THE HINDU International Edition - December 19, 2024 - PDF

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THURSDAY www.thehindu.com FOLLOW US December 19, 2024 https://newsth.live/fb https://newsth.live/whatsapp INTERNATIONAL https://newsth.live/x EDITION https://newsth.live/ig 18 Pages Vol. 2 앫 No. 301 Printed at » Chennai » Coimbatore » Bengaluru » Hyderabad » Madurai » Noida » Visakhapatnam » Thiruvananthapuram » Kochi » Vijayawada » Mangaluru » Tiruchirapalli » Kolkata » Hubballi » Mohali » Malappuram » Mumbai » Tirupati » Lucknow » Cuttack » Patna SURPRISE EXIT BEYOND EVMS EC has a lot to Ashwin, India answer for in spin wizard, HONOURS EVEN conduct of polls SECURITY CONCERNS calls it a day Rain-hit Brisbane Test ends in a draw Opposition parties are ignoring serious issues Entry of foreigners restricted in 3 States SPORT & OPINION PAGES SPORT » PAGE 17 EDITORIAL » PAGE 8 NEWS » PAGE 4 INSIDE 쑽 Positive signals emerge from India-China talks India, China take part in first meeting of Special Representatives in five years; Doval and Wang affirm outcome of LAC disengagement, discuss restarting Mansarovar yatra, border trade; Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs says ‘six-point consensus’ reached to maintain peace; MEA reiterates most of the points without referring to the ‘consensus’ Suhasini Haidar age from India to Tibet, da- Rio de Janeiro last month. been casualties between called on Chinese Vice-Pre- NEW DELHI ta sharing on trans-border However, after a meet- the two armies in more sident Han Zheng. Accord- Row in Kerala rivers, and border trade. ing between Mr. Doval and than four decades. ing to a readout quoted by I ndia and China “posi- A statement issued by Chinese Vice-President After the October 21 official agencies, Mr. Han f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 over elevation tively affirmed” the the Chinese Ministry of Fo- Han Zheng in Beijing, an agreement signalled an said that as “ancient civili- of ADGP to DGP outcome of their dis- reign Affairs said Mr. Doval official readout stressed agreement to disengage at sations and emerging glo- engagement agreement on and Mr. Wang held “sub- the need to restore ex- the last of seven friction bal powers”, India and Chi- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM the Line of Actual Control stantive discussions” dur- changes in “economic, cul- points along the LAC, offi- na’s ties hold global The Kerala Cabinet accepted (LAC), as National Security ing the Special Representa- tural and trade” areas. cials said that they would influence and strategic sig- the recommendation for Adviser Ajit Doval met with tives dialogue and reached “This was the first meet- need to work next on de- nificance. Both sides promotion of Additional Chinese Foreign Minister a “six-point consensus”, ing of the SRs since fric- escalation and de-induc- should “restore political Director-General of Police M.R. Wang Yi in Beijing on Wed- which would see efforts to tions had emerged in the tion of troops. Mr. Doval trust and promote collabo- Ajith Kumar, who was removed nesday for the first boun- maintain peace at the bor- Western Sector of the In- and Mr. Wang, who had al- ration in economic, trade, from his post over a bunch of dary talks between the ders and develop bilateral dia-China border areas in so met earlier this year in and cultural areas, thus en- allegations, to the rank of Special Representatives relations. 2020. The SRs positively af- Moscow, were mandated suring stable development Director-General of Police on (SRs) since 2019. While the Ministry of Ex- firmed the implementation One step forward: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval with to hold the SR meeting “at in their bilateral relations,” Wednesday, setting off a ripple During the talks, Mr. Do- ternal Affairs did not refer of the latest disengage- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Wednesday. PTI an early date” so he said. in political circles. » PAGE 3 val and Mr. Wang said that to a “six-point” consensus, ment agreement of Octob- as to “oversee the manage- According to the rea- it was important to “draw it reiterated most of the er 2024, resulting in pa- said, “underlining the im- wards the resumption of ment of peace and tran- dout, Mr. Doval had res- from the lessons” of the same points on promoting trolling and grazing in portance” of peace and diplomatic mechanisms quillity in border areas and ponded, saying that the re- four-year-long military exchanges. relevant areas,” the Minis- tranquillity at the LAC so that have been paused for to explore a fair, reasona- sumption of SR talks after a stand-off at the LAC, in or- try of External Affairs that issues on the border the past few years. Mr. Do- ble and mutually accepta- five-year hiatus was signifi- der to maintain peace and No talk of direct flights (MEA) said in a statement do not hold back the “nor- val last met with Mr. Wang ble solution to the boun- cant, and that India is com- tranquillity on the border. Significantly, in the state- issued after the meeting. mal development of bilat- in Delhi in December 2019, dary question,” the mitted “to strengthening They also discussed other ment issued after the talks, “Drawing on the learn- eral relations”. just four months before the statement said. Mr. Doval strategic communication ties that were derailed due the SRs did not refer to the ings from the events of The resumption of the Chinese army amassed also invited Mr. Wang to vi- with China” and injecting to the frictions at the boun- resumption of direct flights 2020, they discussed va- SRs process — started in troops and transgressed sit New Delhi for the next new momentum into the dary, providing “positive and the restoration of jour- rious measures to maintain 2003 to work on finding a along the LAC, leading to round of SR talks. relationship. The MEA, ho- Dissanayake in directions” for cross-bor- nalist exchanges, which peace and tranquillity on satisfactory resolution to skirmishes with the Indian wever, did not issue a rea- der exchanges, including were discussed when Mr. the border and advance ef- the decades-long India- Army. This eventually led ‘Restore political trust’ dout on the NSA’s talks development the resumption of the Kai- Wang met External Affairs fective border manage- China boundary dispute — to the deadly Galwan clash- Mr. Doval, who arrived in with the Chinese Vice-Pre- talks with China lash Mansarovar pilgrim- Minister S. Jaishankar in ment,” the MEA statement marks a major step to- es, the first time there had Beijing on Tuesday, also sident. COLOMBO A day after returning from India, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake discussed Chinese Parliament stalled over Shah’s Ambedkar remarks development partnership and a possible resumption of maritime research with a visiting member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. » PAGE 4 The Hindu Bureau NEW DELHI JPC set up for Both Houses of Parliament simultaneous failed to function on Wed- nesday amid protests by elections Bills the Opposition over re- marks made by Union NEW DELHI Home Minister Amit Shah The Centre has announced a on B.R. Ambedkar in the 31-member Joint Committee Rajya Sabha a day earlier. of Parliament under the BJPs Parliamentary Affairs Mi- P. P. Chaudhary to examine the nister Kiren Rijiju said the two Bills that seek to put in a Opposition was misleading place a mechanism to hold the country by selectively simultaneous elections to the quoting Mr. Shah’s Loud protests: Opposition MPs hold a demonstration with Lok Sabha and the State comments. portraits of B.R. Ambedkar, in New Delhi on Wednesday. ANI Assemblies. » PAGE 5 Targeting the Congress, Final moments: Passenger ferry Neel Kamal sinking off the Mumbai coast after being hit by a Navy craft on Wednesday. PTI Mr. Shah, in his 90-minute reply to the debate on Comments ‘twisted’, will SC seeks policy for management 13 killed as Navy boat undergoing trials “Glorious journey of 75 years of the Constitution of India”, said it had become seek legal options: Shah of sacred groves hits ferry, capsizing it off Mumbai coast a “fashion” for the party to chant Dr. Ambedkar’s The Hindu Burau the Rajya Sabha, and said NEW DELHI name. “It has become a NEW DELHI the BJP would look into The Supreme Court on fashion to say ‘Ambedkar, the possibility of exploring Wednesday directed the Centre Snehal Mutha efforts are ongoing, and Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Union Home Minister Amit legal options. to create a comprehensive MUMBAI more detailed information Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Shah on Wednesday policy for the management of will be available tomor- Ambedkar’. If they had ta- accused the Congress of FULL REPORT ON sacred groves across the Thirteen persons, includ- row,” Mr. Fadnavis told ken God’s name so many twisting his comments in » PAGE 5 country. Sacred groves are ing two children, were presspersons in Nagpur. times, they would have got patches of trees protected by killed after a Navy boat He added that the police a place in heaven,” Mr. local communities for their crashed into a ferry off the and the Navy would con- Shah had said on Tuesday. In the Rajya Sabha, im- against Mr. Shah. cultural significance. » PAGE 6 Mumbai coast on Wednes- duct a detailed investiga- The Congress led a prot- mediately after the cus- Leader of the House J.P. day, the Navy said. At least tion into the incident. est of the INDIA bloc par- tomary laying down of Nadda alleged it was the 101 persons were rescued. ties in the morning. Stand- papers, the Opposition Congress that had disres- A Navy man and two FIR filed ing between the new was on its seats raising slo- pected Dr. Ambedkar dur- others aboard the Navy The Colaba police have Parliament building and gans. ing his lifetime. This led to vessel were among the filed an FIR against the Na- the old one, MPs holding Entreaties of Chairman an uproar as Mr. Kharge deceased. Fatal trial: A video grab of the Navy boat moments before it vy speed boat driver and afloat posters of Dr. Am- Jagdeep Chankhar to bring again rose to counter Mr. The incident took place crashed into a ferry off Mumbai coast on Wednesday. PTI others responsible, on a bedkar raised slogans of order in the House went Nadda. With members of around 4 p.m. when the complaint from survivor “Jai Bhim” and demanded unheeded, forcing ad- both the Treasury benches Navy craft, undergoing en- naval boats, three Marine nister’s Relief Fund. Natharam Chaudhary. an apology from Mr. Shah journment till 2 p.m. and the Opposition raising gine trials, lost control and Police boats, one Coast Prime Minister Naren- “Deeply saddened by for insulting the architect When the House reas- slogans against each other, Arms control is a collided with the passen- Guard boat, and four heli- dra Modi expressed his the loss of precious lives. of the Constitution. The sembled, Mr. Rijiju rose to Mr. Dhankhar adjourned thing of the past: ger ferry, Neel Kamal, off copters were deployed. condolences to the families Injured personnel, includ- Trinamool Congress was defend Mr. Shah, and ac- the House for the day. Karanja near Mumbai, the The survivors were ta- of the victims. He an- ing naval personnel & civi- conspicuous by its absence cused the Congress of mis- The Lok Sabha was ad- Russian General Navy said in a statement. ken to various hospitals, nounced an ex gratia of ₹2 lians from both vessels, are at the Opposition protest. leading the country. At journed till 2 p.m. within The ferry was carrying pas- including the JNPT Hospi- lakh from the Prime Minis- receiving urgent medical “They [BJP] always said this, Leader of the Opposi- minutes of its convening MOSCOW sengers to the Elephanta tal, Ashwini Hospital, St. ter’s National Relief Fund care,” Defence Minister they would change the tion Mallikarjun Kharge re- amid loud protests from Russia now views arms control Island, a popular tourist George Hospital, Navy to the next of kin of each Rajnath Singh posted on X. Constitution. They are peated Mr. Shah’s remark, Opposition MPs. Speaker over the vast nuclear arsenals destination. According to a Dockyard Hospital, and deceased. The injured “My heartfelt condolences against the Constitution, and said it only showed the Om Birla’s efforts to run that were built up during the Brihanmumbai Municipal the Karanja Hospital. would get ₹50,000. to the bereaved families. against Ambedkar ji, his Minister’s disrespect to- the Question Hour did not Cold War to be a thing of the Corporation official, at Maharashtra Chief Mi- “Thirteen people have Extensive search & rescue ideology. Their entire work wards the architect of the yield results. past due to the lack of trust least four passengers are in nister Devendra Fadnavis been declared dead by the efforts are ongoing by the is to finish Ambedkar ji’s Constitution. The Trina- When the House recon- between Moscow and the a critical condition. announced a financial as- Navy doctors — three Navy Indian Navy & Coast contribution,” Mr. Gandhi mool staged a walkout. vened, similar scenes were West, Russia’s Chief of the The Navy and the Coast sistance of ₹5 lakh each to personnel and 10 civilians Guard, deploying multiple told presspersons after the The party’s Rajya Sabha witnessed, forcing BJP MP General Staff Valery Gerasimov Guard launched a massive the families of the de- — as per Vice-Admiral San- assets, to locate missing protests outside leader, Derek O’Brien, sub- P.C. Mohan to adjourn the said on Wednesday. » PAGE 14 rescue operation. Eleven ceased from the Chief Mi- jay Jagjit Singh The rescue persons,” Mr. Singh added. Parliament. mitted a privilege notice House for the day. CM A IN-X YK  THE HINDU 2 Thursday, December 19, 2024 States Chennai INBRIEF 쑽 Farmers block rail tracks Our doors are always open to protesting in Punjab, call for State farmers, says SC shutdown on Dec. 30 The Hindu Bureau NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Protesters squatted at around 50 places, affecting train services, says KMM coordinator Sarwan Wednesday assured prot- esting farmers that its Singh Pandher; farmers are demanding a legal guarantee for MSP and granting farm loan waiver UCC will be implemented in “doors are always open” to them while urging the Pun- Uttarakhand from Jan.: CM The Hindu Bureau vember 26 in support of jab government to provide CHANDIGARH farmers’ demands. A immediate medical aid to The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be group of 101 farmers have 73-year-old farmers’ lead- implemented in Uttarakhand from January, Chief armers and farm la- made three attempts to er, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Jagjit Singh Dallewal Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Wednesday. During a meeting of the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development F bourer groups on Wednesday blocked railway tracks as a part of restart their foot march from Punjab on December 6, December 8 and Decem- who is fast-unto-death. on “We clarify that the a form to help their voices be heard... However, to what Board in Dehradun, Mr. Dhami said the State their ‘rail roko’ agitation at ber 14, to New Delhi. Ho- court’s doors are always extent they will accept, on- government has completed its “homework” and several places in Punjab in wever, amid elaborate se- open. Any suggestions or ly time will tell,” Justice UCC will be implemented from January 2025. support of their long-pend- curity arrangements with demands’ charter by the Kant said. With this, Uttarakhand will become the first State ing demands and blaming multi-layered barricades in farmers can be brought on However, the court put in the country to implement UCC after the Centre for adopting an place by the Haryana go- record, directly by the its foot down when the Independence. On the last day of campaigning indifferent attitude to- vernment, their foot farmers or indirectly Punjab government ex- for the 2022 Assembly election, Mr. Dhami had wards them. march has been halted. through their authorised pressed its inability to con- promised to implemet UCC if the BJP retained As protesters squatted Protesting farmers representatives. It would vince Mr. Dallewal, a can- power in the State. PTI on the railway tracks for blocked train routes at ma- be given due consideration cer patient, to accept three hours, train services Staying put: Farmers raise slogans while blocking railway tracks on ny places, including Moga, in discussions with stake- treatment. “You have to f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 were affected. Farmers are the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab on Wednesday. PTI Faridkot, Kadian and Bata- holders,” Justice Surya provide him medical aid demanding a legal guaran- la in Gurdaspur; Phillaur in Kant, heading a Bench in- forthwith... Otherwise, the Two soldiers killed while tee for purchasing their crops at a minimum sup- Ambala and Khanauri-Jind — the inter-State boundar- go ahead with our ‘Delhi Chalo’... The Central go- Jalandhar; Tanda, Dasuya, Mahilpur in Hoshiarpur; cluding Justice Ujjal Bhuy- yan, declared in open entire State machinery will be blamed,” Justice Kant loading ammunition in tank port price (MSP) and grant- ies between Haryana and vernment is determined to Makhu, Talwandi Bhai in court. cautioned the State. ing farm loan waiver Punjab, after being sell the country’s agricul- Ferozepur; Sahnewal in Justice Kant was in- Mr. Dallewal has been Two soldiers were killed and one injured in among other demands. stopped from entering Ha- ture and public institutions Ludhiana; Shambhu in Pa- formed by Punjab Advo- on an indefinite fast at Kha- Mahajan field firing range of Rajasthan’s Bikaner ryana. These outfits had gi- to corporate houses,” he tiala; Mohali; Sunam and cate General Gurminder nauri border since Novem- while loading ammunition in a tank during a ‘Being stopped’ ven the call for the ‘rail ro- alleged. Lehra in Sangrur, Rampura Singh that the farmers had ber 26 in a bid to convince training exercise on Wednesday. The charger Groups of farmers under ko’ from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. “We have now given a Phul in Bathinda and Devi- refused to interact with the the Centre to accept the ag- exploded while they were loading ammunition, the banner of the Kisan KMM coordinator Sar- call for Punjab Bandh daspura in Amritsar. The Supreme Court-appointed itating farmers’ demands, said Defence spokesperson Lt.-Col Amitabh Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) wan Singh Pandher said (shutdown) on December Humsafar Express from committee led by retired including a legal guarantee Sharma. Local police officers rushed to the spot and Samyukta Kisan Mor- the protesters blocked rail- 30 against the Central go- Jammu to Sealdah, Dadar Punjab and Haryana High of MSP for crops. Mr. Singh as soon as information about the blast came in. cha (Non-Political) — the way tracks at around 50 vernment’s attitude. Emer- Express from Amritsar to Court judge Justice Nawab said the farmer leader had “Three soldiers were practising with the tank. two umbrella bodies that places in Punjab. “In a de- gency services will remain Mumbai and Shan-e-Pun- Singh. Justice Kant said the shrugged off medical help Ashutosh Mishra and Jitendra died in the are spearheading the farm- mocracy, we have the right operational,” he said. jab Express from New Del- farmers should come di- from the State govern- explosion. The injured soldier has been taken to ers’ agitation in Punjab to hold our programme. Farmer leader Jagjit hi to Amritsar were halted rectly to the Supreme ment, saying that 7 lakh Chandigarh in a helicopter,” Circle Officer have been since February The BJP-led government at Singh Dallewal has been on at different platforms of Court then. “We have farmers’ lives were more Narendra Kumar Poonia said. PTI 13 — camping at Shambhu- the Centre is not letting us a fast unto death since No- Ludhiana railway station. opened our judicial plat- important than his own. Cong. holds protest in Jaipur NIA chargesheets two Govt. school principal in Bihar against BJP over Adani issue; major operatives in caught on camera stealing eggs march stopped by police terror conspiracy case meant to be served to students Press Trust of India NIA seized arms, Press Trust of India NEW DELHI ammunition, Amit Bhelari capital Patna. JAIPUR narcotics and drug PATNA Under the scheme, The National Investigation meals are served to stu- The Congress on Wednes- Agency (NIA) has submit- money from the The principal of a govern- dents six days a week. Ev- day held a protest in Jaipur ted a charge sheet of two accused ment school in Bihar’s ery Friday, they are given on the Adani issue and at- key aides of designated ter- Vaishali district was caught one boiled egg each as part tacked the BJP government rorist Lakhbir Singh alias on camera stealing eggs of the midday meal. in Rajasthan over a range Landa of the banned Bab- Landa and his associate meant for schoolchildren Several students said of issues. bar Khalsa International Pattu Khaira, while Mr. Bal- under the midday meal they do not always get the PCC chief Govind Singh (BKI) outfit in a Punjab ter- jeet was involved in supply- scheme. food items prescribed un- Dotasra, former Chief Mi- ror conspiracy case, ac- ing weapons to the mem- The incident, which der the scheme by the Bi- nister Ashok Gehlot, form- cording to the probe agen- bers of the Landa gang and took place on December har government. At times, er Deputy CM Sachin Pilot Police using water cannons to prevent Sachin Pilot and other cy on Wednesday. others. 13, came to light after a vi- green vegetables and eggs and others addressed the Congress leaders from marching in Jaipur on Wednesday. PTI Jaspreet Singh of Pun- It further emerged dur- deo showing principal Su- Every Friday, one boiled egg are not being served, they party leaders and workers jab’s Ferozepur district ing the investigation that resh Sahani purportedly each is served as part of the said, adding that chokha at Shaheed Smarak in Jai- ney laundering and market “fascists” and said they do and Baljeet Singh of Mad- Mr. Jaspreet was involved stealing the eggs went viral mid-day meals. FILE PHOTO (mashed potatoes) served pur and gave a call to the manipulation that tarnish not have faith in democra- hya Pradesh’s Barwani dis- in Landa’s drug smuggling on social media, prompt- with khichdi is often found workers for a march to the the reputation of Indian cy. “Their intentions are trict were chargesheeted and extortion network ing the Education Depart- ciplinary action would be missing. Raj Bhavan. However, the business and finance,” Mr. bad,” he added. on Tuesday before the NIA aimed at generating funds ment to conduct a probe. taken against him,” District Sources in the educa- police stopped them by Dotasra said. Mr. Pilot alleged that the special court in Mohali, it for BKI, the NIA claimed. The department has Education Officer Birendra tion department said there putting barricades and us- He accused the Central BJP government in Rajas- said. Mr. Baljeet was manu- now issued a show-cause Narayan told The Hindu. is a possibility that the ing water cannon. government of deliberately than has been “exposed” They were identified by facturing weapons locally notice to him, seeking an In the video, Mr. Sahani principal may be “forgiven “Serious allegations blocking discussions in in just one year as it has NIA as members of a terror and using social media to explanation within 48 could be seen purportedly as he is set to retire in Janu- have been levelled on in- Parliament and alleged it not done any significant gang formed by foreign- supply them to operatives hours, failing which he will filling a plastic bag with ary next year and a suspen- dustrialist Gautam Adani was “silent” on the issue. work. based Khalistani terrorist of the Landa gang, it ad- face disciplinary action. eggs as soon as a van with sion order or any other ac- and his group by the U.S. “The silence is a worrying He added the Congress Landa, said a statement is- ded. NIA also seized arms, “We have conducted a midday meal ration arrives tion can affect his The allegations have ex- sign of avoiding responsi- leaders are united, and ex- sued by the probe agency. ammunition, narcotics and probe into the incident and at the government middle post-retirement benefits”. posed corruption, fraud bility,” he said. uded confidence that the A NIA probe found Mr. drug money, digital devic- found it to be true. A letter school in Rikhar village of Attempts to contact Mr. and deceit, and a disturb- Mr. Gehlot called the party will form the next go- Jaspreet to be an important es, and other incriminating has been sent to him seek- Lalganj sub-division, Sahani failed to elicit any ing pattern of bribery, mo- RSS and the BJP leaders vernment in the State. on-ground operative of articles from the accused. ing his response or else dis- around 48 km from State response. Wildlife experts tag almost-blind Ganges Stop development on agriculture, forest river dolphin for the first time in India land in Kashmir, Mehbooba tells Omar Rahul Karmakar Bhupender Yadav said. The Hindu Bureau planned to connect Rajou- nects Poonch with south GUWAHATI “Tagging river dolphins SRINAGAR ri in Jammu to Baramulla Kashmir, Ms. Mufti said, will contribute to evi- in Kashmir through the fra- “The government has A team of wildlife conser- dence-based conservation Former J&K Chief Minister gile Pir Panjal range, has failed to address the envi- vationists tagged the al- strategies,” Virendra R. Ti- and Peoples Democratic sparked debates over its ronmental impacts. This most-blind Ganges river wari, the director of WII Party (PDP) president Meh- ecological and social con- decision reflects a lack of dolphin for the first time. said. booba Mufti on Wednes- sequences,” Ms. Mufti said. planning and disregard for A healthy male river dol- The Ganges river dol- day sought Chief Minister Ms. Mufti said she was the fragile ecology of J&K.” phin from Kulsi, a tributary phin is unique for being Omar Abdullah’s interven- not against infrastructure She demanded a com- of the Brahmaputra, was nearly blind and relies on tion to stop railway lines, development but it “can- prehensive Environmental tagged and released under echolocation for its biologi- satellite towns, and high- not come up at the cost of Impact Assessment before veterinary care. cal needs. India houses ways being constructed in our environment and the proceeding with the pro- An initiative of the Mi- A wildlife team with a healthy male river dolphin that was tagged. about 90% of the global ecologically fragile forests, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti at a livelihoods of our people”. ject. On the proposed con- nistry of Environment, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT population of the dolphin, orchards, and agriculture press conference in Srinagar on “This highway cuts struction of satellite town- Forest, and Climate istributed across the Gan- lands in Kashmir. Wednesday. PTI through some of the most ships, Ms. Mufti warned Change, it was executed by tory patterns, range, distri- phin movement. ga-Brahmaputra-Meghna “We do not expect this ecosensitive zones in the that 30 satellite townships the Wildlife Institute of In- bution, and habitat “The first-ever tagging and Karnaphuli river sys- government to deliver on sion through orchards,” Pir Panjal range and pris- along the Srinagar Ring dia (WII) in collaboration utilisation, particularly in of the Ganges river dolphin tems. However, its distri- bigger promises. However, Ms. Mufti, who held a press tine tourist spots like Yous- Road would take away 1.2 with the Assam Forest De- fragmented or disturbed is a historic milestone for bution has drastically de- Mr. Abdullah’s government conference in Srinagar, marg, Doodhpathri, and lakh kanals (15,000 acres) partment and biodiversity river systems. Officials said the species and India. This clined over the past should stop construction said. Kellar Shadimarg. Projects of land, “predominantly conservation group the lightweight tags emit project funded by the Na- century. Despite its wide of the satellite towns on the She said the proposed like these, if pursued reck- prime agricultural and hor- Aaranyak. signals compatible with Ar- tional CAMPA Authority range, knowledge gaps re- Ring Road bypass in Srina- ₹3,300 crore Rajouri-Bara- lessly, will trigger ecologi- ticultural areas”. The tagging under Pro- gos satellite systems even will deepen our under- main regarding this species gar on agriculture land, mulla highway project cal disasters similar to She also raised ques- ject Dolphin is expected to with limited surfacing time standing of conserving our due to its elusive beha- road from Rajouri to Bara- posed “a potential environ- Joshimath,” she said. tions on the proposed rail- help understand the dol- and are designed to mini- national aquatic animal,” viour. It surfaces for only 5- mulla through forest area mental and economic dis- Pointing out that an ex- way network expansion in phin’s seasonal and migra- mise interference with dol- Environment Minister 30 seconds at a time. and the railway line exten- aster”. “The highway, isting Mughal Road con- south Kashmir. Published by Nirmala Lakshman at Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT.LTD. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRP Act). ISSN 0971 - 751X CM A IN-X YK  THE HINDU Thursday, December 19, 2024 3 Chennai States YSRCP govt. misutilised Can Centre exclude Row erupts in Kerala as ADGP HC quashes order on ward ₹4,000 crore, ₹120 cr. from airlift under probe selected as DGP delimitation in alleges Pawan fee, asks Kerala HC 9 local bodies M.R. Ajith Kumar is facing a volley of allegations, including corruption and ‘disrupting’ Thrissur The Hindu Bureau Pooram celebrations; Opposition says move shows CPI(M)’s ‘symbiotic relationship’ with the RSS The Hindu Bureau VIJAYAWADA The Hindu Bureau The court termed the KOCHI KOCHI Centre sending the ₹132- Andhra Pradesh could not crore airlift expense bill The Hindu Bureau shown a marked reluc- The Kerala High Court on fully tap the potential of A Division Bench of the soon after the State sought THIRUVANANTHAPURAM tance to suspend Mr. Ajith Wednesday quashed the the Jal Jeevan Mission ( JJM) Kerala High Court on Wed- financial assistance for reh- from service to facilitate a ward delimitation order is- under the YSRCP govern- nesday asked the Centre abilitation in Wayanad a he Kerala Cabinet free and fair inquiry into sued ahead of local body ment, Deputy Chief Minis- ter K. Pawan Kalyan said. In fact, around ₹4,000 whether it can exclude around ₹120 crore of the ₹132 crore that it had ‘psychological move’. ‘For a noble cause’ T on Wednesday ac- cepted the recom- mendation of a high-level the serious allegations against the officer. Congress leader K. Mu- elections by the State go- vernment in eight munici- palities and a gram crore was misutilised un- sought as the expense for “It is for a noble cause, so screening committee that raleedharan said the Cabi- panchayat. der the scheme, he said rescue operations that the Central government Additional Director-Gener- net decision testified to the The court quashed the while addressing a work- were carried out in Kerala should not have a pro- als of Police M.R. Ajith Ku- CPI(M)’s symbiotic rela- ward delimitation in the shop on the ‘Implementa- by the Indian Air Force blem,” the court said and mar and S. Suresh be pro- tionship with the RSS and Mattannur, Sreekandapu- tion of the JMM in the (IAF) since 2006. This listed the matter on Janu- moted to the rank of BJP’s top leadership. ram, Panur, Koduvally, State’ in Vijayawada on amount (₹120 crore) could ary 10 to await the Centre’s Director-General of Police. Independent MLA P.V. Payyoli, Mukkam, Feroke Wednesday. be utilised to rehabilitate response on the aspect. Mr. Suresh is currently on Ongoing row: Protests demanding Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation Anvar attributed his acri- and Pattambi municipali- Mr. Pawan Kalyan said victims of the Wayanad A major chunk, over central deputation. after P.V. Anvar levelled allegations against Ajith Kumar. FILE PHOTO monious break with the ties and in the Padanna when the JJM was landslides. ₹100 crore, of the allegedly The acceptance of the Left Democratic Front to grama panchayat stating launched in 2019, all States The Bench further outstanding bills is for the recommendation appears Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) the RSS to “disrupt” the Mr. Ajith’s alleged associa- that the delimitation that submitted proposals to the asked whether the norms rescue operations during to have set off a ripple in leadership, was removed iconic Thrissur Pooram to tion with the RSS and the was carried out as per an Union government on that are binding on the Na- the 2018 floods that devas- political circles. from the post of ADGP, aid the BJP harness the “re- latter’s “overwhelming and order issued by the Delimi- funds needed to provide tional Disaster Response tated the State. It also con- Mr. Ajith, who was Law and Order, in October. sultant Hindu majoritarian pernicious influence” over tation Commission was not drinking water to every Fund (NDRF) and the State tains bills of over ₹13 crore caught in a vortex of accu- Subsequently, Chief Mi- sentiment” to its advantage the Chief Minister’s Office done as per norms. household. Disaster Response Fund for the IAF operations in sations of corruption, ne- nister Pinarayi Vijayan or- in the last Lok Sabha and law enforcement. This followed a plea be- f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 “Uttar Pradesh asked (SDRF) can be relaxed so the wake of the landslides potism, illegal wealth dered a multi-tiered probe elections. However, Law Minister fore the court by council- for ₹1.5 lakh crore, Madhya that the amount could be that wiped away three vil- amassment, criminality, into the politically biparti- Congress leader Ra- P. Rajeeve said the decision lors of the IUML citing that Pradesh ₹83,000 crore, used for their lages in Wayanad. and clandestine meetings san accusations that Mr. mesh Chennithala said the was well within established no census had been con- Gujarat ₹32,000 crore, and rehabilitation. (With PTI inputs) with the top Rashtriya Ajith had connived with government had initially rules and procedures. ducted prior to issuing the Kerala ₹45,000 crore. The order. previous YSRCP govern- Their contention was ment had submitted pro- that a ward delimitation posals for only ₹26,000 crore. Kerala, a smaller State than Andhra Pra- desh, understood the fu- ISR