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THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA

CHENNAI I WEDNESDAY 3 I DECEMBER 2025

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ASTROGUIDE
Sobakrithu: Karthigai 17 deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle Vol. 21 No. 248 Established 1938 | 20 PAGES | ` 3.00
Tithi: Thryodasi
Star: Bharani
Rahukalam:
12 noon to 1.30 pm Houses to discuss poll reforms; Govt takes U-turn on
Opposition wants SIR taken up Sanchar Saathi app
Yamagandam:
7.30 am to 9 am
PRAYERS
Fajar: 5.01 am
Zuhar: 11.58 am
Asar: 3.15 pm
Maghrib: 5.41 pm
■ Discussion on Vande Mataram on Dec. 8; reforms on 9 ■ MIN: USERS WHO DO NOT WANT TO USE
Isha: 6.56 pm DC CORRESPONDENTS
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
Houses will likely end.
On Tuesday, both Houses
APP CAN DELETE IT FROM THEIR PHONES
Census to be held in 2 The government on Tues-
witnessed multiple
adjournments on the SIR
VINEETA PANDEY |DC
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
The communications ministry issued direc-
tives to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile
phases from April ’26 day informed that Parli-
ament will take up a dis-
issue for the second con-
secutive day as the Facing flak over its order
application is pre-installed on all mobile hand-
sets manufactured or imported for use in India to verify
New Delhi: Census 2027 will cussion on electoral refor- Opposition members kept to mobile companies to pre- the genuineness of mobile handsets.
be conducted in two phases, ms amidst the Opposit- raising their demand for load the Sanchar Saathi Opposition terms the app a Tech experts raise doubt
the first between April and ion’s vociferous demand an “immediate discus- app, the Union government
snooping app to be used about whether the app can
September 2026 and the sec- for a discussion on the spe- sion” on the SIR. on Tuesday sought to
ond in Feb. 2027. MoS for cial intensive revision In the Lok Sabha, relent- downplay the controversy
for surveillance of citizens. be uninstalled or deleted.
home affairs Nityanand Rai issue. The Opposition par- less protest by the Oppo- as Union communications According to industry will remain active. If you
said the two phases will be — ties had made it clear that sition on the SIR issue led minister Jyotiraditya sources, smartphone mak- don't register it, then it will
Phase I-House Listing and they want a discussion on to repeated adjournments. Scindia said mobile users ers Apple and Samsung remain inactive," he said.
Housing Census followed by the ongoing SIR of elec- Union minister Kiren Rijiju speaks during the winter After two adjournments who do not want to use the will discuss the order with The government main-
Phase II–Population toral rolls in 12 states and session of Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI earlier in the day, the app can delete it from their the government and try to tains that the app is crucial
Enumeration. The first phase UTs, and the government House met again at 2 pm phones. Notwithstanding find a middle path on the to counter “serious endan-
from April to September can decide whatever al song Vande Mataram on Monday 8th December and amid sloganeering by the the minister's assertion, directive. germent” to telecom cyber
2026 will be conducted in a nomenclature it wants to December 8, which will be discussion on Election Opposition members. The tech experts raise doubt Denying the Opposition's security from duplicate or
period of 30 days in accor- use for the debate. initiated by Prime Reforms from 12 noon on House was adjourned in about whether the app, charges, Mr Scindia assert- spoofed IMEI numbers,
dance with the convenience Parliamentary affairs Minister Narendra Modi. Tuesday 9th December," less than six minutes which critics fear could be ed that there was no snoop- which enable scams and
of state/UT governments. minister Kiren Rijiju “During the all-party Mr Rijiju posted on X. amidst protests. used for "snooping", can be ing or call monitoring thro- network misuse.
informed that a discussion meeting chaired by The decision was taken BJP MP Dilip Saikia, uninstalled or deleted. ugh the app. “It is our res- Mr Scindia pointed out
SC stays trial against on the election reforms
will take place in the Lok
Speaker Lok Sabha today,
it has been decided to hold
after an all-party meeting
and a business advisory
who was presiding over
the House, urged the Opp-
The Opposition has
termed the Sanchar Saathi
ponsibility to make this
app reach everyone. If you
that there have been more
than 1.5-crore downloads of
BSY in POCSO case Sabha on December 9. He
said the House will take up
discussion in Lok Sabha
on 150th Anniversary of
committee (BAC) chaired
by Lok Sabha Speaker Om
osition to allow the House
to function, as the govern-
app a “snooping app” to be
used for surveillance of cit-
want to delete it, then del-
ete it. If you don't want to
the Sanchar Saathi app. So
far about 2.75 cr fraudulent
New Delhi: The Supreme a discussion on the 150th National Song 'Vande Birla, signalling that the ment is willing to discuss izens, a charge that the use it, then don't register it. mobile connections have
Court on Tuesday stayed trial anniversary of the nation- Mataram' from 12 Noon on logjam prevailing in both the ongoing SIR. ■ P5 minister has denied. If you register it, then it been disconnected. ■ P5
proceedings against former
Karnataka chief minister B.S.
Yediyurappa in a sexual
harassment case filed under P’CHERRY COPS DENY Congress team to meet state leaders, to NEW COMPLEX
NOD FOR VIJAY’S RALLY
the Protection of Children
from Sexual Offences Act. A HOUSING PMO
bench of Chief Justice of
India Surya Kant and Justice
Joymalya Bagchi passed the ARUL | DC show on December 5.
start seat-sharing talks in DMK alliance TO BE CALLED
interim order while hearing
Mr Yediyurappa's plea chal-
PUDUCHERRY, DEC. 2 The political develop-
ments surrounding the
G. BABU JAYAKUMAR,
D. SEKAR | DC
IT IS SAID THAT NOW THAT THE PARTY HAS RECEIVED
a drubbing in the Bihar election, a section of
siderably in the state had
earlier advocated a tough
‘SEVA TEERTH’
lenging the Karnataka high With just two days rem- TVK have remained tense CHENNAI, DEC. 2 the TNCC leaders would like to just win some bargain with the DMK, DC CORRESPONDENT
court's refusal to quash the aining for Tamilaga Vetri ever since the Karur inci- seats in the state Assembly rather than rat- demanding more seats – in NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
case. “Issue notice. Kazhagam (TVK) leader dent. Mr Vijay, who had The Congress is likely to tling the alliance by making high demands. the 2021 Assembly polls
Meanwhile, trial proceedings Vijay’s proposed road- been conducting large- start discussions with the they were allotted 25 seats The new complex housing
shall remain stayed,” CJI Kant show in Puducherry, the scale campaign tours DMK, its prime alliance leaders of the TNCC at the electoral alliance at the of which they won 18 – to the Prime Minister’s
said. Union territory’s police across Tamil Nadu, had partner in the state, to Sathyamurthy Bhavan in meeting on Tuesday, the contest and also for a share Office (PMO) under the
have denied permission already completed meet- finalise the seat-sharing the forenoon in Chennai five-member committee in power. Central Vista
HC defers Maha local for the event, citing safety
concerns arising from the
ings in three districts
before the Karur rally
arrangement for the 2026
Assembly elections on
has more or less confirmed
the continuation of the pre-
headed by Mr Chodankar is
expected to call on Chief
However, it is said that
now that the party has
Redevelopment project
will be rechristened as
poll results to Dec. 21 tragic crowd surge in
Karur that claimed 41
turned fatal. Following
the tragedy, a case was
Wednesday with the five-
member committee headed
sent alliance and put to rest
all speculations on the
Minister M.K. Stalin at the
DMK headquarters to dis-
received a drubbing in the
Bihar election, a section of
“Seva Teerth”. The new
complex, which is in the
Mumbai: The Bombay high lives. The denial comes filed against the TVK, and by AICC in charge of Tamil Congress looking out for a cuss seat-sharing and con- the TNCC leaders would final stages of completion,
court on Tuesday postponed even as the party sought the high court held the pa Nadu Girish Chodankar tie-up with the fledgling stituency allocation. like to just win some seats was earlier known as the
the counting of votes and the approval for Mr Vijay to rty solely responsible for arriving to start the Tamil Vetri Kazhagam It is said that the section in the state Assembly “Executive Enclave”
declaration of results for the conduct a public road- the deaths. Full report ■ P3 process. (TVK) of Vijay. of the Congress leaders in rather than rattling the under the project.
Municipal Council, Nagar The arrival of the team, After seeking the views of Tamil Nadu that believed alliance by making high Besides the PMO, the
Parishad and Nagar which is scheduled to meet the Tamil Nadu leaders on in their party growing con- demands. ■ P5 “Executive
Panchayat elections in
Maharashtra from December
3 to December 21. Days after
Passengers walk as RE HITS ALL-TIME Breakfast diplomacy
Enclave” will
also comprise
offices of the

metro halts midway

the state election commission cabinet secre-
(SEC) rescheduled polling in t a r i a t ,
some local bodies to
December 20, the court held
INTRA-DAY LOW OF Karnataka
Chief Minister
National
Security
that phase-wise counting and
result declaration would influ-
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, DEC 2
90 AGAINST DOLLAR Siddaramaiah
with deputy
Council secre-
tariat and India House,
ence voting and the outcome Mumbai, Dec. 2: The chief minister which will be a venue for
of the second phase. It also As many as 20 early pas- rupee hit the psychological D.K. high-level talks with visit-
directed that the Model Code sengers were stranded 90-a-dollar level in intraday Shivakumar ing dignitaries.
of Conduct remain in force between two stations trade before settling 42 during a “The Seva Teerth will be
until results are announced. when the Chennai Metro paise down at an all-time breakfast a workplace designed to
train halted midway due up and walking through low of 89.95 (provisional) meeting at his reflect the spirit of ser-
COUNTER POINT to a technical glitch in the
early morning of Tuesday.
the tunnel.
The incident that hap-
against the US dollar on
Tuesday, largely owing to
residence in
Bengaluru on
vice and where national
priorities take shape as
Following the glitch, the pened between the High continued short-covering Tuesday. India’s public institutions
passengers were forced to Court and Central from speculators and sus- — PTI are undergoing a quiet
walk through the track to Stations caused appre- tained importer demand for but profound shift,” offi-
reach the station. Videos hension among the com- the American currency. cials said.
shared by passengers on muters. They were res- Forex traders said multi- The idea of governance
social media showed com- cued later and the train ple pressures, like foreign is shifting from “satta”

INDIA, RUSSIA OKAY MOBILITY PACT

muters holding on to the services resumed from fund outflows from equities (power) to “seva” (ser-
handrail and trying to 6.30 am. and lingering uncertainty vice) and from authority
peep out to understand Meanwhile , Chennai over the Indo-US trade deal, to responsibility, they
the issue. Metro Rail Limited are keeping investor senti- said, adding that the
A passenger said that an (CMRL) said that the ment fragile. SRIDHAR have finalised a mobility er, be inked during the change marks not just an
announcement had come train halted due to a tech- At the interbank foreign KUMARASWAMI | DC agreement for the move- presidential visit, but the administrative shift but a
asking them to walk to nical issue. Immediate exchange market, the rupee NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 ment of skilled and semi- two sides may raise vari- profound cultural and
the nearby metro station evacuation was done, and opened at 89.70, then lost its skilled labour that is in ous aspects of the defence moral imprint.
that is the High Court sta- the train was promptly ground and fell to a record Ahead of the two-day visit the process of being inked, partnership of their inter- Raj Bhawans, the resi-
tion, around 500 meters withdrawn from the line. intraday low of 90.00 of Russian President officials in the ministry of est, including acquisi- dences of governors of
away. Normal operations against the US dollar, down Vladimir Putin to India external affairs said on tions, during the talks, states, too, are being
In another video, com- resumed at 6.20 am, it 47 paise over its previous that kicks off on Thursday Tuesday evening. No foreign ministry officials renamed as “Lok
muters are seen queuing said. close. evening, India and Russia defence pact will, howev- added. Bhavans”.

Navy adds to its SC asks EC to extend Kerala SIR deadline by a week

nuclear punch DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
Bagchi took note of the sub-
missions that local bodies
The CJI granted the
Kerala government and
local body polls can take
part in it,” the CJI said. WHY RED CARPET WELCOME
FOR ROHINGYAS, QUERIES SC
elections in Kerala will other petitioners the liber- “The government body
PAWAN BALI | DC 2028. The fourth nuclear The Supreme Court on take place on December 9 ty to submit a formal repre- (Kerala SEC) does not have
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 powered and ballistic mis- Tuesday asked the Election and 11 and counting of sentation to the poll panel a problem, but the political
sile (SSBN) carrying sub- Commission to consider votes will conclude on by 5 pm on Wednesday parties have," he said, not- DC CORRESPONDENT ty.
India is solidifying its marine codenamed S-4* extending the deadline of December 13. seeking an extension of the ing the peculiar situation. NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 A two-judge bench of
nuclear punch as it is set to could be commissioned in December 11 by one more It also took note of the fact SIR deadline. The apex court said: “It is Chief Justice of India Surya
commission the third 2027, said sources. week for submitting enu- that around 1.76 lakh state It further asked the EC to submitted that polling (for The Supreme Court on Kant and Justice Joymalya
indigenous nuclear pow- “Aridaman will be com- meration forms in the government employees are consider the representa- the local bodies) would be Tuesday questioned the Bagchi made sharp obser-
ered and ballistic missile missioned soon. It is in its ongoing special intensive engaged in the poll process tion “sympathetically and over on December 13. Shri legal status of Rohingyas vations while hearing a
(SSBN) carrying subma- final stages of trials,” said revision of electoral rolls in for the local bodies in the objectively” and to take a Rakesh Dwivedi represent- living in India and asked habeas corpus petition filed
rine 'Aridaman' in 2026 Navy chief Admiral Dine- Kerala in view of the local state and hence, they may decision within two days ing the Election whether “intruders” by rights activist Rita
and will get on lease from sh K. Tri pathi, during the body polls in the state. find it difficult to submit on the representation. “If Commission said that for should be given a “red Manchanda alleging disap-
Russia for 10 years nuclear annual press conference A two-judge bench of the enumeration forms by the date of enumeration is smooth conduct of local carpet welcome” while pearance of few Rohingyas
attack submarine (SSN) ahead of the Navy Day on Chief Justice Surya Kant December 11, the latest extended beyond December bodies polls, the state has the country's own citi- from the custody of author-
Chakra III in 2027 or early December 4.Full report ■ P6 and Justice Joymalya deadline fixed by the EC. 13, then those left out due to allocated 1,76,000 staff. ■ P6 zens grapple with pover- ities here. Full report ■ P5
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 2

Difficult-to-predict Cyclone Ditwah

fulfils seasonal rainfall need T
ERRATIC SYSTEM
here were multiple circulations
in the open ocean, interaction
with the Sri Lanka landmass,
fluctuating wind shear and at least
two false starts in convection build-
T. SUDHEESH | DC up. All this made Ditwah an erratic
CHENNAI, DEC. 2 Photos : N.Sampath, E.K.Sanjay Vyasarpadi system.
Cyclone Ditwah puts an end
to the November drought in
the city, bringing in copious
rainfall. Since the northeast
monsoon officially began in
‘Impact of
October, Cyclone Ditwah is
the third system that devel-
oped in the Bay of Bengal.
First it was Cyclone
interaction with
Montha, which skipped
Chennai coast and made
landfall in the Andhra
westerly trough’
Pradesh coast, contrary to Chennai: Pradeep John, a popular weath-
expectations. er blogger, said the question on the mind of
The second one was many here was why Ditwah was staying
Cyclone Senyar, which near Chennai for almost 24 hours and may
developed a couple of days continue to be in the same place for the
prior to Cyclone Ditwah. next 24 hours and why suddenly only the
But it stayed away from north-west was getting intense clouds.
Indian coasts, pounding the This is because a trough in the western
Indonesian coasts. area was pushing the remnant of Ditwah
Then came Cyclone more eastwards but a ridge is blocking
Ditwah in quick succession from the east. Ditwah is neither able to
that has forced the weather move west or neither east. This westerly
forecasters to rewrite their trough influence will move away on
predictions as the system Wednesday.
continues to throw surpris- Then Ditwah moves west into the land on
es. Cyclone Ditwah entered Tamil Nadu or south Andhra Pradesh
the Indian coast after caus- coast as a weakened one. This interaction
ing a devastating impact on with westerly trough always produces
central Sri Lanka, leaving intense storms and sudden flare-up like
at least 200 people dead. what we saw an hour ago. In 2015 a deep
While Ditwah moved slow- depression in November in interaction
er than expected towards with westerly trough produced intense
the Indian coast, especially storms on a larger scale but it was not
the north Tamil Nadu coast, trapped like this depression, he observes.
the weather offices and fore- According to Pradeep John, historically,
casters predicted passing of whenever November records sharply
the system through the below-average rainfall, the northeast mon-

Rain-battered Chennai-Bengaluru F
Chennai coast by Monday, soon for Tamil Nadu typically ends with
bringing in moderate rain.
armers have urged revenue and agriculture department offi- less-than-normal seasonal totals. The nor-
But even after 48 hours cials to conduct an immediate field inspection. They are mal rainfall for November in Tamil Nadu
and Cyclone Ditwah weak- seeking a comprehensive damage assessment and prompt is 181.7 mm. After having an impressive
ened into a deep depression,
the system refused to move
away from the Chennai
highway hit by traffic congestion relief, including compensation and measures to prevent further
flooding
performance in October, the opening
month of the northeast monsoon, the
weather activity had slumped to a bottom
coast, which made it diffi- N. RAVIKUMAR & basis, but the sand is dis- of 100 km from low in November which recorded a deficit
cult for the weather fore-
casters to read the move-
ment of the system.
P.A. JEBARAJ | DC
CHENNAI, DEC. 2
placed when the vehicles
move over them and the pot-
holes form again. When the
Maduravoyal to Walajapet
in Vellore. This work has
been dragging on for the
Farmlands flooded, crops of 71 per cent.

However, from Monday 8

am to 6 pm Tuesday, the sys-
tem has brought the city at
The intermittent rains in
Kanchipuram district have
battered most of the roads
entire stretch of the road is
inundated, the potholes are
not visible to the road-users
last 12 years, resulting in
the slowing down of traffic.
Besides, lack of streetlights
submerged in Cuddalore dt 25 flights cancelled,
least 200 mm of rainfall
which is the highest in the
and the Chennai-Bengaluru
highway stretch between
who are having a bumpy
ride. They also fall on the
and the movement of cattle
at night causes accidents on ARUL | DC Pichavaram Uppanaaru is prevent-
29 delayed
season so far. Sriperumbudur toll gate potholes leading to minor the road. At present, this is CUDDALORE | DEC 2 ing the water from draining out.
Meteorologists described and Rajiv Gandhi memorial injuries. The cars, vans and the only major road to Because of this, the floodwater has DC CORRESPONDENT
the deep depression, the is the worst affected with lorries, too, move slowly Bengaluru while a new Cuddalore district continues to reel entered our fields and submerged our CHENNAI, DEC. 2:
remnant of cyclonic storm potholes and cracks at sev- due to the damaged road expressway is being laid to under the impact of relentless rain- crops. The government must immedi-
Ditwah, as a “highly com- eral places. condition. connect the city. fall, with two successive spells of ately remove the water hyacinth to In all, 25 flights were cancelled and 29
plex and poorly modelled” Vehicle-users have a tough Vehicle-users want a per- The Chennai-Bengaluru heavy rain—on November 15 and 16 restore proper drainage.” flights delayed due to rains and wind at
system that exposed the lim- time navigating the road manent solution to the dam- national highway through last month and again over the last Farmers added that they had Meenambakkam airport here on Tuesday.
itations of numerical with potholes filled with aged roads, instead of fixing Sriperumbudur and Vellore three days due to Cyclone ‘Ditwah’— already invested heavily to cultivate The Salem-Chennai flight in which former
weather prediction in the rain water. As the vehicles the issue temporarily. Since is widely used by vehicles, causing extensive damage across their fields this season. Many have Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami,
Bay of Bengal. are moving slowly due to laying of roads immediately including heavy vehicles agricultural regions. The continuous taken loans and spent up to ?30,000 was scheduled arrival was cancelled and
As per the latest alert from the damaged road, the is not possible due to the carrying cargo and finished downpour has led to widespread per acre on paddy cultivation, only to the AIADMK functionaries who had gath-
India Meteorological movement of traffic is rainy conditions, the people materials from the indus- waterlogging, particularly in the see their crops destroyed by the flood- ered at the airport to welcome their leader
Department (IMD), the delayed resulting in heavy urge the authorities to start tries along the road. Several farmlands surrounding waters. With little to salvage and no were disappointed.
depression (remnant of traffic congestion. The vehi- the road-laying work imme- corporate companies are Chidambaram, leaving thousands of clarity on compensation, their anxi- Among the 25 flights cancelled, most of
cyclonic storm Ditwah) cles are queuing up for up to diately after the rainy sea- situated along the road and acres of paddy submerged and deep- ety is mounting. “We request the them were due to lack of passengers who
moved slowly south-south- 2 km on both sides. son. people going to Bengaluru ening concerns among farmers Tamil Nadu government to reim- wanted to avoid travelling amid the rains.
westwards with the speed of The highways department The road is also being use the highway, which is already recovering from the previous burse the full amount we spent on cul- The 29 flights were delayed by about one to
8 kmph on Tuesday about 60 has been filling the potholes widened from a four-lane to one of the busiest ones in spell of rain. tivation. Otherwise, it will be impos- five hours.
km south-southeast of with sand on a temporary six-lane road for a distance the country. Farmers in Chidambaram taluk sible for us to recover,” they said.
Chennai, 90 km northeast of report that the situation has deterio- Residents from villages such as
Puducherry, 110 km north-
east of Cuddalore and 220 Medavakkam
rated sharply due to the inability of
floodwaters to drain effectively. The
Kanagarapattu, Manikollai,
Pichavaram, and surrounding areas GREATER CHENNAI POLICE
km south-southeast of Velliang Kal stream, a crucial water- have reported acres of paddy fields
Nellore.
The minimum distance of
course that channels runoff toward
the Veeranam Lake catchment and
lying underwater, with no immediate
forecast of drainage. The submerged
JOIN FLOOD RELIEF AND
the centre of the depression
from north Tamil Nadu-
eventually flows into the Pichavaram
Uppanaaru estuary, has become heav-
farmlands have raised fears of long-
term soil damage and delayed
RESCUE WORK
Puducherry coasts is about ily obstructed by the rampant growth replanting cycles. As the cyclone con- DC CORRESPONDENT
25 km. It is very likely to of water hyacinth. With the estuary tinues to influence weather along the CHENNAI, DEC. 2
move slowly southwest- clogged, rainwater is backing up into Bay of Bengal coast, Cuddalore dis-
wards towards the north agricultural fields instead of dispers- trict authorities remain on alert. Greater Chennai police on Tuesday joined
Tamil Nadu-Puducherry ing naturally. However, for the farming communi- the rescue and relief operations besides
coasts and maintain its “The two bouts of heavy rainfall ties of Chidambaram, the priority is helping in the removal of electric posts
intensity of depression till within 20 days have worsened the swift government intervention to sal- and trees fallen on roads in the city.
Tuesday evening. damage,” farmers lamented. “The vage what remains of their liveli- Due to the depression caused by cyclone
Thereafter, while moving thick growth of water hyacinth at hoods. Ditwah, several parts of Chennai, espe-
towards the coast, it is very cially north Chennai, have been receiving
likely to weaken into a well- heavy rains for the last few days. The
marked low-pressure area Greater Chennai police have opened a con-
during the subsequent 12
hours, it says.
29 tourists to Lanka return safely to Chennai airport trol room at the commissioner’s office, 12
control rooms at the deputy commissioner
From issuing a red alert to DC CORRESPONDENT reached Sri Lanka, heavy rains had offices and special control rooms in 49 low-
Tiruvallur at noon on CHENNAI, DEC. 2 started and they were unable to lying areas . A total of 18,000 police per-
Tuesday to downgrading it tour any place. They also saw land- sonnel including officials are involved in
to orange alert a few hours Twenty-nine persons including 14 slides and collapse of buildings. the relief operations.
later, the Regional women tourists who went to Sri They decided to return to Tamil Police teams were involved in the
Meteorological Centre Lanka returned safely on Tuesday. Nadu as rains and floods increased. removal of 48 trees which have fallen and
(RMC), Chennai, was forced Thanking Chief Minister M.K. They had to stay in a village and pumping out of stagnated water in sub-
to change its alerts due to a Stalin, who took steps to rescue and did not have food, but survived by ways. The police teams have saved people
rapidly evolving system bring them back, the tourists added eating biscuits for two days. They caught in the floods and taken them to safe
which has been challenging they were stranded on a bus amid returned to Colombo after travel- shelters.
from the landslides and floods. ling for 14 hours instead of the nor- At Pondy Bazaar, police teams rescued 10
beginning. The tourists told mediapersons mal two hours since there were persons and helped them to stay in
There were multiple circu- that they were staying on the bus landslides and rocks on the way. Dharmapuram government middle school
lations in the open ocean, for many days surviving on bis- Due to Chief Minister M.K. , besides providing them with food and
interaction with the Sri cuits. They witnessed landslides Stalin’s efforts, the Indian embassy drinking water. In Flower Bazaar, an elec-
Lanka landmass, fluctuat- and the collapse of big buildings officials and former Governor of tric lamp which had fallen was removed
ing wind shear and at least due to heavy rains and floods. the Eastern Province Senthil by cops with the help of electricity board
two false starts in convec- They went to Sri Lanka by the Sri Thondaiman took steps for their personnel. In Seven Wells area, a tree
tion build-up. All this made Lankan Airlines on November 25 safe return to Tamil Nadu, the which fell down with its roots was
Ditwah an erratic system. Vyasarpadi, MKB Nagar and surrounding areas. for a six-day tour. When they tourists added. removed by police with the support of the
Ditwah lost most of its Greater Chennai Corporation workers.
convection after crossing
Sri Lanka, where it caused Four districts, Chennai,
significant damage. As it
approached Tamil Nadu on
Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and
Kanchipuram, are likely to
FLOOD MITIGATION WORKS IN VYASARPADI, PATTALAM, PULIANTHOPE NO HELP CROP DAMAGE ASSESSED
Sunday, its core became receive heavy rain as the
exposed, typically a sign of
collapse. This led to almost
deep depression over Bay of
Bengal and north Tamil
T. SUDHEESH | DC
CHENNAI, DEC. 2
IN THANJAI DISTRICT
said he went to the Corporation
school in Pattalam along with
water stagnation.
A resident of Pattalam asked
ilies affected by water stagna-
tion. Dewatering works with
no rainfall over Chennai Nadu is expected to recurve their children as the entire area for a sustainable solution for the high power pumps have started
despite the orange alert, towards south Chennai, the The incessant rain that lashed was flooded Tuesday morning annual waterlogging in the area in the area. As the rain subsides, G.SRINIVASAN |DC
prompting many to assume weather office said on Chennai on Tuesday left hun- itself. Many of them went to during the monsoon season. It is water will be pumped out within THANJAVUR DECEMBER 2
the worst was Tuesday. dreds of residents in their relatives’ place as the a low-lying area. Big construc- a day or two, said the officials.
over. Heavy spells will accompa- Vyasarpadi, Pattalam and school has no facilities to sleep at tions in and around have In December 2022, GCC had Agriculture and revenue department offi-
But just when everyone ny moderate thunderstorms Pulianthope in trouble. night. reduced the water retention developed a stormwater drain cials are assessing the damage to samba
thought Ditwah would dis- with maximum wind veloci- Slums like K.M. Garden where Water stagnation in the area is capacity, resulting in high flow of network spending Rs. 7.10 crore and thaladi crops in the rain that lashed
integrate, it changed behav- ty of 40 - 60 kmph, the IMD over 1,500 families dwell, found it not uncommon. But this time the water to our residential areas. in Pulianthope as a remedy to Thanjavur district on November 26,27
iour. It stalled off Chennai, said in its latest extremely difficult to deal with intensity of flooding was no less My house is also flooded. Neither the annual rainwater stagna- and 28.
tapped into warm ocean bulletin. water stagnation. As a result, though GCC had been carrying Corporation authorities nor tion. The authorities had said According to Vidya, joint director of
pockets, rebuilt its cloud Cyclone Ditwah came at a many of them have moved to out many flood mitigation meas- local legislators have visited our the SWD system would be agriculture, Thanjavur district, samba
mass and began feeding time when the north-east their relatives’ houses while ures for the last three years. He area even though we are in water resilient and work even if there and thaladi were raised on 3.30 lakh acres
moisture straight into the monsoon was getting many of them have taken refuge also said the areas, including for two days. We couldn’t even was 20 cm rainfall in a single day. in the district this year. Out of these
coast. For weak, slow-mov- blamed for poor show in in the nearby school run by Vyasarpadi, K.P. Park, P.K. sleep as the water entered our The SWD system had been crops on 13,137 acres have been affected.
ing systems this is not November, compared to the Greater Chennai Corporation Colony, Mallipoo Colony, Grace house, complained the resident. linked to Pulianthope highway, Damage to them is being assessed. If the
unusual, but the timing performance of previous (GCC). Nagar, Rajathottam and The GCC officials said all facil- Decoster Road and Demplus damage is more than 33 per cent, affected
caught everyone off-guard. years. Manikandan of K.M. Garden Pattalam were affected by rain- ities have been arranged for fam- Road. farmers will get relief, Vidya said.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 3

SHORT TAKES Pondy police deny permission for Vijay’s roadshow

Man promises ■ Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam allowed indoor, open ground or stadium-based meeting
marriage, cheats ARUL | DC
woman of money, gold
DC CORRESPONDENT
PUDUCHERRY, DEC. 2

With just two days remain-

ing for Tamilaga Vetri
Supreme Court team lands in
CHENNAI, DEC. 2

A 36-year-old man was arrested for

cheating a woman with promise of
Kazhagam (TVK) leader
Vijay’s proposed roadshow
in Puducherry, the Union
Territory’s police have
Karur to review probe progress
marriage and taking Rs. 3.4 lakh denied permission for the DC CORRESPONDENT actions by TVK, Vijay's inten- "However, in a grossly irre-
cash and six sovereigns of gold event, citing safety con- KARUR, DEC. 2: tional delay caused stampede, sponsible and misleading act,
jewels from her at Anna Nagar in cerns arising from the TN tells SC the official X (Twitter) handle of
the city. tragic crowd surge in As the Central Bureau of New Delhi, Dec 2: The Tamil the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
The victim, a 33-year-old woman, Karur that claimed 41 Investigation (CBI) continues Nadu government has told the publicly announced that Thiru
was married in 2011 and living lives. The denial comes its probe into the tragic crowd Supreme Court that the Karur C. Joseph Vijay would arrive at
with her children after separating even as TVK sought surge that claimed 41 lives dur- stampede in which 41 people 12 pm, directly contradicting
from her husband. She received approval for Vijay to con- ing a political rally in Karur, a were killed is attributable to a the permission granted and the
messages from an unidentified duct a public roadshow on high-level team appointed by series of "reckless and uncoor- schedule furnished in the peti-
mobile number a few months ago December 5. the Supreme Court arrived in where they were received by dinated actions" by the organis- tioner's own request," the affi-
and called the messenger. The political develop- Karur on Tuesday to review the District Collector M. Thangavel, ers and workers of the TVK davit said.
The man Singaravel (36) intro- ments surrounding TVK progress of the investigation. who welcomed the team with a party.In an affidavit filed before The Tamil Nadu government
duced himself as Vasanth and have remained tense ever The tragedy took place on bouquet. The committee is the top court, the state govern- said the state general secretary
started speaking to the woman since the Karur incident. September 27 at expected to hold discussions ment said there was an inten- of TVK, through a press state-
regularly. He came to her house in Vijay, who had been con- announced compensation, show. However, with no Veluchamipuram in Karur dis- with the CBI officers, district tional delay of approximately ment on the same day, incited
June and promised to marry her. ducting large-scale cam- and stated that he would official response even as trict during a campaign event administration, and law seven hours by Vijay at the des- premature public congregation
He asked for money to start a new paign tours across Tamil soon visit Karur. Due to the event neared, TVK addressed by Tamilaga Vetri enforcement officials during ignated Karur site to invite at the venue.
business and she gave him Rs. 3.4 Nadu, had already com- legal restrictions and secu- General Secretary Anand Kazhagam leader and film star their visit. more crowd at the venue. "As a direct consequence of
lakh, besides her six-sovereign pleted meetings in three rity challenges, the met the DGP yesterday to Vijay. The unexpected crowd The arrival of the superviso- "Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, leader these unauthorised and mis-
gold chain. He insisted that she districts before the Karur bereaved families were follow up. movement led to a fatal crush, ry team also drew families of of the TVK Party, departed leading communications, thou-
give another Rs. 3 lakh and threat- rally turned fatal. brought to Chennai, where Sources now confirm resulting in widespread public the victims seeking justice. Chennai at 8.40 am by air en sands of supporters began
ened that he would not see her Following the tragedy, a Vijay met them at a private that the Puducherry police outrage and demands for Pazhaniyammal and Kokila— route to Tiruchirappalli, arriv- assembling as early as 9.30 am,
again if she refused. case was filed against resort in Mamallapuram have denied permission accountability. parents of two of the ing at approximately 9.25 am. causing massive crowd accu-
The woman lodged a complaint TVK, and the High Court and offered his condo- for any roadshow featur- To ensure an impartial and deceased—along with Perumal He subsequently proceeded to mulation, vehicular congestion,
with the Anna Nagar all women held the party solely lences. ing Vijay, citing the Karur comprehensive investigation, and Selvarani, came to the Namakkal to attend a sched- and public restlessness several
police station. The police investi- responsible for the deaths. Amid heightened scruti- stampede as a major con- the Supreme Court constituted Circuit House to submit a peti- uled programme and departed hours before the event's sched-
gated the case and arrested the TVK challenged this in the ny, TVK announced that cern. Authorities have a Supervisory Committee head- tion demanding swift action thereafter for Kaur, which uled commencement.
man. Supreme Court, which future public meetings instead offered conditional ed by retired Supreme Court and accountability. resulted in an arrival delay of "The attendees, many of
later ruled that it was would only be held in approval for a public meet- Judge Ajay Rastogi, with senior In addition, Arul Kumar, dis- approximately seven hours at whom had travelled long dis-
incorrect to place the indoor auditoriums or con- ing at a designated venue, IPS officers—ADGP Sonal trict secretary of the Tamil the designated Karur venue. It tances, were forced to wait in
Thanjavur rail users entire blame on the
Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam
trolled open venues with
proper crowd manage-
such as a ground or stadi-
um, where crowd move-
Misra and ADGP Sumit
Saran—as members. The com-
Nadu Kongu Youth Federation
(led by MLA Thaniarasu), filed
shows his intentional delay to
invite more crowd at the venue,"
the scorching heat without
basic amenities, leading to
celebrate 165th alone and criticised the
high court’s earlier judg-
ment. On November 23,
Vijay resumed his public
ment can be controlled.
With this decision, TVK
mittee is tasked with monitor-
ing the CBI’s inquiry and ensur-
a complaint alleging that actor-
politician Vijay bore responsi-
the state government said.
Defending its arrangements,
dehydration, fatigue among the
crowd," it said.
may contemplate on the state government said the The Tamil Nadu government
station day ment.
Meanwhile, Vijay faced
criticism for not immedi-
outreach at an indoor
event in a private college
in Kanchipuram.
whether to shift its
Puducherry programme to
ing that all aspects of the
tragedy, including crowd man-
agement lapses and organisa-
bility for the catastrophic crowd
surge.
The visit by the Supreme
Karur district police started
deploying bandobust strength
submitted that the police force
remained steadfastly deployed
G. SRINIVASAN | DC ately visiting the families On November 26, TVK an indoor or venue-based tional failures, are thoroughly Court-appointed panel is seen from 10.00 am on September 27, and operational, exercising
THANJAVUR, DEC. 2 of the victims. Two days submitted a formal format, in line with the examined. as a crucial step toward bring- ensuring all security, crowd con- exceptional restraint and pro-
after the incident, he request to the Puducherry tightened safety norms Justice Ajay Rastogi and the ing justice to families affected. trol, and traffic management fessionalism throughout the
The 165th year railway station day released a video express- DGP seeking permission imposed after the Karur accompanying officers arrived arrangements were in place extended waiting period.
was celebrated at Thanjavur railway ing deep regret, for a December 5 road- tragedy. at the Karur Circuit House, Reckless and uncoordinated well in advance. —PTI
station here on Tuesday.
Cauvery delta rail users association
and Thanjavur district rail users asso-
ciation jointly arranged for the func-
tion.
Sweets were distributed to passen-
Tamil getting its rightful place VIT develops indigenous chip for
gers. Started on December 2, 1861, the
portable medical self-diagnostic devices
ancient railway station has come a
long way, updating itself with moder-
nity, besides providing a gateway to
the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, a
of honour: VP Radhakrishnan DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI | DEC. 2
Chola era historical city, Thanjavur.
A shawl was presented to
Muruganandam, railway station
New Delhi/Chennai,
Dec. 2: Vice President C P
Radhakrishnan on
LEARNING HINDI IS MY RIGHT: MOS L MURUGAN VIT Chennai has devel-
oped a unique Mixed-
manager, as part of the function. The Tuesday said that Tamil is Varanasi, Dec. 2: Union ral ceremony of the Kashi one, and please forgive Signal Readout Interface
driver of Cholan Express was also receiving its rightful place minister of state for Tamil Sangamam 4.0, L me, if there is any mis- (RoI) chip, designed by the
honoured. of honour and continued Information & Murugan said, "(Union take." Centre for
Ayyanapuram Nadarajan, presi- national support. Broadcasting and Education Minister) The Union minister also Nanoelectronics and VLSI
dent of Cauvery delta rail users asso- In a video message for the Parliamentary Affairs L Dharmendra Pradhan ji said that he would not Design (CNVD). The
ciation, V. Jeevakumar, secretary of fourth edition of the Kashi Murugan on Tuesday said brought the New speak about politics from indigenously developed
the association, Kannan, treasurer, A. Tamil Sangamam, the vice that owing to politics in Education Policy under this stage. chip can be seamlessly
Giri, secretary of Thanjavur district president welcomed this Tamil Nadu, he was the leadership of Prime "But, why I am being integrated into portable ty. “Our faculty and stu- Multiplier for ultra-com-
rail users association, Maran, vice- year's theme, 'Let us learn unable to learn Hindi, and Minister Narendra Modi. denied the opportunity to medical devices and is tai- dents work collaboratively pact noise filtering. With
president, Revanth and Kannan, exec- Tamil', which, he said, whatever Hindi he learnt, But, owing to politics in learn Hindi? I will learn lored for self-diagnostic to address real-world chal- 14% lower power con-
utive committee members, and T. reinforces linguistic and it was after he came to our Tamil Nadu, I was Hindi, it is my right. But, healthcare applications, lenges. At VIT Chennai, sumption and 4% faster
Saravanan, president of Papanasam cultural harmony. Delhi.He also said that unable to learn Hindi. there are no opportunities offering faster, more ener- research with societal processing compared to
rail users association, participated in He also appreciated the learning Hindi is his Whatever Hindi I learnt, there (apparently refer- gy-efficient monitoring of impact is not merely an conventional products, the
the function. initiative of 50 Hindi- right. it was after coming to ring to Tamil Nadu)," vital parameters. extension of academics— chip is ideal for handheld
The timeline of the station reveals speaking Tamil teachers Speaking at the inaugu- Delhi. My Hindi is broken Murugan said. —PTI The new RoI chip com- it is a core value that glucose monitors, electron-
that the first BG train from and coordinators, trained bines analog and digital guides our innovation,” he ic stethoscopes, and other
Nagapattinam to Thanjavur was by the Central Institute of during the November 30 town in Tamil Nadu whose the vice president said the circuit architectures, noted. sensor-based portable
inaugurated on December 2, 1861. On Classical Tamil in 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast, name means Southern "divine sound of Tamil" enabling it to accurately Dr. T. Thyagarajan, Pro medical devices.
March 11, 1862, the track extended to Chennai, who have arrived Radhakrishnan said the Kashi?its identity. resonating across the city detect, filter and process Vice-Chancellor, empha- A dynamic logic design
‘Trichinopoly’ (Tiruchy) from in Varanasi to teach basic sangamam is a confluence He also welcomed the ini- of Kashi is a moment of signals from a wide range sized the university’s incorporating a 16-point
Tanjore (Thanjavur) and further Tamil to over 1,500 stu- of one of the world's oldest tiative under which 300 pride for all Tamils. of MEMS-based sensors. It strong translational Fast Fourier Transform
extended up to ‘Trichinopoly fort’ (BG dents across 50 govern- languages and one of its students from Uttar Radhakrishnan thanked is designed for use in research ecosystem, which (FFT) further boosts speed,
section). ment and private schools oldest cities, with Tamil Pradesh will travel in ten the Ministry of Education, devices that monitor heart enabled the CNVD team to drastically reducing turn-
The Great Southern Indian Railway over 15 days. being "the pride of India." groups to leading institu- the Uttar Pradesh govern- rate, blood pressure, car- successfully tape out the around time and enabling
(GSIR) general office building was Radhakrishnan noted "It gives me great joy and tions in Tamil Nadu, ment, and central min- diac function, and other chip at the Semiconductor near-instantaneous health
constructed at Trichinopoly in 1865. that since the launch of pride to see the Tamil lan- including the Central istries such as Railways, critical physiological Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. diagnostics.
Between 1865 and 1873, the BG section the Kashi Tamil guage being celebrated and Institute of Classical Information, Culture and parameters, contributing The RoI chip uses a dual The fabricated chip was
was opened from Trichinopoly to Sangamam in 2022, the ini- accorded the respect it Tamil, strengthening two- Tourism for helping to the next generation of design-style approach, formally handed over to
Karur, then from Karur to Kodumudi, tiative has grown into a deserves," he said. way cultural understand- realise Bharathi's vision. compact, reliable point-of- beginning with a gain- the VIT Chennai team by
then from Kodumudi to Erode, major national platform Highlighting efforts to ing and exchange. The event celebrates the care diagnostic tools. enhanced analog front-end Union Minister for
Podanur to Coimbatore and from that brings together the rediscover ancient cultural Describing the sanga- enduring cultural bond Highlighting VIT supported by a multi-stage Electronics & Information
Coimbatore to Mettupalayam. culture of the Ganga and routes between Tamil mam as an embodiment of between Kashi and Tamil Chennai’s emphasis on amplifier that ensures Technology, Mr. Ashwini
In 1864, South Indian Railway the traditions of the Nadu and Kashi, the vice 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Nadu. problem-driven research, high stability and accura- Vaishnaw, at a ceremony
Company was formed, amalgamat- Cauvery, symbolising the president referred to the Bharat' (One India, "Concluding the fourth Dr. G. V. Selvam, Vice cy. held recently at VIT
ing GSIR and Carnatic Railway cultural unity of the north symbolic Agathiyar Yatra Excellent India), Kashi Tamil Sangamam in President of VIT, said the On the digital side, the Chennai Develops
Company. In the same year, and the south. from Tenkasi to Kashi, Radhakrishnan observed Rameswaram reflects the institution is committed to team developed a Indigenous Mixed-Signal
Needamangalam to Tiruvarur track "I have attended previous which commenced on that Kashi and Tamil Nadu deep, centuries-old bond developing technologies Computation Sharing Chip for Portable Medical
was converted into MG from BG. editions of the Kashi December 2 and will con- stand as radiant lamps of between the Kashi that directly benefit socie- High-Speed (CSHS) Binary Self-Diagnostic Devices
Then BG lines from Tiruvarur to Tamil Sangamam and can clude on December 10. India's ancient civilisation, Viswanathar and
Nagapattinam, Thanjavur to see the growing enthusi- This journey commemo- illuminating the nation Ramanathaswamy tem-
Needamangalam, Thanjavur to
Budalur, Budalur to Tiruchy, Tiruchy
asm and impact each year,
with eager participation
rates the message of unity
spread by Pandya king
with their cultural rich-
ness.
ples," he said.
"May this sangamam
Nilgiris distrisct gets pvt player and
to Madurai and from Madurai to from both Tamil Nadu and Athiveera Parakrama Quoting poet endure, and may this bond
Tuticorin were converted into MG
lines.
Kashi," he said.
Citing Prime Minister
Pandian, whose travels
linked Tamil Nadu with
Subramania Bharathi,
who said he found "no lan-
grow stronger for thou-
sands of years," he added.
self-help groups to man water ATMs
Narendra Modi's remarks Kashi and gave Tenkasi?a guage as sweet as Tamil", —PTI
DC IMPACT nearly 93 spots across the
Nilgiris to dispense water.
lect water from the water
ATMs”.
However, due to poor main- On 30-8-2025, while talk-
B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC tenance over the years, ing to Deccan Chronicle,

Study finds Asian countries shifting to OOTY, DEC. 2

In the wake of reports that

appeared in these columns
besides the public and
tourists suspecting the
quality of water being pro-
vided in these water ATMs,
he reiterated his earlier
statement and also sug-
gested the participation of
self-help groups in operat-

aquaculture as marine wealth depletes

on 12-4-2025 and on 23-8- they became ‘show-pieces’, ing the water ATMs.
2025 and a suggestion was not really serving the pur- As a sequel to this, on
made by the Coonoor pose. As this drew severe Tuesday, Nilgiris Collector
Consumer Protection criticism, the court asked Lakshmi Bhavya
Association (CCPA), to the officialdom to look for Tanneeru inaugurated the
T. SUDHEESH | DC together delegations from 12 ● The report highlighted that mounting pressure on wild in decentralised cold-chain overcome the issues relat- viable alternatives. water ATM installed by
CHENNAI, DEC. 2 countries. The meet, focused stocks led to a steady decline in marine capture fisheries infrastructure, insulated ed to water ATMs (auto- At this juncture, S. Bisleri international com-
on strengthening sustainable boxes and chilled seawater matic water vending Manogaran, the president pany at the boat house
Countries are rapidly shift- aquatic food value chains for in several countries. China’s marine landings fell by 15–20 systems, improved landing machines) installed across of CCPA, while talking to premises here in coordina-
ing towards aquaculture as enhanced food security and per cent since 2015, while Sri Lanka and Malaysia also centres, and the scaling of the hills, now a new Deccan Chronicle on 11-4- tion with the Nilgiris dis-
marine capture fisheries nutrition in Asia, is organ- showed multi-year downturns. modern drying and process- ‘administration-private 2025 suggested that “water trict administration.
stagnate across Asia, reveals ised by the Food and ing technologies. partnership’ initiative has ATMs installed by the local She said this initiative
a study of the Bay of Bengal Agriculture Organization During the inauguration of been mooted here to oper- bodies failed to win the will be expanded to other
Programme Inter- (FAO) and BOBP-IGO. showed multi-year down- losses translate into reduced the workshop, Marine ate the water ATMs with confidence of the public parts of the Nilgiris.
Governmental Organisation BOBP director, Dr. P. turns. food availability, financial Products Export the support of a reputed and tourists. So, it is time Arrangement has been
(BOBP-IGO). Krishnan, who presented the Despite a strong export sec- setbacks for small-scale fish- Development Authority packaged drinking water now to think of an alterna- made to provide warm
The study showed that findings before policymakers tor led by frozen shrimp, the ers and a significant drain of (MPEDA) chairman D.V. company and private sec- tive. The best thing would water in these new water
India recorded one of the and experts from 12 Asian study notes that India con- nutrients vital for low- Swamy said: “While India’s tor organisations with the be to franchise these water ATMs. Women self-help
fastest expansions in inland nations, said India is “a lead- sumes about 82 per cent of its income households. $7.5 billion seafood export inclusion of self-help ATMs to a reputed mineral groups will be operating
aquaculture, with production ing driver of Asia’s shift from total fish production domesti- Women remain the back- industry is driving unprece- groups, to provide quality water or packaged water these new water ATMs for
rising 167 per cent from 1.5 wild-caught to farmed fish”. cally, underlining its impor- bone of India’s post-harvest dented quality control, the drinking water at afford- manufacture as that may regular maintenance,
million tonnes in 2014 to Aquaculture’s share in tance for national nutrition. sector, accounting for up to 95 domestic supply chain faces able rates. change the mindset among besides earning revenue.
nearly 4 million tonnes in India’s fisheries employment Yet, the study raises serious per cent of the workforce numerous vulnerabilities, In 2019, the Madras high the public and tourists Arrangement has been
2023. has risen from 17 per cent in concerns over fish loss and involved in fish marketing, posing significant food safety court banned single-use, look up to the water ATMs made to sell permitted con-
Asia continues to con- 1995 to around 40 per cent in waste (FLW). India’s marine curing and peeling. risks to local consumers.” packaged PET water bot- to fetch water. The officials tainers by the women self-
tribute over 70 per cent of 2020. fish losses have risen from “However, most of this FAO officials, including Dr. tles and soft drink bottles shall look into the possibil- help groups to collect
global fish production, driven The report highlighted that 2.78 per cent to over 10 per labour remains informal and Omar Penarubia, Angela in the Nilgiris to halt plas- ities to provide hot-water water from water ATMs.
increasingly by farmed fish, mounting pressure on wild cent, while dry fish losses are undervalued, prompting Lentisco and Meeta Punjabi tic pollution as these PET in these water ATMs. In the Nilgiris, in the ini-
the study says. stocks led to a steady decline as high as 37 per cent, driven calls for gender-responsive Mehta, emphasised that bottles and soft drink bot- Provision should be made tial stage, the new water
The report was presented at in marine capture fisheries by inadequate cold-chain interventions,” the study strengthening aquatic food tles were discarded indis- to sell permitted hard plas- ATMs will be installed by
the opening day of a three- in several countries. China’s capacity, poor handling prac- highlighted. value chains is crucial for criminately. tic or Tupperware water Bisleri international as
day, high-level, regional marine landings fell by 15–20 tices and unhygienic landing To address current chal- nutrition, livelihoods and cli- Following this, water bottles near the water well as State Bank of India
workshop on Tuesday in per cent since 2015, while Sri and drying sites. lenges, the study recom- mate resilience across the ATMs were installed by the ATMs for the tourists to in 10 spots, she
Chennai, which brought Lanka and Malaysia also The report warns that such mends targeted investments region. respective local bodies in buy such containers to col- added.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 4
Cauldron for Maha Deepam carried to Tiruvannamalai hilltop
K. SENTHIL NATHAN | DC stick, up the hill. 1,500 metres of cotton cloth from climbing the hill.
VELLORE, DEC. 2 The Barani Deepam will for wick and 15-foot-long Only people associated
be lit at 4 am at the bamboo was carried to the with lighting the lamp will
The temple town of Arunachaleswarar temple hilltop. The cauldron and be permitted on the hilltop.
Tiruvannamalai is all set and the Maha Deepam, at 6 the materials were carried Public works department
for the lighting of Maha pm on the 2,668 feet high on the north-east side of (PWD) minister E.V. Velu
Deepam on Wednesday as a mountain behind the tem- the hills since a landslide on Tuesday inaugurated
part of the Karthigai ple. occurred last year on the the water purification sta-
Deepam festival. The team The cauldron that is used usual route, killing seven tion which can purify 4,000
associated with the light- to light the Maha Deepam persons. litres per hour, in front of
ing the deepam carried the was carried to the hilltop People are not allowed to the temple. He also flagged
cauldron, weighing 300 kg, by the local fishermen climb the hills and forest off the bike ambulance
and other materials, community as per tradi- staff from neighbouring and 108 ambulance vehi-
including ghee, camphor, tion. Vellore and Tirupattur will cles to serve the devotees
cotton cloth used as wick A total of 600 kg of ghee, assist the Tiruvannamalai visiting the town on
and a 15-foot-long bamboo 10 kg of camphor, around forest teams to stop people Wednesday.

UNGALUDAN STALIN SCHEME

HELPS 5 NILGIRIS TRIBAL HC slams bid to withdraw
FAMILIES GET FREE POWER
B. RAVICHANDRAN | DC
PIL on unauthorised building
OOTY, DEC. 2 M.ARULOLI | DC Karaikudi, sought the Bench observed
MADURAI, DEC 2 action against a build- that PILs were increas
Thanks to the popular ‘Ungaludan ing allegedly con- ingly being misused
Stalin’ scheme, which created waves in The Madurai bench of structed without for monetary gain.
recent months in the state, five tribal the Madras high court approval from the The judges noted that
families in a tribal hamlet at on Tuesday came Karaikudi municipali- some litigants pursued
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve woods, down heavily on a peti- ty. When the matter such petitions to exert
received free power connection to light tioner who sought to came up before Jus pressure and later wi
up their homes and lives. withdraw a public tices Jayachandran thdrew them after rec
Nilgiris Collector Lakshmi Bhavya interest litigation and K.K. Ramakris eiving money. They sa
Tanneeru, who inaugurated the free (PIL) filed against an hnan, counsel for the id the trend was unac-
power connection initiative at unauthorised constru petitioner informed ceptable and described
Theppakadu Lightpadi tribal hamlet in ction in Karaik udi, the court that the peti- it as “shocking” that a
MTR woods, said the government has Sivagangai district. tion was being with- PIL was being used to
introduced a special scheme to provide The PIL, filed in 2021 drawn. serve the interests of a
free electricity to particularly vulnera- by Poolpandi of Refusing permission, few individuals.
ble tribal groups (PVTG) in the state.

Tahdco to introduce 150

physiotherapy clinics in TN
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, DEC. 2

The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing

and Development Corporation
(Tahdco) has launched a project to cre-
ate 150 new physiotherapy clinics
across the state. This project also to
catalyse entrepreneurship among
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled
Tribe (ST) communities.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 5

SHORT
Cops bust bambling
TAKES India won’t
spare those
SC stays trial against ‘Red carpet for intruders?’ SC’s
BSY in POCSO case
den in Odisha village
Bhubaneswar: A late-night
who cast evil
eye: Rajnath
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
“ignored key evidence”
and failed to consider
sharp stand on Rohingyas’ stay
operation by Kantabanji
police in Odisha’s Balangir DC CORRESPONDENT The Supreme Court on
statements suggesting
that “nothing as such ‘Prioritise our poor’: Court slams plea seeking tracking of 5 refugees
district led to the busting of NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 Tuesday stayed trial pro- happened” during the

police in May and there Justice Arvind

an active gambling den at ceedings against former alleged incident. “There DC CORRESPONDENT picked up by the Delhi 2020 in which it was said
Satnamipada in Kadobasa Defence minister Karnataka chief minister are certain statements NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 that Rohingyas must be
village, resulting in the arrest
of 11 persons and the seizure
of cash and valuables on
Rajnath Singh said on
Tuesday that India is a
peace-loving nation, but
B.S. Yediyurappa in a sex-
ual harassment case filed
under the Protection of
which prosecution sup-
presses… the high court
ignored facts. He has been
was no information about
The Supreme Court on their whereabouts.
Tuesday questioned the “If they do not have legal
Kumar elevated deported only according
to procedure.
“We also have poor peo-
Monday night. The raid fol- it won't spare those who Children from Sexual chief minister four legal status of Rohingyas status to stay in India, and New Delhi: The Supreme ple in the country. They
lowed inputs suggesting that cast an evil eye. Offences Act. times,” Mr Luthra said. living in India and asked you are an intruder, we Court collegium on are citizens. Are they not
illegal gambling had been “Operation Sindoor is A bench of Chief Justice “How can you compel whether “intruders” have a very sensitive bor- Tuesday approved the pro- entitled to certain benefits
flourishing in the area for an proof that India gives a of India Surya Kant and the high court to hold a should be given a “red car- der in the north India side. posal for the appointment and amenities? Why not
extended period. During the befitting reply to those Justice Joymalya Bagchi mini trial,” the CJI asked. pet welcome” while the If an intruder comes, do of Justice Arvind Kumar concentrate on them? It is
operation, the police arrest- who do not understand passed the interim order The FIR under POCSO country's own citizens we give them a red carpet as a permanent judge of true, even if somebody
ed 11 gamblers, while around the language of peace while hearing Mr Act arises from a com- grapple with poverty. welcome saying we would the Chhattisgarh high has entered illegally, we
10 others managed to flee and goodwill,” asserted Yediyurappa's plea chal- plaint filed on March 14, A two-judge bench of like to give you all facili- court. should not subject them to
under the cover of darkness. Mr Singh as he likened lenging the Karnataka 2024 by a woman, now Chief Justice of India ties” the CJI asked, The decision was taken t h i r d - d e g r e e
Officers seized `64,500 in India's action against high court's refusal to deceased, who alleged that Surya Kant and Justice adding, “What is the prob- by the collegium headed methods...You are asking
cash, four motorcycles and 11 terrorism to the strong quash the case. Mr Yediyurappa molested Joymalya Bagchi made lem in sending them by Chief Justice of India writ of habeas to bring
mobile phones from those will and leadership of “Issue notice. her 17-year-old daughter sharp observations while back.” Surya Kant. Justice them back,” CJI Kant
arrested. A search has been Sardar Vallabhbhai Meanwhile, trial proceed- during a visit to his resi- hearing a habeas corpus He said India is a coun- Verma was elevated as an asked.
launched to trace the Patel who, he said, ings shall remain stayed,” dence to seek assistance. (bring the person) petition try with a lot of poor peo- Additional Judge of the The bench said if repa-
absconding suspects and always tried to resolve CJI Kant said. She further alleged that filed by rights activist Rita ple, and we should rather Chhattisgarh high court triation is sought then it
identify key handlers running problems through dia- The top court said the the former CM attempted Manchanda alleging dis- focus on them. “First you on January 23, 2024. may give rise to “logistical
the gambling network. logue, but never hesitat- notice was being issued to hush up the incident by appearance of few enter, you cross the border issues”.
Sources said Balangir district ed to choose a bold path primarily to consider offering money. Rohingyas from the cus- illegally. You dug a tunnel entitled to shelter, my chil- Solicitor-general Tushar
has increasingly become a as need so arose as in the remanding the matter Based on her complaint, tody of authorities here. or crossed the fence and dren are entitled to educa- Mehta, appearing for the
hotspot for organised gam- case of the union of back to the high court. police registered an FIR The apex court entered India illegally. tion. Do we want to stretch Centre, said the plea has
bling, with large sums report- Hyderabad with India. Appearing for Mr under various provisions adjourned hearing in the Then you say, now that I the law like this,” the CJI not been filed by an affect-
edly circulating through The defence minister Yediyurappa, senior advo- of the POCSO Act relat- case to December 16. have entered, your laws asked. ed person and the petition-
these illegal operations. was addressing Sardar cate Sidharth Luthra said ing to offences of sexual The counsel alleged cer- must apply to me and say, I The petitioner referred er has no locus to file such
Sabha in Vadodara, the high court had assault and harassment. tain Rohingyas were am entitled to food, I am to an apex court order of a petition.
Neha Sharma grilled Gujarat, as part of the
“Unity March” organised
in online betting case by Mera Yuva (MY)
Bharat under ministry of Gangster Parry shot in Chd,
New Delhi: Film actress Neha youth affairs and sports
Sharma appeared before the to commemorate the
Enforcement Directorate for
questioning in a money laun-
dering case linked to online
betting platform 1xBet. The
150th birth anniversary
of Sardar Patel.
Commending the
armed forces for the suc-
Goldy Brar blames Bishnoi
Chandigarh, Dec. 2: A Monday evening, followed Boxer Arzoo Bishnoi
statement of the 38-year-old cessful execution of former close aide of gang- by an assailant who was claimed responsibility for
actor is being recorded Operation Sindoor, Mr ster Lawrence Bishnoi was in another vehicle that the crime, alleging that
under the provisions of the Singh said that the world shot dead by unidentified had been trailing the SUV. Parry extorted money
PMLA. Sharma is understood is today acknowledging assailants near Timber Parry (35) was rushed to from local clubs and
to be linked to the betting the bravery and capabili- Market in Sector-26 here the Post-Graduate planned attacks on their
platform by way of certain ties of Indian soldiers. on Monday night in a sus- Institute of Medical associates.
endorsements. The agency He added that the opera- pected inter-gang rivalry Education and Research It claimed that the mur-
had earlier attached assets tion sent a clear message incident, the police said. (PGIMER), where doctors der of Parry was a
worth `11.14 crore of former that “we're a peace-lov- The deceased Inderpreet declared him dead. revenge for the death of
cricketers Shikhar Dhawan ing nation which never Singh, alias Parry, had Chandigarh senior Lawrence Bishnoi's aide
and Suresh Raina in this case provokes any country, multiple criminal cases superintendent of police Jora Sidhu, alias Sippa, in
after their questioning in a but if provoked, does not registered against him in Kanwardeep Kaur said Dubai last month. The
similar manner. Registered in spare those who try to Chandigarh and Punjab, that an FIR has been reg- police are verifying the
Curacao, 1xBet is stated by cast an evil eye”. including attempt to mur- istered and an investiga- authenticity of the post.
the portal to be a globally- Mr Singh described der, and it was believed he tion in the case is under- Parry left a private club
recognised bookmaker with Sardar Patel as a key had shifted his loyalties way. “The names of some in an SUV on Monday A Vande Bharat Express train runs along the elevated Katra-Jammu track on a foggy
18 years in the betting indus- contributor in uniting towards Goldy Brar, who suspects have been identi- evening. He was also morning on the outskirts of Jammu on Tuesday. — PTI

Delhi upset over

try. 1xBet operated in India the nation, adding that had also parted ways with fied and we are working accompanied by another
without authorisation and
used surrogate branding and
advertisements to target
his dream of “One India,
Best India” has been fur-
ther strengthened under
the Bishnoi group.
On Tuesday, a purported
voice message of foreign-
on them,” she said with-
out divulging any further
details about them.
person, whose identity is
yet to be ascertained, in
the vehicle, preliminary
investigation revealed.
NDRF rescues over western envoys’
90 people in Lanka
Indian users, the ED said. the leadership of based gangster Goldy The vehicle used by the

ED raids premises
Narendra Modi.
Referring to the abro-
Brar surfaced on social
media, accusing Bishnoi
assailants in the crime has
been recovered, said the
Soon after the vehicle
moved a short distance,
Russia criticism
gation of Article 370, he of getting Parry killed. SSP in a reply to a ques- the unidentified compan- DC CORRESPONDENT
of Ranchi-based CA stated that the decision
ensured the integration
According to officials,
Parry was first shot by a
tion from reporters here.
After the murder, an
ion opened fire at Parry.
About five empty shells
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
retrieved from under five
feet of debris in Badulla.
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2

New Delhi: The ED conduct- of J&K into the coun- man with whom he left a unverified Facebook post were found inside the Meanwhile in a related Ahead of Russian
ed searches against a try's mainstream. private club in an SUV on under the name Hari SUV, the officials. — PTI The National Disaster development, India late President Vladimir
Ranchi-based CA named Response Force (NDRF) on Tuesday evening Putin's visit to India, the
Naresh Kumar Kejriwal along has rescued over 90 peo- rejected Pakistani allega- government expressed
with his associates in a case ■ BJP leaders slams state, scientists, says rescue effort stuck ple affected by landslides tions of delaying or block- concern over a joint op-
linked to alleged possession and floods in Sri Lanka ing overflight clearance ed by the German,

‘147 still buried under Dharali debris’

of undisclosed assets abroad. following the devastation for relief material to Sri French and British
The premises of Kejriwal, a caused by cyclone Lanka, calling the claims envoys in an English
chartered accountant and Ditwah. “ridiculous.” daily on Monday, which
suspected hawala operator, An official said, “The Responding to criticised Russia's role in
some of his family members DC CORRESPONDENT er bodies from beneath the ing at the World Summit He added, “We are NDRF rescuers are Islamabad, New Delhi the Ukraine conflict.
and associates were searched DEHRADUN, DEC. 2 rubble. on Disaster Management trapped today as scientists deployed in landslide- and said, “The request for Government sources
in Ranchi, Mumbai and Surat “Why can't we develop a in Dehradun. and geologists say this flood-affected areas of overflight clearance for described the move as
under the provisions of the In a startling claim, BJP system today that would He added that houses place is unstable, whereas Kaduwela, Badulla, and Pakistani aircraft carry- “very unusual and unac-
Fema, the officials said. The minister of state and for- help the people of Dharali remain trapped under earlier regulators said it Puttalam. The teams have ing humanitarian assis- ceptable”, adding that
move came after the income- mer head of the Nehru live safely? Around 147 debris and personal should not have been sup- rescued a total of 64 peo- tance was received at the New Delhi has “taken
tax department findings Institute of people are buried under belongings — including pressed by debris.” ple, evacuated 28, and High Commission of note” of the article. “We
which allege that Kejriwal Mountaineering (NIM) debris after the August 5 “the deities worshipped by Kothiyal, who served as retrieved a body as of India in Islamabad at 1 saw it as very unusual. It
controls “undisclosed” for- Col. Ajay Kothiyal (Redt) disaster. We cannot say my father, my children's NIM chief for several early Tuesday.” pm on December 1. is unacceptable to give
eign shell entities in the UAE, said that 147 people are today that they cannot be degree certificates, and years, also alleged that no The teams are working Considering the urgency, advice. We have taken
Nigeria, and the US which are still buried under the taken out. We cannot leave my wife's mangalsutra” — bodies were retrieved by alongside Sri Lankan the Government of India note of it,” officials said.
being managed effectively debris in Dharali and those 147 persons under are still buried at the site. the official rescuers, while security forces and local processed the request the In the op-ed, the three
from India, ED officials said. alleged that the state gov- debris and simply con- Col. Kothiyal, who is also the local Army unit in administration officials, same day and granted envoys wrote that Russia
These assets are stated to ernment has failed to clude that Dharali is sup- a minister of state-ranked Harsil managed to and have distributed permission at 5.30 pm as does not appear serious
have accumulated over `900 exhume them even pressed and question peo- adviser to the Uttarakhand exhume seven bodies. around 800 food packets per the proposed itiner- about peace or ending
crore in unexplained reserves months after the August 5 ple's wisdom to settle Rajya Sainik Kalyan Dharali witnessed a mas- to 1,070 locals. Among the ary. India remains com- the Ukraine war, a posi-
and it is suspected that about rain disaster. He ques- there. Not a single work Board, further alleged that sive rain-triggered disas- notable rescues was a mitted to assisting the tion that India appeared
`1,500 crore was routed back tioned the functioning of has been done in Dharali scientists had turned the ter on August 5, when a nine-month pregnant people of Sri Lanka to find inappropriate in
to India through “bogus” tel- rescue teams and the gov- after the tragedy,” Col. Dharali rescue mission torrent of muck and water woman from Puttalam, through all available the context of diplomat-
egraphic transfers, they said. ernment's efforts to recov- Kothiyal said while speak- into a “blame game”. buried much of the town. while a body was means.” ic decorum.

TN-BASED FAKE Congress team to meet state leaders, to

FRENCH VISA Govt takes U-turn on start seat-sharing talks in DMK alliance
RACKET BUSTED
New Delhi, Dec 2: The Delhi
Police has busted a Tamil
Nadu-based racket allegedly
Sanchar Saathi app
FROM PG 1 smartphones already in don't think any citizen
FROM PG 1

For quite some time,

some state Congress lead-
Karur and assuring to
continue the talks after
returning to India, dissi-
pated with the passage of
Suraj M.N. Hegde and
Nivethik Alva, the meet-
ing could see state leaders
expressing their misgiv-
expected to be strength-
ened by roping in the
PMK faction, led by the
party founder S.
involved in arranging coun- the market. would be happy with ers had been pressing for time and now the TNCC ings at the meeting in Ramadoss. Though the
terfeit French visas for And roughly 20-lakh “For all such devices that." more seats and Mr leaders had reconciled to Wednesday. official PMK with
Indian job seekers, an official stolen phones have been that have already been Congress MP Renuka Chodankar even went to continuing in the DMK Once the DMK firms up Anbumani Ramadoss
said on Tuesday.Police have traced, with about 7.5 lakh manufactured and are in Chowdhury has filed an the extent of saying that alliance. its alliance with the holding the reins as per
arrested a key agent and stolen phones returned to sales channels in India, adjournment motion the party was capable of All the TNCC leaders, Congress, which may start Election Commission of
detained three passengers at the users. Besides, approx- the manufacturers and notice in the Rajya Sabha winning 125 seats in the including Congress leader the bargain by pitching India records is part of
the Indira Gandhi imately 21-lakh phones importers of mobile hand- on this issue, saying the state. Those apparent in the state Assembly S. for 50 seats, it would open the AIADMK-BJP allian
International Airport, he have been disconnected sets shall make an endeav- circular on the Sanchar rebellions against the Rajeshkumar, who were conversations with other ce, the party founder
said. The incident came to on the basis of user recog- our to push the app Saathi application enables DMK were attributed to speaking out against the allies like the VCK, CPM, wants to go with the DMK.
light on October 28 when nition and reporting. through software pervasive surveillance the possibility of aligning DMK recently have CPI, MDMK, MMK, IUML PMK former president
three passengers, namely The uproar erupted after updates,” the directive and threatens to place with the TVK for the elec- stopped the criticism in and so on and wrap up the G.K. Mani is said to be
Naveeraj Subramaniyam the communications min- says. every movement, interac- tions. the open. Since Mr electoral coalition ahead taking the initiative for
(23), Prabhakaran istry issued directives This decision by the gov- tion, and decision of citi- That possibility, fuelled Rajeshkumar is also part of the others to take the the tie-up and there are
Senthilkumar (28) and under the provisions of ernment is facing stiff zens under constant by Congress Lok Sabha of the five-member com- advantage of starting the also indications of the
Mohan Gandhi Elangovan the telecom cyber security resistance from people watch, without adequate leader Rahul Gandhi call- mittee, whose other mem- constituency-wise cam- DMDK with Premalatha
(38), reported for immigra- to ensure that the Sanchar who feel this will be used safeguards or parliamen- ing up Mr Vijay from bers are TNCC president paign for the 2026 Vijayakanth at the helm
tion clearance at Terminal 3 Saathi mobile application for surveillance. The tary oversight. abroad after the K. Selvaperunthagai and Assembly polls. drifting towards the DMK
of the airport for a flight to is pre-installed on all Opposition parties, led by “The Pegasus scandal September 27 stampede at two other AICC leaders The alliance is also coalition.
Paris. During scrutiny, the mobile handsets manufac- the Congress, have proved what we feared.
French D-type visas on their tured or imported for use described it as a snooping Phones of 100-plus
passports were found to be
fake and missing essential
security features. "A case
under the relevant provisions
in India to verify the gen-
uineness of mobile hand-
sets.
The order issued on
app and alleged that the
government is turning the
country into a dictator-
ship.
Indians
Opposition
hacked—
leaders,
judges, journalists and
even Union ministers
Houses to discuss poll reforms;
of the Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita and the Passport Act
was registered at IGI Airport
police station. During ques-
tioning, it emerged that
November 28 says the app
should be visible, func-
tional and enabled for
users in the first setup. It
further says that the man-
Congress
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
on Tuesday
leader

said,
“…Citizens have a right to
privacy…without the gov-
were
Snooping,
snooped on.
surveilling,
scanning and peeping to
confiscate, control, com-
mand and monetise citi-
Opposition wants SIR taken up
FROM PG 1 tion. which they have been parties is not right, and
Naveeraj's fake visa had ufacturers must ensure ernment looking at every- zens' rights is the hall- Earlier, various papers demanding an immediate also anger at losing elec-
been arranged by his broth- the app is easily accessi- thing. It is not just one mark of the BJP's tyranni- He reminded the mem- and standing committees' discussion. tions should not be shown
er for Rs 6 lakh, while the ble during device setup, thing… It is not just cal regime. Democracy bers that the SIR exercise reports were laid on the The parliamentary in the House,” Mr Rijiju
other two had paid Rs 12 with no disabling or snooping on the tele- perishes. "The dystopian has already been complet- table of the House before affairs minister told the said and mentioned that
lakh each to an agent based restriction of its features. phones…they are turning era flourishes," Congress ed in Bihar and results are the Zero Hour, which went protesting members that even late BJP leader Atal
in Namakkal district," said The government order this country into a dicta- president Mallikarjun evident. on for around 10 minutes. they should protect the Bihari Vajpayee had also
the police officer. A team mandates completing the torship in every form… Kharge alleged. The Central Excise Members of the decorum of the House and lost elections.
traced the agent, V Kannan implementation in 90 days Definitely, there is a need Another Congress MP (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Congress and some other there are many members While taking a jibe at the
(55), a resident of Namakkal, and submitting a report in for cyber security, but that Shashi Tharoor said mak- was listed for considera- Opposition parties kept from different parties who Congress on recent elec-
and arrested him from Tamil 120 days. This order does not mean that it gives ing anything compulsory tion and passage in Lok protesting and shouting should also be heard. toral losses, Mr Rijiju said
Nadu following technical applies also to imported you an excuse to go into in a democracy is trou- Sabha but could not be slogans against the SIR of “Disrupting the proceed- they are losing the confi-
surveillance and local inputs. phones and all those every citizen's telephone. I bling. taken up due to disrup- electoral rolls, an issue on ings by members of a few dence of the people.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 6

SHORT
Army’s community
TAKES ‘India’s 3rd indigenous nuclear Centre: Census in 2 phases ■ Phase-1 to be conducted in a period of 30 days’

radio in Arunachal
Kolkata: The Indian Army
has launched “Radio Dirang,
sub to be commissioned in ’26’ between Apr. ’26 & Feb. ’27
88.4 FM – Apni Mitti, Apni
Kahani”, the first community
radio station in the Eastern
Adm. Tripathi highlights Navy’s role during Operation Sindoor DC CORRESPONDENT The census has a history of
PAWAN BALI overnight, especially NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
Theatre, to connect with the NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 when we are doing it first more than 150 years and
local population living near time. It will happen some- The Centre on Tuesday learnings from previous
the border with China. India is set to strengthen time in the middle of next informed the Lok Sabha exercises are taken into consid-
Eastern Army Commander
Lt. Gen. R.C. Tiwari inaugu-
its strategic nuclear deter- decade. In the meantime that Census 2027 will be eration for conducting the next
rence with the commis- we are likely to get one conducted in two phases census
rated the station during a sioning of the third indige- SSN from a friendly for- — the first between April
visit. Established by 4 nous nuclear-powered sub- eign partner that will fill and September 2026 and — Nityanand Rai,
(Gajraj) Corps under marine equipped with up the gap till the time we the second in February Minister of state
Operation Sadbhavna, the have our indigenous
initiative highlights the
long-range ballistic mis- 2027. for home affairs
siles (SSBN) Aridaman in SSNs, “ he said. Replying to a question
Army’s enduring commit- 2026. A fourth SSBN sub- India has already com- by Congress MP Rahul
ment to enhancing connec- marine codenamed “S-4” missioned two SSBN sub- Gandhi, the minister of the Union territory of the next census.
tivity, fostering cultural har- will likely be commis- marines — INS Arihant state for home affairs Jammu and Kashmir and In a separate question,
mony, and supporting the sioned in 2027, sources and INS Arighat. While Nityanand Rai said the the states of Himachal the minister said caste
socio-economic upliftment said. Besides, India will INS Arihant was opera- two phases will be: Phase- Pradesh and enumeration will also be
of border communities in Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Dinesh K Tripathi addresses the
also get a nuclear attack annual press conference ahead of Navy Day in New Delhi tionalised in 2018, INS 1 house listing and hous- Uttarakhand, where it done in census as decided
Arunachal Pradesh, accord- submarine (SSN), Chakra Arighat was commis- ing census, followed by will be done in September, by the Cabinet Committee
ing to the Eastern Command. on Tuesday. — PTI
III, in 2027 or early 2028 on sioned last August, estab- Phase-2 population enu- 2026 with reference date on Political Affairs on
In a statement on Tuesday, it a 10-year lease from Sindoor and said its aggr- “Aridaman will be com- lishing India’s nu c l e a r meration. 00.00 hours of October 1, April 30.
said that “Radio Dirang” is Russia. essive posturing forced the missioned soon. It is in its triad, which is the capabil- The first phase from 2026,” Mr Rai said. In another response, the
designed to serve the peo- During an annual press Pakistan Navy to remain final stages of trials,” the ity to carry out nuclear April to September 2026 The minister said the minister said Census 2027
ple of Dirang by promoting conference ahead of Navy close to their ports. Navy chief said. strikes from land, air and will be conducted in a census questionnaire is will be conducted through
local culture, tradition, and Day on December 4, Chief The Navy chief, without On indigenous nuclear sea. period of 30 days in accor- finalised on the basis of digital means, in which
social development. The sta- of Naval Staff Adm. elaborating, said Opera- attack submarine, also Since India follows a “no dance with the conven- inputs and suggestions data will be collected
tion will also function as a Dinesh K. Tripathi said tion Sindoor “remains in called hunter-killers, first use” nuclear policy, ience of the state/Union from different ministries, through mobile apps
vital communication channel that the Navy will get the progress”. “The aggressive Adm. Tripathi said that the country must possess territories’ governments. departments, organisa- along with online provi-
for the local administration, first four of the 26 Rafale- posturing and immediate these will be ready some- an assured capability to “Population enumera- tions and census data sion for self-enumeration.
enabling the timely dissemi- M fighter jets in 2028. action during Operation time in the middle of the hit back in case there is a tion will be done in users before each exercise. Besides Mr Gandhi,
nation of essential informa- India had inked the Sindoor, including deploy- next decade. nuclear attack. The likely February 2027 with refer- In his reply, he said cen- questions on census were
tion to the public. Residents `64,000-crore deal with ment of the carrier battle “The Government of induction of nuclear ence date 00:00 hours of sus has a history of more raised by Congress MPs
can now tune in to Radio France in April to procure group, forced the Pakistan India had given approval attack submarine Chakra March1, 2027 except for than 150 years and learn- M.K. Raghavan and C.
Dirang at 88.4 FM for live the jets. Navy to remain close to to construct two SSN III in 2027 or early 2028 the Union territory of ings from previous exer- Kiran Kumar Reddy and
broadcasts, community pro- He highlighted his force’s their ports or near the indigenously. The SSN will bolster India’s deter- Ladakh and snow-bound cises are taken into con- Trinamul Congress’
grams and cultural content. role during Operation Makran coast,” he said. can’t be constructed rence further. non-synchronous areas of sideration for conducting Shatrughnan Sinha.

Bid by EC to block
Opp. votes: Aaditya
Mumbai: Shiv Sena(UBT)
‘SIR fear’: 39 deceased to get `2L aid
leader Aaditya Thackeray on
Tuesday alleged that a dis- ■ Didi seeks Centre’s cooperation ■ Citizen deaths ‘politically motivated’: BJP
proportionately high number

Consider extending Kerala

of Opposition representa- RAJIB CHOWDHURI also. Families of two BLOs
tives and workers have been KOLKATA, DEC. 2 were provided `2 lakhs
listed as duplicate voters in each. We can provide it to

SIR deadline, SC asks EC

Mumbai. He further claimed West Bengal chief minis- the rest also if they want
that the Election ter Mamata Banerjee on because many honourably
Commission (EC) may be Tuesday announced a refuse to accept it,” Ms
attempting to hinder or slow financial compensation of FROM PG 1 exempted from SIR duty.” Banerjee said.
down voting by Opposition `2 lakh for each of the “Let the state of Kerala She added, “13 people,
supporters. Mr Thackeray families of 39 people who The apex court said: “It is make a request to the including the BLOs, who
warned that unless the died due to “fear” of the submitted that polling (for Election Commission cit- have been admitted to hos-
commission provides a Election Commission’s the local bodies) would be ing all the reasons for the pital with illness and
satisfactory explanation, his Special Intensive Revision over on December 13. Shri extension of date, if not injuries from a suicide-
party will launch a (SIR) of the voters’ list in Rakesh Dwivedi repre- already given, by tomor- bid, will get `1 lakh each.
large-scale agitation on the the state. She made the senting the Election row 5 pm,” it said, adding So far 39 people have died.
issue. Accord-ing to Mr announcement after rele- Commission said that for that the poll body will con- Their kin would get `2
Samajwadi Party MPs Priya Saroj, Iqra Choudhary, Dimple Yadav, Krishna Devi Shiv- asing “Unnoyoner Panc- smooth conduct of local sider it “sympathetically lakhs each. This will send
Thackeray, 5.86 lakh voters shankar and others during the Winter Session of Parliament in New Delhi on
have been classified as hali”, a 15-year report card bodies polls, the state has and make a decision by a message to them that
Tuesday. — PTI of her governance. allocated 1,76,000 staff day after tomorrow”. our government is with
duplicates, with many
The CM also informed and 25,468 staff for the SIR During the proceedings, them. It is our social

MP registers
Marathi voters’ names
appearing multiple times. He
alleged that several dupli-
cate entries are not marked
with the designated star surge in child
Pets aren’t allowed that a compensation of `1
lakh will be provided to
those admitted in hospi-
tals for treatment after
which will be over by
December 11. It is submit-
ted that more than 98 per
cent enumeration forms
the EC, represented by
senior advocates Rakesh
Dwivedi and Maninder
Singh, defended the ongo-
responsibility.”
Seeking cooperation
from the Centre, the TMC
supremo said, “We don’t
symbol and expressed con-
cern that names of deceased
voters continue to appear on marriages in outside but inside: falling ill due to “SIR-
induced panic”.
The Opposition BJP, how-
are distributed and more
than 88 per cent are digi-
tised. The SEC says all
ing drive, arguing that the
local elections and the SIR
are distinct exercises with
want non-cooperation.
Hope you can hear me. It
is not a political meeting.

last 6 years
the rolls despite the submis- ever, rejected the state’s staff deployed by it are separate workforces. In cooperative federalism,
sion of death certificates,
raising questions about the
possibility of proxy voting.
RABINDRA NATH
Rahul on dog issue claims of SIR-linked citi-
zen deaths as “politically
motivated”, and alleged
that the ruling party was
terrorising the BLOs.
“A lot of people have
already died by suicide
and pain fearing the SIR.
Among them were four
booth-level officers (BLO)
all expect that the Central
and state governments
work together instead of
fighting.”

MP minister fall ill in CHOUDHURY

BHOPAL, DEC. 2
Cong leaders hurt Parl dignity: BJP
House, taken to hosp AI uses A320
DC CORRESPONDENT Dog is the main
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh
agriculture minister Andel
In a disturbing trend,
Madhya Pradesh has
recorded a spurt in child
marriages in the last six
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2

Amid a row over his col-

league Renuka
topic today, I
believe. What
did the poor dog
Reach out to people: Modi sans safety
Singh Kansana on Tuesday
became unconscious in the
state Assembly, which is cur-
years.
This was indicated in a
written reply to a ques-
Chowdhury bringing a
stray dog to Parliament
House, Congress leader
do? Are dogs not
allowed here? to Assam MPs before polls paper, DGCA
Seeks feedback on govt projects, shares tips with leaders starts inquiry
rently in session. Mr Kansana tion by Congress MLA Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday It is allowed
suffered from head reeling Jaivardhan Singh by the said pets are not allowed inside…
and fell unconscious on his state government in the outside but “inside”.
table. Chief minister Mohan state Assembly here on Interacting with repo- — Rahul DC CORRESPONDENT DC CORRESPONDENT
Yadav and other members of Tuesday. rters outside Parliament, Gandhi NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
the House went to him to
know about his condition.He
According to the offi- Mr Gandhi said, “Dog is LoP
cial figure, the state has the main topic today, I Prime Minister Narendra The Directorate General
was later taken to the hospi- recorded 538 incidents of believe. What did the poor both Mr Gandhi and Ms Modi on Tuesday met MPs of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
tal in an ambulance.His con- child marriages in 2025 dog do? Are dogs not Chowdhury have insulted of the ruling NDA alliance has launched a probe on
dition was stated to be sta- so far, a rise of around 70 allowed here? It is allowed all the MPs, including from Assam, where the Air India for operating
ble, hospital sources said per cent over such cases inside. Maybe pets are not those of the Congress, as Assembly polls are sched- an A320 neo plane with-
reported in 2020. allowed here. I guess these well as the security per- uled early next year. The out having a requisite

BIRLA, GEORGIA
In 2020, as many as 366 are the things that India is sonnel, officials and other PM sought feedback on airworthiness certifica-
cases of child marriages discussing these days.” staff working in several government proj- tion on at least eight
were reported in Responding to Mr Parliament, he charged. ects, discussed “socio- routes. The DGCA has

GROUP DISCUSS Madhya Pradesh: this

climbed to 436 in 2021,
Gandhi’s comments, BJP
spokesperson Pradeep
The Congress has
stooped to “such a low in
political issues” and also
shared tips with the lead-
also ordered the de-ros-
tering of the personnel

PARL, TECH TIES

519 in 2022, 528 in 2023, Bhandari said in a post on its frustration” that its ers regarding the upcom- concerned till comple-
529 in 2024 and 538 in X, “Rahul Gandhi is com- leaders did not spare even ing polls, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal tion of the investigation.
2025 so far. paring his own Congress- their own party MPs and According to the Sharma during a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI Air India is also carry-
DC CORRESPONDENT Rajgarh district in the men, and Opposition lead- “friends” in Parliament, sources, Mr Modi asked ing out an internal
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 state has recorded the ers to dog! This is how Mr Patra alleged. the MPs to reach out to ing in any debate in isters Pabitra Marghrita investigation to identify
highest number of 44 parivarvadi treats tem- On Monday, Ms Chowd- people, including through Parliament, the sources and Sarbanand Sonowal, deficiencies in their sys-
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla cases of child marriage ples of democracy.” hury sparked controversy social media, to spread added. The PM also told BJP state unit chief Dilip tem and put corrective
on Tuesday called in 2025. BJP MP and spokesper- by bringing a rescued their message and seek the MPs that they need to Saikia, BJP’s Kamakhya measures in place to pre-
for enhanced parliamentary Interestingly, two tribal son Sambit Patra said, stray dog to Parliament. information on issues that remain connected with Prasad Tasa, AGP’s vent such failures from
cooperation, new institution- districts of Umaria and “The way the decorum Her action drew criticism could help the National the people and should be Birendra Prasad Baishya occurring in future, a
al linkages, and collaboration Annupur in the state and dignity of Parliament from BJP leaders, who Democratic Alliance accessible to them. and others. statement from the com-
across sectors, have recorded no cases of was hurt by the statement accused her of theatrics. (NDA) retain power in the Further, Mr Modi asked Earlier during the day, pany said on Tuesday.
including trade, tech- child marriage in 2025. made by Rahul Gandhi Defending her actions, Northeast state. the MPs about their con- Mr Modi also greeted the Air India issues an air-
nology, education, Umaria district has and Renuka Chowdhury. Ms Chowdhury had told Mr Modi also reiterated stituencies and the work people of Assam on the worthiness review cer-
energy, and people- recorded three cases of Both the ‘Rs’ need to reporters, “This govern- his suggestion of attend- done by them. occasion of Asom Diwas, tificate (ARC) in respect
to-people engage- child marriage in 2020, remember that there is an ment does not like ani- ing the House proceedings Among those who met which commemorates the of the aircraft it oper-
ment, between India one in 2021, two each in R — that is ‘responsibility mals... Those sitting every day and doing the Prime Minister at his arrival of Ahom kingdom ates. The ARC is issued
and Georgia. Mr Birla 2022 and 2023, and five in of an MP’.” inside Parliament bite, homework before taking office in the Parliament founder Chaolung annually in respect of an
held bilateral discus- Om Birla 2024. With their remarks, not dogs.” up any issue or participat- building were Union min- Sukapha in Assam in 1228. aircraft after a compre-
sions with a high- hensive review of its

BJP leader unanimously

level parliamentary delega- maintenance records,
tion from Georgia, led by ■ Give info on contracts to CM’s kin from 2015 to 2025: Top court physical condition and
Shalva Papuashvili, chairman verification of compli-

elected Speaker of Bihar

ance with all airworthi-

File detailed affidavit: SC in Khandu case

of the Georgian Parliam-
ent. Welcoming the delega- ness standards. It acts as
tion, he said that India and a validation of the air-
Georgia share warm ties craft’s main certificate of
anchored in democratic val- DC CORRESPONDENT order while hearing a plea Advocate Prashant by the top court, the con- Patna, Dec. 2: Veteran chief minister Nitish airworthiness (C of A).
ues. Appreciating the active NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 seeking a CBI probe into Bhushan, appearing for troversy was confined to BJP leader Prem Kumar Kumar and Leader of the The DGCA said that as
functioning of the the award of contracts for petitioner NGOs Save Mon Tawang only. was on Tuesday unani- Opposition Tejashwi part of the merger
Georgia–India Parliamentary The Supreme Court on public works in the State Region Federation and “We do not find any such mously elected as the Yadav. process of Vistara into
Friendship Group in the Tuesday asked the to the firms owned by the Voluntary Arunachal confinement or limitation Speaker of the Bihar The CM urged all the Air India, in 2024, in
Georgian Parliament, Mr Birla Arunachal Pradesh gov- family members of Mr Sena, told the top court of the petition being con- assembly. members to stand up and respect of all the 70
informed the delegation that ernment to file a compre- Khandu. that according to the affi- fined to district Tawang or Pro-tem Speaker extend their greetings to Vistara aircraft, it was
the Indian Parliament is in hensive affidavit giving “The coincidence is davit filed by the State, the order passed by this Narendra Narayan Yadav the newly-elected decided that the first
the process of establishing details of the contracts absolutely remarkable,” several contracts and court earlier limited it to informed the House that Speaker. ARC renewal post-merg-
the India–Georgia Parliam- awarded from 2015 to 2025, the top court remarked. work orders were given to district Tawang,” the apex Mr Kumar was the only The 74-year-old JD(U) er will be done by the
entary Friendship Group to including those to firms of Observing that it was firms owned by the imme- court said. candidate whose name supremo, however, chided DGCA. To date, the ARC
deepen parliamentary exch- family members of chief alleged before that the dif- diate family members of Advocate Prashant figured for the post. some opposition leaders for all 69 aircraft has
anges. During the talks, both minister Pema Khandu, ference between tenders of Mr Khandu. Bhushan said with regard Thereafter, he was who kept sitting and been issued by the DGCA
sides discussed strengthen- saying the statistics are the competing firms was The bench asked the to Tawang also, the up-to- declared “unanimously when they stood up, after satisfactory compli-
ing institutional cooperation, “telling”. miniscule, it said if the state’s counsel why its affi- date information was not elected” following a voice grinned in appreciation. ance by the operator.
sharing best practices, and A two-judge bench of difference is miniscule, davit has given details of provided. vote. Mr Yadav noted in his Regarding the 70th air-
enhancing the role of parlia- justices Vikram Nath and that shows cartelisation. contracts relating to The top court said, “As As per custom, Mr speech that the Speaker craft, the operator filed
mentary committees. Mr Birla Sandeep Mehta, which “If that is so, that Tawang district only. such, the respondent may Kumar, who recently won represented a seat, which an application with the
briefed the delegation on the observed it would consid- becomes serious,” it The state’s counsel said file a comprehensive affi- the Gaya Town seat for a housed pilgrim spots DGCA and subsequently,
functioning of India’s various er whether any inquiry is observed, adding, “The that in the petition and the davit covering all the dis- record eighth term, was linked to Lord Vishnu the aircraft was ground-
parliamentary committees. required or not, passed the statistics are telling.” subsequent orders passed tricts, including Tawang.” escorted to the chair by and Lord Buddha. — PTI ed for an engine change.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2025 | CHENNAI
pg 7

Witkoff, Kushner to meet US: G20’s focus on core mission of eco growth
New York, Washington, will “return the G20 to focus- Leaders’ Summit in Miami, Africa had refused to

Putin for talks to end war

Dec. 2: The US has said it ing on its core mission of Florida, in 2026, coinciding acknowledge or address
will steer the G20 back to its driving economic growth with the country’s 250th what he described as “horrif-
“core mission” of driving and prosperity to produce anniversary year. America ic” human rights abuses
economic growth and pros- results”. took over the presidency against Afrikaners and
perity by prioritising regula- “As we usher in these from South Africa, but other descendants of Dutch,
tory reform, energy security much-needed reforms, we Trump did not attend last French, and German set-
Russian Prez warns Europe: If you want war, we’ll defeat you and technological innova-
tion during its year-long
will prioritise three core
themes: unleashing econom-
month’s Johannesburg meet.
He has also said that South
tlers.
“At the conclusion of the
Moscow, Dec. 2: Donald The Ukrainian military presidency of the grouping. ic prosperity by limiting reg- Africa will not receive an G20, South Africa refused to
Trump’s son-in-law Jared later told Reuters it was America assumed the G20 ulatory burdens, unlocking invitation to the 2026 G20 hand off the G20 Presidency
Kushner and envoy Steve not only holding out in the presidency on December 1. affordable and secure energy Summit to be hosted in to a Senior Representative
Witkoff will meet with Ru- northern part of The state department in a supply chains, and pioneer- Miami. from our US Embassy, who
ssian leader Vladimir Pokrovsk, which had a statement on Monday said ing new technologies and Trump had claimed that attended the Closing
Putin in Moscow on pre-war population of under President Donald innovations,” it said. the US skipped the Johan- Ceremony”.
Tuesday for high-stakes over 60,000 people. Trump’s leadership, the US The US will host the G20 nesburg meet because South — PTI
talks on ending the war in
Ukraine.
Putin on Tuesday
warned European powers
that if they started a war
with Russia then Moscow
was ready to fight and that
the defeat of European This image made from video provided by Russian
powers would be so defence Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, shows an
absolute that there would air-view of a damaged building of the National
be no one left to even nego- Technical University in Pokrovsk, Ukraine. — AP
tiate a peace deal.
Four years into the
Ukraine war, the deadliest
European conflict
Europe since World War
Two, Russia has failed to
in Russia-linked tanker
conquer Ukraine, a much
smaller neighbour which
has been supported by
attacked in Black Sea
European powers and the Moscow, Kyiv, Dec. 2: A fighting an increasingly
United States. fourth Russia-connected intense energy war as
Meanwhile, Putin hailed tanker in under a week they attempt to gain a me-
what his commanders was attacked on Tuesday, aningful advantage after
said was Russia’s full cap- a sharp uptick in strikes months of stalemate on
ture of Pokrovsk in east- on Moscow-associated sh- the frontlines and ahead
ern Ukraine as an impor- ipping as the war in of potential peace talks.
tant victory, but the Ukraine nears a fifth year. The past week has seen
Ukrainian military said The tiny oil and chemi- a dramatic increase in the
its forces still held the cals tanker Midvolga-2 intensity of attacks —
northern part of the city. was sailing across the with four incidents taking
“I want to thank you. Black Sea to Georgia from place, taking the tally
This is an important Russia hauling sunflower since December to at least
direction. We all under- oil when it was attacked nine.
stand just how impor- about 80 miles off Turk- In general, nobody has
tant,” Putin told the ey’s northern coast, the taken responsibility for
army’s top brass in a transport ministry’s mar- the incidents, although a
video that had a Sunday itime affairs directorate person with knowledge of
time stamp. said on X. the matter said Ukraine
But it was released by The ship was hit early was behind two attacks
the Kremlin on Monday, Tuesday by drones, that took place in the
suggesting it was timed to according to Turkish offi- Black Sea on Friday.
show that Russia was cials familiar with the A Turkish-managed ves-
advancing on the battle- matter, who spoke on con- sel also suffered four
field before Witkoff ’s dition of anonymity. external explosions near
arrival. — Agencies Russia and Ukraine are Senegal. — Bloomberg

IMRAN SUBJECTED TO ‘MENTAL TORTURE’: SIS

Lahore, Dec. 2: Pakistan’s nement”, his sister Dr Insaf (PTI) said in a
former prime minister Uzma Khan said on Tue- statement after Uzma’s
Imran Khan is alive but sday after meeting him at meeting with the 73-
subjected to “mental tor- Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. year-old former crick-
ture in solitary confi- The Pakistan Tehreek-e- eter-turned-politician
that Khan has been put
in solitary confinem-
ent and he is being
subjected to mental tor-
ture”.
Upon her return, she
also confirmed that
Khan’s health looks
fine, the statement
added.
An unannounced ban
was placed on meeting
Khan for more than a
month.
Constantly denying
his family members
from meeting the PTI
founder led to specula-
tions on social media
whether he is alive or
dead.
Adiala Jail authori-
ties however claimed
that he is in “good
health”.
The PTI in a state-
ment on Thursday said
that one of the sisters
of Khan, Dr Uzma
Khan, was permitted to
meet him. Meanwhile,
the Punjab government
deployed the entire
Rawalpindi police force
along Adiala Road to
thwart the PTI protest.
— PTI

BILL TO
PROTECT
RIGHTS OF
MINORITIES
PASSED
Islamabad, Dec. 2:
Pakistan Parliament on
Tuesday passed a land-
mark bill to protect the
rights of non-Muslims
and establish a dedicated
commission for minori-
ties. Law minister Azam
Nazir Tarar moved the
National Commission
for Minority Rights Bill
2025 which was passed
by the National
Assembly and Senate in
a joint session after
intense debate. “The bill
was delayed for 10 years
and politics should not
influence it,” Tarar said
on the occasion, adding
that the passage of the
bill marks a historic step
towards formalising
minority rights protec-
tions in Pakistan.
According to the bill,
the commission will con-
sist of 16 members.
Each of the four
provinces will nominate
two minority members.
One member will repre-
sent Islamabad, no-
minated at the discre-
tion of the Chief
Commissioner. — PTI
 CHENNAI | WEDNESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2025
pg 8

quick Global exchange of info Rupee hits historic low,

nears `90-level vs dollar
BITES key to stop tax evasion
Tax details exchanged should lead to measurable outcomes, says Nirmala
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, DEC. 2

The Indian rupee fell to a

record low of 89.95 against
FRAGILE PHASE
INDIAN currency touch-
es 89.94 against US dol-
RUPEE has
been one of
INDICATORS % the dollar Tuesday, exten-
lar during the day
before ending at 89.87,
worst
performing
Sensex 26,032.20 -0.55
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
BIG EFFORT GLOBAL FORUM on transparency and
ding losses on lingering
uncertainty over the Indo- down nearly 0.4%. currencies
Nifty 50 85,138.27 -0.59 exchange of information for tax purpos- US trade deal, muted for- NATIONALISED banks with fall of
CONFIDENTIALITY es is multilateral framework comprising
S&P 500* 6,834.40 0.32 Union finance minister
AND CYBERSECURITY
eign portfolio inflows in buy dollars consistently more than
Nirmala Sitharaman on 170 jurisdictions. equities and an elevated for oil marketing com- 5% in
Dollar (`) 88.63 -0.13 Tuesday said that with the MUST BE MAINTAINED trade deficit.
WITH GREAT CARE, panies. current
Pound Sterling (`) growing digitalisation of Foreign investors sold
116.69 -0.03
the economy and emerge- SAID FM. THERE SHOULD be over `1,170 crore Monday, SOME banks sell dollars fiscal so
Euro (`) 102.83 -0.29 nce of new financial prod- joint attention and adding to sustained pres- on behalf of RBI to pro- far.
Gold (10gm)* (`) 127,560▲245 0.19 ucts, countries globally cooperation to the sure on domestic equities. tect 90-level of rupee.
will have to cooperate new challenges aris- Traders said that nation-
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 62.30 -1.38 with timely exchange of alised banks were seen
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.513 -0.94 information, ensuring
ing from the digitali- buying dollars consistent- 88.41 on Nov. 4. The rupee timing is dependent on
fairness and public trust sation of the econo- ly for oil marketing com- has been one of the worst upcoming data and the
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.114 0.018 my, emergence of
in the tax system. IT MONITORS and peer panies while some banks performing currencies MPC’s assessment.
* As of 8:30 PM IST “Technological tools like new financial prod- reviews implementation of were seen selling dollars with a fall of more than 5 “The way rupee has fall-
artificial intelligence (AI), ucts, and evolving international standards on on behalf of the central per cent in the current en it looks more like
along with judgement, structures of benefi- transparency and informa- bank to protect the 90- financial year. devaluation than depreci-

Govt to divest cial ownership.

should be used to ensure tion exchange. level. Markets now await the ation because the curren-
that tax information — NIRMALA During the day, the cur- outcome of the RBI’s cy is undervalued, econo-
exchanged among juris- TRANSPARENCY effective rency touched 89.94 Monetary Policy Comm- mic fundamentals are per-
SITHARAMAN,
6% stake in BoM dictions leads to measura-
ble outcomes,” she said at Union finance
minister
and fair when guided by
clear rules, mutual respect
against the dollar before
ending at 89.87, down
ittee meeting
Wednesday. Economists
starts fect, CAD is in control.
Possibly to compensate

via offer for sale an event here.

The finance minister
further said that confiden-
and shared objectives. nearly 0.4 per cent on the
day and logging its fifth
consecutive daily fall.
stay divided on rate cut
possibility with the major-
ity expecting a status quo.
the exporters from losses
incurred due to US tariffs,
the government may have
The government decided to tiality and cybersecurity Shortly after the local spot The RBI has kept its poli- taken the route of depreci-
exercise green shoe option and must be maintained with
INDIA INTEGRATES exchanged infor- market closed, the rupee cy rate steady at 5.50 per ation till the trade deal is
will divest 6 per cent stake in great care. “There should mation with broader analyses of com- weakened to 90 per dollar cent, balancing growth finalised. RBI has slowed
Bank of Maharashtra (BoM), to be joint attention and pliance and risk of tax systems. on the inter-bank order and inflation concerns. the rupee’s fall to curb
mop up about `2,492 crore, cooperation to the new before trimming losses. RBI governor Sanjay sharp volatility,” said Anil
through offer for sale (OFS) challenges arising from The rupee has been con- Malhotra had said there is Bhansali, head, Finrex
following overwhelming respo- the digitalisation of the implementation of inter- tion translates into meas- tems, the finance minister sistently falling after it hit scope for rate cuts, but the Treasury.
nse from investors on first day economy, emergence of national standards on urable outcomes, she also said that India has
of subscription. It opened for new financial products, transparency and infor- added. been integrating exchang-
subscription on Tuesday for
non-retail investors at a floor
price of `54 per share. On first
day, it subscribed 400 per cent
and evolving structures of
beneficial ownership.
These are not challenges
that any one country can
mation exchange.
“The role of the forum in
reviewing implementa-
tion, developing standards
“The focus must remain
on fairness, sustainability
and public trust in integr-
ity of tax systems. We may
ed information with bro-
ader analyses of compli-
ance and risk.
“Technology and artifi-
Markets turn cautious ABAKKUS MF STARTS
OPERATIONS WITH
of base size 38.45 crore shares. address alone, rather they
demand coordination,
trust and timely exchange
of relevant information,”
she said at the 18th Global
and supporting countries
remains critical,”
Sitharaman said, adding
that transparency can be
both effective and fair
come from different juris-
dictions and traditions.
But we are united by the
shared purpose to ensure
that lawful economic
cial intelligence offer
opportunities to make
sense of information in a
timely and efficient way,
but the key is judgement,
on weak global cues
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
FLEXI-CAP FUND
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
● SENSEX CLOSED 503.63
Forum Plenary meeting. when it is guided by clear activity is encouraged, responsibility and a MUMBAI, DEC. 2 points or 0.59 per cent MUMBAI, DEC. 2
The global forum on rules, mutual respect and that evasion is discour- respect for procedure.
transparency and excha- shared objectives. aged,” Sitharaman said. Innovation must always The stock markets decline
down at 85,138.27 while Abakkus Mutual Fund
nge of information for tax As work progresses, our Noting that voluntary walk hand in hand with on Tuesday on weak glob- Nifty-50 closed just above announced its maiden
purposes is a multilateral collective task is to deepen compliance has strength- accountability and it is al cues, weakness in Indi- 26,000 level at 26,032 new fund offering a flexi
framework comprising current standards where ened in India over the last that balance which gives an currency against US down by 143 points or cap and a liquid fund
170 jurisdictions. It moni- necessary and, to ensure decade due to fairness and systems strength and dollar and caution before 0.55 per cent. opening from December 8.
tors and peer reviews the that exchanged informa- predictability in tax sys- credibility,” she said. US Fed and RBI monetary Abakkus Mutual Fund
policy announcement. is sponsored by Abakkus

Taking steps to lower

The overnight fell of US persistent FPI outflows, Asset Manager, a Sebi reg-

White collar hiring RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS

market by one per cent said Vikram Kasat, head - istered portfolio manager
down leading to weak ope- Advisory, PL Capital. that manages assets wor-
ning in domestic market. NSE India announced th `38,049 crore as of Sep-
in Nov. rises 23%, FALL AS SANCTIONS The Sensex closed 503.63 reshuffle of Nifty bank tember 30 under PMS sc-

impact of tariffs: Govt

points or 0.59 per cent and other indices, effec- hemes, AIFs and private

says Naukri report BY U.S. TAKE EFFECT down at 85,138.27 while

Nifty-50 closed at 26,032
down by 143 points or 0.55
tive December 31. The
Nifty bank index has been
expanded to 14 stocks,
equity.
The flexi cap fund fund
will allocate upwards of
White collar hiring in Novemb- MADHUSUDAN SAHOO per cent. with Union Bank of 65 per cent of its assets in
er has surged by 23 per cent,
led by non-IT sectors such as
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2 FC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, DEC. 2
FISCAL POLICIES Foreign portfolio
investors were net
India and Yes Ba-
nk added to index.
equity and its related inst-
ruments, up to 35 per cent
education, real estate, hospital-
ity and insurance, according to
India’s imports of
Russian oil fell by nearly The government on
AIDING GLOBAL sellers of equities
worth `3,642.30 cr
“The broader se-
ntiment remained
in debt and money market
instruments, and up to 10
Naukri JobSpeak Index report. weak as profit
Highvalue roles (`20 lakh per
annum) and unicorn hiring sur-
a third after stringent US
sanctions on
Kremlin-linked exporters
key
Tuesday said it is taking
steps, such as announcing
an export promotion mis-
ECONOMY: OECD while domestic
institutions were net
buyers by `4,645.94 cr.
booking persisted
amid a softening
per cent in REITs, InvITs.
The flexi cap fund NFO
closes on December 22,
ged by 38 per cent and 35 per came into effect on Nov. sion, to mitigate the Paris, Dec. 2: The global Equities extended their rupee and continued FPI while liquid fund NFO
cent, respectively, it said. Che- 21. Analysts expect fur- impact of the steep US tar- economy is weathering decline for a third straight withdrawals. Further closes on December 10.
nnai (49 per cent), Hyderabad ther declines in December iffs on domestic goods. TRADE TURMOIL Donald Trump’s trade tar- session, sentiment rema- pressure came from NSE’s Sunil Singhania, foun-
(41 per cent), and Delhi (41 per as refiners turned to It is, however, expected MEASURES iffs better than expected ined fragile as rupee hit a sectoral index reshuffle der, Abakkus Asset Mana-
cent) continued to drive the alternatives to avoid that these measures will as activity gets a boost record low against the US under Sebi norms, which ger said, “As a young
growth, the report said.
to enhance diversifi-
breaching sanctions. enhance diversification from strong investment in dollar, driven by strong weighed on major bank- AMC, we see a clear oppo-
“Before November 21, and resilience in India's cation, resilience in artificial intelligence and dollar demand from ing stocks,” said Bajaj rtunity to offer a differen-
imports were closer to 1.9- trade relationships, min- India's trade relation- supportive fiscal and investors, importers and Broking Research. tiated flexi cap strategy.”
2.0 million barrels per day ister of state for com- ships. monetary policies, the

Tata AutoComp
(bpd) as buyers moved merce and industry Jitin RELIEF GIVEN OECD said.

set to deepen
cargoes ahead of the
deadline, after which vol-
umes have slowed. It
looks like refiners stocked
Prasada said in a written
reply to the Lok Sabha.
“The government con-
tinues to work to mitigate
through RBI measures
and credit guarantee
scheme for exporters.
The Paris-based organi-
zation raised its US and
euro-area growth fore-
casts for this year and
Supreme Court rejects RIL’s
ops in Europe
Tata AutoComp Systems on
up on crude ahead of the
sanctions, planning to
process it once the rules
were in force,” said Sumit
the impact of the US tariff
measures on Indian
exports through a compre-
hensive multi-pronged
GOVT WORKS
with stakeholders to
enable exporters to
utilise benefits of
next, and made small
upward adjustments for
other major economies in
its latest outlook.
appeal against SAT order
Tuesday said it has completed Ritolia, lead research ana- strategy encompassing Still, it continues to pre- New Delhi, Dec. 2: The The top court declined to was disclosed through
the acquisition of European lyst, refining and model- intensive engagement
India’s FTAs with dict global growth will Supreme Court on Tues- interfere with the Secur- media reports. The Sebi
automotive component manu- ling of Kpler. with the US government major markets such slow to 2.9 per cent in 2026 day dismissed an appeal of ities Appellate Tribunal penalty was upheld by
facturer IAC Sweden and rebr- Post that, flows were for a mutually beneficial as Japan, Korea, UAE. from 3.2 per cent in 2025 Reliance Industries Ltd (SAT) ruling and effective- SAT on May 2, 2025.
anded the entity as Artifex tracking around 1.27 mil- India-US bilateral trade as full effects of levies on (RIL) and two of its offi- ly affirmed Sebi’s findings “In our considered view,
Systems AB. This will strength- lion bpd, down 5,70,000 agreement,” the minister trade have yet to be felt. cials against a Securities that RIL and its complian- the conclusion drawn by
en Tata AutoComp’s presence bpd month-on-month. said. exporters to better utilize “The global economy Appellate Tribunal’s deci- ce officers failed to prom- the Sebi with respect to
in Europe and enhance its part- “Based on current load- He further said that the benefits of India’s has been resilient this sion upholding a penalty ptly disclose unpublished the violation of 2015 regu-
nerships with key European ings and voyage activity, immediate relief has been FTAs with major markets year, despite concerns imposed by markets regu- price-sensitive infor- lation, whereby there
original equipment manufac- we expect Dec. arrivals to given through trade relief such as Japan, Korea, about a sharper slow- lator Sebi for not making mation (UPSI) con- is statutory embar-
turer across both passenger be in the range of 1.0 mil- measures of the RBI and UAE and effectively uti- down in the wake of high- prompt clarification to cerning the high- go on insider trad-
and commercial vehicle seg- lion bpd,” he said. announcement of the lize the opportunities that er trade barriers and sig- stock exchange about the profile stake sale. ing, we are satisfi-
ments, the company said. credit guarantee scheme have been created with nificant uncertainty,” sec- Jio-Facebook deal. In June 2022, the ed that there is no
for exporters, enhance- the recently concluded retaryg general Mathias “The bigger the compa- Sebi imposed a case made out for
ment of domestic demand FTAs,” the minister said, Cormann said. ny, the greater the respon- penalty totalling `30 interference. That
through GST reforms, and adding that the govern- Yet, global trade growth sibility. You must meticu- lakh on RIL and two apart, the issues dealt

Wipro completes
negotiating free trade ment is also engaged in moderated in the second lously comply with the individuals, Savithri Par- with by Sebi and SAT are
agreements (FTAs) with negotiations for early con- quarter of this year, and regulations,” a bench co- ekh and K Sethuraman, substantially issues of fa-
new countries. clusion of mutually bene- we expect higher tariffs to mprising chief justice Su- for not making prompt ct giving rise to no ques-
acquisition of “The government is
working with all stake-
ficial FTAs with the EU,
Peru, Chile, New Zealand,
gradually feed through to
higher prices, Cormann
rya Kant and justice Joy-
malya Bagchi observed
clarification to the stock
exchange pertaining to
tion of law for considera-
tion by this court,” the

Harman DTS holders to enable our and Oman. added. — Bloomberg during the hearing. Jio-Facebook deal, which bench said. — PTI

Samsung unveils first trifold MEDIA | MATH Paramount Skydance, Comcast and Netflix sweeten offers
IT services company Wipro’s
$375-million acquisition of
Harma’s Digital Transformation

smartphone, pegs at $2,450 Warner Bros. fields fresh bids

Solutions (DTS) business unit
has been completed following
regulatory nods, according to a
release on Tuesday. The DTS
buy was announced on August
21, and, with the successful clo- New York, Dec. 2: BANKERS for Paramount want $30 a share, and the
sure of the deal, it will begin Seoul, Dec. 2: Samsung in South Korea on unfurled, it provides a Warner Bros. Discovery Skydance, Comcast and company’s chair emeri-
operating as part of Wipro’s Electronics unveiled its December 12 with a price tablet-style experience was fielding a second rou- tus, John Malone, has said
engineering global business first so-called trifold of 3.59 million won (about with a 10-inch display. In nd of bids, including a Netflix worked over that number is possible.
line, the Bengaluru-headquar- smartphone, flaunting its $2,450). The TriFold will the tablet-like mode, each mostly cash offer from weekend on improved The company’s market
tered IT company said. engineering prowess in also be available in other of the device’s screens can Netflix, in an auction that offers for all or part of value is $59 billion.
foldable devices even as markets, including India, independently run a dif- could wrap up in the com- Warner Bros. The parent of HBO, CNN
the broader category has US China, Taiwan, ferent app. This provides ing days or weeks, accord- and its namesake film stu-
yet to catch on with main- Singapore and the UAE. the equivalent of three ing to people familiar with Netflix working on a dio officially put itself up
Printed & Published by bridge loan that totals
stream consumers. Samsung unveiled the separate 6.5-inch bar-style the discussions. for sale in October after
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed &
The handset, called the device at an event in Seoul handsets side by side. Bankers for Paramount tens of billions of dollars. receiving multiple unso-
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses Galaxy Z TriFold, is part on Tuesday, months before Using Samsung’s DeX Skydance, Comcast and licited offers for all or part
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot, of a small subset Apple is expected software, which has been Netflix worked over the of the company.
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai. of folding to announce its tweaked for this particu- weekend on improved ent Middle East funds are described latest offers as Paramount kicked off
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No. phones that have first folding lar hardware type, can offers for all or part of also contributing, the peo- final, however, and anoth- the process with three
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1. two hinges, iPhone. run a desktop-like experi- Warner Bros., said the ple said. er bid would be consider- offers for all of the compa-
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in allowing them to When closed, the ence on large inner dis- people, who asked not to The offers are binding, ed if terms are attractive. ny, including its cable TV
whole or in part without written per- transform into TriFold’s outer play. In DeX, it can operate be identified discussing which means the board is Netflix is working on a networks. Comc-ast and
mission of The Editor, Financial larger, tablet- screen offers simi- as many as four distinct nonpublic information. in a position to sign off on bridge loan that totals Netflix are interested only
Chronicle ® is prohibited. sized devices. lar dimensions to workspaces that can each Paramount’s offer inclu- a deal quickly if its goals tens of billions of dollars, in Warner Bros. studios
Samsung will a regular smart- run five apps simultane- des debt financing from met, one of people said. one of people said. and HBO Max streaming
initially launch it phone. But when ously. — Bloomberg Apollo Global Managem- The company hasn’t Warner Bros. is said to service. — Bloomberg
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | WEDNESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2025
pg 9

DOUBLE DEMAND Vaibhav

SYED MUSHTAQ | ALI TROPHY
SHORT TAKES
HC dismisses top
wrestlers petition
youngest
New Delhi: The Delhi High
Court has dismissed petitions
filed by top wrestlers Bajrang
Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh
to score hundred
India rely on Kohli-Rohit pair to seal series in second ODI Kolkata, Dec. 2: The 14-
Phogat and Satyawart Kadian Raipur, Dec. 2: The year-old Vaibhav BRIEF SCORES
challenging the Wrestling chatter around the Suryavanshi added
Federation of India’s (WFI) volatile dressing room another page to his grow- ■ Maharashtra 182/7 in 19.1
December 2023 elections, after environment notwith- ing list of achievements, overs (Prithvi Shaw 66,
Mohd Izhar 2/22) beat Bihar
they failed to appear before the standing, India will rely becoming the youngest
176/3 in 20 overs (Vaibhav
court on multiple dates. on Virat Kohli’s imperi- batter to score a hundred
Suryavanshi 108, Vicky
Back then Sanjay Singh had ous form and Rohit in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Ostwal 1/26).
become the president beating Sharma’s indomitable Trophy but his unbeaten ■ Uttar Pradesh 127 in 19.2
Anita Sheoran, a candidate presence to seal a series 108 could not prevent overs (Madhav Kaushik 37,
backed by the three Olympians. victory over a doughty Bihar’s three-wicket Mohammed Siraj 1/15,
Justice Mini Pushkarna, hearing South Africa in the sec- defeat to Maharashtra in Rakshan Reddi 3/31, Tanay
the matter on November 27, ond ODI, here on their Elite Group ‘B’ Thyagarajan 3/29) lost to
noted that none of the petition- Wednesday. match here on Tuesday. Hyderabad, 129/7 in 17.1
ers were present when the mat- A record-extending The supremely talented overs (Tanmay Agarwal 43,
ters were taken up, and record- 52nd ODI century by Suryavanshi hit a Vipraj Nigam 3/20).
ed that they had also remained Kohli and a rapid 57 sparkling 61-ball 108 to set ■ Punjab 222/8 in 20 overs
absent for the previous two from Rohit paved the the new mark, going past (Abhishek Sharma 50,
hearings. way for India’s 17-run Vijay Zol of Maharashtra Anmolpreet Singh 69, Raj
“The petitioners do not seem to win in the series-opener who made a century Limbani 3/36) lost to
be interested in prosecuting the at Ranchi, where the against Mumbai in 2013 at Baroda 224/3 in 19.1 overs
present matters,” the court said home bowlers endured a 18 years 111 days. (Hardik Pandya 77 not out,
in its order. spirited fightback from Asked to bat, Shivalik Sharma 47 retired
The wrestlers had moved the the Proteas before man- Suryavanshi combined hurt, Vishnu Solanki 43).
High Court, alleging that the aging to stop them. power with patience, ■ Pondicherry 83 in 13.1
WFI elections were not con- With the 2027 ODI smashing seven fours and overs (JK Bhatt 3/17, Ravi
Bishnoi 3/13, Arzan
ducted in a fair and transparent World Cup two years seven sixes to guide Bihar
Nagwaswalla 2/22) lost to
manner. Their plea sought inter- away, Kohli and Rohit to 176/3. Gujarat 84/1 in 9 overs
vention against what they are not only auditioning In reply, skipper Prithvi (Aarya Desai 53 not out).
claimed were procedural lapses every match to prove Shaw set the tone with a ■ Himachal Pradesh 208/5
and irregularities in the election their fitness and form brutal 30-ball 66, while in 20 overs (Ekant Sen 89,
process. — PTI but are also reportedly Niraj Joshi (30), Ranjeet Pukhraj Mann 79, Shahbaz
managing growing dif- Nikam (27) and Nikhil Ahmed 3/36) lost to Bengal
ferences with head Naik (22) chipped in with 212/5 in 18.4 overs (Karan
Maxwell pulls out coach Gautam Gambhir.
The issue has dominat-
crucial contributions to
take Maharashtra home
Lal 113, Abhishek Porel 41,
Mridul Surroch 2/24).
of IPL auctions ed the off-field talk and
is expected to have the
with five balls to spare.
Earlier, Suryavanshi
■ Services 157/7 in 20 overs
(Nakul Sharma 57, Vineet
Sydney: Glenn Maxwell, whose BCCI stepping in at broke Bihar’s record for Dhankar 36, Anuj Thakral
IPL career over the last decade some point. most sixes in a T20 2/23) lost to Haryana 160/4
has largely been underwhelm- Having set up two con- innings with his tally of in 19 overs (Ankit Kumar 78
ing, decided to pull out of the secutive victories for seven. He also added 75 not out).
upcoming mini auctions sched- India in last as many runs with Ayush ■ Tripura 157/5 in 20 overs
uled in Abu Dhabi on December ODIs — including a Loharuka (25 not out) for (Mani Shankar Murasingh 25
16. nine-wicket hammering the fourth wicket — not out, Suyash Sharma
India's Rohit Sharma (left) and K. L. Rahul arrive at the airport in Raipur on Monday, ahead of the second ODI 2/16, Digvesh Rathi 2/34)
The 37-year-old, popularly of Australia at Sydney match against South Africa. — BCCI Bihar’s highest stand for
beat Delhi 145/8 in 20 overs
known as “Big Show” for being in October — Kohli and that wicket in T20 cricket.
(Nitish Rana 45, Mani
a phenomenal talent in his Rohit have shown they
KOHLI & ROHIT HARDIK’S 77 GUIDES Shankar Murasingh 2/19).
younger days, has played every
IPL season since 2012, barring
one in 2019.
He has managed only 2819 runs
will everything possible
to be on that flight to the
World Cup in South
Africa.
In-form Ro-Ko go hard in DOES BOLSTER
BARODA TO WIN
In Hyderabad, India all-
rounder Hardik Pandya selectors who will be
picking up India's squad

nets ahead of second ODI

in 141 games at a strike rate of Both the chairman of made an excellent return
155 plus and an average of less
than 24, which doesn’t justify
selectors Ajit Agarkar
and Gambhir have
INDIA: BAVUMA to competitive cricket
after two months, strik-
for the upcoming T20I
series against South
the kind of prices that he has remained non-commit- Raipur, Dec. 2: South ing an unbeaten 77 to Africa.
been consistently fetching in tal about their participa- Africa captain Temba power Baroda to a seven- In fact, Hardik gave a
auctions over the years. He also tion in the World Cup Raipur, Dec. 2: Virat Bavuma feels facing an wicket win over Punjab in typical finish to the
picked 41 wickets with his off- and that has probably Kohli and Rohit Sharma Indian side with Virat a Group C match. match, smashing left-arm
breaks at an economy rate of been at the centre of the seemed oblivious to the Kohli and Rohit Sharma Pandya's 42-ball knock pacer Ashwani Kumar for
8.30. simmering tensions loud whispers around is nothing new but it (7x4, 4x6) helped Baroda two sixes and then meting
“After many unforgettable sea- between the two sides. them, as the stalwarts does bolster the hosts surmount Punjab's chal- out the same treatment to
sons in the IPL, I’ve decided not However, India have a went about their intense whom the Proteas had lenging 222 for eight in 20 strapping pacer Gurnoor
to put my name into auctions lot more to worry about net session in tandem blanked 2-0 in the Test overs, which was built Brar as Baroda bagged
this year. It’s a big call and one despite the opening win. against throw-down spe- series. “The inclusion of around India opener four crucial points.
I make with a lot of gratitude For starters, the combi- cialists during India’s nets those two guys that does Abhishek Sharma's 19- IN A FIRST, DELHI LOSE
for everything this league has nation does not seem here ahead of bolster the team. Like ball 50. Pandya's blitz car- TO TRIPURA
given me,” Maxwell wrote on perfectly aligned. Wednesday’s second ODI we said at the start of ried Baroda to 224 for
his instagram page. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who against South Africa. the series, these are two three in 19.1 overs. In Ahmedabad, Delhi
While Maxwell didn’t specify a has built an impressive Intrigue has been on a guys who have a lot of This was the 32-year- team’s ongoing domestic
reason, it is evident that most record in List A cricket, steady rise regarding the experience and a lot of old's first competitive out- season went from bad to
major franchises have grown was pushed from open- future of Kohli and Rohit, skill and that can only ing after turning up worse as minnows
weary of waiting for him to ing to No 4. bringing the road of ICC benefit the team. against Sri Lanka in an Tripura shocked a team
deliver a good season, some- He did not look com- ODI World Cup 2027 into “It is not something Asia Cup Super Fours full of IPL stars by 12
thing that has been rare. — PTI pletely conditioned for the mix. that we are not aware match in Dubai on runs in a Group ‘D’
the role, with stand-in But having charted the of,” Bavuma told the September 26. match.
captain K. L. Rahul team’s victories in the last media ahead of South Since then, he missed Earlier this season in
Former Eng batter staunchly defending his
position at No. 6.
two
Australia
ODIs
and
against
South
Africa’s training session
here.
the action owing to a left
quadricep injury, and has
Ranji Trophy, Delhi were
soundly thrashed by
Smith dies at 62 Washington Sundar is
not new to such experi-
Africa, the two seniors did
not look in a mood to take
Underlining
experience in interna-
their been recuperating at the
BCCI Center of
Jammu and Kashmir,
another first in their list
London: Former England batter ments as the Tamil the foot off the pedal here tional cricket, Bavuma Excellence (CoE) in of ignominies accumulat-
Robin Smith, who fought some Nadu all-rounder, who on Tuesday. recalled watching a Bengaluru. ed over the past few sea-
intense battles with pacers in batted at No. 3 in Kohli looked in prime young Rohit in the 2007 But on this day, he bat- sons. Delhi and District
the 1980s and 90s, passed Kolkata Test against the touch as he went hard T20 World Cup which ted freely and bowled four Cricket Association
away at his home in Perth, Proteas, has seen plenty against the throw-down India won as a school overs while conceding 52 President Rohan Jaitley
Australia, on Tuesday. He was of changes in his batting specialists Raghu (right- student. runs and took the wicket and secretary Ashok
62. Smith played 62 Tests positions. But in the arm) and Nuwan “We played against, of Anmolpreet Singh. Sharma will have a lot of
between 1988 and 1996 and first ODI at No. 5, he too Seneviratne (left-arm) Rohit... I think it was in Pandya's smooth outing explaining to do with
made 4236 runs at 43.67 with was among the batters who cranked it up. 2007, the T20 World Cup, might have come as a shot regards to team selection.
nine hundreds, but his impact dismissed in a phase It was a captivating Virat Kohli on his flight to Raipur on Monday. — BCCI I was still in school then. in the arm for national — PTI
on English cricket at that peri- where India slowed phase under lights, with I mean, these guys have
od was much more profound down. Kohli middling most of days, it would have been a Ranchi on Sunday. been around, so there is
than his numbers, excellent And again for an all- the deliveries but on occa- sight with several angles. The mood among the nothing new. These are
anyway. rounder, Washington sions he was beaten by the However, Rohit, who fol- other batters was to go world-class players,” he
The powerful right-hander was also had another light raw pace generated by lowed Kohli into the hard and be as aggressive said.
at his tenacious best against day in terms of bowling Raghu. change room shortly, did as possible, with the con- “(Coming up against
the West Indies pacers like as he sent down only Head coach Gautam stop for a while to speak test on a black soil here at them is) nothing new, we
Curtly Ambrose, Courtney three overs for 18 runs. Gambhir was a close with Gambhir. the Shaheed Veer Narayan have come across it. We
Walsh, Malcolm Marshall and To his credit, Harshit observer of the proceed- The cynosure was, Singh Stadium could be have been on the bad end
Patrick Patterson, when his Rana did a lot of good to ings while stationing him- indeed, Kohli and Rohit another bat-off between of it. But we have also
teammate often sank into a his reputation with two self between the two nets but action was no less the two teams. had good times against
pool of struggle. wickets upfront with the on either end of the cen- intense in the adjacent Yashasvi Jaiswal’s them. It all just makes
In possession of a withering new ball but his knack of tre. But once done, Kohli nets where other Indian strokes on the leg side the series a lot more
square cut, often deemed as giving away runs later trained both the bats on players sweated it out landed into the stands and exciting,” he said.
one of the fiercest strokes in on will require the all- his shoulders and walked ahead of the ODI which the young opener even Bavuma heaped praise
cricketing history, Smith was at rounder to bring in past Gambhir without India would want to win rolled over his arm to on Marco Jansen whose
his peak between 1990 and more control, especially having a word. For those and seal the series. Rishabh Pant, who was 39-ball 70 took South
1995, playing a lead role in when only one ball is following the develop- The hosts are sitting on a the last among the Indian Africa on the brink of a
England drawing back-to-back allowed to play with ments surrounding Indian 1-0 lead in the three-match batters to hit the nets. win in the first ODI.
Test series against the West after the 34th over. cricket for the last few series after a win at — PTI — PTI
Indies. — PTI

4 meet records
smashed in KIUG
‘Old school’ Windies keep NZ under check
Christchurch (New
Jaipur: Four meet records tum- Zealand), Dec. 2: New BRIEF SCORES
bled in track and field, two Zealand reached 231/9 at
from Chandigarh University ath- stumps on a rain-short- ■ New Zealand 231/9 in 70
letes, even as Guru Nanak Dev ened day one of the first overs (Kane Williamson 52,
University continued to lead the Test against the West Michael Bracewell 47, Ojay
medal tally in the Khelo India Indies Tuesday after Shields 2/34, Justin
University Games here on Justin Greaves triggered a Greaves 2/35, Kemar
Tuesday. middle-order collapse with Roach 2/47) vs West
Chandigarh University’s Rahul the wicket of Kane Indies.
(men’s 20km race walk) and Williamson.
Deepika (women’s Javelin New Zealand tumbled heavy cloud cover ensured
Throw), Ruchir Mori (men’s from 94/1 to 148/6 on a West Indies skipper
400m hurdles) of Swarnim bowler-friendly wicket Roston Chase gave his
Gujarat Sports University, after Williamson was dis- pace attack first use of the
Lovely Professional University’s missed for 52, his 38th Test new ball when he won the
Pooja (women’s High Jump) half-century. toss and it revived memo-
broke the KIUG meet record on Michael Bracewell and ries of Calypso quicks
second day of athletics compe- Nathan Smith arrested the from a previous era.
tition. Guru Nanak Dev slide with a 52-run stand But after the immediate
University remained at the top for the seventh wicket. success of Kemar Roach,
of the medal tally with 31 gold. Smith eventually fell for 23 who removed Conway, the
Chandigarh University, last edi- and Bracewell for 47. West Indies bowler Kemar Roach (second from right) celebrates with teammates West Indies were made to
tion’s KIUG champions, After Matt Henry went after taking the wicket of New Zealand’s Devon Conway during on the first day of wait 29 overs before again
clinched 11 gold medals, includ- for eight, Zak Foulkes and their first Test in Christchurch, New Zealand, on Tuesday. — AP tasting success.
ing seven in Canoe & Kayaking Jacob Duffy were both on In the first session,
on Tuesday, to take their gold four when bad light throughout the day and I about the fast bowlers of New Zealand after extended by a 90-minute
medal tally to 22. stopped play after 70 overs think we’d be pretty happy the West Indies and it was Williamson and Tom rain break, Williamson
Lovely Professional University of a truncated day. with where we got to at the certainly that today. It was Latham put on 93 follow- and Latham cautiously
also won two gold medals in Bracewell rated the day end of the day,” he said. an exciting challenge.” ing the dismissal of Devon inched New Zealand to
athletics to consolidate their “pretty even” given the “It was a little bit ‘old Bracewell and Smith’s Conway on the third ball 17/1 in the 10.3 overs avail- Bihar’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi celebrates his century
third spot with 23 gold medals. nature of the wicket. school’ West Indies. partnership was the sec- of the Test. able before a second show- against Maharashtra during their Syed Mustaq Ali
— PTI “It ebbed and flowed “You grow up hearing ond face-saving stand for The green wicket and er brought lunch. — AFP Trophy match in Kolkata on Tuesday. — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | WEDNESDAY | 3 DECEMBER 2025
pg 10

INDIA BOOK QF BERTH

TAKES
SHORT
Letting Faf go was
Karnataka drub
tough: Hemang
New Delhi: Delhi Capitals
TN by 145 runs
head coach Hemang Badani
said releasing big-hitting
former South African skip-
Hosts beat Switzerland 5-0 to maintain clean sheet Ahmedabad, Dec. 2:
Karnataka
Devdutt
rode on
Padikkal's
question and Tamil Nadu
were bowled out for a
meagre 100 in just 14.2
per Faf du Plessis was a dif- DC CORRESPONDENT unbeaten 46-ball-102 to overs with veteran leg-
ficult call but the franchise CHENNAI, DEC. 2 comfortably outclass spinners Shreyas Gopal
wanted to move towards a Tamil Nadu by 145 runs. and Praveen Dubey claim-
younger and more aggres- India continued their Padikkal hit 10 fours ing three wickets apiece.
sive option aligned with the unbeaten march in the and six sixes while BR
team's style of play. Du group stage of the FIH Sharath (53 off 24 balls) BRIEF SCORES
Plessis played for Chennai Junior Hockey World Cup, and Ravichandran Karnataka 245/3 in 20
Super Kings, Royal brushing aside a spirited Smaran (46 not out off 29 overs (Devdutt Padikkal
Challengers Bengaluru and Switzerland challenge 5–0 balls) also played their 102 not out, BR Sharath
now-defunct Rising Pune in their final Pool B match part in a commanding 53, R Smaran 46 not out,
Supergiant during his IPL in Madurai on Tuesday. total of 245 for 3. India's Sonu Yadav 2/34) vs
run that ended on Monday Manmeet Singh (2nd, 11th) T20 specialist Varun Tamil Nadu 100 in 14.2
after his decision to retire and Sharda Nand Tiwari Chakravarthy, for a overs (Tushar Raheja 29,
from the league. (13th, 54th) struck a brace change, was clobbered for Shreyas Gopal 3/21,
each, while Arshdeep 47 in four wicketless Praveen Dubey 3/15).
Singh (27th) added one as overs. Karnataka won by 145
TAMIL NADU India wrapped up the The chase was out of runs.
league phase on a high.
DIGEST With three wins from

Haryana beat Tamil

Nadu in Cooch Behar
Haryana beat Tamil Nadu by
three matches,
topped Pool B with nine
India

points and walked into the

quarterfinals brimming
Velavan, Anahat
212 runs in the third round of
the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19
tournament in Lahli on
Tuesday.
with confidence. Earlier in
the tournament, they had
outclassed Chile 7–0 and
Oman 17–0. Against
make last eight
Brief scores: Haryana 171 & Switzerland, however, their DC CORRESPONDENT Addeen Idrakie (Mas) 11-8, 11-
190 in 53.4 overs (Yash clean sheet came under CHENNAI, DEC. 2 9, 8-11, 11-5; 2-Veer Chotrani bt
Adhana 60, Yuvraaj D. Singh real threat. The Europeans Suraj Kumar Chand 8-11, 8-11,
34, J. Hemchudeshan 6/80, created several close Velavan Senthilkumar 11-7, 11-5, 11-6; 5-Diego Gobbi
B.K. Kishore 4/72) bt Tamil chances and even earned a and Anahat Singh, the (Bra) bt Diwakar Singh 11-4,
Nadu 70 & 79 in 25.4 overs penalty stroke, only to be reigning men’s and 12-10, 11-4; 3-Daniel
(Tanmay Baloda 5/37, Aarav denied by the outstanding women’s National cham- Poleshchuk (ISR) bt Louai
Jeph 4/20). Indian goalkeeper Prince pions respectively, Hafez (Sui) 11-6, 11-9, 11-2; 4-
Deep Singh. Action during India-Switzerland match in the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup in Madurai on Tuesday. India won 5-0. cruised into the quarterfi- Ibrahim Elkabbani (Egy) bt
Mohamed, Sunny added At the other end, Swiss nals of the HCL Squash Manuel Paquemar (Fra) 9-11,
to senior TN squad custodian Timo Graf had a Graf off guard. had little to do initially. As another penalty corner in ond minute from a penalty Indian Tour 4 in Chennai 11-3, 11-1, 5-11, 11-9; 7-Maceo
The state senior selection remarkable outing of his India improved notice- Switzerland grew desper- the 54th minute, complet- corner but star drag-flciker on Tuesday with clinical Levy (Fra) bt Matteo
committee of the Tamil Nadu own, especially in the sec- ably in penalty-corner exe- ate, they squandered anoth- ing his brace and pushing Amirul Islam made a fine victories at the Indian Carrouget (Fra) 9-11, 8-11, 11-5,
Cricket Association has added ond half, foiling multiple cution and Sharda Nand er penalty corner. India the lead to 5–0. goal line save. Squash Academy. 11-7, 11-1; 6-Joseph White (Aus)
S. Mohamed Ali and Sunny Indian attempts and keep- Tiwari made it 3–0 with a punished them immediate- France kept up the pres- World No 46 bt Yash Fadte 7-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-
Sandhu to the squad for the ing the scoreline sharp drag-flick two min- ly as Arshdeep Singh France enter quarters sure and secured two more Senthilkumar dismantled 6; 1-Velavan Senthilkumar bt
ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali respectable. utes before the first-quar- unleashed a ferocious back- In Chennai, last edition’s short corners soon, the sec- Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Ravindu Laksiri (SL) 11-7, 11-8,
Trophy in Ahmedabad. Tamil The match kicked off in ter hooter. hand finish to make it 4–0 silver medallist France ond of which resulted in a Laksiri 11-7, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7.
Nadu suffered a setback on exhilarating fashion under Switzerland came just three minutes before continued their unbeaten penalty stroke and Tom while Delhi teenager Women: 2-Nardine Garas
Tuesday after losing to steady rain. Switzerland painfully close to opening halftime. run, eking out a narrow 3-2 Gaillard made no mistake Anahat, ranked 29 in the (Egy) bt Sanya Vats 11-2, 9-11,
Karnataka, dealing a heavy earned back-to-back penal- their account when skipper The third quarter was win over a fighting from the spot in the sev- world, eased past Tamara 11-5, 11-6; Joshna Chinappa bt
blow to their knockout qualifi- ty corners within the open- Jens Fluck cut in from the surprisingly goalless but Bangladesh to directly enth minute. Holzbauerova (Czech 7-Ella Jane Lash (NZ) 11-5, 11-
cation chances. ing 30 seconds, exposing a right and flashed a shot packed with tension. qualify for the quarterfi- Two minutes into the sec- Republic) 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 in 8, 11-4; 6-Tanvi Khanna bt
nervy start from the hosts. wide after a blazing run Switzerland repeatedly nals. France, who had ond quarter, Bangladesh the pre-quarterfinals Cristina Tartarone (Ita) 12-10,
But India settled quickly into the circle. Graf then threatened to score and defeated Korea 11-1 and secured a penalty corner after the Indian top seeds 11-6, 11-6; 4-Nga Ching Cheng
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 and struck first in the sec- produced a stunning left- Prince Deep Singh made a Australia 8-3, topped Pool F but this time Amirul fell received first-round byes. (HK) bt Rathika Suthanthira
ond minute when Manmeet hand save with nine min- brilliant save to deny with maximum nine points short as his powerful flick Former women’s world Seelan 11-8, 11-5, 11-3; 3-Hayley
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on Singh’s clever reverse flick utes left in the second quar- Yannick Hug from the from three matches. was brilliantly saved by No 10 Joshna Chinappa, Ward (RSA) bt Karina Tyma
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited slipped past Graf. It was a ter, showing exceptional penalty stroke. After three The ever-improving French goalkeeper Antoine women’s sixth seed Tanvi (Pol) 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 12-10; 5-
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot, special moment for awareness. He denied India strong quarters, Prince Frenchmen were a treat to Robert. Bangladesh, how- Khanna and men’s second Ching Hei Fung (HK) bt
Industrial Estate, Manmeet, who celebrated again late in the quarter was substituted for watch as they controlled ever, drew level in the 28th seed Veer Chotrani were Fereshteh Eghtedari (Iri) 11-8,
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. his 20th birthday in style. and if not for his bravery Bikramjeet Singh, who was the proceedings against minute through their first the other Indians who 11-5, 11-7; 1-Anahat Singh bt
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, Manmeet doubled the between the posts, the mar- given valuable game time. Bangladesh for most part of field goal of the tourna- made it to the last-eight. Tamara Holzbauerova (Cze) 11-
22254751 lead soon after, beautifully gin could have been much After a long wait, India the match. ment by Md Abdullah as Results (pre-quarterfinals; 7, 11-7, 11-7; 8-Akari Midorikawa
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER
deflecting a long pass from wider. finally broke through again France got their first both the teams went into Indians unless specified): Men: (Jpn) bt Nirupama Dubey 11-2,
Talem Priyobarta to catch At the other end, Prince when Sharda converted scoring chance in the sec- half-time locked at 1-1. Adam Hawal (Egy) bt 8- 12-10, 11-2.