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AIADMK & BJP seem to be exploring the In occupied West Bank, Israel authorities China and India are likely to try B’desh Army dismisses an Indian media
possibility of reviving their tie-up ahead release Palestinian director of Why older Indians to interfere in Canadian election report that top generals held an
of 2026’s TN polls, with home minister Oscar-winning docu ‘No Other Land’, are more prone to on April 28, while Russia & Pak ‘emergency meeting amid possibility of
Amit Shah & ADMK neta E K Palaniswami a day after he was beaten by Jewish dangerous falls, have the potential to do so, the coup against Yunus’, saying it is based
holding an important round of talks, P 6 settlers & detained by soldiers P7 country’s spy service says, P 5 on ‘false and fabricated’ info

SC judge’s jibe
2 outfits leave Shinde talks of action-reaction, Govt: 78% judges
appointed to HCs
Varma inquiry panel
on Maha ‘vibrant
Hurriyat, Shah visits ‘cash-burning’ site
hails move Kamra posts parody on vandals from upper castes TIMES NEWS NETWORK
democracy’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Comic Seeks Allahabad HC

U nion home minister
Amit Shah Tuesday hai-
led the dissociation of J&K
RAUT SHARES AJIT’S OLD CLIP ON SHINDE
We understand satire. Sena MP Dhairyasheel Mane
New Delhi: On a question
related to social diversity in
higher judicial appoint-
New Delhi: The three-mem-
ber judicial inquiry panel, lawyers go on strike New Delhi: Even though Su-
preme Court was adjudicating
1 Wk To Appear
People’s Movement and De-
mocratic Political Move-
ment from the separatist Before Police
But there should be a
limit… Otherwise, action causes
raises issue in LS, demands ban
on comedy platforms promoting
hate speech, creating tension
ments, law ministry infor-
med Parliament last week
that about 78% of judges ap-
appointed by CJI Sanjiv
Khanna to inquire into the
alleged discovery of huge
L awyers at Allahabad high
court shut down judicial
work Tuesday, launching an
a case relating to alleged defec-
tion of BRS MLAs in Telanga-
na, political developments in
reaction… This is like taking
Hurriyat Conference, say- ‘supari’ (contract) to speak against Sanjay Raut reposts old video pointed to different high co- amounts of cash at Justice indefinite protest against the Maharashtra over the last five
ing, the “unifying policies of [email protected] someone… The same person of Ajit’s criticism of Shinde as urts in the last seven years, Yashwant Varma’s official transfer of Delhi HC’s Justice year kept popping up during
the Narendra Modi govt ha- had commented on Kamra says ‘What I said is since 2018, were from upper residence on March 14, visi- Yashwant Varma to their co- the hearing.
ve tossed separatism out of Mumbai: Stand-up comedian exactly what Mr Ajit Pawar castes, while minorities and ted the judge’s Tughlaq Cre- urt. Repatriation is a reward, A bench of Justices B R Ga-
SC, PM and some
J&K”. The two outfits publi- Kunal Kamra asked Khar po- (1st Deputy CM) said about Mr Scheduled Castes & Schedu- scent bungalow Tuesday af- the bar association said. P 15 vai and A G Masih kept refer-
industrialists. This is
cly denounced the Hurriyat lice for a week’s time after the Eknath Shinde (2nd Deputy CM)’ led Tribes comprised 5% ternoon and spent nearly 45 ring to political developments
not freedom of speech;
and its agenda and vowed al- latter issued him a notice each. Those from OBC cate- minutes there. uldering. in Maharashtra in a lighter
this is working for Ajit defends himself saying:
legiance to the Constitution Monday night to appear in gory were around 12%. The panel — comprising vein, indirectly referring to
of India. “I welcome this step connection with the FIR lod- someone ‘My statement was correct at
Responding to a ques-  EDIT PAGE: Burning Punjab and Haryana HC the split in the two major state
— Eknath that time while presenting the Cash, Burning Question
towards strengthening Bha- ged against him over his video tion raised by Manoj Jha of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, parties — Shiv Sena and Na-
rat’s unity,” Shah said. alluding to state Dy CM Ek- Shinde | DY CM view of the Oppn. Today this
RJD in Lok Sabha on Thurs-  VP sounds MPs out on Himachal Pradesh HC CJ G tionalist Congress Party. Jus-
statement is not correct’ judicial accountability, P 5
nath Shinde as “gaddar”. day last, law minister Arjun S Sandhawalia and Karna- tice Masih observed that India
A second FIR for defama- verty) with clips of Sainiks comedian’s absence due to Ram Meghwal said that out Sources said the panel, taka HC’s Justice Anu Sri- was one of the most vibrant
tion was filed at Dombivli poli- vandalising studio Habitat professional commitments of 715 HC judges appointed comprising two HC chief nivasan — looked for featu- democracies in the world and
K’taka minister ce station on Tuesday, a day af- playing in the background. in Pondicherry and indica- since 2018, 22 belong to SC justices and an HC judge, res to match the physical ap- in a split second, Justice Gavai
ter a Shiv Sena functionary One of the lines in the vi- ting that his return to Mum- category, 16 to ST, 89 to OBC inspected the room which, pearance of the room with quipped with a smile, “And the
files complaint from Thane had lodged a non- deo is “Mann mein Nathuram, bai would take approximate- and 37 from minorities. TNN according to the police vi- that shown in the video. experience in Maharashtra in
cognizable offence against harkate Asaram” (Nathuram ly a week. Kamra faces char- deo, was the place where pi- the last five years has really
on ‘honeytrap’ him. In his first response to on the mind, and acts like Asa- ges of defamation and crea- Related report, P 15 les of cash were seen smo- Continued on P 15 been vibrant.”

F ive days after claiming in

Karnataka assembly that
the row, Shinde likened Kam-
ra’s jibe to “taking a supari”
ram). The BMC, which demo-
lished a shed at hotel Unicon-
ting mischief through his
show.A police officer said no-
he and other politicians
across party lines had been
honeytrapped, state coope-
and said if decorum is not ma-
intained during satire, “ac-
tion causes a reaction”.
tinental in which the studio is
located, on Tuesday said it is
examining per
tice was delivered to Kamra’s
Mahim residence, where his
father accepted it after at-
Russia, Ukraine MP loan burden `10k cr Uttarakhand govt
schoolkids say ‘ni
agree to truce
ration minister K N Rajanna
formally submitted a plea
with home minister G Para-
Kamra put out a fresh vi-
deo Tuesday in which he is se-
en singing “Hum honge kang-
missions for the hotel.
Kamra’s lawyer on Tuesday
morning submitted a letter to
tempts to reach Kamra di-
rectly were unsuccessful.
in Black Sea: US higher than state budget hao’ to Mandarin
meshwara seeking legal ac- aal” (We’ll be reduced to po- Khar police, explaining the Related report, P 15 he US said Russia and Uk- loan, but offi-
tion. However, the HM was
evasive on the issue, saying
T raine have agreed to a
truce in Black Sea and to
Ankur.Sirothia
@timesofindia.com cials said on
Tuesday that it
[email protected]

Dehradun: ‘Ni hao’ is as go-

speaker U T Khader’s assi-
SC to speaker:
Trump says some
work out mechanisms for Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh’s would not be od as ‘namaste’ for 250-odd
stance was necessary to ini- implementing the ban on debt burden surpassed its required and students of Class 11 and 12 in
tiate any action. P 5
Why no decision strikes against energy in-
frastructure. In separate sta-
annual budget by Rs 10,000
crore on Tuesday.
will be carried
forward for
15 govt schools of Uttarak-
hand, thanks to Doon Uni-

`35k-64k cr estimate
on defecting BRS
MLAs after 1 yr?
countries may get tements, the White House sa-
id Tuesday three days of tech-
nical-level talks in Saudi Ara-
With govt completing
formalities to take yet an-
other loan of Rs 4,400 crore
the next fiscal.
MP’s debt was over Rs
3.75 lakh crore on March 31,
versity’s initiative to teach
them Mandarin, the official
language of China.
for Ahd ’36 Oly plan
Twin cities of Ahmedabad &
Gandhinagar have unveiled
New Delhi: Noting that the
plea to disqualify three BRS
MLAs who allegedly defected to
tariff exemptions
Washington: US President
bia with teams from Russia
and Ukraine had yielded ag-
reements “to ensure safe na-
vigation” in the Black Sea.
on Tuesday, the state’s total
debt now exceeds Rs 4.3 lakh
crore — outstripping the Rs
4.2 lakh crore state budget
2024. Govt says it does take
loans regularly as they are
utilised to finance produc-
tive development pro-
The aim: to equip them with
“language skills to tap into
global job markets while al-
so supporting national secu-
their ambitious plan to host Congress is pending for almost a Donald Trump said on Mon- Brace for overnight The sides had also agreed presented less than two grammes and projects. rity interests amid ongoing
2036 Summer Olympics, year before the Telangana as- day automobile tariffs are to prevent the use of commer- weeks ago. Loans taken from central border tensions with Chi-
with the final blueprint esti- sembly speaker, Supreme Court coming soon even as he indi- migration rule tweaks cial shipping for military Earlier this month, the govt and other sources were na”. The project was initia-
mating costs between Rs
34,700 crore & Rs 64,000 crore.
The document was presen-
Tuesday asked why there had
been no decision one way or the
other. It wondered if the call wo-
cated that not all of his threa-
tened levies would be impo-
sed on April 2 while some co-
A notice published last
month by secretary of
state Marco Rubio reclassifi-
purposes. The US “will help
restore Russia’s access to the
world market for agricultu-
govt, in different breakups
and dates, took loans of Rs
10,000 crore.
mainly utilized for develop-
ment of the state and to cre-
ate “remunerative assets”,
ted by Pauri Garhwal DM
Ashish Chauhan in 2023.
“This is the first time in
ted in Gandhinagar this we- uld be taken after the assembly’s untries may get breaks. es immigration and border- ral and fertilizer exports, lo- It had a limit to take over such as irrigation dams, im- India that Mandarin is being
ek during the brainstorming term ends. At the White House, related regulations as ‘fore- wer maritime insurance Rs 64,000 crore loan this fis- proved transport services, taught in govt schools under
session of the high-level co- Hearing BRS MLAs’ plea se- Trump told reporters he ign- affairs functions’, costs, & enhance access to cal, and got close to it at Rs loans to farmers, local bod- such an initiative,” said Shan-
ordination committee for eking direction to the speaker to may give “a lot of countries” which means policies can ports & payment systems for 61,400 crore. There is room to ies and for power genera- ky Chandra, HoD (Chinese
Olympic bid. P 17 decide within four weeks, a breaks on tariffs, but provi- bypass the public notice & such transactions.” P 10 take another Rs 2,500 crore tion, says state govt. P4 Studies) at Doon University.
bench of Justices B R Gavai and ded no details. comment process under the
A G Masih said it is prima facie Bloomberg and Wall Administrative Procedure
of the view that SC can interfere Street Journal reported ear- Act. P10
Indigenous MRI if the decision is not taken wit- lier that the govt was narro-
scanner for AIIMS hin a reasonable time. It said
certain observations passed by
wing its approach to the bro-
ad batch of levies Trump has
House economic adviser Ke-
vin Hassett — said last week

A IIMS Delhi is set to in-

stall the country’s first
indigenously developed li-
SC in the Subhash Desai case
(Shiv Sena matter) favour BRS
which seeks disqualification
been saying for weeks would
be imposed April 2.
Meanwhile, Trump said
the administration is expec-
ted to focus the much-antici-
pated reciprocal tariff anno-
near accelerator and magne- of its MLAs. “As on today, how the US would impose tariffs uncement April 2 on a narro-
tic resonance imaging (MRI) much time has passed since the on autos, pharmaceuticals wer set of countries with the
machine for clinical evalua- first application? It appears to and aluminium in “the very biggest trade surpluses and
tion by the year-end. Around be a year. Why has not the Spea- near future”. high tariff and non-tariff
85% of devices are currently ker’s office set a deadline for de- Two senior Trump offici- barriers. REUTERS
imported and the initiative ciding these petitions?” the co- als — treasury secretary
could reduce the cost of MRI urt observed. TNN P15 Scott Bessent and top White Continued on P 10
scanning. Only two or three
organisations worldwide
make linear accelerators. P 5
Waltz a mistake! US NSA’s Cutting large no.
of trees worse
LS passes Fin Bill flub exposes bombing plan than killing a
with 35 amendments Chidanand Rajghatta TNN
According to lengthy
L ok Sabha on Tuesday pas-
sed Finance Bill 2025, in- Washington: US President Hegseth text, the first human being: SC
corporating 35 amendments. Donald Trump on Tuesday re- detonations in Yemen would New Delhi: Observing that
FM Nirmala Sitharaman said jected calls to fire his National be felt two hours hence, at the act of cutting a large num-
Budget has provided “unpre- Security Adviser Michael 1:45 pm eastern time ber of trees was worse than
cedented tax relief to honest Waltz after a major security — Atlantic mag’s editor-in-chief killing a human being, Supre-
taxpayers” and is aimed at bo- flub where senior administra- Jeffrey Goldberg wrote after me Court on Tuesday said no
attending govt group chat
osting domestic production. tion officials used an unsecu- mercy should be shown to peo-
red commercial app to coordi- Message thread that ple who damage the environ-
WEATHER nate military strikes on Hout- was reported appears to be ment and approved imposing
hi targets in Yemen last week. authentic & we’re reviewing a fine of Rs 1 lakh for each ille-
Sunrise: 0620 hrs Waltz accidentally looped gally cut tree, reports Amit
Sunset:1833 hrs how an inadvertent number
in a journalist into a Signal was added to the chain Anand Choudhary.
Forecast: Clear sky
Relative humidity: chat titled ‘Houthi PC small — National Security Council
The court sent out a clear
Bhopal Morning 32%, group’ to discuss the bombing spokesman Brian Hughes message that those indulging
37.0°/17.2° Evening 23% two hours before it took place in illegal cutting of trees wit-
on March 13, giving the world Jeffrey Goldberg, subsequent- hout approval from the autho-
MARKET WATCH a stunning inside look into the ly wrote an account revealing rity concerned and damaging
operation aimed at establis- how shocked he was to be in- the environment must be de-
SENSEX hing US control over shipping cluded in the group chat. alt with an iron hand.
BSE: 78,017.19 ▲ 32.81 lanes in the Gulf. The journa-
NSE: 23,668.65 ▲ 10.30 list, The Atlantic magazine’s Related report, P 10 Related report, P 15

‘Not even 1% of `858cr for Air pollution in MP exceeds

central pollution plan spent’ WHO standards: IIT-I study
Vishwa.Mohan Meenakshi.Sharma
@timesofindia.com The committee was @timesofindia.com
surprised to observe
New Delhi: Amid the “very that out of the 2024-25 Indore: The air you breathe,
grim” air pollution scenario allocation of 858 crore anywhere in Madhya Pra-
in the country, a parliamenta- (revised estimate) for desh, may be worse than you
ry panel on Tuesday flagged ‘Control of Pollution’, only an imagined.
that not even 1% of the Rs 858 amount of 7.22 crore was A recent study conducted
crore allocated to environ- spent up to Jan 31 by Indian Institute of Tech-
ment ministry for a central —PARLIAMENTARY PANEL nology (IIT), Indore, has re- Annual PM2.5 levels in MP
pollution control scheme had vealed alarming levels of air exceed WHO standards by 8-9
been utilised till the fag end of spent up to January 31,” said pollution in MP, with annual times, an IIT-Indore study found
this fiscal year. the panel — parliamentary PM2.5 levels exceeding
The scheme aims to moni- standing committee on scien- World Health Organization significant increases in
tor air quality across India and ce & technology, environ- (WHO) standards by 8-9 PM2.5 concentrations — fine
take appropriate mitigation ment, forests and climate times and causing height- particulate matter that can
measures, besides monitoring change — in its report tabled ened risk for respiratory dis- penetrate the lungs and en-
water quality and noise levels. in Parliament Tuesday. The eases, heart problems, and ter the bloodstream, wreak-
“The committee was sur- ministry, however, told the pa- neurological disorders. ing havoc.
prised to observe that out of nel a majority of the funds co- The comprehensive Between 1980 and 2020,
the 2024-25 allocation of Rs uldn’t be utilised in 2024-25 as study, which analysed air Madhya Pradesh saw a 140%
858 crore (revised estimate) approval for continuation of pollution trends in India increase in PM2.5 levels,
for ‘control of pollution’, only the ‘control of pollution’ sche- over the past four decades from 10-15 µg/m3 to 30-35
an amount of Rs 7.2 crore was me till FY 2025-26 is awaited. P15 from 1980 to 2023, highlights µg/m3. P4
 PD: 26-03-2025
Z: BhopalCityE: 1 U: ritik.khareT: 03-26-2025 00:23

JOURNALIST’S ARREST SPARKS

PROTESTS, SHO KATARA HILLS LINE
ATTACHED BY TOP COP | 3 TIMES CITY THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
MIN BAGRI’S CASTE CERTIFICATE
‘FAKE’, SAYS CONG SC CELL CHIEF,
DEMANDS HER DISMISSAL | 4

Swachh survey teams go through Bhopal may sizzle at 40° this

week, May-like feel in March
BMC’s trash management in city TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal: The day temperatu-

POWER CUTS TODAY
Electricity supply will remain affected in several areas of
On-Site Inspections Held At Waste Disposal & Treatment Plants In Bhopal re in Bhopal inched closer to
the mark at 37 degrees. And
just a few days after thunder
the city on Wednesday due to maintenance work by the discom

9 AM TO 3 PM | Eden Park, 4 PM TO 5 PM | Pushpa

[email protected] and lightning were being fo- Gagan Society, Coralwood Nagar, 80 Feet Road, Kammu
9TH EDITION ADDS CITIZEN BEHAVIOUR CHANGE & SCHOOL CHECKS recast for MP, it has now tou- Complex, and nearby areas Ka Bagh, and nearby areas
Bhopal: Swachh Bharat ched the psychological barri-
➤ The ninth edition of the ➤ The survey now includes
Mission (SBM) inspection
continued in the state capital
Swachh Survekshan (SS) citizen behavior change Framework er of 40 degrees on Tuesday.
The rise in temperature
5 AM TO 6 AM | Rajat Vihar,
Land Mark, Radha Krishna
2:30 PM TO 3:30 PM
| Mahamai Ka Bagh,
here on Tuesday as it had be-
sanitation survey introduces initiatives and cleanliness For Assessment was set to continue for the Enclave, and nearby areas Chandbad, and nearby areas
gun on Feb 15 in the city.
revised assessment methods target units next few days, which means
and a new city category. ➤ The assessment
Areas Minimum 10:30 AM TO 12 PM | Tulsi 10 AM TO 5 PM | Aerocity,
The inspection focused in Bhopal, too, the day tempe-
on how the city scientifically Field assessments began Feb framework now has For Sample rature would touch 40 degre- Vihar, Vallabh Nagar, Luv D-Sector, and nearby areas
disposes of its waste. 15, 2025, and conclude by ten categories: visible Review Size es this week. Kush Nagar, Regal Nest,
the end of March 2025 Regal Town, Vaishnav Dham, The areas where supply will
Assessors, following new cleanliness; waste Citizen Validation The meteorological dept
SBM rules, checked various ➤ The 2024 survey includes segregation, collection and (Households/Shops) 800 stated that the western dis- Koushalya Estate, and remain affected between
nearby areas 10 am and 2 pm include
waste processing sites. the “Super Swachh League” transportation; solid waste turbance as a trough in the
These sites included pla- for cities ranked among the management; sanitation
Residential Areas 30 middle and upper troposphe-
Bhensakhedi, Akash Garden,
10 AM TO 4 PM | Shubh Madhav Aashram, Mandi
ces for wet waste, dry waste, top three in at least two of access; used water Commercial Areas/ ric level, with its axis at 3.1 km
dangerous household and sa- the previous three years ➤ Evaluations consider management; mechanized Public Areas 30 above mean sea level roughly
Business Zone, Tilak Ram Bairagarh, and nearby areas
nitary waste, construction factors like eliminating litter, along longitude 56° east to the Hotel, Anand Nagar, Rajeev
(2021-2023). These 12 cities desludging services; Slums 24 Gandhi Colony, New Mandi, The areas where supply will
and demolition waste, sewa- face additional assessment promoting recycling, and swachhata advocacy; north of latitude 25° north, remain affected between
Shiv Nagar, Police Chowki,
ge, fecal sludge, and remedia- criteria and must score at cleanliness in tourist areas ecosystem and institutional Schools 20 persists.
Patel Nagar, Oriental 10 am and 3.30
tion sites. “The inspection least 85% to maintain their ➤ School assessments strengthening; sanitation The day temperature in pm include
Bulk Waste College, Ishaan Garden,
aims to ensure is managing league standing. Future top- are new this year, focusing worker welfare; and citizen Generators 35 Bhopal on Tuesday was recor- Sahara Colony,
its waste properly and sustai- ded at 37.0 degrees Celsius, Patel Nagar, and nearby
ranked cities will join this on cleanliness and waste feedback and grievance Akriti Enclave,
ning best practices,” said a league in subsequent years management redressal Water Bodies 30 two degrees more than the areas
11 Mile Tower,
BMC official. Think of it like Storm Water normal mark, while the night
11 AM TO 1 PM | Kaushlya Radha Krishna
a restaurant health inspec- 24 temperature in the city was
tion. Inspectors don’t just lo- SITES INSPECTED ON TUESDAY Drains/Nallahs
17.2 degrees Celsius, two deg-
Nagar, Vardhman Green, Residency, and
Public Toilets 30 and nearby areas nearby areas
ok at the kitchen. They check ➤ Plastic Bricks: 1,00,000 Management - ➤ Dry Waste rees less than the normal
everything! From food stora- mark. The day temperature
ge to restrooms, they want to
Waste Recycling bricks manufactured Centralized Plant Management Community Toilets 30 in Ratlam was 40 degrees.
5 TPD per month Capacity: 450 TPD Total MRF :
ensure everything is clean Project Cost – `5 cr 10 at 15 GTS Urinals 30 In the forecast for Bhopal us, respectively, while the av- state. No weather warning
and safe. Similarly, the SBM ➤ Domestic ➤ 400 TPD Wet on Wednesday, the meteorolo- erage wind speed will be six- was issued for anywhere in
inspection covered every
Royalty `3.8 lakh
Sanitary Waste Waste to Bio-CNG
Total Recyclable RRR Centers 6 gical dept stated there would teen kilometres per hour. the state. A gradual rise in
per year Waste collected
aspect of waste manage- Processing Project (Adampur Citizen Feedback be a clear sky. In the forecast for the sta- temperature by two degrees
ment, he added. ➤ Dead Animal
:-150 TPD
(on-ground) 1000 The day and night tempe- te, the meteorological dept to three degrees was expected
BMC spend 20 Chhawni)
Swachh Survekshan 2024 Disposal Plant Rs. Per KG for Capacity – 400 TPD ➤ Dry Waste Waste to Wonder/ ratures would be 37 degrees stated that dry weather would in the next three days, the me-
(SS) team surveyed zones 7, 9, (Adampur) collection, and Area 9 Acre Management Sculpture 12 Celsius and 18 degrees Celsi- prevail in all districts of the teorological dept stated.
and 13 of the Bhopal Munici- Plant Capacity: process and Project Centralized Plant
pal Corporation and is cur- 500 kg/hr disposal Cost – `120 cr Capacity: 400 TPD --
Parks and Gardens 12
rently surveying zones 16
and 17, including Bhanpur
Khanti in Zone 16, which re-
quires a full day of assess-
Project Cost:
`4.92 Cr
Funding: Under 15th
➤ Biodegradable
Waste
Management
BMC Saving
– `4.86 cr every year
RDF sent to various
cement factories
➤ Dry Waste to
Cleanliness Target
Units (CTUs)
Vendor Zones
12
10
Doc’s suicide:
Hubby held
BMHRC pulls off
1st eye transplant
Finance Commission
ment. The team’s focus is on De-centralized Torrefied Charcoal Tourist Areas and
evaluating the Sewage Treat- ➤ C&D Waste Plants Plan By NTPC Monuments 6 TIMES NEWS NETWORK
ment Plant (STP) and its trea- Processing Plant Capacity: Project
ted water usage, posing a Total Project 5 tons per day Cost: `220 Cr Transport Hubs 4 Bhopal: Shahpura police, TIMES NEWS NETWORK
challenge for the BMC. The Cost: `3.8 Cr Usage: Bio- BMC savings investigating the suicide ca-
team previously visited BMC Contribution: CNG powers `4.86 Cr/year se of a 32-year-old woman Bhopal: A 50-year-old gas
wards in zones 2, 4, 7, and 17 . `1.52 Cr (due high-mast Completion doctor who allegedly died by victim from Raisen received
The new SBM guidelines to VGF model) lights Date: Sept 2025 injecting an overdose of so- a successful cornea trans-
require assessors to perso- Paver Blocks: 24,156 me drug, registered a case plant at the Bhopal Memorial
nally sample each site. This blocks constructed ➤ Wet on charges of abetment to Hospital and Research Cent-
thorough approach ensures per month Waste suicide against her dentist re (BMHRC) on Tuesday.
a comprehensive evaluation husband late on Monday The patient’s vision was
of the city’s waste manage- night and arrested him. severely impaired due to an
ment system. The assessors that deal with dangerous ho- plants. These plants clean team inspected remediation new SBM guidelines make Cops said that police re- old injury and cataract. The
looked at seven key areas. usehold and sanitary waste. wastewater before it’s relea- sites. These are places where the inspection process even covered notes and audio cornea was retrieved from a BMHRC said that this was a
These include facilities for Furthermore, the assess- sed back into the environ- contaminated land is being more rigorous. By checking clips left by the deceased, Dr deceased donor at a private milestone for their efforts of fully
processing wet waste like lef- ment covered construction ment. Another important cleaned up. The comprehen- every site, assessors get a cle- Richa Pandey on her mobi- Bhopal hospital on March establishing the organ transplant
tover food. They also inspec- and demolition waste pro- stop was the fecal sludge tre- sive inspection is important ar picture of how Bhopal is le. In the suicide note, she 17th and the transplant per- programme at the hospital
ted facilities that handle dry cessing. These facilities ma- atment plant. for several reasons. Proper managing its waste. A good detailed the harassment by formed at BMHRC on Sunday,
waste such as paper and plas- nage debris from construc- This facility handles hu- waste disposal protects pub- score means Bhopal is on tar- her husband, Dr Abhijeet according to a press release. programme,” said BMHRC
tic. The inspection team also tion sites. The assessors also man waste from areas witho- lic health. It also helps keep get move above just being the Pandey, which prompted The patient is currently director in charge, Dr Manis-
visited specialized facilities examined sewage treatment ut sewer systems. Finally, the the environment clean. The cleanest capital city in India. her to take the extreme step. reported to be in good health. ha Shrivastava.
The recipient had sustained Bhopal CMHO Dr Prabha-
an eye injury 15 years prior, kar Tiwari, who is also ex-of-
rendering one eye unusable. ficio secretary of the District
The surgical team included Health Committee acknow-
BMHRC HoD Ophthalmolo- ledged BMHRC’s accomp-
gy Dr Hemlata Yadav and Dr. lishment. He emphasized the
Anjali Sharma, along with hospital’s ongoing commit-
other doctors. ment to providing quality ca-
“This successful eye re for gas victims.
transplant signifies a miles- The hospital aims to ex-
tone for BMHRC in its pursu- pand organ transplant servi-
it of establishing a compre- ces in the future, building on
hensive organ transplant this success.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: sachin.bute T: 03-26-2025 00:06

THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES CITY 3

In a first for MP, Boeing 777 300ER Goons vandalise

car & house for
opposing boozing
aircraft lands at Bhopal airport Bhopal: More than half a
dozen miscreants allegedly
vandalised a car and a house
in the Amrai area in Bag Se-

IAF Executes Successful Trial Landing Of Long-range Wide-body Airliner wania past midnight on
Monday as the victim stop-
ped them from drinking in
Ramendra.Singh with larger aircraft, opening front of his home.
@timesofindia.com
CAPITAL GETS WINGS: HOW BHOPAL EXISTING
FACILITIES
new possibilities for interna-
tional operations. The restric-
Bag Sewania SHO Amit
Soni said that the complai-
Bhopal: Raja Bhoj Airport of
Bhopal achieved a remarkable
AIRPORT TRANSFORMED IN 14 YRS The
ted take-off weight operations
ensure safe operations whilst
nant, Deepak Nagar, 31, a re-
sident of Amrai Parisar in
milestone by becoming Mad- Airport Runway Airlines: Total flight movements airport can handle considering the local environ- Bag Sewania, runs a tent ho-
hya Pradesh’s first airport to inaugurated: length: IndiGo & per day: 24 (arrivals a maximum footfall mental conditions and infrast- use. He stated that some habi-
successfully handle the Co- June 28, 2011 2744 m Air India & departures) of 25 lakh per year ructure limitations. tual offenders residing in his
de-E Boeing 777-300ER (B-777 4 aerobridges This advancement posi- neighbourhood were drin-
DIRECT Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru,
300ER) aircraft designated for 17 parking bases tions Bhopal Airport as a sig- king in front of his home on a
FLIGHTS Ahmedabad, Goa, Rewa, Raipur, Lucknow, & Udaipur
VVIP transport. nificant player in India’s avia- regular basis. They also in-
The Indian Air Force ex- Day-Night tion network. The ability to dulged in drug trafficking.
ecuted a successful trial lan- operations handle wide-body aircraft He raised objections, due to
ding of the B-777 enhances the airport’s po- which the accused had a
300ER on March
25, 2025, marking
a significant advancement for ILS
tential for cargo operations
and international connectivi-
ty. The infrastructure impro-
grudge against him.
PWD chief engineer fined `1L
the airport.
Director Airport, Ramjee
Around 1500 staff vements also benefit regular
commercial operations, provi-
for ‘playing fraud with court’
Awasthi, stated that this is a MRO SERVICES 100% GREEN FLIGHT GRADE-II UPGRADE ding enhanced safety margins Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP re not found eligible for regu-
historic day for Bhopal Air- and operational flexibility. high court on Tuesday impo- larisation as there were no
port. “We have yet again pro- Bhopal Airport is one of the Bhopal Airport has become The Airports Authority of India The airport continues to sed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the sanctioned posts at the time of
ved our capability of handling new destinations to set up one of the airports in the (AAI), New Delhi, elevated maintain its regular schedule chief engineer of PWD, Ja- their appointment, the provi-
any aircraft. Our world-class Maintenance, Repair, and country to achieve the feat of Bhopal Airport’s status to of domestic flights whilst be- balpur division, S C Verma. sion of reservation was not
services have made the air- Overhaul (MRO) facilities in running completely on 100% Grade-II, marking a significant ing prepared for occasional The court stated that the offi- followed, their recruitment
port one of the best facilities in India. The airport’s central renewable energy. Bhopal advancement in its development. Code-E aircraft operations. cer himself would pay the pe- was not in accordance with
the state,” said Awasthi. location throughout the Airport achieved Level There are only 20 airports in India The ground handling agencies nalty amount. The amount the rules, and other condi-
The B-777 300ER, featuring country provides ample 2+ Carbon Accreditation with Grade-II status out of the 100 have established dedicated te- will be deposited in the acco- tions were also not fulfilled.
a 64.8-metre wingspan and 74- growth and logistics of Airports Council airports managed by the Airports ams for wide-body aircraft unt of the High Court Legal He said that all the daily wage
metre length, is the largest air- prospects for the facility International (ACI) Authority of India (AAI) support, ensuring seamless Deepak told TOI that on Aid Committee. The court employees were already given
craft to touch down at this faci- operations when required. Tuesday around 12:30 am, further asked the state govt to the benefit of regularisation.
lity. This accomplishment de- A321 (34-metre wingspan). Fol- and structural modifications. ments of wide-body aircraft. The achievement reflects more than half a dozen accu- institute a departmental en- Justice Vivek Agarwal, in
monstrates the airport’s up- lowing the infrastructure up- The runway improvements in- The airport has also upgraded the collaborative effort of sed, including Shubham, quiry (DE) against the top his order, pointed out that af-
graded capabilities to accom- grades and specific DGCA aut- cluded strengthening the pa- its emergency response capa- various stakeholders, inclu- Dhruv, Abhishek Nayak, PWD officer. The court in- ter the contempt petition was
modate the B777. horisation, the airport can vement, enhancing the ligh- bilities to match the enhanced ding the airport authority, re- and others, approached his structed the principal secre- filed, the counsel for the state
The facility underwent now accommodate B-777 ting systems, and installing operational scope. gulatory bodies, and technical home and vandalised his car tary, PWD, to complete the DE govt appearing for Verma is
substantial improvements in 300ER aircraft with restricted advanced navigational aids. The air traffic control pro- teams. parked outside. The accused in three months and present now saying that the order of
2023, receiving DGCA appro- take-off weight. The expanded turnpads now cedures have been revised to This development aligns vandalised his home door the report in the registry of September 19, 2024, was with-
val for operations. “These en- The successful trial lan- provide sufficient manoeuv- accommodate the specific re- with the national objective of and pelted stones, thereby the MP high court. The court drawn and the High Court or-
hancements included expan- ding of the B-777 300ER at Bho- ring space for large aircraft, quirements of Code-E aircraft enhancing regional air con- breaking the window glass. fined Verma for ‘playing der will be complied with in
ding runway turnpads and pal Airport marks a transfor- whilst the modified taxiway operations. This includes mo- nectivity and establishing The accused were enraged fraud with the court’ in a case. two weeks’ time.
taxiway fillets to suit the B-777 mative milestone in Madhya fillets ensure safe ground mo- dified separation standards, world-class aviation infrast- against him as he raised an The HC in April 2024 asked The court, while imposing
300ER’s broader wingspan. Pradesh’s aviation history. vement. updated communication pro- ructure across India. This ca- objection to their drinking the PWD to regularise its se- a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the chief
The airport now features The comprehensive infrast- The dedicated parking tocols, and refined ground mo- pability opens possibilities for in a public place in front of ven employees from Balaghat, engineer said the order pas-
three dedicated parking posi- ructure development and me- stands have been equipped vement procedures. The air- increased air traffic and po- his home. After the incident, who are petitioners in the ca- sed on Tuesday as well as the
tions (stands 1, 2, and 3) specifi- ticulous planning have posi- with modern ground handling port staff underwent speciali- tential international opera- he approached Bag Sewania se, in keeping with the order order passed in April 2024, in
cally designed for this aircraft tioned the airport as a premier equipment and enhanced safe- sed training to handle the uni- tions from Bhopal Airport. police and lodged a compla- of the labour court. Verma, on favour of the seven petitio-
type,” said director Awasthi. facility capable of handling ty features. que characteristics of the The successful handling of the int. Further investigations Sept 19, 2024, said that the se- ners, should be complied with
Currently operating under wide-body aircraft operations. Each stand is supported by B-777 300ER. B-777 300ER demonstrates the are ongoing. TNN ven employees in question we- in two weeks’ time. TNN
Aerodrome reference code 4D, The airport’s journey to- advanced visual docking gui- The successful trial valida- airport’s readiness to embrace
Bhopal Airport regularly ser- wards this achievement invol- dance systems and sufficient tes the airport’s capability to future aviation challenges and
vices passenger aircraft up to ved extensive groundwork utilities to handle the require- support VVIP movements opportunities.
Cleaner dies as stationary
bus catches fire in Singrauli
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal: A fire broke out on

two passenger buses parked
nearby at a bus stand in Sing-
rauli district late on Monday
night. A cleaner who was sle-

Journalist’s arrest sparks protests, Robbery bid accused eping inside one of the buses
was charred to death. The in-
cident occurred after mid-

SHO Katara Hills line attached blames financial woes,

night. The deceased was
identified as Harish Panika,
24. The reasons that led to the Firemen douse the flames after a bus caught fire in Singrauli

Investigation What the FIR says? Accused’s name in but paid `85k for pistol fire, whether it was acciden-
tal or not, are being investiga-
ted by the police.
then rushed out with the con-
ductor, but the cleaner could
ry wall, and when the driver
tried to move the bus, it rub-
Handed Over To Police said that on March 20,
a travel agency operator
FIR ‘corrected’ on TIMES NEWS NETWORK The complainant, Manoj
Jain, 51, runs a jewellery
“Three persons were slee-
ping in one of the buses: its
not come out and died. This is
what we know primarily, but
bed against the wall, leading
to some friction, which could

ACP Govindpura filed a complaint with Katara

Hills police stating that he was
complainant’s info Bhopal: The masked gun-
man who allegedly tried to
shop in a market in Rohit Na-
gar. On Monday afternoon, a
driver, its conductor, and its
cleaner. When the fire broke
we are investigating from all
aspects whether it was an ac-
have led to the fire. The other
bus, which was parked near-

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

allegedly assaulted and
threatened by a group of men
in an SUV near Vivekananda
A CP Rajneesh Kashyap said
that police ‘corrected’
Kuldeep Singoria in place of
rob a jewellery shop in day-
light in Shahpura was
struggling with financial
masked man entered the
shop, pretending to be a cus-
tomer and asked to see a gold
out, the driver of the bus, who
was sleeping at the front, rus-
hed to come out of the bus
cidental or deliberate fire,
and all other things will be
clear only when the investi-
by, was empty. Both buses
used to move from Waidhan
in Singrauli to Balrampur,
Bhopal: A day after a senior Colony and Kailash Mahadev Kuldeep Sisodia in the FIR on difficulties, leading him to chain. When Manoj asked from the rear side as the front gations are over,” CSP Sing- added sources. It was post-
journalist was arrested by Temple in the afternoon. The the complainant’s information. plan the heist, police investi- him to remove his mask, the portion caught fire. The clea- rauli, Punnu Singh Paraste, midnight when the bus sud-
Katara Hills police in an alle- attackers demanded Rs 50,000 After proper investigations, gations revealed. suspect suddenly pulled out ner was sleeping in the midd- told TOI. denly caught fire, and the fire
ged road accident, assault, and even threatened him. Singoria was arrested on He bought the pistol from a pistol and demanded gold le, and the conductor was at Sources said that, prima spread very quickly throug-
and extortion case registered Police said that as per the Monday night. As the case a Raisen-based con- and silver jewellery. the rear end. The driver tried facie, it is apparent that the hout the entire bus, then took
against him, police commis- complainant Sheikh Aqeel, 33, involved extortion charges, he tact for Rs 85,000 aro- When Manoj re- to wake up the cleaner, who bus where the cleaner died the other bus into its grip, so-
sioner Harinarayanchari he was going towards the RTO was produced before the court und five months ago sisted, the accused fi- was in a deep sleep, and he was parked near the bounda- urces said.
Mishra on Tuesday removed office accompanied by his from where he was released on after arranging the red two shots into the
SHO Katara Hills KG Shukla friend Faizan. Around 12:30 bail. money through onli- air. He then reached
from active duty and attached
him to the police line.
The action came after se-
PM, a white SUV zipped past
him recklessly, hitting his
scooter from the side and
DCP (Zone-2) Sanjay Agrawal
said that SHO Katara Hills KG
Shukla was removed from
ne betting apps and
commission received
from his sand supplier fri-
into the cash counter
and grabbed a gold
chain, a ring, and Rs 5,000 in
HC restrains MPPSC from declaring
veral journalists staged a pro-
test outside Katara Hills poli-
ce station late in the night and
causing him to fall. The SUV
stopped, and five to six people
confronted him. One of the
active duty by the police
commissioner. Journalists had
levelled allegations against
end, say police.
ACP Nihit Upadhyaya sa-
id that the accused, Shivam
cash. At that moment, store
employee Vinod arrived.
Showing great courage, Ma-
results of preliminary exam-2025
a road blockade in front of Po- accused, who identified him that Kuldeep Singoria was Jaiswal, 27, lives with his noj and Vinod overpowered Bhopal/Jabalpur: A divi- am-2025. The GAD circular with them, on the pretext of
lice Headquarters on Tues- himself as Kuldeep Sisodia, wrongly made an accused in mother and sister in Misrod, the gunman, snatched his sion bench of the MP high co- and advertisement issued by concession in age and more
day evening. threatened Aqeel, who was the case and the investigation while his father, a retired pistol, and held him down urt on Tuesday restrained MPPSC regarding vacancies attempts allowed to them to
The arrested journalist, unable to note the vehicle’s of the case was not being done CISF officer, lives separate- until police arrived. the MPPSC from declaring for the state civil service ex- take the exam. This is not al-
Kuldeep Singoria, was gran- registration number. Police properly. Now, the ly. Jaiswal has told police Shivam Jaiswal confes- the result of the state civil am-2025 on Dec 31, 2025, was lowing the candidates from
ted bail by district and ses- registered an FIR and arrested investigation of the case has that he was presently sed to police that he was fa- services exam-2025 until also challenged. reserved classes to get selec-
sions court in the evening. La- Kuldeep Singoria in the matter been transferred to ACP unemployed and had to pay cing financial distress, further orders. The court During the hearing of the ted in the list of general can-
ter, DCP (Zone-2) issued an or- on Monday night. Govindpura. outstanding rent for the hou- which prompted him to plan further issued notices to the petition, they argued that didates even if they get
der and transferred the inves- se, said the ACP, adding that the robbery, say sources. He secretary of the MPPSC and the rules of the exam are in marks at par with them,
tigation of the case to ACP staged a protest outside the outside the PHQ. The protest he claims to have planned worked in the sand supply GAD, seeking a response to a contravention of Articles 14, which is in violation of the
(Govindpura). Further inves- police station, alleging that led to traffic congestion in the the heist to arrange money business on a commission petition filed by a Bhopal re- 15, 16, and 335 of the constitu- law and the constitution.
tigation in the case will be do- Kuldeep Singoria was wrong- area. Heavy police force re- to pay for his debts and for basis with a friend but was sident, Mamta Dehariya. tion and the 1994 Act provi- Following initial argu-
ne by ACP Govindpura. ly framed in the FIR. mained deployed around his mother and sister. struggling economically. Senior Counsel Ramesh- ding for reservation in pub- ments, the bench of Chief Jus-
Late at night, when jour- Later in the morning, BJP PHQ and the district court. ACP Upadhyaya said that His father took VRS from war Singh Thakur and Vina- lic services. They claimed tice S K Kait and Justice Vivek
nalists started getting infor- and Congress functionaries When the journalists got in- the accused had no answer CISF and divorced his mot- yak Prasad Shah, who appea- these rules prevent the selec- Jain, in their interim order,
mation about Kuldeep Singo- joined journalists in protest. formation about Singoria's when police asked him why her. Police are investigating red for the petitioner, said tion of meritorious candida- restrained the MPPSC from
ria’s arrest, they began gathe- The protests continued, and bail and SHO Katara Hills li- he did not pay the rent from the case and are verifying if that the petition challenges tes from the reserved classes declaring results of the preli-
ring outside Katara Hills poli- later in the evening, journa- ne attach order, they ended his Rs 85,000 savings he used the accused has any past cri- the legality of certain rules as general candidates, despi- minary exam without the per-
ce station. Many journalists lists staged a road blockade the protest. to buy a pistol. minal records. of the state civil service ex- te obtaining marks at par mission of the court. TNN

Probe into law colleges being run sans CBI arrests SECL clerk for bribery in Jabalpur
Jabalpur: CBI arrested a clerk of complaint stating that his late fat-

BCI recognition handed over to CID

TIMES NEWS NETWORK nition with retrospective effect, so- give them affiliation so that students
SECL while taking Rs 1.3 lakh as
the first instalment of the bribe at
Jabalpur on Tuesday. After the de-
ath of a coal mines employee, offi-
her was employed at SECL’s Kodri
Coal Mines. To release his father’s
PF amount, PF clerk Uma Shankar
Tiwari at SECL called him to the
metimes as late as 20 years. could take admission there before cials at the Coal Mines PF Regional regional office in Jabalpur and in-
Bhopal/Jabalpur: Amending its Taking strong exception to the the beginning of the session. An app- Office in Jabalpur and the SECL of- troduced to an official who deman-
previous order, a division bench of ‘cheating’ of students by institutes lication was also moved by several fice in Nowrojabad allegedly de- ded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. The CBI
the MP high court on Tuesday han- running law courses without BCI’s universities/institutes in the court manded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to rele- caught the PF clerk accepting a bri-
ded over the probe into law colleges approval, Chief Justice S K Kait and to become interveners in the case as ase the PF amount. According to be of Rs 1.3 lakh. A case was registe-
in the state being run without recog- Justice Vivek Ja- the court ordered a probe against information received from the red against both individuals, and
nition by the Bar Council of India in handed over them without giving them a chance CBI, Raj Kumar Burman, filed a the PF clerk was arrested. TNN
(BCI) to the CID. the probe in the of hearing. Police have served them
The petition filed by Vyom Garg matter to the Bho- notices in the case. The Bhopal poli-
and five more students, who obtai- pal police com- ce commissioner informed the court
ned an LLB degree from Central In- missioner and as- that an SIT has been constituted to
dia Law Institute, Jabalpur, stated ked him and the probe the case. The area of jurisdic-
that they applied for enrolment with principal secretary, higher educa- tion of Bhopal police is limited. The
the State Bar Council of MP but were tion, to be present during the hea- SIT has to get in touch with the police
told they could not be enrolled as ring of the case on March 25. of the district concerned to get infor-
members of the State Bar Council Additional chief secretary, hig- mation, which is delaying the probe.
because the institute they completed her education, Anupam Rajan, and The court, while taking the probe
their law course from did not have police commissioner, Bhopal, Hari- from the Bhopal police commissio-
the BCI’s recognition. The recogni- narayan Chari Mishra appeared in ner, handed it over to the special DG,
tion was not renewed as the institute court on Tuesday. Rajan told the co- CID. Besides, it gave law colleges/in-
did not pay the renewal fee. The peti- urt that the BCI gives recognition to stitutes one week to pay the dues to
tioner brought to the notice of the colleges after the beginning of the the BCI and the university concerned
judges that BCI at times gives recog- academic session and universities to get their recognition renewed.
 PD: 26-03-2025
Z: BhopalCityE: 1 U: debaprio.choudhury
T: 03-26-2025 00:11

4 TIMES CITY THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

‘GIS Investment proposals Seven industries

visit PM MITRA
Park post GIS
Vidya Bharati school
vandalised in Shahdol
State has over
5% of country’s
total debt
have begun to materialise’ Indore: PM Mega Integrated
Textile and Apparel Park
(MITRA) in Dhar, one amongst
TIMES NEWS NETWORK  Continued from P1

`9k Crore together proposed an invest-

ment of around Rs 1,127 crore
click. Around 10 industrial
units have become operatio-
the prominent industrial zo-
nes showcased to investors by
the Madhya Pradesh govt in
Bhopal: Unidentified
miscreants vandalised Sa-
raswati Shishu Mandir, a
M P has more than 5% of to-
tal debt of the country —
Rs 4,80,976 crore of Rs
and were likely to create emp- nal of the total 57 units allot- the Global Investors Summit school run by RSS-affiliate 93,93,317.5 crore — and is
Investment loyment opportunities for
more than 5,000 persons.
ted space in Vikram Udyog-
puri Industrial area in Ujja-
(GIS), has garnered enquiries
from seven industries to explo-
Vidya Bharati, in Shahdol
district’s Akhetpur village
ninth in outstanding liabili-
ties.
To Give Jobs “MP govt is fully commit-
ted to fulfilling the promises
in, a joint initiative by the
govt of India and MP govt. In
re investment prospects in the
industrial area post the sum-
on Sunday night, officials
said.
Despite the rising loan
burden, govt has not hesitat-
made to promote industriali- Medical Devices Park, 47 mit. The PM MITRA Park in The miscreants dama- ed in buying a state plane, new
To 13K Youths sation and trade. The dream
we envisioned to accelerate
units have taken spaces so far,
according to the data shared
Dhar is amongst the seven tex-
tile parks being established
ged fans, broke doors of two
toilets and other items, and
School premises after the attack cars for ministers and renova-
tion of ministers’ bungalows.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK the state's economy is coming by Madhya Pradesh Industri- across the nation. set school documents on fi- police. A case has been re- On July 10 last year, MP govt
CM Mohan Yadav addresses an to fruition. al Development Corporation. The park in MP is envisio- re. Besides, pictures of pro- gistered, and a detailed in- cleared a proposal to buy a jet
Indore: Chief minister Mo- event in Ujjain district To promote trade, a plan is The groundbreaking ned across approximately minent people were thrown vestigation is being carried plane worth over Rs 230 crore.
han Yadav on Tuesday said underway to create a new ceremony was conducted for 1,563 acres in Bhainsola village on the ground. out,” he said. No less than Rs 18 crore
that the investment propo- govt is fostering state's all- metropolitan city by combi- 25 industrial units in Ujjain in Dhar district at an estima- Subdivisional police of- Sources said the school, was spent on renovation of
sals received during Global around growth. During visits ning districts of Ujjain, Indo- and one each in Dewas and ted expenditure of more than ficer of Beohari, Ravi Pra- operational since 1993, has ministers’ bungalows last
Investor Summit (GIS) were to the UK, Germany, and Ja- re, Dewas, Dhar, and Shaja- Nagda. Yadav also inaugura- Rs 1,500 crore for which the kash Kol, said: “The accu- 13 teachers and 280 students year, and in May 2024, govt
now beginning to materiali- pan, the state was presented pur. Similarly, Bhopal, Nar- ted the common effluent tre- Madhya Pradesh Industrial sed are unidentified as of from nursery to class 12. placed an order to buy SUVs
se. He said that 19 new indust- as an investment hub, and the madapuram, Raisen, and Vi- atment plant constructed at a Development Corporation has now. There were no CCTV Vandalism occurred in four worth around Rs 5 crore for
rial units were allocated 315 support and interest from in- disha will also be developed cost of Rs 28 crore in Vikram been designated as the master cameras at the school. The rooms of the school, the so- ministers.
hectares of land in one month vestors there have reinforced into metropolitan cities. Ja- Udyogpuri. developer of the park. primary intention of the urces said, adding that Among the major finan-
to bring the investment pro- our belief that MP has beco- balpur, Gwalior, and their He said that religious tou- "We have received propo- accused seems to be vanda- worship materials were cial responsibilities of the
posals from the summit to me a major global investment surrounding districts will be rism has flourished in Ujjain, sals for site visits and invest- lism, and not any kind of scattered, and musical in- govt is Ladli Behna scheme,
fruition. destination,” Yadav said at an developed as metropolitan ci- and the influx of devotees has ment from textile and garment theft, as things were bro- struments were damaged. which needs over Rs 1,550
The state received an in- event to lay foundation stones ties in the future, which will jumped to seven crore post in- industries for PM MITRA ken, damaged, and destroy- It’s not even known how crore every month.
vestment of Rs 9,168 crore, and inaugurate industrial encourage trade and invest- auguration of Mahakal Lok. Park. Post the conclusion of ed but were not stolen.” many hoodlums barged in- In the budget session of
which will provide employ- units in Ujjain district. ment,” he said. On the occa- This financial year budget in- the GIS, delegation from 7 in- “As per the school offici- to the school and went on the assembly concluded earli-
ment to over 13,000 youths. The CM laid foundation sion, Yadav provided an in- cludes a provision of over Rs dustries have visited the loca- als, the incident took place the rampage. Police are er this week, the govt was re-
“MP is now recognised as stones and inaugurated 26 in- vestment incentive amount 2,000 crore for the construc- tion," said Rajesh Rathore, ex- on Sunday night, and they checking footage from ne- peatedly cornered by the op-
a leading state in terms of in- dustrial units in Ujjain dis- of Rs 441 crore to 73 industrial tion of infrastructure for ecutive director of MPIDC-In- came to know about it on arby CCTV cameras to try position for MP’s rising loan
dustrial development. The trict. These industries have units in the state with a single Simhastha in Ujjain. dore. TNN Monday and then informed to identify the miscreants. burden. TNN

HC orders SIT investigation into SWEETNESS OF FESTIVITY A Moeed Faruqui Minister Bagri’s
‘fraud’ in accident claim cases caste certificate
Bhopal/Jabalpur: The MP uld look into connivance bet- The company claimed that
high court has directed the di-
rector general of police (DGP)
to form a special investigation
team (SIT) to probe fraudu-
ween the third party, police of-
ficials and doctors of the area
concerned.
In some cases, litigants
a "fake" disability certificate
obtained from Victoria hospi-
tal Jabalpur has been enclo-
sed. The person demanding
fake: Cong leader
TIMES NEWS NETWORK acres. Just be-
lent practices work under instigation from greater compensation Rakesh cause the sur-
in road acci- lawyers, who are foraying into Valtiya from Chhindwara has Bhopal: Congress Scheduled name is the
dent claim ca- the area of accident claim ca- himself admitted that he ne- Caste cell chief Pradeep same, the ma-
ses. ses and criminal law.The co- ver went for treatment at Vic- Ahirwar on Tuesday accu- nipulation
A bench of urt made these observations toria hospital or got admitted sed minister of state for ur- happened,”
Justice Vivek and gave direction for consti- there. ban administration Pratima Ahirwar said.
Agarwal ob- tution of a SIT hearing an ap- The court found that Dr Bagri of obtaining a fake cas- He said govt issued an or-
served that such frauds were peal of an insurance company Sharad Dwivedi of Victoria te certificate, claiming that der in 2003 to all collectors
occurring on a large scale, un- against the order of the acci- Hospital, and Dr Balkrishna she is a Rajput and not a Dalit. that Bagris of Vindhya, Ma-
dermining the credibility of dent claim court. In the appe- Dang of Suvidha Hospital, ga- Ahirwar demanded her hakaushal and Bundelkhand
the justice system. Such cases al, the insurance company ve a 'fake' disability certificate dismissal from the cabinet cannot be considered as SC.
are happening largely un- had challenged the order to in- and documents of treatment and assembly, along with cri- In 2007, a central order also sa-
checked which is a matter of crease the quantum of com- for Valtiya. Advocate Rakesh minal action against her and id that SC certificates should
serious concern, the court sa- pensation by a Jabalpur acci- Jain appeared in the case on the officials who issued the be given to Bagris who are not
id. The judge said the SIT sho- dent claim court. behalf of the company. TNN A worker arranges vermicelli at a factory ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, on Airport Road in Bhopal on Tuesday certificate. Rajputs, he said.
Bagri, 37, is the daughter- “Pratima Bagri used her
in-law of late BJP leader Ju- political clout and got the fake

Friend of victim’s son among Study calls for urgent need for better air quality mgmt gal Kishore Bagri and won
Raigaon (SC) seat in the 2023
assembly election, defeating
certificate issued. She has de-
prived the rights of a true SC
person by contesting from a
3 held for `30 lakh burglary  Continued from P1 PM2.5 concentrations and its
severe health impact, espe-
ological disorders as a result
of poor air quality.
tional Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS), the per-
Congress’ Kalpana Verma. A
first-time MLA, she was in-
reserved seat. If I am wrong,
then let her send me a defama-
Bhopal: Shahpura police ha-
ve busted a gang involved in a
burglary worth Rs 30 lakh, ar-
war with his family. Upon re-
turning on March 19, he fo-
und his house ransacked,
A lthough these levels are
lower than those in Del-
hi/NCR and UP — where in-
cially on women, cannot be
overlooked. The findings
highlight the urgent need for
The research indicates
that PM2.5 originates from
both natural sources, such as
missible annual PM2.5 limit
is set at 40 µg/m3, with a 24-
hour limit of 60 µg/m3. How-
ducted into the Mohan Yadav-
led council of ministers.
Ahirwar said, “Minister
tion notice and I will register
a case of cheating and fraud
against her,” Ahirwar said.
resting three men, including with cash and gold and silver creases of 200% and 180% better air quality manage- dust storms and sea sprays, ever, during periods of ex- of state Pratima Bagri is from He accused Pratima Bagri
the friend of the victim’s son jewellery missing. were recorded, respectively ment to prevent future and human activities includ- treme pollution, the study Rajput category and not SC. of making a fake caste certifi-
who orchestrated the crime Police identified and nab- — the growing trend is con- health crises, particularly ing fuel combustion, bio- shows that MP’s PM2.5 con- The Bagri community that is cate to contest the election
after learning about the fami- bed two suspects, Ashutosh cerning, particularly for vul- among vulnerable popula- mass burning, and industri- centrations can rise to 4-5 on SC list in MP traditionally and become minister. “I ask
ly’s travel plans. Srivastava, 33, a resident of nerable populations, showed tions.” al emissions. Madhya Pra- times above the daily limit. made leaf plates.” In 1976, the chief minister Mohan Yadav,
The arrests followed an Misrod, and Jitendra alias Je- the study conducted by Pro- The study found that desh records average annual Professor Goyal said, Bagris of Satna, Panna and state BJP president VD Shar-
investigation involving etu Meena, 30, a resident of fessor Manish Kumar Goyal women are particularly sus- PM2.5 levels between 40-45 “MP slightly exceeds the an- Vindhya, who were Rajputs, ma and the entire BJP lea-
CCTV analysis and technical Mandideep, on Danapani Ro- and his team from the civil ceptible to respiratory dis- µg/m3, with peak pollution nual limit, and during peak claimed to be SC to take ad- dership, how do they claim to
surveillance. ad. Upon interrogation, the engineering department at eases due to indoor pollution days soaring to 200-250 pollution days, PM2.5 con- vantage of reservations in work for uplift of SCs when
Shahpura SHO Lokendra accused confessed to brea- IIT-Indore. from solid fuel cooking and a µg/m3. The state’s annual centrations rise 4-5 times govt recruitments and poli- there is a minister with a fake
Singh Thakur said the bur- king into the house and stea- IIT-Indore director Pro- higher incidence of respira- PM2.5 levels were, however, above the 24-hour limit. On a tics, Ahirwar claimed. certificate?” he said, urging
glary took place between ling Rs 8 lakh in cash and 300 fessor Suhas Joshi said, tory infections. However, lower than Delhi/NCR (65-70 global scale, WHO has much “Rajput Bagris have never BJP to get her to resign so that
March 18 and 19, when comp- gm gold and silver jewellery. “While Madhya Pradesh has both men and women face in- µg/m3) and Uttar Pradesh stricter guidelines, recom- been subjected to untoucha- bypolls can be held in Raiga-
lainant Gopal Prasad Agra- Police seized three gold bars, lower pollution levels com- creased risks of chronic re- (60-65 µg/m3), the study mending an annual PM2.5 bility unlike SC Bagdis. They on. He said he will take the
wal, a resident of Jai Bhavani Rs 6.83 lakh in cash, and a sco- pared to Delhi and Uttar Pra- spiratory conditions, cardio- showed. level of just 5 µg/m3 and a 24- have large properties of 25 matter to police, chief secre-
Society, left for Omkaresh- oter used in the crime. TNN desh, the rising trend of vascular diseases, and neur- According to India’s Na- hour limit of 15 µg/m3...” TNN acres, 50 acres and even 500 tary and scrutiny committee.

Car vandalised
in Hanumanganj
Bhopal: An unknown miscre-
ant allegedly vandalised a bu-
sinessman’s car in the Hanu-
manganj area, smashing its
window without any appa-
rent reason. According to po-
lice, the complainant, Manish
Athwani, 27, a resident of Ne-
elkanth Colony, Idgah Hills,
owns a mobile spare parts
shop at Chaitanya Complex,
Ghoda Nakkas.
Police said on Wednesday
night around 10:45 pm, after
closing his shop, Manish was
reversing his car when an
unidentified man suddenly
approached him. The man
started abusing him without
any provocation and then
smashed the car window with
a weapon.
Fearing for his safety, Ma-
nish drove straight home and
reported the incident to poli-
ce the next morning. TNN

I, Ravi Gupta S/O Dongar

Singh Mahor R/O 181, Dinesh
Gurjar Ki Gali, Old Housing
Board Colony, Ward No-12,
Morena, MP-476001 have
changed my name to Ravi
Mahor.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: eshita.gupta T: 03-26-2025 00:03

TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

RANYA RAO HAS ADMITTED TO USING HAWALA ROUTE RAJ CM BHAJANLAL SHARMA SLAMS SP MP’S REMARK
FOR GOLD SMUGGLING, PROSECUTION TELLS COURT ON RANA SANGA, DEMANDS ACTION FROM AKHILESH

Veep sounds MPs out on fresh Canada: India has

look at judicial accountability intent & capability
Outline Steps Govt Wants To Take, Says Kharge; Nadda Seeks Consensus to interfere in polls
TIMES NEWS NETWORK the middle of an internecine
Ambika Pandit & position in RS Mallikarjun tariff war with the Trump ad-
Akhilesh Singh TNN Kharge and TMC’s Sukhen- New Delhi: The bogey of for- ministration, or what he has
du Sekhar Roy, are learnt to eign interference continues to described as “the most signifi-
New Delhi: Amid the spi- have asked the govt to out- plague India-Canada ties with cant crisis of our lifetimes be-
ralling controversy over the line the steps it wants to take. Ottawa listing India among cause of President Trump’s
alleged recovery of cash It is learnt that members countries that could interfere unjustified trade actions and
from the official residence of cutting across party lines in the Canadian elections that his threats to our sovereignty”.
Delhi high court judge Yash- agreed that the fire-and-cash will be held on April 28. A top The remarks by the Cana-
want Varma, Vice-President incident had raised serious Canadian intelligence official dian official follow a period of
Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tues- concerns about the working said Monday that India has relative quiet and dialling
day sounded out political of judiciary and that it must both intent and wherewithal down of tensions that have
parties on the need to think be addressed. According to a to interfere in Canada’s demo- rocked the relationship since
of a mechanism for putting source, Trinamool MPs de- cratic processes. Trudeau accused New
an end to the “judges ap- manded the issue be discussed Canada has in the Delhi of facilitating the
pointing judges” regime. Dhankhar at a meeting with leaders of various parties in RS on Tuesday on the floor of the House, and past too accused India murder of a Khalistani
At a meeting with politi- not in the “antechamber”. of interfering in its do- separatist and Cana-
Indigenously-built MRI scanner to be installed in AIIMS cal parties, Dhankhar asked learnt to have reiterated dur- Parliament for a discussion Leader of house in RS mestic politics. Cana- dian national, Hardeep
representatives of political ing a meeting leaders of po- over the alleged recovery of JP Nadda is learnt to have dian Security Intelli- Singh Nijjar. Carney
New Delhi: AIIMS, New Delhi, is set to install the country’s first parties to come together on litical parties on fixing the cash from Justice Varma’s suggested that separate dis- gence Service deputy has expressed interest
indigenously developed linear accelerator and magnetic the issue. Earlier, speaking accountability of judges. official residence. Speaking cussions be held with politi- director Vanessa Lloyd said it in rebuilding ties with India,
resonance imaging (MRI) machine for clinical evaluation by the in Rajya Sabha, he described In RS, Dhankhar also in Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar cal parties on the course of was China that was likely to and Indian govt too has said it
end of this year. The initiative is aimed at considerably reducing the National Judicial Ap- criticised SC’s decision to said the country would have action, including building use AI to influence the election hopes to do the same based on
the cost of MRI scanning and reliance on imported pointments Commission strike down the NJAC Act. been spared of the scandal a consensus on holding a dis- campaign but added that In- mutual trust and sensitivity.
machines—considering 80-85% of devices are presently Act, enacted in 2014 with “There is no constitutional had the NJAC Act not been cussion on the issue in the dia, Russia and Pakistan could CTV News quoted the offi-
imported—thus, allowing wider public access. unanimous support with a provision of review or ap- struck down by SC in 2015. House, which was agreed also interfere in the elections. cial as also saying that Pakis-
A memorandum of understanding for installation of the 1.5 Tesla view to end the monopoly peal of a constitutional While the discussion upon by floor leaders. “We have also seen that tan could conduct foreign in-
MRI scanner has been signed between AIIMS and Society for of the Supreme Court Colle- amendment. If there is a with political parties re- The meeting was attended the govt of India has the in- terference activities against
Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research gium over appointment of legislation (passed) by Par- mained inconclusive, it was by leaders from BJP, includ- tent and capability to inter- Canada in line with its strate-
(SAMEER), an autonomous research and development laboratory judges of SC and HCs, as liament or state legislatures, decided to hold more rounds. ing Nadda and Kiren Rijiju; fere in Canadian communi- gic aims and to counter India’s
in Mumbai. a “visionary step”. Dhank- judicial review can take Sources said Dhankhar, a vo- Kharge and Jairam Ramesh ties and democratic process- influence. “Pakistan could po-
Dr PH Rao, director general of SAMEER, said, the organisation has har faulted the apex court’s place only on whether it is in cal spokesperson for parlia- from Congress, Sasmit Patra es to assert its geopolitical in- tentially conduct foreign inter-
been developing linear accelerators using indigenous technology. decision to quash the law. conformity with the consti- mentary supremacy, assert- from BJD, Sukhendu Sekhar fluence,” said the official. ference against Canada in line
Only two or three other organisations worldwide possess the “Now is the befitting oc- tutional provisions,” he ed that this was the time to do Roy, DMK’s Tiruchi Siva, Shiv Canadian PM Mark Car- with its strategic aims to pro-
capability to produce functional linear accelerators. The linear casion to reiterate that it was said. something about “judicial Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut, ney, who replaced Justin Tru- mote political, security and ec-
accelerator is scheduled for deployment within seven to eight a visionary step endorsed The deliberations were accountability”. Opposition CPM’s John Brittas, AAP’s deau earlier this month, has onomic stability in Pakistan
months. He said that AIIMS has collaborated on various projects, by Parliament,” Dhankhar held against the backdrop of leaders, including Congress Sanjay Singh, and members called snap polls on April 28 and to counter India’s growing
reviewing their work due to the required medical expertise. TNN said, remarks which he is demands in both Houses of president and leader of op- from YSRCP and AGP. seeking a strong mandate in global influence,” added Lloyd.

STATOISTICS A slice of life in numbers

World’s Fastest Growing

Economy Is a Surprise
Apex court orders scrutiny of Apollo over EWS intake
Dhananjay.Mahapatra dia Institute of Medical Scien- sure whether the hospital is red the lease agreement condi- number of poor patients who will not hesitate to give its run-
In 2025, South Sudan will be the world’s fastest-growing economy, @timesofindia.com ces (AIIMS)” if it was found to providing 200 free beds to poor tions. were given free treatment in ning to AIIMS”.
expanding by 27.2%. The economy, however, is so tiny that India be in violation of the agree- patients in its indoor facility.” The bench asked the Cent- outdoor and indoor facilities Referring to the Sept 22,
is 804 times bigger. Among the 19 largest economies — GDP of $1 New Delhi: Supreme Court ment under which 15 acres of Additional solici- re and Delhi govt to file in the last five years. It directed 2009, judgment of Delhi high
trillion and above — India will have the fastest growth rate on Tuesday ordered the Cent- prime land was given to it at tor general S D Anand affidavits informing the the hospital management to court, SC said it was apparent
re and Delhi govt to send a jo- the token rent of Re 1 per informed the bench court whether the lease cooperate with the examina- that the hospital management
Fastest-growing economies in 2025 GDP $ bn int team of experts to inspect month. that the 30-year lease period was extended, tion of records by experts. had not adhered to the free tre-
South Sudan 27.2% growth rate 5.3 the records of Apollo Hospital A bench of Justices Surya of the land allotted to and if so, the terms and The court also asked the atment obligations stipulated
Guyana 14.4 24.5 for the last five years to find out Kant and N Kotiswar Singh re- Apollo Hospital had conditions thereof. It al- hospital to file an affidavit gi- in the lease agreement. It said
Libya 13.7 48.0 whether it had fulfilled its ferred to the lease agreement, expired, leading the so wanted to know what ving details of free treatment the HC had issued a series of
Senegal 9.3 37.8 commitment to provide free under which land was allotted bench to order the use the land and buil- to poor patients and posted the directions to ensure free treat-
Palau 8.5 0.4 treatment to 30% indoor and to Indraprastha Medical Cor- Centre and the Delhi ding were put to if the le- matter for further hearing af- ment to specified percentage
40% outdoor patients as per poration, with Delhi govt ha- govt to set up an expert team to ase had not been renewed. ter four weeks while issuing a of poor patients despite the ho-
Fastest-growing large economies in 2025 GDP $ Trillion the 1994 lease agreement, and ving a 26% shareholding, to set inspect the records of the ho- The Justice Kant-led bench warning that “if the hospital spital management taking a
India 6.5 4.3 stressed that it “would not he- up Apollo Hospital on Mathu- spital for the last five years to asked the expert team to find is not being run properly and stand that it was a commercial
Indonesia 5.1 1.5 sitate to hand it over to All In- ra Road and said, “We are not find out whether it had honou- out from hospital records the as per the lease agreement, we venture.
Saudi Arabia 4.6 1.1
China 4.5 19.5
Türkiye 2.7
To ensure mental
Source : IMF
1.7

U’khand plans to make well-being, govt says yoga

Sanskrit spoken language must for med students
Dehradun/Haridwar: The which in 2010 became the TIMES NEWS NETWORK students adopt and take care of
picturesque Dimar village, a first state to declare it as five families for three years, he
centuries-old hub of Sanskrit its second official language, New Delhi: Yoga has been said the programme through
learning and home to the a move later followed by made compulsory for village outreach will
Dimri Brahmins who over- Himachal Pradesh in 2019. medical students to ad- make students mature
see worship and religious ac- Under this ambitious pro- dress mental health chal- and empathetic towards
tivities at Badrinath in Utta- ject, one village in each of the lenges and promote their rural populace, reduc-
rakhand’s Chamoli, is all set 13 districts has been designat- well-being, the govt in- ing stress and prevent-
for a linguistic revival. The ed as Aadarsh Sanskrit Gram formed Rajya Sabha Tues- ing ragging.
State Sanskrit Academy is to promote spoken Sanskrit day. Further, there is an
preparing to deploy trainers and uphold cultural tradi- In a written reply to a anti-ragging cell of Na-
in April to encourage locals tions. The selection process, Parliament question, junior tional Medical Commission
to embrace Sanskrit as a spo- including tests and inter- minister for health Pratap that addresses issues and com-
ken language, report Kauti- views, has been completed, Rao Jadhav said a yoga mod- plaints of all medical students,
lya Singh & Sheo Jaiswal. and the academy is set to an- ule of 10 days has been made the minister said.
Selected as one of the Aa- nounce the trainers soon. mandatory for all students, In response to another
darsh Sanskrit Villages, Di- Uttarakhand Sanskrit A- and faculty members have also question on the treatment for
mar has had a Sanskrit cademy is overseeing the pro- been requested to join. This mental health issues, Jadhav
school since 1910. However, ject. Initially, a monthly sti- will precede the International said that 77,634 hospital ad-
the language largely re- pend of Rs 35,000 was pro- Yoga Day on June 21. Yoga has mission worth Rs 87 crore
mained confined to religious posed for trainers, but this also been introduced in the have been authorised for men-
and academic settings rather was later reduced to Rs 10,000. MBBS foundation course, Jad- tal health-related packages
than daily conversations. Sources, however, said Cen- hav said. under the Ayushman Bharat
Sanskrit holds a special tral Sanskrit University may Citing the family adoption health insurance scheme till
status in Uttarakhand, revise the stipend to Rs 20,000. programme, under which UG March 21.

K’taka mantri files honeytrap Tunnel collapse:

Second body
complaint, puts govt in a spot of missing
engineer found
TIMES NEWS NETWORK floor of the House is also Hyderabad: Two weeks af-
property of the House. I shall ter the body of a missing
Bengaluru: Five days after look into the minister’s state- worker was found in the col-
making explosive claims in ment and discuss it further.” lapsed Srisailam Left Bank
the Karnataka legislative as- Parameshwara chose to Canal tunnel in Telangana,
sembly that he and 48 other po- describe Rajanna’s submis- rescuers made a grim disco-
litical functionaries cutting sion as a “representation” very early Tuesday mor-
across party lines had been rather than a formal com- ning. The body of Manoj Ku-
honey-trapped, cooperation G Parameshwara and K N Rajanna plaint, saying that any police mar, a project engineer from
minister K N Rajanna Tues- action would require direc- UP working for Jaypee Asso-
day formally submitted a pet- will be able to identify her,” he tives from the speaker. ciates, was recovered inside
ition with home minister G said, adding that his resi- Congress functionaries the tunnel, reports Koride
Parameshwara, seeking legal dence lacked CCTV cameras. said Rajanna’s complaint, Mahesh.
action against those involved. However, Parameshwara, coming just before the CM The body was located bu-
Clarifying his earlier state- who had promised in the as- completes 30 months in office, ried in debris 180 to 200 met-
ment in the assembly, Rajanna sembly a high-level inquiry af- has put the party in a difficult res from the impact point,
denied ever saying that judges ter a formal complaint was fil- situation. A minister said: “If near the last point of the lo-
were among the victims. ed, was evasive on Tuesday, an investigation is taken to comotive and D2 point. Offi-
Rajanna handed over a citing procedural constraints. its logical conclusion and cials confirmed that body re-
three-page petition detailing Since the issue was raised in names tumble out, it could mained largely intact, with
the sequence of events. Shar- the assembly, Parameshwara dent our credibility. But if the exception of the fingers,
ing details of the alleged hon- said that it was speaker U T an investigation is not initi- which had been damaged by
eytrap attempt targeted at Khader who was the “custo- ated, it would become a bigger silt mixed with water. “Ba-
him, Rajanna said at a joint dian of the discussion”, and talking point.” A party func- sed on the gold chain around
press conference with Para- his assistance was necessary tionary said that at present, his neck, the gold ring, je-
meshwara: “I received a wom- to initiate any further action. only one name (Rajanna’s) ans, and T-shirt, he was
an twice in my Bengaluru of- Reacting to this, Khader has been declared. “Now, identified as Manoj Kumar.
fice, along with a man. The said: “I am not aware of the even if we consider half the We compared the descrip-
woman claimed she was a home minister’s statement, number of what Rajanna tions provided by his family,
lawyer and wanted to speak to but if the points raised by claimed have been targeted and after sending his pho-
me in person on some issues.” Rajanna are a property of the and their names are revealed, tographs to them in Luck-
“I cannot recall her name House, then the assurance it would become a big scandal now, we received confirma-
but if paraded before me, I by the home minister on the for the party to deal with.” tion,” officials said. TNN
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: m.basit T: 03-26-2025 00:18

6 TIMES NATION THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

Shah rules out centralisation of

power for disaster management
Learn waste
mgmt from EPS meets Shah amid buzz of
New
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Delhi: Parliament
will come and change it but no-
body’s turn will come for the
next 15-20 years. Whatever has
from traditional radio an-
nouncements to digital plat-
forms, mobile alerts and social
Indore: Karti
to TN body reviving ties before 2026 polls
passed the Disaster Manage-
ment (Amendment) Bill, 2024,
to be done, we have to do it. The
Disaster Management Act was
media notifications. The re-
forms also aimed to expand di-
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Parties Refuse The development is It’s an issue of
on Tuesday with home minis-
ter Amit Shah saying there
implemented for the first time
in 2005. Under this, NDMA,
saster response beyond being
govt-centric to a multi-dimen-
New Delhi: Congress MP
Karti Chidambaram To Comment On significant because of next race, not just
will be no centralisation of year’s polls and assessment
power or discrimination with
SDMA and DDMA were
formed. Now, concerns are be-
sional, society-involved ap-
proach, ensuring greater citi-
raised many eyebrows on
Tuesday by suggesting that Development in many quarters that finances: Stalin
states in handling di- ing expressed that there zen engagement and partici- Chennai Mu- a split in opposition votes TIMES NEWS NETWORK
sasters. Replying to the will be centralisation of pation, he added. nicipal Coro- Akhilesh.Singh
debate on the bill in Ra- power. If you read the The minister also under- pration need- @timesofindia.com
will help the incumbent Chennai: Tamil Nadu CM M
jya Sabha, Shah said entire bill carefully, scored India’s significant pro- ed to learn les- DMK, like in the LS polls K Stalin on Tuesday accused
timely reforms were then the biggest respon- gress in disaster manage- sons in waste New Delhi: AIADMK and the Centre of imposing Hin-
essential to prevent sibility of implementa- ment, which has earned both management BJP seem to be exploring the ter it takes office in 2026” on- looked improbable after di and perpetrating financial
outdated systems from tion lies with the Dis- national and international from their possibility of reviving their ly added to the speculation. BJP’s state chief K Annama- injustices against states as
collapsing. He also launched a trict Disaster Management recognition. Responding to counterparts in Indore in tie-up ahead of next year’s The development is sig- lai's high-pitch campaign it viewed them as ‘slaves’.
sharp attack on Congress’s Authority which is under the criticism over India’s hand- BJP-ruled Madhya Pra- assembly elections in Tamil nificant because of next against AIADMK sank the Replying to a calling at-
management of the PM’s Re- state govt. Therefore, there is ling of the Covid-19 pandemic, desh. Reacting to a report Nadu, with home minister year’s polls and the assess- possibility of a partnership tention motion on TN’s two-
lief Fund, accusing the previ- no possibility of harming the Shah defended the govt’s ac- that the officials from Amit Shah and leader of the ment in many quarters that a for LS polls. language policy, Stalin said
ous UPA regime of lacking ac- federal structure anywhere.” tions, and described the coun- Greater Chennai Corpora- TN outfit Edappadi K Pala- split in opposition votes will TN chief minister M K the issue concerned the Ta-
countability and transparen- Shah emphasised that the try’s response as one of the tion plan to visit Europe to niswami (EPS) holding an help the incumbent DMK, Stalin broke the news of Pa- mil race, language, and
cy. amendment prioritised shift- most effective globally. study waste management important round of talks. like in the Lok Sabha polls laniswami’s visit to the capi- younger generation, not just
The bill was passed in Lok ing from reactive disaster re- He also hit back at the oppo- techniques in May, Karti Palaniswami was accom- when it swept the state. tal in the state assembly on finances. The 1968 resolution
Sabha in Dec 2024. sponse to proactive risk reduc- sition’s allegations of a lack of posted on X, “Can the panied by ex-ministers S P Also, it comes during Tuesday morning: “We have against Hindi imposition and
On the need for the amend- tion. transparency regarding the @chennaicorp name one Velumani and K P Munusa- DMK’s offensive against the information that the leader adherence to the two-lan-
ments, Shah said, “Some mem- He outlined several key PM-Care Fund’s management, learning & implementa- my, MPs M Thambidurai and Modi govt over issues of lan- of opposition has gone to guage policy, adopted by C N
bers asked what is the need for measures, including real-time clarifying that while tion of a practice from any C V Shanmugam in the meet- guage and delimitation: Delhi. He is going to meet Annadurai-led DMK govt in
amendment. I want to tell monitoring using AI-based the PM’s Relief Fund was cre- of the previous study ing at Shah’s residence. something which shows that someone. He should empha- the assembly, was the biggest
them that if a building is not systems instead of manual ated during the UPA era, the tours? Poor garbage man- Although the two parties EPS would not have taken the sise this (two language poli- gift of the neta, he said.
repaired in time, it collapses. processes, enhanced commu- PM-Care Fund was establish- agement, street dogs & cat- did not comment on the de- risk of being attacked for be- cy) when he meets him.” “It is not just a policy; it is
They think that maybe, they nication strategies, moving ed under the NDA govt. tle, broken sidewalks & pot- velopment, Shah’s assertion ing the Centre’s proxy if his Palaniswami told report- the law of Tamil Nadu. We
holed roads is the hallmark in Rajya Sabha earlier in the visit to Shah was for reasons ers in Delhi that he was in the are not against any lan-
of Chennai. Visit Indore to day that “NDA will stop li- to do with sheer courtesy. capital to visit the newly-in- guage; we say two languages
start with.” quor scams in Tamil Nadu af- The interaction had augurated party office. are enough,” Stalin said.
The compliment for In-
dore muncipal body which
has for long been run by
BJP came at a time when
New date to help BDS grads write NEET
Govt: MPs’ pay hike in line with
the DMK-Congress alli-
I n a relief to BDS graduates, Union ministry of
ance in Tamil Nadu have
been at loggerheads with
Modi govt at the Centre on a
health and family welfare has extended the
one-year mandatory internship cut-off date for
the entrance exam to June 30 from earlier
policy on inflation adjustment
whole range of issues, from March 31. The new cut-off date will help BDS TIMES NEWS NETWORK The sources said before this
languages to delimitation. graduates apply for NEET MDS 2025. TNN amendment, salary revisions were
New Delhi: Amid criticism in conducted on an ad hoc basis and
some quarters over the salary in- required parliamentary approval
crease of MPs, govt has clarified each time. The amendment aimed
that it is an adjustment for to “depoliticise the proc-
inflation in line with the 2018 ess and introduce a sys-
policy that did away with an tematic mechanism for
ad hoc increase. Several salary adjustments”,
states, however, have doled they said.
out higher increases on an ad The last revision be-
hoc basis in their legisla- fore the 2018 amendment
tures. Govt sources said the took place in 2010, when
mechanism introduced in Parliament passed a bill
2018 ensures a fair and transparent to increase MPs’ monthly salaries
approach to salary revisions, pre- from Rs 16,000 to Rs 50,000, the
venting arbitrary increases and en- sources said.
suring financial prudence. This decision led to significant
The Finance Act, 2018, amended public criticism, as many per-
the Salaries, Allowances and Pen- ceived it as MPs granting them-
sion of Members of Parliament selves a three-fold pay hike. Howev-
Act, 1954, to link MPs’ salaries to in- er, some MPs, including Mulayam
flation, specifically using the cost Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Ya-
inflation index (CII) published un- dav,demanded at least a five-fold
der the Income Tax Act, 1961. rise in salaries, the sources said.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: eshita.gupta T: 03-25-2025 21:44

THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL Why early dinners are back on table for health-conscious Indians
THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
MARCH 26, 2025
TOI Which foods have more protein and less calories?
Read these and many more: toi.in/healthplus
7
N UT R I TI O N PRE VE NTI O N W E L L NE S S BODY T I PS, T R E NDS & T EC H

Doctors say most tumbles

Why older Indians are more
LATEST IN HEALTH RESEARCH

happen at home but there No more waxing or shaving.

are ways to prevent Sweet solution may be here
Smearing a stevia-like
them or, at least,
minimise injury
prone to dangerous falls and anti-slip tiles. “Even healthy senior
sweetener on hair
follicles could stop
hair growth in lab
settings, according to
a study published in the
British Journal of Dermatology.
Feet apart: Stand with feet about shoulder- Researchers found that taste buds in
1 width apart, eyes open, and hold steady for 4
Eyes closed:
If you can perform
citizens are susceptible to accidents. When
the elderly fall, fear sets in and there is de- hair follicles can be stimulated with a
FOUR 10 seconds, working your way up to 30 sec the first three creased mobility. This can be even more natural sweetener to prevent hair
growth by reducing cell division.
Pushpa Narayan, Anuja Jaiswal
EXERCISES TO Feet together: Stand with feet together,
exercises safely and dangerous,” says Dr AB Govindaraj, a sen-
ior orthopaedic from MGM Healthcare, “Our study introduces an innovative
IMPROVE 2 eyes open, and hold steady for 10 sec,
& Srirupa Ray | TNN
with little support, try Chennai. In fact, many older adults fear drug-free strategy for suppressing
Ramachandran R was an active to do each one with falling even if they haven’t fallen before, unwanted hair growth,” the study
82-year-old doing brisk morning BALANCE working your way up to 30 sec. Once you can do your eyes closed. Hold says Kishore. “This fear may make them authors told The Independent.
walks and gardening in the evenings. this for 30 sec, move on to the next one avoid basic activities such as walking, shop-
Stand in a corner for 10 sec, working
Till he tripped over his sleeping Lha- or have a kitchen One foot: Stand on one foot, eyes open, up to 30 sec. Aim for ping, or having an active social life. But Air pollution ups risk of
sa Apso during a midnight bathroom
visit and suffered a fractured hip in counter in front to 3 and hold steady for 10 sec, working up to five repetitions
staying active is crucial to keep your body
healthy, and it actually helps prevent falls.”
Parkinson’s threefold
August last year. After surgery and reach out to 30 sec. Switch to the other foot twice a day People with a genetic
many sessions of physiotherapy, he The importance of exercise disposition to
quit all outdoor activities. centre of gravity, with weakened reflexes ularly review medications of seniors to As muscles atrophy with age, physical Parkinson’s disease
Saradha, 84, was cleaning her din- compromising balance,” she points out. identify those that might cause dizziness activity is imperative for senior citizens living in heavily
ing table when she fell and fractured Other risks include a slower walking or affect balance. “They must wear non-slip to prevent falls, says Dr Chatterjee, adding, polluted cities are at a
her femur. Though the bone has healed pace and neurodegenerative conditions like footwear. Unstable surfaces should be avoid- “One should focus on improving strength, three times higher risk
since, she refuses to walk without a Parkinson’s disease, decreased bone den- ed. Educating both seniors and carers about balance and flexibility through yoga and of developing the progressive
walker even within the house. TAKE THIS sity and diminished muscle strength, fall prevention, and prompt reporting of chair exercises. Leg and core strengthen- neurodegenerative disorder, a

F
study by US scientists published
or older folks, falls are serious
30-SEC TEST particularly in women’s quadriceps,
leading to unstable walking patterns.
balance issues, weakness or dizziness, is
crucial for reducing incidents,” he says.
ing routines are particularly beneficial.”
Dr R K Pathak, a 73-year-old orthopaedic in the JAMA Network Open journal
and even when the injuries heal, Time how long you can “Apart from balance and gait prob- surgeon based in Mumbai, began pilates has found.
they can lead to a confidence stand on one leg. If you can lems, the main cause of frequent falls classes with Kishore a little more than a
crisis. According to the US Cen- last for 30 seconds, your is age-related loss of muscle mass Physical strength year ago, egged on by his daughter. “I did How your dahi habit wards
tres for Disease Control and (known as sarcopenia) and blood pres- balance routines which I found to be very
Prevention, more than one out of four
balance is good. People in
sure that drops too much when you get reduces as good. I had begun to slouch a bit and pi- off deadly colon cancer
adults who are 65 and above suffers a the 5-10 second range up from a lying down or sitting position we age and posture lates helped improve my posture. It also Researchers at
Getty Images

fall every year, and falling once doubles have a serious risk (called postural hypotension),” says changes shift the increased my mobility, muscle power Massachusetts
the chances of falling again. In India, of falling Ruchi Kishore, a Mumbai-based pilates and stamina. As a doctor, I would rec- General Brigham
most hospital records show fall cases instructor and wellness coach who has a
body’s centre of ommend pilates to all senior citizens as have found that
among senior citizens are growing by lot of senior citizens among her clientele. gravity. This, along it’s an excellent routine for the four regular yogurt
the year. Why do older folks fall? with weak reflexes, things we need the most — posture, reflex- consumption may lower
“Even a minor fall can put them at “Multiple chronic conditions such as di- Making homes senior-friendly compromises balance es, balance and muscle power,” he says. risk of colorectal cancer. Their study,
great risk of injury, immobilise them, abetes, hypertension, cardiac or kidney How do they keep their balance then? published in Gut Microbes, analysed
and cause serious health issues. It’s the disease, and the use of multiple medica- “One can install parallel steel bars at Manjari Tripathi, HEAD OF Lessons on fall management decades of dietary data and found
second leading cause of unintentional tions are among the highest contributing hand-holding height along walls at 1ft NEUROLOGY, AIIMS DELHI What if you still fall? “If a fall is una- that two or more servings of yogurt
injury deaths worldwide,” says geriatri- factors,” says Dr Deepa. With increasing intervals for the person to hold on to voidable, try to let your body go limp, per week led to a significant
cian Dr S Deepa, director of the Nation- age, the risk of falls also rises — around while walking,” says Dr Tripathi. For and keep your knees, wrists, and elbows reduction in a particularly deadly
al Institute of Ageing in Guindy, Chen- 25-30% of people aged 60 have accidental severe balance issues, she recommends Rise of fall clinics loose and bent. Drop whatever you have type of colorectal cancer.
nai. In the past year, it has reported 237 falls, and the figure rises to 35% for those using a tripod stick for walking. Many hospitals treating elderly patients in hand. Tuck in your chin and throw
fracture cases due to falls in those over aged 70-80 — says Dr Manjari Tripathi, Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consult- now have fall clinics, some even offering your arms up around your ears to pro-
60. “All these people fell inside homes,” head of neurology at the All India Insti- ant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, services to screen for ‘dark or danger spots’ tect your head,” says Dr Govindaraj. Email your feedback to
she says, adding that generally 6 out of tute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New believes frequent vision and hearing tests at home. They typically suggest handrails After the fall, one must stay calm, take [email protected]
10 falls in the elderly happen at home — Delhi. “Physical strength reduces as we can identify spatial orientation issues that on staircases and inside bathrooms, elder- deep breaths, and call for help if the pain with Health Plus in the subject line.
in bathrooms, kitchens, or balconies. age and posture changes shift the body’s might cause falls. Also, doctors should reg- ly-friendly toilets, path lights in bedrooms, is severe or if they are dizzy. Please mention your name and city

WHICH ONE IS HEALTHIER?

Cookies are a favourite snack

Oatmeal cookie
91
1 serving
CALORIES
Choco-chip cookie
91
for kids and adults alike,
whether made from oatmeal
or chocolate chips. But
homemade is best as oatmeal
These people can drink alcohol
2.1gm
11.9gm
4.7gm
PROTEIN
CARBS
SUGAR
10.1gm
1gm

6gm
cookies from the store are
often loaded with sugar,
butter, additives, colouring
agents and emulsifiers. high on sugar and fat, with no
without ever getting a hangover
0.9gm FIBRE Negligible Always check the label before healthy nutrients. So, Researchers have repeatedly found that around a quarter of drinkers report feeling
buying. Choco-chip cookies controlling portion size is
4.1gm FAT 5.2gm taste yummy alright but are important. perfectly fine after a big night out while the others nurse a big headache
46.7mg SODIUM 24mg Source: Ritika Samaddar, chief clinical nutritionist, Max Healthcare
iStock

Dani Blum

J
ust once, Matthew Slater would like
SURVIVOR STORIES to experience a hangover. But even
if Slater, 34, finishes a bottle of vod-

I kept fainting until a tiny implant ka, he still wakes up feeling fine the
next day.
“Unless they know me, people don’t
really believe me,” Slater said. “It’s just

caught my silent heart problem

kind of assumed that when you drink
a bunch of poison, your body is going
to react.”
Daniel Adams, 23, has also never felt
Manju Kabra Dr Annu Aggarwal, consultant neu- everything appeared normal. Yet, when queasy or shaky the morning after a

T
rologist and specialist in cognitive and Dr Nagarajan examined the loop record- night out. One night earlier this month,
he knife I was holding hit the floor behavioural psychology at Mumbai’s er data, it showed my heart had stopped he drank a six-pack of Budweiser, then
first. My head soon followed. The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, for 18 seconds during the episode. In oth- a six-pack of Coors Light, then a few
collapse was sudden and dramat- referred us to Dr Venkat Nagarajan, a er words, I had had a cardiac arrest. shots (he doesn’t remember how many).
ic, as if I were a character in a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Even a three-second pause in heart The next morning, while his friends
saas-bahu serial. When I regained con- the same hospital. Also a heart rhythm activity can cause loss of consciousness groaned, he woke up at 6:30 am and ran
sciousness, three panicked faces hovered expert, we were told Dr Nagarajan would in some patients. An 18-second pause four miles.
over me. My son, my daughter-in-law and be able to tell if the fainting was caused meant my heart rate had dropped dra- Scientists have a term for people like
my husband had all assumed the worst. by an underlying cardiac disorder. The matically, cutting off blood supply to the Slater and Adams: “hangover resist-
It seems I was gone for at least 20 seconds brain and the heart are inextricably brain. The condition is called Bradycar- ant.” And over the last decade and a ask participants a series of questions. break down alcohol. People who metab-
that day in the summer of 2020 when I linked, and it isn’t uncommon for heart dia, which means my heart was beating half, researchers have tried to under- On a scale of one to ten, how dizzy were olize alcohol faster tend to have less
had the first of many falls. issues to take on the guise of nervous fewer than 60 beats per minute (bpm). stand why some people feel weary and they? How thirsty? How nauseous? severe hangovers, said Ann-Kathrin
Weeks after Covid-19 locked much of The normal rate for adults is between 60 wrung-out the day after drinking — and The researchers also looked at past Stock, a neuroscientist at the Technical
the world indoors, I had been cutting and 100 bpm. Some people with a high others feel nothing at all. studies among different groups, includ- University of Dresden. Genetics seem
vegetables at our home in Ayodhya’s A loop recorder cardiovascular fitness, such as athletes, It’s tricky to determine just how ing high school students, adults in rural to play a bigger role for some popula-
Ambedkar Nagar village when my body under my skin may have a slow heart rate without any many people are truly hangover resist- Michigan and people undergoing treat- tions than others, she said. For exam-
went limp and dropped to the floor. I had issue. But in my case, the heart wasn’t ant. Much of the research relies on tri- ment for alcohol use disorder. The find- ple, people of East Asian descent often
never fainted before, and didn’t have a
diagnosed me with pumping enough blood. This could hap- al participants to describe the agony of ings across all these studies showed report experiencing terrible hangovers,
history of BP issues or diabetes. A few Bradycardia, where the pen owing to infections or inflammation. their own hangovers, a subjective meas- that about one-quarter of people on which may be because many have very
minutes after I regained consciousness, heart has fewer beats per Dr Nagarajan advised a pacemaker. ure. After all, a headache that feels ex- average did not feel hungover. low levels of an enzyme that helps pro-
I felt completely fine. Surgical masks on, Sending electrical pulses to the heart cruciating to one person might not seem cess alcohol and its toxic metabolites.
we visited our family doctor in Ayodhya
minute than normal. through wires, the pacemaker has en- worth mentioning to another. Another theory is that people with
who suggested I consult a neurologist. Without the right sured my heart doesn’t stop pumping. One of the first studies to show the People who are hangover weaker immune systems may be more
I travelled 200 km to the nearest top monitoring tech, such I have had no more fainting episodes. prevalence of hangover resistance was resistant usually report low susceptible to hangovers, Stock said.
hospital in Lucknow during peak-Covid to Looking back, the heart-brain con- published in 2008. The researchers hap- Alcohol can trigger widespread inflam-
undergo a series of tests including MRI,
conditions can go nection has filled me with awe. Tran- pened upon the phenomenon by acci- levels of anxiety overall, a mation — that’s partly why a bad hang-
ECG and angiogram without growing tired undiagnosed, sient and infrequent heart rhythm dent, said Jonathan Howland, a profes- neuroscientist said, while over can feel like an illness — and more
at age 58. Suspecting epilepsy, the neurol- even proving fatal abnormalities can often mimic neu- sor emeritus at Boston University
those who are already
inflammation typically means people
ogist prescribed a few medicines. Days rological conditions like epilep- School of Medicine and one of the pa- feel sicker, she said.
later, my son Himanshu would be baffled sy. The real challenge is when per’s authors. They had been trying to stressed or depressed are People who are hangover resistant
to find me repeating what I had told him system problems. To identi- the patient is at the clinic understand how heavy drinking affect- also usually report low levels of anxie-
earlier, as if I were saying it for the first fy the root cause, he ad- and feeling fine, the heart ed people’s performance at work the more likely to suffer bad ty overall, Stock added, while those who
time. He feared Alzheimer’s, but the mem- vised me to go for an im- rhythm appearing nor- next day, only to discover nearly a quar- hangovers. Another theory are already stressed or depressed are
ory loss was seemingly temporary, perhaps plantable loop recorder. mal. Without the right ter did not get hungover at all. more likely to suffer hangovers — and
a medication side-effect. Meanwhile, the Smaller than a pen monitoring technology, The researchers conducted several
is that people with weaker bad ones at that.
fainting episodes became more frequent. drive, this device worth these conditions can go variations of the study, looking at hun- immune systems may be more So much about hangovers remains a
I was told to do an angiography to rule Rs 1 lakh is implanted undiagnosed, potentially dreds of students in the Boston area and susceptible to hangovers mystery. Researchers still don’t know if
out blocked arteries. By then, I had grown under the skin to mon- leading to death. If not Swedish maritime cadets. people who get worse hangovers are more
weary of being probed and scanned in itor the heart’s electri- for the loop recorder jut- Usually, the team kept participants in susceptible to alcohol’s other negative
vain. We had spent Rs 5 to 6 lakh on con- cal activity. Merely a ting out from the neck of a lab overnight and gave each person effects, or whether hangover resistance
sultations, tests, procedures and medicines few days after the loop my blouse for a few enough alcohol to raise their blood alco- “It was the same number over and leads people to drink more. But it’s hard
that had yielded little. The fear of fainting recorder was im- months, my diagnosis hol content to around .12, so that they over again,” Howland said. for researchers to get much funding to
made stepping out of home without com- planted, we were would have been impos- were sufficiently intoxicated, said The only question was why. No one study the subject, Rohsenow said. And
pany nerve-wracking. After visiting every waiting to board a sible. Today, on the other Damaris Rohsenow, a professor of be- understands all the factors that cause without more trials, people like Slater
doctor possible — including an ENT to rule flight back home side of 60, I feel grateful havioural and social sciences at Brown hangovers, Howland said, which makes remain something of a medical marvel.
out a “hole in the eardrum” and a psycholo- wh e n I f a i n t e d to science for restoring University who worked on the trials. All hangover resistance difficult to study. But For his part, Slater knows his friends
gist who assured my falls weren’t owing to again at the Mumbai Manju Kabra not just the rhythm of my night, medical professionals monitored researchers have posited a few theories for are jealous of his hangover-free life. But
a mental health issue — I almost gave up air por t. A doctor heart but also of my life. the participants. Each hour, they checked why a lucky few remain immune. he also wonders whether he might drink
when my son suggested we seek the opin- checked my blood pres- As told to to to make sure no one had vomited. One suspect is genetics, which help less if, like other people, he felt awful
ion of experts in Mumbai, where he works. sure and heart rate but Sharmila Ganesan Ram In the morning, researchers would determine the rate at which our bodies the next day. —NYT NEWS SERVICE
PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: ravish.singh T: 03-25-2025 21:18

8 THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: c-anil.kumar T: 03-26-2025 00:14

TIMES GLOBAL
GREAT MINDS DISCUSS
IDEAS; AVERAGE MINDS
DISCUSS EVENTS; SMALL
MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE
THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 — ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

MARIA SHRIVER SAYS SHE TURNED TO ‘SHAMANS & PSYCHICS’ GEORGE CLOONEY, 63, TALKS OF REASON HE QUIT STARRING IN
TO COPE WITH REVELATIONS OF ARNIE’S HUMILIATING AFFAIR ROMCOMS: ‘I’M NOT TRYING TO COMPETE WITH 25-YR-OLD MEN’

US security blunder reveals Trump Trump defends

reciprocal tariffs. US: Russia & Ukraine agree
says US ripped off
top team disparaging Europe allies by every country
Continued from P1
to stop fighting in Black Sea
Messages Show Washington Believes Europe Is ‘Free-Loading’ Off US Efforts Washington/Moscow/Ky- had previously endorsed.

Reuters
S
cott Bessent referred to iv: US reached separate agree- Ukrainian defence mini-
To Go After Houthis & Their Expectations Of Reimbursements For Bombing these as ‘Dirty 15’, a refe-
rence to 15% countries,
ments on Tuesday with Ukrai-
ne and Russia to ensure safe
ster Rustem Umerov said Ky-
iv would regard any move-
Chidanand Rajghatta US pressured its allies to large- while Hassett told Fox Busi- navigation in the Black Sea ment of Russian military

Bloomberg
TNN
ly disarm in return for a securi- ness the focus would be on 10-15 and to implement a ban on at- vessels outside the eastern
Washington: President ty umbrella it would provide. A countries. Auto tariffs would tacks by the two countries on part of the Black Sea as a vio-
Trump and top US intelligence shocked Europe is now on come in the next few days, each other’s energy facilities. lation and a threat, in which
officials raced on Tuesday to track to re-militarise and not Trump said, adding tariffs on The agreements, if imple- The agreements, if implemented, case Ukraine would have the
stem a growing scandal after a depend on US security guaran- lumber & semiconductor chi- mented, would represent the would be progress towards a full right to self defence.
journalist was accidentally ad- tees under the Trump regime. ps will follow “down the road”. clearest progress yet towards wider ceasefire in Ukraine Russia has attacked Ukrai-
ded to a group chat about air Trump’s director of natio- “We’ve been ripped off by a wider ceasefire that Was- ne’s power grid with missiles
strikes on Yemen’s Houthi re- nal intelligence Tulsi Gabbard every country,” Trump said, hington sees as a stepping not the other.” and drones throughout the
bels in a security breach. and CIA director John Ratcliffe predicting that sectoral tariff stone towards peace talks to The agreements, reached war, arguing that civil energy
Trump brushed off the leak — who were both reported to be and reciprocal tariff expected bring an end to Russia’s in Saudi Arabia, follow talks infrastructure is a legitimate
as a “glitch,” in the chat — endured a stormy on April 2 will raise ‘rather ast- three-year-old war in Ukrai- initiated by US President Do- target because it helps Ukrai-
while the CIA Senate Intelligence Committee ronomical’ amounts of money ne. Both countries said they nald Trump, who has vowed ne’s warfighting capability.
director and Vice-president JD Vance (R), who was among the 18 principals in the hearing over the leak. “There for US coffers, letting tax rates would rely on Washington to to swiftly end the war and has More recently, Ukraine has be-
the White Hou- discussion, expressed reservations about the bombing in Yemen and its was no classified material that to remain low or come down. enforce the deals. shifted Washington’s posi- en launching long-range stri-
se intelligence fallout, telling defence secretary Pete Hegseth, ‘If you think we should was shared,” Gabbard told the He said the April 2 announ- “If the Russians violate tion from firmly backing Ky- kes on Russian oil and gas tar-
chief both clai- do it, let go ahead. I just hate bailing Europe out again.’ Hegseth: ‘I fully committee. She refused howe- cement will be a ‘liberation this, I have a direct question iv to a stance more sympathe- gets, which it says provide fuel
med during a share your loathing of European freeloading. It’s PATHETIC’ ver to comment on whether day’ for the US economy. The for President Trump. If they tic with Moscow. Under the for Russian troops and income
Michael Waltz
Senate hearing Signal had been installed on tariffs are aimed at shrinking a violate, here is the evidence — agreement with Moscow, to fund its war effort.
that no classified information one. Michael Waltz has learned eloading. It’s PATHETIC.” her personal phone. Ratcliffe $1.2 trillion global goods trade we ask for sanctions, we ask Washington promised to help Maritime battles have be-
was divulged in the conversa- a lesson, and he’s a good man.” At this point, a person going confirmed he was involved in deficit by raising US levies to for weapons, etc,” Ukrainian restore Russian access to en only a comparatively small
tion on the Signal messaging As much as the security by the initials SM (likely the Signal group and had the levels charged by other count- President Volodymyr Zelens- markets for its agricultural part of the war since 2023,
app. The president also defen- breach, the big takeaway for Trump aide Stephen Miller) in- app installed on his work com- ries and counteracting their kiy told reporters in Kyiv. and fertiliser exports. The when Russia withdrew its na-
ded his NSA Mike Waltz, who the rest of the world and the tervenes to say the President puter, but said the communica- non-tariff trade barriers. Russian foreign minister Kremlin said this would re- val forces from the eastern
added Atlantic’s magazine’s region was the Trump admi- has been clear that the US has tions were “entirely permissib- Trump said in Feb he intended Sergei Lavrov said: “We will quire lifting some sanctions. Black Sea after a number of
editor-in-chief Jeffrey Gold- nistration’s expectation that to be reimbursed for the bom- le and lawful and did not inclu- to impose auto tariffs “in the need clear guarantees. And The talks followed separa- successful Ukrainian attacks.
berg to the chat by mistake ahe- Washington would be reim- bing. “Green light, but we soon de classified information.” neighbourhood of 25%” and si- given the sad experience of te phone calls last week betwe- Kyiv was able to reopen its
ad of the air strikes. bursed for its bombing of Ho- make clear to Egypt and Euro- Democrats and national se- milar duties on semiconduc- agreements with just Kyiv, en Trump and the two Presi- ports and resume exports at
Goldberg, subsequently uthis, ostensibly aimed at kee- pe what we expect in return,” curity pundits, however, jum- tors and pharmaceutical im- the guarantees can only be dents, Zelenskiy and Vladimir around pre-war levels, despi-
wrote an account revealing ping the sea lanes open and se- he says, adding, “We also need ped on the security flub, relis- ports, but later agreed to delay the result of an order from Putin. Putin rejected Trump’s te the collapse of a previous
how shocked he was to be inclu- cure. In the exchange, Trump to figure out how to enforce hing the White House’s discom- some auto tariffs after the Washington to Zelenskiy and proposal for a full ceasefire UN-brokered Black Sea ship-
ded in the group chat, an inad- aides disparaged European such a requirement.” fiture and demanding Waltz three largest US automakers his team to do one thing and lasting 30 days, which Ukraine ping agreement. REUTERS
vertent flub when Waltz likely allies, suggesting they were “If the US successfully res- and Hegseth resign. Brutal me- pushed for a waiver. REUTERS
intended to loop in US trade re- freeloaders and discussed ex- tores freedom of navigation at mes, including one showing Pu-
presentative Jamieson Lee
Greer, who has similar initials.
Amid growing questions
tracting reimbursement for
the bombing.
Vice-President JD Vance,
great cost, there needs to be so-
me further economic gain ex-
tracted in return,” SM adds.
tin looking at his cell phone and
telling his colleagues, “Wait gu-
ys...P.Hegseth is typing...” and
US may now make immigration policy changes overnight,
about why Trump principals
were using a commercial app to
who was among the 18 princi-
pals in the discussion, expres-
There is no mention of India, a
major player in the region
“Txt STOP to opt out of update
on war plans” followed. Hillary
public comments on draft no longer required: Attorneys
discuss national security issu- sed reservations about the which also shares with Was- Clinton, who was crucified by Lubna Kably TNN wer grab will inevitably face fi- norms for H-1B visas and redu- who are Indian nationals, this
es and why Waltz would have bombing and its fallout, but hington the goal of keeping Trump and his aides, including erce legal pushback, the imme- ce the visa tenure to 1-year in ca- represents a dramatic reduc-

L
Goldberg, a journalist from a went along with the consensus, shipping lanes safe and secure. Hegseth and Waltz, for her alle- ast month the US secretary diate impact could still be de- se of placement of H-1B emplo- tion in procedural protections
publication loathed by Trump telling defence secretary Pete The exchange was in line ged mishandling of classified of state Marco Rubio see- vastating, especially for Indian yees at client sites. and predictability.”
among his contacts, the US pre- Hegseth, “If you think we sho- with Trump’s view that Euro- info and threatened with jail ti- mingly published an inno- nationals.” Sharma foresees, Greg Siskind, co-founder Kripa Upadhyay, immigra-
sident stood by his NSA, telling uld do it, let go ahead. I just hate pean Nato partners are not me, had the last laugh on the cuous notice about reclassify- “Renewed and relentless at- of Siskind Susser, an immig- tion attorney at Buchalter, said,
NBC News the breach was “the bailing Europe out again.” spending enough money on de- breach. She posted on X: “You- ing immigration and bord- tacks on H-1Bs: tightened eligi- ration law firm, told TOI, “By framing immigration as
only glitch in two months, and Hegseth replied: “I fully share fence, which, in turn, disco- ’ve got to be kidding me”. er-related regulations as “fore- bility standards, skyrocketing “The Trump administration part of broader foreign policy, it
it turned out not to be a serious your loathing of European fre- unts the fact that a victorious (With input from agencies) ign-affairs functions”. This denials, and crushing requests wants to make rules without allows the secretary of state to
notice, however, is likely to ha- for evidence during ap- any of the public fa- drastically reduce procedural

Columbia pupil hunted by ICE sues to prevent deportation ve a wide ranging impact on im-
migrants in the US or on those
aspiring to work or study in US.
plication-processing.
As also elimination of
H-4 work permits, strip-
cing protections requi-
red by the APA.”
Rajiv S Khanna, ma-
safeguards, and potential chal-
lenges for visa applicants see-
king redress.”

A
Columbia University ficials, including secretary of with her family from South But federal agents belie- The move means that the ping thousands of Indi- naging attorney at Im- He explained, “Consular of-
student, 21,who has li- state, Marco Rubio, cited the Korea when she was 7, has not ved that those efforts were me- immigration policies can now an families (especially migraiton.com said, ficers may be granted wider
ved in the US since she same rationale in explaining been detained by ICE. She re- rited in the case of Chung, ac- bypass the public notice and highly educated spou- “This foreign affairs de- discretion in deciding whether
was a child sued President Do- the arrest this month of Mah- mains in the country, but her cording to her lawyers at CLE- comment rulemaking process ses) of livelihoods. We need to termination creates an unpre- to approve or deny visa applica-
nald Trump and other high- moud Khalil, a graduate of lawyers would not comment AR, a legal clinic at the City required under the Admini- brace for crippling new restric- cedented situation. Previously, tions. This could lead to increa-
ranking administration offi- the university and permanent on her whereabouts. University of New York. ICE strative Procedure Act (APA). tions on the extended 2-year te- the IT industry, universities, sed subjectivity in interviews
cials Monday after immigra- resident who is being Her lawsuit in fede- officials visited several resi- Under the APA, the public nure for OPTcurrently availab- and advocacy groups had 30-60 and decisions. It is now entirely
tion officials tried to arrest held in Louisiana. ral court in Manhat- dences, called for help from fe- can give its opinion on a draft le to international students days to analyze proposed im- possible that an L-1A (intra-
and deport her. Unlike Khalil, tan shows the extensi- deral prosecutors and sear- regulation during a 30-60 day from the STEM field.” migration rules, identify pro- company transfer) visa for an
The student, Yunseo Ch- Chung does not appear ve, if so far unsuccess- ched Chung’s university hou- period and the concerned agen- In Trump’s earlier regime, blematic provisions, and sub- executive may be approved by
ung, is a legal permanent resi- to have been a promi- ful, efforts by US im- sing on March 13. cy has to consider these com- various policy changes had be- mit substantive comments that USCIS officer, but rejected by a
dent and junior who has parti- nent figure in the de- migration officials to According to Chung’s law- ments while drafting a final en overturned by courts as they agencies were legally obligated consular officer who now gets
cipated in pro-Palestinian de- monstrations that sho- arrest her. Agents his- suit, agents apparently seeking version of the regulation. had violated the APA. For in- to address. Now, the first time to use national security and US
monstrations at the school. ok the school last year. Yunseo Chung torically prefer to pick her searched two residences on Florida-based attorney stance, Stanford University, these stakeholders might learn foreign policy concerns as a de-
The Trump administration is But she was one of se- up immigrants in jail Columbia campus with war- Ashwin Sharma, said, “Ru- Cornell University, and various about a new H-1B or F-1 policy, cision making factor which is
arguing that her presence in veral students arrested this or prisons. Other types of ar- rants that cited a criminal law bio’s memo is a procedural Tro- chambers of commerce, had when it’s published as a final subjective and has very little to
the US hinders the admini- year in connection with a pro- rests are more difficult, often known as harbouring statute, jan horse. It quietly grants successfully challenged polici- rule and already in effect. For do with the objective require-
stration’s foreign policy agen- test at Barnard College. requiring hours of research, aimed at those who give shelter Trump 2.0 unchecked freedom es that had proposed to hike wa- Indian IT companies with sig- ments that an applicant must
da of halting spread of anti- Chung, a high school valedic- surveillance and other inves- to non-citizens present in the to reshape immigration law at ges of H-1B workers by as much nificant US operations and the meet per the Immigration and
semitism. Administration of- torian who moved to the US tigative resources. US illegally. NYT will. While this sweeping po- as 40-100%; narrow eligibility nearly 75% of H-1B visa holders Nationality Act.”

DAILY PLANET
Eye on polls, BNP worries over B’desh witnessing Canada just made getting Gerard Depardieu
festivity of rumours admits in court he Reuters

bid to erase legacy of 1971 war against interim

a PR much more difficult grabbed woman,
Dhaka: In a U-turn, BNP secre- Lubna Kably
Still waiting for India to TNN
tary general Mirza Fakhrul Is-
respond to Yunus-Modi
govt, says Yunus From March 25, those but denies assault
I
lam Alamgir raised “serious t is now final. A ministeri-
concerns” on Tuesday about ri- Dhaka/New Delhi: Chief al instruction issued on
applying for PR in Paris: French actor Gerard
sing efforts to downplay signifi-
meet proposal: B’desh Adviser Muhammad Yunus Tuesday said that effecti- Canada via the Express Depardieu, 76, admitted in
Entry system will no
cance of the 1971 Liberation
War, while cautioning that such
attempts not only undermine
B angladesh Tuesday said it
was awaiting a response
from New Delhi to its proposal
Tuesday said Bangladesh was
witnessing a “festivity of ru-
mours” against his admini-
ve from March 25, those app-
lying for permanent residen-
cy in Canada through the Ex-
longer receive additional
court on Tuesday to grabbing
by the hips a woman who ac-
cuses him of sexual assault,
the sacrifices made by count- for a meeting stration, blaming it on “the de- press Entry system will no lo- points for job offers but denied this was assault
less individuals during the war between Chief feated force” — an apparent nger receive additional and said any crude com-
but also threaten the founda- Adviser reference to deposed premier points for job offers. The pro- tions, but also impacts the ments he made were “just be-
tion of Bangladesh’s indepen- Muhammad Sheikh Hasina’s regime. posal was announced last Dec CRS scores of all candidates cause of his bad mood”. IN FULL BLOOM: Joggers pass cherry blossoms in Washington DC
dence, reports Ahsan Tasnim. Yunus and PM “The rumours are big in- by Marc Miller, who was then currently in the Express Ent- Plaintiff, Amelie K, who
“Some people, parties, and Narendra Modi struments of the defeated for- the immigration minister. ry pool. In fact, for candidates spoke in court after Depardi- ‘Don’t panic, it’s not a Japan awards man wrongly
groups are trying to make it se- on the sidelines ces against the July-Aug Candidates earlier got an currently in the Express Ent- eu, said he had touched her
accused of murder $1.4m: A
em as if 1971 never happened… of BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok (2024) Uprising,” he said in a extra 50 or 200 Comprehensive ry selection pool, their CRS all over her body as he trap-
UFO’: SpaceX rocket Japanese man wrongly convic-
ted of murder who was the
trying to erase it from memory. next week, reports Ahsan nationwide televised address Ranking System (CRS) points scores will be recalibrated to ped her between his legs, wh- fuel makes stunning world’s longest-serving death
My friends, those who once col- Tasnim. Foreign secretary Md on the eve of Bangladesh’s for holding a valid job offer, account for this change. ile making explicit sexual co-
laborated in the massacre, are Jashim Uddin said the strain in 53rd Independence Day. Un- significantly increasing their A valid job offer continues mments, in an assault on a swirl in European sky row inmate has
been awarded
now speaking louder than relations between the countries like in past years, there would chances of receiving an invi- to be an eligibility require- film set in 2021.
$1.4 million in
ever,” Fakhrul said in Dhaka. could be overcome if the bila- be no National Day military tation to apply for permanent ment for several streams un- “I grabbed her hips,” De-
compensation,
The statement, purportedly teral meeting is held. parade in the capital. Home residence through the point- der the Express Entry route. pardieu said, admitting to
an official said
made with an eye on national Ministry Senior Secretary based Express Entry system. Thus, Immigration, Refugees physical contact with set de-
on Tuesday. The
elections expected be held du- Fakhrul said people invol- Nasimul Ghani said the co- Candidates who have alre- and Citizenship Canada emp- corator Amelie K and saying
payout repre-
ring the year-end, seems to hint ved in mass killings during untry is in a wartime mode. ady been successful in earlier hasised that candidates sho- he had not told police about it
sents 12,500 yen ($83) for each
at change of stance of the party war of independence are now Yunus called upon the co- draws and have received invi- uld continue including job of- when being interrogated.
day of the more than four dec-
whose cadres have been active speaking openly and attemp- untrymen to resist rumour tations to apply for permanent fer details in their profiles. The But he added: “I grabbed her
participants in anti-Mujib pro-
tests across country and abro-
ting to distort history. Fakh-
rul stressed the importance of
through awareness and unity.
He said as upcoming election,
residence will not be impac-
ted. Nor will those whose per-
main objective of the move is
to reduce fraud by removing
hip so as not to slip because I
was so upset by her, by the he-
A stunning blue and white
spiral spotted in skies acr-
oss Europe was created by
ades that Iwao Hakamada
spent in detention, most of it
on death row. It is a record for
ad, including removing his por- preserving the nation’s histo- the date of which is yet to be manent residency applica- the incentive to illegally buy or at... I was very tired.” Depar-
frozen fuel tumbling from a compensation of this kind, Jap-
trait from Darbar Hall of the ry, noting that many younger decided, would come near, the tions are being processed. sell labour market impact as- dieu said in court that he had
SpaceX rocket, according to anese media said. The former
President’s office & destroying generations are unaware of rumours would take more However, this change af- sessments to improve a candi- been upset at Amelie K over
weather forecasters and scie- boxer, now 89, was exonerated
his residence at Dhanmondi 32. significant historical events. dangerous shape. PTI fects not only future applica- date’s chances of getting a PR. her work. REUTERS
ntists. The UK’s Met Office said last year of a 1966 quadruple
on X it had received many rep- murder after a tireless campa-
orts of an “illuminated swirl” in ign by his sister and others. The
Oscar-winning Palestinian director who was attacked by Israeli settlers is out of detention the sky on Monday evening
likely caused by a rocket that
court ruled in Sept that Haka-
mada was not guilty and police
had earlier blasted off from had tampered with evidence.
Hebron, West Bank: Israeli documentary film. me masked, some carrying and the other two Palestinians
AP

Cape Canaveral in Florida.

authorities released the Oscar- On Tuesday, with bruises guns and some in military uni- denied throwing stones.
winning Palestinian director on his face and blood on his clot- forms — attacked the West In testimony given while in “Don’t panic! No, it wasn’t a AROUND THE WORLD
UFO but the degassing of a
who was detained by the army hes, Ballal was released from Bank village of Susiya Monday detention, Ballal said he had In the US, the first successful
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,” said
after being attacked by Jewish an Israeli police station in the evening as residents were brea- gone out to film the settlers as electric car made its debut
the state weather forecaster
settlers in the occupied West Bank settlement king their fast during Ramzan. they attacked houses in the vil- around 1890 thanks to
Meteo France in the country’s
West Bank. He said they of Kiryat Arba. He and Soldiers who arrived pointed lage. When he returned to his William Morrison, a chemist
central Loire Valley. Pictures
beat him up in front of two other Palestinians their guns at the Palestinians, home, a well-known settler, who lived in Iowa. His
of the vivid swirl were also
his home while they fil- who had been attacked while settlers continued thro- who had threatened him in the 6-passenger
posted by social media users vehicle
med the assault. and detained. Ballal sa- wing stones, they said. past, showed up with two soldi-
in countries including Swed- capable of a
Hamdan Ballal and id he was held at an ar- Israeli police said Tuesday ers. The settler punched Ballal
en, Poland, Hungary and Croa- top speed of
other directors of ‘No my base, blindfolded for military transferred to it 3 su- from behind, knocking him to
tia. People across Europe may 14 miles per hour was little
Other Land’, which lo- Hamdan Ballal 24 hours and forced to spects for probe for alleged the ground, then kicked him
have had the chance to see more than an electrified wagon,
oks at the struggles of sleep under a freezing Ballal is detained by the Israeli military from his home in West Bank on Monday rock throwing, property dama- with boots, Ballal said.
the phenomenon — as long as but it helped spark interest
Palestinians living under Isra- air conditioner. “My body is ge and “endangering regional Lamia, Ballal’s wife, said
it was not obscured by clouds, in electric vehicles
eli occupation, mounted the st- aching... I heard voices of the Lea Tsemel, the attorney re- she had no access to them for se- security”. It said the three were she saw 3 men in uniform be-
planetary scientist James O’D-
age at 97th Academy Awards in soldiers, they were laughing at presenting the three, said they veral hours after their arrest. released on condition of no ating him with the butts of the- The Times of India is the world’s
onoghue of the UK’s Universi-
Los Angeles earlier this month me… I heard ‘Oscar’ but I don’t received minimal care for inju- Palestinian residents say contact with others involved in ir rifles and another in civilian largest-selling English daily
ty of Reading told AFP.
when it won the award for best speak Hebrew.” ries from the attack and that around two dozen settlers — so- the incident. Tsemel said Ballal clothes filming the violence. AP
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: cci T: 03-25-2025 21:21

In my experience, the more successful

an idea is, the easier it is to fund it.
My theme for philanthropy is In philanthropy, it's almost harder
the same approach I used with — Stanley Druckenmiller | Investor &
technology: to find a need and fill it former hedge fund manager
— An Wang | Engineer & inventor
ADVERTORIAL AND PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | Bhopal For advertising queries: Call 9871234611 or Email: [email protected]

Employee-driven philanthropy is key to Gen-Z engagement

M Muneer community. Employee-driven porate resources into causes cific budget, transparency is Companies can adopt approa- amline administrative tasks, cessible through internal new- ir name are just a few ways to
philanthropy offers a powerful they care about. This approach critical. Employees and stake- ches such as donation mat- such as tracking donations and sletters, team meetings, or dedi- encourage involvement. These

I
ndia’s workforce is uniquely way to strengthen brand repu- imbibes ownership and pride holders should understand the ching, in-kind contributions, managing volunteer hours. cated portals. Leadership invol- initiatives increase participa-
evolving, with Gen-Z and tation while tackling critical so- among team members while financial framework, reinfor- or team volunteer activities. These tools allow employees to vement is equally important. tion and create camaraderie
millennials now comprising cial challenges. positioning the organisation as cing the company’s genuine Allowing employees to vote on see the immediate impact of When executives actively parti- within the workplace.
over half the population. They Empowering employees to a socially responsible employ- commitment to social impact. the causes or NGOs they wish their contributions, driving a cipate in and advocate for phi- Employee-driven philanth-
demand more lead philanthropic efforts will er. For businesses aiming to bu- For organisations with tighter to support increases engage- sense of trust. By addressing lanthropic efforts, they inspire ropy transcends being merely a
than competiti- highlight a company’s authen- ild a lasting reputation as pur- budgets, creative alternatives ment and ensures the program- logistical challenges, compani- others to join in. Sharing im- tool for social good; it is a strate-
ve salaries; they ticity and enhance workplace pose-driven, employee-driven like offering paid volunteer da- me reflects their values. Even es can focus on empowering pact stories, photos, and data gic lever for crafting a compel-
seek alignment culture. When employees see philanthropy is both impactful ys can be equally meaningful. small gestures, like granting a their teams to make meaning- further motivates Gen-Z and ling employer brand. By reso-
with values their values reflected in the or- and strategic. Such initiatives are cost-effecti- few hours of paid volunteer ti- ful contributions. strengthens the connection to nating with the values of a soci-
that promote ganisation’s actions, their con- ve and provide employees with me each month, can signifi- the supported causes. ally conscious generation, com-
sustainability nection to work deepens, incre- Funding initiatives direct community engagement cantly boost employee satisfac- Transparent Adding an element of fun panies can draw and retain top
and social impact. They want asing engagement and loyalty. Creating an effective emplo- opportunities, deepening their tion and morale. communication and recognition can make the- talent, elevate team morale, and
employers who actively drive This alignment is vital in toda- yee-led philanthropy program- sense of contribution. Clear and consistent com- se programmes even more eng- drive meaningful impact wit-
positive change, not just reflect y’s competitive job market, whe- me starts with thoughtful plan- Leverage technology munication is essential for the aging. Hosting friendly compe- hin and beyond the workplace.
their ideals. In this paradigm, re sustainability and social im- ning for determining how to Be an equal partner Technology plays a major success of any philanthropy titions, offering rewards for
companies must reimagine en- pact influence career choices. fund initiatives. Whether it in- Flexibility is crucial in de- role in simplifying the execu- initiative. Companies should participation, or organising (The author is co-founder
gagement strategies to connect Imagine giving employees volves allocating a percentage signing programmes that con- tion of these programmes. Sub- ensure that information about lotteries where participants of the non-profit Medici
with both employees and the the opportunity to channel cor- of profits or setting aside a spe- nect with a diverse workforce. scription-based platforms stre- their programmes is easily ac- can win donations made in the- Institute for Innovation)
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: ravish.singh T: 03-25-2025 21:16

12 THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: eshita.gupta T: 03-25-2025 23:40

THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES Special 13
The ancient Nalanda academy has inspired the colour and brickwork

A Sports Revolution
Arnab.Seal of structures at the sports academy and also the design, which is
@timesofindia.com intended to ensure air circulation and keep the interiors cool

O
nce upon a time,
L o rd B u d d h a
spent some time
here, teaching.
The first Bud-

In The Middle Of
dhist council was also held
here. And then, in the fifth
century CE, possibly the
world’s oldest residential uni-
versity, Nalanda, came up
here. The university flour-
ished for seven centuries, and
then was destroyed in the 12

Bihar
century. Rajgir, about 100 km Not too far from the ancient academic complex at Nalanda,
south of Patna, still remains
a major draw for its many a new sports centre in Rajgir is driving the state’s bid to
Buddhist attractions. But
now, this ancient Buddhist
university town has a new
emerge as India’s next sporting powerhouse
calling card.
About 20 km away from
the ruins of Nalanda, a new Chapra
Samastipur
landmark looks all set to steal which was air circulation to
the spotlight from the ancient ensure that the temperature
academic centre: a state-of- always remained at a particu-
the-art sports complex spread Patna lar level,” said Sankaran.
across 97.9 acres and built at Locals though are espe-
Begusarai
a cost of about Rs 770 crore. cially looking forward to the
Dedicated centres — like completion of the 45,000-seat-
Haryana’s wrestling or box- er cricket stadium that is be-
ing hubs, or Hyderabad’s bad- B I H A R ing built inside the complex.
minton academies — have The prospect of seeing the
Nalanda
fuelled India’s sporting Jehanabad likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit
dreams and achievements in Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah
recent years and minted a in action only adding to the
new generation of sporting buzz around it.
heroes. The hope is for the RAJGIR “The cricket stadium is
Rajgir Sports Complex to do 10km 75% complete and being built
Gaya
the same for Bihar. according to BCCI standards.
It will be inaugurated by
23 Different Sports ALL TO PLAY FOR: Coach Harendra Singh with the Nalanda ruins
The most interesting facet June 2025,” Sankaran had
Indian women’s hockey team of the centre in Rajgir is the said last year. “I believe that
coach Harendra Singh
Indian women’s national hockey team, which sports university that it’ll domestic matches will start
couldn’t hide his excitement WHAT IT’LL won the Asian Champions Trophy last year in house, which has already re- after that. Hosting interna-
when he saw the complex for TEACH... Rajgir. He said the complex in Rajgir reminded ceived recognition from the tional matches will then de-
the first time. He said it re- Athletics, football, hockey, him of sports facilities in Colorado, US University Grants Commis- pend on the schedule of the
minded him of the sports swimming, basketball, sion (UGC). A unique facility, IPL and other international
facilities in Colorado in the volleyball, wrestling, such batch came down to- markable sports complex, who is quite pleased with it’s expected to draw people tournaments.”
US. That he got a chance to weightlifting, kabaddi, wards the end of last year. including a state-of-the-art how the women’s Asian who are interested in sports The general view is that
coach his team in the state badminton, archery, For now, though, the focus hockey arena. Surrounded by Champions Trophy was con- even if they might not play Rajgir is ready to take its
where he was born and took shooting, table tennis, is on successfully hosting the scenic hills, it is one of the ducted. “It was also great to themselves. place on India’s sporting
them to the Asian Champions fencing, judo, taekwondo, men’s Hockey Asia Cup, most picturesque stadiums in see the reception from fans at “We will be running map. “Interest in sports will
Trophy title last year, beating cycling, cricket, boxing, which is likely to be held in the country,” said Hockey In- these venues with every game courses on sports psychology, surely increase in the coming
China 1-0 in the final, made sepak takraw, wushu, August and feature India and dia president Dilip Tirkey, getting a packed house. That sports science, and sports days, thanks to the sports fa-
the venue and the vociferous rugby, yogasana seven other teams, in- Photo: Arnab Seal nutrition. We will also launch cility in Rajgir. There’s a lot
crowds even more special. cluding Pakistan. The motivates players to go above development programmes for of work going on and, in a
“I’ve always wanted to planning for the event and beyond to make fans coaches and build strong matter of two years, people
coach in Bihar. So, to get the ...GOES BEYOND has already started. happy with their perfor- sports science specialists,” will see even more develop-
opportunity finally here in Ra- THE GAME “A second hockey mance,” he added. said Sankaran, who also talks ment,” said Kanchan Gupta,
jgir and that too with the na- The sports complex has pitch is being laid out of using artificial intelli- a resident of Patna who’d
tional team at an international a sports university within in fast-track mode and A Cricket Stadium, Too gence (AI) to unearth talent come down to Rajgir to watch
event was indeed a dream the facility that will pro- will be completed in But the Sports Complex is in the state. the Asian Champions Trophy.
come true,” said the coach who vide academic courses, April. The hostels are about much more than just But this launchpad for fu- With Bihar govt doing all
was born in Chapra in including undergraduate, getting air-condition- hosting big-ticket events. ture sports stars has not ig- it can to see a player from the
Saran district. diploma and PG diploma ers to house the teams nored the region’s rich past. state represent the country at
Once fully ready, courses in physical educa- and we will also be con- The main building of the the Olympics in 2036, the Ra-
the world-class sports tion and sports sciences. structing temporary The remarkable sports complex pays tribute to the jgir sports complex appears
complex will boast a galleries to hold more complex has a old Nalanda academy in its as a key ingredient for rus-
state-of-the-art hockey
roster of 23 diverse disci- UPCOMING spectators,” said
arena... Surrounded by hills, it
design and architecture, bor- tling up that winning recipe.
plines, cutting across indoor Raveendran Sankaran, rowing key elements. “The It isn’t going to be easy but
and outdoor sports. Most im-
EVENTS director general-cum- is one of the most picturesque colour, design and even brick- with the right kind of sup-
portantly, students and bud- Women’s Kabaddi CEO of the Bihar State stadiums in the country work was based on the old port and ecosystem the state
ding sportspersons will be World Cup in June, Men’s S p o r t s Au t h o r i t y Nalanda university. We took just might produce the next
Spread over around 100 acres, the new complex — DILIP TIRKEY
able to reside and train at Hockey Asia Cup in Aug (BSSA). PRESIDENT, HOCKEY INDIA into account a salient feature Manu Bhaker or Neeraj
has extensive sports and residential facilities
the academies. The first “Rajgir has got a re- of the old Nalanda university, Chopra in the coming days.

Delhi Budget: Push for education, ‘lessons’ for AAP; allocation hiked by 17% Healthy dose of funds with
New Delhi: Chief minister and
finance minister Rekha Gupta
ols, the introduction of language
laboratories and modern compu-
cation. Taking potshots at the pre-
vious govt, CM said, “It claimed to
for technical education sche-
mes, while another Rs 886 crore
Technical University, Rs 37 crore
to Delhi Pharmaceutical Scien-
The budget set aside Rs 100
crore to establish 60 new CM
focus on Ayushman Bharat
unveiled a range of initiatives on ter labs and new schemes for prioritise education in Delhi, but was allocated to the Department ces and Research University, Rs Shri Schools from the 2025-26 Anuja.Jaiswal Delhi despite the central
Tuesday as part of the Delhi Bud- technical edu, reports Meghna its actions were contrary. It mis- of Training and Technical Edu- 21.5 crore to Indira Gandhi Delhi academic session. These scho- @timesofindia.com govt’s repeated request for it.
get to boost education and school Dhulia & Sugandha Jha . led Delhi on education and its po- cation, highlighting govt’s focus Technical University for Wo- ols, modelled after PM Shri “The new govt, at its inaugu-
infrastructure. These include Education cornered the hig- licies deprived children of a pro- on this sector. The budget alloca- men and Rs 42 cr to Delhi Techni- Schools, will align with the Na- New Delhi: In a massive in- ral cabinet meeting, decided
the development of an education hest allocation in the 2025-26 bud- mising future.” ted Rs 230 crore to Delhi Skill cal University. Additionally, Rs tional Education Policy, 2020, crease in the city’s health to introduce the scheme and
hub in Narela in north Delhi, the get with Rs 19,291 crore — a 17.7% Abig chunk of the allocation and Entrepreneurship Univer- 69 crore was proposed for the In- and implement the National budget, CM Rekha Gupta allo- its implementation will com-
establishment of CM Shri Scho- increase over the last fiscal’s allo- —Rs 618 crore — was earmarked sity, Rs 57 crore to Netaji Subhas dustrial Training Institutes. Curriculum Framework. cated Rs 12,893 crore for he- mence shortly,” she said in
althcare in 2025-26, a 48.4% her budget speech. “Soon peo-
over the current provision. ple will enjoy the benefits of
The sum for health increased the Pradhan Mantri Ayush-
from Rs 8,685 crore in 2024-25 man Yojna and the Ayushman
to Rs 12,893 crore for the new Arogya Mandir facilities.
fiscal, with Rs 2,144 crore spe- Along with the Rs 5 lakh insu-
cifically designated for imp- rance cover given by the Cent-
lementing the Ayushman re under the yojna, Delhi govt
Bharat healthcare program- will grant a top-up of Rs 5 lakh
me. to Delhi’s citizens.”
Gupta castigated the pre- The budget also allocated
vious AAP regime for suspen- Rs 320 crore for establishing
ding welfare programmes on 400 wellness centres and Ay-
political considerations, allu- ushman Arogya Mandirs.
ding to the non-implementa- Under PM-Ayushman Bha-
tion of Ayushman Bharat in rat Health Infrastructure
Mission, Rs 1,666.7 crore was
earmarked for strengthe-
ning critical care facilities
and diagnostic capabilities.
It also allocated Rs147.6 crore
for expanding Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojna and Rs 9.9 crore
for implementing the Ayush-
man Bharat Digital Mission.
Capital projects were
granted Rs 3,421 crore for ca-
pital projects and Rs 6,874
crore for other health sector
initiatives. “We are working
fast towards updating health
regulations for better acco-
untability,” CM stated, no-
ting plans to implement Del-
hi State AYUSH Society.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: cci T: 03-25-2025 22:25

14 MONEY FOR NOTHING CHEQUES FOR FREE THE TIMES OF INDIA

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

CONTRAPUNTO
What’s the use you learning to do right when it’s
troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong?
Burning Cash, Burning Question
MARK TWAIN, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Post-Justice Varma controversy, judicial accountability is back in focus. A direct role for politicians puts
judges’ independence at risk. But courts must admit that in-house procedures haven’t inspired confidence
Delhi & Elsewhere Rohin Bhatt & Harshit Anand

It’s a case that’s set

the bar, the country
disgust than other forms like ideological impropriety.
Justice Varma has received far more whiplash than
Abhijit Gangopadhyay who while a sitting judge of
Calcutta HC resigned and contested a Lok Sabha seat
Bill, 2010. The oversight committee, complaints scrutiny
committee, and investigative committee recommended
by the standing committee for the bill, chaired by
Abhishek Manu Singhvi, might be necessary as well.
Funding cash handouts, especially the rash of schemes and even Parliament on a BJP ticket. All cases may not warrant a removal. Transfers may
for women, is a recipe for fiscal emergency for states abuzz. Starting with While the Allahabad HC Bar Association has passed not be sufficient in some cases and in others they may
Friday morning, a resolution calling for the impeachment of Justice not be warranted. A public reprimand to a judge and/or

P
resenting her debut budget, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta allocated when TOI reported Varma, it has failed to pass similar resolutions for an apology by the judge are intermediate solutions that
`5,100cr to fund women’s cash scheme `2,500 per month – a poll that Delhi Police had recovered “a huge pile of cash” Justice Shekhar Yadav who used “unpardonable” slurs Parliament must look into as well.
from the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma. Later against Muslims on HC premises. An unaccountable judiciary would spell disaster.
promise. This is less than half of what may be required to service
reports suggested that “jute sacks full of On the other hand, there is a clear and immi-
beneficiaries of the scheme, estimated at 38L if beneficiaries are cash” were found “stashed in a corner of the nent danger to judicial independence, with
women whose household income is less than `3L per annum. The outhouse” of the residence. several voices jumping the gun and expecting
budget already shows the strain of financing freebies – it includes SC collegium has recommended Justice instant justice, egged on by loudmouth prime-
dipping into small savings (NSSF) to the tune of `15k cr. Last year, Union Varma be repatriated from Delhi HC to his time anchors or social media influencers.
finance ministry had frowned upon such practice, saying it disrupts parent high court, of Allahabad. The Allahabad That cannot be the solution either.
HC Bar Association came out with an unusually What’s needed is judicial accountability
the broader borrowing framework. Kejriwal had proposed it in order
strong statement, declaring they were “not a alongside fierce protection of judicial inde-
to continue AAP govt’s welfare schemes of free electricity etc. trash bin”. Meanwhile the Supreme Court, in pendence. For this, to repeat, accountability
Fact is, all states with similar cash transfers to women are under a nondescript press note, said that there has to come from within the institution, rather
severe financial strain. From Maharashtra’s BJP-led govt to Karnataka was misinformation going around, even as it than from an executive-controlled legislature,
and Telangana’s Congress govts, and former AAP govt in Delhi, admitted to initiating an in-house inquiry. which has a lot to gain from a compromised
finances of the richest states are stressed over polltime’s unrestrained We do not wish to enter the debates about the judiciary.
specifics of the case but to respond to certain We already have the executive interfering
largesse. It’s not about breaking promises – if poll promises were kept,
concerns. TMC MP Mahua Moitra has sugges- with justice administration by exercising a
India would’ve been ‘developed’ by now. The ted in Lok Sabha that the current uproar is “an pocket veto in judicial appointments. Any
issue is far more grave – freebie culture has effort to bring back NJAC”. And Congress further interference in the administration of
no winners. Funding freebies will eventually MP Jairam Ramesh has raised the issue of justice would be disastrous.
make the state broke; not servicing the judicial accountability in Rajya Sabha. In this Along with rigorous investigation and
promise may have electoral fallout. In context, we write to caution Parliament and disciplinary mechanisms, rooted in impartial
opposition – tread carefully with the legislations, the apex court also has to work
Maharashtra, since June 2024, fiscal deficit
debate of judicial corruption, for a free on how a lay Indian – with no training or
has nearly doubled from `1.1L cr to `2.2L cr. and independent judiciary is all that initiation in law – views our judicial system.
The state spent `87k cr more than budget stands between fundamental rights Whether it is the latest case, or other sensational
estimates 2024-25 – much of it to fund earlier and an elected autocracy. bits reported about our courts from time to
Mahayuti govt’s poll year sops. Both the There are rhetorical passages time, public faith in the judicial process
women’s handout scheme and the monthly in several judgments of the We hold no brief for Justice Varma hangs in the balance. To improve how common people
Supreme Court about what but only call for a more nuanced perceive the legal system, courts have to open their
stipend for jobless youth are costly affairs –
qualities a judge ought to possess, dialogue. We also do not doubt that the doors to the public like never before.
but just placebos to dull the pain of jobless youth and destitute women. and by implication, all sitting slightest hint of corruption casts a long The lack of redressal of bona fide complaints about
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has admitted his state’s financial judges possess said values. Consti- shadow on public trust in the judicial judicial corruption has led to a situation where faith in
crunch, that after paying salaries, pensions, debt and interest, most tutional scholar HM Seervai has process, and thus, there is a need for the system is visibly eroding. Judicial independence
of the rest of the money – `5k cr – goes to ‘welfare’. The state is left summed up this discussion of values reforms. The question that must then be cannot also become a tool for judicial misbehaviour,
with almost nothing to spend on capex. RBI has cautioned that the best. In the third edition of his tome answered is, what should such reforms for as it has been perceived to be in the past with Justice
Constitutional Law of India he writes that judicial accountability look like? Soumitra Sen, to take just one example.
spend on sops could crowd out resources critical for social and
this “is not justified by the materials on record”. The impeachment process has fallen short and is We end with the hope that Parliament treads with
economic infra. States don’t have money to invest in creating public But one must be clear – judicial accountability must inherently a political process. It is also reserved for moderation, and with the words of Justice Albie Sachs
goods. Private investment is not an answer. GOI’s capex levels are come from the judiciary itself and not from political perhaps the most deviant of our judges. A middle path of the South African constitutional court, “If respect for
down. India can’t upgrade unless its states invest in creating players. Otherwise, we risk independent judges being could begin with the mandatory public disclosure of the judiciary is to be regarded as integral to maintenance
enabling economic conditions. targeted. Is the in-house procedure perfect? Perhaps income of each judge, along with explicit disclosures of of the rule of law…such respect will be spontaneous,
Kharge has called for state units to make only financially viable not. But it is also the best that we have. financial, professional and personal conflicts of interests. enduring and real to the degree that it is earned rather
We have argued elsewhere that certain forms of Further, a judicial ombudsman needs to be created to the extent that it is commanded.”
promises. Reddy recently called for all political parties to deliberate
corruption such as financial corruption attract more in line with the Judicial Standards and Accountability The writers are advocates, Supreme Court
and arrive at a national consensus on such guarantees/freebies, in a
bid to rationalise, move away from the ill-conceived practice. It is
the need of the hour.
How To Bake A Pie With Washington Apple
No Turkish Delight To make hay while Trump tariffs, New Delhi can lower duties on farm produce like walnuts,
get Washington to open its markets for Indian veggies & fruits, and increase import of crude
By cracking down on opposition supporters Erdogan
reinforces his image as an electoral autocrat
& gas and defence buys to reduce trade imbalance that currently favours India
Ashok Gulati, Sulakshana Rao & Tanay Suntwal Türkiye has a 40% tax, per WTO. varieties of rice and food preparations can make major

E
rdogan is once again proving why Türkiye often gets described US’s interest would be in other commodities such as inroads. Onus lies on us to build effective export lines
as an electoral autocracy. Although presidential elections in rump’s policy of reciprocal tariffs kicks in soybean, corn, and even wheat. India bans soybean and for US, taking care of their Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Türkiye are a couple of years away – there’s chatter about early
polls – the long-time Turkish leader appears to be putting obstacles
in the path of his potential political opponent. And that challenger
is the hugely popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from the
T from April 2. The big question for India is how
to navigate this tariff turbulence…Can India
make a win-win of it? Answer’s yes, if India
smartly plays its cards. Agriculture will be slightly
difficult to tackle, but even here, India can drive a
corn imports on the pretext of these being GM crops. But
reality is that India’s own food system already has GM
cotton, and its seed and seed oil is sold for both human and
non-human consumption. So, India will have to shed its
hypocrisy of banning GM crops.
Standards (SPS). This is critical to ensure food safety,
and can easily be negotiated on, and regulatory
procedures streamlined.
India’s approach to Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy
must not be combative, but constructive. The
opposition Republican People’s Party. Imamoglu was detained bargain. How does India do this? Corn can be imported prima- Trump-Modi meet resulted in Mission
and arrested last week over alleged corruption charges – which he First, India’s agricultural tariffs (39%) on average rily to make ethanol as well 500 – more than doubling bilateral
describes as fabricated – leading to days of widespread protests. are 7.8 times US’s agri-tariffs of 5%, way higher than as feed for poultry. Cur- trade to $500bn by 2030. Achie-
Turkish authorities have detained 1,133 people since March 19, making what Indian agriculture really needs. It makes India rent duty of 50% can be ving this requires a balanced
these the largest demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi uprising. an outlier. It prompts Trump to call India “tariff king”. gradually reduced to approach, opening trade
Take the case of rice for instance. India is world’s 15-20%. Similarly, flows both ways.
But such crackdowns have taken place largest exporter of rice but imposes a 70% tariff on its soybean is basically A starting point for
periodically under Erdogan’s two-decade-old import. This can simply be slashed to 10-15% without a protein crop for India could be to go
leadership that has been marked by the harming farmers here. feed. Its current beyond agriculture and
vilification of opposition – whom Erdogan has Shrimp is India’s largest agri-export to US. India duty of 45% can be increase energy imports
often equated with terrorists – purges of critics, has a net surplus of agri-trade with US. US imposes a reduced and made of crude oil and gas,
and malleability of democratic institutions. 0-5% duty on shrimp and other marine products from equal to the duty on which India already
India. If India wants to protect this market, critical for soya oil, 20%. Wheat is purchases from
Even in the last Turkish presidential polls in its fishery sector, it’ll have to open its own agri-markets more sensitive, and its various countries.
2023, Erdogan employed divisive rhetoric and in which US shows interest. current duty of 40% can be India can top this
labelled his then main rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu India’s largest agri-import item from US is almonds, negotiated to be halved to up with defence purchases. That’ll
as being pro-LGBTQ and hand in glove with terrorists. and attract 10% import duty. Washington apples attract 20% in stages. If New Delhi is yet help correct the trade imbalance that’s
All of these are classic tactics of an electoral autocrat for whom 15% duty. So why, one can ask, does India impose 100% uncomfortable, this can be placed under currently in favour of India.
winning polls by any means necessary is more important than duty on walnuts? This too can be reduced to 10-15%. tariff rate quota. A similar approach may be called India need not retaliate to reciprocal tariffs, can lower
Similarly cranberries, blueberries, all can be opened for in import of Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP), where them where feasible, and negotiate for better market
upholding the values and sanctity of democratic institutions. But for import. The basic principle for negotiating is to current duty is 60%. access for Indian products, particularly labour-intensive
in Imamoglu – who has been nominated as his party’s presidential reduce tariffs on those commodities that India doesn’t In return, India can ask for easier market access for ones, like textiles and leather products, and agri-products.
candidate – Erdogan may face his toughest challenge yet. There are produce or produces in very small quantities. This’ll fruits and vegetables, from pomegranate, mangoes, India can thus secure its place in global trade, especially
clear parallels between the two – Erdogan was also once Istanbul not only placate US in trade negotiation, India will also grapes and bananas to all sorts of vegetables. This where China will vacate some space in US markets.
mayor before being arrested and then going on to dominate Turkish no longer be crowned tariff king. South Korea’s agri- segment can easily compete in US markets, provided Gulati is distinguished professor, Rao senior fellow &
national politics. But years of anti-incumbency may finally be crys- tariffs are even higher (57%) than India’s 39% and export value chains are streamlined. Similarly, multiple Suntwal research assistant at ICRIER. Views are personal

tallising against Erdogan and he may not be able to leverage Türkiye’s

crucial geopolitical position to ward off international proscription. Calvin & Hobbes Sacredspace
That may explain his recent surprising outreach to the Kurds – long
victims of Ankara’s policies. All of this also means that Erdogan God can be
fears being out of power, a hallmark of electoral autocrats. realised
through all
paths. All

War of words religions are

true. The
important thing is to reach the roof.
Tamil Nadu’s replacing the rupee symbol with ‘ru’ You can reach it by stone stairs or
could lead to a Babel-like verbal battlefield by wooden stairs or by bamboo
steps or by a rope.
Jug Suraiya Ramakrishna Paramhans

Does the rupee by another name have the same nominal value?

Be Your Own Devil’s Advocate, Eliminate Bias

That’s the linguistic, if not the economic, question posed by
Tamil Nadu’s DMK govt having used the initial letter of the
Tamil word for rupee, which is ‘rubaai’ or ‘ru’, instead of the
Devanagari-based rupee symbol in its presentation of the
state budget’s logo. Deepak Ranade visual cortex that integrate and mediate out only information that supports the of the chosen option.
The symbolic move is reportedly a retaliatory response to what is seen by our vision, only 20% of neural pathways decision. A stance, that the premise, decision,

H
Tamil Nadu to be the BJP-led central govt’s attempt to foist Hindi as the lingual uman brain has some rather come from the eyes; 80% come from It is a kind of self-propagating or option taken is wrong. One has to
currency of the country onto the state through the three-language formula of unique features to be able to other areas of the brain, such as those mechanism, which paradoxically investigate thereafter and find inherent
the National Educational Policy. make quick decisions based on in charge of memory. It is focuses on factors that lend flaws, possible misjudgements or
The hoisting of the flag of linguistic revolt has provoked a sharp reaction past experiences. This decision-making now estimated that visual credibility to whatever position miscalculations. An ‘autocorrection’ of
from the Centre, with the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, decrying it as comes with some limitations. We are perception is 80% memory one has taken. sorts that splits the Self into two. One
a “completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism”. more likely to see what we expect to see, and 20% input through the Decision-making is that has made the decision and another
However, it’s not just Tamil Nadu and other southern states rather than what is actually there. This eyes. Sensory information fraught with another peril – that questions the former.
that see Hindi as a stalking horse of the Centre in its bid to gain lingual phenomenon is known as ‘perceptual is not transmitted to the the powerful undercurrent The kicking in of this autocorrection
dominance at the expense of regional autonomy as expressed set’. It, therefore, has the potential to brain; it comes from it. This of emotions that short charge mechanism introduces a delay that
through speech and script. lead to biased, erroneous perception infill, or fill-in-the-blanks, reason and blur reality. A differentiates an instinctive impulsive
What is increasingly seen as a forcible ‘Hindi- and subsequently wrong decisions. A is sourced from memory and combination of cognitive act from an act suffused with conscious
fication’ of the country is viewed with suspicion familiar example is we being able to other sensory modalities bias garnished with generous deliberation – an ability to transcend
secondopinion by the other states, such as Bengal, which are read a misspelt word correctly because and experiences. emotional toppings has often from being merely a decision-maker to
justly proud of their rich linguistic heritage. our brains expect it to be spelt that way. Therefore, any decision, or been the recipe for disastrous simultaneously being an unbiased
The Newtonian principle that every action has an equal and opposite It’s a unique ability to selectively ignore chosen option that’s based on judgements and decisions. observer. An independent observer is no
reaction is applicable not only in the realm of physics, but also in the domain of what does not conform to established our perception is strongly Human intelligence longer subservient to presumptions and
cultural identity as expressed in the written and spoken word. patterns and eliminate any confusion. impacted by a well-defined perhaps is unique in that it biases and has a self-indulgent ego that
In the Bible story, a humankind united by a common language began The cognitive apparatus selectively phenomenon called can effect its own appraisal. refuses to accept one’s limitations. To
building a Tower of Babel to reach heaven, a project which irked God who mutes the discordant notes to maintain confirmation bias. A blessing that’s ironically err is human; to review is divine.
confounded humans by making them speak a multiplicity of tongues and harmony of perception. Confirmation bias is a called ‘Devil’s Advocacy’. Eliminating cognitive bias plays a
thereby scattering them across the face of the Earth. There is evidence to suggest that at psychological term for the Being one’s own Devil’s crucial role in making correct decisions.
Thanks not to the Almighty, but to the lesser god of language politics, are we any given moment, one sees only 20% of human tendency to selectively Advocate is a discipline that This endeavour is particularly
creating our own lingual Babel to sunder our unity? what one is seeing; 80% of what appears glean information that supports one’s can yield rich dividends. This involves important when making critical,
As a preventive stratagem we might adopt a one-language formula based on in our visual field is being ‘generated’ position. This causes a bias towards challenging and if required negating irreversible, life-changing decisions.
a single, region-neutral, politics-neutral lingua franca. Esperanto? by our brain. Of the total inputs to the confirming the decision made, seeking assumptions, arguments, and evidence The writer is a neurosurgeon
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: medha.shukla1 T: 03-26-2025 00:28

THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025 TIMES NATION 15

India & China hold ‘positive’ Allahabad HC lawyers strike work, slam
‘betrayal’ by judiciary’s decision-makers
talks on border management Rajesh Kumar Pandey TNN

CJI-picked panel has

Doval & Wang readout, they exchanged views
on early resumption of cross-
diplomatic and military mech-
anisms towards this end,’’ said
Prayagraj: Lawyers at Alla-
habad high court shut down

To Meet In India
border cooperation and ex-
changes, including on trans-
border rivers and Kailash-
the Indian govt, adding that
both sides will work to make
“substantial preparation” for
judicial work indefinitely
Tuesday, launching a protest
against Supreme Court col-
already zeroed in on
Later This Year Mansarovar Yatra. Interest-
ingly, the Indian readout did
the Special Representatives’
meeting.
legium’s decision to transfer
Delhi HC judge Justice Yash- people for quizzing
Sachin.Parashar not mention the resumption of The Special Representa- want Varma to their court.
@timesofindia.com direct air services, something tives had met in Beijing in Dec Allahabad HC Bar Asso-  Continued from P 1 As per fire report
which India had agreed to “in 2024, after a gap of five years ciation accused the judi-
details dated March

T
New Delhi: As India and Chi- principle” during foreign sec- that resulted from the 2020 bor- ciary’s top decision-makers he panel has identified
na look to reboot ties, building retary Vikram Misri’s visit to der standoff in eastern La- of betraying the system by those who would be 21, Safdarjung fire
upon a spell of relative calm in Both sides will work to make Beijing in Jan. China is keen on dakh. The standoff seemed to repatriating a judge facing called to record state- station received a
the border areas, they held an- ‘substantial preparation’ for the resumption of direct flights, have finally ended with an corruption allegations. ments, including the Delhi call about the fire
other round of diplomatic talks meeting of Ajit Doval (in pic) and but India apparently doesn’t agreement in Oct last year for “This fight is not against Lawyers during an indefinite fire department chief whose
in a “positive and constructive” Wang Yi, the Indian govt said want to rush into it. Official completion of the troop disen- any court or judge — it’s strike by the Allahabad High initial “no cash was found at at 11.35pm on
atmosphere, seeking ways to sources, however, said techni- gagement process in the re- against those who have com- Court Bar Association over the judge’s residence” state- March 14 and
advance effective border man- (WMCC), comprehensively re- cal authorities are working to maining areas, namely Dep- promised the integrity of the Justice Yashwant Varma's ment was cited by Justice firefighters arrived
agement. The talks also pre- viewed the LAC situation, reach an updated framework sang and Demchok. This was judiciary,” the Bar associ- transfer to the Allahabad High Varma in his explanation to
pared ground for another meet- stressing peace and tranquilli- for the resumption. followed days later by the first ation’s president Anil Tiwa- Court, in Prayagraj, Tuesday, Delhi HC Chief Justice D K
at the site at
ing of the Special Representa- ty on the border is critical for “The two sides explored bilateral meeting between PM ri said. “Repatriating a judge Upadhyay. The fire chief had 11.43pm. They left
tives, Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, the smooth development of various measures and pro- Narendra Modi and President accused of corruption to subsequently denied mak- the place after two
that India will host later this overall bilateral relations. Chi- posals to give effect to the de- Xi Jinping in five years in Ka- his parent high court is no Cong MP calls for ing any such statement. hours, at 1.56 am
year.
Ateam led by MEA joint sec-
na said the meeting was held
with a “forward-looking ap-
cisions taken during 23rd
meeting of the Special Repre-
zan, on the margins of the
Brics summit. Modi said in a
punishment, it’s a reward.”
The bar association
discussion in LS Besides Justice Varma,
the prime witnesses who will burned at Justice Varma’s
retary (East Asia) Gourangalal proach” and both sides agreed sentatives on the India-China podcast earlier this month his passed a resolution Monday be examined by the panel are residence around 4.50pm on
Das, which travelled to Beijing
this week for the 33rd meeting
to take “concrete and effective”
measures for maintaining
boundary question in Beijing
in Dec 2024 and to advance ef-
meeting with Xi had led to a re-
turn of normalcy on the bor-
calling for Justice Varma’s
impeachment and has now
C ongress member Hibi
Eden on Tuesday
demanded a discussion in the
the first responders to the
distress call about the fire in
March 15 and shared photo-
graphs and video of the inci-
of Working Mechanism for peace and tranquillity in the fective border management. der and he expected trust to re- escalated its demand, urging Lok Sabha on the alleged the outhouse storeroom of dent. The police chief also in-
Consultation & Coordination border areas. The two sides agreed to main- turn in the relationship slowly CJI Sanjiv Khanna to order discovery of large sums of the judge’s residence on the formed Justice Upadhyay
on India-China Border Affairs According to the Indian tain and strengthen relevant but surely. an FIR and investigations by unaccounted cash at the night of March 14. that as per the guards posted
CBI, ED, and other agencies. residence of Justice Yashwant Among these responders at Justice Varma’s residence,
Justice Varma is at the Varma a sitting Delhi High are firefighters from Safdar- “some debris and half burnt

Kamra: Threat openly made BMC looking into centre of a firestorm after a Court judge, terming the jung fire station and police articles were removed in the
stash of cash was discovered incident as “extremely personnel from Tughlaq morning of March 15”.
permits for Khar hotel Road PS. HC staff, including per-
at his official residence fol- disheartening”. Raising the

A day after inspecting lowing a fire in a storeroom issue during Zero Hour, Eden As per the fire report de- sonal assistants, attached to

by politicians through media hotel Unicontinental in

Khar, where comedian
Kunal Kamra recorded his
on March 14, triggering a Su-
preme Court-ordered in-
house inquiry.
called for discussion in the
House to find a robust and
cogent solution to ensure
tails dated March 21, Safdar-
jung fire station received a
call about the fire at the judg-
Justice Varma’s residence
will also be questioned by the
inquiry panel to understand
Continued from P 1 The first complaint ty outside the Khar hotel on show , BMC is scrutinising He has denied any wrong- greater judicial accountability e’s residence at 11.35pm on the nature of the fire and the
against Kamra was filed at Tuesday as well to prevent the building’s approvals for doing and alleged a conspir- and transparencyin the March 14 and firefighters ar- presence of cash.

T
he officer said, “Kamra’s MIDC police station in Andh- any potential disturbances. potential violations. acy to frame him. country. PTI rived at the site at 11.43pm. A critical part of the in-
mobile was found to be eri East by Shiv Sena MLA Two performers from The Officials said they are The lawyers called on They left the place after two quiry will be to examine call
switched off. We asked Murji Patel after viewing the Habitat studio, Yashika verifying structural plans Union govt to reject the SC hours, at 1.56 am. data records of Justice Var-
his father to alert him to reply video which was aired Bhardwaj and Pamil with the building proposal collegium’s recommenda- the association said in a Delhi police commission- ma for the last six months. He
as soon as possible.” on Sunday. The case was Godara, visited the spot department and reviewing tion outright. “Allahabad HC statement, vowing to contin- er Sanjay Arora had informed has been told not to delete
DCP (zone IX) Dikshit Ge- subsequently trans- Tuesday, displaying post- the hotel’s operating is not a dumping ground for ue their strike until the Justice Upadhyay, who was in any information from his
dam said the police will de- ferred to Khar police. ers that read ‘Save The permits. TNN corrupt and tainted judges,” transfer order is scrapped. Lucknow, about cash being phone(s).
cide about whether to remove Kamra said, “The show Habitat’ and ‘Why Hab-
the show from the online plat- was shot on Feb 2 and itat — Mujhe Kyun To-
form. aired on Sunday. Soon, da?’
On potential threats, Ku- political workers took Kamra had in the
nal Kamra told TOI that he the joke in a wrong way.” controversial video perform-
has been avoiding calls and On Monday evening the ed a parody of a popular Hin-
messages from unknown peo- Bandra court had granted bail di film song in which he allud-
ple, noting that “the threat is to Shiv Sena functionary Ra- ed to Shinde. He also made
openly made by politicians hool Kanal and eleven others jokes about recent political
through the media. What can who were arrested for vanda- developments in Maharash-
I say when they are making lising the hotel premises. tra, including the splits in the
an open threat?” Police maintained securi- Shiv Sena and NCP.

Committed to
judiciary’s
SC order sets benchmark
diversity, for fines to be imposed
 Continued from P 1
says Meghwal that his client had admitted
the mistake and apologised

A
TIMES NEWS NETWORK bench of Justices Abhay and urged the court to reduce
S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan the fine amount, which he said
New Delhi: RJD’s Manoj Jha rejected the plea of a was exorbitant. He also said
recently pointed out in Lok man who had cut down 454 Agarwal should be allowed to
Sabha that the representation trees in the protected Taj Tra- do plantations at a nearby site
of SCs, STs, OBCs, women and pezium Zone. The bench ac- and not on the same plot. Re-
minorities in the higher judi- cepted the suggestion of se- fusing to reduce the fine
ciary remains far below the de- nior advocate ADN Rao, who is amount, the court, however,
sired level, and sought a state- assisting the court as amicus allowed him to do plantations
ment from the law minister if curiae, that a clear message in nearby areas.
govt has taken it up with the needed to be sent to offenders In its report, CEC said 454
apex court. He said that there that the law and trees could trees were illegally felled on
was a declining trend in the ap- not, and should not, be taken the night of Sept 18 last year
pointment of judges from the for granted. With its order, the out of which 422 trees were on
marginalised court has set a bench- private land known as
communities mark on how much Dalmia Farm situated
in recent years fine should be im- at Vrindavan Chatika-
and, if govt posed in such cases. ra Road, and the re-
had ap- “No mercy in envi- maining 32 trees were
proached Su- ronmental case. Fell- on the roadside strip.
preme Court ing a large number of Observing that the
(SC) to incorporate social di- trees is worse than report revealed the
versity in memorandum of killing a hu- shocking state
procedure (MoP) for judicial man. It will of affairs and
appointments. take at least 100
TREE-FELLING CASES blatant viola-
“Appointment of judges years minimum to again re- tion of the SC's order, the
to SC and high courts is made generate or recreate the green bench initiated contempt pro-
under Articles 124, 217 and 224 cover created by 454 trees ceedings against Agarwal and
of the Constitution, which do which were blatantly cut with- asked the CEC to suggest fur-
not provide for reservation out permission of this court ther measures to be taken
for any caste or class of per- though the embargo imposed against him.
sons,” Arjun Ram Megh- by this court is right from the The panel suggested that
wal said in a written reply. year 2015,” the bench said. the forest dept should recover
The law minister empha- The court accepted the re- the penalty due under provi-
sised that govt was committed port of the central empowered sions of UP Protection of
to enhancing social diversity committee (CEC), which rec- Trees Act, 1976, for this illegal
and since 2018, those recom- ommended a fine of Rs 1 lakh felling & dept should also take
mended for the post of HC per tree for 454 trees which punitive action against the
judges are required to provide were cut last year by one Shiv land owner for felling 32 trees
details regarding their social Shankar Agarwal. Senior ad- that were in the protected for-
background in the prescribed vocate Mukul Rohatgi, ap- est as per provisions under the
format. pearing for him, told the bench Indian Forest Act, 1972.

Amount more than 27% of SC: Hearing will

green min’s annual allocation resume on April 3
 Continued from P 1
Continued from P 1 pollution situation in the

S
country that has been im- enior advocates C A Sunda-

I
t said, “Planning for dis- pacting one and all, the pan- ram and D Seshadri Naidu,
bursement and utilisa- el said, “At a time when the appearing for BRS MLAs
tion of the funds are al- ministry is required to ad- seeking the disqualification, told
ready in place and will be ex- dress the grave and critical the bench high court had in Sept
ecuted as soon as approval is challenge of deteriorating 2024 asked the speaker to fix a
received.” air quality, the ministry has hearing schedule within four
The panel headed by BJP not been able to decide the weeks but no notice was issued
Rajya Sabha member Bhu- continuation of the scheme until Jan this year.
baneswar Kalita, however, concerned, as a result of They said one of the defected
didn’t appear convinced, which not even 1% of the MLAs had even contested the Lok
and asked the ministry to in- funds allocated for the Sabha polls on Congress ticket
trospect and take serious scheme have been utilised so and lost and continued to be MLA.
far.” They said only after SC passed
IMPACT ON ECOLOGY The panel noted that observation in an earlier hearing,
though Delhi has been in the the speaker issued notice on Feb
note of the reasons for this news because of its “ever-de- 13 to MLAs and granted them
“gross under-utilisation”. teriorating air quality”, oth- three weeks time to respond. But
The panel expressed er cities in the country are that deadline passed and there is
shock that the amount (Rs also not far behind and are no clarity on the status of the dis-
858 crore), which is more experiencing high ‘air quali- qualification petitions, they told
than 27% of the annual allo- ty index’ (AQI) levels. the bench. The hearing will re-
cation of the ministry, re- It said, “The rising envi- sume on Apr 3.
mained unutilised since ap- ronmental pollution in the Objecting to the delay on the
proval for continuation of country not only results in a part of the speaker in taking deci-
the scheme till 2025-26, was number of pollution-related sion, the apex court had earlier
awaited “even at the fag end human diseases and health said the rights of political parties
of the financial year”. conditions but negatively could not be permitted to be frus-
Underlining the grim air impacts our ecology too.” trated in a democracy.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: c-anil.kumar T: 03-26-2025 00:23

India’s Data Rush:

Powering The Future with AI THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
Others AI Demand Drivers
1,400 4%
Data 6 Investment 8% AI workloads
I ndia's data centre
sector is witness-
ing unprecedented
Data centre capacity
surged 139% from
capacity
growth
Inflow
5 Growth
CITY-WISE
5%
4%
Bengaluru
Pune
Cloud services
OTT platforms
4

$Bn
2019 to 2024 Social media

Mumbai
expansion, driven (MW) DATA
(590 MW to 1.4 GW) 3 CENTRE 9% Hyderabad Future Market Size
by the surge in AI, 48%
600 2 DISTRIBUTION Noida Data centre market expected
cloud-based services Over $6.5bn committed
via PE investments, JVs 1 Chennai to grow from $1.4bn (2025) to
and digitalisation 24% $6.4bn (2030), a 42% CAGR
initiatives & acquisitions (2014-24)
2019 2024 2019 2024 Source: Anarock

Axis MF, 5 others

settle case of front ‘Goal is to offer more
Pre-IPO Fundraise In Focus Amid Growing Investor Confidence
running with Sebi
Mumbai: Axis Mutual fund,
along with five other entities,
Groww to raise $250mn led innovative medicines’
by GIC at $6.8bn valuation
has settled a case of front
running by its former head of
dealing Viresh Joshi by paying
Rs 6.3 crore to markets regulator India Is One Of The Most Exciting Economic
Sebi. Along with the fund house,
the trustee company, Chandesh
Nigam, its former MD, and three
[email protected]
Valuation More Than Doubles Since 2021
en $6 billion and $8 billion.
Groww is set to raise about
Stories Globally: Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks
others were involved in the Bengaluru: Investment plat- $600-800 million through the Rupali.Mukherjee
settlement process. They had form Groww is in the process h Groww raised $251 million h Other investors in the round offering, with the issue of new @timesofindia.com We expect to expand significantly (in India) with more
filed the settlement application of raising a pre-IPO funding in 2021 and was valued at may include Tiger Global shares and offers for sale by access to life-saving treatments
$3.1 billion Management, among existing

E
on a ‘suo motu’ basis. TNN of about $250 million, from a existing shareholders split li Lilly, the $45 billion US h Rise in diabetes, driven by obesity, is a major
bunch of investors led by h Since inception, it has investors in the company nearly equally. pharmaceutical giant concern. We have a number of oral medications
Singapore’s sovereign wealth raised $393 million h Groww offers stock The company raised $251 known globally for its in development
fund GIC, at a valuation of h The latest round trading, mutual fund million in 2021 and was valued blockbuster weight-loss tre-
$6.8 billion, said sources fami- at $3.1 billion. Since inception, atment Mounjaro (tirzepati- h India is now our second-largest market for
signals growing investor investments and other
liar with the matter. Groww has raised $393 mil- de), aims to transform India employment (after US)
confidence in Groww’s financial services
The latest funding round, business ahead of going public lion. Last year, its private- from an underperforming h We use AI to improve efficiency in clinical trials
h It has seen rapid expansion
more than doubling the com- market value reportedly dip- market into a growth engine and drug development. AI helps us scale and
h Participation of Singapore- in recent years and
pany’s last recorded valua- ped below $2 billion after it by addressing the country’s speed up processes
based GIC sovereign wealth is positioning itself as a rising diabetes and obesity
tion in an equity-based fund- merged its US-based holding —DAVID RICKS | CHAIR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
raise, comes as the Bengalu- fund shows its continued key player in online company with its Indian pa- challenges. Just days after OF ELI LILLY AND COMPANY
ru-based company prepares interest in India’s fintech sector investing space rent Billionbrains Garage the India launch of Mounja-
for its public listing. Ventures. Founded in 2016 by ro, which targets type 2 diabe- alth. Our goal is to introduce APIs (active pharmaceutical
The development signals pany. GIC’s participation un- trading, mutual fund invest- former Flipkart executives tes and obesity, at a fraction more innovative medicines to ingredients) and drug pro-
growing investor confidence derscores its continued inter- ments, and other financial Lalit Keshre, Harsh Jain, Nee- of its US price of over $1,000 the market, while maintaining duct. We have a flexible supp-
in Groww’s business ahead of est in India’s fintech sector. services, has seen rapid ex- raj Singh, and Ishan Bansal, per month, David Ricks, cha- the importance of generics. ly chain and multiple manu-
going public. Spokespersons The sovereign wealth fund pansion in recent years and is Groww is backed by investors ir and chief executive officer facturing hubs around the
for Groww and GIC did not re- previously backed several positioning itself as a key pla- like Y Combinator, Peak XV of Eli Lilly and Company, This is your third visit to world, including in the US,
spond to TOI’s requests for high-growth Indian startups yer in India’s online investing Partners (formerly Sequoia highlighted India as one of India as CEO. How do you Europe, and Asia.
comment. Other investors in across sectors, including Flip- space. TOI reported in Jan Capital India) and Ribbit Ca- the most “exciting economic assess the Indian market
the round may include Tiger kart, Delhivery, Swiggy, Ra- that Groww is charting a cour- pital. For FY24, Groww’s reve- stories globally.” Excerpts over the years ? As regards diabetes, how
Global Management, among zorpay, and Cred. se for an IPO by Dec this year, nue rose 119% to Rs 3,145 crore from an interview with TOI. India is one of the most ex- do you see the future evol-
existing investors in the com- Groww, which offers stock aiming for a valuation betwe- from Rs 1,435 crore a year ago. citing economic stories global- ving with new treatments?
It must be an exciting time ly. It’s a vast country and achie- We’ve been serving people

Secondary sale: Zepto to raise $200mn

to be here just days after ving scale can be challenging, with diabetes for over 100 years.
the launch of Mounjaro. but the pace of progress here is And, insulin still is a backbone
How do you see Indian remarkable. Lilly has expan- of glucose management for ty-
market evolving? ded operations here and India pe 1 and type 2 diabetes. The ri-
Sensex, Nifty rise for [email protected] is favourable for the busi- at $5 billion and having The therapy is really trans- is now our second-largest mar- se in diabetes, driven by obesi-
VALUATION: $5BN ness as it prepares to go pub- shown growth in its annua- formative, and many people ket for employment (after US). ty, is a major concern. We have
seventh straight day Mumbai: Zepto is underta- Zepto being valued at $5 lic,” a source told TOI. Zepto lised gross order value were already seeking it in In- We’ve opened a new service a number of oral medications
king a secondary share sale billion for secondary share sale declined to comment. (GOV) which it claims tou- dia. It highlights the power of centre at Hyderabad, and are in development, including an
Mumbai: Sensex and Nifty rose worth over $200 million at The startup has been try- ched $3 billion, the startup innovation and what Mounja- leveraging Indian talent for oral GLP-1 one, with results an-
for the seventh consecutive the same valuation of $5 bil- Move aimed at boosting ing to raise participation of will seek a higher valuation, ro is doing for millions world- global performance. We have a ticipated in the second quarter.
session on Tuesday. Sensex was lion to boost domestic ow- domestic ownership ahead of local investors. Zepto’s last potentially looking at close wide. Tirzepatide is a first-in- good history here and are ex- We also have data from Moun-
up 33 points at 78,017 points nership ahead of its planned planned IPO $350 million funding round to $10 billion. class treatment that activates panding here (Hyderabad jaro showing a dramatic reduc-
while Nifty was up 10 points at initial public offering (IPO), PE arms of Edelweiss in Nov led by Motilal Os- Zepto rivals publicly lis- two hormone receptors —glu- GCC). Part of my visit is to tion in the risk of developing
23,669 points. In the last seven preparations for which have Financial Services and Motilal wal’s private wealth divi- ted Zomato (now Eternal cose-dependent insulinotropic check progress on a number of diabetes. If we can scale these
sessions, the sensex has added a picked up pace with the com- Oswal Financial Services jointly sion was entirely backed by Ltd) and Swiggy in the quick polypeptide (GIP) and gluca- initiatives put in place last ye- treatments, we could slow rise
little over 4,100 points while Nifty pany planning to file draft buying bulk of shares domestic investors inclu- commerce sector and is also gon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) ar, discuss partnerships that of diabetes significantly.
is up nearly 1,300 points. TNN IPO papers in a month’s ti- Zepto’s last $350 million ding a clutch of Indian fami- competing with them in the —which play key roles in regu- we’re forming here to reach
me, sources said. funding round in Nov led by ly offices. The company rapid food delivery space by lating blood sugar and appeti- more patients. The consumer How is AI is being utilised in
ATM charges to be As part of the secondary Motilal Oswal’s private wealth which recently completed launching a separate app for te. We’re optimistic about Indi- nature of obesity treatments the pharma industry ?
transaction, the private equ- division was entirely backed by the process of shifting its do- its food service Zepto Café. a’s growth and expect to ex- makes partnerships with large We use artificial intelli-
revised from May 1 ity arms of Edelweiss Fi- domestic investors micile to India from Singa- Investor appetite for the pand significantly with more tech players even more crucial. gence to improve efficiency
nancial Services and Moti- pore is firming up its draft instant delivery space has access to life-saving treat- in clinical trials, manufactu-
Mumbai: The National lal Oswal Financial Services IPO papers in consultation surged amid increasing con- ments. India is the 14th largest How does Trump’s policies ring, and drug development.
Payments Corporation of India are jointly buying the bulk least 40% from the current with bankers, sources said. sumer adoption, particular- market, but most of it is domi- and reshoring impact AI helps us scale and speed up
has announced a revision in of the shares from some of 33%. “The company intends The IPO size and valuation ly in metros, with Zepto nated by generics rather than supply chain for compani- processes. We’re also using
interchange fees for ATM the startup’s global inves- to eventually shore up do- are still being discussed but alone bagging $1.3billion innovative medicines. We beli- es like yours? AI in our research and deve-
transactions. The fees will tors. The idea is to increase mestic shareholding to 50%. sources indicated that with in funding from investors eve both can coexist and gene- It’s a modest effect for us. lopment, collaborating with
increase by Rs 2—from Rs 17 to domestic shareholding to at Strong domestic ownership Zepto already being valued last year. rics play a key role in public he- We tend to make our own external partners.
Rs 19—effective May 1. TNN

SBI’s main branch in

Delhi marks 100 yrs Samsung, execs face Unprecedented tax relief to ‘Indian EV cos can
New Delhi: SBI’s main branch in
the national capital marked the
beginning of its centenary year
$601mn tax demand taxpayers in budget, says FM easily take on Tesla’
with the release of a special cover TIMES NEWS NETWORK TIMES NEWS NETWORK the world. “Currently, we are
on Tuesday. The branch was set up New Delhi: Tax authorities ha- reviewed by Reuters. LS CLEARS FINANCE BILL the third largest automobile

W
on Jan 4, 1926, and named Raisina ve ordered Samsung and its ex- Samsung “violated” Indian New Delhi: Finance mini- ill Tesla’s entry into market in the world at Rs 22
Road Branch. It was renamed New ecutives in the country to pay laws and “knowingly and inten- ster Nirmala Sitharaman We aim to boost domestic production and enhance India charge up the lakh crore with the US (Rs 78
Delhi Branch on March 4, 1926. TNN $601 million (nearly Rs 5,150 cro- tionally presented false docu- on Tuesday said the Budget export competitiveness by reducing duties local EV market? lakh crore) at number 1 and
re) in back taxes and penalties ments before the customs aut- has provided “unpreceden- on raw materials and inputs, making domestic Transport minister Nitin China (Rs 49 lakh crore) at
for dodging tariffs on import of hority for clearance”, Sonal Ba- ted tax relief to honest tax- products more cost-effective Gadkari is number 2. In five years, becau-

S&P trims key telecoms equipment, a govt

order showed, for one of the big-
jaj, a commissioner of customs,
said in the order.
payers” and is aimed at bo-
osting domestic production
So, digital becomes an issue. What prevails now
with the gap and that gap is getting filled up in
confident that
India’s ho-
se of the increase in alternati-
ve fuel usage, improved cost
gest such demands in recent ye- Samsung was ordered to pay and enhancing export com- the new Income Tax Bill, which is before the megrown EV and quality and electrifica-
India’s growth ars. The demand represents a
substantial chunk of last year’s
Rs 4,460 crore ($520 million),
consisting of unpaid taxes and
petitiveness, while indica-
ting that the Income Tax
select committee brands will be
able to more
tion, we should be No. 1.”
Both industry and govt
Nirmala Sitharaman | FINANCE MINISTER
forecast to 6.5% net profit of $955 million for
Samsung in India. It can be
a penalty of 100%.
Seven India executives face
Bill to replace the 63-year-
old law will be taken up for als and inputs, making do- tection from not sharing
than hold the-
ir own in comparison. “India
are already working towards
a flexi-fuel future. “Already
New Delhi: Ratings agency challenged in a tax tribunal or fines of $81 million, among discussion during the mon- mestic products more cost- passcode, she said. “So, di- is an open market and you’re seven or eight companies, in-
S&P Global on Tuesday trim- the courts. them the network division’s vi- soon session of Parliament. effective,” she said. gital becomes an issue. free to come here, manufactu- cluding the Tatas, Mahind-
med India’s GDP growth fore- The company, which also ce president, Sung Beam Hong, In Budget, FM had pro- She also sought to add- What prevails now with the re and compete on cost. But ras, Suzuki, Hyundai, among
cast for 2025-26 and asserted imports telecom equipment chief financial officer Dong posed a relief of up to Rs 1.1 ress some concerns over po- gap and that gap is getting our Indian electric car makers others, have lined up flex fuel
that Asia-Pacific economies through its network division, Won Chu and Sheetal Jain, a ge- lakh for taxpayers, hoping wer to access digital records filled up in the new Income are no less and we have the vehicles while companies
will feel the strain of rising US received a warning in 2023 for neral manager for finance, as that more money in hands proposed in the I-T Bill, said Tax Bill, which is before the best in terms of design, quali- like Adani, Tata, Maruti, LG,
tariffs specifically and a push- misclassifying imports to eva- well as Nikhil Aggarwal, Sam- of people will spur demand. the records will also be taken select committee,” she said. ty and technology right here Samsung have been cleared
back on globalisation. de tariffs of 10% or 20% on a cri- sung’s general manager for in- On Tuesday, the Lok Sab- into account. The current The new Bill gives tax of- today,” he said at HPCL pre- to make lithium ion batteries
It said domestic demand tical transmission component direct taxes, the order showed. ha passed the Finance Bill law permits the examina- ficers powers to override the sents Times Drive Auto Sum- under a special scheme,” he
momentum should broadly used in mobile towers. “The issue involves the 2025 incorporating 35 tion of books of account, access code of computer sy- mit & Awards. said. Battery prices have co-
hold up, especially in the re- Samsung pushed tax autho- interpretation of classifica- amendments. In her reply to physically kept or every ma- stems and virtual digital That confidence, he added, me down to $100 per kilo watt
gion’s emerging-market eco- rity to drop the scrutiny, saying tion of goods by customs,” the discussion on the Bill, nual record, which shows in- space, including online tra- was based on how the Indian hour and in “six to seven
nomies. “India’s GDP will the component did not attract Samsung said in a state- Sitharaman highlighted the come expenditure. ding and investment acco- automobile industry has months EVs and petrol/die-
grow 6.5% in the fiscal year tariffs and officials had known ment, adding that it compli- changes in customs duties. Since the 1961 Act does unts as well as cloud servers, changed from a “cost-based sel vehicles will cost the
ending March 31, 2026, we ex- its classification practice for ye- ed with Indian laws. “We “We aim to boost domestic not mention the digital re- in search and seizure cases. sector to a quality-based in- same,” he added. The NHAI,
pect...less than our earlier fo- ars. But customs authorities are assessing legal options production and enhance ex- cords, most often it beco- Now, the Budget will be dustry”. In the near future, he he said, is building 670 roadsi-
recast of 6.7%,” S&P Global disagreed in a confidential Jan to ensure our rights are ful- port competitiveness by re- mes contentious and people taken up for discussion by added, this will make India de amenities, including char-
said in its report. TNN 8order that is not public but was ly protected.” REUTERS ducing duties on raw materi- go to the court and seek pro- the Rajya Sabha. the top automobile market in ging stations for EVs.

Are Trump’s Policies Pushing US Economy Towards A Recession?

I THIS IS WHAT KEY INDICATORS SIGNAL...
s the US economy headed Most forecasters still don’t disregarded the selloff and re- ce; consumers were saving less
for a recession? Stocks have expect a recession. But they say fused to back down. “Markets to maintain their spending.
plunged. So have measures the chances of one have risen are going to go up and they’re “All of these things were
of consumer and business sharply — a turnabout from Economic policy uncertainty index Consumer sentiment index S&P 500 since the election going to go down,” he told re- pretty obvious even in Dec,”
Peak
confidence. Fo- when Trump took office. How porters last week. He and mem- said Neil Dutta of Renaissan-
500 100 6,100
recasters ex- likely is a downturn? Here are More
bers of his administration now ce Macro Research, a financi-
pect slower three big questions about the 400 More uncertainty
Recessions
80 confident suggest that a period of econo- al firm. He argues that a
growth, hig- Trump economy. mic pain is necessary to balan- slowdown in growth was in-
her unemploy- Covid 5,900 ce the economy. (Hardly any evitable this year, regardless
300 60 declared –7.6%
ment and fas- Actions versus feelings? Less a national since
economists agree.) of who won the election —
Election
ter inflation The evidence of a slow- 200 40 emergency Day peak Still, Trump could change which would mean that
than they did just a few down comes mostly from “soft” 5,700 tactics if the slump worsened. Trump is operating with less
months ago — and Wednesday, indicators. These are surveys Less of an economic buffer than
100 20
policymakers at the Federal showing that businesses are Is there a cushion? most people believe.
OBAMA TRUMP BIDEN
Reserve said they agreed. more reluctant to hire and in- 5,500 Coming into this year, most The economy has repeated-
The administration has vest, and that workers are more 1990 2000 2010 2020 2025 2010 2014 2018 2022 2024 Dec Jan Feb March
forecasters expected economic ly proved doubters wrong in re-
announced and then delayed worried about losing their jobs. Note: Data is a biweekly average and is through March Note: Data is monthly through March 2025; data for 2024 2025 output to grow about 2%, ad- cent years, and it may do so aga-
tariffs; it has ended and then “Hard” indicators — mea- 19, 2025. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis March is preliminary. Source: University of Michigan Source: LSEG Data & Analytics justed for inflation. That’s slo- in. But it doesn’t take a reces-
restored programmes. Even sures of actual activity — ha- wer than the 2.5% it grew last sion to cause real hardship.
some experts who are sympat- ven’t shown the same weak- contract today probably won’t But it is also possible that have become less reliable in an cause if he did, stocks would year, but it’s a long way from a Even a mere slowdown in
hetic to President Donald ness. Job growth was solid in lay off its staff tomorrow; an falling confidence won’t ever era of extreme partisanship. fall and Trump would reverse recession. Yet even before growth could leave hundreds
Trump’s aims worry that bu- Feb, for example. Retail sales employee who hears a rumour translate into real-world deci- course. Trump took office, some fore- of thousands out of work —
sinesses will pull back on hi- slumped in Jan but rebounded of job cuts might not immedia- sions. Consumer confidence How determined is Trump? So far, that has been a losing casters warned that the econo- and, if history is any guide,
ring and investing in the face last month, although less than tely cancel a long-planned va- was low through much of the Trump made tariffs a cen- bet. In his first term, Trump my was not as strong as well- send Trump’s approval ratings
of so much uncertainty — a forecasters had expected. cation. And even when beha- Biden administration, for ex- terpiece of his campaign last worried when markets fell and known indicators like the through the floor. That’s the
word that the Fed chair used Attitudes almost always viour does shift, it takes time to ample, but actual spending ne- year. But many people on Wall bragged when they rose. But unemployment rate sugges- kind of outcome presidents
repeatedly in a news confe- change before actual behavio- show up clearly in the econo- ver faltered. And evidence sug- Street didn’t believe he would when stocks fell after tariff an- ted. Hiring was slowing; the ho- usually do everything in their
rence on Wednesday. ur does. A company that loses a mic data. gests that sentiment measures follow through — in part be- nouncements this month, he using market was frozen in pla- power to avoid. NYT
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: c-anil.kumar T: 03-26-2025 00:16

TIMES SPORT
LAST FIVE MATCHES THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL
TODAY’S PLAYED RR L L W L L WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
FACE-OFF
29 Won by Won by “THERE WAS ENOUGH FOR THE
KKR L W W W W BOWLERS, BUT I THINK IT’S GOOD
RR Royals Knights
VS TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS IN
KKR 14 14
(50%) (50%)
VENUE: GUWAHATI
ODDS
BOWLING. WE FELT THE
PRESSURE AGAINST DC.
TV TIME RR KKR WE’RE STILL SETTLING IN.”
13/10 6/10
7:30 PM No Result: 1
—Rishabh Pant | LSG CAPTAIN
STAR SPORTS / JIOCINEMA

IYER IS
RR, KKR look
Yogesh Chawda
HOW THEY STAND
TEAM M W L NRR PTS

SRH
RCB
1
1
1
1
0
0
2.200
2.137
2
2
to bounce back
PBKS 1 1 0 0.550 2 [email protected]

PUNJAB
CSK 1 1 0 0.493 2
Guwahati: Having found themselves in a
DC 1 1 0 0.371 2 similar situation after suffering opening-
LSG 1 0 1 -0.371 0 round losses, it will be interesting to see
which team feels more at home here on
MI 1 0 1 -0.493 0 Wednesday as Rajasthan Royals (RR) take
on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their

KING!
GT 1 0 1 -0.550 0
second-round match at the Assam Cricket
KKR 1 0 1 -2.137 0 Association Stadium.
RR 1 0 1 -2.200 0 While the Knights suffered a seven-
wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengalu-

232/5
Gujarat ru at home, the Royals went down to Sun-
Titans’ risers Hyderabad by 44 runs. Though it’s
score is too early to be worried at the start of in
their highest losing total and their such a long season, both sides will be hop-
Captain Shreyas Scores 97* Before Vyshak second-highest behind the 233/3 in ing to turn things around at the earliest.
a winning cause vs Mumbai Indians “It’s always good to win the first game,
‘Impact’ Secures 11-Run Win Over GT in Ahmedabad on May 26, 2023. but there are some lessons to be learnt
from there. We could have capitalised (on

54
[email protected] Jos Buttler’s 20th fifty in the start), we could have got more runs but
the IPL is his fifth vs we lost wickets towards the end of the in-
Ahmedabad: In a battle of ‘Impact Players,’ Punjab Kings. He has 10 nings. Whatever you do, there is always an
Punjab Kings’ Vijaykumar Vyshak bowled fifties each in both wins and defeats. opportunity to bowl better,” KKR bowling
two tight overs, denying Gujarat Titans’ Sher- coach Bharat Arun said on Tuesday.

19
fane Rutherford the ideal length to extend his Glenn Maxwell’s ducks, Though the Knights are the away team
arms, while left-arm pacer Marco Jansen the most in the IPL, here, the former India bowling coach is
dismissed Jos Buttler (54 off 33b; 4x4, 2x6) in beating the previous hoping to get some home comfort over the
the 18th over to derail Titans’ spirited chase record of 18 ducks by Dinesh Karthik Royals. The Jaipur-based franchise uses
of 244 and help the visitors claim a 11-run and Rohit Sharma. the Barsapara stadium as their second
win here on Tuesday. Priyansh Arya gave ample demonstration of home ground in addition to their base at

97* SCOREBOARD
The hero of the day was Punjab captain the potential he holds at this level with a Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten knock is Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
Shreyas Iyer (97* off 42b; 5x4, 9x6), who led
from the front with an unbeaten, belligerent
chancy yet breezy knock. Iyer came in early,
after the dismissal of Prabhsimran Singh,
his career-best score in the IPL,
bettering the 96 vs Gujarat Lions
Punjab Kings: P Arya c MOVE TO DC LAST “Guwahati is a short distance from Kolk-
ata, (many people) speak the same lan-
knock as the visitors posted 243/5. Iyer was who was caught at third man by Arshad Khan in Kanpur on May 10, 2017. His only other innings
Sudharsan b Rashid 47, P Singh
c Arshad b Rabada 5, S Iyer not
CHAPTER OF MY guage here, so it’s a second home for us,”
ably supported by meaningful contributions off Kagiso Rabada’s bowling. Arya, mean- in the 90s is 93* vs KKR at Delhi on April 27, 2018. out 97, A Omarzai c Arshad b IPL CAREER, SAYS Arun said with a cheeky smile.
Sai Kishore 16, G Maxwell lbw b
from middle-order batter Shashank Singh while, flicked Mohammed Siraj over deep
Sai Kishore 0, M Stoinis c FAF DU PLESSIS PTI

243/5
(44* off 16b; 6x4, 2x6) and opener Priyansh square leg for a six before smashing a flurry Punjab Kings have
Arya (47 off 23b; 7x4, 2x6) as the Kings com- of boundaries off left-arm pacer Arshad recorded their highest Arshad b Sai Kishore 20, S Vizag: South African veteran Faf du
Singh not out 44; Extras: (lb8,
menced their quest for a maiden IPL title by Khan’s bowling in the fifth over. total vs Gujarat Titans w6) 14; Total: (5 wkts) 243; Plessis declared he has “lots of life
posting a huge total. Leg-spinner Rashid Khan ended Arya’s and their second highest in the IPL behind the FoW: 1-28, 2-79, 3-105, 4-105, left” as a franchise player but said
Titans captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sud- knock after the latter scooped a delivery to Sai 262/2 vs KKR at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on 5-162; Bowling: Siraj 4-0-54-0, his latest IPL move would be the
harsan (74 off 41b; 5x4, 6x6) subsequently got Sudharsan at cover. His dismissal brought April 26, 2024. Rabada 4-0-41-1, Arshad 1-0-21- last chapter of his career. Du
Titans off to a swift 61-run opening stand before former Titan Azmatullah Omarzai, who greet- 0, Rashid 4-0-48-1, Prasidh 3-0- Plessis, who led RCB for three years
41-0, Sai Kishore 4-0-30-3.

2091
Gill was dismissed. Buttler and Sudharsan then ed Khan with a six straight over his head. Runs scored by Shreyas Iyer until the end of last season, joined
added 84 runs in 40 balls to put Titans back on Marcus Stoinis and Iyer added 57 for the in the IPL, making him the Gujarat Titans: S Sudharsan c Delhi after the Nov player auction.
track. After Sudharsan’s dismissal, Rutherford fifth wicket before a reverse sweep led to seventh player to complete Shashank b Arshdeep 74, S Gill “Lots of life left in the old dog,”
c Arya b Maxwell 33, J Buttler b
smashed 18 off his first seven balls to reduce Stoinis’ downfall. Thereafter, it was the 2000-plus runs as captain in the IPL, joining Virat Jansen 54, S Rutherford b Du Plessis told commentator and
the target to 75 off 36 balls. Shashank-Iyer show. The duo clobbered 87 Kohli (4994), MS Dhoni (4660), Rohit Sharma Arshdeep 46, R Tewatia run out former England player Graeme
Vyshak, though, despite bowling wides, runs off the last five overs to take Kings to (3986), Gautam Gambhir (3518), David Warner 6, S Khan not out 6, A Khan not Swann after Delhi’s nail-biting win ON THE JOB, NEVER MIND INJURY: RR coach
bowled fast and outside off to stymie Ruther- the highest total scored on this ground. (3356) & Lokesh Rahul (2691) out 1; Extras: (lb4, w8) 12; over LSG. “New team, new Rahul Dravid at the team’s training session
ford. The West Indian batter’s inability to Iyer’s strong start to the season is good Total: (5 wkts) 232; FoW: 1-61, challenge for me. I almost see it as
2-145, 3-199, 4-217, 5-225;

3/30
rotate strike also increased the pressure on news for the batter and for Punjab. Iyer’s re- Sai Kishore has produced a new chapter you can look forward But Riyan Parag, the Royals skipper for
Bowling: Arshdeep 4-0-36-2,
Buttler, who was bowled by Jansen. union with coach Ricky Ponting at the fran- his second-best bowling Omarzai 2-0-29-0, Jansen 4-0- to,” he added. “Moving from the first three games, begged to differ. “I’m
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh castled chise might just galvanise the outfit into performance in the IPL 44-1, Maxwell 2-0-26-1, Stoinis Chennai to RCB was a really good not sure how many Bengalis are there in
Rutherford (46 off 28b; 4x4, 3x6) in the last providing stronger and more consistent per- behind the 4/33 vs Punjab Kings at Mullanpur 2-0-31-0, Chahal 3-0-34-0, chapter. Now the last chapter of KKR (there are none) but being an Assa-
over to seal Gujarat’s fate. formances this season, something they have on April 21, 2024. Vyshak 3-0-28-0. the book, for however long the mese I hope I’ll get more support over
Earlier, when Punjab batted, southpaw lacked at crunch times in recent seasons. Result: PBKS won by 11 runs pages may be.” AGENCIES here,” the 23-year-old said.
Both sides must make some corrections
Sportz Pics if they want to come back to winning ways.
After Breakthrough IPL HIGHEST SUCCESSFUL IPL CHASES BY ONCE SCEPTICAL, Rajasthan’s bowlers gave away too many

Season With Punjab Kings NO. 7 BATTERS OR LOWER DHONI NOW FINE runs to the Hyderabad batsmen, which was
marshalled by Ishan Kishan — who scored

Last Year, Ashutosh Sharma

Runs Balls SR Batter For Opponent Venue Date WITH ‘IMPACT a ton — and opener Travis Head.
68 30 226.66 Dwayne Bravo CSK MI Mumbai (WS) 7-4-2018
PLAYER’ RULE The Knights, on the other hand, will
Looks To Build On His Skills 66* 31 212.90 Ashutosh Sharma DC LSG Vizag 24-3-2025
New Delhi: Former India captain
thus hope that Rinku comes back into the
groove and Varun Chakravarthy weaves
With Delhi Capitals 66
62*
36
30
183.33
206.66
Andre Russell
Yusuf Pathan
KKR Kings XI
RR
Pune
Daredevils Centurion
18-4-2015
28-4-2009
Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not
quite convinced about the need
his mystery upon the opponent batters.

for the ‘Impact Player’ rule when WEATHER REPORT

FEARLESS taken the positives from there

and worked on myself to improve
whatever weaknesses I had. I’m
rotate strike with tailenders and
pick his moments for aggression
marks him as a rare talent, a
it was first introduced
in the IPL but now
sees it as a part
26 C
0

FINISHER 109
applying here what I did in do- finisher who thrives when the of T20 cricket’s A career-best knock off 56
mestic cricket,” he added. odds are stacked against him. evolution. balls by Sunil Narine, his
Against Lucknow, Sharma’s Sharma’s quick-scoring “When this only hundred in T20s, at
finishing ability shone through. ability is his calling card. In rule was Eden Gardens, Kolkata on April 16, 2024,
[email protected] From 113/6 in the 13th over, need- T20s, his career strike-rate hov- implemented, I and the only century by a KKR batter vs
ing 97 off 45, he paced his innings ers around a staggering 184.50. MS felt it wasn’t really Rajasthan Royals.
New Delhi: Ashutosh Sharma is masterfully. He absorbed pressure He has to his credit the fastest DHONI needed at that time. In
ASHUTOSH

5/40
no longer just a prospect. In the early, then exploded when it mat- fifty in T20 cricket by an Indian a way, it helps me, but at the Yuzvendra Chahal’s
Vizag heat on Monday, Sharma, tered. His 47 runs off the last 12 — an 11-ball ef fort against same time, it doesn’t. I still do figures at Brabourne
clad in the navy blue of Delhi balls he faced being a testament Arunachal Pradesh at the 2023 my wicketkeeping, so I am not an Stadium, Mumbai, on
Capitals, stood tall amid a crum- to his nerve. When Kuldeep Yadav Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. impact player,” Dhoni told April 18, 2022, his best and only instance of
bling chase, his bat swinging in minutes,” gushed DC mentor Titans, a 61 off 28 balls against was run out in the penultimate “I think about the shots I’ve JioStar. “I have to be involved in a five-wicket haul in the IPL. He is the only
through chaos and triumph. Kevin Pietersen after the match. Mumbai Indians — but those over, leaving Delhi with one wick- practiced. If I connect one or two, the game. A lot of people say the Rajasthan bowler to record a five-wicket
That’s when, you could say, he Sharma made his IPL debut knocks ended in heartbreak with et, Ashutosh didn’t flinch. A six I keep going,” Sharma under- rule has led to more high-scoring haul vs Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
became a force. with the Punjab Kings last season Punjab falling short. and a four off Prince Yadav lined his mantra on Monday. games. I believe it’s more due to

6
With an unbeaten 66 off 31 and was picked by Delhi at the “I learned from last year. brought the equation to six off six, From not being allowed on the the conditions and the comfort matches lost by Rajasthan Royals out
balls, he snatched victory from mega auction for Rs 3.8 crore. The Missed out on finishing the game and he closed it out with flair. It cricket ground by a current IPL level of players,” he added. of 8 played between May 2, 2024 and
the jaws of defeat against Luc- investment looks like a steal. on a couple of occasions in the was Dhoni-esque – calm amid team coach once in his career to Dhoni said the rule does give March 23, 2025 (NR 1). Their only win
know Super Giants, turning a Last season, he made his previous season. The whole year chaos, lethal when unleashed. now being the hero of IPL 2025’s teams the comfort of an extra during this period was by 4 wickets vs RCB
near-certain loss into a thrilling name as an Impact Player, and I focused and visualised it. Had Delhi captain Axar Patel most dramatic run chase, Shar- batter for crunch situations. “The in Ahmedabad on May 22, 2024.
one-wicket victory — a win that along with Shashank Singh he the belief that if I play till the last couldn’t hide his awe. “The way ma has come a long way. Having number of runs being scored isn’t

1
will echo through IPL lore. It helped Punjab pull off a couple over, anything can happen,” he turned it around, it’s some- battled depression at a young age just because of an extra Narine is the first and only allrounder to
wasn’t just a match-winning of wins while chasing. Then Ashutosh reflected after the Luc- thing special,” he said. “We were when his career was at a cross- batsman. It’s about the mindset, post a century as well as pick up a five-
knock. It was a statement. there were some games where he know game on Monday. down and out, but Ashutosh roads, Sharma can now embark teams now have the comfort of wicket haul in the history of the IPL.
“He’s got confidence, raw pow- offered glimpses of his talent – a “Last year was really good, made it happen.” on a career to become the next an extra batter, so they play —Stats: Rajesh Kumar
er and the ability to impact games 31 off 17 balls against Gujarat but that’s history for me. I have His ability to read the game, big ‘chasemaster’. more aggressively,” he said.

TOI

GALLERY
Veer seeks home course Will be great to have Ahmedabad 2036
Oly bid carries
World Athletics
to bring genetic to gain confidence a home champion `34k-64k cr tag
Jignesh.Parmar
tests for women [email protected]
Veer Ahlawat of good, young players who @timesofindia.com
have all that it takes to win.
Bengaluru: Female athletes

T
Gurugram: Birthday boy Veer Ahla- he field for the 2025 Hero They hit long, have good short Ahmedabad: The twin citi-
will soon have to undergo a wat walked off the 18th green during a Indian Open has a lot of games and above all, most es of Ahmedabad and Gand-
one-time genetic test to back-nine revisit of his home course home stars with the po- play on a PGTI circuit which hinagar have unveiled their
compete in women’s events, with a smile. It was aimed at his wife tential to grab the title on Sun- has become very competitive. ambitious plan to host the
World Athletics president Tanya, who was waiting patiently won- day. It has been a while since an Even as the PGTI prize purses 2036 Summer Olympics,
Sebastian Coe said on Tues- dering where the 29th-year celebra- Indian won the National Open, have surged, the scores have with the final blueprint esti-
day, after proposals to tighten tions would be. “An official dinner, and so it will be great to have a ho- become very low. You need to mating costs between Rs
eligibility rules were dis- then maybe go out somewhere,” the me champion. We have more play well to make the cut. It 34,700 cr and Rs 64,000 cr.
cussed at the body’s council. plan wasn’t completely set in stone. Veer Ahlawat than 25 Indians in the field, and has been a while since a title Titled “Review Meeting –
I get the feeling there could be came India’s way, but I feel it Preparedness towards Am-
Menon stays in ICC Elite INDIAN OPEN GOLF lawat. “In the past five or six years, we week even during tournaments. I am an Indian making a bid for that is only a matter of time. davad 2036”, the document
Panel: ICC on Tuesday in- What has been set right last year have not seen too many Indians, but we stronger than last year, and that helps amazing trophy on Sunday. I played the back nine of was presented in Gandhina-
cluded Allahudien Paleker of was the talented Ahlawat’s coming-of- are proud of what Veer did here last ye- my swing to be more stable and fuller.” A home champion does so the DLF Golf and Country gar this week during the bra-
South Africa and England’s age with his T2-finish at the Hero Indi- ar. And I really hope that he finishes in- But what do they say? You drive for much for the sport in India. Club on Tuesday after getting instorming session of the
Alex Wharf in the ICC Elite an Open. With a prize purse of more side 115 this year and remains on the to- show and putt for dough. “At Ras Al Kha- The crowds come in big num- a taste of the front nine before high-level coordination com-
Panel of Umpires which has than 155,000 euros, he carved the bench- ur,” Bhullar said. imah, I felt like I should have been top-fi- bers when an Indian is in con- that. mittee for the Olympic bid.
retained India’s Nitin Menon. mark early in the season to end the year This week will provide another op- ve or top-10. My ball striking was very go- tention, and the player feels (Veer Ahlawat is an Indian The final blueprint, ac-
on top of the PGTI Order of Merit and portunity on the familiar green grass of od, but I didn’t get those chip-putts, and I pumped up to see so much pro who is playing in the 2025 cessed by TOI, reveals esti-
India ‘A’ tour of England earn a European Tour card. home. “I think the confidence comes didn’t hold those five, six-footers so the support in the gallery. Also, Hero Indian Open) mated costs involved in
from May 30: Some of India’s Last week, he missed the cut in from doing well on such big stages,” po- short game made the difference. When the youngsters who see it feel bringing the sporting spec-
frontline players are likely to Singapore and boarded the flight back inted out Ahlawat, the son of a retired we go to a new course, I try to spend more inspired. In short, the whole tacle to the twin cities of Gu-
be part of the ‘A’ squad which to the home comforts of DLF G&CC on colonel who could have been a hoopster time around the chipping area.” golf ecosystem benefits. jarat and four other citiesna-
will face the Lions in two Sunday, with food for thought. “I think I had he continued his college pursuit. Unlike his predecessors who took the I recall the Indians who ha- mely Bhopal, Goa, Mumbai
four-day matches on May 30 have a lot in my tank, but it may be a ca- “Last year, I proved to myself despite the PGTI route to the bigger Tour — Manu ve won this event — Ali Sher, and Pune, placing the poten-
and June 6 in preparation for se of confidence, and all the new faces pressure of playing against a top field.” Gandas and Om Prakash Chouhan — Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, tial expenditure in the con-
the five-match Test series and courses. The competition is so to- It is also back to the practice grind Ahlawat believes he has more experien- Anirban Lahiri and of course text of previous Olympic Ga-
against England. AGENCIES ugh on this Tour, you must have an A+ as he reunites with his coach Anitya ce to rewrite the survival story with the SSP Chawrasia, who was the mes editions.
short game,” he said. Chand in the flesh. WhatsApp kept the European swing around the corner. last Indian star to win it. The maximum estimated
ACTION TODAY Having made four cuts out of seven relationship going but a two-week bre- “I think the only thing that works for What’s more, he did it back-to- OCOG budget for Ahmed-
tournaments this season — a T-27th fi- ak in the schedule affords more time to me is I have played a lot more outside, in back. I was told that he also has abad exceeds even that of Pa-
CRICKET: RR vs KKR, 7.30 nish at the Ras Al Khaimah being his reflect and correct. the wind and slightly colder places. It been second as many as four ti- ris 2024, indicating the scale
pm (JioHotstar, Star Sports); high — Veer lies 135th in the long race. “Although I am a long hitter, you have gets uncomfortable playing with rain mes. That is amazing, two wins of ambition. However, the re-
New Zealand vs Pakistan, 5th Gaganjeet Bhullar, a veteran at 36 now to hit it really far for a low round, as the jackets and layers. But you actually have and four runner-up finishes. view notes that there is “go-
T20I, 11.45 am (Sony Sports, with 11 international wins, and who guys on Tour do, so my coach decided to to play in this weather to learn how far One of the reasons why I od potential to optimise cost
Fancode) had four years as a full member in Eu- work on my strength. I’ve been lifting the ball goes and other things so looking am optimistic about India’s budget” for the Games in Ah-
rope, is willing to bet on the 6-ft 4-in Ah- weights, going to the gym four times a forward to learning more.” chances is that there are a lot medabad.
 PD: 26-03-2025 Z: BhopalCity E: 1 U: c-anil.kumar T: 03-26-2025 00:04

18 TIMES SPORT THE TIMES OF INDIA, BHOPAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025

BLATTER AND
Caught in BFI politics, women
India off to a draw
Hosts Fail To Breach Bangladesh;
AIFF
PLATINI CLEARED
IN FIFA GRAFT CASE
Muttenz (Switzerland): Former
FIFA president Sepp Blatter and
ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini on
boxers defy diktat at Nationals
[email protected] ter the original allottee, Mad-
hya Pradesh, failed to conduct
pur, Telangana and Rajasthan,
they were flown in gratis by
Tuesday were acquitted on
Greater Noida: Imposing flex- this key event, the nationals Ajay Singh’s SpiceJet airline.
Chhetri, Hamza Disappoint appeal by a Swiss court in a
long-running corruption case board cutouts of Lovlina Bor- has been severely affected by “Our team’s train tickets
[email protected] “WE PLAYED A that shattered their careers as gohain and Nikhat Zareen factionalism in the Boxing Fed- were booked from Bagdogra
BAD GAME AND the most powerful figures in greet you at the entrance of the eration of India (BFI), where for the March 17 Nationals.
Shillong: The fans came out in large THAT’S ALL.” world football. Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik the now-suspended secretary Then I learnt that it had been
numbers, making their presence felt —Manolo Marquez, Blatter, 89, and Platini, 69, sports complex. Inside, noisy general Hemanta Kalita, trea- postponed. Two days later, we
with some lusty cheering. But India, INDIA COACH listened in silence as the action from the elite women’s surer Digvijay Singh and vice- received a call that the BFI is
playing their second international Extraordinary Court of Appeal boxing nationals resonates in president Rajesh Bhandari, providing us complimentary
match at the JN Stadium here, could clerk in the town of Muttenz, the hall. But it is a very sparse have broken away from presi- flight tickets,” Sikkim’s Yasika
not give them the joy they had hoped near Basel, read out a decision tournament that is finally tak- dent Ajay Singh, who seeks his Rai, 48kg boxer told TOI, “My
for as their opening AFC Asian Cup identical to the one handed down ing place after being postponed third consecutive term as fed- federation had instructed me
Qualifier against Bangladesh ended 0-0 in 2022, which had initially twice — first in Nov 2024 and eration head. to boycott the event, but I chose
on Tuesday. cleared them. then in Jan 2025. You soon real- As a result, the nationals to attend.”
With the other match of Group C Prosectors had requested ize that Tokyo Olympics witnessed pullouts from mem- Not far, Olympian Simran-
between Hong Kong and Singapore also bronze medallist Lovlina from ber associations after dissent- jit chose to compete for “per-
ending in a 0-0 draw, all four in the group Assam and two-time world ing factions called for a boycott, sonal growth”. “Women’s box-
are level on one point each with five champion Nikhat of Telanga- with threat of repercussions if ing has endured considerable
more games left to decide the toppers na are only present as publicity. the call was disobeyed. TOI has setbacks due to federation poli-
On Ring ‘A’, representing learnt that Madhya Pradesh, tics,” she said, “I am here for
ASIAN CUP QUALIFIERS Punjab, veteran Simranjit West Bengal, Himachal Pra- my personal growth. I am here
Kaur is summoning all her tac- desh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, for boxing and my own future.”
and eventual qualifiers for the tourna- tical acumen in outclassing Meghalaya, Mizoram, Naga- Caught in the officials’ in-
ment to be held Saudi Arabia in 2027. Michel Platini (L) & Sepp Blatter Prachi of the Railways Sports land, Gujarat and Arunachal fighting, several boxers chose
The match began on a frustrating Promotion Board. It is a unani- Pradesh and Union Territo- to attend the nationals for par-
note for India as they could have been MIDFIELD SCRAP: India’s Ayush Chhetri quez’s ‘men in blue’ did come close in suspended sentences of 20 mous decision for Simranjit, a ries, Andaman & Nicobar, Da- ticipation certificates in the
two goals behind within the opening 20 engaged in a tussle with Bangladesh’s the 55th and 57th minutes. First, Cola- months for the pair, but charges World and Asian champion- dar and Nagar Haveli and Da- hope of govt employment. “My
minutes — due to silly mistakes by goal- Hamza Chowdhury on Tuesday co’s curling header evaded an onrush- of fraud, for which they risked ships medallist in the light- man & Diu, Jammu and Kash- state association boycotted the
keeper Vishal Kaith and Sandesh Jhin- ing Chhetri, and then Hamza blocked five years’ imprisonment, as well weight (60kg) quarterfinal. mir, Lakshadweep and Pudu- event, but I really wanted to
gan. While Mojibor Jony failed to slot from behind with Subhasish Bose. But the comeback man’s shot. as disloyal management, breach In the red corner on an adja- cherry haven’t sent teams. compete here,” a Telangana
home a terrible clearance from Kaith Udanta’s diving header was saved by of trust and forgery of cent ring, Rajasthan’s Shweta The event is headlined boxer said. “Boxing is impor-
in the opening minute, Shariyar Emon Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma, Supreme Court commences hearing documents were all dismissed. was outmanoeuvring Tamil mainly by elite boxers from Ha- tant for my financial sustaina-
glanced wide a gorgeous cross from who then went on to collect Farukh’s to finalise constitution of AIFF After almost 10 years of legal Nadu’s Anitha P with precise ryana, Services Sports Control bility. Whatever little I earn
Mohammed Shakil Topu. soft try from the ensuing rebound. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on proceedings, a final appeal is still hooks and jabs to secure her Board (SSCB), All India Police through boxing helps feed my
India managed more possession in The chance lifted India’s game with Tuesday commenced hearing on pleas possible before the Swiss
place in the semis of light mid- and the RSPB. But such is the family. I need the participation
the first half but it was Hamza Choud- Colaco looking more dangerous and related to the finalisation of All India Supreme Court, but only on
dleweight (70kg) category. optics at the event that in some certificate, as it can help in se-
hury’s game reading in midfield that Sunil Chhetri lurking more often near Football Federation’s Constitution after limited legal grounds.
Hosted by Uttar Pradesh instances, as conveyed by box- curing a govt job in my state,”
kept Bangladesh in the hunt for a break- the goal. However, the constant cheers its draft was prepared by former apex “The persecution by FIFA and
Boxing Association (UPBA) af- ers from Assam, Sikkim, Mani- she said.
through. While Mohd Ridoy’s clearance from the stands could not inspire a court judge Justice L Nageswara Rao some Swiss federal prosecutors
of a Liston Colaco free-kick in the 23rd breakthrough. India started the second on the apex court’s direction. The bench for 10 years is now over,” Platini
minute could have ended in an own
goal, it was in the 31st minute that the
half with more purpose. But with
Hamza Choudhury marking Chhetri
was hearing a plea related to the final-
isation of the Constitution of the AIFF
told reporters. “Today my honour
is restored, and I’m very happy.”
Simranjit, Jaismine No entry sent, Man Singh
best chance of the half came for India. during set-pieces, the Indian legend after taking note of “clause-by-clause” The case began in 2015 when enter semifinals
Colaco sent a cross from the left flank
to the right of the goal after combining
failed to win his duels with the former
Premier League veteran. Manolo Mar-
objections of various stakeholders of
football in the country. PTI
Blatter quit as head of FIFA in a
corruption crisis. AFP [email protected]
can’t defend Asian title
Biju.BabuCyriac two weeks back they were
Greater Noida: World @timesofindia.com told that none of the athletes
TUCHEL’S ENG IN
Iran clinch ticket to the US
marked his first start since Championships bronze win- are going,” they added.
ner Simranjit Kaur and Com- Bengaluru: Asian cham- According to sources,
BACK-TO-BACK WINS 2022 with a sublime free kick
to open the scoring. Winger monwealth Games medallist pion Man Singh will not be once AFI realised that they
AFP
London: Thomas Tuchel’s Eberechi Eze also bagged his Tehran: Iran rallied to snatch a 2-2 draw Jaismine Lamboria contin- able to defend his title in the had missed the date, the new-
baptism as England’s head first England goal against against Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in ued their dominance in the 20th Asian Marathon Cham- ly elected office bearers tried
coach could not have been any Latvia after coming on as a Tehran on Tuesday to join Japan in securing 8th elite women’s boxing na- pionships to be held in Jiax- hard to get an entry at least
smoother. Two games, two substitute. a spot at the 2026 World Cup. Mehdi Taremi tional championships, ing, China on March 30. The for Man Singh but nothing
wins, five goals scored and scored both Iran’s goals after trailing twice. storming into the semifinals Athletics Federation of In- worked as the deadline had
none conceded represents a PARTEY TIME FOR GHANA Khojimat Erkinov gave Uzbeks the lead with commanding victories dia (AFI) officials allegedly passed on Feb 28. AFI now
satisfying start for the German. Cape Town: Ghana’s Thomas in the 16th miniute. Taremi equalised in 52nd. here on Tuesday. failed to submit the names of plans to send Man Singh to
Monday’s 3-0 victory over Partey scored two and A minute later, Abbosbek Fayzullaev restored Simranjit, the first female Indian athletes before the en- next month’s Hamburg Mar-
Latvia at Wembley, like Mohammed Kudus grabbed the lead but Taremi scored the all-important boxer from Punjab to com- try deadline. The alleged athon but it would be an up-
Friday’s 2-0 defeat of Albania, another as their side eased to equaliser that helped Iran earn their World pete at the Olympics, landed goof-up could cost the Army hill task for Singh to make
was far from perfect. The a 3-0 win over Cup berth. some well-placed left crosses athlete a berth in the World the cut for Tokyo.
25-year-old Reece James set Madagascar WC QUALIFIERS Australia took another stride CHEERFUL: Iran fans at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium and hooks to score a unani- Championships to be held in AFI officials said the ath-
England on their way to a played in towards qualifying for the 2026 during the WC qualifier against Uzbekistan mous 5:0 quarterfinal win Tokyo later this year as he letes were not entered for the
comfortable World Cup neutral Morocco on Monday to World Cup on Tuesday with Tony Popovic’s over Railways’ Prachi in the will lose out on valuable Asian meet as they were not
qualifying win with a sublime take a step towards side handing China a 2-0 defeat in Hangzhou Nishan Velupillay earned another Socceroos 60 kg category. ranking points. ready. “We were told our ath-
first-half free kick. qualification. They have 15 as Group C rivals Saudi Arabia were held to success following Thursday’s 5-1 win against Jaismine, representing “It’s a big disappoint- letes are not ready. That’s
On Friday he gave a debut points from six games in Group a 0-0 draw by already-qualified Japan at Saita- Indonesia. Irvine put his side in front after Services, relied on her coun- ment for Man Singh as he why we dropped out. It’s
to Arsenal’s teenager Myles I, five ahead of second-placed ma Stadium. South Korea’s struggles on home 16 minutes when he stepped inside onto his ter-attacking tactics to se- was training hard to climb wrong to say that we missed
Lewis-Skelly and the 18-year- Madagascar and six more than soil continued, meanwhile, as Hong Myung- left foot to fire into the bottom corner beyond cure another RSC (Referee the podium in China and al- the deadline,” an official told
old repaid him with a goal. Mali in third with four rounds bo’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Jordan in Wang Dalei. The Shandong Taishan goal- Stops the Contest) win, this so to advance in the world TOI. This will be the second
On Monday, Tuchel made to play. The top team in each Suwon in Group B. keeper was to blame for the visitors’ second time against Tamil Nadu’s rankings in Road To Tokyo no-show by Indian athletes.
four changes to his lineup and of the nine groups earns a Australia made it six points out of six in 13 minutes later, fumbling Velupillay’s bob- Hannah Joy, who lasted only list,” sources in athletics cir- None of the qualified ath-
one of them, Reece James, place at the global event. the current window with victory over China bling shot from the edge of the penalty area two rounds in the 57kg last- cles told TOI. “The athletes letes were entered for the re-
as first-half goals from Jackson Irvine and over his own line. AGENCIES eight stage clash. were earlier sounded out but cent World Indoor Athletics.
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