foot- tragedy.

Mother of two
New Delhi: Railways on
Sunday announced a com-
pensation of `10 lakh each
for the next of kin of those
killed in the stampede at the
Key BJP meet to elect CM likely minors headed
New Delhi railway station.
Those seriously injured will
get `2.5 lakh and those with
today, many contenders in fray for Kumbh killed
minor injuries `1 lakh, the DC CORRESPONDENT
DC CORRESPONDENT ◗ THE PARTY has hinted These include Parvesh NEW DELHI, FEB. 16
railway said. At least 18 peo-
ple were killed and more NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 at the possibility of the Verma, who defeated AAP
than a dozen injured in the national leadership nam- chief Arvind Kejriwal in Among those killed in a
stampede that broke out The BJP is set to finalise ing a woman as the CM New Delhi. Other con- stampede at the New Delhi
late Saturday night at the its chief minister at a leg- or selecting an entirely tenders being discussed Railway Station on
crowded railway station. The islative party meeting on fresh face are Satish Upadhyay, Raj Saturday evening was
stampede was preceded by Monday, with several con- Kumar Bhatia, Ashish Pinki Devi, who had set
a swell in crowd of passen- tenders in the fray for the party leadership has Sood, Rekha Gupta, and out on a pilgrimage to
gers waiting to board trains top post. remained tight-lipped, Vijender Gupta among Prayagraj for the Maha
for Prayagraj — where the Prior to the key meeting, even as several names others. Kumbh with her family.
Maha Kumbh is underway — the party will appoint two have been speculated. The Mr Verma is considered Pinki, a resident of
on platform number 14 and central observers to offi- party leaders have hinted a frontrunner, as he not Sangam Vihar, is survived
15 of the station. cially initiate the process at the possibility of the only defeated former by her two children — a 13-
of electing the leader of national leadership nam- Delhi CM and AAP supre- year-old daughter and a 10-
the legislative party on ing a woman as the chief mo Arvind Kejriwal but year-old son. Pintu

RAILWAY STAFF
Monday.. minister or selecting an also played a major role in Sharma, her relative, said
High-level deliberations entirely fresh face. securing victories in 11 of their group of 14 to 15
have been underway in Amid growing specula- the 13 Jat-dominated con- members had confirmed
CLEANS REMAINS Delhi over the past few
days to finalise names for
tions, some key names
have emerged for the chief
stituencies in rural Delhi,
also referred to as “Delhi
tickets and were moving
towards the platform

AT STN ALL NIGHT

the top post. However, the minister’s post in Delhi. Dehat.” when the stampede broke
out.
He alleged that the
New Delhi: Hours after the
stampede at the New Delhi
CARRIED BODIES ON HANDCARTS: PORTERS stampede occurred due to
the mismanagement at
railway station which DC CORRESPONDENT on handcarts amid the packed so tightly that the railway station.
claimed at least 18 lives, the NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 chaos. Describing the sit- many suffocated. Around “This has happened due
railway staff worked uation, Krishna Kumar 10-15 people lost their to negligence at the rail-
through the night to clear With the death toll in the Jogi, a porter at the sta- lives right there,” he way station. The railway
the horrific remains of the overnight stampede at tion, said the crowd swel claimed. authority should have
tragic incident. Shoes, torn the New Delhi railway led when a train bound “I witnessed the entire informed the passengers
bags, scattered clothes, and station climbing to 18 on for Prayagraj arrived. incident. We carried dead about train cancellations
abandoned food lay across Sunday, porters recount- “A massive crowd gath- bodies from platform or rescheduling around
platforms 14 and 15 — serv- ed their harrowing expe- ered on the (footover) numbers 14 and 15 to the three to four hours
ing as grim reminder of the rience of carrying bodies bridge. People were ambulance,” he added. before,” he said.
chaos that unfolded just
hours earlier. By Sunday
morning, workers were seen
sweeping away the debris,
collecting personal belong-
Multi-faced exercise begins to clean Yamuna
ings, to restore normalcy at DC CORRESPONDENT and directed them to start ◗ THE CLEANING opera- the drains by industrial
the busy station, but the NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 work immediately. tion for the Yamuna river units in the city.
tragedy left scars that could At the outset, a four- The rejuvenation of the
not be so easily erased. A Days after trouncing the pronged strategy has been was initiated on Sunday Yamuna had started in
railway staffer, who spent AAP in the Delhi Assembly put in place to tackle the with trash skimmers, mission mode in January
hours clearing the wreck- polls, the BJP is yet to form issue of river pollution weed harvesters, and a 2023, when the NGT had
age, described the scene as the government but the comprehensively. As part dredge utility craft in constituted a high-level
“one of the worst” he ever city administration lost no of the measure, garbage tow to do the job committee under the chair-
witnessed. “There were time in launching a multi- and silt in the Yamuna manship of Mr Saxena.
belongings everywhere’ — faced exercise to clean the river stream will be The execution of this However, after five meet-
slippers without their pairs, Yamuna river on Sunday, a removed in the first phase ambitious plan which tar- ings of the said HLC,
half-eaten food, and even a key poll promise of the saf- followed by simultaneous gets at cleaning the river in which closely monitored
child’s school bag. People fron party. The BJP has cleaning operations in the about 3 years, will require cleaning operations, the
had no time to pick up their already announced that the Najafgarh drain, supple- seamless coordination then AAP government
things; they just ran for first agenda of the new mentary drain, and all between various agencies moved the Supreme Court
their lives,” he said. The government will be the other major drains. and departments that and got the NGT order
eerie sight of personal construction of the river- In addition, a daily include DJB, I&FC, MCD, stayed by the then CJI D.Y.
items scattered across the front. watch on the existing environment department, Chandrachud on July 10,
platforms was a painful The cleaning operation STPs in terms of their PWD and DDA. Monitoring 2023. This put the Yamuna
reminder of the lives lost for the Yamuna river was capacity and output will of the work is envisaged to Rejuvenation works in
and the ones disrupted. The initiated on Sunday with be maintained besides be undertaken at the high- limbo again, stalling the
stampede occurred around trash skimmers, weed har- putting in place and opera- est level on a weekly basis. improvement in CoD/BoD
9:55 pm on Saturday night vesters, and a dredge utili- tionalising a time-bound As a sequel to the clean- levels that had started
when thousands of passen- ty craft in tow to do the job, plan in terms of construc- ing exercise, the Delhi pol- improving slightly on a
gers, mostly Maha Kumbh an official said. The move tion of new STPs/DSTPs lution control committee month-on-month basis
pilgrims, crowded the sta- came soon after Delhi L-G to meet the actual short- has been directed to keep and ultimately pollution
tion to board trains to V.K. Saxena met the chief fall of treating about 400 a strict vigil on discharge levels reaching record lev-
Prayagraj. secretary and ACS (I&FC) MGD of the sewer. of untreated effluent into els early this year.
EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani

17 FEBRUARY 2025

Deregulation bid welcome,

but govt must keep watch
P
rime Minister Narendra Modi, fresh from his return from the United
States which, under its new President is witnessing dramatic changes
and whose future is still unpredictable, has announced that the gov-
ernment will set up a deregulation commission to “further reduce the
role of the state in all spheres of governance and to promote ease of doing busi-
ness”. It is a welcome decision that is fraught with inherent dangers unless
taken up with a great degree of transparency and candour.
India still has vestiges of licence permit raj lurking in the bureaucracy, the
executive branch of the state. As a democracy making baby steps after living
under colonial rule for about two centuries, India was cautious in every action
it took and every law it passed in the early years of Independence. The concern
was not to do maximum good but to reduce the possibility of bad coming out of
a government decision. Planning at the Central level was an essential part of
governance given the diversities and dissimilarities in any two parts of the
country would still be unimaginable. Licence permit raj had its own logic at
that point of time.
This has changed. The institutions the nation nurtured over the decades
came of age and can stand on their own, warts and all. Planned development
has borne fruit, though in a limited fashion, but in such a way that parts of

Modi played a weak hand LETTERS

India that would have remained chained to ignorance and the attendant social
evils for ages have garnered sufficient confidence to give life a chance. It has
prepared societies to accept and own technology, that has come as a great lev-
eller and disruptor.
Deregulation is the next logical step. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian
A STEP TOO FAR
citizen need not now be regulated as before, and the chances of them finding a
Vice President Jagdeep

in Donald Trump durbar

level playing field are more than they used to be in the past. The bureaucrat Dhankhar’s comments ques-
need not sit in judgment on every application; instead, he could trust the citi- tioning the judiciary’s role in
zen, observe him and intervene, firmly and legally, should there be a violation the appointment of the CBI
of the law. director must be viewed in the
The archaic laws that forced government officials to always keep citizens context of his constitutional
under the eye of suspicion have little relevance now; technology can help a Apart from seeking agreed to the terms on
determined babu keep a non-invasive regulatory oversight. This realisation which peace would be role and recent controversies.
started in the eighties when a techno-savvy Prime Minister started easing
lower tariffs, the head restored. As a constitutional head and
restrictions which was taken up in a systematic way by every government that Sanjaya Baru of the world’s most A Trump-Xi-Putin sum- Chairperson of the Rajya
followed. If Mr Modi wants to make this leap, he must be welcome to do so. powerful government, mit could help resolve the Sabha, his neutrality is para-
However, the Prime Minister could be proved wrong if he thinks “there with an economy wars in Europe and mount. While his concerns
should be less interference of the government in society”. Doing away with old
world regulatory mechanism and making it easy for businesses to go ahead Sanjayovacha whose per capita
income is over 10
Middle East but to imagine
that they would define a
about judicial overreach may
be valid from a constitutional
with their job is one thing but zero government intervention in the affairs of new world order in the
society is a totally different one. The very fact that India still “provides nutri- times that of India’s, manner that FDR, Stalin perspective, publicly question-
tional support to 80 crore people”, as the external affairs minister put it, calls ensured commitments and Churchill did is a bit ing the judiciary risks under-

T
for more governance, not less. It will be worthwhile to remember Mahatma he only thing able policy intervention fanciful. Of course, they mining institutional harmony
that many, including
to purchase more could if leaders of coun-
Gandhi’s words, “recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you remarkable and the feeling of impartiality.
may have seen”, while contemplating major changes. about Prime Prime Minister Modi’s defence equipment tries like India, Brazil,
Minister Na- close advisers, have long France, Germany, Japan, It is crucial for constitutional
rendra Modi’s recommended but the BJP Indonesia, South Africa heads to foster dialogue while

Station stampede was avoidable hastily prepared visit to

Washington D.C. was the
fact that he had two inter-
has been reluctant to bite
this bullet. Now, under
pressure from Mr Trump,
Indian billionaire Gautam
Adani points to favours
done to the former govern-
and so on fall in line like
the rest of the world did in
1945. Neither has the
avoiding actions that appear
politically motivated. By taking
a more neutral and measured

A
second fatal stampede involving Maha Kumbh pilgrims is two tragedies too actions with the media. A some action may well be ment of Andhra Pradesh United States nor Russia approach, the VP can ensure
many. It reflects poorly on the nation’s people as they seem to behave in the rarity for Mr Modi. As it forthcoming. Already the in return for business nor indeed China won any
worst possible way in pushing, shoving and jostling when they find them- turns out, Indian diplo- Union Budget had taken advantage secured in war in 2025 for them to sit his office remains a symbol of
selves in a crowded situation. mats managed to keep all some pre-emptive action, which a US firm was also down in a Yalta-like con- unity and balance, rather than
A thorough probe is called for into the causes of the stampede on Saturday night independent-minded but President Trump involved. Mr Adani was ference to design the world fuelling perceptions of parti-
at the New Delhi railway station because there is very little accountability Indian journalists out of wants more. charged with wrongdoing for the 21st century. sanship in an already polarised
when such unfortunate events take place, and all the blame is usually placed on the the room and squeezed in Apart from seeking under the FCPA by the US Something has happened political environment.
people. friendly ones who man- lower tariffs, the head of Securities and Exchange since 1945 that makes the
the world’s most powerful Commission. Curiously, world of 2025 very differ-
Gopalaswamy J, Chennai
Was confusion created over platform numbers for trains by an announcement aged to embarrass the pro-

DELHI STATION
over the PA system that caused people to surge towards another platform which fession with servile behav- government, with an econ- neither the Government of ent. The US is defending
they may have been led to believe would be the one from which the Prayagraj iour and inane questions. omy whose per capita India nor the present state its space. Russia is trying
Express would be departing.
The impossible crush of pilgrims trying to rush for a bath in the sacred waters of
If one Indian journalist
used up her time to praise
income is more than ten
times that of India’s, also
government in Andhra
Pradesh has acted on the
to regain its lost space and
China is expanding its STAMPEDE
the Triveni Sangam near Prayagraj should have called for greater preparedness in President Donald Trump, ensured commitments charges made. It has been space. Around all of them Around 18 people dying in the New
the logistics of an extraordinary movement of people towards one place in the another was snubbed by from India to purchase business as usual in India there are countries with a Delhi railway station stampede on
country. the President who said he more defence equipment. and now it will be business mind of their own and Saturday came as a shock. Any
It is not enough to only ensure that VIPs get to bathe when they wish. One tragedy did not understand what What in turn did he do for as usual in the US. That’s a some bargaining capacity. stampede anywhere is the result of
had occurred already in which the official toll is said to be 30 while the real toll may was said and moved on. his visitor? One could huge favour to a private The notion that the Big poor coordination. It doesn't need a
have been 79, and perhaps in thousands depending on who was calling the num- The fact is that view the temporary sus- individual in India from Three can sit down and research study. The aforesaid one,
bers and their political preferences. It was tragic then that the national capital saw Washington D.C. is one of pension of the US Foreign President Trump and he agree that Greenland it is believed, was due to the cancel-
scenes of such panic miles away from the confluence of rivers. the rare capitals in the Corrupt Practices Act has managed to get belongs to the US, Ukraine lation of two trains to Prayagraj for
History will never tire of telling the story of how the Japanese people of world that has a few com- (FCPA) as a huge favour, defence purchase orders belongs to Russia and the Maha Kumbh. Why did the
Fukushima, hit by an unbelievable triple whammy of earthquake, tsunami and a petent Indian correspon- given that it immediately from the Indian govern- Taiwan belongs to China Railways do it? They knew there
nuclear spill from a power plant, stood in a queue patiently for hours together to dents such as a veteran and directly benefits an ment in exchange. and then the rest of the was a veritable sea of humanity
get food handouts. No one scrambled to get to the desired place ahead of like Chidanand Rajghatta. Indian billionaire. The In the week that Prime world will fall in line and there. The Railway Ministry is
anyone else. Most major capitals FCPA was enacted in 1977 Minister Modi was visit- clap is bereft of a sense of fully responsible for the stampede
It is unlikely that Indians ever get to behave with such exemplary discipline around the world have no aimed at preventing US ing Washington, the history. and deaths.
when in public places. They have been dying in some numbers from stampedes and representation from the firms from bribing foreign Trump administration The free peoples of post- [Link], Chennai
road mishaps around movements aligned with the Maha Kumbh. But that does not Indian media. In the past government officials to made a startling move colonial nations as well as
absolve the authorities of trying to make the best possible arrangements for people this vacuum was filled by help secure business reaching out to both China the middle powers around
to get to a stop in the tens of millions that is being spoken of. the Prime Minister allow-
ing senior and highly
overseas.
President Trump was
and Russia. While
President Vladimir Putin
the world, including
Germany, France, Japan KAMAL, A PART-TIME
regarded Indian journal-
ists to travel in the PM’s
right to say that the FCPA
had handicapped US firms
has invited both President
Xi Jinping and President
and, hopefully India,
would want to know POLITICIAN
plane. Tough questions overseas given that most Trump to Moscow, as where they stand in this The policy statement of MNM of Kamal
DECCAN CHRONICLE other governments had no guests at the 80th anniver- so-called grand bargain of
would be asked and news Hasan issued recently is a mere carbon
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR worthy of publication such constraints and were sary celebrations of the a Yalta 2.0. I say hopefully, copy of the policies of DMK. Hence
Editor Printer & Publisher would emanate. Mr Modi happily bribing overseas Victory in Europe Day in because India has con- MNM is found to be a mere appendage
R. MOHAN ended this practice along officials to secure business May, President Xi Jinping veyed mixed signals in of DMK. I wonder why KamalHasan
Resident Editor for their firms. However, has invited Mr Putin and this past month. There has
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: with refusing to freely has to take so much trouble to function
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, interact with the media ever since the term of the Mr Trump to Beijing. been avoidable nervous- as an independent party . Kamal’s pen-
22254748 overseas. late Jimmy Carter, when There’s a threesome in the ness on India’s part in chant and craze for film acting is leg-
Coimbatore: No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O. Colony Post, Kurudampalayam Village, Getting Mr Modi to face the FCPA was introduced, making, and geopolitical dealing with a Trump vic- endary and during the last few years
Coimbatore-641022. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 the US prided itself in not analysts have all become tory. The servility of the
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040) the media, albeit selected his political journey as party’s leader
27805256. Indians, was not the only deploying bribes overseas excited recalling Yalta. Indian media at the has proved to be an utter failure and a
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, burden that President to secure business for its The Yalta conference of Trump-Modi press meet- damp squib. He cannot sail in two boats
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 Trump imposed on his vis- firms. The fact is that the February 1945 was a meet- ings may have convinced with one foot in each. Merger of MNM
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) US had and deployed other ing of US President many that India is willing
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 itor. The day the two met with DMK will be good both for him
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 began with the President means to secure business Franklin D. Roosevelt, the to bend, if not crawl. and the remaining members of the
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, announcing reciprocal tar- overseas when it wanted then Soviet Union’s dicta- party. Part time leaders in politics can
Fax: 08554-276904 iffs that would hit Indian to. However, as US firms tor Josef Stalin and British The writer is an author, never succeed. His presence in the
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. lost competitiveness, they Prime Minister Winston a former newspaper
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 exports and force India to upper house of Parliament as a nomi-
Karimnagar: H .No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karim Nagar - 505186 further bring down its tar- found themselves at a dis- Churchill. Between the editor and adviser to nee of DMK will no way change the
Phone : 9121181123 iff barriers. A reduction in advantage in this regard. three — the victors of the Prime Minister political course of the country
customs duties is an advis- The case relating to the Second World War — they Manmohan Singh MuthuSrinivasan, Coimbatore

L
ondon is about to enjoy a mid-term alone, we can say safely there is no cure for and very understandably so for a very diffi- the background intrigue and plotting are
break, when schools close — and it madness of this kind — but to be sure when cult performance — combining excellent act- now laid bare. We even learn how rude the

Kishwar Desai
almost becomes like a national holi- the actor playing opposite her is the very ing with singing and dance. present (very left wing and genuine working-
day, with a cross-channel exodus. attractive Leo Woodall — we can understand By the way — we have been told that the class woman) deputy leader, Angela Rayner
There are soon going to be overcrowded why. We saw him recently in One Day. Helen menu for the BAFTA awards will be “sus- was about Sir Keir Starmer, as she said “he

London Diary
roads with cars all leading in one direction Fielding’s creation is in serious danger of tainable”. Apparently, this means you can could not even fill a bath with water”. If noth-
and airports will be piled high with com- giving competition to James Bond as one of eat the popcorn bucket that the popcorn is ing else, it makes these politicians seem
muters heading for Europe. Did we actually the best known British fictional characters served in — and there will “zero waste veg- human, warts and all. And makes you won-
Brexit? At times like this it seems nothing from contemporary times, and probably one etable bhaji.” I am not so excited about the der what the present Prime Minister thinks
really changed, though it may be that day she will get a blue plaque all of her own. sustainability as I am about the term “bhaji” about Get In! Certainly not a book that lead-
the yearning for warmer climes across the In fact, one attraction of London for locals actually reaching the official menu! They ers in other countries would welcome if writ-
channel is still spurring people as it is pretty as well as for visitors are the blue plaques on used to be called “fritters”, if you remember, ten about them!
cold here. buildings where famous people lived in the folks. But like “samosa” and “chicken But then, that’s UK.

‘Bhaji’ enters the And then, don’t forget, with Valentine’s Day past. There are many from the world of art tikkas”— the humble “bhaji” is now break-

I
just gone by, there are many who have al- and culture who have been thus honoured. ing into the BAFTA menu. Deserves a special t is like this terrific play Churchill in
ready left for an amorous weekend ab- Audrey Hepburn has just been awarded her song and dance number! Moscow at the West End now. This is
road. But for those of us who stayed on —just blue plaque at her Mayfair home. And then about a meeting between Stalin and
menu at BAFTA; remember that it is still not too late to stroll
down the 75 St Valentine’s Streets or the 121
Love Lanes or walk along Kissing Grove,
there are blue plaques for the ballerina Alicia
Markova, the painter Graham Sutherland,
the singer Marc Bolan, who have also been O
ne thing everyone in London loves is
gossip, and there is a racy new book
that does exactly that. Get In by two
Churchill during World War II as Russia
faces the oncoming invasion by Hitler. The
two leaders, though Allies, do not trust each

Bridget Jones Kissing Gate or Kissing Way. Health warn-

ing: Please look these up on your A to Z and
acknowledged in this fashion. Sunday Times journalists Gabriel Pogrund
and Patrick Maguire, is about how Sir Keir
other. The interpreters “translate” in a
nuanced manner — refusing to translate the

M
choose the most scenic locations. We used to eanwhile the BAFTA awards may Starmer was “converted” from a well-known muttered insults each is breathing on the
live near a “Love Lane” — which was next to have been announced by the time this lawyer-turned-Labour MP into the leader sides. It is a marvellous piece of theatre and
makes comeback a mental health hospital. I always wondered
if there was a connection! Hmmmm…
column comes out. Hollywood stars
are descending in London, as these are con-
sidered the precursors to the Oscars. Emilia
replacing the very left-wing Jeremy Corbyn.
This book plugs into the fact that we love
knowing more about famous people who are
one hopes will run and run. Thank God, I
don’t know any Russian — but am wondering
if Russian insults can be worse than British

A
nd on that cautionary note — the latest Perez, the film, continues to be among the in the news but remote. ones?
Bridget Jones movie Mad About the front runners— despite the trans actor Karla The man moving the story forward is the
Boy has just been released. Sofia Gascon receiving so much flak for her Irishman, Morgan McSweeny, an active Kishwar Desai is a an award winning
This fourth in the series of Bridget Jones tweets prior to the release of the film. So now Labour Party member, who was determined author and columnist. She is also
films portrays the character as a grown-up it is Zoe Saldana — also in the film —who has to improve Labour’s chances of winning an the Chair of the Partition Museums in
woman but still falling in love. Based on this, been nominated for the ‘best actor’ award— election after three defeats over 10 years. All Amritsar and Delhi.
NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 7

SHORT
Kumbh meaningless,
TAKES
In WB, Bhagwat calls for unity of ‘Hindu society’
says Lalu; row erupts Come in close contact with outfit to understand organisation: Leader
Patna: RJD supremo Lalu
Prasad on Sunday sparked
RAJIB CHOWDHURI
KOLKATA, FEB. 16
istics and keep its diverse
population united. RSS
Unease in TMC over RSS
chief’s visit ahead of polls
controversy with his remarks aims to organise Hindu
dubbing the Maha Kumbh as Rashtriya Swayamsevak society because it consti-
“meaningless”, as he blamed Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan tutes the responsible core
the Railways for the stam- Bhagwat called for unity of the nation. My appeal is
pede in New Delhi that of the “Hindu society” on to understand Sangh and YOJNA GUSAI Assembly elections. But among the cadre against
claimed 18 lives. Mr Prasad Sunday. He was speaking come within its fold. There NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 this is not the only reason the leadership for “not
also slammed the BJP-led at an RSS rally in is no fee for this. No mem- why Mr Bhagwat’s visit doing much” and as a
government at the Centre Burdwan East of West bership is required. You RSS chief Mohan has brought cheers among result, most cadre,
over the incident at New Bengal, which was can come here at your will Bhagwat has been in West the BJP supporters in the sources said, have become
Delhi railway station, and allowed by the Calcutta and leave if you do not Bengal since last week, state. The BJP supporters “inactive.”
demanded resignation of the high court after the state like,” Mr Bhagwat said. and there is some unease are also upbeat because of “Bhagwat ji’s visit has
railway minister. “The stam- police denied permission. According to him, the within the ruling TMC the recent development in really charged the cadre
pede episode is very disturb- Mr Bhagwat said, “What work taken by the RSS can over it. Talks within the the neighbouring state and enthused supporters.
ing; it has exposed the inad- does the Sangh want to do? only be compared to what TMC are that Mr Odisha, where the BJP Cadre was unhappy with
equate arrangements made If this question has to be Lord Buddha did on devel- Bhagwat’s visit to the ousted the BJD after more the leadership after the
by the Central government. answered in one sentence, oping character centuries state is to prepare ground than two decades. 2021 violence, as it felt
The railway minister must RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during a public meeting in
then it will be that the east Bardhaman, West Bengal, on Sunday. — PTI ago. Mr Bhagwat pointed for the 2026 electoral bat- During his visit, Mr that they did not do much.
resign after this incident… Sangh wants to unite the out, “It is important to tle in the BJP’s favour. But Bhagwat attended several BJP workers were bat-
it’s a complete failure of the entire Hindu society. Why ward by accepting the this to make a meaningful understand the work of those aware of the RSS events, met R.G. Kar vic- tered by the TMC, some
Railways,” he asserted. At unite the Hindu society? diversity of the world. The contribution to the the Sangh because such know that Mr Bhagwat’s tim’s family, opened a killed; there were FIRs
least 18 people were killed Because the society selfless work of over progress of India. The work is happening in the schedule is planned sever- Sangh office and also filed against many... there
and more than a dozen responsible for this coun- 1,30,000 RSS volunteers Sangh has simply given country after centuries. I al months in advance. addressed an event in was a feeling initially that
injured in the stampede that try is the Hindu society.” without financial compen- values, thoughts and inspi- believe that after Lord Nonetheless, his visit has Bardhaman on Sunday. the leadership had aban-
broke out late Saturday He elaborated, “Bharat sation nationwide con- ration.” He then urged the Buddha, this is the first brought cheers among the After the 2021 Assembly doned them… But with
night at the crowded railway has a nature, and those tributes to India’s RSS volunteers to broaden time that such a work of saffron party’s support- polls, the BJP has kept the Sarsanghachalakji's (Mr
station. Details were awaited who thought that they progress.” their influence and collab- developing the character ers. The RSS is given cred- heat on the TMC for Bhagwat) visit, there is
on the exact number of peo- could not live with that The RSS chief added, orate to reinforce their of people is being under- it by many for the BJP’s unleashing “political vio- now a growing feeling
ple from Bihar who died in nature, they made their “That’s why we are saying shared ideology. taken in the entire coun- stunning performance in lence” against its cadre that change can happen,”
the stampede and the ones own separate we are not doing this to be “Hindus are those who try. It takes time to under- the Haryana, and supporters. There said a senior BJP leader
injured. Asked to comment country...Hindus move for- successful; we are doing embody India’s character- stand such a work.” Maharashtra and Delhi was also major angst from the state.
on how lakhs of people were
heading to Prayagraj for the

MP govt official
BJP slams Cong after US
mega religious gathering,
Prasad said, “The Kumbh has

suspended for
no meaning… It is just mean-
ingless.”

cuts ‘voter turnout’ grant

Reacting to the remarks,
Bihar BJP spokesperson
Manoj Sharma said it has abusing farmer
exposed the RJD's mindset Seoni (MP), Feb. 16: An
towards the Hindu religion. employee of the Madhya
— PTI
‘UPA enabled infiltration of Indian institutions’ Pradesh water resources

2 more arrested for

department has been
DC CORRESPONDENT b a s e d itation in handing over suspended and booked by
NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 i nve s t o r the entire Election the police for allegedly
Sambhal violence The BJP on Sunday
George
Soros, a
Commission of India to
“foreign operators”.
misbehaving with farm-
ers in Seoni district.
Sambhal: Two men were claimed that a now can- “known Elon Musk-headed The action against in-
arrested on Sunday in con- celled US-funded pro- associate” department of govern- charge sub-divisional
nection with the violence gramme, linked to voter of the ment efficiency, which has officer Shriram Baghel
that erupted here in turnout in India, is a point- C o n g re s s been constituted by US came after a video of his
November last year over the er to the previous Amit Malviya party and President Donald Trump, purported unacceptable
court-ordered survey of a Congress-led UPA govern- the Gandhis, whose shad- has announced that it has interaction with farm-
Mughal-era mosque, killing ment allegedly enabling ow looms over our elec- cancelled many pro- ers surfaced on social
four people. According to infiltration of Indian insti- toral process. grammes costing hun- media.
the police, Mohammad Artistes perform during the inauguration of the National Tribal Festival “Aadi tutions by forces opposed Mr Malviya said the dreds of millions of tax- The video shows
Hasan and Samad were Mahotsav” in New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI to the country’s interests. Election Commission in payers’ dollars. Baghel purportedly
arrested in the Nakhasa BJP’s IT department 2012 had signed an MoU The programmes cited abusing and pushing a

‘Smear campaign’, legal action

police station area. During head Amit Malviya said with the International by it included $486 million farmer into the trunk of
interrogation, the accused on X, “It is becoming Foundation for Electoral to the “Consortium for a car during the incident
admitted to being part of increasingly evident that Systems’ an organisation Elections and Political in the Malari area in
the mob that gathered near the Congress-led UPA sys- linked to Mr Soros’ Open Process Strengthening”, Keolari town.
the mosque on November 24
to oppose the survey, they
said. The police said the two
initiated: Cong on Gogoi issue tematically enabled the
infiltration of India’s
institutions by forces
Society Foundation,
which is primarily funded
by USAID.
including $21 million for
“voter turnout” in India.
Mr Malviya said, “$21M
After the video reached
the public domain and
was shared by the

No FIR against Gaurav Gogoi,

accused informed them that DC CORRESPONDENT opposed to the nation’s The BJP leader said for voter turnout? This Assembly Leader of the
upon hearing about the inci- NEW DELHI, FEB. 16 interests — those who those questioning the definitely is external Opposition Umang
dent, they reached Anjuman seek to weaken India at “transparent and inclu- interference in India's Singhar, the depart-

wife on ISI-link controversy

Chauraha where a large The Congress on Sunday every opportunity.” sive” process of appoint- electoral process. Who ment's chief engineer
crowd had assembled and said it is initiating legal Once again, he alleged, ing India’s Election gains from this? Not the Vinod Kumar Devda sus-
incited the mob. action against the BJP and it is the billionaire US- Commissioner had no hes- ruling party for sure!” pended Baghel. — PTI
Subsequently, the mob Assam chief minister Guwahati, Feb. 16: ference after the cabinet
marched towards Hindupura Himanta Biswa Sarma for Amid hullabaloo over meeting, chief minister
Khera Nakhasa Tiraha, where
they fired at police person-
indulging in an “atrocious
smear campaign” and
Congress MP Gaurav
Gogoi’s wife’s alleged ISI
Himanta Biswa Sarma
said the state government ■ ‘Cong leaders flaunt themselves as Hindus during election time’
nel, pelted stones and set a “character assassination” links, the Assam Cabinet will write to the Centre to
police vehicle on fire with
the intent to kill, police said
in a press release.
On November 19, the local
of Congress leader Gaurav
Gogoi and his wife.
Congress general secre-
on Sunday decided not to
register any case against
the parliamentarian or
probe Mr Gogoi’s wife
Elizabeth Colburn’s par-
ticipation in Lok Sabha
MP CM dares Rahul, Kharge for Kumbh dip
tary (communications) his British spouse but campaigns in erstwhile RABINDRA NATH Addressing the “Lodhi” Triveni AICC leadership to do so.
court passed an ex-parte Jairam Ramesh wrote on instructed the DGP to file Kaliabor constituency, CHOUDHURY community here, Mr Sangam to Mr Yadav also took a
order for a survey of the X that the smear cam- an FIR against Pakistan which was won by the BHOPAL, FEB. 16 Yadav said that the take holy swipe at Congress for
mosque by an advocate paign against Mr Gogoi national Ali Tauqeer Congress MP twice, Congress leaders used to dip on the demanding to conduct
commissioner after taking has begun ever since he Sheikh. despite being a British Madhya Pradesh chief go all out to flaunt them- occasion of caste census, saying that it
note of a plea of the Hindu started exposing the Addressing a press con- citizen. — PTI minister Mohan Yadav on selves as Hindus by visit- M a h a was former Prime
side claiming the mosque Assam chief minister's Sunday dared Leader of ing temples during the Kumbh, if Minister Jawaharlal
was built by Mughal emperor corruption. Mr Gogoi is BJP have begun an atro- won the Jorhat Lok Sabha the Opposition in the Lok election time, but never they call Nehru who first stopped
Babur in 1526 after demol- an MP from the Jorhat cious smear campaign tar- seat in June 2024 in spite Sabha Rahul Gandhi and bothered to visit the Mohan Yadav themselves it. He said that the BJP
ishing a temple. Lok Sabha seat. The state geting my colleague of the Assam CM and AICC president prominent Hindu shrines Hindus?,” he said. has undertaken several
On November 24, during a will go for the Assembly Gaurav Gogoi. This is other ministers camping Mallikarjun Kharge to in Mathura and Ayodhya He also asked Congress measures for the develop-
second round of the survey, elections between March character assassination of in Jorhat and campaign- take holy dip in the (Ram temple). veteran and former chief ment of Other Backward
protesting locals clashed to April in 2026. The the worst type. Legal ing against him. It is also Triveni Sangam in “They (Congress lead- minister Digvijay Singh Classes (OBCs) in the
with security personnel, Congress has started action is being initiated because the Jorhat MP Prayagraj in Uttar ers) flaunt themselves as who along with his MLA country.
leading to major violence building up pressure on right away” Mr Ramesh has been in the forefront, Pradesh on the occasion of Hindus during election son Jaivardhan Singh The party has for the
which led to the death of the incumbent BJP gov- said in a post on X. revealing the blatant cor- Maha Kumbh, wondering time. Why have Mr took holy dip in Prayagraj first time accorded consti-
four people and injuries to ernment. “The smear campaign is ruption and blackdeeds of “When they will perform (Rahul) Gandhi and Mr a few days ago, if he had tutional status to the OBC
dozens. “The Assam CM and the because Gaurav Gogoi the Assam CM,” he said. the ritual as Hindus”. Kharge not yet gone to taken permission from the commission, he said.

‘PRAISED KERALA DKS backs Sidda, Can lead C’garh Cong if top Jaishankar, B’desh Hossain
STARTUP GROWTH discuss relations & Bimstec
NOT CPM’S GOVT’ rejects talk over brass gives opportunity: Deo Muscat, Feb. 16:
External affairs minister
Thailand, Myanmar,
Bhutan, and Nepal.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb.
16: Congress MP Shashi
Tharoor on Sunday clarified
that he did not praise the
leadership change
Bengaluru, Feb. 16:
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY
RAIPUR, FEB. 16
the party in Chhattisgarh.
He cited changes of AICC
general secretaries in-
president, he said.
“But I have not been
given any indication in
S. Jaishankar
Bangladesh’s
affairs adviser Touhid
met
foreign

Hossain on Sunday to dis-

Bangladesh will be the
next chair of the Bimstec
summit, which will take
place in Bangkok from
CPI(M)-led government in Deputy chief minister charges of some states and this regard so far”, the cuss bilateral relations April 2 to 4 this year.
Kerala, but instead highlight- D.K. Shivakumar on Veteran Congress leader presidents of Maharashtra Congress leader said. between the two coun- Mr Hossain met Mr
ed the state's progress in the Sunday asserted that T.S. Singh Deo on Sunday and Odisha units of The former deputy chief tries and Bimstec. Jaishankar on the side-
startup sector. Speaking to chief minister did not rule out the possi- Congress recently. minister, however, has- “Met Foreign Affairs lines of the Indian Ocean
reporters, Mr Tharoor said Siddaramaiah is the bility of a change in the The development has tened to add that he is Adviser Md. Touhid Conference in Oman as
that his article undisputed leader of the leadership of the party in given rise to speculation prepared to take up the Hossain of the Interim part of efforts to prevent
in an English Congress party in Chhattisgarh. that there may also be a responsibility (to lead the Government of further strains in bilater-
daily did not Karnataka and empha- D.K. Mr Singh Deo, who was change of leadership of party in Chhattisgarh) if Bangladesh. The conver- al ties.
contain any sised that there is no need Shivakumar Siddaramaiah the former deputy chief Chhattisgarh Congress, given by the Central lead- sation was focused on our The close ties between
political refer- for anyone to make state- minister in the previous he said. ership of the party. bilateral relationship, as India and Bangladesh
ences. He ments “misusing” his
◗ SHIVAKUMAR is a Bhupesh Baghel govern- Following the mounting “It (leading Congress in also on Bimstec,” the min- came under severe strain
emphasised name. strong chief ministerial ment, said that the recent speculation over change Chhattisgarh) is a chal- ister said in a post on X. after the ouster of Sheikh
that his focus His statement came in aspirant and has time changes effected by the in the leadership of lenging responsibility. I The Bay of Bengal Hasina, who was forced to
was solely on response to a section of and again made no party leadership in the Congress in have to move around the Initiative for Multi- leave the country.
Kerala's party leaders, who have secret of his ambition AICC and some state par- Chhattisgarh, his name state (to revive the party). Sectoral Technical and Nobel Peace laureate
growth in been pitching for to become the CM ties has raised the possi- has cropped up as the But I have good rapport Economic Cooperation Mohammad Yunus came
entrepreneur- Shashi Siddaramaiah to com- bility that there may also prospective candidate for with people across (Bimstec) includes seven to power days after
ship and inno- Tharoor plete his full term as chief our leader,” Mr be change in leadership of the post of state Congress Chhattisgarh”, he added. countries: Bangladesh, Hasina fled to India.
vation, aiming to highlight minister, stating that his Shivakumar said in India, Sri Lanka, — PTI
the state’s development in leadership is crucial for response to a question on
that specific area. Mr the party to retain power statements that Mr
Tharoor’s response followed
the political storm triggered
by his article in an English
daily, where he praised
in the next election, amid
speculations about a
potential leadership
change in Karnataka
Siddaramaiah was indis-
pensable to the party if it
wanted to retain power in
the next election.
‘No issue with interfaith marriages, but with deception’
Kerala's entrepreneurial later this year. Speaking to reporters DC CORRESPONDENT cases were a very serious marriages to allege a con- He said, “The Supreme
growth under the LDF gov- Mr Shivakumar, who is here, he said, “Congress MUMBAI, FEB. 16 issue and action must be spiracy by Muslim men to Court has also acknowl-
ernment. While his party also the state Congress party has made taken by the government. convert Hindu women to edged the reality of love
questioned the basis of his president, is a strong Siddaramaiah CM twice. Maharashtra chief minis- The Maharashtra CM Islam through marriage. jihad in its decision. In a
claims, the CPI(M) welcomed chief ministerial aspi- There is no need for any- ter Devendra Fadnavis on said the state government The Maharashtra govern- state like Maharashtra, we
them. “I wrote the article rant and has time and one to misuse his name Sunday said there was cannot remain a mute ment has formed a seven- are constantly seeing that
based on the Global Startup again made no secret of every day. He is our nothing wrong with inter- spectator when the cases member committee to such cases are increasing.
Ecosystem Report 2024, his ambition to become leader, unquestioned faith marriages, but steps of “love jihad” are rising. examine the legal frame- First of all, we all should
which stated that Kerala the CM. leader of the Congress are needed to be taken “It is a reality, and in work for a potential law understand that it is not
Devendra Fadnavis
attracted an investment of “Siddaramaiah is our party. He is serving as against matrimonial Maharashtra, incidents of against forced religious wrong for a person of one
1.7 billion US Dollars within chief minister, he is our chief minister for the sec- alliances through fraud being duped into marriage required in this regard conversions and cases of religion to marry a person
18 months. If anyone chal- leader, we want him for ond time and is doing a and false identity. and then abandoned once will be taken by the state “love jihad”. of another religion. But
lenges the accuracy of this all the polls. We want him good job. I don’t want him Justifying his govern- children are born are on government,” he said. Mr Fadnavis also claimed marrying someone by
fact, I will relay it to those for zilla panchayat, taluk to become food for the ment’s plans to enact a law the rise. It is not right to “Love jihad” is a term that the Supreme Court has lying and using a false
who published the report,” panchayat, Assembly and media (speculations).” against “love jihad”, Mr deliberately lie. Therefore, used by right-wing activists also made observations identity is a serious
he said. — PTI Parliament polls. He is — PTI Fadnavis said that such whatever action is and outfits for interfaith regarding “love jihad”. issue.”
WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025
pg 8

US signals change in stance on

SHORT TAKES AUSTRIA TERMS
KILLING OF TEEN
170 PAKISTANIS

support to Taiwan independence

ISLAMIST ATTACK
DEPORTED FROM Villach, Austria, Feb.
MIDEAST NATIONS 16: A stabbing that left a
teenager dead and five
Islamabad, Feb. 16: Nearly other people injured in
170 Pakistanis have been depo- southern Austria was an
rted from Saudi Arabia, the
United Arab Emirates, and
Washington will support Taipei’s membership in international bodies ‘where applicable’ “Islamist attack”, the
interior minister said on
other countries over the last Taipei, Feb. 16: The US Sunday, with a 23-year-
two days, according to a media
report on Sunday. Saudi aut-
horities deported 94 Pakistanis
state department has rem-
oved a statement on its
website that it does not
US, Russia to meet in Saudi but old Syrian asylum seek-
er held.
Saturday’s attack in

Rubio plays down expectations

involved in begging, drug deal- support Taiwan independ- the city of Villach has
ing, illegal residence, working ence, among changes that shaken the Alpine nati-
without a sponsor, absconding the island’s government on after this week’s col-
from employment, and violat- praised on Sunday as sup- lapse of government ta-
ing contractual agreements, porting Taiwan. Munich, Washington,, Michael McCaul told lks where immigration
Geo News reported quoting The fact sheet, opens Feb. 16: US and Russian Reuters. It was not imme- and security were major
immigration sources. Some of new tab on Taiwan retains officials will meet in Saudi diately clear who they issues.
them were also blacklisted. Washington’s opposition Arabia in the coming days would meet from Russia. Austria had so far only
Another 39 Pakistanis were to unilateral change from to start talks aimed at end- On the sidelines of the seen one jihadist attack,
deported from the UAE. either Taiwan or from ing Moscow’s nearly three- Munich Security Confere- in 2020, when a convict-
China, which claims the year war in Ukraine, a US nce, McCaul said the aim ed Islamic State (IS)
democratically governed lawmaker and a source of the talks was to arrange sympathiser went on a
16 DEAD IN TWO island as its own.
But as well as dropping
familiar with the planning
said on Saturday. Late Russian opposition
a meeting between Trump,
Russian President Vladi-
shooting rampage in
downtown Vienna,
ROAD ACCIDENTS the phrase “we do not sup-
port Taiwan independen-
However, US secretary of
state Marco Rubio played
leader Alexei Navalny’s
mother Lyudmila Navaln-
mir Putin and Zelenskyy
“to finally bring peace and
killing four.
Interior minister Gerh-
IN PAKISTAN ce”, the page has added a
reference to Taiwan’s co-
A carnival float depicting Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
and Kim Jong Un parades through Place Massena during
down expectations on Sun-
day of any breakthrough
aya after laying flowers at
his grave, a year after his
end this conflict.”
A source with knowledge
ard Karner said on Su-
nday the suspect in the
Islamabad, Feb. 16: Sixteen operation with a Pentagon the opening ceremony of the 152nd edition of the Nice at upcoming talks with death, at the Borisovskoye of the plans confirmed the Villach attack — a 23-
people were killed and 45 othe- technology and semicon- Carnival in Nice, on Saturday. — AP Russian officials on end- Cemetery in Moscow, on planned talks in Saudi year-old Syrian asylum
rs injured in two separate road ductor development proj- ing the war in Ukraine. Sunday. — AP Arabia between US and seeker — was radical-
accidents in Pakistan’s Sindh
province, according to police.
In the first accident, five peo-
ple were killed and 10 others
ect and says the US will
support Taiwan’s member-
ship in international org-
anisations “where applica-
Taiwan detects 24 President Donald Trump
had repeatedly insisted he
would end the conflict in a
single day if he returned
PUTIN RESPONSIBLE
Russian officials. The US.
state department did not
immediately respond to a
request for comment.
ised online “in a short
space of time”.
“It is an Islamist attack
with IS connections,”
were injured when the van
they were travelling in collided
with a trailer near Qazi Ahmed
ble”.
The United States, like
most countries, has no for-
China military craft to the White House, but
Rubio stressed it would
“not be easy” to resolve
FOR DEATH OF
NAVALNY, SAYS EU
Trump, who took office
on January 20, has repeat-
edly vowed to swiftly end
Karner told reporters in
Villach in Carinthia
province. — AFP
town of Sindh’s Shaheed mal diplomatic ties with Taipei, Feb. 16: Taiwan of its territory and has such a long-running, bloo- the Ukraine war. He made
Benazirabad district. In anoth- Taiwan but is its strongest said it detected 24 Chinese threatened to bring it dy and complex conflict. Brussels, Feb. 16: The separate phone calls to Pu-
er accident, 11 people were
killed and 35 others injured in
international backer, bou-
nd by law to provide the
military aircraft near the
island on Sunday as a
under its control by force.
“The Royal Canadian
Ukrainian President Vol-
odymyr Zelenskyy, who
EU on Sunday said that
Russia’s President Vladi-
tin and Zelenskyy on Wed-
nesday, leaving Washingto- EAST CONGO’S
a road accident near Ranipur, island with the means to Canadian warship passed Navy’s Halifax-class frig- met with US V-P J.D. Va- mir Putin bore “ultimate n’s European allies alarm-
Khairpur district in the provi-
nce, when a bus from Burewala
defend itself.
“We oppose any unilater-
through the sensitive
Taiwan Strait.
ate HMCS Ottawa sailed
through the Taiwan Strait
nce in Germany on
Friday, said Ukraine was
responsibility” for the de-
ath of Alexei Navalny, as
ed that they will be cut out
of any peace process.
SECOND MAJOR
collided with a rickshaw on the
National Highway.
al changes to the status
quo from either side,” the
It was the first Canadian
naval vessel to transit the
on February 16,” Taiwan’s
foreign ministry said.
not invited to the talks in
Saudi Arabia and Kyiv
it paid tribute on the one-
year anniversary of his
Those fears were largely
confirmed on Saturday
CITY ALSO FALLS
state department website waterway this year, Taiw- “Canada has once again would not engage with passing. The European when Trump’s Ukraine en- Bukavu (Congo), Feb.

NEPAL TO TABLE
reads in the update posted an’s foreign ministry said, taken concrete action to Russia before consulting Union’s foreign policy voy said Europe won’t 16: Rwanda-backed rebe-
on Thursday. “We expect and came days after two uphold the Taiwan Strait’s with strategic partners. chief, Kaja Kallas, said have a seat at the table, ls reached the centre of

FIVE ORDINANCES
cross-Strait differences to US ships made the passa- freedom, peace and open- Zelenskyy also said he Navalny “gave his life for after Washington sent a east Congo’s second lar-
be resolved by peaceful ge. The US and its allies ness, demonstrating its directed his ministers not a free and democratic questionnaire to Europe- gest city, Bukavu, on
means, free from coercion, regularly pass through the stance that the strait is to sign off on a proposed Russia”. — AFP an capitals to ask what Sunday morning and
IN PARLIAMENT in a manner acceptable to
the people on both sides of
180-km (112-mile) Taiwan
Strait to reinforce its stat-
international waters,” it
added. Taiwan said that 24
agreement to give the
United States access to
they could contribute to
security guarantees for
took control of the
South Kivu province
Kathmandu, Feb. 16: A meet- the (Taiwan) Strait.” us as an international wa- Chinese aircraft were det- Ukraine’s rare earth min- rity adviser Mike Waltz Kyiv. administrative office
ing of the ruling parties of Taiwan foreign minister terway, angering China. ected carrying “joint com- erals because the docu- and White House Middle Earlier on Saturday after little resistance
Nepal has reached a consensus Lin Chia-lung “welcomed Beijing has never ruled bat readiness patrols” ment was too focused on East envoy Steve Witkoff Rubio spoke with his from government forces,
to endorse on Tuesday five the support and positive Taiwan, but it claims the with military vessels aro- US interests. will travel to Saudi Ara- Russian counterpart, Ser- many of whom fled the
ordinances in the Upper House stance on US-Taiwan rela- democratic island as part und the island. — AFP Rubio, US national secu- bia, US representative gei Lavrov. — Agencies rebels’ advance.
of the Parliament, dropping a tions demonstrated in the Associated Press jour-
disputed land-related ordi- relevant content" of the nalists witnessed scores

Trump: Not illegal if it saves the country

nance. website, his ministry said of residents cheering on
Members of the ruling allia- in a statement on Sunday. the M23 rebels in central
nce met at the Prime Minister’s The state department Bukavu on Sunday mor-
official residence in Baluwatar and China’s foreign mini- ning as they walked and
on Saturday and agreed to stry did not immediately drove around the city
advance five of the six ordi- respond to requests for co- Washington, Feb. 16: pinned the statement to that are recorded and pla- towards his use of power centre after a dayslong
nances in Parliament, accord- mment outside office hou- President Trump on Satur- the top of his Truth Social yed out on news channels. to the White House in his march from the region’s
ing to official sources. rs. The changes in langu- day posted on social media feed, making it clear it was Trump’s quote is a varia- second term than he did at major city of Goma 63
The ordinance related to land age were first reported by a single sentence that app- not a passing thought but tion of one sometimes the start of his first. The miles (101 km) away,
was put on hold following Taiwan’s official Central ears to encapsulate his at- one he wanted people to attributed to Napoleon powers of the presidency which they captured late
strong objections from some News Agency on Sunday. titude as he tests the nat- absorb. The official White Bonaparte, although its that he returned to were last month.
members. The wording on Taiwan ion’s legal and constitutio- House account on X posted origin is unclear. bolstered by last year’s Several parts of the
independence was also re- nal boundaries in the pro- his message in the Nonetheless, the senti- Supreme Court ruling that city, however, remained
President Donald Trump
HINDI IS OF VITAL
moved in 2022, before bei- cess of upending the feder- evening. ment was familiar: Tru- he is presumptively imm- deserted with residents
ng restored a month later. al government and punish- Now that Trump is back waves to supporters as he mp, through his words and une from prosecution for indoors. The M23 rebels
leaves the Trump Interna-
IMPORTANCE FOR
Taiwan’s government re- ing his perceived enemies. in the White House, he is actions, has repeatedly any crimes he may comm- are the most prominent
jects Beijing’s sovereignty “He who saves his Cou- favouring a new style of tional Golf Club, in West suggested that surviving it using his official powe- of more than 100 armed
claims, saying only the isl- ntry does not violate any communication with the Palm Beach. — AP two assassination attem- rs. During his first weeks, groups vying for control
UN, SAYS OFFICIAL and’s people can decide th-
eir future. Taiwan says it
Law,” Mr. Trump wrote,
first on his social media
American public — almo-
st-daily appearances dire- presidency, he has lever-
pts is evidence that he has
divine backing to enforce
he has signed numerous
executive orders that
of Congo’s mineral-rich
east, and are supported
New York, Feb. 16: Hindi, is already an independent platform Truth Social, and ct from the Oval Office. aged the grandeur of the his will. pushed at the generally by some 4,000 troops
with a speaker base of 600 mill- country called the Repub- then on the website X. In the nearly four weeks historic West Wing office He has brought a far understood limits of presi- from neighbouring Rw-
ion, is of vital importance for lic of China. — Reuters By late afternoon, he had since he returned to the with media gatherings more aggressive attitude dential power. — Agencies anda. — AP
the United Nations, a top offici-
al at the world organisation
UK TO ASK EGYPT
Rubio says Hamas must be
has said. The Permanent
Mission of India to the UN
commemorated World Hindi
Day at its premises here on
Thursday with the theme of
TO RELEASE SON
OF STRIKING MOM
eradicated, truce in doubt
Multilingualism and the
Promotion of Hindi abroad.
Minister of state for women London, Feb. 16: Briti-
and child development Savitri sh Prime Minister Keir
Thakur, the Guest of Honour at Starmer has told a moth-
the event, in her address high- er who has been on hun- Jerusalem, Feb. 16: US
lighted that India has a multi-
lingual and multicultural
ger strike for 140 days
that he will press the
secretary of state Marco
Rubio on Sunday fully ISRAEL RECEIVES
social fabric. Egyptian government to endorsed Israel’s war
File pic of Mauritius former PM Pravind Jugnauth (3rd release her son. aims in the Gaza Strip, SHIPMENT OF U.S.
COPS: U.S. TRANS
R) and India’s EAM S. Jaishankar (4th L) inaugurating In a statement on Sun- saying Hamas must be
India-assisted Mediclinic Project in Mauritius. — PTI day, Starmer confirmed eradicated and throwing HEAVY BOMBS
MAN TORTURED,
that he met Laila Soueif the future of the shaky
and said he will do all truce into further doubt. Jerusalem, Feb. 16: Isra-

MURDERED Money-laundering that I can to secure the

release of Alaa Abd el-
Fattah, a British-Egypti-
Rubio met with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu in Jerusalem
el has received a shipment
of heavy MK-84 bombs
from the United States,

probe: Mauritius
Washington, Feb. 16: A trans- an dual national who at the start of a regional after US President Donald
gender man was murdered in has who has spent more tour, where he is likely to Trump lifted a block im-
the United States after suffer- than five years in an face pushback from Arab posed on the export by the
ing weeks of “repeated acts of Egyptian prison, accus- leaders over President Protesters demanding the immediate release of administration of predec-
— AP

former PM nabbed
violence and torture” at the ed of spreading false Donald Trump’s proposal hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. essor Joe Biden.
hands of multiple people. news on social media. to transfer the Palestinian The MK-84 is an unguid-
Human remains believed to “We will continue to population out of the Gaza not release dozens of rem- dozens of remaining ed 2,000 pound bomb, whi-
be those of Sam Nordquist, 24, raise his case at the hig- Strip and redevelop it aining hostages abducted hostages in exchange for ch can rip through thick
were discovered in a field near Port Louis, Feb. 16: Pol- ● OFFICERS DETAINED hest levels of the Egypt- under US ownership. in its Oct 7, 2023, attack more Palestinian priso- concrete and metal.
Canandaigua in New York state ice in Mauritius on Sun- the 63-year-old along ian government and Netanyahu has welcom- that triggered the war.” ners, a lasting truce and The Biden administra-
on February 13. Five people day arrested the island’s with his wife Kobita press for his release,” ed the plan, and said he Their remarks came just the withdrawal of Israeli tion had declined to clear
were arrested and charged former prime minister Starmer said. and Trump have a comm- two weeks before the first forces, has yet to be nego- them for export to Israel
with second-degree murder Pravind Jugnauth in a Jugnauth on Saturday and A representative of the on strategy for Gaza’s fut- phase of the ceasefire is tiated. Rubio said that out of concern about the
with depraved indifference. money-laundering probe questioned them for sev- family said the meeting ure. Echoing Trump, he set to end. Hamas cannot continue as impact on densely popu-
They were named as Precious and seized stacks of cash eral hours, police sources took place on Friday said “the gates of hell wo- The second phase, in a military or government lated areas of the Gaza
Arzuaga, 38, Jennifer Quijano, in raids on fellow suspe- who asked not to be morning. — AP uld be open if Hamas does which Hamas is to release force. — AP Strip. — Reuters
30, Kyle Sage, 33, Patrick cts’ homes, officials said. named told AFP. Kobita
Goodwin, 30, and Emily Officers detained the 63- Jugnauth was later
Motyka, 19. year-old along with his
wife Kobita Jugnauth on
released and Pravind
Jugnauth was placed
RAIN | PAIN Snowstorms predicted in N-E, tornadoes to hit Mississippi Valley
IN HOSPITAL,
Saturday and questioned
under formal arrest.

Deadly flooding hits US Southeast

them for several hours,

POPE SITS OUT

police sources who asked
not to be named told AFP. of the Jugnauths, as well
Kobita Jugnauth was la- as luxury watches and
SUNDAY MASS ter released and Pravind
Jugnauth was placed un-
stacks of various curren-
cies. Police also searched Louisville (US), Feb. 16: and buildings in Kentucky rains and flooding, allowi-
Vatican City, Feb. 16: Pope der formal arrest in the the home of a local real Heavy rains and dangero- and mudslides blocked ng the state to use its res-
Francis sat out mass and his early hours of Sunday. estate executive and us flooding struck the So- roads in Virginia. Both of ources to help local autho-
traditional Angelus prayer Pravind Jugnauth’s law- seized suitcases of cash, utheast US as much of the the states were under rities. Kentucky Governor
from hospital on Sunday, with a yer Raouf Gulbul told re- local media reported. East endured a renewed flood warnings, along with Andy Beshear preemptive-
Vatican health official saying porters: “He gave his ver- The island’s Financial round of harsh, soggy Tennessee and Arkansas. ly declared a state of emer-
the 88-year-old pontiff needed sion of events and denied Crimes Commission had weather on Saturday, with The National Weather gency in Kentucky, where
to preserve his strength for the the allegations made aga- asked police to detain the at least one fatality report- Service warned residents flash flooding was expect-
Church’s busy Jubilee year. inst him.” He said the ex- Jugnauths and two other ed in Kentucky. to stay off the roads. ed into Sunday. Flash
Francis was admitted on Fri- premier would appear suspects if they tried to A man was found dead in Forecasters also predict- flooding hit some roads in
day to Rome’s Gemelli hospital before a judge later on leave the country. floodwaters in Clay Coun- ed weekend snowstorms Bowling Green and parts
with bronchitis, one of several Sunday. A police incident Prime minister from ty, Kentucky, WKYT-TV re- in the Northeast and the of western Kentucky cou-
bouts of flu or bronchitis he report seen by AFP 2017 to 2024, Pravind is a ported. Clay County Em- threat of tornadoes for the ld face up to 8 inches (20.3
has caught in recent winters. detailed a search by offi- member of one of the ergency Management offi- Mississippi Valley. centimetres) of rain.
The Vatican said that doctors cers at the home of anoth- dynasties that have domi- cials did not immediately West Virginia Governor “We want to specifically
prescribed “absolute rest”, er suspect, who works for nated the leadership of respond to a message from Patrick Morrisey issued a put assets in places that
although they said tests had a local leisure company. Mauritius, a stable and AP seeking additional state of emergency in 10 flood and have flooded in
indicated some improvements It said they seized docu- prosperous Indian Ocean information. southern counties on Sat- the past,” Beshear said on A kayaker navigates floodwaters in rural Knox County,
in his condition. ments bearing the names island nation. — AFP Water submerged cars urday night due to heavy social media. — AP Kentucky, on Saturday. — AP
SPECIAL
DECCAN CHRONICLE | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 9

OTHER STORIES WATCHES, CURRENCY SEIZED IN RAIDS

Mauritius ex-PM arrested

AI’s transformative
role in drug research
& discovery

in money-laundering probe
Chennai: At AICON’25, an
International Conference on
AI in drug discovery and phar-
maceutical research, Mr. M. N.
Sridhar, Director, DCA, Tamil
Nadu, highlighted AI's trans-
formative role. Port Louis: Police in Jugnauths and two other third time.
The event, organised by SRM Mauritius on Sunday suspects if they tried to Ramgoolam's govern-
College of Pharmacy and arrested the island's for- leave the country, in a ment reopened the Chagos
SRMIST, featured 450+ dele- mer prime minister notice issued on Saturday, negotiations, reportedly
gates and 13 speakers. Key Pravind Jugnauth in a citing investigations into seeking greater financial
addresses included Dr. V. money-laundering probe “a case of money-launder- compensation and to rene-
Chitra on AI in research, Mr. J. and seized stacks of cash ing”. gotiate the length of the
Jayaseelan on accelerating in raids on fellow suspects' Chagos islands talks: proposed lease for a joint
drug discovery, Dr. Makarand homes, officials said. Prime minister from 2017 UK-US military base.
Avachat on AI-driven develop- Officers detained the 63- to 2024, Pravind Jugnauth Under the Chagos deal,
ment, and Prof. C. year-old along with his is a member of one of the Britain will retain a lease
Muthamizhchelvan on inter- wife Kobita Jugnauth on dynasties that have domi- for the base on the island
disciplinary research. The con- Saturday and questioned nated the leadership of of Diego Garcia. Both
ference concluded with the them for several hours, Mauritius, a stable and Mauritius and Britain
release of the AICON’25 sou- police sources said. Kobita relatively prosperous have said US President
venir and a Pharma Pearls Jugnauth was later Indian Ocean island Donald Trump's adminis-
newsletter. released and Pravind nation, since it became tration will have a say on
SRM College of Pharmacy is Jugnauth was placed independent from Britain the final terms of the
a leading institution in phar- under formal arrest in the in 1968. He oversaw a his- agreement.
maceutical education and
research, holding a Platinum+
rating in QS I-GAUGE rank-
early hours of Sunday.
Pravind Jugnauth's
lawyer Raouf Gulbul told
toric deal with Britain for
Mauritius to regain sover-
eignty over the Chagos
The base is currently
leased by Britain to the
United States and has
Tennis anti-doping
ings and an 11th place in NIRF.

Hospital research
reporters: “He gave his
version of events and
denied the allegations
made against him.” He
er suspect, who works for
a local leisure company. It
Police also searched the
home of a local real estate
Islands following a long-
running dispute.
He and his Militant
Socialist Movement suf-
become one of its key mil-
itary facilities in the Asia-
Pacific.
During the election cam-
process ‘completely
team awarded
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, FEB. 16
said the ex-premier would
appear before a judge
Sunday.
A police incident report
said they seized docu-
ments bearing the names
of the Jugnauths, as well
as luxury watches and
executive and seized suit-
cases of cash, local media
reported.
The island's Financial
fered a crushing defeat in
tense elections
November. He ceded office
in

to centre-left rival Navin

paign, both camps prom-
ised to improve the lives of
ordinary Mauritians who
face cost-of-living difficul-
broken’: Pegula
detailed a search by offi- stacks of various curren- Crimes Commission had Ramgoolam, who became ties despite strong eco- Dubai: World number fair for players when
A research team of spine sur- cers at the home of anoth- cies. asked police to detain the prime minister for the nomic growth. — AFP five Jessica Pegula there's just so much
geons and radiologists at believes the handling of inconsistency and you
Ganga Hospital bagged the high-profile doping cases have no idea.”
prestigious ISSLS Award for involving Jannick Sinner Pegula added that any
Best International
Research for 2025.
Spine

The work titled ‘Integrated

KCG Technology Chinese thrilled at animation and Iga Swiatek has
shown that the “process
is completely broken”.
emails the players have
been receiving regarding
anti-doping cases contain
explanations that are too

movie release worldwide

total end plate score’ to And top-ranked Aryna
Identify preclinical discs at
risk for degeneration was
selected from over numerous
research papers submitted and
college signs Beijing: Chinese fans of
Sabalenka admits she
cannot trust the tennis
anti-doping system and
has become “too scared”
easy to come up with and
are just ways for anti-dop-
ing organisations to justi-
fy their inconsistent rul-
shortlisted from all over the
world.
The ISSLS Award for spine
research is one of the most
MoU with Ernet blockbuster film “Ne Zha
2” packed into cinemas in
Beijing on Sunday, snap-
ping selfies and queueing
of it.
Sinner's long doping
saga came to an end on
Saturday after he agreed
ings and processes. “If
you're clean or not, the
process is completely bro-
ken,” she stated.
prestigious awards and is DC CORRESPONDENT up for movie posters and to a three-month ban “I think it needs to be
fiercely competed by scientists CHENNAI, FEB. 16 other merchandise. The from tennis, the world seriously looked at and
from all over the world. The animated film, now number one admitting considered. I feel like
selection is by a top-level inter- KCG College of China's highest-grossing “partial responsibility” they have so much power
national committee headed by Technology has entered a movie of all time, was for team mistakes which to ruin someone's career,
Prof Helena Brisby, MoU with the Education released overseas last led to him twice testing as well. I think there
Gothenburg University, and Research Network week, sparking hopes positive for traces of needs to be something
Sweden. (ERNET) India, an among locals that it would clostebol in March last done about that because it
The study caries an award of autonomous scientific gain the same acclaim year. just seems unfair. I don't
USD 20,000 and will be pub- society under the abroad. Sinner was facing a think any of the players
lished as a lead scientific arti- Ministry of Electronics The movie has broken potential ban of two years trust the process at all
cle in the European Spine and Information multiple box office after the World Anti- right now. Zero. It's just a
Journal. The paper will also be Technology (MeitY), records and is the first to Doping Agency (WADA) horrible look for the
presented in a plenary session Central Government to earn more than $1 billion appealed to the Court of sport.”
during the annual meeting of foster collaboration in in a single market - over- dy, loosely based on the and scenery portrayed in Arbitration for Sport 'Too scared': Sabalenka:
ISSLS in Atlanta, USA from research, training, and Institutions, said that taking “Star Wars: The 16th-century novel the new film. “I'm confi- (CAS) against his initial She refused to comment
May 12-16, 2025 where more development across key combining KCG Tech’s Force Awakens” which “Investiture of the Gods”, dent that overseas audi- exoneration by the on the outcome of the
than 2,500 spine surgeons and technological domains. expertise with ERNET’s made $936 million in the tells the tale of a rebel- ences will also love this International Tennis Sinner case but says she
spine researchers from all The partnership focuses resources will lead to United States in 2015. lious young deity Ne Zha movie,” he added. Integrity Agency (ITIA), has become too wary of
international societies will on areas such as impactful research out- “Ne Zha 2” hit the big who uses his powers to Also at the cinema, announced in August. falling foul to the sport's
come together for the meeting. Networking, Internet of comes and contribute to screen in Australia and battle formidable foes mother Wen Juan was In a surprising move, strict anti-doping rules.
The study was performed by Things (IoT), Quantum technological advance- New Zealand on Thursday, after his village is accompanied by her two WADA withdrew its “You just start to be more
the group - Dr S Rajasekaran, Communications, Cyber ment in India. Dr. Annie one day ahead of its destroyed. sons, aged four and 12, appeal and came to an careful. For example,
Dr BT Pushpa, Dr Security, Artificial Jacob, Director of KCG release in the United Released domestically intentionally dressed in agreement with Sinner to before I wouldn't care
Gnanaprakash Gurusamy, Dr Intelligence (AI) and College of Technology, States and Canada. on Jan. 29 to coincide with red and yellow -- the same accept a three-month ban. about leaving my glass of
Karthik Ramachandran, Dr TA Machine Learning (ML), the agreement will At a cinema in Sanlitun, the Lunar New Year holi- colours Ne Zha wears in In a statement, WADA water and go to the bath-
Yirdaw, Dr S Basu, Dr JS and Optical enhance research capabil- one of Beijing's most pop- day, a prime movie-going the film -- along with her said “Sinner did not room in a restaurant.
Kamodia, Dr AM Abdelwahed, Communication. It out- ities and provide students ular commercial districts, time in China, the movie husband and parents. She intend to cheat” but Now, I'm not going to
Dr SV Anand, Dr Ajoy Prasad lines plans for joint train- with access to the latest fan Zhou Jingwen told has reignited the coun- praised the movie for would serve his suspen- drink from the same glass
Shetty and Dr Rishi M Kanna. ing programs, workshops, technologies and AFP she was about to see try's film industry after reflecting “a more mod- sion as he is responsible of water,” said the
seminars, and confer- research opportunities. the film for the third time. 2024 saw box office ern understanding of par- for the actions of his Belarusian world number
ences. The agreement Dr. M. Muthukannan, “I think it's different from receipts slump 23 percent ent-child relationships”. entourage. one.
BookAChange to facilitates ERNET per-
sonnel pursuing
Principal of KCG College
of Technology, noted that
traditional American ani-
mated films,” the 29-year-
compared to a year earlier.
The original “Ne Zha”
The film depicts Ne
Zha's parents as support-
Swiatek accepted a one-
month ban after testing
“You just become a bit
more aware of stuff and
democratise access to advanced degrees at KCG
Tech and allows ERNET
the opportunity
ERNET personnel to pur-
for old said, adding that she
felt it would be well-
became China's highest
grossing animated film
ive and encouraging,
departing from the strict
positive for the banned
heart drug trimetazidine
this thing gets to your
head that, like, if some-
music & performing arts scientists to serve as
research supervisors
sue research degrees at
KCG Tech and for their
received abroad and was
“rich with Chinese
after it was released in
2019. According to Zhang,
Asian family stereotype.
“It inherits elements from
(TMZ) late last year. The
23-year-old Pole had
one used a cream on you
and you test positive,
Coimbatore: BookMyShow alongside KCG faculty. scientists to act as mythological back- moviegoers abroad could tradition but also adapts pulled out of the WTA's they're going to go for you
Foundation has launched Dr. Anand Jacob research supervisors will ground”. gain a better understand- them, which I find really Asian swing in and they're not going to
BookAChange, a not-for-profit Verghese, Chairman of enrich the academic envi- A sequel five years in the ing of Chinese culture well done,” Wen added. September-October citing believe you or anything.
initiative aimed at democratis- the Hindustan Group of ronment. making, the fantasy-come- after seeing the costumes — AFP “personal matters”. “You just become too
ing access to music and per- Pegula, last year's US scared of the system. I
forming arts for underprivi- Open finalist and a mem- don't see how I can trust
leged individuals and communi- ber of the WTA Players' the system.”
ties in India.
Launch of the initiative is
dedicated to enriching the lives
of underprivileged talent
Seminar on using construction waste Council, said the incon-
sistencies in the way
cases are being processed
and judged is creating an
American world num-
ber three Coco Gauff has
not paid much attention
to the details of the recent
through music and perform- DC CORRESPONDENT The seminar focused on Utlisation of con- Dr. S. Nagan, Professor construction practices, unfair environment for anti-doping cases and is
ance arts. Originally launched CHENNAI, FEB. 16 sustainable waste man- struction demoli- at Thiagarajar College of and minimizing material all tennis players. instead sticking to her
as BookASmile in 2014, the ini- agement and innovative Engineering, Madurai, waste to align with global “I think my reaction is strategy of avoiding tak-
tiative has evolved into A one-day seminar on ways to repurpose con- tion and industrial elaborated how construc- environmental goals. that, whether you think ing any supplements to
BookAChange with a renewed “Utilisation of struction and industrial waste in the con- tion debris can be separat- Industry experts, he did or you don't, or minimise the risk of test-
vision to democratise access to Construction Demolition waste. M. Venkatachalam, struction industry ed, processed, and reused researchers, and students whatever side you're on, ing positive for any
music and performing arts. & Industrial Waste in the Director (Power), NLCIL, to create valuable materi- took part in the seminar the process just seems to banned substance.
The initiative has pledged 500 Construction Industry” emphasised that the Earth was discussed als such as aggregates for organized by Dr. S. be completely not a “I trust that everyone is
music scholarships aimed at was organised by the civil is a debt we owe to future threadbare concrete. He emphasised Thirugnasambandam, process,” the American doing what they can to
empowering talented individu- division of the Institution generations and must be the role of green technolo- Professor at Annamalai told reporters in Dubai on protect the sport. As a
als from underprivileged back- of Engineers (India), safeguarded through gies in reducing waste and University. Earlier, A. Sunday. “It seems to just player, that's all I can
grounds across India. It Neyveli Local Centre, in responsible and sustain- promoting sustainability Eraniyan, Honorary be whatever decisions hope for,” said the former
includes Hip-Hop Theatre, association with NLC able practices. He high- in the construction indus- Secretary, welcomed the and factors they take into US Open champion. “I
Indian Classical Choirs, Mobile India Limited (NLCIL), lighted that no material is (C&D) waste can be effec- try. The event also includ- gathering, and M. consideration, and they just hope it's more for the
Music Studios, and live music Annamalai University, truly waste and that with tively recycled and repur- ed discussions on embrac- Anbalagan, Joint just make up their own protection of the sport
concert experiences for benefi- and CK Engineering proper technology, con- posed for various applica- ing new technologies, Honorary Secretary, pro- ruling. “I don't really and not just out to, like,
ciaries across India. College, Cuddalore. struction and demolition tions. implementing sustainable posed the vote of thanks. understand how that's get players.” — AFP

Stephen King and Sendak reimagine ‘Hansel and Gretel’

New York: An upcoming edition the project after seeing Sendak’s Hansel and Gretel for much of the Grimm canon.
of “Hansel and Gretel” combines illustrations. my life.” “Generally speaking, most of
the dark and singular talents of “Two of his pictures in particu- Representatives for King say he Grimm is about heroic children.
two literary giants who apparent- lar spoke to me: One was of the has no memory of meeting ‘Hansel and Gretel’ are the most
ly never met: Stephen King and wicked witch on her broom with Sendak, although King has heroic of them all,” said Sendak,
the late Maurice Sendak. a bag of kidnapped children rid- expressed admiration for the known for “Where the Wild
HarperCollins Publishers ing behind her; the other was of musical “Really Rosie,” a Sendak- Things Are,” “In the Night
announced that the King-Sendak the infamous candy house Carole King collaboration. Kitchen” and other children’s
re-imagining of the famed becoming a terrible face. I Lynn Caponera, the Sendak favourites. “It’s the toughest
Brothers Grimm tale about two thought, ‘This is what the house foundation’s executive director, story in the world and people are
lost children in a frightening for- really looks like, a devil sick with said in a statement that she afraid of it, yet it’s famous
est is scheduled for Sept. 2. King’s sin, and it only shows that face thought King ideal because out- because it’s so truthful.” — AP
words will be complemented by when the kids turn their backs. I side of the Grimms, “he’s the
sketches Sendak drew up for set wanted to write that!’” King said master of scary stories and a
and costume designs for a 1997 in a statement issued through wonderful writer to boot.” >>>>> Late author and
production of the Humperdinck HarperCollins. Sendak, who died in 2012, spoke illustrator Maurice
opera adaptation. “To me, it was the essence of about Hansel and Gretel around Sendak and
The book was initiated by the this story and, really, all fairy the time he was working on the Stephen King are two literary
Maurice Sendak Foundation. tales: a sunny exterior, a dark and opera. In an interview published giants who never met. Their sin-
King, author of “The Shining,” terrible centre, brave and in the 2003 book “The Art of gular talents are being combined
“Carrie” and other horror clas- resourceful children. In a way, I Maurice Sendak” he called the in an upcoming edition
sics, said he decided to agree to have been writing about kids like fairy tale “the most profound” of
CHENNAI | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025
pg 10

quick Japan sees India viable FY25 merchandise exports

set to hit $446.5 bn: EXIM
BITES for China plus strategy SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, FEB. 16 TRADE BUZ TOTAL MERCHANDISE exports to
reach $124.8 bn with a growth of
Cos looking to diversify supply chains to reduce dependence on China India’s total merchandise IN FY24, 3.64% in March quarter.
INDICATORS % exports for FY25 are merchandise
exports decline POSITIVE GROWTH rate in total
Sensex 75,939.21 -0.26
New Delhi, Feb. 16: Post
the Covid-19 pandemic,
FAVOURABLE DESTINATION JAPAN expected to be $446.5 bil-
lion, witnessing 2.2 per 3.1% to $437.06 bn merchandise exports likely to
Japanese companies are channelises cent increase over $437.06 against $451.07 bn continue in first quarter of FY26.
Nifty 50 22,929.25 -0.44 WHAT JAPAN nearly
eyeing India as a base as
MAKES India encourage
billion of FY24, finds in previous INDIA’S merchandise
$44 bn
S&P 500* 6,114.63 -0.01 they adopt the ‘China Plus EXIM Bank. fiscal.
One’ strategy to diversify even more companies to THE ‘China In FY24, merchandise exports from April to
Dollar (`) 86.83 0.00
their manufacturing and compelling is relocate into the Indian Plus One’ exports had declined 3.10 December 2024 valued at
Pound Sterling (`) 109.29 0.67 its well- production strategy has $321.71 bn, a 1.6% increase
supply chains to reduce economy over per cent to $437.06 billion
Euro (`) 91.00 0.46 dependence on China, established either domesti- two decades. prompted against $451.07 billion in from same period in 2023.
Gold (10gm)* (`) 84,710▲000 +0.03 experts from Deloitte said. business and INDIA cally or to India Japanese com- the previous fiscal.
The strategy involves talent overtakes by allocating panies to Non-oil exports are fore-
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 74.64 -0.13 setting up production faci- networks casted at $382 billion, billion, with a y-o-y ners. The positive growth
China as substantial explore and
lities in alternative coun- while non-oil and non-ge- growth of 10.1 per cent, rate in total merchandise
IN 10-Yr bond yield +6.705 -0.006 across these biggest des- funds. invest in India, exports, non-oil exports,
tries, with India emerging ms and jewellery exports during Q4 FY25.
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.478 -0.047 as significant beneficiary. regions. tination of aiming to are forecast to touch $350 India’s merchandise and non-oil and non-gems
* As of 8:30 PM IST “Post-Covid, Japanese Japanese diversify their billion for FY25. exports from April to and jewellery exports, are
CORPORATIONS form strategic supply chains
companies have been AMONG FDI. partnerships and expanding
In the March quarter, December 2024 were val- likely to continue in the
actively exploring China- and leverage total merchandise exports ued at $321.71 billion, a 1.6 first quarter of the next
nations operations in India to tap into the country’s per cent increase from the financial year.
Simplified I-T Bill
plus supply chain strate- are expected to reach
gies, with India emerging investing in India, large domestic market. $124.8 billion with a gro- same period in 2023. The outlook is, however,
economic
as a key destination. Whi- Japan holds the fifth wth of 3.64 per cent. Non- Positive growth in subject to risks of global
potential.
made available le some companies retu-
rned to Japan, others are
position in terms of
cumulative FDI
— ROMAL
SHETTY,
oil exports are expected to
reach $109.3 billion, mark-
India’s exports could be as
a result of strong agricul-
trade policy uncertainty,
rising geo-economic

on tax portal inflows.

looking at India not just as ing an 11.3 per cent grow- tural harvest, revival in fragmentation and per-
a manufacturing hub, but CEO, Deloitte th. Non-oil and non-gems manufacturing activity sisting geo-political
as a gateway to high- South Asia and jewellery exports are and improving demand tensions, found Exim
Income Tax payers can now growth markets like the forecast to amount $98.5 prospects in trading part- Bank.
match the sections of Income Middle East and Africa,” OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, OVER 200 INBOUND DEALS HAVE TAKEN PLACE
Tax Act, 1961, with the corre- Deloitte Japan chief exec- BETWEEN JAPAN AND INDIA.
sponding clauses in simplified
I-T Bill, 2025, on the tax depa-
rtment portal. Also, section to
section mapping as per Income
utive officer Kenichi
Kimura said.
While the sheer scale of
India’s domestic market is
ment has actively support-
ed this shift by allocating
substantial funds to enco-
companies to explore and
invest in India, aiming to
diversify their supply cha-
2023. In contrast, India has
experienced a steady rise
in Japanese FDI, reaching
Valuation concerns turning
Tax Act, 1961 and section num-
ber as per new bill. A taxpayer
can select the section of I-T
Act, 1961, from a drop down
menu and accordingly the cor-
a major draw, what makes
India even more compell-
ing is its well-established
business and talent netwo-
urage companies to reloc-
ate production either
domestically or to India.
Japanese corporations
ins and leverage the coun-
try’s economic potential.
“India has overtaken
China as the biggest desti-
$6 billion in 2023 - marking
the first time India has
overtaken China in FDI
inflows from Japan.
marts volatile, says Emkay
rks across these regions. are forming strategic part- nation of Japanese FDI,” India is poised to attract RAVI RANJAN PRASAD telecom our key over LTA of 37.9 times; individ-
responding clause in the I-T Bill “While Japanese busi- nerships and expanding he said, quoting data from a significant portion of MUMBAI, FEB. 16 weight sectors,” Emkay ual mid and small cap
will appear. nesses have yet to fully tap operations in India to tap Japan External Trade the capital being redirect- Global Financial Services indices are also trading
into this potential, we see into its large domestic Organisation. ed from China -- a poten- Market fall is not due to said below the LTA.
India as not just a market, market and competitive Foreign direct invest- tial wall of capital that foreign investors selling The expected stability in Institutional flows have
but a critical supply chain labour costs. ment (FDI) balance of pay- could reshape the region’s but on valuation concer- earnings forecasts has not remained resilient, feels
hub that can drive region- Deloitte South Asia CEO ments basis from Japan to investment landscape. ns, said Emkay Global played out yet. We main- Emkay Global with strong
al and global success,” Romal Shetty said the China has declined signif- Japan has been a pre- Financial Services in its tain that the downgrade domestic support.
Kimura said. ‘China Plus One’ strategy icantly, from $13 billion in mier source of foreign Q3 earnings review. cycle is largely done, “The year to date
The Japanese govern- has prompted Japanese 2012 to around $3 billion in capital for India. — PTI The third quarter of especially if there Nifty collapse of
FY25 earnings season was is a consumption 3.4 per cent has
disappointing, with sin- rec-overy in FY26 more to do with

44 CPSES HAVE TOP

LEVEL EXECUTIVE
Central banks use derivatives gle-digit profit growth for
Nifty and BSE500. This
triggered another round
of downgrades, though
bas-ed on easier
monetary policy
and impro-vement
in employment
valuations and
earnings down-
grades than with
institutional flows.

Godrej Properties POSITIONS VACANT to halt currency slide vs dollar less severe than in Octo-
ber, 2024. The markets re-
main volatile with small,
mid caps selling off 15.6
trends, it added.
According to Emkay
analysts valuations froth
has gone, but not touched
Domestic flows have
held up at least till
January, and even small
and mid cap funds have
acquires land for SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, FEB. 16
Mumbai, Feb.
Central banks across Asia
16: the Indonesian rupiah
have been two of Asia’s
per cent since January.
“We expect the market to
rock-bottom.
The Nifty is now trading
not seen any major bleed-
ing. FPI selling has start-

housing projects Around 44 central public

sector enterprises have
are increasingly using
derivatives to protect
their currencies against a
worst performing curren-
cies over the past 12
months, both losing more
stay under pressure thro-
ugh this quarter, but to
recover from Q1 FY26 as
at a one year forward P/E
of 19.3 times near its 10
year long time average
ed to ease – the small and
mid cap sell-off indicates
that the source of market
Godrej Properties acquired 12 top level executive posi- strong dollar, raising than 4 per cent of their earnings stabilise and (LTA). The savage correc- weakness is not FPI sell-
land parcels during the April- tions vacant and some of questions over how long value against the dollar. global stresses ease. We tion in small and midcaps ing. We expect flows to sta-
December period of this fiscal them have been vacant they can do so and whet- The election of US see the Nifty in a buy zone has derated the Nifty bilise once earnings
to develop housing projects since 2019. her they are just storing President Donald Trump at 22,500, with discre- Midsmallcap400 index downgrades abate,”
worth `23,450 crore, and plans Out of the 272 opera- up trouble for the future. has ramped up pressure tionary, healthcare, and P/E to 30.1 times, below Emkay Global said.
to buy more in ongoing quarter tional CPSEs, 44 sched- The Reserve Bank of on emerging-market cen-
to expand business amid stro- uled operational CPSEs India’s net dollar short tral banks. Trump’s
ng consumer demand. Godrej
Properties executive chairper-
son Pirojsha Godrej said we
under the administrative
control of 25 ministries or
departments do not have
forward position — the
amount of dollars that
will be sold at a future
● The use of derivatives
in addition to spot trades
threats of tariffs have
fueled waves of currency
depreciation against the
Hero MotoCorp bets on new ASSAM SUMMIT TO
had guided for `20,000 crore,
so we’ve already crossed full
full-time chairperson,
chief managing director,
date for a pre-set price —
hit a new high of $68 bil-
to push back against the
dollar is raising concerns
dollar, while his willing-
ness to label other coun- products, segments for growth FOCUS ON TOURISM,
year guidance for business
development
managing directors or
directors, the government
lion in December.
Meanwhile, Bank Indon-
about the risk that selling
pressure is being deferred
tries as currency manipu-
lators has raised the polit- New Delhi, Feb. 16: The
RENEWABLE ENERGY
informed Lok Sabha. esia’s net short book rea- rather than removed. ical scrutiny of interven- two-wheeler maker Hero FC CORRESPONDENT
The list of 44 CPSEs ched $19.6 billion, its high- tion. MotoCorp expects he dou- HYDERABAD, FEB. 16
include, Bharat Sanchar est since at least 2015, “It’s clearly a very sensi- ble-digit revenue growth

HFCL looks to up
Nigam, Chennai Petrole- show latest official data. “It’s basically pushing tive issue, particularly in next fiscal riding on the The Government of
um Corporation, Hindust- The swelling forward out currency depreciation the environment we are back of continued invest- Assam will host its
an Copper, Hindustan Pet- books point to a shift in to a later date and in the now in, when there’s a lot ments on new products ‘Advantage Assam 2.0:
revenues from roleum Corporation, HLL
Lifecare, HMT and HMT
strategy among central
banks intervening to
meantime, keeping head-
line reserves high as a
of scrutiny by the US with
regards to fair trade and
and segments, according
to chief financial efficer in our commitment
Investment
Infrastructure Summit
and

export markets (International), India defend their currencies. way of displaying confide- currency manipulation,” Vivek Anand. towards investing behind 2025’ on February 25-26 at
Tourism Development But the use of derivatives nce,” said Dhiraj Nim, a said Claudio Piron, co- The company, which the premium and EV port- Khanapara in Guwahati.
Corporation, National in addition to spot trades currency strategist at head of currency and reported a revenue of folio and improved cus- The summit will be
Domestic telecom gear maker Handloom Development to push back against the Australia and New rates strategy at Bank of `10,260 crore for the tomer service in store inaugurated by Prime
HFCL is betting on growth Corporation, Mazagon dollar is raising concerns Zealand Banking America. “I don’t think December quarter, also with Hero 2.0 and Premia Minister Narendra Modi.
from overseas sales and uptake Dock Shipbuilders, about the risk that selling Group.“I’m a bit worried there’s a desire to be in the anticipates a double-digit and online with invest- The two-day event is
of defence supplies. “We are Southeastern Coalfields, pressure is being deferred about that scenario.” market excessively inter- revenue growth in the ments behind digital and expected to witness the
appointing our own employees, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam rather than removed. The Indian rupee and vening.” — Bloomberg current fiscal. technology,” Anand said. participation of top
distributors, and dealers in key and Fertilizers and “This year, the guidance The company is upgrad- industry leaders, policy-
global markets. Our goal is to Chemicals (Travancore). we have given is for dou- ing some of its existing makers, and investors

Musk to unveil new AI bot

achieve a substantial rise in According to the govern- ble-digit revenue growth. sales outlets under Hero from across the
export revenue from our optic ment, the administrative Looking at our first nine 2.0 theme. It is also setting globe, according to chief
fibre segment, with a signifi- ministry (AM) requests months performance and up premium showrooms minister Himanta Biswa
cant portion of revenue coming the public enterprises looking at how this quar- under the Premia brand. Sarma
from international markets,” selection board (PESB) to ter (fourth) has started, Anand stated that the The summit will focus
said Mahendra Nahata, compa- initiate the selection San Francisco, Feb. 16: through the data to we believe that there will company remains positive on key sectors such as
ny’s managing director. process for filling up such Elon Musk’s artificial achieve logical consisten- be a repeat next year, a about the growth tourism, renewable ener-
board level posts in intelligence (AI) start-up cy, Musk said. double-digit revenue prospects of the domestic gy, aerospace and defence
CPSEs. After obtaining xAI will release its Grok 3 Grok 3’s launch comes as growth,” Anand said in an two-wheeler industry. manufacturing, electron-
recommendations of chatbot on Monday, with countries rush to intro- analyst call. “With the continuity of ics and semiconductors,

Aurobindo to send PESB, the concerned AM

processes the proposal for
describing it as the
smartest AI on earth.
duce AI chatbots that are
more sophisticated and
The company's consoli-
dated revenue from opera-
demand and recovery in
the broader two-wheeler
mobility and logistics,
bamboo, fragrance and

supplies to Europe
filling up posts. Musk teased the planned cheaper to make. tions for FY24 stood at markets for both rural flavours, and food and
As per the guidelines, launch of Grok 3 chatbot DeepSeek, the Chinese `37,789 crore as compared and urban ramp up of beverages.
recommendations to fill during a video conference start-up that stunned mar- with `34,158 cr in FY23. 125cc portfolio, new prod- The event aims to posi-
from China facility Board level vacancies
arising from superannua-
at the World Government
Summit in Dubai, calling The model was trained
kets with a model on par
with OpenAI’s ChatGPT,
On the business outlook,
he noted that the company
uct launches and strong
investment behind build-
tion Assam as a major
investment hub and drive
tion are generally sent by it an AI model that would on synthetic data and is is aggressively recruiting would continue its invest- ing power brands, we the economic growth
Aurobindo Pharma will com- capable of reflecting on specialists in a signal of
the PESB six months outperform every compet- ments behind new prod- expect to grow ahead of through policy reforms,
mence supplies to Europe from mistakes that it makes by its rapidly expanding
prior to occurrence of ing tool that’s been ucts and segments. the two wheeler industry,” MoU signings, and the
its China facility from April going back and forth ambition.
vacancy. released so far. — Bloomberg “We remain consistent he added. — PTI sectoral discussions.
onwards, according to chief
financial officer Santhanam

Apple Intelligence will have features like Writing Tools interface

Subramanian. The Hyderabad-
SMART | DEVICE
based drug maker commenced
operations at the facility in the
last week of November 2024
China sees inflows from hedge
and is now ramping up the pro-
duction. “The China plant will
start billing sometime in the
month of April, mainly to the
European markets,” he said.
Apple Vision Pro headset to get upgrades funds on DeepSeek euphoria
Beijing, Feb.
DeepSeek’s breakthrough
16: month amid such reallo-
cations, while India’s mar-
Cupertino (US), Feb. 16: for developers as soon as Vision Pro for viewing in artificial intelligence is ket has shrunk by more
Apple is planning to add this week, said the people. BETTER USER EXPERIENCE spatial content tailored to helping drive a rotation of than $720 billion.
Apple Intelligence to its Apple Intelligence on the APPLE ADDS a new app to device, including 3D imag- stock funds back into The MSCI China Index is
Printed & Published by Vision Pro headset, along Vision Pro will include APPLE is making the es and panoramas aggre- China from India. on track to outperform its
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan with an updated mode for standard features like the software additions about the Vision Pro for viewing gated from sources. Hedge funds have been Indian counterpart for a
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed & guest users and a spatial writing tools interface, a year after releasing the spatial content tailored to The company has been piling into Chinese equi- third-straight month, the
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses content app, as it seeks to genmojis and the image Vision device, including 3D images slow thus far to release ties at the fastest pace in longest such streak in two
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot, boost device sales. playground app. Pro. and panoramas aggregated media for the headset, but months as bullishness on years. DeepSeek has
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai. The company aims to The addition of Apple from outside sources. the app is designed to spur the DeepSeek-driven tech- shown that China actually
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No. roll out the features as Intelligence to the Vision interest in the spatial nology rally adds to hopes has companies that are
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1. part of a visionOS 2.4 soft- Pro comes at an important media category and drum for more stimulus. forming a vital part of the
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in ware upgrade targeted for time: Alphabet’s Google user interface. looks like a Vision Pro. up more use of product. China’s onshore and off- AI ecosystem, said Ken
whole or in part without written per-
as early as April, accord- recently announced its The first devices with Apple is making the soft- Vision Pro’s new mode shore equity markets Wong, an Asian equi-
mission of The Editor, Financial
Chronicle ® is prohibited.
ing to people with knowl- own mixed-reality operat- the Google OS will launch ware additions about a will allow the user setup have added more ty portfolio special-
edge of the matter. ing system - Android XR - later this year, starting year after releasing the process to be controlled than $1.3 trillion ist at Eastspring
The enhancements will that integrates its Gemini with a Samsung Vision Pro. It is also via an iPhone for the first in total value in Investments.
become available in beta AI platform deep into the Electronics headset that adding a new app to the time. — Bloomberg just the past — Bloomberg
GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025
pg 11

IN FULL FORCE
WOMEN’S PREMIER | LEAGUE
SHORT TAKES
Mumbai Indians
rope in Mujeeb
All-round Giants
Mumbai: Five-time champions
Mumbai Indians on Sunday
announced the signing of
Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Indian team start training in Dubai, injury scare for Pant
overshadow UP
Ur Rahman as a replacement Vadodara, Feb. 16:
for Allah Ghazanfar who has Dubai, Feb. 16: A Skipper Ashleigh BRIEF SCORES
been ruled out of the IPL 2025 focussed Mohammed Gardner starred with
due to an injury. Shami spent consider- both bat and ball, leading UP Warriorz 143/9 in 20
The 18-year-old Afghan spinner able time with bowling Gujarat Giants to a com- overs (Deepti Sharma
had suffered a fracture in the coach Morne Morkel as prehensive six-wicket 39, Priya Mishra 3/25,
L4 vertebra, specifically in the a full-strength Indian win over UP Warriorz in Ashleigh Gardner 2/39,
left pars interarticularis, and he team started its training their WPL match here on Deandra Dottin 2/34)
will miss the upcoming in earnest ahead of its Sunday. Gardner (2/39) lost to Gujarat Giants
Champions Trophy as well. Champions Trophy claimed two wickets and 144/4 in 18 overs
Ghazanfar had sustained the opener against then scored a stylish 32- (Gardner 52, Harleen
injury during Afghanistan’s Bangladesh at the pic- ball 52, her second consec- Deol 34 not out, Dottin
recent tour to Zimbabwe. turesque ICC Academy utive fifty, as Gujarat reg- 33 not out, Sophie
“Mumbai Indians wish practice ground here on istered their first win of Ecclestone 2/16).
Ghazanfar a speedy recovery Sunday. With the new the third edition of the
and a warm welcome to Mujeeb Standard Operating tournament, following a
into the #OneFamily,” MI said in Procedure strictly in loss in the opening game 12th over.
a statement. place, there was no ques- to Royal Challengers However, it had little
Mujeeb was one of the tion of an optional ses- Bengaluru. effect as Harleen Deol (34)
youngest ever players to have sion and right from skip- Opting to bowl, Gujarat and Dottin (33) added 58
represented Afghanistan and per Rohit Sharma to the produced a clinical effort runs off 37 balls to take
made an instant impact, leading youngest Harshit Rana, with young spinner Priya Gujarat home with two
to an IPL debut at the age of 17. the entire squad was Mishra returning impres- overs to spare.
Mujeeb has played over 300 present where Shami’s sive figures of 4-0-25-3. Earlier, UPW skipper
T20 (international and domes- routines were interest- Skipper Gardner, Deepti Sharma top-scored
tic) games taking 330 wickets ing. Deandra Dottin (2/34), with a 27-ball 39, while
at an economy of around 6.5. Having recently made and Kashvee Gautam Uma Chetry (24) and
Mumbai Indians had signed the his international come- (1/15) also played key Shweta Sehrawat (16)
rising 18-year-old off-spinner back against England in roles in restricting UPW made useful contribu-
Ghazanfar for `4.80 crore in the both T20Is and ODIs, the to 143 for nine. tions in the middle-order.
IPL mega auction. — PTI stretchable knee caps Chasing 144 to win, the Alana King (19) and
did not go unnoticed as Giants were reduced to 22 Saima Thakor (15) com-
he first tried to get a feel for 2 with opener Beth bined for a late surge,
Pak pacer Rauf of the conditions by
bowling a few deliveries
Mooney and Dayalan
Hemalata back in the
adding 26 runs off 13 balls
to take UPW past 140.
fit for CT opener with a short run-up.
He looked gingerly in
pavilion after UPW intro-
duced spin at both ends.
Kiran Navgire
Vrinda Dinesh were dis-
and

Karachi: Pakistan fast bowler his initial strides even However, Gardner pro- missed cheaply by Dottin
Haris Rauf has recovered from as others engaged in duced an inspired knock, and Gardner as the
his injury and will be available their physical drills, adding 55 runs off 42 balls Warriorz struggled early
for his side’s ICC Champions while a few others with Laura Wolvaardt on. UPW were reduced to
Trophy opening match against engaged in some fun and (22) to resurrect the 22 for 2 by the third over,
New Zealand on Wednesday, games activity aimed at innings. with Navgire trapped in
according to sources. A source improving anticipation Gardner struck two front by Dottin and
close to the Pakistan team con- and decision-making. fours off Kranti Goud to Dinesh was cleaned up by
firmed on Sunday that Haris, Before the batters ease the pressure before Gardner.
who sustained a muscular strain entered the nets, Shami depositing Saima Thakor Chetry and Deepti tried
in his lower chest wall during was trying to adjust his twice into the stands in to rebuild but were limit-
the recent tri-sries tournament, length and walked up Mohammed Shami trains with coach Morne Morkel as a full-strength Indian team started its training ahead of its the fifth over. Wolvaardt ed by tight bowling from
has recovered and will play in towards the batter’s end Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh at the ICC Academy practice ground in Dubai on Sunday. — PTI also hit a six, as 20 runs the Gujarat team, with
the Champions Trophy opener in the net with bowling came off the over, taking UPW managing just 41 for
in Karachi. coach Morkel in tow. GG to 41 for 2 in six overs. 2 in the powerplay. Their
“Haris is okay now and the rest
given to him after the first
match of the Tri-Series has
helped him recover well,” the
Shami was seen point-
ing at a certain length
outside the batter’s
crease which could be
BCCI unveils IPL fixtures, ‘TALENTED’ ARSH
LIKELY STARTER
The GG skipper blasted
five fours and three sixes
before being dismissed by
Tahila McGrath in the
partnership of 50 runs off
43 balls was broken by
Dottin, who removed
Chetry. — PTI
source said, adding that
Pakistan have no fitness issues
with any other player.
Haris, one of Pakistan’s key
bowlers with his express pace
termed good length (4m
to 6m) region. He ges-
tured to indicate that he
was trying to move the
ball from that particular
opener and finale at Eden
New Delhi, Feb. 16: The
AHEAD OF RANA
New Delhi, Feb. 16:
Harshit Rana has been
RANJI TROPHY | SEMIS PREVIEW
and ability to take wickets in
the middle overs, has remained
length as Morkel lis-
tened to him intently.
BCCI on Sunday unveiled
a 74-match schedule for
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2025 the flavour of the season
as far as India’s emerg-
with the squad despite the Once the batters joined the 18th Indian Premier ■ Opener : March 22 ■ The IPL will contin- ing crop of fast bowlers
selectors calling up uncapped the nets, Shami was seen League that will be held is concerned but one of
Akif Javed as a backup for him. bowling full tilt and on across 13 venues, starting — Kolkata Knight ue with its two-group head coach Gautam
Haris has a haul of 83 wickets in occasions did hurry the on March 22 with three Riders vs Royal structure after the Gambhir’s finds is
46 one-day internationals and batters. Hardik Pandya franchises playing at least Challengers 2022 expansion to a unlikely to start in
another 110 wickets in 79 T20 and Shreyas Iyer were a couple of their home Bengaluru at Eden 10-team format. India’s playing eleven in
internationals as he has built a seen depositing Kuldeep games at their designated Gardens, Kolkata the Champions Trophy
reputation as a specialist white- Yadav and other spin- second bases. The event (7:30 PM) ◗ Kolkata Knight with Arshdeep Singh
ball bowler. — PTI ners over the fence on will kick off with a clash Riders, Royal still considered way
multiple occasions. between Kolkata Knight ■ Qualifier 1: May 20 Challengers ahead in terms of talent
One such powerful hit Riders and Royal and quality.
Indian beat Spain from Pandya caused a
minor but freakish acci-
Challengers Bengaluru at
Eden Gardens on March
— Rajiv Gandhi
International Stadium,
Bangalore, Rajasthan
Royals, Chennai Super The Indian team man-
agement gave Harshit all
2-0 in Pro League dent as Rishabh Pant
was hit on the knee. He
22 and culminate at the
same venue on May 25 in a
Hyderabad (7:30 PM)
■ Eliminator: May 21
Kings, and Punjab
Kings are in one
three ODIs against
England, and if one is
Bhubaneswar: The Indian men's was in pain but the schedule that did not offer — Rajiv Gandhi group, while Sunrisers absolutely fair to the
hockey team made a brilliant physio Kamlesh Jain any surprises. International Stadium, Hyderabad, Delhi burly 6-feet-2-inch tall
comeback to down Spain 2-0 in tended to him with a A schedule features 12 Hyderabad (7:30 PM) Capitals, Gujarat Delhi speedster, he has
a return leg match of the FIH concerned Pandya com- double-headers. The ■ Qualifier 2: May 23 Titans, Mumbai not looked out of place.
Pro League here on Sunday. ing out of the nets to games will be held over 65 Indians, and While Arshdeep enjoys
check on his junior col-
— Eden
India lost to Spain 1-3 in the days across 13 venues, Lucknow a better economy rate of
first match of the leg on league. But it didn’t turn with Dharamsala, Garden, 5.17 compared to
Saturday despite taking the out to be a serious issue Guwahati, and Kolkata Super Harshit’s 6.95 per over, it Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session
lead through Sukhjeet Singh's as Pant padded up soon Visakhapatnam hosting a (7:30 PM) Giants are is the former’s ability to on the eve of the Ranji Trophy semifinal match against
goal. On Sunday, however, it after the first team bat- couple of IPL fixtures ■ Final: in the bring the ball back into Vidarbha in Nagpur on Sunday. — PTI
was a completely different ters were finished with each. May 25 other. the right-handers dur-
looking Indian side as it domi- their sessions. As has been the norm, — Eden ing the Powerplay overs
nated for most part of the
match and scored two field
goals through Mandeep Singh
(32nd minute) and Dilpreet
Kohli, as usual, looked
a picture of concentra-
tion during the nets.
Rohit had a spring in his
Dharamsala will serve as
Punjab Kings’ second
home venue alongside
Mullanpur (New
Gardens,
Kolkata
(7:30pm)
that will tilt the scales in
his favour in the tourna-
ment starting February
19. Arshdeep, who also
Jaiswal out but
Mum favourites
Singh (39th) to pocket full step and seemed to be in Chandigarh), while has only nine ODIs since
three points. India will next play a good mood after a Rajasthan Royals will he made his debut in a
Germany here on Tuesday. match-wining century make Guwahati their base short ODI series in New
It was India who enjoyed the against England in in addition to Jaipur. Visakhapatnam will host an afternoon game in Zealand in 2022, will be
better share of ball possession Cuttack last week. When Delhi Capitals will have two matches each, while Hyderabad, followed by a ahead on most counts
and created more chances in the main batters were at Visakhapatnam as their Dharamsala will stage contest between Chennai when one looks at the Nagpur, Feb. 16: It’s ● Jaiswal might travel
the first two quarters but failed the nets, the ones who second home venue and three matches. Super Kings and Mumbai parameters that would unlikely that Mumbai to the BCCI Centre of
to capitalise those into goals. were doing fielding will start their league The first double-header Indians in Chennai. The be taken into account will have an injured
drills with coach T. Dilip
Excellence in
India had the first chance in the campaign there on March of the season will be held playoffs will be staged in based on the conditions Yashasvi Jaiswal in their
fifth minute when Mandeep got were Harshit Rana, 24 against Lucknow Super on March 23 in which Hyderabad and Kolkata available at the Dubai ranks, but the resilient Bengaluru for further
a golden opportunity inside the Varun Chakravarthy Giants. Sunrisers Hyderabad will after the league stage. International Stadium. defending champions are assessment of his
circle, but the Spanish keeper and Pant. — PTI Guwahati and face Rajasthan Royals in — PTI — PTI firm favourites against unspecified injury
Rafael Rivilla made a solid save Vidarbha in the Ranji soon, as he has been
to deny the Indian striker. Trophy semifinal, begin- named as a “non-

Diaz scores as Reds move 7 points clear

Seconds from the end of the ning here on Monday. travelling reserve” in
first quarter, India earned back- Jaiswal might travel to India's Champions
to-back penalty corners, but the BCCI Centre of Trophy squad.
Jugraj Singh faltered. Excellence in Bengaluru
for further assessment of
Liverpool, Feb. 16: his unspecified injury return to run-making
Liverpool moved seven THE RESULTS soon, as he has been ways on the Nagpur pitch
Jeev slips to points clear at the top of
the Premier League as Liverpool 2
named as a “non-travel-
ling reserve” in India’s
that often sides with bat-
ters.
T-19th in Spain Luis Diaz ended his goal
drought to spark a tense 2-
(Diaz 15, Salah 37-pen)
Wolves 1
Champions Trophy
squad. But the possible
GUJARAT READY
(Cunha 67) FOR KERALA
Marbella, Spain: Jeev. Milkha 1 win against struggling absence of Jaiswal in no
Singh endured a difficult day Wolves on Sunday. Manchester City 4 way reduces the firepow- In Ahmedabad, hosts
with 1-over 73 in the second Arne Slot’s side got back (Marmoush 19, 24, 33, er of Mumbai in a match Gujarat are unlikely to
round of the season-opening on track after an unexpect- McAtee 84) that is the repeat of last digress from their tried
Marbella Legends here. edly poor week thanks to Newcastle 0 year’s final. and tested template of
The Indian ace, now in his third Diaz’s first goal in 2025 Mumbai have a host of out-batting oppositions
season on the Legends Tour, and yet another Mohamed Aston Villa 1 stars in their line-up such with dogged first innings
who had a 68 on the first day, is Salah strike. (Watkins 69) as skipper Ajinkya displays as they take on a
Ipswich 1 gutsy Kerala in another
now 3-under for 36 holes but Diaz opened the scoring Rahane, Suryakumar
(Delap 56)
slipped down from T-12 to T-19 early in the first half at Yadav, Shivam Dube and semifinal.
with one more day to go at the Anfield as the Colombian Crystal Palace 1 Shardul Thakur who can Gujarat, the champions
Aloha Golf Club. Simon Griffiths forward finally scored for (Mateta 47) alter the course of the of the 2016-17 edition,
(65-68) reached 11-under and the 13th time this term Everton 2 game on their own. advanced to the semifi-
Colin Montgomerie (65-70) after 10 games without a (Beto 42, Alcaraz 80) But more than the pres- nals for the first time
headed the chasing pack with goal. ence of some acclaimed since the 2019-20 season
18 holes to play. While Diaz has struggled Fulham 2 and accomplished play- after thrashing
(Smith Rowe 15, Bassey 62)
Jeev teed off from the first and to find the net, Salah is in Nottingham Forest 1
ers, their determination Saurashtra by an innings
birdied the third but gave that red-hot form and his (Wood 37) makes the 42-time cham- and 98 runs in the quar-
shot away on the very next penalty before the interval pions a team cut from dif- terfinals in Rajkot.
hole. He ran into a rough patch took the Egypt star to 28 ferent cloth. On the other hand, it’s
with bogeys on the eighth, goals in all competitions Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah shoots to score from the penalty spot during the English City’s 4-0 rout of top four On several occasions been an emotional jour-
ninth and 11th but still fought this season. Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Anfield Stadium in rivals Newcastle on this season, Mumbai’s ney for the Sachin Baby’s
back with birdies on the 15th Matheus Cunha netted Liverpool on Sunday. — AP Saturday. top-order malfunctioned Kerala, who secured their
and 16th, which he had birdied in the second half for At the Etihad Stadium, but their lower-order bat- second semifinal berth
a day earlier also. Englishman fourth-bottom Wolves, but games without a win: an Wednesday. Arsenal’s challenge as Egypt forward Marmoush ters like Thakur and (since 2018-19) after a
Griffiths moved to the summit although Liverpool looked embarrassing FA Cup Arsenal’s 2-0 win at they moved a step closer to scored his first City goals Tanush Kotian have hard-fought quarterfinal
as he started on the back nine tired in a disjointed, nerv- fourth round loss at sec- Leicester on Saturday had a record-equalling 20th since arriving from bailed them out with grit- against Jammu &
and cruised to the turn in 32 ous, climax, they held on ond tier Plymouth last applied a little more pres- English title. Eintracht Frankfurt dur- ty efforts. Kashmir that came via a
strokes with birdies at the 10th, for a valuable victory. weekend and the stormy 2- sure on Liverpool. Omar Marmoush’s hat- ing the January transfer Mumbai would hope slender one-run first
12th, 17th and 18th. — PTI Liverpool had gone two 2 draw at Everton on The Reds responded to trick fired Manchester window. — AFP that the big guns will innings lead. — PTI
GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | MONDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2025
pg 12

SHORT TAKE ASIA CUP TRIATHLON TAMIL NADU DIGEST

East Bengal FC Aravind, Gokul hog limelight
C. Aravind scored 98 and S.
notch one up in Gokul took five wickets as
Jaya Education Group RC beat

Kolkata rivalry CP RC in the TNCA-

Thiruvallur
championship.
DCA league

Kolkata: East Bengal FC defeat- Brief scores: IV Division 'B'

ed Mohammedan SC by 3-1 at Zone: Jaya Education Group
the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati RC 240/6 in 30 overs (C.
Krirangan Stadium in the Indian Aravind 98, M. Dinesh Kumar
Super League (ISL) 2024-25. 44, S. Sridharan 35 n.o) beat S. Gokul
East Bengal FC were clinical in CP RC 197 in 29 overs (D.
converting their chances, scor- Rajesh 76, S. Gokul (ramp) 5/55)
ing off three out of the six shots
that they took on target. They Vidhya, Kalpana win EA national
held only 42.2% of the posses- bridge
sion in the game, but efficiency Vidhya Patel and Kalpana Gurjar reigned
in the final third got them the supreme in the EA Bridge National Women's
three points, with the team hav- Championship that concluded on Sunday. It was
ing 21 points from 20 games Triathletes gear up for the swimming competition during the Asia Triathlon Cup at the INS Adyar on Sunday. the first time that a bridge tournament was
and placed 11th in the table now. organised in a mall. It provided an opportunity

Francesco, Martina reign

Vishnu Puthiya got East Bengal to create awareness and promote the mind game.
FC off the blocks in the fifth Results: EA Bridge National Women
minute with a teasing effort, Championship: Winners: Vidhya Patel and
where he picked the ball up Kalpana Gurjar; Smt. Vijaya Jajoo Memorial
from Raphael Messi Bouli on the National Mixed Pairs Championship: Winners:
left side of the box. Having Sandeep N Karmakar and Marianne Karmarkar.
enough time to take an accurate Tolani All India Open National Masters Bridge
shot, Vishnu couldn’t direct it on Championship: Winners of Team Event: Team
target and instead hammered DC CORRESPONDENT charge in the swim egory, Indonesian Martina Sarla Fibers; Winners of Pairs Event: Arvind
the ball high and wide to the CHENNAI, FEB. 16 (11:29m) and maintaining delivered a stellar per- Vaidya and Shubham Acharya
left of the goal. his advantage with a formance to clinch victory
Franca returned the favour on The sweltering heat of strong bike and run per- in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and
the other end in the eighth Chennai provided the per- formance. 25 seconds. She led a tight
minute, engaging in a quick fect test of endurance as Japan’s Takuto Oshima battle against Japan’s
sequence with Joe Zoherliana, Italy’s Francesco Di (55:54) finished a close sec- Minori Ikeno ([Link]) and
which got him the ball on the Basilico and Indonesia’s ond, while Ireland’s Luke Switzerland’s Anna
left channel of the 18-yard area. Martina Ayu Pratiwi McCarron (56:04) edged Zehnder ([Link]), who
Franca’s final shot just whiffed emerged victorious in the out Japan’s Ryoya secured second and third
past the left post though. Elite Men’s and Women’s Tamazaki on the final places, respectively.
Messi Bouli was constantly on categories, respectively, at stretch to complete the Uzbekistan’s Diana
the move in the final third the Asia Triathlon Cup podium. Biktimirova ([Link]) fin-
though, finding Dimitrios 2025 held at the INS Adyar India’s best performer ished just outside the
Diamantakos with a telling cross on Sunday. was Sarungbam Athouba podium in fourth, while
in the 15th minute, which the The men’s race saw an Meitei, who finished 15th South Korea’s Gyuri Kim
striker received at the centre of intense battle at the fore- with a time of 57:19. Other rounded off the top five at
the box but shot erroneously front, but it was Indian participants [Link].
beyond the left side of the net. Francesco who claimed included Adarsh Among the Indian triath-
Vishnu put his enterprising the top step of the podium Muralidharan Nair letes, Dolly Devidas Patil
endeavours to good use in the with a time of 55 minutes Sinimol (23rd, [Link]), (10th, [Link]), Mansi
27th minute though, supplying and 45 seconds. The young Akash P (24th, [Link]), Mohite (12th, [Link]), and Bridge players in action during the EA National
Naorem Mahesh Singh a deci- Italian showed remark- and Telheiba Soram (26th, Aarthi Saravana Kumar Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi is on top of the podium
Championship.
sive pass, though on a difficult able composure across all [Link]). (13th, [Link]) put in spirit- after winning the Asia Cup Triathlon on Sunday.
angle on the left side, which the segments, leading the In the Elite Women’s cat- ed performances.
latter showed great smarts with
to nestle into the bottom left
corner through his left foot.
Ramkumar progresses to final qualifying round at Maha Open
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 Pune, Feb. 16: Unseeded Ramkumar in match that lasted for 1 hour and 52 Ramkumar, currently ranked 403, experienced for 16-year-old Wildcard Van Wyk was given a fight by wildcard
Ramanathan pulled off an upset minutes. The 28-year-old, Ymer, who served 9 aces in the match to move into Arnav Vijay Paparkar winning 6-2, 6-3. entrant Nitin Kumar Sinha, eventual-
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on against the top seeded Elias Ymer of had got past Ramanathan in the Davis the final round qualifying. Paparkar showed glimpses of his qual- ly winning 7-5, 7-5, while fourth seeded
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses Sweden to enter the final round quali- Cup between India and Sweden played In the matches featuring other ity but could not get past the experi- Blake Ellis of Australia quelled a first
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot, fying of the Maha Open ATP solidly to wrap up the first set, but Indians, sixth seeded Russian Ilia enced Australian. Former winner of set challenge before accounting for
Industrial Estate, Challenger 100 Men’s Tennis Ramkumar progressed well with his Simakin took 1 hour 15 minutes to get the Maha Open ATP Tour and current- another Indian wildcard Sidharth
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032.
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987 Championship. serve and volley game, attacking Ymer past India's No. two ranked player ly ranked 35 in the world, Jiri Vesely, Rawat 7-5 ,6-2.
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, The 30-year-old from Chennai, to win the second set. Ramkumar Mukund Sasikumar winning 6-4, 6-3 who is making a comeback, proved In the other upset of the day Russian
22254751 Ramkumar extracted his revenge of couldn't break Ymer in the third game to also advance to the final round qual- strong for local wildcard Siddhant Petr Bar Biryukov upset second seed-
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER
his Davis Cup loss against the top , but did manage to get a break in the ifying. Twelfth seeded Matthew Banthia winning 6-2, 6-3. ed Oleksandr Ovcharenko of Ukraine
seeded Elias Ymer, winning 5-7,6-1,6-4 fifth game to win the match. Dellavedova of Australia proved too Eleventh seeded South African Kris 6-3, 7-6(6).