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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA

CHENNAI I TUESDAY 19 I AUGUST 2025

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www.facebook.com/deccannews, www.twitter.com/deccanchronicle, www.deccanchronicle.com Vol. 21 No. 145 Established 1938 | 20 | ` 3.00

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PAGES

CEC’s attack on Rahul has INDIA Putin calls up Modi, briefs

ha

WEATHER
t.w

Max: 34OC

bloc plan impeachment motion him on talks with Trump

Min: 25OC
ha

Rainfall: Nill

ASTROGUIDE
//c

■ ‘EC didn’t act on complaints on the list with affidavits in 2022’

s:

Krothi: Avani 3 SRIDHAR

KUMARASWAMI | DC
Tithi: Ekadhasi
tp

NEW DELHI, AUG. 18

Star: Thiruvathirai ASHHAR KHAN | DC
ht

Rahukalam: NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 CEC’s replies raise Highlighting the strength
3 pm to 4.30 pm of the India-Russia friend-
Yamagandam: A day after chief election
commissioner Gyanesh
more questions ship amid New Delhi’s
ongoing tensions with
9 am to 10.30 am Kumar’s press confer-
ence, the Opposition par-
than answers: CM Washington, Russian
President Vladimir Putin
ties launched a scathing G. BABU JAYAKUMAR, spoke to Prime Minister
attack on the ECI’s impa- D. SEKAR | DC Narendra Modi on Monday
rtiality. In a joint press CHENNAI, AUG. 18 evening for the second
conference, the INDIA time in 10 days and briefed
bloc leaders refuted the Wondering as to why the him on the Alaska summit US President Donald Trump meets with Ukraine's
CEC’s response point by Election Commission of that he had held on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the
point, and said that all India (ECI) could not be Saturday with US White House in Washington on Monday. — AP
options were being more transparent and voter- President Donald Trump.
explored, through both friendly if its true aim was Thanking Mr Putin, Mr form X: “Thank my friend, exchanges in the days to
People move a cart with legal and parliamentary to conduct fair elections, Modi “underlined India’s President Putin, for his come.” Mr Modi had
domestic gas cylinders Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul
means. Rashtriya Janata Chief Minister M.K. Stalin consistent position for a phone call and for sharing referred to the Russian
through a waterlogged road Gandhi during his ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in
Dal (RJD) leader Manoj shot off seven questions that peaceful resolution of the insights on his recent President as his “friend”
following rainfall in Mumbai Aurangabad district in Bihar on Monday.
Jha attacked the CEC, cast doubts over the credi- (Russia-Ukraine) conflict meeting with President after the call earlier this
on Monday. — PTI saying: “Yesterday, we like a BJP spokesper- Opposition Rahul bility of the ECI vis-a-vis its through diplomacy and Trump in Alaska. month as well.

Hamas agrees
were looking for our son”. Gandhi and the demand special intensive revision dialogue and reiterated India has consistently The two phone calls with-
CEC, (but) we found a The Opposition is con- for his apology. Mr Jha (SIR) in Bihar. CEO Gynesh that India supports all called for a peaceful resolu- in days have both taken

to truce plan new BJP spokesperson”.

Arvind Sawant of Shiv
sidering moving an
impeachment motion to
said all options, legal as
well as parliamentary,
Kumar to mediapersons at
his press conference raising
efforts in this regard”, New
Delhi said in a statement.
tion of the Ukraine conflict
and supports all efforts in
place after Mr Trump earli-
er this month had announ-
Cairo: Hamas said on Sena (UBT) also accused remove the CEC after his were open in front of the more questions than provid- After the call, Mr Modi this regard. I look forward ced imposition of a 50 per
Monday that they had the CEC of “behaving attack on leader of the Opposition parties. ■ P4 ing answers. Full report ■ P2 posted on social media plat- to our continued cent tariff on India. ■ P4
agreed to a new proposal
for a ceasefire in Gaza, dev-
astated by more than 22
months of war between the
Islamist group and Israel.
Ports bill gets nod amid ruckus Opposition to name V-P candidate today
“Hamas has delivered its DC CORRESPONDENT revision in Bihar and earlier adjournments, as
response to the mediators,
confirming that Hamas and
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 initiated a discussion on
astronaut Shubhanshu
Union minister Jitendra
Singh said an Indian
DC CORRESPONDENT
WITH AGENCY INPUTS
DMK leaders have proposed
the name of an Indian Space PRESSURE ON INDIA BLOC
the factions agreed to the
new ceasefire proposal
without requesting any
Parliament on Monday
passed the Indian Ports
Bill, 2025, amid an
Shukla’s International
Space Station sojourn.
The Lok Sabha took up
astronaut will herald
“Viksit Bharat” by land-
ing on the moon in 2040,
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18

The battle lines for the elec-

Research Organisation (ISRO)
scientist, who hails from
Tamil Nadu and is well
TO FIELD TN LEADER FOR V-P
amendments," the Hamas Opposition walkout the discussion on Mr amid the din of tion of the Vice-President are respected, for the post. The G. BABU JAYAKUMAR another Tamilian by
source told AFP. demanding a discussion Shukla’s journey to Opposition protests. expected to become clear on name of senior DMK leader D. SEKAR I DC the opposition INDIA
on the electoral rolls space at 2 pm after two ■ P4 Tuesday with the INDIA Bloc Tiruchi Siva is also doing the CHENNAI, AUG. 18 alliance.
is set to announce its candi- rounds, but discussions are Though the INDIA

EAM pegs China ties on border peace

date. “Tomorrow, there is a yet to be held with other oppo- The NDA picking coalition has not yet
meeting in (Congress presi- sition leaders. Maharashtra Governor announced its candi-
dent) Mr Kharge’s house at The INDIA bloc leaders met C.P. Radhakrishnan as date for the vice-presi-
12.30 pm,” Trinamul Congress at the residence of Mr Kharge its nominee for the dential election, sched-
DC CORRESPONDENT move forward” between the two External MP Derek O’Brien O’Brien on Monday to decide on their Vice-President’s post uled to be held on Sep-
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 militaries in the Ladakh sector. affairs said when asked if a decision nominee for the post of Vice- that fell vacant follow- tember 9, several lead-
Pressing for a “candid and minister S. had been made regarding the President. Senior leaders of ing the resignation of ers in the opposition
External affairs minister S. constructive approach” in bilat- Jaishankar Opposition’s vice-presidential the alliance, including Jagdeep Dhankhar has camp were not happy
Jaishankar told the visiting eral ties in his opening remarks with Chinese candidate. NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar, created a flutter in the with the credentials of
Chinese foreign minister on at the bilateral meeting with Mr foreign min- Sources said the opposition DMK MP Kanimozhi and state political scene Mr Radhakrishnan, see-
Monday that the basis for any Wang here on Monday evening, ister Wang wants to field a non-political other senior leaders, attended with the BJP and its ing him as an RSS mem-
positive momentum in the ties the EAM pointed out that the Yi during a face who has national stand- the meeting. allies wanting the DMK ber, which triggered a
is the ability to jointly maintain two nations “must be guided by meeting in ing and stature for the second- According to insiders, sever- coalition to support a speculation that the
peace and tranquility in the bor- the three mutuals -- mutual New Delhi on highest constitutional posi- al other leaders of political ‘fellow Tamilian,’ giv- rival candidate, too,
der areas and that it is essential respect, mutual sensitivity and Monday. tion in the country. parties also joined the meeting ing rise to a demand for might belong to Tamil
that the de-escalation process mutual interest”. ■ P4 The sources said senior virtually. ■ P7 the nomination of Nadu. Full report ■ P3
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 2

Govt bus runs over 4 persons, killing Minister, MLA, 9

SHORT TAKES
others depose
Man stabs textile shop doctor on spot in Chengalpet dt in 2018 case
staff in Tiruvarur ■ 3 other bus passengers injured as vehicle
M. ARULOLI I DC
KANYAKUMARI, AUG 18
R. VALAYAPATHY | DC
TIRUVARUR, AUG. 18 collides with private bus before stopping Dairy Development min-
ister Mano Thangaraj,
Police arrested a man on N. RAVIKUMAR & others being treated at the vehicle which ran over the his former Cabinet col-
Monday for stabbing the P.A. JEBARAJ | DC Chengalpet government people walking along the league Suresh Rajan,
employee of a textile shop after CHENNAI, AUG 18 medical college. road and stopped after col- Congress MLA Rajesh
threatening him at Tiruvarur Addressing the media, liding with a private bus Kumar and eight others
city on Saturday. A government bus ran over the minister said Dr. coming in the opposite appeared before the
Police said on Saturday night, pedestrians, killing a gov- Praveen Kumar had suf- direction. Nagercoil Judicial
the unidentified man was mov- ernment doctor and severe- fered fractures at six places Doctor Manikumar (45), Magistrate Court-II on
ing along busy Old Nagai Road ly injuring 17 people, in the body and surgery who was killed, was a child Monday in connection
with a knife. He stabbed the tex- including another doctor, would be undertaken. specialist working at the with a 2018 case.
tile shop employee, Baskaran as the driver lost control of The minister said the Chengalpet government The case arose from a
(60) of Ammaiyappan Street, the vehicle near Raattinam police were investigating if medical college. He had got sit-in protest staged on
Tiruvarur, on the neck and fled. Kinaru, in Chengalpet dis- brake failure was the rea- down from the suburban March 28, 2018 inside the
Passersby, with the help of an trict, on Monday. The vehi- son for the accident. The train at Chengalpet and K a n y a k u m a r i
ambulance, admitted Baskaran cle also collided with a pri- police would take suitable was walking to the hospital Collectorate complex,

Chennai-Tiruchy NH
to the government medical col- vate bus coming in the action after the investiga- along with Dr. Praveen when six DMK and
lege hospital at Tiruvarur. opposite direction before tion, he said. Kumar when the bus Congress MLAs, alleging
A police team, led by inspector stopping. Collector D. Sneha mowed them down. largescale malpractice,
of town police station, Of the 17 injured, four, inspected the rescue works Seventeen persons, demanded the cancella-
Santhanamary, scanned the including the two doctors, and arranged treatment for including four people walk- tion of elections to 114 co-

choked with traffic

CCTV footage and on Monday were walking along the the injured persons. ing along the road, were operative societies in
found him on Peralam Bazaar road while the others were The government bus, also severely injured. The Kanyakumari district.
Street in Tiruvarur district. travelling in the two buses. which started from injured were admitted to The legislators then were
He was identified as Mohamed Health minister Ma. Kalpakkam, was going to the Chengalpet govern- accused of preventing
Nizar (50) Podakkudi village, in Subramanian rushed to the Chengalpet on Monday ment medical college. Joint Registrar
Tiruvarur district. He seemed spot, placed a wreath to pay morning. When the bus It is said the brake in the Nadukattu Raja from dis-
to be slightly mentally affected.
The Koothanallur police had
■ Lakhs return to city amid heavy rains after three his last respects to the doc-
tor and visited the injured
was approaching
Raattinam Kinaru, the
bus failed and the driver
was unable to stop the vehi-
charging his duties and
intimidating him. An

_t
registered a case against him
for a similar offence of stabbing
continuous holidays, including Independence Day doctor Praveen Kumar and driver lost control of the cle, leading to the accident. office assistant was also
allegedly assaulted.

ac
a Muslim man near a mosque
last month. On Monday, police
N. RAVIKUMAR &
P.A. JEBARAJ | DC
About 1 lakh people had
left the city in their own
cle-users faced heavy traf-
fic congestion at Singaper- Priyanka Pankajam gets best collector award Following a complaint
lodged with Nesamani

e=
arrested him and are investigat- CHENNAI, AUG. 18 cars and vans in the three umalkoil where water had Nagar police, a case was
ing. days. But, nearly all the stagnated on the road due G. SRINIVASAN I DC work exceptionally for the registered against 12 per-

od
The Chennai-Tiruchy people who went to their to the rains. The traffic THANJAVUR, AUG. 18 welfare of differently sons, including the DMK
Expert training national highway was
choked with traffic from
native places or tourist
spots in the three days
also choked at Urapakk-
am, Kilambakkam and Thanjavur Collector B.
abled. The award for the
year 2025 will be given by
and Congress MLAs.
On Monday, 11 of the 12

?m
Sunday night to Monday returned on Sunday Guduvanchery. Priyanka Pankajam has Chief Minister M.K. accused, including Mr
given to coconut afternoon as lakhs of peo-
ple rushed back to the city
evening to Monday morn-
ing, choking the Chennai-
Passengers who got
down at Tambaram rail-
been selected for the best
collector award for her
Stalin at the district col-
lectors conference in
Thangaraj,
Kumar, Suresh Rajan
Rajesh

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farmers, exporters after three continuous Tiruchy national highway way station waited in services to differently Chennai soon. appeared before the

R
holidays, including which was dampened by large numbers at abled people, according to Dharmapuri and court. Congress MLA
G. SRINIVASAN I DC Independence Day. the sudden rains. Tambaram to get buses a press release issued here on Monday. Ranipettai collectors also Prince did not appear and

e6
THANJAVUR, AUG. 18 The heavy rains on The congestion started and autos to reach their by S. Mathumathi, secre- State awards are given to have been selected for the the magistrate adjourned
Sunday night and the fly- at Padalam and destination. The traffic tary to state government, district collectors who award. the case to September 8.

7z
The Technology Development over construction work Pukkathurai where fly- congestion which started
Centre at SASTRA University, being carried out at over construction work is on Sunday evening contin-

gD
sponsored by the Union min- Pukkathurai and Padalam being carried out amid ued till Monday morning.
istry of heavy industries, con-
ducted a one day training on
'processing and exporting ten-
added to the misery of the
people returning to the
city as vehicles queued up
the pouring rains. The
vehicle-users said it took
about three hours to cross
Tambaram witnessed
heavy congestion as ser-
pentine queues of vehi-
HC refuses interim stay on use of TVK flag
TB
R
der coconuts” and making of to 5 km at key junctions Padalam and Pukkathurai cles extended for 6-7 km as DC CORRESPONDENT flag. The court will hear a substantial copy of the cannot be said that the use
“value added products using and moved very slowly. areas. Though the district those going to offices, CHENNAI, AUG 18 the case on its merits in petitioner’s flag. The court of the impugned flag is
coconuts” to coconut farmers Traffic came to a stand- administration had companies and other September. rejected the claim for likely to cause deception
w

and exporters recently. still at Perungalathur for ordered the diversion of places on the first work- The Madras high court on Justice Senthilkumar relief with respect to or confusion among the
vehicles to East Coast ing day of the week also alleged infringement of public,” said the judge.
nE

Dr. V. Badrinath, Dean (corpo- more than 3 km as the fly- Monday refused to grant Ramamoorthy heard the
rate relations) welcomed the over expansion work is Road and Kanchipuram mingled with the return- an interim stay on the use petition that accused the copyright. It further said The petitioner said the
gathering and explained the also going on amid the road before they ing crowd. of actor Vijay’s TVK of copyright and the petitioner did not have TVK’s flag was visually
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training objectives. rains. Heavy traffic con- approached Padalam, the A large number of peo- Thamizhaga Vetri trademark infringement a separate registration for and conceptually similar
Dr. K.S. Rajan, Dean, (chemi- gestion was witnessed at order was not carried out. ple got down at Kazhagam (TVK) flag, in a in the flag’s design as well the colour combination. to their registered trade-
M

cal and bio-technology) led the Urapakkam, Kilambak- There was not a sufficient Kilambakkam bus termi- petition filed by a trust as colour composition. “On prima facie compar- mark, consisting of a red-
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training programme, using the kam, Guduvanchery and number of traffic police- nus and took buses for the saying that the flag closely The judge said he was not ison, I find that the colour yellow-red tricolour with
indigenous tender coconut pro- Singaperumalkoil. men near the flyover con- city while the Tambaram resembled the one used by prima facie convinced schemes cannot be charac- a central circular motif.
struction areas. railway station was also As per trademark records,
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cessing machine designed and As per government sta- it from last year. that the TVK flag was terised as the essential
developed by SASTRA which tistics, 3.13 lakh people Similarly, traffic moved heavily crowded. The However, the judge clari- copied by the organisation feature. While minute Pachaiyappan had applied
/H

reduces 30% weight of the ten- had gone out of the city in at snail’s pace at MTC buses were jam- fied that these are tenta- called Thondai Mandala comparison is not war- for registration of the
der coconut. This helps to save three days from August 13 Perungalathur where fly- packed from early morn- tive observations made Saandrore Dharma ranted, even when exam- mark on November 28,
m

the transport cost for longer to August 15 in govern- over expansion work is ing Monday till the after- only for the purpose of Paripalana Sabai, a trust ined from the perspective 2023, under Class 45,
duration use by sellers. ment buses while about 3 on. The vehicles piled up noon as people with their deciding on the interim run by G.B. Pachaiyappan. of a person of average which covers “personal
co

Vidya, Joint Director, lakh people travelled in for about 3 km near families carrying luggage petition of the trust, seek- The court said on prima intelligence and imperfect and social services ren-
Agriculture, Thanjavur district omnibuses from Chennai Perungalathur due to the boarded the buses from ing an order to restrain facie comparison, it could recollection availing the dered by others to meet
p.

requested farmers to add value to various places. ongoing work. The vehi- the terminus. the TVK from using the not be said the TVK flag is services of the plaintiff, it individual needs”.
to the products using this train-
ap

ing programme. Sudha, Deputy

Director, Agriculture,
House of retired principal burgled Seized asset, investment documents after raids against Periyasamy, family: ED
ts

Thanjavur explained the vari-

ous state and central govern- R. VALAYAPATHY I DC floor, rushed in and
ha

ment schemes available for KARUR, AUGUST 18 attempted to prevent the New Delhi, Aug 18: The sents the Athoor assembly es of Irulappa Mills India, PMLA. ed the special court to con-
coconut farming, processing robbery. But she got cut Enforcement Directorate seat in Dindigul while his it claimed. According to the duct a trial and complete it
and marketing. 100 farmers Unidentified robbers injuries. The thieves took (ED) on Monday said it has son Senthil Kumar is an “The accounts of the said chargesheet filed by DVAC, within six months.
t.w

from Thanjavur, Thiruvarur broke open the lock of the Rs 9 lakh from her and seized documents related MLA from the Palani con- companies are being veri- Periyasamy and his family The ED said, however,
and Nagapattinam district par- house of a 70-year-old escaped in a car also tak- to properties and invest- stituency. fied. The digital devices were “in possession of ” the Supreme Court has
ha

ticipated in the programme. retired government col- ing 31 sovereigns of gold ments following recent The search action result- seized are also being disproportionate assets to stayed the trial before the
● Dr. V. Badrinath, Dean lege principal and ornaments. raids against Tamil Nadu ed in “seizure” of docu- analysed,” the statement the tune of about Rs 2 special court during a
decamped with 31 sover- The injured Savithri minister and DMK leader I ments relating to proper- said. crore. hearing held on Monday.
//c

(corporate relations) welcomed

eigns of gold and cash of and Aparna were admit- Periyasamy and his fami- ties/investments from the The money laundering It is alleged in the charg- The ruling DMK has str-
the gathering and explained
Rs 9 lakh at Anna Nagar ted to government hospi- ly.The federal probe residences of Senthil investigation stems from a esheet that Periyasamy ge- ongly defended Periyas-
the training objectives.
s:

in Kulithalai in Karur tal at Kulithalai. Karur agency had launched Kumar, Indra and the disproportionate assets nerated the “disproportio- amy, saying the ED action
Dr. K.S. Rajan, Dean, (chemical
district in the wee hours SP Josh Thangiah and searches in Chennai and office premises of case registered by the nate” assets when he was was an attempt to divert at-
tp

and bio-technology) led the

of Monday. DySP Kulithalai Dindigul on August 16 Irulappa Mills India, in Tamil Nadu Directorate of the minister for revenue tention from “vote chori”,
training programme, using the
The robbers entered the Senthilkumar visited the against the minister for which Periyasamy and his Vigilance and Anti- and prisons, the ED said. a term coined by Congress
ht

indigenous tender coconut

house and threatened Mr spot. rural development and younger son P Prabhu are Corruption (DVAC) A special court in leader Rahul Gandhi over
processing machine designed
Karunanidhi and his wife Police, fingerprint panchayat raj, his MLA the directors, the ED said against Periyasamy and Dindigul had discharged alleged electoral fraud in
and developed by SASTRA
Savithri residing at the experts and sniffer dogs son I P Senthil Kumar, in a statement. his family. Periyasamy and his family. the 2024 elections that the
which reduces 30% weight of
ground floor, with a knife came and made investiga- daughter Indra and some The search team also The ED said the offences However, on appeal by the BJP-led NDA won. The ED
the tender coconut. This helps
and sickle. Hearing the tions. Police collected the companies allegedly found certain “paper” invoked in the chargesheet DVAC, the Madras High statement said further inv-
to save the transport cost for
sound, their daughter CCTV footage in and linked to him. (dummy) companies being (filed by DVAC) are sched- Court in April set aside the estigation in the case was
longer duration use by sellers.
Aparna, living on the first around the house. Periyasamy, 72, repre- operated from the premis- uled offences under the discharge order and direct- “under progress”. —PTI

KORATTUR LAKE SAVIOURS CRY FOR HELP

N. SAMPATH | DC
CHENNAI, AUG. 18

Korattur lake, once spread

over 930 acres and the drink-
ing water source for many
villages, has shrunk to 590
acres due to encroachments.
Towns like Krishna Nagar,
R.K. Datsan Nagar,
Muthamizh Nagar and
Mookambika Nagar have
emerged around the lake.
Projects, including under-
ground sewerage and rain- —K.Senthil Nathan
water drainage in Ambattur
zone, have not been imple-
mented properly. Due to this,
residences and industries in
the Korattur area do not
300-year-old fort discovered near
have sewage connections
and discharge their waste
into the Korattur lake formation of a 19-member tee constituted by the court
Vaniyambadi on Andhra border
through stormwater drains. expert committee from vari- is functioning, are urging DC CORRESPONDENT bricks, the fort is in a dilap- Tamil Nadu, and ruled the
As this has been going on ous departments, including the government to pay atten- TIRUPATTUR, AUG 18 idated condition. The loca- region for 91 years span-
for a long time, the lake has
become polluted and, so, the
the Central and state pollu-
tion control boards, the
tion and restore the lake.
According to the People’s
What are the 5 DEMANDS? A 300-year-old fort has been
tion was known as
Thondai Mandalam. A cop-
ning four generations (fro-
m 1578 to 1669 AD). The last
groundwater in the sur- Chennai Collector, the Movement for the Protection ■ Lake encroachments should be removed unravelled at per plate found in a town king of this dynasty died in
rounding areas has also Chennai Corporation, the of Korattur Lake, they sub- Venkatarajapuram village called Agaram describes a battle with Mustafa
been affected. drinking water board and mitted a petition to Chief ■ Sewage should be stopped from mixing with the lake water in Chittoor district, on the that Thondai Mandalam Khan, the general of the
Furthermore, the entire IIT Chennai, to prevent the Minister M.K. Stalin, who Andhra Pradesh border consisted of 24 Kottams. Bijapur Sultan, in 1669 AD.
mixing of sewage in the visited Korattur in
■ The lake should be dredged and deepened In 1713, the Marathas and
lake is covered in water near Vaniyambadi in This fort is located in the
lilies. Due to this, aquatic Korattur lake. December 2021, requesting ■ A bund with footpath should be built in the western direc- Tirupattur district. Amur Kottam, Dr Prabhu the Nizam fought for this
life, including fish, is dying. Nine years have passed him to stop the sewage dis- tion During a field study, a said. region. In 1714, the
The number of mosquitoes since this committee was charge and protect the lake. research team led by Dr. A. This region was estab- Chittoor region came
that spread malaria and formed, but till date, it has “We have complained to the ■ The height of the embankment should be increased Prabhu, a professor at lished in the 17th century under the control of the
dengue is increasing. not been able to stop sewage authorities several times, Sacred Heart College, by a king named ‘Jagadevi Nizam, Nawab Abdul Nabi
In this regard, a case was from mixing in the lake. but to no avail,” they said. sewage, we staged a protest should be converted into a Tirupattur discovered the Rayar’, a descendant of the Khan. He built three forts
filed in the National Green Despite petitions filed to The mixing of sewage in by entering the sewage and bird sanctuary,” says the 800 feet tall fort. Social Vijayanagara dynasty that to strengthen his rule in
Tribunal in 2016 on behalf of the Chief Minister, the gov- the lake continues. During besieging the regional office. people of the lake protection activists Muthamiz Ven- ruled over the entire region Mathakadappa, Ramaku-
the People’s Movement for ernment remains indiffer- the rainy season, sewage No action has been taken so movement. dan and V. Radhakrishnan including Tirupattur. They ppam and Venkatarajapu-
the Protection of Korattur ent to the issue. Social water is released along with far. Also, 170 species of birds Due to the lack of dredging were part of the team. built 12 forts in Paaram- ram. And this fort in
Lake. activists, who allege that rainwater that stagnates in from many countries come of Korattur lake, lotus The fort is located on a ahal, which include Venkatarajapuram must
The National Green there is a doubt as to industrial areas. to Korattur lake for breed- plants cover the lake in hill without regular paths. Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri have been destroyed during
Tribunal has ordered the whether the expert commit- “To prevent the mixing of ing. Therefore, the lake abundance. Built of black stones and and Jagadevi regions of the British attack.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 3

SHORT TAKES
Two persons held for
Back Radhakrishnan, Stalin’s fusillade against ECI
G. BABU JAYAKUMAR & tions was how could there tial to exclude a huge

Nainar urges CM
D. SEKAR /DC be so many deletions of number of voters. Since
CHENNAI, AUG 18: eligible voters when a the elections to the Tamil
stealing iron materials at Wondering as to why the
house-to-house enumera-
tion was undertaken by
Nadu Assembly were due
in 2026 and a fear of a
metro rail site Election Commission of
India (ECI) could not be
the ECI before finalizing
the rolls. Since the enrol-
repeat of Bihar’s SIR
loomed over the horizon,
M. ARULOLI I DC more transparent and ment of new voters was Stalin asked a question
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, AUG. 18:

Two persons who stole the iron

TIRUNELVELI, AUG. 18

Tamil Nadu BJP president

Nainar Nagenthran has
Flutter in TN as BJP voter friendly if its true
aim was to conduct fair
elections, Chief Minister
M. K. Stalin shot off seven
abnormally low, the Chief
Minister wanted to know
if those young voters in
that State were enumerat-
pertaining to it: ‘Will the
ECI take these practical
difficulties into account
while conducting SIR in
materials kept near
Thuraipakkam metro rail work
the

site to be used for the construction

were arrested. Iron materials
called upon Chief Minister
M.K. Stalin to extend sup-
port to C.P. Radhakrishnan,
the National Democratic
picks Tamilian for VP questions that cast doubts
over the credibility of the
ECI vis-à-vis its Special
Intensive Revision (SIR)
ed at all and asked: Has
any database been com-
piled to show how many
youngsters who turned 18
other states? He also
wanted to know as to what
prevented the ECI from
enlisting Aadhaar as one
weighing 45 kilograms and an alu- Alliance’s nominee for the G. BABU JAYAKUMAR & Congress in the State were scientist Mylsami in Bihar. With the answers on the qualifying date of the acceptable docu-
minium ladder were retrieved office of Vice-president. D. SEKAR | DC not in favour of support- Annadurai as the BJP of the Chief Election were included? ments to prove a voter’s
from the accused. In a message posted on his CHENNAI, AUG 18: ing him just become he leaders recalled the DMK Commissioner, Gynesh He asked if the ECI was claim in the question-
Zafar (50) is working as the proj- X page, Mr Nagenthran has belonged to the state. not supporting A P J Kumar, to mediapersons going to address the issue naire put out on his X
ect security officer at the stated, "as the son of Tamil The NDA picking DMK former MP and Abdul Kalam when the at his press conference relating to the removal of page with the hashtag
Thuraipakkam metro rail con- soil, Radhakrishnan's eleva- Maharashtra Governor C spokesperson T K S BJP fielded him for the raising more questions a large number of voters #VoteTheft. Another
struction project. He registered a tion as Vice-president will be P Radhakrishnan as its Elangovan and Congress president’s post. than providing answers from the rolls in the com- question to the ECI was:
complaint with the a matter of pride for the nominee for the Vice MP Manickam Tagore Since five time Rajya and in the backdrop of the ing Assembly elections in ‘On 17/07/2025, we
Thuraipakkam police stating that State.” He also urged politi- President’s post that fell said Radhakrishnan was a Sabha MP, Trichy Siva, opposition INDIA bloc Bihar because the proce- requested the ECI to
the security staff and workers had cal parties across the spec- vacant following the resig- hardcore RSS pracharak represented the DMK at mulling his impeachment, dure for enquiry and the delete the names of
rounded up two persons for steal- trum to set aside their differ- nation of Jagdeep and his election would not the INDIA coalition meet- Stalin’s direct questions two appeals along with deceased voters from the
ing iron materials at the site. ences and unite behind the Dhankhar has created a do good to Tamil Nadu. ing on Monday, his name on Monday added an their timelines, as con- rolls by undertaking the
The two persons Kartheeswaran candidature of Mr flutter in the state politi- Palaniswami was talking started floating around as impetus to the opposi- templated under the exercise contemplated in
(24) and Rajamuthukumaran (19) Radhakrishnan. cal scene with the BJP and to mediapersons after the potential nominee by tion's tirade on the issue. Registration of Electors its 01/05/2025 notification.
from Perungudi were handed over Drawing a parallel with the its allies wanting the DMK offering worship at the the opposition since with One of the direct ques- Rules, 1960, had the poten- When will this be done?
to the police who retrieved 45 kilo- 2022 presidential election, coalition to support a ‘fel- famous Annamalaiyar him as rival the NDA
grams of iron materials and an
aluminium ladder from them.
the BJP leader recalled that
the then Odisha Chief
low Tamilian,’ giving rise
to a demand for the nomi-
temple in Tiruvannamalai
when he greeted
would not able to invoke
the ‘Tamilian’ sentiment MONSOON READY
Minister Naveen Patnaik nation of another Radhakrishan on his to seek support for

_t
had asked his party legisla- Tamilian by the opposi- selection as the NDA nom- Radhakrishnan.
Rapido driver, passenger tors to back Droupadi tion INDIA alliance. inee. It was a matter of Carried away by rumours,

ac
Murmu, then the NDA’s can- Though the INDIA coali- pride for the State and some news portals started
killed as car rams into didate for the presidential tion has not yet MPs irrespective of party carrying Siva’s profile

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election, citing her Odia announced its candidate affiliation should support with titles like ‘Who is the
their vehicle roots. for the Vice President elec- him in the election, he Siva’ and so on. It is too

od
“On behalf of BJP Tamil tion, scheduled to be held said. Former governor early to speculate on the
Nadu, I appeal to Chief on September 9, several Tamilisai Soundararjan candidate because it is not
DC CORRESPONDENT Minister Stalin to show sim- leaders in the opposition told the media before tak- clear if the INDIA coali-

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CHENNAI, AUG. 18: ilar statesmanship and camp were not happy with ing a flight to New Delhi tion would field its candi-
extend support to our Tamil the credentials of that political parties in date for Vice President as
A Rapido driver and passenger son, C.P. Radhakrishnan,” Radhakrishnan, seeing Tamil Nadu should back the chances of winning is

r8
were killed when a car dashed Mr Nagenthran said. him as a RSS member, Radhakrishnan. Even quite remote going by the

R
against it near Chromepet on ● Drawing a parallel with which triggered a specula- PMK president Anbumani poll arithmetic.
Monday. The traffic police are the 2022 presidential tion that the rival candi- Ramadoss said his selec- Though the NDA has a

e6
looking for the car driver who did date, too, might belong to tion of Vice President clear advantage in the
election, the BJP leader
not stop after causing the acci- Tamil Nadu. nominee by the NDA was elections, in the event of
recalled that the then

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dent by examining the CCTV While the BJP leaders in the right choice. some allies of the BJP
footage in the area. Odisha Chief Minister Tamil Nadu and also the With the demand for the deciding to not support
Naveen Patnaik had

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Palraj (48) belonging to general secretary of its INDIA coalition to select a Radhakrishnan for what-
Thiruvallur is working as a asked his party legisla- ally, the AIADMK, candidate from Tamil ever reason, the victory of
Rapido driver, He picked up a tors to back Droupadi Edappadi K Palaniswami, Nadu to fight the opposition candidate
passenger Balamurugan (22) Murmu, then the NDA’s
candidate for the presi-
openly exhorted the DMK Radhakrishnan gaining cannot be fully ruled out
R
TB
belonging to Tiruppur near the to support ground several names particularly in the back- Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday inspect the ongoing construction of a
Anjaneyar temple near the dential election, citing Radhakrishnan, many were suggested. One of drop of allegations of channel to convey flood water from Narayanapuram lake to Pallikaranai marshland through the
Tambaram Sanatorium. her Odia roots. leaders in the DMK and them was of former ISRO ‘vote theft’. Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road. —DC
w

When he was going towards

nE

Chromepet, a car which came at

a high speed hit the bike. Both
the driver and passenger were
Unending drainage work in Pammal, Octogenarian photographer gives
Q

thrown on the road.

Balamurugan died on the spot
M

and Palraj who was admitted to

Anakaputhur leaves roads battered peek into yesteryear cameras
y9

the Rajiv Gandhi Government

General Hospital died without
pj

responding to treatment.
N RAVIKUMAR & in their areas for about 25 reach the Chrompet or
WORLD
/H

P.A. JEBARAJ I DC years. Once the corpora- Pallavaram railway sta- B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC on a smartphone to record act as a dark room in this
Durai Vaiko urges EAM CHENNAI, AUG. 18 tion relented and started tion. The auto drivers OOTY, AUG. 18
PHOTOGRAPHY DAY
images. However, the evolu- field camera,” he noted.
m

the work through private refuse to come to the area tion of photography that “In the early era field cam-
The underground contractors two years ago, due to the bad condition of The world will observe World began in the early 1800s eras, the photographers
to secure TN medico’s
co

drainage work in Pammal the people were the road. The people said Photography Day on showed that it underwent would insert a slide contain-
and Anakaputhur under jubilant. However, the road works are not con- Tuesday to celebrate the pho- challenging tasks that even ing two films inside the cam-
rescue from war front
p.

the Tambaram work was moving at a ducted scientifically by tography and image making required patience coupled era to record the image. This
Corporation has been very slow pace and most the work being carried out industry as the photographs, with skills to record images. was generally used for group
ap

dragging on for the last of the roads were dug up at several places at the since the invention of pho- “The notable among the photos or to take large-size
DC CORRESPONDENT two years, leading to to lay drainage pipes. same time, digging every- tography, have become the yesteryear cameras is the photos. In the later stages,
ts

TIRUCHY, AUG. 18 unending traffic conges- Though the work was where and keeping tool for recording ephemeral ‘field camera’ that is popular- there used to be a specific
tion. Rainwater is stagnat- completed at some places, them open. moments in daily life to keep ly known as ‘bellows camera’ type of film roll to be insert-
ha

Tiruchirapalli MP Durai Vaiko on ing in the ditches which the ditches were not The corporation officials the images as an aspect for which is a sort of large for- ed inside the appropriate
Monday urged the Union govern- were not closed properly closed properly resulting said 75 percent of the communication as well as a mat camera that can be fold- compartment inside the
ment to take immediate diplomatic and the roads are covered in water stagnation dur- work is completed and prized possession to remem- ed into compact size to carry camera by opening the back
t.w

steps to secure the safe release of an with mud, making life ing rains. This is hinder- tenders were issued to lay ber the past legacy. it for outdoor photography. of the camera. The film
Indian student who was trapped in miserable for the ing traffic and the impor- 516 road patches. Roads Here in the Nilgiris, a place This camera would be would be wound forward
ha

the Ukraine war front after con- motorists and pedestri- tant roads including the were laid at 400 places and known as a paradise to learn mounted on a wooden stand using the winding knob.
scripted in the Russian military. In a ans. Pammal-Pozhichalur the roads at 65 places natural photography, an octo- to record images. It generally Once the image making is
letter to External Affairs Minister S. The residents also com- road were remain open as the work- genarian veteran photogra- would be designed to offer a completed or the film roll is
//c

Jaishankar, he pointed out that the plained that a newly-laid affected. ers face some challenges pher recalled the days of very wide range of camera fully exposed, a rewind but-
parents of medical student Kishore road too has cracked up in The busy road which in laying the drainage using large size ‘field cam- movements like tilt, swing ton is used to carefully wind
s:

Saravanan from Srimushnam in many areas. They connects Gowl Bazaar and pipes due to the presence era’, otherwise known as and rise for proper adjust- back the film roll to its origi-
Cuddalore district on August 16 appealed to the corpora- Gerugambakkam is badly of electric cables, telecom- ‘view camera’, as the yester- ments to focus well on the nal spool. In this type of
tp

received a communication from him tion officials to complete damaged, between munication lines and year photographers relied on image to be photographed. camera, it is important to
that he was being held in Bakhmut the underground Pammal Kalaignar Nagar drinking water pipes. In this large camera for outdoor The bellows in the camera avoid light leaks during load-
ht

and is being moved towards drainage work before the to Nehru Nagar. Even at some places, the work is as well as indoor photogra- would help connect the front ing and unloading of the film
Konstantinovka, both war fronts. North-east Monsoon sea- places where new roads coordinated between the phy till the 1970s. this modern cyber era, pho- and rear ends and permit rolls. A high skill was neces-
The MP voiced grave concerns for son. The authorities were laid, the work was Corporation and the R. Arokia Dass, the octoge- tography has seen a vast and focusing while excluding sary in those days to operate
the youth's safety and pointed out assured that the work not proper and has been departments concerned , narian photographer here unimaginable revolution as light. The photographer this type of camera,” Dass
that his family is in unbearable dis- would be completed in damaged by the rains they said and assured that whose five decades old a mere mobile phone is would cover the upper and said. He added that this type
tress, fearing for his life every pass- September. again. Most of the office- the roads in the major Wilson Studio here would enough to click photographs. side parts of the camera with of camera was particularly
ing day. Leader of the Opposition People of Pammal and goers, businessmen and places used by most of the portray the evolution of pho- The art of photography has a black cloth to check light used for outdoor photogra-
Rahul Gandhi supported the effort Anakaputhur protested students en route to people would be laid in tography from old times to come to such a modern level entering the camera. Thus, phy and to click group photos
of Durai Vaiko. for underground drainage Chennai find it difficult to September. this new millennium, said in that even toddlers can click the small unit itself would in those days.

<<<
COIMBATORE SUPER KINGS ACADEMY TIMELY SEVA A two-day mobile passport seva
camp for the students of Anna
Applications invited from fishermen youth for coastal home guards
WINS TWEENS CRICKET TOURNEY University, Guindy campus, was
inaugurated on Monday by S.
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, AUG. 18:
reside in the radius of 20
kilometers along the sea
fail.
After completion of the
Govendhan, IFS, Director,
B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC has CSK Academy teams shore of Marina besides training, they will be
Passport Seva Project, Ministry
COIMBATORE, AUG. 18 in Coimbatore, of External Affairs, New Delhi. S.
The Greater Chennai Home possessing a valid Ration deployed to the Marina
Tirupur and Vijayakumar, IFS, Regional Guards invites applications card. They must be above 18 Marine Police Station to
Super Kings Academy in Hosur. Passport Officer, Chennai, also from interested fishermen and below 50 years of age as assist the Coastal Security
Coimbatore won the Four teams took part in graced the occasion and partici- youth who possess excellent on 1 August this year and Group in Chennai city
Independence Day Cup in the limited overs inter-dis- pated in the inaugural function. swimming skills for their educational qualifica- coastal areas, the release
the tweens cricket tourney trict CSK Academy tour- The camp, scheduled for August appointment as coastal tion must be 10th std pass or added.
held in Tirupur. nament in 18 and 19 aims at facilitating Home Guards.
The Coimbatore Super Tirupur. hassle-free passport services A press release from
Kings Academy(CSK The academy promotes for students, streamlining the the police said the appli-
Academy), which is pro- cricket among the tweens application and verification cants must have good
moting tweens cricket to who get opportunities to process directly on campus. conduct with no crimi-
hone the cricketing skills play competitive cricket in —DC nal records and they
of kids in the Kongu belt, the pre-teen age. must be residents of
Chennai City. They must

Palm leaf products industry shapes life of Ramanathapuram dt women

SP. LOGANATHAN | DC Normally, the items cost from Rs. 20
RAMESWARAM, AUG. 18 to Rs. 1,000. These items are pur-
chased and sent from Madurai to for-
As palm leaf products have become eign countries like London, Sri
popular as an alternative to plastic Lanka, America,
products, rural women have benefit- etc. Sudha, a member of the
ed through this industry in Totalivalai, a women’s group that
Ramanathapuram district. manufactures palm leaf products,
There are various types of palm - said they earn about Rs. 100 per day,
which is also known as the tree of working from home. The palm leaf
heaven - such as male palm, female palm leaves. Now palm leaf products products purchased from them are
palm, hair palm, ichthyosis palm, are made in various shapes and for exported to foreign countries. They
seemai palm, young palm, kudai of people in Ramanathapuram dis- 500 individuals make palm leaf prod- various uses. If you give a model of are also marketed in states like
palm, kandam palm, dadham palm, trict. ucts. an item, they can make the same with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
kichilippan, china palm, kundupan, Women’s groups that make prod- They are engaged in the work of palm leaves. Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
sanampana, nilapana, eerampana ucts from palm leaf are currently making palm leaf products daily Pencil pockets, garlands, torans, Sudha added that making palm leaf
and thippili palm. increasing in the district, which from 10 am to 4 pm. Palm leaf idiyappam plates, pudtu kotil, idiyap- products as an alternative to plastic
The palm tree, which grows without relies on the palm industry. kuruthu is bought for Rs. 35 and con- pam box, rice box, tamboolam plates, products gives them satisfaction. But,
maintenance all over the land, is also There are many women’s groups, verted into useful products and sold. small to large boxes, sweet packets, currently, there is a slowdown in the
called karpakatharu because all parts especially in the villages around Once upon a time, only mats, bas- biryani boxes, key chains, fans, marketing of the palm leaf products.
of it are beneficial to humans. Palm Thirupullani. A group has 15 to 20 kets, boxes to hold tamarind, flowers crowns and jewellery boxes are made She urged the government to step in
trees support the livelihood of lakhs members. Apart from this, more than and blackcurrant were made from from various palm products. and help improve the situation.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 4

■ Flight ops hit ■ Schoolbus stranded due to waterlogging

SHORT TAKES Nagas oppose Assam govt
Why pay toll if stuck
in jam for hrs?: SC
Heavy rains disrupt lives in eviction drive near border
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Monday questioned
the NHAI asking why a com-
muter should be asked to
pay `150 toll if it took 12
Mumbai, govt warns locals
BHAGWAN PARAB police witnessed the bus
Over 1.29L bighas of encroached lands retrieved so far
MANOJ ANAND
GUWAHATI, AUG.18
◗ TODAY, THE eviction tion in the Rengma
Reserve Forest,
hours instead of one hour to MUMBAI, AUG. 18 enter a stretch of road
drive in Biswanath Uriumghat, covering near-
cover a 65-kilometer high- that was flooded with rain- The Assam government, has also been nearly ly 2,500 bighas (827 acres)
way stretch in Thrissur, Heavy rains lashed water up to 4 ft. We which on Monday completed. We are of land will be carried out
Kerala. A three-judge made Mumbai and its suburbs brought in the children, launched another round of securing our Forest tomorrow. Today, the evic-
the remark while reserving throwing normal life out one by one, since the bus eviction drive in the and grazing land for tion drive in Biswanath
its verdict on pleas filed by of gear on Monday. The shut down,” said Rajendra Rengma Reserve Forest, future generations has also been nearly com-
the National Highways other parts of Pawar, Senior PI, Matunga Uriumghat in Golaghat pleted. We are securing
Authority of India and con- Maharashtra also wit- Police Station. district along the border said that a large number of our Forest and grazing
cessionaire, Guruvayoor nessed downpour and The Brihanmumbai with Nagaland, faced Naga villagers stopped the land for future genera-
Infrastructure challenging with forecasts warning of Municipal Corporation strong Opposition from administration from tions.”
the Kerala high court’s order heavy rainfall on Tuesday, (BMC) declared a holiday neighbouring Naga resi- starting the demolition Earlier on Sunday, the
suspending toll collection at the state government has for all the schools and col- dents of the area who drive. district administration of
the Paliyekkara toll plaza in urged citizens to remain leges in the afternoon ses- opposed the demolition of The state administration Biswanath district carried
Thrissur. The Chief Justice of cautious. sion across the city. The houses vacated by suspect- had announced that they out another eviction drive
India said: “Why should a Incessant rains since civic body also urged the ed Muslim immigrants. are going to carry out a in the district. The Assam
person pay `150 if it takes 12 Sunday night made The citizens against going out- Informing that Naga res- massive eviction drive in government has so far
hours for him to get from India Meteorological People wade through a waterlogged toad amid heavy doors unless it is essen- idents of Uriumghat, ini- the Uriamghat area to retrieved over 1.29 lakh
one end of the road to the Department (IMD) rains in Mumbai on Monday. — Rajesh Jadhav tial. “Citizens are urged to tially supported the evic- retrieve over 10,000 bighas bighas of government for-
other end? A road which is upgrade the earlier step out of their homes tion of Muslim immi- of forest land that had est lands across the state
expected to take one hour, orange alert given to Dadar, Wadala and Parel children, two lady staff only if absolutely neces- grants who left the area been encroached upon. from encroachers.
takes 11 more hours and they Mumbai to a red alert on recorded heavy rainfall of members, and the driver sary,” it said. The air traf- soon after the district Many houses and struc- Meanwhile, security
have to pay a toll as well.” Monday morning. The more than 100 mm in the were trapped for nearly an fic was also disrupted as administration served tures were found to have sources said that senior
The comments came as the downpour disrupted the morning hours. hour. Acting immediately, Mumbai airport wit- them eviction notice, but been illegally constructed superintendent of police,
bench was informed about a daily life of Mumbaikars, Amid the downpour, a a police team reached the nessed flight diversions later on opposed the demo- on these forest lands. Golaghat, Rajen Singh,
nearly 12-hour traffic snarl as waterlogging at many Don Bosco School bus got spot and rescued them and several go-arounds as lition of the demolition of Assam chief minister was camping in the area

_t
on the stretch on the places caused traffic jams. stuck in severe waterlog- safely. “We rescued 7 stu- conditions were not abandoned houses by the Himanta Biswa Sarma, in and trying to pacify the
weekend. Several parts of the city ging near Matunga Police dents who are enrolled in favourable for safe landing administration on a social media post said, situation by roping in its

ac
5 electrocuted at
like Chembur, Worli, Station. Inside the bus, six Jr. KG at Don Bosco. The of the flights. Monday, security sources “Another round of evic- counterpart in Nagaland.

e=
Janmashtami event Jawan killed, Army soldier
Legal trouble for The Bengal Trump’s aide targets

od
3 others hurt beaten at toll
Hyderabad: Five were elec-

?m
India over Russia oil
trocuted and four others

Files, director faces fresh FIR ‘Start

injured when a chariot came
in contact with overhead
in Naxal blast plaza; 6 held,

r8
electric wires during the pro-
cession organised as part of
RABINDRA NATH RAJIB CHOWDHURI acting like strategic partner’ operator fined

R
Sri Krishna Janmashtami cel- Files to The Bengal Files male goat. Mukherjee’s
ebrations, the police said on CHOUDHURY KOLKATA, AUG. 18 after its shooting was com- grandson, Santanu, how-

e6
Monday. The incident RAIPUR, AUG. 18 pleted. The political ever accused Mr Agnihotri SRIDHAR KUMARASWAMI
occurred around midnight on Bollywood film director thriller has already earned of describing his grandfa- NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 Meerut/New Delhi,

7z
Sunday in Ramanthapur when A jawan of district Vivek Agnihotri, days support from the BJP ther as ‘Ek Tha Kasai Aug. 18: An Army jawan
the chariot with Lord reserve guard (DRG) was after the trailer launch of before its pan-India launch Gopal Pantha’ in a person- Amidst trade tensions in returning to duty after

gD
Krishna's idol was being on Monday killed and his upcoming movie– The on September 5. al reel video on social India-US ties, US leave was allegedly
taken out in a procession, three others injured in an Bengal Files– was stopped It highlights the daredev- media without doing any President Donald Trump’s assaulted by toll plaza
they said. The vehicle, pulling improvised explosive by the Kolkata police at an il role of a freedom fighter research. He lodged a com- trade advisor, Peter employees in Uttar
the decorated chariot, ran out device (IED) blast, event in the city, has land- Gopal Mukherjee, who plaint at the Bowbazar
R Navarro, has slammed Pradesh's Meerut dis-
TB
of fuel, following which nine triggered by Maoists, ed in more trouble as the was a member of police station against the India over its import of trict, prompting the
people were pushing it. At in Bijapur district in descendant of the main Anushilan Samity and a film-maker. Russian oil, saying that if Peter Navarro arrest of six, a hefty
that time, a snapped cable Chhattisgarh’s Bastar. character of his movie has wrestler from central Santanu alleged, “My India wants to be treated penalty and blacklisting
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wire fell on the electricity The incident took place lodged an FIR with the Kolkata, for his heavy grandfather was called as a strategic partner of India’s dependence on proceedings against the
combat of the massacre of Kasai, which means butch-
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wires, which in turn touched during an anti-Naxal police against him and the US, it must start acting Russian oil as “oppor- toll operator by NHAI
the brass frame fitted around operation by the security also sent him a legal Hindus, which later came er. He was also labelled as like one. In an opinion tunistic,” while adding and a strong condemna-
the deity on the vehicle, due forces in the Indravati notice, demanding his to be known as the ‘Great Pantha which means a piece published in the that if India “wants to be tion from the Indian
Q

to which five people were National Park area in unconditional apology for Calcutta Killings’, in the male goat in Bengali. This London-based Financial treated as a strategic part- Army.
electrocuted, a senior police Bijapur district, police distorting his late forefa- violent riots during the is disrespectful. Mr Times on Monday, he also ner of the US, it needs to The incident, which
M

official said, based on prelim- said. The slain jawan, ther’s patriotic image in Muslim League’s ‘Direct Agnihotri should research questioned the feasibility start acting like one.” also sparked protests by
y9

inary investigation. Four oth- identified as Dinesh Nag, the film. Action Day’ on August 16 more on this. He never of giving cutting-edge Citing India's demand for Meerut locals and out-
ers were hospitalised, the inadvertently stepped on On the other hand, in 1946 under the British- contacted us either. Where American defence technol- technology transfer and rage on social media
did he get this wrong infor-
pj

official said. One of the an IED planted by Tollywood actor Saswata rule. ogy and platforms to its condition of setting up after its video surfaced,
injured has been subse- Maoists, leading to its Chatterjee, who played a Since Mukherjee ran a mation from? We protest India. factories on Indian soil, occurred on Sunday
/H

quently discharged, another explosion. While the role in the controversial goat meat shop then, he this and will continue it. “In effect, India acts as a the White House trade evening at the Bhuni toll
police official said. — PTI jawan died on the spot, Hindi film, has claimed instantly became famous We have filed an FIR global clearinghouse for advisor commented: “That plaza in Sarurpur area,
m

three others sustained that the movie’s title was as Gopal Pantha. In against Mr Agnihotri and Russian oil, converting blunts any benefit to when Kapil, a soldier,
DRI seizes `92 cr injuries, the police said. changed from The Delhi Bengali, Pantha means a sent a legal notice to him." embargoed crude into reducing America's trade was headed to the Delhi
co

high-value exports while balance while it also risks airport. His car was
Mephedrone in MP giving Moscow the dollars transferring cutting-edge caught in a long queue,

Nepal PM to visit India soon: MEA

p.

it needs,” Mr Navarro was US military capabilities to and when he asked the

Bhopal: The Directorate of quoted by reports as hav- an India now cosying up to toll staff to clear the way
ap

Revenue Intelligence (DRI) ing written and described both Russia and China.” faster, an altercation
busted an illicit drug manu- broke out. The argument
■ Misri gives Modi invitation to Oli ■ FS hands over vehicles to Nepal
10tn explosives seized from
ts

facturing facility here and escalated, and Kapil was

seized Mephedrone worth Rs beaten up by toll plaza
ha

92 crore, an official press DC CORRESPONDENT discussed opportunities ◗ THE FOREIGN secre- engagements, both sides employees, officials said.
release said on Monday. The NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 for further collaboration
including possible out-
tary also met the Chief noted with satisfaction the
concrete progress in cattle shed in Odisha; 3 held On the basis of CCTV
footage and a complaint
t.w

seizure was the result of a

meticulously coordinated New Delhi on Monday comes that could form a of Army Staff of Nepal, recent years in diverse filed by the soldier’s fam-
operation, code named announced that Nepalese part of the agenda of PM Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel areas of bilateral coopera- AKSHAYA KUMAR SAHOO (SDPO) Ramendra Prasad ily, police filed a case and
ha

“Operation Crystal Break”, Prime Minister K.P. Oli’s forthcoming visit to tion, including physical BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 18 said three persons were arrested six employees.
involving raids by the DRI Sharma Oli would soon India”. Mr Misri conclud- Sunday), “The foreign sec- connectivity, digital con- arrested in connection SP (Rural) Rakesh
spanning multiple locations make a visit to India, after ed a two-day visit to the retary called on the nectivity, defence & secu- In a major crackdown, with the case — Alok Kumar Mishra said that
//c

across Madhya Pradesh, foreign secretary Vikram Himalayan neighbour on President of Nepal, rity and energy coopera- Odisha’s Kandhamal Kumar Patra of Sorada the toll staff and some
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, a Misri “handed over a for- Monday. Ramchandra Paudel, the tion. The foreign secretary police seized nearly 10 (Ganjam), Hemant Sethi local youths allegedly
s:

press release issued by Press mal invitation from Prime “The foreign secretary Nepal PM, Mr Oli, and the also met other senior tonnes of explosives from of Gopalpur (Ganjam), tied Kapil and his com-
Information Bureau (PIB) on Minister Narendra Modi” (on Monday) also met the minister for foreign political leaders of a model cattle shed in and Shakti Ranjan Dash panions to a pole and
tp

Monday said. As per the in the Nepalese capital Chief of Army Staff of affairs, Dr Arzu Rana Nepal”, New Delhi said, Jagannathpur village of Bhawanipatna assaulted them. He said
Kathmandu to Mr Oli “to Nepal, Gen. Ashok Raj Deuba. He conveyed to adding, “Nepal is a priori- under Chamakhandi (Kalahandi). Along with efforts are on to identify
ht

release, a search of the ille-

gal manufacturing facility at visit India on mutually Sigdel and handed over them greetings from the ty partner of India under police limits in Odisha the explosives, the police and nab others involved.
the village of Jagdishpur convenient dates”. defence stores and equip- leadership in India and its neighbourhood first Ganjam district on recovered `4 lakh in cash, Taking cognisance of the
(former Islamnagar) under New Delhi said Mr Misri ment including Light briefed them on the policy. The foreign secre- Sunday evening, exposing two vehicles, and six incident, the NHAI on
Huzur tehsil in Bhopal dis- and his Nepalese counter- Strike Vehicles (LSVs), progress being made in tary’s visit continued the a well-organised illegal mobile phones. Monday imposed a penal-
trict on Saturday led to part Amrit Bahadur Rai critical care medical various aspects of the tradition of regular high- supply network. “It is a sensitive case, ty of `20 lakh on the toll
recovery and seizure of “held wide-ranging dis- equipment and military mutually-beneficial bilat- level exchanges between Briefing the media at and investigations are collection agency, M/s
61.20 kg of Mephedrone (in cussions, reviewed the animals to the Nepali eral cooperation between the two countries and Tumudibandha police underway to determine Dharam Singh, for what
liquid form) valued at `92 progress made in various Army,” New Delhi said. the two countries.” helped in advancing our station, Baliguda sub- the full scale of the opera- it termed a "grave breach
crore in the illicit market. bilateral initiatives and It added that (earlier on “During the various bilateral ties further.” divisional police officer tion,” SDPO Prasad said. of contract". — PTI

CEC’s attack on Rahul has INDIA Ports bill gets nod amid ruckus EAM pegs
bloc plan impeachment motion China ties on FROM PG 1

However, the debate

Provisions) Bill, 2025,
which seeks to decrimi-
nalise certain minor
Earlier, as the Lok
Sabha met 11 am,
Opposition MPs, includ-
FROM PG 1

Countering the CEC’s

claim, Samajwadi Party
draft list and living peo-
ple are on the deleted
list? How can a dead per-
son be on a draft list? It
is deliberately pretend-
ing to be one. Or perhaps
he thinks we are fools.
We were shocked to hear
they had said why the
SIR was done in such a
hurry, when elections
are just three months
was inconclusive as the
House was adjourned
due to vociferous prote
sts by the Opposition
offences to promote ease
of living and business,
was introduced by com-
merce minister Piyush
ing those from the
Congress, were on their
feet, raising slogans and
showing placards with
border peace
leader Ramgopal Yadav can only happen because such foolish remarks. He away, without discussing over special intensive Goyal in the Lok Sabha, their demand for a dis- FROM PG 1 Pakistan-sponsored
said while the EC is ask- the BLOs were signing did not answer a single with political parties; revision of rolls in Bihar. which was then referred cussion on the SIR in terrorism that fol-
ing Mr Gandhi to submit the form themselves… In question put to him. why are they in a rush to Attacking the to a select committee. Bihar. Speaker Om Birla He said that “hav- lowed the horrific
an affidavit with his just two districts of Within just one month, announce the SIR?” he Opposition for its The committee was initially tried to continue ing seen a difficult Pahalgam terror
complaint, the SP had Bihar -- Darbhanga and from 25th June to 25th said. protests during a discus- tasked to submit its the House business by period in our rela- attack, the EAM
submitted complaints Kaimur -- the BLO has July, you cut 65 lakh Several Opposition sion on astronaut report by the first day of allowing members to ask tionship, our two termed “the fight
with affidavits of around marked ‘not recommend- votes in Bihar under SIR. MPs of INDIA bloc par- Shukla’s journey to the the next session of six questions on several nations now seek to against terrorism in
18,000 voters being ed’ for 10-12 per cent of You say this is a ‘Special ties held a protest in the ISS, which eventually led Parliament. Union ministries and move ahead”. He all its forms and
removed from the list in voters. If we average this Intensive Revision’. Yet, Parliament House com- to the House’s adjourn- Another bill to include departments amidst the also said “differ- manifestations is
2022, but no action was for the rest of Bihar, it in this revision, not a plex on Monday against ment, defence minister IIM Guwahati to the din, but after 15 minutes ences must not another major prior-
taken. “In the 2022 UP means 80 lakh people single person in Bihar the Election Rajnath Singh said the schedule of the Indian asked the protesting MPs become disputes, nor ity”.
polls, when Akhilesh will be marked ‘not rec- was able to cast their Commission’s roll revi- House should have risen Institutes of to go back to their seats competition con- In the obvious
Yadav said names of SP ommended’ and subject- vote. What kind of SIR is sion in Bihar. Led by the above party politics on Management Act to and warned that if they flict”. backdrop of tariffs
supporters have been ed to an arbitrary verifi- this?” Leader of the Opposition an issue linked to nation- make it an institution of try to damage govern- “Today, our talks imposed by the
removed from the voters’ cation. So based on all “The right to vote is the in Rajya Sabha and al pride and achieve- national importance was ment properties, he will cover economic Trump administra-
list, we gave affidavits, this, we can go on till the most important right Congress president ment. also introduced in the would be forced to take and trade issues, pil- tion, including
but no action has been cows come home. But given by the Mallikarjun Kharge, the Before adjournment for Lok Sabha by education strong action. He then grimages, people-to- penalty tariffs on the
taken,” he said. can I tell you, based on Constitution to a com- MPs raised slogans like the day, the Jan Vishwas minister Dharmendra adjourned the House till people contacts, import of Russian
Trinamul Congress just these five points the mon citizen. Democracy “vote chor, gaddi chhor” (Amendment of Pradhan amid din. 12 pm. river data sharing, oil, the EAM said:
leader Mahua Moitra CEC mentioned yester- depends on it. EC is the and “vote chori band border trade, con- “In the current envi-
said if the voters’ list, on day, this is ludicrous. It is body meant to protect karo”. nectivity and bilater- ronment, there is
which the last general
election was conducted,
is not correct, the Lok
not the job of the chief
election commissioner to
attack the Opposition.
it... But we can see the
CEC did not reply to
important questions
Hitting back at the
INDIA bloc, the BJP said:
“Not only the EC, there
Putin calls up Modi, briefs al exchanges.
would like to follow
up on some particu-
I clearly the impera-
tive of maintaining
and enhancing sta-
Sabha should be dis-
solved. “Is the list on
which the Lok Sabha
election was done fraud-
Your job, Sir, is to go into
great detail on the valid
queries raised by the
Opposition,” Ms Moitra
being raised by political
parties, and he is run-
ning away from its
responsibility,” Congress
is no constitutional insti-
tution left in the country
that has not been
attacked by the Congress
him on talks with Trump lar concerns that I
had brought up with
you, Excellency,
when I visited China
bility in the global
economy as well.”
He added: “Overall,
it is our expectation
ulent? If that is true, the said. leader Gaurav Gogoi family and the families FROM PG 1 imposed on India in both the 25 per cent penalty in July,” Mr that our discussions
current and previous At the briefing, AAP said. revolving around the the statements of the tariffs on India. Soon Jaishankar said, in a would contribute to
election commissioners MP Sanjay Singh said: He should have Congress family. They Including a penalty of 25 Indian government fol- after the summit ended, a veiled reference to building a stable,
should be prosecuted, “Yesterday, after listen- answered valid ques- are the same people who per cent for buying lowing the two calls relieved New Delhi had Beijing’s trade poli- cooperative and for-
and this Lok Sabha ing to CEC Gyanesh tions by the Opposition. pointed fingers at the Russian oil, that is sched- between Mr Modi and Mr last Saturday hailed the cy. ward-looking rela-
should be dissolved Kumar, I felt his real “On the contrary, he Supreme Court. These uled to kick in from Putin this month. two Presidents for “their In the wake of tionship between
immediately,” she said. name should be raised questions on polit- are the same people who August 27. There was, After the Alaska sum- leadership in the pursuit India’s Operation India and China, one
‘Agyanesh’ Kumar. He ical parties and attacked dared to call the Army however, no direct refer- mit “went well”, Mr of peace” (to end the Rus Sindoor in May this that serves both our
“How is it possible that spoke only of ignorance. them,” he alleged. “It Chief of India a street ence to any discussion on Trump has indicated he sia-Ukraine conflict) as year against interests and
dead people are in the Either he is a fool, or he would have been better if thug.” the American tariffs may not have to impose “highly commendable”.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 5

SHORT TAKES
■ 74 edu bodies get similar threats in Delhi-NCR this year Parl security breach: HC seeks
4 die in Raja Garden
electronics shop fire 3 city schools get hoax bomb police to reply on bail petition
threats; teams tracing sender
DC CORRESPONDENT then. anniversary of the 2001
New Delhi: Four persons NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 Mr Jha argued that no Parliament terror attack,
were killed after fire broke harm or injury, or loss of accused Sagar Sharma and
out in an electronics shop in The Delhi high court on property, was incurred by Manoranjan D. allegedly
West Delhi’s Raja Garden on Monday sought the the members. He claimed the jumped into the Lok Sabha
Monday afternoon. The fire
was reported at 3.08 pm in
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 Failed law & order police’s response on a bail
plea filed in the December
trial court was wrong in not
considering the “true facts
chamber from the public
gallery during Zero Hour,
an electronic shop —
Mahajan Electronics — on Several schools in the under 4-engine 2023 parliament security
breach case.
and circumstances” while
dismissing his bail plea.
released yellow gas from
canisters and gave slogans
the first floor of a four-
storey building. “We rushed
national capital, including
the Delhi Public School govt, says Kejriwal A two-judge bench of
Justices Vivek Chaudhary
Reportedly, in a major
security breach on the
before they were overpow-
ered by some MPs.
five fire tenders to the site. (DPS), on Monday and Manoj Jain issued
Four people fell unconscious received bomb threats via DC CORRESPONDENT notice to the police on the
due to the smoke and were email, triggering panic NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 bail plea of accused Lalit
rushed to a nearby hospital and prompting student Jha in the case and posted
by CATS ambulance,” a Delhi evacuation. After several schools in the matter for October 8.
fire services official said. A spate of similar the national capital Mr Jha challenged a
Two women and a man died threats was received in received bomb threats, trial court’s April 28 order
in the blaze, while another recent months in the city. former Delhi chief minis- rejecting his bail plea. He
man succumbed to his burns As per an official, the ter Arvind Kejriwal on claimed to have surren-
at a hospital, he said. The institutions that received Monday lashed out at the dered on December 15,
fire fighting operation was the threats included Delhi People gather outside Delhi Public School in Dwarka which BJP, saying its “four- 2023, and has spent 1.8
over at 4.10 pm, he added. Public School (DPS) engine” government has years in custody since
received bomb threat on Monday. — PTI
4 held for trafficking,
Dwarka, Modern Convent failed to maintain law and
School, and Shree Ram “Search operation is digital footprints to ascer- order. “The BJP can nei-
World School in Dwarka completed and nothing tain the origin of the mes- ther manage Delhi nor
raping 13-yr-old girl Sector 10.
After a thorough search,
suspicious was found,” the
officer said, adding that
sages. Investigators sus-
pect the involvement of
maintain the law and
order. The BJP’s so-called
New Delhi: The police has the threats were later cyber forensic teams have pranksters, but have not ‘four-engine government’
arrested four men in connec- declared to be fake. begun work to trace the IP ruled out the possibility of has completely failed in
tion with the trafficking and Multiple teams of the address of the sender. organised attempts to dis- Delhi,” he added.

_t
forcibly marriage of a girl for Delhi police, including the DPS Dwarka later rupt normalcy. AAP leader Atishi
monetary benefits. An offi- bomb disposal squad and announced the closure of Around 74 educational echoed similar views and

ac
cial said a 13-year-old girl dog squad, were rushed to the school for the day. institutions — 70 schools said, “The series of
allegedly trafficked, married the three campuses. According to the police, and four colleges — across threats to schools is not

e=
off in Uttar Pradesh for mon- A thorough search oper- several units, including Delhi-NCR have received stopping. Once again,
etary benefits and raped ation was carried out the cyber cell and special similar threats between schools have received

od
after she left home in Delhi’s before the police declared staff, are analysing the January and August this bomb threats, leaving chil-
Bharat Nagar following a the threats to be fake. email headers and other year. dren and parents in fear.”

?m
dispute with her father near-
ly a month ago. Four men —
Rajeev (40), a resident of
Atishi & Sanjay get HC notice ‘Railways

r8
Shamli, Vikas (20) from
Hapur, Ashu (55) from

suffered

R
Meerut and Ramanjot Singh
(24) from Ghaziabad — have
in defamation suit by Dikshit

e6
been arrested in connection
with the case, they said. The
`5,257cr

7z
police added that the girl DC CORRESPONDENT plaint in April and under-
was rescued from Shamli in NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 scored the AAP leaders’
loss in
gD
Uttar Pradesh nearly a “legitimate exercise of
month after she went miss- The Delhi high court on fundamental right to free-
ing on July 21. “The girl had Monday issued notice to dom of speech and expres-
gone missing on July 21 after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sion”. It refused to take
2022-23’ R
TB
she left her house in north- leaders Atishi and Sanjay cognisance of Mr
west Delhi’s J.J. Colony, Singh on a defamation Dikshit’s complaint and
Wazirpur, for tuition but did plea filed by Congress said the averments and DC CORRESPONDENT
w

not return. A case of kidnap- leader Sandeep Dikshit Atishi Sanjay Singh contentions labelled NEW DELHI, AUG. 18
defamatory by Mr Dikshit
nE

ping was registered at the against them. ments were made during
Bharat Nagar police station Justice Ravinder Dudeja the election and were part were “not imputation” but A CAG report has
and a team formed to trace directed the AAP leaders of trading charges. “political aspirations and revealed that the
Q

her,” deputy commissioner to file their response by Mr Dikshit’s counsel assertions”. Railway’s total earnings
of police (northwest) December 4 on Mr said on Monday that the It was alleged that at a and expenditure from its
M

Bhisham Singh said. Dikshit’s plea filed allegations were personal press conference Ms operations, when com-
y9

Atishi and Mr Singh

ASI, constable held
against a trial court in nature and caused his pared with its cross-subsi-
order. client reputational and alleged that Mr Dikshit dising records, showed
pj

The Congress leader electoral harm, constitut- not only took “crores of that it understated its
for taking `2K bribe filed the revision petition ing defamation. rupees from the Bharatiya expenditure in the finan-
/H

against the trial court ver- The high court issued Janata Party (BJP), but cial year 2022-23 by more
New Delhi: An assistant sub- dict, which dismissed his notice and posted the mat- the Congress had also col- than `5,000 crore.
m

inspector and a constable complaint against the ter for December 4. luded with the ruling In its report tabled in
were arrested for allegedly AAP leaders, saying the The trial court had dis- party to defeat the Aam the Parliament, the audi-
co

accepting a bribe from a alleged defamatory state- missed Mr Dikshit’s com- Aadmi Party (AAP).” tor found that while the
puncture shop owner in Railways, after working
p.

North Delhi’s Wazirpur out its earnings and

industrial area, the police expenditures, presented a
ap

said on Monday. The

accused, ASI V. Thakur and
Yamuna crosses danger mark; net profit of `2,517.38
crore, when the loss in
ts

constable (driver) Rakesh, passenger services was

were deployed on a police compensated with the

situation under control: Gupta

ha

control room van in profit from freight servic-

Wazirpur, they said. es, it showed a net loss of
`5,257.07 crore.
t.w

Mohammed Sabir, who runs

a small puncture repair shop The audit showed that
in the locality, approached Inundation will be in floodplain only, asserts CM the Railways’ total work-
ha

the vigilance branch at ing expenditure (includ-

Barakhamba Road alleging DC CORRESPONDENT ing appropriation to vari-
that the PCR staff had been NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 ous funds) stood at
//c

pressuring him to pay a `2,37,659.58 crore, where-

monthly bribe to continue Following the Yamuna as its earnings from pas-
s:

his work. “A trap was laid on river crossing danger senger, coaching, freight,
Sunday near the fire station mark in Delhi, chief min- and other services were
tp

in Wazirpur Industrial Area. ister Rekha Gupta on `2,40,176.96 crore, gener-

Monday assured that the ating a surplus of
ht

During the operation, ASI

Thakur was caught red- national capital would not `2,517.38 crore.
handed while accepting experience widespread The fiscal records relat-
`2,000 as bribe on behalf of flooding, and that any ed to cross-subsidisation
constable Rakesh,” a police inundation will be con- of passenger and other
officer said. fined to the floodplains. coaching services, howev-
The Yamuna in Delhi er, reflected that total
crossed the danger level, expenditure in operation
HC RESERVES reaching the mark of
205.36 metres at 2 pm on
A man swims in the swollen Yamuna river in New Delhi
on Monday. — PTI
of all types of trains (pas-
senger, coaching, and

ORDER ON ENGR. Monday at the Old

Railway Bridge. tions on the release of inundated due to heavy
goods) was `2,45,393.71
crore, and the total rev-

RASHID PETITION
Ms Gupta, along with water (from Haryana). rain and over 25,000 peo- enue receipt (earnings)
water minister Parvesh When the floods struck ple were evacuated. from all trains and
Verma, visited multiple Delhi in 2023, the drains “If a problem arises, sundry services was
DC CORRESPONDENT areas to take stock of were not desilted, and the flooding will happen only `2,40,136.64 crore, incur-
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 measures in case flooding ITO barrage was choked. in floodplains. People liv- ring a loss of `5,257 crore.
occurs. She visited the Our department has been ing there have been The report said, “From
The Delhi high court on flood control room in the working for the last six informed by our district the above, it may be
Monday reserved its order district magistrate (east) months,” the CM said. magistrates. We feel that observed that the total
on jailed J&K MP Engineer office and areas like the All the gates of the ITO the water will not enter working expenditure in
Rashid’s plea for modifica- Yamuna Bazar that were barrage are open now, and the city this time,” she the summary of fiscal
tion of the order asking him flooded during the 2023 the drains are functioning added, noting that the con- transactions has been
to deposit around `4 lakh floods. at full capacity, as the cerned departments are understated.”
towards expenses to travel “The situation is under desilting work was car- monitoring the situation. As per the summary of
to the Parliament while in control, and we are moni- ried out, she mentioned. “We need not to fear. If cross-subsidisation, the
custody. A two-judge bench toring the water level of Delhi battled one of its the water is being national transporter gen-
of Justices Vivek Chaudhary the Yamuna. The depart- worst flood-like situations released, it is also moving erated `74,289.66 crore
and Anup Jairam Bhambhani ment is making observa- in 2023, with several areas ahead,” the CM said. from all passenger opera-
heard the submissions on tion services and
behalf of Mr Rashid, `1,65,846.98 crore from
freight operations, mak-
Autorickshaw driver and aide
Delhi police and
the NIA on the ing `2,40,136.64 crore as
plea. The court total revenue receipts in

arrested for robbing passenger

observed that if Mr 2022-23.
Rashid was not
released on interim
bail and he attend- DC CORRESPONDENT to the destination, the
ed Parliament pro- Engineer NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 driver diverted the
ceedings while in Rashid vehicle to Burari-
custody, why should Two men, including an Mukundpur service
he, and not the jail authori- autorickshaw driver, road, stopped the vehi-
ties, bear the costs. “The jail have been arrested for cle there and told Vikas
is travelling with him. He is in allegedly taking pas- that they had reached,
custody. When the jail trav- sengers to deserted a police officer said.
els with him, the expenses areas in north Delhi When Vikas scanned
are to be incurred by the and robbing them, the the UPI code to pay
jail,” Justice Bhambhani said. police said on Monday. `150, the driver and the
The counsel appearing for The case came to light other passenger
the Delhi police explained to when on August 12, allegedly snatched his
the court the break-up of the Vikas (22), who had phone, threatened him
expenses borne by Mr arrived in Delhi from to share the password,
Rashid. Mr Rashid’s lawyer Bihar for the first time and transferred ` 20,000
pointed out the salary of the and took an autorick- from his e-wallet before
police officials was not con- shaw from outside the fleeing, the officer
templated in the Delhi prison ISBT Kashmere Gate added.
rules. He said the MP could around 5.45 am to reach A case was registered
pay reasonable expenses, Tikri Border. Another at Burari police station
including the cost of lunch passenger was already based on the victim’s
and dinner of the police offi- seated in the autorick- complaint and a team
cials, but wasn’t in a position shaw, the police said. was formed to nab the
to pay their salaries. Instead of taking him culprits.
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani

19 AUGUST 2025

Will move to cut GST rates

trigger consumption boom?
T
he BJP government’s proposal to cut GST rates is long overdue and
could boost domestic consumption, easing the impact of global eco-
nomic uncertainty on India. When the Goods and Services Tax
(GST) was rolled out in 2017 as part of a major indirect tax reform,
the Central and state governments brought 1,300 goods and 500 services
under its ambit to end the incidence of “tax on tax.” However, the initia-
tive was criticised for being too complex due to its multiple tax slabs — five
per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent — along with a special sin
tax on some items.
After eight years, the government has proposed reducing the number of
tax slabs to two — five per cent and 18 per cent — along with a 40 per cent
special rate on a select few items. Though the official draft is yet to be
released, indications are that 90 per cent of the goods in the 28 per cent and
12 per cent categories will shift to 18 per cent and five per cent respective-
ly. This could translate into at least seven to 10 per cent savings for con-
sumers, depending on the product purchased.
Products in the 28 per cent bracket — which make up 19 per cent of man-
ufactured goods — include non-essential FMCG items such as chewing
gum and pan masala, as well as big-ticket consumer durables and cars.

3 hard choices ahead for

_t
Moving them to 18 per cent could reduce prices by about 10 per cent.
Goods currently taxed at 12 per cent — such as semi-essentials like frozen LETTERS

ac
meat products, butter, cheese, namkeen, sauce, spoons, forks, tooth pow-
der, mobile phones, apparels, and hotel accommodation among others — WELCOME MOVE ON GST

e=
will shift to the five per cent bracket, enabling savings of at least seven per
cent. It is heartening to note

India in uncertain world

od
The biggest savings in absolute terms would be for those planning to pur- that the prices of many
chase a small car priced between `6 lakh and `15 lakh. A 10 per cent lower
tax rate would reduce prices by `60,000 to `1,50,000. Other products could goods and services

?m
see an average saving of around eight per cent, meaning a family with a `1-
lakh monthly expenditure could save up to `8,000 per month.
(including consumer
Analysts believe that lowering GST could disproportionately affect state Each option has from China all matter simul- durable goods such as

r8
governments, as indirect tax is their major revenue source and the Centre taneously. A successful for-
does not share income from cesses and surcharges. This could weaken
costs and benefits, eign policy must therefore cars, motorcycles, refrig-

R
states’ capacity to spend independently without seeking support from the Syed Ata Hasnain but all must be be judged by whether it erators) are likely to fall,

e6
Centre. weighed against one secures the resources need-
Overall, the current rejig of GST slabs, along with the previously caveat; Mr Trump’s ed for India’s development. thanks to GST rationalisa-

7z
announced income-tax rationalisation, could leave more money in people’s It is also essential to sepa-
hands and theoretically boost consumption, triggering a virtuous cycle.
gestures towards rate the signal from the
tion policy announced by
Pakistan should Prime Minister Narendra

gD
While the government’s measures are well-intentioned and timely, the big noise. Mr Trump’s embrace
question remains: Will these moves compensate for years of stagnant pri- make no difference of Pakistan is political the-
vate-sector salaries? Will they instil enough confidence for people to bor- to India, and New atre. India must ignore it, Modi on Independence

T R
row, spend, and revive animal spirits in the economy? Will these measures here are several ity. Just hold the line, no Delhi must studious- just as it has ignored past Day. The real income of
inspire confidence in the private sector to spend to create new capacities hard choices lying bravado, and keep the India- swings in US-Pakistan ties.
TB
and hire more people? It is a $4-trillion question, which is waiting to be ahead for India — US relationship alive in ly ignore them. Pakistan once thrived on the people will go up with
answered. it must decide functional domains until the China’s support, forcing the fall in prices. Keeping
w

whether to ride out political climate improves. It US periodically to return to

GST, an indirect tax, sim-
NDA’s V-P pick appears acceptable the storm in India-US rela- means some loss in the US are an overriding security Islamabad. But India has
nE

tions, to yield to Mr Trump’s strategic calculus, but it concern. Today, Beijing never defined its policy by
pressures, or seize the oppor- would safeguard the Russia views India with suspicion such moves. Today too, Mr ple, will ensure win-win
Q

tunity to reshape its relation- partnership, which contin- as a potential disruptor Trump’s flirtation with situation for producers /

T
he ruling BJP may have pulled an acceptable name out of a hat in ship with China. ues to matter for energy, working in concert with Pakistan should not become
M

picking Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan from Tamil India-US ties are again defence supplies, and diplo- anti-China powers, and this a distraction. India’s calcu- sellers, consumers and
macy. This approach plays perception has partly driven lus must remain anchored in
y9

Nadu as the vice-presidential candidate of the NDA. The veteran going through a difficult the government. Viewing
politician who was twice elected as MP from western TN ticks many boxes patch. In marked contrast to to India’s tradition of its Himalayan assertiveness. the big picture; long-term US
in these particularly politically polarised times. his earlier tenure, when patience and strategic auton- If India takes the initiative to convergence despite short- from the prism of the
pj

Coming as he does from an RSS Pracharak background, he may be the Donald Trump castigated omy. It would allow India to build modest trust, even via term hostility, Russian con-
sustain networks with limited economic or mar- tinuity despite sanctions, government, it can be
/H

olive branch offered by the PM at a time when the ideological parent organ- Pakistan for duplicity and
isation has been speaking about the retirement age of 75. As the PM is fond spoke warmly of India’s role Europe, Japan, Asean, and itime dialogues, the long- and Chinese importance quite sanguine of consid-
the Global South, all while term payoff could be signifi- despite mistrust.
m

of quoting from Tamil classics, his choice quotation Yadhum oore in the Indo-Pacific region, he
Yyavaram khelir (‘Every place is our native, Every one is our companion’) now seems determined to waiting for the inevitable cant. India has always been a erable revenue to its
co

is seemingly apt for ‘CPR’, a moderate and accessible face from a state that cause discomfort. His out- post-Trump thaw. The cost: In ten years, the relation- practitioner of multi-align- exchequer as the contem-
is getting ready for the polls to be held next summer. reach to Pakistan’s Army some edging out of potential ship could look very differ- ment. It has remained
The TN ruling party DMK, diametrically opposed to the BJP, also wel- Chief and his disparagement Indo-Pacific planning. Yet ent, with reduced chances of between powers without col- plated three-slab struc-
p.

comed his nomination, which it had to lest it be seen as opposing a fellow of India’s positions all point the benefit is stability, par- conflict and more room for lapsing into dependency.
ture (including demerit
ap

Tamil. to an abrasive phase. Yet just ticularly when Moscow still cooperation in areas like cli- This moment calls for the
However, it came up with a political riposte to the strategically shrewd as the US imposed sanctions values loyalty and continu- mate, trade and connectivi- same dexterity. Mr Trump’s goods) - standard goods
NDA nomination by calling for a Tamil politician to be picked as the after Pokhran-II in 1998 only ity at a time of its own stress. ty. The risk, of course, is that US may be difficult, Mr
ts

I.N.D.I.A. bloc choice to oppose Radhakrishnan, who was named after the to reset ties under George W. The second option is cor- China could pocket goodwill Putin’s Russia may be (5 per cent), merit goods
rection. India could move without altering its behav- embattled, and Xi Jinping’s (18%) and demerit goods
ha

scholarly Vice-President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan from the state who Bush Jr with the civil
also went on to serve as President. nuclear agreement, this more openly into the US iour. But even limited confi- China may be suspicious,
The NDA, enjoying a sufficient majority while commanding around 423 downturn too is unlikely to camp, accept Mr Trump’s dence-building would signal but India has the resilience (40%) -can ensure better
t.w

votes in an electoral college of 782 MPs (including nominated Rajya Sabha be permanent. India-US ties transactional style, and to Washington and Moscow to maintain ties with all compliance of the people
members), should get him elected against anyone the Opposition may have always been cyclical, work to restore the sheen of that India has multiple three while protecting its
name as it is compelled to field a Vice-Presidential candidate, ostensibly and resilient enough to the India-US strategic part- options. core interests. That means now than before.
ha

for ideological reasons but also to test the political temperature. recover. nership. That would reaf- None of these paths is free patience with Washington, S.Ramakrishnsayee
There is no basis for any conjecture that CPR as the NDA candidate What matters now is how firm India’s centrality in the of complications. Pretending loyalty with Moscow, and
//c

would have any influence on the Tamil Nadu political scene in which the India navigates the interim Indo-Pacific, protect its nothing is wrong risks iner- initiative with Beijing. Chennai
DMK is firmly ensconced now. But the ruling dispensation would like to period. Should it stay the access to technology and tia. Kowtowing to History shows downturns
s:

send the message that Tamil Nadu is not necessarily being singled out for course, treat the present as investment, and reassure Washington risks alienating can become breakthroughs.
step motherly treatment even as the BJP hopes to enhance its support in temporary turbulence, and Western markets. Russia. Reaching out to The US that sanctioned India
tp

the state. preserve both US and The risks, however, are Beijing risks disappoint- in 1998 became its strategic
The plus point in such a candidature is Radhakrishnan’s experience as Russian ties? Should it bend serious. Russia would be the ment and domestic scepti- partner by 2005. The China MORE PARKS NEEDED
ht

the Centre’s representative in Raj Bhavans in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, towards Washington to pro- loser in this equation. If cism. But foreign policy is that fought India in 1962
Hyderabad and Puducherry might help him to be a capable chairman of the tect the strategic partner- Washington and Moscow rarely about single-track became a critical trade part- Public parks in India are fast declining.
Rajya Sabha, which had seen a tumultuous and argumentative period with ship, even if that means were to find a transactional choices. For India, a creative ner by the 2000s. The Russia Besides rapid urbanisation, poor infra-
the garrulous Jagdeep Dhankhar in the chair and whose resignation has eroding Moscow’s confi- accommodation in the blend may be most effective; that now leans heavily on structure, lack of safety, and inadequate
necessitated the mid-term election of a Vice-President. dence? Or should it use the future, India might suddenly preserve operational ties Beijing still treats India as a upkeep have contributed to their decline.
moment to test new initia- be left exposed; distrusted in with the US while awaiting a valued interlocutor. Nothing This impacts the quality of life for citi-
tives with China, beginning Moscow, taken for granted friendlier era; reassure Mr is permanent in global poli- zens and highlights the need for better
DECCAN CHRONICLE with foreign minister Wang in Washington, and Putin that Russia remains tics. management and preservation of these
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR Yi’s visit to India? Each deprived of its cherished valued despite sanctions; The breakdown in India- green spaces. Parks serve an important
Editor Printer & Publisher option has costs and bene- autonomy. Such a scenario and cautiously probe the US relations under Mr purpose of bringing the people from all
R. MOHAN fits, but all must be weighed would reduce India’s potential for reduced mis- Trump is real but not fatal. walks of life together and creating har-
Resident Editor against one caveat; Mr manoeuvring space, precise- trust with China. The key is With steadiness and balance, mony among the community. They help
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at:
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254750 , Trump’s gestures towards ly the opposite of what its not to overcommit in any India can endure this phase in revitalizing the atmosphere of a par-
22254751 Pakistan should make no dif- foreign policy has long direction while ensuring the and emerge with more, not ticular area and serve as a common
Coimbatore: No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O. Colony Post, Kurudampalayam Village, ference to India, and New sought to preserve. economy remains shielded fewer, options when the space for children and families to con-
Coimbatore-641022. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256 Delhi must studiously The third option is oppor- from shocks. winds shift. The task is not to nect with nature, and keep the commu-
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040)
27805256. ignore them. Pakistan’s tunity. India could use Wang One non-negotiable choose one option forever, nity happy and healthy. Parks improve
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, external equations have Yi’s visit to test the possibili- remains: economic growth but to steer carefully the aesthetic value of the area and are a
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285 never determined India’s ty of a cautious reset with must not suffer. India cannot through turbulence, confi- major source of green cover in the urban
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) trajectory. India’s focus China. Officials acknowl- afford sanctions, supply dis- dent that calmer waters will pockets that keeps the temperature
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618 must remain on managing edge that India’s growth tra- ruptions, or loss of invest- return. under control.
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903, the major power triangle of jectory depends heavily on ment confidence. Access to R. SIVAKUMAR
Fax: 08554-276904 the US, Russia and China, access to Chinese supply Western markets and capi- The writer, a retired lieu- Chennai
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore. while protecting its econo- chains. For China too, safe tal, discounted Russian oil tenant-general, is a former
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580
Karimnagar: H .No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karim Nagar - 505186 my. sea lines of communication and arms, and secure manu- GOC of the Srinagar-based Mail your letters to
Phone : 9121181123 The first option is continu- through the Indian Ocean facturing supply chains 15 (“Chinar”) Corps chennaidesk@deccanmail.com

W
e celebrated Independence Day earlier media and political discourse, not jurisprudence. Its India is a signatory to. Punishing membership of an their definitions. This facilitates prolonged pre-trial
this month, to mark the culmination of very vagueness allows it to be weaponised against organisation solely based on ideas without proof of detention without judicial scrutiny.
our freedom struggle. Independence and civil society, often conflating peaceful dissent with incitement of or participation in violence is also On top of everything else, the law isn’t needed:
freedom from what? From alien rule and sedition or terrorism. There is a troubling prece- violative of the human rights of Indians. India already possesses very restrictive counter-ter-
from all oppressive laws — no matter who imposes dent. The Bhima Koregaon case, in which 16 The law defines “unlawful activity” using impre- rorism and criminal laws, including the UAPA,
them on us. The governor of Maharashtra is cur- activists were arrested under the Unlawful cise and subjective terms such as “menace to public MCOCA, and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which
Aakar Patel rently examining a law passed by the state
Assembly called the “Maharashtra Special Public
Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, demonstrates
how this label has been used to detain individuals
order” or “tendency to interfere with the adminis-
tration of law.” These definitions could encompass
criminalise the same or similar alleged conduct.
The new bill adds another weapon to suppress dis-
Security Bill”. for years without trial. Many of those accused were peaceful protest or civil disobedience, the founda- sent, turning the legal process itself into punish-
I have written to the governor, on behalf of not linked to any act of violence, but merely to the tional elements of our freedom struggle. ment and further eroding civil liberties.
Amnesty International India, and asked him to not expression of critical views, advocacy for margin- Section 3 empowers the executive to declare If signed and enforced, the law under the guise of
sign it and instead to deny his assent. Framed as a alised communities, or the defence of civil liberties. organisations “unlawful”, with no provision for security represents a grave and unnecessary expan-
counter-measure against those who have come to be Notably, the arrests began in 2018 during Mr prompt and impartial judicial review. The advisory sion of state power at the cost of fundamental rights.
called “Urban Naxals”, the bill threatens constitu- Fadnavis’ earlier tenure as chief minister. Seven board tasked with reviewing such declarations Far from safeguarding Maharashtra, it criminalises
New Maharashtra tionally and internationally protected human
rights. “Naxalism” is seen as a decades-old rural
and Communist-inspired movement. “Urban
years later, trials have yet to commence, bail
remains denied to six of the activists, and one of the
accused, Father Stan Swamy, died in custody.
comprises only government appointees, meaning
that they will be kangaroo courts.
Sections in the law permitting searches and
dissent, debate and accountability. The misuse of
vague terms like “Urban Naxal” has already caused
immense harm. Assenting to this bill would legit-

security law open Naxalism” in the present context presumably refers

to alleged support for this movement by intellectu-
als, academics and others. The term “Urban
The “Urban Naxal” narrative has dangerously
blurred the line between non-violent political oppo-
sition and violent extremism. Such conflation is not
seizures based on an officer’s “opinion” or “person-
al knowledge” strip away all judicial safeguards and
open the door to arbitrary action. This violates the
imize a framework that enables abuse and impuni-
ty over justice. This is why I have urged the gover-
nor, with the utmost respect, to withhold assent to

to abuse, threatens Naxalism” has no legal definition in Indian law.

With its vague language, discriminatory focus,
absence of judicial oversight, and high potential for
only incompatible with India’s constitutional val-
ues but also violates its international legal obliga-
tions.
rights guaranteeing fair trial and due process in
searches, protecting individuals against unlawful
interference with one’s home, property and privacy.
the bill. The observation of Independence Day
should not be restricted to the symbolism of flag-
hoisting or salutes and long speeches. What should
misuse, the bill risks criminalising of legitimate dis- The law has other troubling elements, such as dis- Section 14 prohibits appeals, while Section 17 pro- be observed is our continuing commitment to free-
rights; say ‘no’ to it sent in one of our largest states.
As may be expected, Maharashtra chief minister
Devendra Fadnavis has asserted that the law will
crimination. Its opening paragraphs identify “left-
wing extremist organisations or similar organisa-
tions” as its focus. This singles out ideologies for
vides blanket immunity to government officials,
even in cases of abuse. Such clauses eliminate
accountability.
dom, the protection of civil liberties, the preserva-
tion of human rights and access to justice. This law
is a clear violation of all of these, and for this reason
not be used to suppress government critics. criminalisation and violates Article 26 of the As has become the fashion, colonial-style oppres- one hopes that it is not inflicted on Indians.
However, if the term “Urban Naxalism” has no legal International Covenant on Civil and Political sion on jailing people is present in this law also.
definition in India, then what is it? It is a rhetorical Rights, which guarantees equal protection under Section 15 renders all offences under the bill non- The writer is the chair of Amnesty International
and politically charged phrase -- popularised in the the law regardless of political opinion, and which bailable and cognisable, despite the vagueness of India. Twitter: @aakar_patel
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 7

■ ‘EC asking for affidavit even after vote theft has been caught’
SHORT TAKES Opp. meets at Kharge house,
SC junks contempt
plea over DGP case Stern action when Opp. forms likely to name V-P pick today
govt: Rahul warns CEC & ECs
New Delhi: Underscoring FROM PG 1
that its contempt jurisdiction
couldn’t be invoked to settle These included repre-
political rivalries, the sentatives of the Shiv
Supreme Court on Monday Gaya Ji (Bihar), Aug. “Whatever I say, I do it. Sena(UBT), JMM and
refused to examine con- I want to tell the EC that the You have seen that I don’t
18: Asserting that “vote other alliance partners.
tempt petitions challenging chori” is an attack on whole country will ask you to lie from the stage... These The Opposition leaders
the appointment of “Bharat Mata”, Congress give an affidavit. Give us some three election commis- have given their views on
Jharkhand director general leader Rahul Gandhi on time, we will catch your theft in sioners... I want to tell the matter and have asked
of police Anurag Gupta.
Chief Justice of India B.R.
Monday warned the Chief every Assembly and LS seat, and them that it is Modiji’s Mr Kharge to take a final
Election Commissioner put it before the people. government right now... call on the issue.
Gavai, on a bench with and the two election com- Tejashwi (Yadav) ji said Sources said that an
Justices K. Vinod Chandran missioners of stern action — Rahul Gandhi, that you (election commis- announcement by the
and N.V. Anjaria said: “In the
Jharkhand case, we do not
when the INDIA bloc Leader of Opposition sioners) have taken BJP INDIA bloc on its choice is
forms government. membership and are likely to be made on
want contempt jurisdiction In a blistering attack on asking him to file an affi- special package for Bihar working for them. Tuesday.
to be used to settle political the Election Commission davit even after the poll named SIR, which means “But understand one In an astute political
scores. If you have a prob- TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Mahua Moitra and other
(EC), he also said that just panel’s “vote theft” had a new form of vote theft,” thing, a day will come move, the BJP on Sunday parliamentarians from the INDIA bloc parties stage a
lem with a particular like Prime Minister been caught. Mr Gandhi said as he when there will be an named Maharashtra gov-
appointment then go to the protest during the Monsoon Session against the Election
Narendra Modi talks “I want to tell the EC that wound up the second day INDIA bloc government in ernor and a prominent Commission’s special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral
CAT (Central Administrative about special package, the the whole country will ask of the Voter Adhikar Bihar and Delhi; then we political figure from
Tribunal)... I have been say- rolls in Bihar. — PTI
poll body had also brought you to give an affidavit. Yatra with RJD’s Tejashwi will take action against Tamil Nadu C.P.
ing it time and again that if in a “new special pack- Give us some time, we will Yadav by his side. the three of you... You’ve Radhakrishnan as the Mr Radhakrishnan has senior BJP leader Rajnath
you have to settle your polit- age” for Bihar, which is catch your theft in every The former Congress stolen (vote) from the vice-presidential candi- his roots in the RSS and Singh has reached out to
ical scores then go before named SIR (special inten- Assembly and Lok Sabha chief also launched a whole country, “ he said. date of the ruling NDA the Jana Sangh. An OBC, the leaders of some oppo-
the electorate.” The apex sive revision), a “new seat, and put it before the direct attack on Chief Amid rain, he held up a alliance. Mr Radhakrishnan is said sition parties, including
court refused to entertain form of vote theft”. people,” he said. Election Commissioner copy of the Constitution The BJP and its allies to have had a good rapport Mr Kharge, who is the
contempt pleas, noting that Addressing a gathering, “What did they do? Like Gyanesh Kumar and elec- and said the Constitution hold a significant majori- with late DMK patriarch leader of opposition in the
the PIL jurisdiction was the Leader of the PM (Narendra) Modi ji tion commissioners is of Bharat Mata and has ty in the vice-presidential M. Karunanidhi and his Rajya Sabha, for unani-
evolved by the top court Opposition in the Lok talks of a special package, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu been framed by the likes of electoral college to get family. mously electing the new

_t
for people belonging to Sabha said the EC was the EC has brought a new and Vivek Joshi. B.R. Ambedkar. — PTI their candidate elected. Defence minister and vice-president.
disadvantaged classes.

ac
Ex-MP suicide: SC Indus treaty one
Shukla, PM discuss India’s

e=
rejects son’s plea of the biggest

od
blunders: Nadda
New Delhi: The Supreme
strides in tech, Gaganyaan

?m
Court on Monday rejected a
plea against an order of the New Delhi, Aug. 18:
Bombay high court quashing BJP chief J.P. Nadda on
Monday said the Indus

r8
the FIR against nine persons
for allegedly abetting the Astronaut gifts Modi tricolour that travelled to space Water Treaty was one of

R
suicide of former Lok Sabha the biggest blunders and
MP Mohan Delkar in 2021. A DC CORRESPONDENT Group Capt. Shukla, who by putting it in abey-

e6
bench headed by CJI B.R. NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 was wearing an Isro astro- ance, Prime Minister
Gavai rejected an appeal by naut’s jacket, with a warm Narendra Modi has cor-

7z
Abhinav Delkar, son of the Prime Minister Narendra hug and walked with him rected yet another grave
late Lok Sabha MP, against Modi on Monday had an with his arm on the astro- “historical wrong”.

gD
the Bombay high court order interaction with Group naut’s shoulder. He referred to the 1960
of September 8, 2022, quas- Capt. Shubhanshu Group Capt. Shukla gift- treaty as “Nehru’s
hing the case against nine Shukla, who became the ed the Prime Minister the Himalayan blunder” and
persons, including Praful Kh- first Indian astronaut to
R mission patch of the alleged that it perma-
TB
oda Patel, administrator of travel to the International Axiom-4 mission and the nently compromised
the UT of Dadra and Nagar Space Station (ISS), at his Indian tricolour that he India’s water security
Haveli, Daman and Diu. The official residence at Lok had taken with him to the and national interest.
w

bench had reserved the ver- Workers cover an idol of Lord Ganesh as dark clouds gather in the sky amid preparations Kalyan Marg. ISS. The Lucknow-born “The Indus Water
astronaut also shared pic-
nE

dict on the plea on August 4 for Ganesh Chaturthi in Amritsar on Monday. — PTI During the meeting, the Treaty, 1960, was one of
after hearing senior advoca- two discussed a wide spec- tures he had taken from the biggest blunders of

MP CM calls
te Meenakshi Arora, appear- trum of subjects, includ- the ISS with the Prime former PM Jawaharlal
■ 1st key meet after Op Sindoor
Q

ing for Mr Abhinav, and soli- ing Group Capt. Shukla’s Prime Minister Narendra Minister. Nehru that kept national
ci-tor general Tushar Mehta experiences in space, Group Capt. Shukla was interest at the altar of
M

Modi with astronaut

for the state government and
on PM, invites Modi will address
India’s strides in science Shubhanshu Shukla, at part of the Axiom-4 pri- personal ambitions. The
y9

senior lawyer Mahesh Jethm- and technology, and the his residence in New vate space mission that nation must know that

him to launch
alani on behalf of some of country’s ambitious Delhi on Monday. — PTI lifted off from Florida on when former PM Pandit
pj

the accused persons. human spaceflight pro- June 25 and docked at the Nehru signed the Indus

SC judge recuses Metro service top military brass gramme — Gaganyaan. experiences in space, International Space Waters Treaty with Pak-
/H

After the interaction, Mr progress in science & Station on June 26. He istan, he unilaterally
Modi wrote in a post on X, technology as well as returned to Earth on July handed over 80 per cent
from AMU V-C case
m

“Had a great interaction India’s ambitious 15. of the Indus basin

RABINDRA NATH
in Kolkata in Sept. with Shubhanshu Shukla. Gaganyaan mission. India Group Capt. Shukla waters to Pakistan, leav-
co

New Delhi: Supreme Court CHOUDHURY We discussed a wide range is proud of his feat.” returned to India on ing India with just 20 per
judge Justice K. Vinod Chan- BHOPAL, AUG. 18 of subjects including his Mr Modi welcomed Sunday. cent of the share. — PTI
p.

drabn on Monday recused

himself from hearing a plea Madhya Pradesh chief DC CORRESPONDENT ◗ CDS GEN. Anil Chauhan
ap

challenging the appointment minister Mohan Yadav

on Monday called on
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18
is likely to give a presen- ■ His long yrs of experience will greatly enrich our nation: PM
of professor Naima Khatoon tation on the roadmap to
ts

as vice-chancellor of the Prime Minister Naren- In what will set India’s

create the three theatre
Aligarh Muslim University. A dra Modi in the Parli- defence strategy, Prime
commands as part of the
NDA V-P pick meets Modi, leaders
ha

three-judge bench was hear- ament House in Delhi. Minister Narendra Modi
ing the appeal filed by Mr Yadav briefed the is expected to address the higher defence reforms
PM on the pace of indus- top military brass during
t.w

Muzaffar Uruj Rabbani

against an Allahabad high
court order upholding
trialisation taking place
in Madhya Pradesh fol-
the combined command-
ers’ conference, planned
Force and the Navy, will
speak on national securi-
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 Sena-UBT stand on NDA V-P Radhakrishnan. The BJP
is also eying support from
ha

lowing efforts by his gov- to be held in Kolkata, in ty-related issues in the two other unaligned

pick causes unease in MVA

appointment of Ms Khatoon,
the first woman to hold the ernment to woo invest- the third week of backdrop of Operation A day after his name was regional parties —
ments from the country September. Sindoor and give out his announced as the vice- Odisha’s BJD and
//c

post in the institution’s his-

tory. During the proceedings, and abroad to the state, This is the first such vision for the forces in presidential nominee of Telangana’s BRS — and
officials said. high-level conference future. the ruling BJP-led NDA, DC CORRESPONDENT in the Maha Vikas Aghadi some Independents.
s:

Justice Chandran offered to

recuse himself from the mat- He also invited Mr after Operation Sindoor. CDS Gen. Anil Chauhan Maharashtra governor MUMBAI, AUG. 18 (MVA) alliance. Later in the evening, a
Modi to inaugurate the This will be held in the is likely to give a presen- C.P. Radhakrishnan on Congress leader and meeting of the NDA floor
tp

ter, citing his past role as a

university chancellor in a upcoming farmers con- background of Mr Modi’s tation on the roadmap to Monday met Prime The Shiv Sena(UBT) on Legislature Party head leaders was held at Union
ference in the state and Independence Day speech create the three theatre Minister Narendra Modi Monday welcomed the Vijay Wadettiwar stated minister Pralhad Joshi’s
ht

similar selection process. “I

was the chancellor of CNLU the Bhopal Metro rail from the Red Fort, where commands as part of the and several NDA leaders. nomination of Maharas- that he was hopeful that residence to introduce the
(Consortium of National Law service. he clearly asserted that higher defence reforms to Mr Radhakrishnan will be htra governor C.P. Mr Thackeray would NDA nominee.
University) when I selected Later, speaking to the India will no longer toler- enable forces to fight fut- felicitated at the meeting Radhakrishnan as the refrain from supporting “An introductory meet-
Faizan Mustafa ...So I can media, Mr Yadav said ate nuclear threats. The ure wars jointly and effi- of the NDA Parliamentary NDA’s candidate for the the NDA nominee. “Since ing happened with NDA
recuse myself from the hear- the state is fast turning PM also made it clear ciently. The lessons learnt Party on Tuesday. post of vice-president. Mr. Radhakrishnan has floor leaders, it was impor-
ing,” Justice Chandran said. into an investment desti- that those who nurture during Operation Sindoor After the NDA V-P nomi- While the Uddhav not made any significant tant since he
nation, generating an and harbour terrorism, will be used to tweak the nee met with the PM, the Thackeray-led party has contribution to Maharas- (Radhakrishnan) is an
environment of indus- and those who empower structure of these pro- latter posted on X: “Met not officially declared its htra, I don’t believe NDA candidate for Vice

SC GRANTS BAIL
trialisation. terrorists, will no longer posed theatre commands Thiru CP Radhakrishnan support, its open appreci- Uddhav Thackeray will President post...
He said the drive by the be seen as separate. to make them more effec- Ji. Conveyed my best ation of his candidacy back him,” Mr Tomorrow, his full-fledged
state government for The conference will be tive. The role of the chiefs wishes on his being the has sparked unease with- Wadettiwar said. introduction will happen

TO EX-MINISTER, industrialisation
resulted in memoran-
has attended by all the top
commanders of the three
of defence staff-led chiefs
of staff committee could
NDA’s vice-presidential
nominee. His long years of has always demonstrat- reach out to non-NDA par-
in BJP parliamentary
party, we are feeling proud

BUT WITH RIDER

dum of understandings services, along with the also be enhanced. public service and experi- ed.” ties to seek support for the that such a personality
(MoUs) worth over `30 civilian bureaucracy of The theatre commands ence across domains will Mr Radhakrishnan is NDA nominee. The Non- has been nominated for
lakh crores. the defence ministry. were planned to be set up greatly enrich our nation. likely to file his nomina- NDA and non-INDIA bloc, the post,” parliamentary
DC CORRESPONDENT The projects proposed Mr Modi, in his at three locations, includ- May he continue to serve tion on August 20. Union the Jagan Mohan Reddy- affairs minister Kiren
NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 in the state are expected address to the top com- ing Jaipur, Prayagraj and the nation with the same defence minister Rajnath led YSRCP, has announced Rijiju told the media after
to generate 21 lakh jobs. manders of the Army, Air Karwar. dedication and resolve he Singh has been tasked to its support for Mr the NDA leaders’ meeting.
The Supreme Court on
Monday granted bail to for-
mer West Bengal minister
Partha Chatterjee in a
■ ‘Kalyani AIIMS doing NRC in name of survey’ SIR of voter list Veteran singer
IDs, `5,000 aid on WB return: in Odisha will Leelatai Shelar
teacher recruitment case
probed by the CBI but said
he would be released after
the trial court records state-
start soon: CEO passes away
Mamata woos migrant workers
ments of witnesses. A bench
of Justices M.M. Sundresh
and N. Kotiswar Singh noted AKSHAYA Thane, Aug. 18:
Mr Chatterjee spent nearly KUMAR SAHOO Veteran Marathi singer
three years in jail RAJIB CHOWDHURI migrant Kalyani, of conducting BHUBANESWAR, AUG. 18 Leelatai Shelar passed
and his continued KOLKATA, AUG. 18 workers an NRC survey on the away on Monday
incarceration from our pretext of carrying out a The chief electoral offi- evening at her home in
would be a “traves- West Bengal chief minis- state work mental health survey. cer (CEO) of Odisha, R. Thane city due to old
ty of justice”. The ter Mamata Banerjee on outside. She alleged, “They are Santha Gopalan, on age-related ailments, her
top court directed Monday announced the All of indirectly surveying for Monday announced that family members said.
the charges to be Shramashree scheme to them can the NRC. If any organi- a special intensive revi- She was 94 and unmar-
framed within four rehabilitate the state’s Mamata avail the sation visits your house sion (SIR) of the elec- ried.
weeks under the Partha migrant workers who scheme. in the name of a survey, toral rolls will soon com- Leelatai Shelar is sur-
Banerjee
Prevention of Chatterjee have been subjected to So far verify it with the state mence across the state, vived by her brother and
Corruption Act against pub- attacks outside, mainly 10,000 among them have government first.” marking a significant his family. The nonage-
lic servants with the state- in the “BJP-ruled” made a comeback after “The state government exercise in the prepara- narian singer's last rites
ments being recorded within states, on the suspicion facing harassment in is not conducting any tion for upcoming elec- took place late at night
two months. It also granted of being Bangladeshi other states, especially such survey. There are tions. This will be the at the Jawahar Bagh cre-
bail to Subires Bhattacharya infiltrators based on those having double- agencies which, in the first such comprehen- matorium in Thane city
and Shantiprasad Sinha in their mother tongue. engine governments. garb of various organi- sive revision in 24 years, with local residents,
the case. Chatterjee has She informed that each The Cabinet has given its sations, were conducting as the last SIR in Odisha music enthusiasts and
been an MLA since 2001 and of those affected, willing approval for the scheme door-to-door surveys to was carried out in 2002. disciples paying their
was a minister in West to return home, would be to rehabilitate the strike off your names The revision process last respects to her.
Bengal from 2011 to 2022 provided with financial migrant workers willing from the voters’ list. Be aims to ensure that the Fondly known as
holding the education port- aid of `5,000 for 12 to return and start their alert. Do not share your voter list is both accu- “Guru Leelatai Shelar”,
folio in the state since 2016. months or until they find lives afresh here,” Ms details with anybody rate and inclusive, she dedicated her life to
He was accused of being a new job. They will also Banerjee said at the state other than the state gov- reflecting every eligible music and nurtured gen-
involved in a racket entailing get identity cards and secretariat Nabanna. ernment officials. I will voter in the state. The People gather around a damaged road following heavy rains erations of singers in
illegal appointments of other government bene- She added that the state ask AIIMS not to play final electoral roll after in Shimla on Monday. Heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Thane.
unmerited candidates to the fits after registering labour department such games. The state the revision will be pub- Pradesh, triggering landslides at several places in the hill Her singing classes
posts of primary school themselves at the would act as the nodal government has its men- lished on January 7, state where 389 roads, including two national highways, are were regarded as a gate-
teachers, assistant school “Shramashree” portal, department for the tal health department. 2026, giving citizens ade- closed and power and water supply are disrupted in many way for common citizens
teachers and other posts in according to the CM. scheme. The CM also It’s their job and not quate time to verify and areas due to vagaries of the monsoon. However, no loss of to learn the art with
the education department. “Around 22.40 lakh suspected AIIMS, yours,” the CM claimed. correct their details. life was reported, officials said. — PTI ease. — PTI
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025
pg 8

Palestinians flee Gaza, Israeli offensive looms

SHORT

BOLIVIA’S LEFT IN
TAKES
Zelenskyy says Russia Hamas accepts 60-day
HISTORIC LOSS,
PREZ VOTE IN OCT. attacks ruin Trump talks
Ukrainian attack halts Russian oil flows to Hungary, Slovakia truce, hostage free deal
La Paz, Aug. 18: Centrist sen-
ator Rodrigo Paz was leading
Bolivia’s presidential election,
according to early official Washington, Kyiv, Aug. Cairo, Gaza City, Aug.
results, which showed the rul-
ing Movement for Socialism
18: Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy acc-
PUTIN GIFTS NEW 18: Hamas, the Palestin-
ian terror group, on Mon-
(MAS) on track for its worst
election defeat in a generation.
used Russia of unleashing
“cynical” attacks on Ukr-
MOTORCYCLE TO day said it had accepted a
proposed hostage release
Paz, of the Christian Demo-
cratic Party, had secured
ainian civilians that he
said were designed to
ALASKAN MAN deal that includes a 60-day
ceasefire in war-torn
32.18% of the vote, while Edu- undermine his talks with Anchorage, Aug. 18: A Gaza, news agency Reut-
ardo del Castillo of MAS had US President Donald local man in Anchorage ers reported, amid contin-
just 3.16%. Trump in Washington was given a new motorcy- ued fighting in the region.
Conservative former presi- later on Monday. cle by Russian President However, according to
dent Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga of Officials in Ukraine said Vladimir Putin during Saudi channel Al Arabiya,
the Alianza coalition was sec- a drone attack on a resid- last week’s summit with the proposal represents a
ond with 26.94%, with over 92% ential complex in the US President Donald compromise between a
of the ballots counted. northern city of Kharkiv Trump in the Alaskan full ceasefire and a tempo-
killed at least seven peo- city, according to a report rary truce, which includes
Egyptian Red Crecent members prepare humanitarian
IRAN, ARMENIA TO
ple, including a 1-year-old published by Russian the release of the remain-
girl. Strikes also hit the state television. ing hostages and a gradu- aid at their warehouse in the logistical center support-
southeastern city of Zap- A man holds colour smoke during the farewell ceremo- An employee of the Ru- al withdrawal of the Isr- ing Gaza, at Sheikh Zuweid, Egypt, on Monday. — AP
TALK U.S.-BACKED orizhzhia, killing three
people, they said.
ny of David Chichkan, a Ukrainian serviceman and artist
at Independence square in Kyiv, on Monday. — AP
ssian embassy in the US
handed the man, Mark
aeli military from Gaza.
The development came ● AUSTRALIA HAS canc- remaining 50 hostages
BORDER CORRIDOR “This was a demonstra-
tive and cynical Russian
Warren, the keys to his
new Ural motorcycle in
as thousands of Palestini-
ans fled their homes in ea-
elled the visa of an Israeli
lawmaker from PM Benj-
held by Hamas in Gaza
since October 7, 2023.
Tehran, Aug. 18: Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian
strike,” he wrote on X.
“The Russian war mac-
China calls on all to the parking lot of the
Anchorage hotel where
stern areas of Gaza City,
fearing an imminent Isr- amin Netanyahu’s gover-
Australia has cancelled
the visa of an Israeli law-

_t
headed to Armenia on Monday hine continues to destroy the Russian delegation aeli ground offensive. The ning coalition who has maker from PM Benjamin
for talks on a planned corridor lives despite everything,” was staying. planned offensive has spu- advocated against Pales- Netanyahu’s governing

ac
linking Azerbaijan with its
exclave near the border with
he added. “Putin will com-
mit demonstrative killings agree in peace talks “I have to say that this is
a personal gift from the
rred Egyptian and Qatari
ceasefire mediators to
tinian statehood and cal-
led for Israel to annex the
coalition who has advocat-
ed against Palestinian

e=
Iran, part of a peace deal to maintain pressure on President of the Russian step up efforts in what a occupied West Bank. statehood and called for
signed at the White House. Ukraine and Europe, as Beijing, Aug. 18: China “We hope that all parties Federation,” Andrei Lede- source familiar with the Israel to annex the occu-

od
“The (possible) presence of well as to humiliate diplo- called on Monday for “all and stakeholders will par- nev, the embassy employ- talks with Hamas mili- pied West Bank.
American companies in the matic efforts.” parties” involved in peace ticipate in the peace talks ee, told Warren. tants in Cairo said could established. Simcha Rothman, a Kne-
region is worrying,” Pezeshk- Russian crude oil flows talks in Washington aim- in a timely manner and The white-haired, bespe- be “a last-ditch attempt”. Israel’s plan to seize con- sset member from the Re-

?m
ian said before departing on a to Hungary and Slovakia ed at ending Russia’s war reach a fair, lasting, bind- ctacled Warren, who Reu- Israel has said it will trol of Gaza City has ligious Zionism party led
pre-planned trip that also via the Druzhba pipeline in Ukraine to reach a deal ing and acceptable peace ters was unable to contact agree to cease hostilities if stirred alarm abroad and by far-right finance minis-
includes a visit to Belarus. were halted on Monday, “as soon as possible”. agreement to all parties as for comment, was shown all the hostages are relea- at home, where tens of ter Bezalel Smotrich, was

r8
“We will discuss it (with Ar- officials in Hungary and President Donald Trump soon as possible,” China’s hopping aboard his new sed and Hamas lays down thousands of Israelis held scheduled to visit Sydney

R
menian officials) and express Slovakia said, with Budap- is hosting his Ukrainian foreign ministry spokes- bike, Ledenev behind him its arms — the former’s some of the largest pro- and Melbourne this mon-
our concerns,” he added, est blaming a Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr woman Mao Ning told a and another man in the si- demand being publicly re- tests since the war began, th at the invitation of a

e6
according to footage broadcast attack on a transformer Zelenskyy in Washington regular news conference. decar, to take it for a spin. jected by the terror group urging a deal to end the local conservative Jewish
on state television. station. Russian deputy for talks on Monday, and Monday’s meeting follo- “It’s night and day,” until a Palestinian state is fighting and free the organisation. — Agencies

7z
energy minister Pavel has said reclaiming Crim- ws a summit between Tru- Warren said. “I like my

RUSSIA PLANT Sorokin said that experts ea or entering Nato were mp and Russia’s Vladimir old one, but this one is

gD
Taiwan an internal matter:
were working to restore off the table for Ukraine. Putin in Alaska on Friday, obviously much better.”

BLAST DEATH
the transformer station, Zelenskyy, who has repe- which failed to yield a “I’m speechless, it’s
but it was unclear when atedly rejected territorial ceasefire breakthrough amazing. Thank you very

TOLL NOW AT 20
deliveries would resume. concessions, is expected to but produced promises much.” The unexpected
R
TB
Russian drones attacked meet Trump one-on-one from both leaders to pro- gift by the Russian leader

Moscow, Aug. 18: The death

an oil depot belonging to
Azerbaijani state oil com-
before being joined by a
cohort of European leade-
vide “robust security
guarantees” to Ukraine.
came after reporters with
Russian state television
China’s riposte to Trump
w

toll from a blast at a gunpowder pany SOCAR in Ukraine’s rs, including European Mao said: “China sup- Channel 1 met Warren by
southern Odesa region for ports all efforts conducive chance on the streets of
nE

plant near Moscow rose to 20, Commission chief Ursula

with more than 100 wounded,
the authorities said on Monday,
the second time in two
weeks. — Reuters
von der Leyen, according
to the schedule.
to the peaceful settlement
of the crisis.” — AFP
Anchorage ahead of the
summit. — Reuters
Beijing, Aug. 18: Taiwan
is an internal matter for MARATHON TRIAL:
Q

as a probe began into possible China, Beijing’s foreign

industrial safety violations. ministry said on Monday, JIMMY LAI GIVEN
M

2 more polio cases in Pak, TRUMP VOWS

Eleven people were initially in response to US Presi-
HEART MONITOR
y9

reported dead after Friday’s dent Donald Trump sayi-

explosion at the Elastik gun- ng Chinese President Xi
TO TARGET
pj

powder and ammunition facto- Jinping told him he will Hong Kong, Aug. 18:
ry in Ryazan, about 200 km not invade the island Hong Kong pro-democra-

this year’s tally reaches 21 MAIL-IN BALLOTS

/H

southeast of Moscow, inde- while Trump is in office. cy media tycoon Jimmy

pendent media said. Trump made the comm- Teresa Lai, wife of HK Lai was given medication
m

“Twenty people have died as a Washington, Aug. 18: ents in an interview with media mogul Jimmy Lai. and a heart monitor on
result of the accident,” the US President Donald Tr- Fox News, ahead of talks Monday for the start of
co

local administration said on

Monday, adding that there were
Islamabad, Aug. 18: Pak-
istan has reported two
ump said on Monday he
would sign an executive
in Alaska with Russian
President Vladimir Putin CHINA EXTENDS final submissions in a
landmark national securi-
p.

“134 injured”. new poliovirus cases, tak- order ahead of next yea- over the Ukraine war. ty trial after concerns
ing the tally of the crip- r’s midterm elections, Asked about Trump's PROBE INTO EU over his health delayed pr-
ap

4 MIGRANTS pling disease to 21 this

year, health authorities
saying he would lead “a
movement” targeting
remarks at a daily news
briefing in Beijing, Chine- DAIRY PRODUCTS
oceedings last week.
Lai, 77, who founded the

FOUND DEAD OFF

ts

said on Monday. mail-in balloting and se foreign ministry spok- Apple Daily newspaper
Pakistan is the only cou- voting machines. esperson Mao Ning said Beijing, Aug. 18: China that was forced to close af-
ha

TURKEY COAST
ntry other than Afghanis- “I am going to lead a Taiwan is an inalienable extended on Monday its ter a police raid and asset
tan, where polio remains movement to get rid of part of Chinese territory. anti-subsidy probe into freeze in June 2021, has
endemic. The fresh cases MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and “The Taiwan issue is pu- European Union dairy pleaded not guilty to two
t.w

Istanbul, Aug. 18: At least were reported in the Ko- also, while we’re at it, rely an internal affair of imports by six months, charges of conspiracy to
four migrants died after falling histan Lower district of Highly “Inaccurate,” China, and how to resolve showing little sign of let collude with foreign forc-
ha

into the sea from their rubber Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pr- Very Expensive, and the Taiwan issue is a mat- up in a two-front trade es, and a charge of consp-
dinghy on Monday off the west- ovince and the Badin dis- Seriously Controversial ter for the Chinese peop- war with Brussels and iracy to publish seditious
ern coast of Turkey. trict of Sindh province. VOTING MACHINES,” le,” she said. “We will do Washington that thre- material. Lai’s lawyer
//c

The incident took place off The victim from Khyber he wrote in a social our utmost to strive for atens to upend its export- Robert Pang told the court
the coast of the Karaburun dis- Pakhtunkhwa is a six- Police officers direct vehicles and motorcyclists driving media post. — Reuters the prospect of peaceful orientated growth model. on Friday that Lai had
s:

trict, the Coast Guard com- year-old girl, while a 21- through a flooded road after heavy rainfall in Peshawar, reunification. But we will Beijing’s decision to ex- experienced some episod-
mand said in a statement. month-old girl was infect- on Monday. — AP/PTI never allow anyone or any tend its probe into some es where he felt that he
tp

Officials rescued
migrants and found four bod-
two ed by the disease in Sindh,
said the Regional Referen- PRO-TRUMP force to separate Taiwan
from China.” China views
EU cheese, milk and cre-
am products comes after
was collapsing and had
heart “palpitations”, pro-
ht

ies, and were still searching for

more missing with the help of
ce Laboratory for Polio
Eradication at the Nation-
PAK MONSOON DEATH TOLL HITS 657 OUTLET’S $67 MN Taiwan as its own territo-
ry and has vowed to “re-
it rolled over in June an
investigation into Europ-
mpting the court to adjou-
rn proceedings and order
a helicopter, drone, five boats al Institute of Health Peshawar, Aug. 18: At Shah noted that this year, unify” with the democrat- ean pork, of which it is a that he be provided with a
and a larger vessel.
It was not immediately clear
(NIH). With this, the total
number of cases in the co-
least 657 people died and
nearly 1,000 were injured
monsoon rainfall had
been 50 to 60 per cent
DEFAMATION PAY ic island. — Reuters major buyer. — Reuters heart monitor. — Reuters

how many migrants the boat untry in 2025 has reached since late June in rain- heavier than last year. Washington, Aug. 18:
carried or what their nationali- 21, including 13 from Kh- related incidents in Paki- This year’s monsoon sea- Newsmax is to pay $67
ty was. yber Pakhtunkhwa and
six from Sindh.
stan, according to offi-
cials. In a media briefing
son ranks among the most
destructive in recent
million to a voting tech-
nology firm over false cl- Spain, Portugal battle wildfires
COURT FINDS NZ One case each has been
recorded from the coun-
on Sunday, National Disa-
ster Management Autho-
memory, he said.
According to NDMA, 657
aims the pro-Trump cab-
le television channel Madrid, Aug. 18: Thous- Two firefighters were

SOLDIER GUILTY
try’s Punjab province and rity (NDMA) spokesper- people — 171 children, 94 made about the 2020 US ands of firefighters back- killed on Sunday — one in
the Gilgit-Baltistan region son Tayyab Shah said that women, and 392 men — presidential election. ed by the military and each country, both in road

OF ESPIONAGE
of Pakistan-occupied heavy monsoon rains are died and 929 others were The settlement of the water-bombing aircraft on accidents — taking the
Kashmir. expected to persist until injured in rain-related defamation case brought Monday battled dozens of death toll to two in
Despite authorities' August 22. incidents across Pakistan by Dominion Voting Sys- wildfires across Spain and Portugal and four in
Palmerston North, New efforts to eradicate the He warned that two to since June 26. tems was announced in Portugal, as the death toll Spain.
Zealand, Aug. 18: A military crippling disease, polio three more monsoon spel- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a filing by Newsmax on increased to six since the The head of Spain’s
court found a New Zealand sol- cases are rising in the ls are expected to hit the the worst-hit province Monday with the Securi- outbreaks began. Civil Protection and
dier guilty of attempted espi- country. — PTI country in September. with 390 deaths. — PTI ties and Exchange Com- The Iberian peninsula A wildfire burns near a Emergencies, Virginia
onage for a foreign power on mission (SEC). has been particularly affe- vineyard in the village of Barcones, told broadcast-
Monday — the first spying con-
viction in the country’s history.
The soldier was caught offer-
Baloch attack: Varsity lecturer nabbed Newsmax said it had
paid Dominion $27 mil-
lion on Friday and wou-
cted by forest fires fuelled
by heatwaves and drought
blamed on climate change
Vilarino, in Spain, on
Sunday. — AFP
er TVE there were cur-
rently 23 “active fires”
that pose a serious and
ing to pass military base maps Quetta, Aug. 18: Security insurgency-hit Balochi- tan Liberation Army. ld pay $20 million in 2026 that have hit southern Eu- national record, accord- direct threat to the popu-
and photographs to an under- forces in southwestern Pa- stan province, officials During a press confer- and the final $20 million rope. More than 3,43,000 ing to the European lation.
cover officer posing as an agent kistan arrested a universi- said on Monday. ence in Quetta, province’s in 2027. The Rupert Mu- hectares (8.48,000 acres) of Forest Fire Information The fires, now in their
for the foreign nation. ty lecturer accused of pla- The suspect, Usman Chief Minister Sarfraz rdoch-owned Fox News land — the equivalent of System (EFFIS). second week, were con-
The man's name, the country nning a foiled suicide att- Qazi, is claimed to have Bugti showed video foot- settled a similar defama- nearly half a million foot- The previous record of centrated in the north-
he attempted to spy for and the ack that would have targ- links with the outlawed age with Qazi admitting to tion lawsuit with Domi- ball pitches — have been 3,06,000 hectares was set west regions of Galicia,
name of the undercover officer eted last week’s Indepen- Majeed Brigade, the suici- planning the thwarted nion in 2023 for $787.5 destroyed this year in in the same period three Castile and Leon, and
who snared him were all sup- dence Day celebrations in de squad of the Balochis- attack. — AP million. — AFP Spain, setting a new years ago. Extremadura. — AFP
pressed by the court. The serv-
iceman wiped away tears as
evidence was recounted.
OWNERSHIP | ISSUE The govt of Niger announces it will open a probe following the auction MYANMAR POLL
DUBAI POLICE 1ST PHASE TO BE
RETRIEVE $25-MN
DIAMOND
Largest Mars meteorite auction sparks debate
New York, Aug. 18: The er has announced that it ce, and hurtled through
HELD ON DEC. 28
Yangon, Aug. 18: Mya-
nmar will hold the init-
Dubai, Aug. 18: Dubai police
said on Monday they caught
recent auction of a Mart-
ian meteorite — for a
will open an investigation
following the auction, say-
the earth’s atmosphere be-
fore crashing in the Sah-
NASA PLANS N-REACTOR ON MOON ial phase of its general
election on December 28,
three thieves just hours after record-grabbing $5.3 mil- ing it appears to “have all ara Desert,” the Sotheby’s Washington, Aug. 18: tered in August, when act- state television said on
they stole a precious pink dia- lion at Sotheby’s New York the characteristics of illic- listing said. The first space race was ing Nasa administrator Monday, outlining a roa-
mond worth $25 million. -- has sparked questions it international traffick- Following its discovery, about flags and footprints. Sean Duffy reportedly sug- dmap for the first polls
“The Dubai Police General over its provenance and ing.” On August 8, the gov- the jagged, ochre-coloured Now, decades later, landi- gested a US reactor would in the country in nearly
Command has foiled the theft renewed debate over who ernment suspended expor- stone was then sold to an ng on the Moon is old be operational on the five years that have
of a very rare pink diamond, gets to claim rocks fallen ts of precious stones and The 25-kg Martian mete- international dealer, brief- news. The new race is to Moon by 2030. already been derided by
valued at $25 million,” the pol- from the heavens. meteorites until further orite NWA 16788 is the ly exhibited in Italy, and build there, and doing so While it might feel like a critics as a sham.
ice said in a statement shared The hefty 25-kilogram notice. largest known piece of eventually ended up in the hinges on power. sudden sprint, this isn’t The dates for the subse-
by the United Arab Emirates' stone is the largest Sotheby’s has rejected Mars ever discovered on auction catalog in New In April 2025, China rep- exactly breaking news. quent phases, which aut-
official news agency WAM. Martian meteorite ever the accusations, insisting Earth. — AFP York. For American paleo- ortedly unveiled plans to Nasa and the department horities plan to hold
“A diamond trader who had discovered on the earth, that the meteorite “was ntologist Paul Sereno, who build a nuclear power pla- of energy have spent years over December and Jan-
brought the jewel from Europe according to its Sotheby’s exported from Niger and review of the case is has worked closely with nt on the Moon by 2035. quietly developing small uary for security rea-
was lured to a villa by a crime listing, and was found in transported in line with underway, a Sotheby’s Niger’s authorities for ye- This plant would support nuclear power systems to sons, will be announced
gang under the pretence of a November 2023 in the vast all relevant international spokesperson said. ars, all signs suggest that its planned international power lunar bases, mining later, Myanmar’s Union
viewing by a potential wealthy Saharan desert in Niger. procedure.” In light of the “The stone journeyed 140 the stone left the country lunar research station. operations and long-term Election Commission
client,” police said. The government of Nig- controversy, however, a million miles through spa- “illicitly.” — Agencies The United States coun- habitats. — Agencies said. — Reuters
 SPECIAL
DECCAN CHRONICLE | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 9

OTHER STORIES Hijacked satellites and orbiting space weapons CLOUDBURSTS: COMPLEX &
SPACE IS NEW BATTLEFIELD EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
A cloudburst occurs moving southwest to

IN 21ST CENTURY
when a large volume of northeast. The other, from
rain falls in a very short roughly October to
period, usually more than December, moves in the
100 millimeters (about 4 opposite direction. But
inches) within an hour with more planet-warm-
over a localised area, ing gases in the air, the
around 30 sq kms. rain now only loosely fol-
Swatch Cloudbursts are sudden
and violent, with devas-
lows this pattern.
This is because the

apologises for Washington: As Russia

held its Victory Day
nuclear reactor to the
moon, saying it’s impor-
tating consequences and
widespread destruction,
warmer air can hold more
moisture from the

gesture in advt parade this year, hackers tant the US does so before and can be the equivalent Arabian Sea and Indian
backing the Kremlin China or Russia. “We’re in of several hours of nor- Ocean, and that rain then

seen as racist
hijacked an orbiting satel- a race to the moon, in a mal rainfall or longer. tends to get dumped all at
lite that provides televi- race with China to the The event is the bursting once. It means the mon-
sion service to Ukraine. moon,” Duffy said. “To of a cloud and the dis- soon is punctuated with
Geneva: Swiss watchmaker Instead of normal pro- have a base on the moon, charge of its contents at intense flooding and dry
Swatch apologized Monday graming, Ukrainian view- we need energy and some the same time, like a rain spells, rather than sus-
for an ad campaign that upset ers saw parade footage of the key locations on the bomb. tained rain throughout.
consumers in China and else- beamed in from Moscow: moon. ... We want to get Several factors con- The combination of
where and said it had “imme- waves of tanks, soldiers there first and claim that tribute to a cloudburst, moisture, mountains and
diately removed all related and weaponry. The mes- for America.” including warm, moist air monsoons force these
materials worldwide.” sage was meant to intimi- The moon is rich in a rising upward, high moisture-laden winds
In an image for the Swatch date and was an illustra- material known as helium humidity, low pressure, upward, triggering sudden
Essentials collection, an tion that 21st-century war 3, which scientists believe instability and convective condensation and cloud-
Asian male model is shown is waged not just on land, could be used in nuclear cloud formation. bursts.
pulling the edges of his eye- sea and air but also in fusion to generate huge Moist air is forced to rise They are hard to predict,
lids upward and backward cyberspace and the reach- amounts of energy. While after encountering a hill but precaution is possible:
with his fingers — a gesture es of outer space. that technology is decades or mountain. This rising It’s difficult to predict

_t
seen as derogatory and racist, Disabling a satellite away, control over the air cools and condenses. cloudbursts because of
Swiss public broadcaster SRF could deal a devastating moon in the intervening Clouds that are large, their size, duration, sud-

ac
reported. blow without one bullet, years could determine dense and capable of denness and complex
Swatch wrote on Instagram and it can be done by tar- which countries emerge as heavy rainfall form. atmospheric mechanisms.

e=
that “we sincerely apologize geting the satellite’s secu- superpowers, according to Hills or mountains act Asfandyar Khan
for any distress or misunder- rity software or disrupting Joseph Rooke, a London- like barriers and often Khattak, a Pakistani offi-

od
standing this may have its ability to send or based cybersecurity trap these clouds, so they cial from the northwest
caused.” It said it would “treat receive signals from expert who has worked in cannot disperse or move province of Khyber
this matter with the utmost Earth. the UK defence industry easily. Strong upward cur- Pakhtunkhwa, said there

?m
importance.” “If you can impede a and is now director of risk rents keep moisture sus- was “no forecasting sys-
SRF reported that the apolo- satellite’s ability to com- insights at the firm pended inside the clouds, tem anywhere in the
gy was also posted on the municate, you can cause a Recorded Future. delaying rainfall. When world” that could predict

r8
Chinese social network Weibo significant disruption,” The end of the Cold War the clouds cannot hold the the exact time and location
in Chinese and English. – AFP said Tom Pace, CEO of temporarily halted a lot of accumulated moisture of a cloudburst.

R
Representative image of a satellite being launched from a SpaceX rocket launch in
NetRise, a cybersecurity investments in space, but anymore, they burst and Climate change fuelling
Cape Canaveral in the US. — AP

e6
firm focused on protecting competition is likely to release it all at once. frequency: Experts say
Iran warns supply chains. “Think like the hackers support- once. The weapon would Russia and China also increase as the promise of India, Pakistan have cloudbursts have

7z
about GPS,” said Pace, ing Russia did when they combine a physical attack would lose satellites, mining the moon becomes ideal conditions: increased in recent years,
war with Israel who served in the Marines hijacked television signals that would ripple outward, though they are believed a reality. “This isn’t sci-fi. Cloudbursts thrive in partly due to climate

gD
before working on cyber to Ukraine. destroying more satellites, to be less reliant on the It’s quickly becoming a moisture, monsoons and change, while damage

could resume at issues at the Department

of Energy. “Imagine if a
Hackers typically look
for the weakest link in the
while the nuclear compo-
nent is used to fry their
same kinds of satellites as
the US.
reality,” Rooke said. “If
you dominate Earth’s
mountains. Regions of
India and Pakistan have
from associated storms
has also increased due to

any time R
population lost that and software or hardware that electronics. Turner compared the energy needs, that’s game all three, making them unplanned development in
weapon, which is not yet over.” mountain areas.
TB
the confusion it would supports a satellite or con- US officials declassified vulnerable to these
cause.” trols its communications information about the ready for deployment, to China and Russia have extreme weather events. Climate change has
Tehran: A senior Iranian offi- Satellites are short-term with Earth. The actual weapon after Rep. Mike Sputnik, the Russian satel- announced plans for their The Himalayas, directly amplified the trig-
w

cial warned Monday that war challenge: More than orbiting device may be Turner, R-Ohio, issued a lite that launched the own nuclear plants on the Karakoram and Hindu gers of cloudbursts in
with Israel could erupt at any 12,000 operating satellites secure, but if it’s running public warning about the space age in 1957. “If this moon in the coming years, Kush Mountain ranges are Pakistan, especially. Every
nE

moment, describing the cur- now orbit the planet, play- on outdated software, it technology. Turner has anti-satellite nuclear while the U.S. is planning home to the world’s high- 1°C rise allows the air to
rent lull after June's 12-day ing a critical role not just can be easily exploited. pushed for the weapon would be put in missions to the moon and est and most famous hold about 7% more mois-
Q

conflict as only a temporary in broadcast communica- As Russian forces invad- Department of Defense to space, it would be the end Mars. Artificial intelli- peaks, spanning multiple ture, increasing the poten-
halt. tions but also in military ed Ukraine in 2022, some- provide a classified brief- of the space age,” Turner gence is likely to speed up countries including India tial for heavy rainfall in
M

"We must be prepared at operations, navigation one targeted Viasat, the ing to lawmakers on the said. “It should never be the competition, as is the and Pakistan. short bursts.
demand for the energy
y9

every moment for confronta- systems like GPS, intelli- US-based satellite compa- weapon, which, if permitted to go into outer The frequency of cloud- The warming of the
tion; right now, we are not even gence gathering and eco- ny used by Ukraine’s gov- deployed, would violate an space. This is the Cuban that AI requires. bursts in these two South Indian Ocean and Arabian
in a ceasefire (agreement); we nomic supply chains. ernment and military. The international treaty pro- Missile Crisis in space.” Despite its steps into Asian nations has been Sea pushes more moisture
pj

are in a cessation of hostili- They are also key to early hack, which Kyiv blamed hibiting weapons of mass Mining the moon and outer space, China oppos- steadily rising due to a into the atmosphere.
es any extraterrestrial
/H

ties," said First Vice President launch-detection efforts, on Moscow, used malware destruction in space. beyond: Valuable minerals warming atmosphere, Melting glaciers and snow
Mohammad Reza Aref. which can warn of to infect tens of thousands Turner said such a and other materials found arms race, according to because a warmer air alter local weather pat-
Liu Pengyu, a spokesper-
m

The fighting in June saw approaching missiles. of modems, creating an weapon could render low- on the moon and in aster- mass can hold more mois- terns, making rainfall
Israel bombard Iranian That makes them a sig- outage affecting wide Earth orbit unusable for oids could lead to future son for China’s Embassy ture, creating conditions events more erratic and
co

nuclear and military sites, as nificant national security swaths of Europe. satellites for as long as a conflicts as nations look to in Washington. He said it for sudden and intense extreme. Environmental
well as residential areas, vulnerability, and a prime National security offi- year. If it were used, the exploit new technologies is the U.S. that is threaten- downpours. degradation, in the form of
killing more than 1,000 people, target for anyone looking cials say Russia is develop- effects would be devastat- and energy sources. ing to militarize the final The South Asian region deforestation and wetland
p.

including senior commanders to undermine an adver- ing a nuclear, space-based ing: potentially leaving the Acting NASA frontier. has traditionally had two loss, reduces the land’s
ap

and nuclear scientists. Iran sary’s economy or mili- weapon designed to take U.S. and its allies vulnera- Administrator Sean Duffy – AP monsoon seasons. One ability to absorb water,
retaliated with missile and tary readiness — or deliv- out virtually every satel- ble to economic upheaval announced plans this typically lasts from June magnifying flash floods.
drone strikes that killed er a psychological blow lite in low-Earth orbit at and even a nuclear attack. month to send a small to September, with rains – AP
ts

dozens in Israel.
ha

The United States announced

a halt in fighting on June 24,
two days after it joined the war
SCHEFFLER RULES SUPREME Qantas fined $59 mn for
t.w

by bombing Iranian nuclear

facilities. But there was no
agreement formalising the

WITH FIFTH PGA TITLE IN ’25 illegal pandemic layoffs

ha

ceasefire, only an undeclared

pause in hostilities.
//c

On Sunday, Yahya Rahim

Safavi, a military adviser to Owning Mills (US):
s:

Iran's supreme leader Scottie Scheffler erased a Melbourne: A judge on outsourcing the jobs.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told four-shot deficit in five Monday fined Qantas Lee questioned the sin-
tp

Iranian media the country was holes and then delivered a Airways 90 million cerity of Qantas’s apology
"preparing plans for the worst- haymaker on the daunting Australian dollars ($59 for its illegal conduct, not-
ht

case scenario". "We are not in a par-3 17th by chipping in million) for illegally firing ing that the airline later
ceasefire now, we are in a war from 82 feet for birdie that more than 1,800 ground unsuccessfully argued
phase, it could break down at carried him to victory staff at the start of the that it owed no compensa-
any time, there is no protocol, Sunday in the BMW Covid-19 pandemic. The tion to its former staff. “If
no regulations, no agreement Championship for his fifth penalty is in addition to any further evidence was
between us and the Israelis, PGA Tour title of the year. the AU$120 million in needed of the unrelenting
between us and the Scheffler closed with a 3- compensation that and aggressive litigation
Americans," he said in under 67 for a two-shot vic- Australia’s biggest airline strategy adopted in this
remarks carried by the Shargh tory and became the first had already agreed to pay case by Qantas, it is pro-
daily. "A ceasefire means ceas- player since Tiger Woods its former employees. vided by this effort direct-
ing attacks; that could change (2006-07) to win at least Australian Federal Sydney-based airline’s ed to denying any com-
at any time," he added. Since five times on the PGA Court Justice Michael Lee appeal against the judg- pensation whatsoever to
then, Iranian officials have Tour in consecutive years. said the outsourcing of ment that outsourcing those in respect of whom
insisted the country is not Robert MacIntyre didn’t Scottie Scheffler holds the trophy after 1,820 baggage handler and their jobs was illegal. Qantas was publicly pro-
seeking war but is ready for make a birdie until the winning the BMW championship cleaner jobs at Australian The Transport Workers fessing regret for their
another confrontation. 16th hole but stayed in the airports in late 2020 was Union, which took the air- misfortune,” Lee said.
Western powers accuse Iran game after losing his big the “largest and most sig- line to court, had argued I do think that the people
of pursuing nuclear weapons lead, mostly when just left in the rough, the the world’s No. 1 player who leads the 30 players nificant contravention” of the airline should receive in charge of Qantas now
through its atomic pro- Scheffler began missing ball sitting up nicely but making other-worldly who advanced to the Tour relevant Australian the largest fine available have some genuine regret,
gramme, a charge Tehran short putts. He pulled the shot still scary. He shots in another extraor- Championship at East labour laws in their 120- — AU$121,212,000. but this more likely
strongly denies. Following the within one shot of the lead landed it some 60 feet dinary season. MacIntyre, Lake with a chance to year history. Lee ruled that the mini- reflects the damage that
war, Israel and the United going to the 17th, the short and watched it trick- who made 18 birdies in the become the first repeat Qantas agreed in Dec. mum fine to create a this case has done to the
States repeatedly threatened to toughest hole at Caves le, and then roll, and then first 45 holes of the tour- FedEx Cup champion last year to pay AU$120 deterrence should be company rather than
attack Iran again should Valley, with a back right slow again until it nament, made only two since the series began in million in compensation AU$90 million, noting that remorse for the damage
Tehran relaunch its nuclear pin on a crispy green that dropped into the cup. over the last 27 holes. He 2007. All 30 players at East to former staff after Qantas executives had done to the affected work-
sites and resume its nuclear sloped to the right toward MacIntyre could only shot 73. Lake can win the $10 mil- seven High Court judges expected to save AU$125 ers,” Lee added.
enrichment programme. the water. Scheffler went look at him and stare at It’s not over for Scheffler, lion first-place check. – AP unanimously rejected the million a year through – AP
— AFP

UK grants asylum to Hong Kong Cambridge Dictionary adds ‘skibidi’,

democracy activist Tony Chung
London: Hong Kong democ-
racy activist Tony Chung,
"The moment I received this
notification, my feelings were
He fled to Britain in 2023 and
applied for political asylum
‘tradwife’ among 6,000 new words
who once called for the city's truly indescribable," Chung upon entry, saying he had London: What the skibidi with no real meaning as a Concerns over climate
independence and was the wrote on Instagram. "My first been closely watched by Hong is happening to the joke. change are behind the
youngest person to be jailed reaction was sheer excite- Kong's national security English language? Other planned additions addition of “forever chem-
under its national security ment... however, this sense of police despite his jail term “Skibidi” is one of the including “tradwife", a ical,” a harmful chemical
law, has been granted asylum possibility has brought me having ended early for good slang terms popularised contraction of “tradition- that remains in the envi-
in the UK. fear - fear of planning for the behaviour. by social media that are al wife” referring to a mar- ronment for a long time.
Chung, 24, posted a letter future," he added. "All I can Chung, who said he has suf- among more than 6,000 ried mother who cooks, Cambridge Dictionary
from the UK interior ministry say is that I won't give up, and fered from depression since additions this year to the cleans and posts on social uses the Cambridge
on his Instagram page on I don't want to give up," he his detention, was previously Cambridge Dictionary. media, and "delulu,” a English Corpus, a data-
Sunday, which read: "Your vowed. the convenor of Student “Internet culture is chang- shortening of the word base of more than 2 billion
claim for asylum has been Beijing imposed its national Localism, a small group he set ing the English language delusional that means words of written and spo-
successful and you have been security law on Hong Kong in up as a secondary school and the effect is fascinat- “believing things that are ken English, to monitor
granted refugee status." 2020 after months of huge and pupil to advocate for Hong ing to observe and capture not real or true, usually how new words are used
UK authorities accepted often violent pro-democracy Kong's independence from in the dictionary,” said because you choose to”. by different people, how
that Chung has a "well-found- protests in the former British China. Separation from Colin McIntosh, lexical An increase in remote often and in what contexts
ed fear of persecution and colony. In 2021, Chung, then China was then a fringe view programme manager at working since the pan- they are used, the compa-
therefore cannot return to 20, became the youngest per- in Hong Kong although calls Cambridge Dictionary, the demic has created the new ny said. “We only add
your country". He has been son to be jailed under the for self-rule became more world's largest online dic- dictionary entry “mouse words where we think
granted a five-year residence security law after he pleaded vocal during the 2019 tionary. jiggler,” a device or piece they'll have
permit and will be able to guilty to "secession" and was protests. In 2020, Chung was “Skibidi” is a gibberish The word ‘dictionary’ is in the dictionary too. of software used to make staying power," McIntosh
apply for permanent resi- sentenced to three and a half nabbed by plainclothes term coined by the creator it seem like you are work- said.
dence. years in prison. police. —AFP of an animated YouTube series and can mean “cool” or “bad” or be used ing when you are not. —AP
 CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025
pg 10

quick Amid tariffs, PM takes driver’s India seeks to cut

steel shipments
BITES seat to steer economic growth
Committed to speedy reforms across sectors, boost ease of living, EoDB, prosperity: Modi
New Delhi, Aug. 18:
India has recommended a
three-year import tariff of
11- 12 per cent on some
INDICATORS % MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
steel products to curb
shipments from top pro-
Sensex 80,597.66 0.07 WITH AGENCY INPUTS REFORM DRIVEN ● GST RATES now
FM NIRMALA TO ducer China.
Nifty 50 24,631.30 0.05 NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 taxed at 12% lowered The levy, if imposed, will
● EAC MEETING came days to 5% and some in 28%
S&P 500* 6,449.80 -0.29
Prime Minister Narendra
after US President imposed
cumulative 50% tariff on
tax bracket may come ADDRESS GOM ON start at 12 per cent. It will
be eased to 11.5 per cent in
Dollar (`) 87.55 0.10 Modi on Monday reviewed down to the 18%. the second year and to 11
Pound Sterling (`) 118.62 -0.23 the current state of the
economy at the economic
goods India exports to the
US. ● GOVT clarified that
GST PROPOSAL per cent in the third year,
the Directorate General of US PRESIDENT Donald
Euro (`) 102.30 0.00 advisory council (EAC) ● MEETING COINCIDES with
Centre is an equal part- FC CORRESPONDENT Trade Remedies (DGTR) Trump's import tariffs on
Gold (10gm)* (`) 100,189▲4 0.00 meeting. The meeting ner in revenue sharing NEW DELHI, AUG. 18 notification said. steel have fuelled a wave
Chinese foreign minister with states.
holds significance amid “The Authority con- of trade frictions against
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 66.13 0.43 tariffs imposed by the US Wang Yi’s two-day visit to Union finance minister cludes that there is a
● STATES have exclu- Chinese steel, with
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.402 -0.03 on India. India from Monday. Nirmala Sitharaman will recent, sudden, sharp and
The governmentweighed ● TARIFFS LIKELY to impact
sive taxation rights on Wednesday address a significant increase in countries including South
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.33 0.04 over land and petrole- Korea and Vietnam
all options and said EAC $40 billion of non-exempt crucial meeting of a imports,” the notification
* As of 8:30 PM IST will shape India’s econom- um products. group of ministers (GoM) said, adding that this imposing the anti-dump-
Indian exports such as gems
ic response and recali- of states as she makes a could cause serious injury ing levy.
brate its global trade strat-
and jewellery, textiles and case for the GST reforms. to domestic steel sector.

_t
footwear. ● 7 UNION MINISTERS, including finance minister

Goldman Sachs
egy, the sources said. The Centre has proposed The DGTR also said that April imposed a 12 per
The meeting came days ● INDIA SEEKS to step up Nirmala Sitharaman also participated in meeting at a 2-tier GST structure of 5 due to 50 per cent tariffs cent temporary tariff for

ac
after US President Donald engagements with Beijing PM Modi's residence. and 18 per cent, besides a on steel imports into the 200 days.
opens new office Trump imposed a 25 per and Moscow amid uncertain- ● PM MODI proposed 2 GST slabs of 5%, 18% by 40 per cent special rate on U.S., coupled with similar Earlier on Monday,

e=
cent tariff on all goods ty in trade ties with US. Diwali. a select few items to the measures by other coun- Japanese steel lobby

in Mumbai India exports to the US, GoM on GST rate ratio- tries, a bulk of steel vol- groups said they have

od
and then doubling the levy nalisation. The proposal, umes are lying with man- requested the early intro-
to 50 per cent from Aug. 27 will be discussed at the ufacturers across the duction of measures to
Goldman Sachs Group opened as punishment for India two-day meeting. world. prevent evasion of anti-

?m
a new office in India’s financial
capital Mumbai as the US firm
seeks to further expand in the
buying oil from Russia.
The EAC meeting
assumes significance as it Butter, ghee, mobiles, bikes “The idea is to put forth
the Centre’s view point
behind the GST reform
“Therefore, the safe-
guard duty must address
not only the serious
dumping tariffs aimed at
protecting domestic sec-
tor from unfair imports.

r8
country. The US-based bank is coincides with Chinese proposal. Although the injury suffered by the US President Trump's

insurance can turn cheaper

R
now housed in Worli, a promi- foreign minister Wang Centre is not a member of domestic industry but import tariffs on steel
nent commercial hub in Mumb- Yi’s two-day visit to India, the GoM, finance minis- also the threat of serious have fuelled a wave of

e6
ai that is known for its high-en- beginning Monday. It also ter's presence and her injury that is likely to trade frictions against
d commercial real estate. The comes days before exter- address will give the GoM arise in the future.” Chinese steel, with coun-

7z
bank employs about 8,500 nal affairs minister S SANGEETHA G. above `1000, building a better understanding of The final recommenda- tries including South
people across its Indian offices. Jaishankar's visit to CHENNAI, AUG. 18 bricks, kitchenware, the idea behind the tion follows preliminary Korea and Vietnam

gD
It opened a new office space in Russia as India seeks to solar-powered devices, Centre's proposal,” a findings, after which the imposing anti-dumping
Hyderabad in 2023. step up engagements with Butter, ghee, motorcycles, contact lenses and specta- source said. Indian government in levy. — Reuters
Beijing and Moscow amid air conditioners, pack- cle lenses, coir products, Bihar deputy chief min-
uncertainty in trade ties aged food and almonds toys, carpets, pencils and
Rister Samrat Choudhary
Digital ecosystem subsidy to rise as
TB
with the US. and insurance premiums crayons also come under is the convenor of the six-
“We are committed to are some of the cate- this bracket. These prod- member GoM.
speedy reforms across all gories that can become ucts are likely to become Meanwhile, commerce
UPI players bearing `5,000-cr cost
w

sectors, which will boost cheaper once the govern- are likely to be taxed cheaper with a 5 per cent minister Piyush Goyal on
ease of living, ease of tax rate.
nE

ment revises the GST higher,” said Abhishek Monday said the ministry
doing business and pros- rates. Jain, partner and nation- Cement, large motor is working on the next
perity,” Modi said in a post Aerated drinks, tobacco al head, Indirect tax, vehicles, premium motor- 100-day agenda to give a Mumbai, Aug. 18: The The reduction in sub-
Q

on X. products, online gaming, KPMG. cycles, air conditioners, push the country's eco- annual subsidy of `437 cr sidy to `437 cr ore from
Seven union ministers, and lottery may stay in Packaged and processed and insurance premium nomic growth. allocated in FY26 budget `2,000 crore in FY25 had
M

including finance minis- the highest tax bracket. food items, namkeens, are now taxed 28 per cent. “The government is tak- to support digital pay- led to a slew of calls to
y9

ter Nirmala Sitharaman “The GST rates of prod- soya milk, butter, ghee, tax bracket include. ing steps to promote ease ments ecosystem through charge fees on some UPI
participated in the meet- ucts now taxed at 12 per cheese, almonds, hazel- These products are likely of doing business and UPI and RuPay card trans- transactions. Charging

IHC inks deal

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ing at PM’s residence. cent may be lowered to 5 nuts, dates, figs, con- attract 18 per cent. ease of living,” he said in actions may be revised for UPI transactions has
The sixth round talks of per cent and some of densed milk, processed “Currently ACs are an event here. upwards, economists at become a contentious
/H

the proposed India-US them in the 28 per cent fruits, sugar confec- taxed 28 per cent. Refrig- “We are looking to make SBI said on Monday. issue due to mass adop-
with Madison for bilateral trade agreement tax bracket may come tionery, ready-to-eat veg- erators, washing machi- life of our citizens better “The Budget has ear- tion of platform, which
m

was postponed as the US down to 18 per cent. etables, packaged nes, microwaves have 18 through ease of living, marked `437 crore to pro- saw nearly 25 cr transac-

10 new hotels trade team deferred its However, sin goods, coconut water, fruit juice, per cent GST. Once the where we are all focused mote digital transactions tions in June.
co

visit to New Delhi. The including aerated drinks, pickles, jellies and jams rates are finalised, we on removing regulatory in FY26, which may be They flagged concerns
talks were scheduled to be and tobacco products as among others are now will pass on the tax bene- overburden, reducing revised upward. However, on PhonePe (Walmart),
p.

The Indian Hotels Company held from Aug.25 to 29. well as categories like taxed 12 per cent. fits to the consumer,” said compliances, supporting as per estimates `4,000 to and GPay controlling a
(IHCL) said it has signed an This visit is likely to be online gaming, lottery, Air coolers, umbrellas, Kamal Nandi, business industry to invest and `5,000 crore could be the lion’s share. This may sti-
ap

agreement with Madison, the rescheduled. gambling, horse racing textile products and head and EVP, Godrej grow and making new cost that the participants fle domestic fintech cos,
hospitality platform of Termin- Meanwhile, amid con- and certain luxury cars leather products priced Appliances. alliances,” he said. are bearing,” they said. they warned. — PTI
ts

us Group and JV Ventures, for cerns about the revenue

10 new hotels to be operated impact of the proposed

Retail investors’
ha

under Ginger brand. Madison two-slab structure, gov- per cent is allocated to Now, the tax rates are goods and services, and a pensation cess.
will invest `500 crore in con- ernment sources clarified states as per the Finance pegged at 5 per cent, 12, 18 special 40 per cent rate for GST revenues will go up
struction of ten hotels with that the Centre is an equal Commission’s recommen- and 28 per cent. The 5 per about 5-7 goods. on a sustained basis once
t.w

over 1,000 keys in next three partner in revenue shar- dations. cent slab accounts for 7 States have exclusive the new 2-tier slab is
years. The partnership has ing with the states. The “Centre has equal con- per cent of GST revenues, taxation rights over land implemented, said anoth-

quota kept at 35%

ha

commenced with signing of a new proposal anticipates a cerns over what is being while the 18 per cent slab and petroleum products. er source.
75-key Ginger hotel in Genome revenue boost over time collected and what will be accounts for 65 per cent. Health, education and “GST revenues have
Valley in Telangana, IHCL said. on increased consump- collected in GST. As mem- The 12 and 28 per cent other cess collected by the improved over time, and
//c

tion, they said. bers of the GST Council, slabs give 5 and 11 per cent Centre go towards funding the average tax buoyancy
Under the current GST, both are equal partners. In share, respectively, in the development and welfare of states improved to 1.23 RAVI RANJAN PRASAD crore, it is proposed to be
s:

revenues are shared such a setup, is it fair to GST kitty. needs through various as against 0.65 pre-GST. MUMBAI, AUG. 18 `6,250 crore.

Govt launches
equally between the expect that Government of The Centre proposed a central government With the proposed GST For companies with a
tp

Centre and the states. India will sit as a donor to two-tier rate structure of 5 schemes and initiatives. reforms, tax buoyancy A proposal to reduce the post-issue market cap of
From the Centre's share of compensate states?” a gov- per cent and 18 per cent Some of the cess collected will improve steadily,” the retail individual invest- `50,000 crore to `1 lakh cr,
ht

new portal for the divisible tax pool, 41 ernment source said. for merit and standard also goes to states as com- second source said. ors’ quota in large initial
public offerings (IPOs)
Sebi has proposed a mini-
mum IPO size of `1,000

PMVBRY scheme exceeding `5,000 crore to crore and extended the 25

The government has launched

the pradhan mantri viksit bh-
S&P upgrades, lower GST plan cheer markets 25 per cent from the exist-
ing 35 per cent by the
Securities and Exchange
Board of India (Sebi) has
per cent minimum public
shareholding
achievement
(MPS)
timeline
from three years to five
arat rozgar yojana (PMVBRY) RAVI RANJAN PRASAD notional wealth increased streamlined goods and been withdrawn after years from date of listing.
portal on Monday, union minis- MUMBAI, AUG. 18 by over `6.17 lakh crore. POSITIVE SENTIMENT services tax (GST) struc- receiving feedback from Sebi also proposed to
ter Mansukh L Mandaviya said, The broader market ture, expected to boost stakeholders. relax the 25 per cent MPS
urging employers and first-time The stock markets gained more, with the BSE ● SENSEX AND Nifty-50 ● INVESTOR spending and fuel con- The proposal was timeline for large issuers
employees to take benefit of cheered with the last mid-cap index up 1.00 per close 0.84%, 1% higher, sentiment sumption. The Nifty made considering with a post-issue mar-
`1-lakh crore central scheme. weekend developments cent and the BSE small- respectively. buoyed by opened on a strong note challenges faced ket cap of `1 lakh
The government approved the like lower GST slab rates cap index up 1.39 per cent. reports of and climbed to an intra- by issuers in exe- crore and above
● FOREIGN PORTFOLIO
employment linked incentive to be introduced, coutry’s The market opened on a day high of 25,022 during cuting large pub- from five years to 10
scheme on July 1, 2025. The investors buy equities streamlined GST
sovereign upgrade by S&P bullish note, with the Se- structure. mid-session. However, lic issues. These years to facilitate
scheme aims to incentivise cre- Global, and pausing of nsex rising over 1,000 poi- worth `550.85 cr, while some profit booking at challenges are large companies
ation of more than 3.5 crore secondary tariffs annou- nts and gaining 1,168.11 domestic institutions buy ● SECTOR-WISE, Nifty higher levels led the index now proposed to be planning to go public
jobs over a period of 2 years. ncment by US President points to hit an intraday of `4,103.81 cr. auto gained 4.18%. to pare a portion of its addressed by reduc- and achieve MPS in a
Donald Trump on India high of 81,765.77, while the gains,” said Bajaj Broking ing the minimum public timely manner.
after US-Russia talks. Nifty-50 crossed the 25,000 Research. offer (MPO) requirements Incase of public issues
The Sensex and Nifty-50 mark, touching an intra- cating a slight reduction strong recovery in H2 Sector-wise, Nifty auto for large issuers, Sebi said where the post-issue m-

JSW, POSCO
closed 0.84 per cent and 1 day high of 25,022. in market fears of higher FY26 corporate earnings. gained 4.18 per cent. Oth- in a consultation paper cap of company is `1 lakh
per cent higher, respec- Foreign portfolio inve- volatility. Thus, we maintain a posi- er sectoral gainers includ- issued on Monday. crore to `5 lakh crore and
tively, with the Sensex stors turned net buyers of “A combination of policy tive view on the Indian ed realty (2.17 per cent), Accordingly, the mini- public shareholding is
plan to set up gaining 676 points to close
at 81,273, while the Nifty-
equities worth `550.85
crore, while domestic
reforms (GST 2.0), sover-
eign rating upgrade,
equities over next 6–9
months,” said Siddhartha
metal (1.86 per cent),
FMCG (1.2 per cent), and
mum issue size for compa-
nies with a post-issue
less than 15 per cent on
date of listing, MPS of 15

6 MT unit plant 50 gained 245 points to institutions were net buy- potential tariff relief, RBI Khemka, head of PSU Bank (0.4 per cent). market capitalisation (m- per cent has to be
close at 24,876.95. ers of `4,103.81 crore. and government stimulus, Research, Motilal Oswal On downside, Nifty IT fell cap) of above `5 lakh achieved within the five
BSE’s market capitalisa- Volatility index NSE’s monsoon-led consumption Financial Services. 0.57 per cent, while energy, crore is proposed to be years and 25 per cent with-
JSW Steel and South Korea- tion rose above `450.96 India VIX meanwhile fell revival, and festive “Investor sentiment was pharma, and media sec- `15,000 crore and from `1 in 10 years from the date
based POSCO Group have lakh crore as investors’ 0.12 per cent to 12.34, indi- demand could trigger a buoyed by reports of a tors remained flat. lakh crore to `5 lakh of listing, Sebi said.
joined hands to explore setting
up a 6 million tonnes per ann-
um (MTPA) steel plant in India.
The two companies will under-
Rising data usage to LOCAL | FLAVOUR Deal signed for 120 months from April 2025 at `6.3 cr per month
take a detailed feasibility study

Apple leases 2.7 lakh sq.ft in Bengaluru

to finalise the plant’s location,
investment terms, resource
availability, and other critical
factors. JSW Steel said it has
drive telcos profits up
signed a non-binding heads of New Delhi, Aug. 18: The leverage, Crisil Ratings
operating profit of tele- said adding that its analy- New Delhi, Aug. 18: years, as per Propstack, Apple has several engi-
agreement to jointly explore
setting up steel plant. com companies in India is sis suggests that every `1 iPhone maker Apple India which has reviewed the BIG OFFICE neering teams spread
expected to grow 12-14 per increase in ARPU adds has leased around 2.7 lakh registration document of across Bangalore and
cent to about `1.55 lakh `850-950 crore to indust- square feet of office space this leasing transaction. ● COMPANY TAKES multiple Hyderabad.
crore this fiscal, driven by ry’s operating profit. in Bangalore for 10 years Apple declined to com- floors on lease from real estate Apple is biggest exporter
Printed & Published by more data consumption The operating profit with a starting monthly ment on an email query. firm Embassy Group. of mobile phones from
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan and rise in average rev- metrics last fiscal, grew at rent of `6.3 crore, accord- The lease has been India. It exported iPhones
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed & enue per user (ARPU), about 17 per cent, lifte due ing to data analytics firm signed for a period of 120 ● IPHONE MAKER estimated to worth about `1.5 lakh
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses Propstack. months or 10 years with crore in FY25.
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot,
Crisil Ratings said. to tariff hikes. ARPU is pay more than `1,000 cr in rent
The robust operating expected to climb to `220- The company has taken effect from April 3, 2025. over a period of 10 yrs. Earlier, it was reported
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai.
performance, along with 225 in FY26 from `205 in multiple floors including The fresh investment that Foxconn's Bengaluru
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No.
declining capital expendi- FY25, largely on account car parking space on lease from Apple comes despite factory has commenced
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1.
ture intensity of leading of rising data consump- from real estate firm US President Donald
● RENT of the premise is `235 per sq ft per month. operation with production
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written per- players post 5G rollout, is tion, according to Anand Embassy Group. Trump openly calling out of iPhone 17 recently at a
mission of The Editor, Financial seen improving free cash Kulkarni, director of The iPhone maker is the company for expand- deposit of `31.57 crore. According to the docu- small scale. Foxconn’s
Chronicle ® is prohibited. flow, supporting credit pr- Crisil Ratings. estimated to pay more ing operations in India. The rent will escalate 4.5 ments, the company has Bengal-uru facility is
ofiles of leading players. The data usage to incre- than `1,000 crore in rent, The starting rent of the per cent every year there- leased nine floors starting being set up at an invest-
The telecom industry be- ase to 31-32 GB in FY26 fr- car park and maintenance premise is `235 per square by leading to total pay- from 5th till 13th floor in ment of $2.8 billion (about
nefits from high operating om 27 GB in FY25. — PTI charge over a period of 10 feet per month and made a ment of over `1,000 crore. Embassy Zenith. `25,000 crore). — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025
pg 11

SHORT
Akash Deep, Ishan
TAKES
Gill mystery continues for Asia Cup Indian air pistol
New Delhi, Aug. 18: How ● For the top three
ASIAN | SHOOTING

to miss Duleep QF to fit in a brilliant batter

like Shubman Gill in a
positions, there are six

team bag silver

Kolkata: India pacer Akash well-oiled T20 set up will
cricketers of similar
Deep and wicket-keeper/batter be the biggest challenge pedigree available.
Ishan Kishan, the East Zone for India’s national selec- Abhishek Sharma,
captain, will miss the Duleep tion committee when it Sanju Samson and Tilak
Trophy quarterfinal match gathers on Tuesday to pick Varma have been Shymkent (Kazakh- ● The men's team,
against North Zone as both the the 15-member squad for phenomenal in national stan), Aug. 18: Indian
players are recovering from next month’s Asia Cup in shooters’ quest to better
comprising Anmol
colours through last (580), Aditya Malra
their respective injuries. UAE. As of now, the prolif- season but then the their medal tally at the
The season-opening Duleep ic Test captain, who had a Asian Championships (579) and Asian Games
ones who are equally gold medallist Saurabh
Trophy matches are scheduled dream run in England (rifle/pistol/shotgun)
to be held in the BCCI Centre of recently, is not organically good, if not better, began with the men Chaudhary (576)
Excellence grounds in fitting into the side which happen to be Gill, clinching the 10m air pis- aggregated a score of
Bengaluru from August 28, but will play the continental Yashasvi Jaiswal and tol team silver, while 1,735 to finish behind
Akash is yet to recuperate fully showpiece from Sai Sudharsan (the IPL Faridabad marksman China, who took the
from a back injury that forced September 9 to 28. Orange Cap winner). Anmol Jain missed out on gold by amassing 1,744
him to miss two Tests on the For Ajit Agarkar and his an individual medal in
recent tour to England. colleagues, the major the event, finishing sixth points.
The 28-year-old has been point of deliberation will Tests. Axar Patel, the here on Monday.
replaced by Bihar’s Mukhtar be how to fix something Delhi Capitals skipper, The men’s team, com- cannot advance to the
Hussain in the East Zone squad. that doesn’t need to be became Surya’s deputy prising Anmol (580), medal round. Another
Bengal pacer Akash, who had mended. and performed decently Aditya Malra (579) and Indian RPO shooter
an impressive series against It’s a “scary” conundrum even though he is not con- Asian Games gold medal- Varun Tomar shot 584 to
England taking 13 wickets, for the selectors but sidered a long-term leader- list Saurabh Chaudhary end the qualification
including a 10-wicket match- Indian cricket right now is Shubman Gill ship candidate. (576) aggregated a score of round in fourth place.
haul at Birmingham, has a T20 talent factory with at However, Axar will cer- 1,735 to finish behind Kapil clinched the indi-
informed the zonal selection least 30 players who are tainly feel shortchanged if China, who took the gold vidual junior men’s 10m
committee of his unavailability ready to come into the In bowling, Kuldeep past season to be deprived Yadav’s able leadership, Gill supercedes him as by amassing 1,744 points. air pistol gold with a
as per medical advice. He is national squad with three Yadav, Varun to accommodate a bigger the Indian T20 squad has a Surya’s deputy. Iran took the bronze, score of 243.0. He shot 579
currently going through reha- to four options available Chakravarthy and Ravi brand name or star. phenomenal 85 per cent On Tuesday, if selectors totalling 1,733 points. in qualification to enter

_t
bilitation at the CoE, and is like- for one slot. Bishnoi are jostling for The other school of record, winning 17 of its pick Gill in the 15, then In the individual men’s the medal round placed
ly to return to action during the For the top three posi- one slot. And the craftiest thought is that Indian last 20 games. None of they have to play him in 10m air pistol section, fourth. Another Indian

ac
home Test series against the tions, there are six crick- of them all Yuzvendra cricket works well with these games featured Gill the eleven which means Anmol, who progressed Gavin Antony, who also
West Indies, beginning from eters of similar pedigree Chahal has been ignored one all-format captain who and Jaiswal. one among Sanju, into the final in seventh entered the final, shot

e=
October 2. available. for longest time. also becomes the biggest But there’s a catch too. Abhishek or Tilak will place with a qualification 220.7 to clinch the bronze
Meanwhile, Kishan is recovering Abhishek Sharma, Sanju But then selectors can marketing brand — in this Before Gill and Jaiswal have to compromise their score of 580, ended up medal.

od
from a hand injury. — PTI Samson and Tilak Varma pick only 15 and those in case Gill, who is an obvi- became busy with Test batting slots. sixth in the medal round The trio of Gavin (582),
have been phenomenal in decision-making positions ous choice for a lot of commitments in the past To include Shubman in aggregating 155.1 points. Kapil and Vijay Tomar
national colours through of T20 team have an inter- stakeholders going for- one year, they were play- the 15 could also means Hu Kai of China took (562) aggregated 1,723

?m
Bhatia grabs last last season but then the
ones who are equally good,
esting perspective.
One important member
ward.
But then to assume this
ing T20 Internationals and
were doing well including
dropping Rinku Singh.
The big-hitter hasn’t done
the gold with a score of
241.6, while South Korea’s
points to win the team sil-
ver behind South Korea,
spot for elite Tour if not better, happen to be of team management feels will happen smoothly is impressive IPLs. much in head coach Hong Suhyeon and Iran’s who amassed 1,734 points.

r8
Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and that it would be unfair on oversimplification of the Gill was in fact vice cap- Gautam Gambhir’s era Amir Joharikhou bagged India has fielded 182

R
Owing Mills, USA: Akshay Sai Sudharsan (the IPL anyone who has been a issue. tain to Surya before he either for Kolkata Knight the silver and bronze with shooters across senior,
Bhatia endured an anxious wait Orange Cap winner). first XI regular during the Under Suryakumar had to forego T20Is due to Riders or India. — PTI scores of 239.0 and 216.8 junior and youth cate-

e6
after dropping four bogeys in respectively. gories, which is the coun-
his last six holes of the BMW The other two Indian try’s biggest-ever contin-
BAGAN REFUSE TO

7z
Arsenal battle to beat Man Utd
Championship, but eventually shooters, Aditya (579) and gent in the continental
squeezed into the 30th and Chaudhary (576) finished meet. Medals are up for

gD
grabs in 58 events — 46
final spot for the season-ending
Tour Championship.
Bhatia, who had started the
RELEASE PLAYERS 13th and 21st respectively
after the qualification
round.
individual and 12 mixed
team — across various
week ranked 29th in the FedEx London, Aug. 18:
R FOR INDIA CAMP Interestingly Amit categories.
TB
Cup standings, shot 75-69-66- Arsenal’s quest for Sharma, a 20-year-old The senior India team
72 for a two-over total and fin- Premier League glory Kolkata, Aug. 18: who started competing had bagged six gold, eight
ished tied-26th in the 49-player got off to a winning start Reigning Indian Super internationally at as a silver and five bronze
w

field. as Riccardo Calafiori’s League champions junior in 2023, beat the 48- medals to finish third
strong field to top the behind powerhouse
nE

He looked set to slip outside goal beat Manchester Mohun Bagan on

the top-30, but late results con- United 1-0 on Sunday. Monday bluntly refused qualification round with China, who topped with
firmed his place, giving him a After finishing second to release their players a superb score of 588. But 14 gold (total 33), and
Q

second straight appearance at for the past three sea- for the ongoing national since he was competing hosts South Korea, who
the elite finale. sons, the pressure is on camp, stressing that it is in the ‘Ranking Points bagged nine gold (total
M

The Hero Golfer had provided Arsenal boss Mikel “not mandatory” out- Only’ (RPO) category, he 24), in the previous edi-
y9

one of the highlights of the Arteta to deliver the side a FIFA window and could not make it to the tion of the continental
week with a hole-in-one in the club’s first league title accusing the All India final. RPO shooters par- event in Changwon.
— PTI
pj

third round, which earned him a since 2003/04. Football Federation of ticipate for rankings and
car. Scottie Scheffler produced The Gunners were far “negligence” over player
/H

another stunning performance, from impressive at Old welfare.

Trafford but earned a The senior India squad
erasing a four-shot deficit in
MEN’S | HOCKEY
m

five holes before chipping in huge three points began its preparatory
from 82 feet on the par-3 17th thanks to a glaring error camp in Bengaluru on
co

to seal his fifth PGA TOUR title

of the year. — PTI
from United’s stand-in
goalkeeper Altay
August 15 ahead of next
month’s CAFA Nations BANGLADESH LIKELY TO
p.

Bayindir. Cup, but 13 players,

Over 400 athletes

The Turkish interna- including seven from
REPLACE PAK IN ASIA CUP
ap

tional flapped at Declan Mohun Bagan, have

Rice’s corner on 13 min- skipped the camp. New Delhi, Aug. 18: ment has already said
for Khelo Water
ts

utes, presenting Initially, their absence Bangladesh is likely to that it is will willing to
Calafiori with the sim- was attributed to the replace Pakistan in the provide visas to
ha

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir’s ple task of heading into club’s Durand Cup com- men’s Asia Cup hockey Pakistani players but if
quest to emerge as a sporting an empty net. mitments. But even after tournament to be held in they don’t want to come
“Big result,” said the Mariners crashed Rajgir, Bihar from to India, it’s not our
t.w

destination will get a major

boost when the Dal Lake hosts Arteta. “First game of out with a 1-2 derby August 29 if the latter problem. Bangladesh
the maiden Khelo India Water the season at Old defeat to East Bengal in fails to confirm partici- has already been invited
ha

Sports Festival (KIWSF) in six Trafford when you feel the quarterfinals here pation in the next couple to participate in case
disciplines from August 21-23. they are building some- on Sunday, the club has of days, a top Hockey Pakistan doesn’t come
More than 400 athletes from 36 thing.” stood firm, citing their India official said on but we will have to wait
//c

states and Union Territories will United gave debuts to upcoming AFC Monday. for two more days to get
participate in three medal all of their new £200 mil- Champions League Two The Indian govern- the confirmation,” the
s:

events — rowing, kayaking and lion ($271 million) opener against ment had already said HI official said when
canoeing — as the sports min- attacking trident of Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC that it will provide visas quizzed about the situa-
tp

istry plans to further promote Matheus Cunha, Bryan at Salt Lake Stadium on to the Pakistani players tion.
Mbeumo and Benjamin September 16. for the Asia Cup, but the “Neither Pakistan or
ht

sports activities in the valley,

following Gulmarg’s success in Sesko but could not find Hitting out at the feder- Pakistan Hockey Bangladesh have con-
hosting five editions of the a way past the Premier ation, a Mohun Bagan Federation has refused firmed anything to us
Khelo India Winter Games. League’s best defence for official pointed to the to travel citing security till now. But Bangladesh
For decades, Dal Lake has the past two seasons. case of skipper concerns. are likely replacement
remained the hub of Kashmir Patrick Dorgu came Subhasish Bose, who The organisers have for Pakistan,” he added.
tourism, and with the hosting of closest to an equaliser has been sidelined since already approached Pakistan’s participa-
the inaugural KIWSF, it will also when the Dane smashed suffering an injury dur- Bangladesh to fill up tion in the Asia Cup — a
become a hot spot for competi- against the post from ing India’s Asian Cup Pakistan’s place in the qualifying tournament
tive sporting activity. long range. qualifier against eight-team tournament, for the 2026 World Cup —
The KIWSF, being jointly hosted It was a tale of the two Bangladesh in March but Hockey India said was uncertain after the
by the Sports Authority of India goalkeepers as Arsenal this year. — PTI the exact scenario will military confrontation
and the J&K Sports Council, is stopper David Raya also be clear in the next 48 with India following the
the latest initiative of the min- produced fine saves to hours. Pahalgam terror attack.
istry to give new hope to ath-
letes, coaches and the sports
deny Cunha
Mbeumo a perfect start
and
Arsenal’s William Saliba (right) vies for the ball with Manchester United’s Benjamin
ELITE ARCHERS “The Indian govern- — PTI

ecosystem.
The inaugural KIWSF will also
to their United careers.
— AFP
Sesko during the English Premier League match at Old Trafford Stadium in
Manchester, England, on Sunday. Arsenal won 1-0. — AP TO STAR IN FIRST WOMEN’S | CRICKET
showcase three demonstration
events — water skiing, dragon PREMIER LEAGUE
boat race, and the ‘shikara’
sprint. — PTI
Swiatek to face Paolini in Cincy final New Delhi, Aug. 18:
India’s top archers,
including Deepika Selectors face
Champs PSG off Cincinnati, Aug. 18: Iga when Elena starts making Kumari, Dhiraj

to winning start
Nantes, France: Paris Saint-
Germain got their defence of
Swiatek reached the final
of the ATP-WTA
Cincinnati Open for the
first time on Sunday, surg-
ing past Elena Rybakina 7-
mistakes. It’s impossible
to play such a good level
throughout the whole
match,” she added.
Swiatek recovered from
Bommadevara, Jyothi
Surekha Vennam and
Abhishek Verma, will
compete in the inaugu-
ral Archery Premier
tricky questions
Mumbai, Aug. 18: three ODIs to fine-tune
the Ligue 1 title off to a winning 5, 6-3 to book a title clash 3-5 down in the opening League, the national fed- India's recent run of vic- their preparations.
start on Sunday as Vitinha’s with Jasmine Paolini. set, sweeping the last four eration said on Monday. tories has bolstered confi- But the selectors might
deflected strike proved enough The six-time Grand Slam games. As reported earlier, the dence but the women's take a few extra minutes
to earn the European champi- champion earned a She jumped to a 4-1 lead six franchise-based com- selection panel, headed to decide whether to
ons a 1-0 victory away to Monday evening final in the second, sandwich- petition, billed as a first- by Neetu David, will face include the explosive
Nantes. against an opponent with ing a pair of love service of-its-kind global initia- some tricky questions on Shafali in an otherwise
The Portuguese midfielder’s nothing to lose after games around a break of tive, will bring together the inclusion of Shafali settled batting line-up,
effort midway through the sec- Paolini managed to “for- Rybakina’s serve. leading recurve and Verma and pacer Renuka which will look to polish
ond half beat goalkeeper get” a patch of bad form to But Kazakhstan’s compound archers from Thakur when it meets its skills against the
Anthony Lopes with the aid of claim a 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-3 Rybakina made her work across the world for an here on Tuesday to pick Aussies.
a wicked deflection off Nantes win over Russian for it, fending off three 11-day event in October the squad for the ODI Since her return to the
defender Chidozie Awaziem to Veronika Kudermetova. break points in the sixth at the Yamuna Sports World Cup. squad during the series
break the deadlock. The 29-year-old, who was game and saving a pair of Complex, here. Apart from Pakistan against England, Shafali
PSG were made to work hard a two-time Grand Slam match points in the eighth The inaugural APL, playing all their matches has made 3, 47, 31 and 75
for their victory as coach Luis finalist in 2024, will bid for before Swiatek closed it which has got the back- in Colombo, India will against the English side,
Enrique made seven changes to the fourth title of her out a game later. ing from World Archery host the 50-over World before floundering
his starting line-up following career when she faces “I was playing with and the Asian federa- Cup comprising eight against Australia A with
the UEFA Super Cup win on Swiatek, who is set to com- intensity and quality,” tion, will also see partic- teams from September 30 scores of 3, 3 and 41.
penalties against Tottenham pete in her 13th final at the Swiatek said. “I feel good ipation from the top- with their eyes firmly set Smriti Mandhana has
Hotspur in midweek. 1000 level as she closes in about my game right now ranked international on an elusive global tro- forged a successful pair-
That was the first game of the on a return to world num- Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates her win over Elena and would not change any- archers, will be divided phy. ing with Pratika Rawal at
new campaign for last season’s ber two. Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the Cincinnati Open semifinal thing.” among the six franchis- Having beaten England the top, while Jemimah
Champions League winners, Swiatek, the reigning Swiatek has beaten es but their names are in both white-ball series Rodrigues, Harleen Deol
match in Mason, Ohio (USA), on Sunday. — AFP
who only began pre-season Wimbledon champion, Paolini in all five of their yet to be announced. and clinched the ODI tri- and skipper Harmanpreet
training on August 6. recovered an early break the quarterfinals. The for- “It was a great match, prior meetings with the The inaugural season series involving Sri provide adequate solidity
They did not play any friendly in the opening set and mer world number one and at the beginning, I Italian winning just one is likely to follow a draft Lanka and South Africa to that middle-order.
matches prior to that and are powered away to beat 2022 from Poland now ranked was even surprised that set. But Swiatek said she system instead of an in April, Harmanpreet But will the selectors
therefore likely to require sev- All England winner third, had twice stalled at I’m able to keep up with was prepared for a tough auction, with each Kaur's team heads into rock the ship and bring in
eral weeks before getting close Rybakina — who had the semifinal stage at the the pace, because we final against a player who squad comprising eight the World Cup with plen- Shafali into the mix to
to the level at which they per- swept past world number pre-US Open event, but played so fast,” Swiatek beat world number two members — four men ty of confidence. Before add further firepower? It
formed last season. one and defending cham- booked her title chance on said. Coco Gauff in the quarter- and four women. the tournament, India remains to be seen.
— AFP pion Aryna Sabalenka in her third opportunity. “I wanted to be there finals. — AFP — PTI will host Australia for — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | TUESDAY | 19 AUGUST 2025
pg 12

TELLING TON
TAKES
SHORT
Windies women
Chengalpattu,
train at CSK
Academy Kancheepuram
Chennai: Fifteen of the most
post victories
Sarfaraz makes statement with fine century
promising West Indian
women cricketers, under
head coach Merissa Aguilleira,
have assembled at the DC CORRESPONDENT
Chennai Super Kings CHENNAI, AUG. 18
Academy here for a spe- DC CORRESPONDENT
cialised training camp as part CHENNAI, AUG. 18 Chengalpattu and
of Cricket West Indies' (CWI) Kancheepuram posted
ongoing India development Mumbai batter Sarfaraz victories in the opening
programme. Apart from Khan scored an impres- round of the TNCA inter-
Aguilleira, the squad is sive century against district U-25 cricket tour-
accompanied by assistant TNCA XI on day one of the nament.
coaches Ryan Hinds and Buchi Babu All India
Tremayne Smartt and team Invitational tournament BRIEF SCORES
manager Yasmine St Ange. on Monday. The 27-year- At Madurai (Group G):
The contingent left Barbados old came out when Thiruvarur 84 in 23.5
for India on August 12 for the Mumbai were struggling overs (V. Arunachalam
two-week programme, which at 98/3 and he shifted the (ramp) 5/26) lost to
runs from August 13 to 30. momentum of the game. Kancheepuram 86/2 in
During this period, the play- Eventually, he retired hurt 19.2 overs (Om Nitin 39
ers will feature in a series of on 138, leaving his team in n.o). Cuddalore 78 in V. Arunachalam
practice matches and skill- a position of strength at 23.4 overs (A. Karthik
specific sessions aimed at 367 for 5. Sankar (las) 6/22, J.
improving their performance Sarfaraz reached his cen- Rohan 3/23) lost to
against spin in overseas con- tury in just 92 balls. He Madurai 79 for no loss in
ditions, with a focus on tech- also shared a solid 100 run- 10.3 overs (H.I. Waseem
nical refinement, mental con- stand with Aakash Parkar Ahmed 38 n.o, I. Selva

_t
ditioning and cultural adapta- for the sixth wicket. He 36 n.o)
tion. The players will also especially took a liking to At Ranipet (Group H):

ac
work with the same world- M Siddharth’s spin bowl- Chengalpattu 262/4 in
class coaching staff that over- ing, scoring 49 runs off 42 31 overs (R. Ram Shreyas

e=
saw the men's training camp deliveries against him. 52, Vignesh S Iyer 105,
last December, including The right-hander has 68b, 7x4, 4x6, Adittya

od
Academy Director Sriram been in the spotlight Varadharajan 67 n.o)
Krishnamurthy and his team recently for his remark- beat Virudhunagar 83 in
able fitness transforma-

?m
of specialists, while benefit- 28.4 overs (A. Balaji 30).
ting from Chennai's renowned tion, with him shedding 17 Ranipet 88/9 in 20 overs
facilities. kilos in just two months. (M. Pranesh 3/11) lost to
The transformation came

r8
“Following the tremendous Coimbatore 91/2 in 12.5 Vignesh S
success of our male players' after Sarfaraz was over- overs (R. Santhosh 41

R
training camp in December, looked for India’s squad n.o, P. Nirmal Kumar 35 Mohamed Mubashir 31,
we are proud to now extend for the England tour. n.o). K. Matheswaran 3/50)

e6
this opportunity to our most Recently, in first-class At Nagapattinam (Group beat Mayiladuthurai 176
promising female cricketers,” cricket, Sarfaraz also left A): Nagapattinam 135 in in 42.2 overs (K.

7z
Director of Cricket, Miles his mark with an innings 45.2 overs (B.G. Dev Matheswaran 41, M.
Bascombe said. of 92 during India A’s tour Arjun 38, G. Shailender Avikshit Prasath 36).

gD
of England ahead of the 3/26, V. Tharun Kumar Ariyalur 318/9 in 50

NEUFC face tough

five-Test series versus 3/28) lost to Thiruvallur overs (Vishwapravesh
England. Sarfaraz last 141/5 in 25.5 overs (I.S. 54, Premkumar 30, M.

challenge from
played for India during the
R Akash 39, Siddarth Raja Rajan 73,
TB
home series against New Prakash 37). Thanjavur Baranidharan 33, R.
Zealand, where he scored a 48 in 16.4 overs (S. Abishek 43) beat
Shillong Lajong brilliant 150 runs, but Gunaseelan (ramp) 5/22, Dharmapuri 253 in 49.3
w

struggled in the following T. Sanjay 3/7) lost to overs (P. Kishore

matches. In 11 Test
nE

Shillong: Defending champi- Salem 50/4 in 18.1 overs. Karthick 32,

ons NorthEast United FC will innings so far, he has 371 At Tirunelveli (Group E): Nareshguptha 55, M.
face impressive hosts Shillong runs at an average of Tirunelveli 191 in 33 Krishnakumar 54, T.
Q

Lajong FC in the first semifi- 37.10. overs (S. Veera Perumal Udhayanithi 48, Ajith
nals of the Durand Cup, an Elsewhere, Pradosh 102, 67b, 12x4, 5x6, S. Srinivasan 3/70).
M

encore of 2024 final match, Ranjan Paul led TNCA

y9

here on Tuesday. The winner President’s XI from the

will meet either East Bengal or front with a 125-ball 73
TAMIL NADU DIGEST
pj

Diamond Harbour FC in the against Himachal

final on August 23 at the Pradesh. TNCA
/H

Vivekananda Yuba Bharati President's XI were strug- Uday advances to main draw
Krirangan in Kolkata. gling at 185-8, but wicket- Fourth seed Uday Kaur beat Viren Suryavanshi 6-
m

NorthEast, who defeated the keeper Ajitesh G led a 1, 4-6, 10-7 in the final qualifying round of the
Shillong side 3-0 in last year's strong fightback. He Unifi-ITF Junior Tennis Championship at the
co

final, had also overcome stitched together a 36-run A file photo of SDAT Stadium on Monday.
Lajong 2-1 in the group stages stand with No.10 batter Sarfaraz Khan Qualifying (Round 3): Uday Kaul [4] beat Viren
p.

of this edition before disman- Trilok Nag, who con- Suryavanshi 6-1 4-6, 10-7; Pradyneesh Shelke beat
tling Bodoland FC 4-0 in the tributed only two, and Atharva Shukla [10]6-4 7-5; Gowtham
ap

quarterfinals. Their strength is went to stumps unbeaten Shanmugasundaram [5] beat Ribhav Saroha 2-6 3-5;
an efficient striker line-up on 71*. TNCA Presidents Arjun Manikandan beat Lakshay Madankumar (AUS)
ts

consisting of Moroccan XI were 256-9, with the 4-6 7-6(7-6) 6-9; Pranav Rajesh beat Rohan Karthik
Alaaeddine Ajaraie, the tour- No.11 batter making four Vinnam [12] (6-0) (7-5); Shreyas Narendran beat
ha

nament's top scorer, Jithin MS in the unbeaten 35-run Lethaeesh K Kombila 6-7(7) 7-6 5; Aishwarya Jadhav
and Lalrinzuala. “We have stand. [1] beat Yashitha Ertel 6-1, 6-1; Anjhalle Meka beat
given our 100 per cent and we Jammu and Kashmir
t.w

Janhavi Chougule [9] (6-4, 6-4); Saanchi Dalal (USA)

will continue to do the same rode on a fine century beat Kasturi V. 6-1, 6-1; Joshitha Santhanakrishnan
tomorrow (Tuesday). Pressure from opener Qamran beat Devanshee Prabhudesai [7] 9-6(3), 6-4; K A
ha

is always there, but we know Iqbal, who anchored the Aaditri [3] beat Dhanavi Dechamma Karijithanda 6-3
how to manage it.” said Michel innings with a patient 138 6-0; Srinidhi Madhu (GBR)[10] beat Sarithra Entoori
Zabaco, captain of the off 249 balls after an early 6-1, 6-2; Diya Marichelvan beat Jemima Rebecca
//c

Highlanders. setback. He added 216 runs Christine John 7-6(3) 6-2; Devashree Mahadeshwar
On the other hand, Lajong with Musaif Aijaz, whose [12] beat Nalayazhini Krishnaprabhu 6-1, 6-1; Tejaswi
s:

have also enjoyed a strong run fluent 114 kept the score- Manneni [5] beat Pooja Nagaraj 7-5, 6-4; Niyamika
into the semifinals. board moving. Late fire- Balaji [11] beat Avni Sahraya (IND) 7-6(6), 7-5;
tp

works came from Abdul Avyaktha Rayavarapu beat Aishwarya M B 7-6(6), 6-

Samad (37 off 29) and Abid
ht

3; Anamya Dubey beat Suuhal Bhasin 6-3, 6-4;

Embarrassed
Mushtaq (37 off 18), lifting Narendran, s beat Shelke,p 6-1, 6-1; Fazal Ali Meer beat
the total to 393-5 on day Saksham Bhansali 6-4, 6-2; Tae Jun Heo (KOR)[3]

Neymar in tears
one. Skipper Paras Dogra Nitya Pandya Qamran Iqbal Yashvardhan Dalal Musaif Aijaz beat. Kabir Parmar [7] 6-2, 6-3; Uday Kaul beat Rajesh
remained unbeaten on a p 6-2 6-3; Niyanth Badrinarayanan (USA) beat Parthiv
run-a–ball 30, ensuring a
after 6-0 loss
Mumbai 367/5 in 85 overs vs Maharashtra. 31, Sukirt Pandey 85, Jharkhand 176 in 45.1 Nallagundla 6-4, 6-4; Jadav A beat Meka A 6-2, 6-1;
strong position heading (Musheer Khan 30, Suved At MRF-Pachaiyappa’s Parth Kohli 48, overs (Utkarsh Singh 35, Dalal,S beat Santhanakrishnan, j 6-2 6-2; Aadirai k
into the second day. Parkar 72, Sarfaraz Khan College: Jammu & Abhimanyusingh Rajput Kumar Kushagra 56, Beat Madhu S 5-7, 6-2, 10-7; Mahadeshwar D beat
Sao Paulo: Embarrassed and in BRIEF SCORES 138 retd hurt, Aakash Kashmir 393/5 in 90 51) vs Odisha. Rohit Rajawat 5/49) vs Marichelvan D 6-0 6-2; Manneni T beat Balaji N 6-1, 7-
tears after what he called one of At Gojan A ground: Parkar 67 batting) vs overs (Qamran Iqbal 138, At A M Jain College: Madhya Pradesh 60/0 in 6(2); Rayavarapu, A beat Dubey A 6-1 6-1.
the worst days of his life on a TNCA President’s XI TNCA XI Musaif Aijaz 114, Abdul Haryana 415/9 in 90 18 overs (Saksham
soccer field, Neymar gave Santos 256/9 in 65.3 overs At Guru Nanak College: Samad 37, Paras Dogra overs (Himanshu Rana Purohit 37 batting). Sports academy launched
fans the right to protest and (Pradosh Ranjan Paul 73, Chhattisgarh 252 in 89.3 30 not out, Abid Mushtaq 100, Nishant Sindhu 74, At TI-Murugappa Thiram Sports Academy, a multi-sport training
even offend after the team's 6-0 G. Ajitesh 71 batting, overs (Avnish Singh 37, Akash Pandey 3/109) Yashvardhan Dalal 120, Ground: Punjab 187/4 in academy, launched its second branch in
home loss in the Brazilian league. Abhishek Kumar 4/75, Dhaliwal 52, Sanjeet vs Indian Railways. Kanishk Chouhan 47, Ajay 64 overs (Prabhsimran Poonamallee with former India cricketer and
Sunday's defeat to Vasco da Divesh Sharma 3/68) vs Desai 93, Shubham At CPT-IP (Turf): Baroda Singh 53, Nuruddin Singh 69, Uday Pratap CSK player S. Badrinath as the chief guest.
Gama prompted Santos to fire Himachal Pradesh. Agrawal 41, Vicky Ostwal 381/6 in 90 overs (Nitya Mondal 3/70) vs Bengal. Saharan 63 batting) vs
coach Cleber Xavier. At Gojan ‘B’ Ground: 3/57, Hitesh Walunj 3/68) Pandya 102, Harsh Desai At SRMC (Turf): Hyderabad.
“Totally disappointed with our
game,” Neymar said. “The fans
have the right to all types of
protests, obviously without
going over the line. But they
have the right to curse, to
offend. It's a feeling of a lot of
shame, I had never gone through
Chennai to host inter-state athletics from Aug. 20
DC CORRESPONDENT two years. include Punjab’s double
this in my life, but unfortunately
it happened.”
Neymar left the field in tears. He
was consoled by one of Santos'
CHENNAI, AUG. 18

The 64th edition of the

national inter-state senior
Praveen Chithravel
The 18-year-old Abinaya,
silver medalist at the 2023
Asian Youth
Championships, secured
Asian Games champion
and former Asian shot put
record-holder Tajinderpal
Singh; Delhi’s two-time
Jumper Sheena
backroom staff after a game that
saw Vasco's Philippe Coutinho
score twice. “The crying was for
being upset, for everything,” he
athletics championships
will be held here at the
Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium from August 20 to
her first senior interna-
tional medal as part of
India’s sprint relay team
that won silver at this
American inter-university
champion and three-time
Asian silver medalist
Tejaswin Shankar in high
latest in dope net
said. “Unfortunately I couldn't 24. The five-day meet will year’s Asian jump; Kerala’s former New Delhi, Aug. 18: India’s athletes.
help in any way. We were (exple- serve as the final trials for Championships. Asian champion triple Triple jumper Sheena On August 11, National
tive), that's the reality.” Indian athletes seeking a Despite missing a medal jumper Abdulla Varkey, who has won mul- Games gold-winning dis-
Neymar, the former Barcelona berth for next month’s in his individual 400m Aboobacker along with tiple national-level medals cus thrower Gagandeep
and Paris Saint-Germain star, World Athletics event, T.K. Vishal claimed teammate Karthik and even represented the Singh was among a bunch
returned to his boyhood club in Championships in Tokyo, gold in the mixed relay and Unnikrishnan; national country internationally, of athletes across sports
January after an underwhelming Japan (September 13–21). silver in the men’s 4x400m record-holder and 800m has been suspended by the who were handed three-
spell in Saudi Arabia and signed TN first hosted the cham- relay at the 2025 Asian Asian Games silver medal- National Anti-Doping year bans by NADA after
a contract extension in June pionships way back in Championships, along ist Muhammed Afsal; elite Agency (NADA) after test- they accepted their
keeping him at Santos until the 1968. Since then, the state with teammate Santhosh sprinters Animesh Kujur ing positive for a prohibit- offence within 20 days of
end of the year. has organised the senior Kumar, himself a 2023 (Odisha) and Amlan ed substance. The 32-year- being charged.
Xavier took over the club nationals as many as a Asian Championships Borgohain (Assam), the old had also competed in Representing Services,
in April. dozen times. While most of bronze medalist in the current and former the Hangzhou Asian Singh had won gold in
these events were staged have won laurels for the earlier this year at the 400m hurdles. national 200m record-hold- Games in 2023. men’s discus with a best
in Chennai, the 2008 edi- country at major interna- Asian Athletics Angel Silvia, winner of ers, along with their relay Varkey, who hails from throw of 55.01m at the
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 tion was held in Madurai tional competitions will Championships in South the 200m at the inaugural teammates Manikanta Kerala, had won a silver Uttarakhand National
and acted as the selection be in action. Among the Korea and the World Indian Open World Hoblidhar and medal at the Uttarakhand Games on February 12. He
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on trials for the Beijing leading names from the University Games in Athletics Continental Gurindervir Singh, who National Games this year later tested positive for
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited Olympic Games. host state are triple Germany. Vithya, also a Tour meet in were part of India’s cur- and a bronze in the testosterone metabolites
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses Bhubaneswar last week, rent sprint relay record
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot, Around 700 athletes rep- jumper Praveen bronze medalist at the Federation Cup after that. and was handed provision-
Industrial Estate, resenting 35 teams from Chithravel, hurdler 2023 Asian Games, repeat- will spearhead Tamil squad; long jump Asian sil- In 2018, she had won a sil- al suspension.
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. across the country will Vithya Ramraj and sprint- ed the feat at this year’s Nadu’s women’s sprint ver medalist Murali ver medal at the Asian As per the 2023 testing
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, compete in the five-day er Abinaya Rajarajan. Asian Championships and challenge alongside Sreeshankar (Kerala); and Indoor Championships. figures, India’s positivity
22254751 meet, commencing on Praveen, the 2023 Asian has been a key member of Abinaya Rajarajan. ace hurdlers Tejas Shirse The latest failed test con- rate for banned substances
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER Wednesday, August 20. Games bronze medalist, India’s medal-winning Other top contenders (Maharashtra) and tinues the alarmingly reg- stood at 3.8 per cent.
Several athletes who added two silver medals relay squads over the past from across the country Pragyan Sahu (Odisha). ular dope setbacks for — PTI