WEDNESDAY 02 SEPTEMBER, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard S I X T H D AY RUSSIAN STRIKES ON KYIV KILL 12 Battered houses in low-lying areas in Nuwakot in Nepal full of slush after the recent flash-flood in Nepal | S V KRISHNA CHAITANYA | REPORT: P7, P9 Russia bombarded the Ukrainian capital for over 12 hours overnight on Monday, as the strikes enter the sixth day. At least 12 people were killed. DEATH TOLL CROSSES 1,000 IN NEPAL A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 STENCH SHAME IN DIPLOMATIC AREA  NEW DELHI  J8.00  As police in Kathmandu buried dozens of bodies, Nepal’s disaster agency said 1,003 deaths had been counted there, with 3,916 people missing, including 583 foreign nationals. Rescue teams with search dogs continued to search through mud and debris to trace missing people on Tuesday. PAGES 12 SC quashes all FIRs filed against CJP protesters No relief for 2,873 persons with criminal past; CJP calls off Sept 5 march S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi Pandit Uma Shankar Marg A key thoroughfare through Chanakyapuri’s high-security Diplomatic Enclave, the garbage dumps undermine the area’s public image Nyaya marg Turning a prominent roadside into an eyesore in the area, the garbage heap highlights the need for regular waste collection IN a big relief to students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests during July 20-25, the Supreme Court on Tuesday invoked its extraordinary powers to quash all FIRs registered against the protesters across the country prompt, ing the outfit to call off its September 5 march in Delhi. “Participating in a protest per se would not constitute an offence,” observed a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana while invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, which empowers the court to pass any orders to do complete justice. The bench, however, allowed the government to continue prosecution against 2,873 individuals with serious criminal antecedents who took part in the Jantar Mantar protest. For this purpose, the government proposed to register a single, fresh FIR against them. The bench directed that investigation be limited to offences of bodily harm or destruction of property during the protests. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the bench that the Invocation of Article 142 is subject to the condition that both sides shall abide by the understanding arrived at before this court Supreme Court government will not pursue FIRs linked to the specified protest incidents or file fresh FIRs for the same incidents. He said the government stands by its assurance on compensation to the families of students who ended their lives. He sought three months time to complete the modalities. CJP co-convener Saurav Das appeared before the bench and read out a statement on behalf of the group. “The CJP deems it appropriate to withdraw the call for the march on September 5 and looks forward to com- pliance with today’s order,” Das said, describing the order as a ‘historic decision’. The Centre had on Monday moved the SC seeking quashing of these FIRs registered over protests that took place across the country in July . In the hearing on Tuesday, Senior Advocates Vrinda Grover and Hariharan, appearing for the protesters, sought transparency with regard to the FIRs and the list of about 2,873 persons identified by authorities. The bench deliberated on whether the copies of FIRs and the list should be supplied, while noting that once FIRs are quashed, their contents would be largely academic for the proceedings. The court also took on record the government’s commitment to compensating the affected families and directed that a framework be formulated in consultation with states and Union territories. Welcoming the SC’s decision, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said the welfare and progress of the country’s youth remained the government’s utmost priority and asserted that all FIRs lodged against those who took part in the protests will be withdrawn. PAK CRICKET IN DISARRAY Known for its unpredictable nature, Pakistan Cricket Board has made a series of changes after Test series loss to England. A look... PLAYERS DROPPED, COACHES RELEASED A day after Pakistan lost Lord’s Test, PCB axed seven members of the squad, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha, and released coaches — Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul — off their duties. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have been called to join the team ahead of third and final Test. PHOTOS: PARVEEN NEGI Confront terror states, Modi tells SCO J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Police Awas Accumulating garbage highlights an everyday sanitation challenge within an otherwise prominent and closely monitored neighbourhood WRITE TO US, SEND PHOTOS Ahead of the BRICS Summit, this newspaper took stock of cleanliness in the diplomatic enclave on Monday morning and found garbage strewn all over. This campaign aims to set things right in our city. L E T T E R S @ M O R N I N G S TA N D A R D . I N EXPRESS READ Hotel owner charged in Malviya Nagar fire After a deadly blaze killed 23 people at a hotel in Malviya Nagar on June 3, Delhi Police has chargesheeted its owner Lavkesh Bajaj and two others for allegedly flouting bed-andbreakfast rules to run the 26-room establishment | P4 Sugar stock limits slashed to curb prices The Centre has reduced the stock holding limit for sugar dealers from 4,000 quintals to 2,000 quintals, effective from September 15, 2026, until November 30, 2026, to control prices and curb hoarding ahead of festive season. Minister says mental health of students key Education Minister R Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday told National Council of Educational Research and Technology (NCERT) to pay attention to mental well-being of students. He said, “Students should not face any stress.” | P4 Prime minister’s not-so-subtle message to China PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to confront countries that use terrorism as an “instrument of state policy” and reject “double standards” in the fight against terror financing and recruitment, in remarks seen as a direct reference to Pakistan, also the next chair of the grouping. Addressing the annual SCO summit in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other world leaders, Modi called for a united effort to “dismantle the entire ecosystem” supporting terrorism, including financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. “Terrorism continues to pose In an apparent reference to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Modi said such connectivity projects must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. India has been critical of the BRI because a portion of it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir `28 cr ‘scam’: CBI begins probe into diversion of subsidised rice to traders EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE CBI has registered a case over alleged irregularities in the allocation and diversion of subsidised rice meant for economically marginalised people, causing an estimated loss of `28.49 crore to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the agency said on Tuesday . The case was registered based on a report submitted by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. The CBI alleged that FCI Delhi allocated 62,000 metric tonnes of rice to the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC) between April 13 and May 15 under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) 2025-26. NERAMAC sought allocation of 31,000 MT of rice per week through a letter dated January 7 to the “minister (food and civil supply), Government of NCT Delhi”, the FIR said. It sought the rice under the category “Sale of Rice without participation in e-auction”. “The objective was to ensure availability of rice at affordable rates to the general public, the labour class, migrant workers, and persons not covered under the PDS,” the agency said. However, the CBI alleged that NERAMAC entered into MoUs with three private entities, which facilitated lifting of rice by traders. The agency said NERAMAC wasn’t eligible for rate concession without e-auction under the 2025-26 policy . The rice was supplied at `23,200 per metric tonne, against a reserve price of `26,900 per metric tonne. This allegedly caused a loss of about `28.49 crore to FCI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during SCO Summit | PTI a serious challenge to humanity as a whole. In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an actionreaction approach,” Modi said in the meet held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. “We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone,” he added. Though Modi did not name Pakistan, his remarks were widely seen as a criticism of Islamabad’s support for various militant groups targeting India. The prime minister also expressed concern over the continuing crisis in West Asia, saying conflicts in one region can have consequences far beyond their immediate borders. “In today’s interconnected world, the scope of security has become even broader. The crisis in West Asia has demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region,” Modi said. “Its impact is felt across the world, affecting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains. The countries of the Global South bear the greatest brunt of such disruptions,” he added. P7 & P9 POLICY CHANGE Free solar panels to 2.3 lakh households using up to 400 units A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE Delhi government has approved a major change in its solar policy, allowing eligible households to install rooftop solar systems of up to 3 kW without paying any upfront cost. The cabinet approved the amendment on Tuesday to help expand rooftop solar use. Domestic consumers with average monthly power consumption of up to 400 units in 2025-26 will now be eligible for a rooftop solar system of up to 3 kW, subject to technical feasibility Con. sumers will not have to make any payment for installation. The Centre provides a subsidy of `78,000, while the Delhi government will provide another `78,000 as capital subsidy. The state government will also cover, through an additional top-up, any difference between the subsidy amount and the tendered cost of the solar plant. POWER SHIFT 3 kW solar system Target of 2.30L 1 at zero upfront 2 rooftops, 500 cost, free maintenance MW additional for first 5 years capacity by March 2027 Consumers using up to 200 units will continue receiving subsidy after installing solar panels, with an energy-saving incentive 3 Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the earlier system required consumers to pay upfront for installing solar panels, while financial benefits came later. The revised policy shifts the financial support to the installation stage so that households do not face an initial burden. The government has set a target of installing solar systems on 2.30 lakh rooftops by March 2027. It also aims to add 500 MW of rooftop capacity under the solar policy by the same deadline. So far, 10,073 solar systems have been installed. The policy has reduced the time taken for net metering for residential solar systems. The process, which earlier took about 75 days, will now take 25 days. Application and registration fees for residential solar systems of up to 10 kW have also been completely waived. The solar systems will be operated and maintained free of cost by selected vendors for the first five years. After that, consumers can opt for services through DISCOMs. SELECTORS SERVED NOTICE, MISBAH RESIGNS In the hours that followed, PCB sent a notice to selectors including former captain Misbah-ul-Haq asking for a written explanation on inclusion of Imam-ul-Haq and Rizwan. Misbah has submitted his resignation since, though it is to be seen if the letter is accepted by PCB. P11 No governor nod to act on MP minister for using slur E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bhopal MADHYA Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel has reportedly accepted the state cabinet’s recommendation not to grant sanction for prosecution of senior cabinet minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his scurrilous comments against Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during Operation Sindoor. Patel is said to have approved the proposal late Monday night, hours after the government told the Supreme Court that Special Investigation Team (SIT) had finished its probe and that the final decision on prosecution sanction rested with the Governor. The development came on a day when the case was again Kunwar Vijay taken up by a Shah bench headed by CJI Surya Kant. The bench was informed that the prosecution sanction file had reached the Governor and that a decision was expected shortly An SIT officer said the . agency would file a chargesheet if sanction was granted. In the event of refusal, the SIT would submit a closure report. Sources said Chief Secretary Ashok Barnwal called on Patel after the latter’s return to Bhopal on Monday The file contain. ing the Cabinet’s recommendation was placed before him, following which he approved it. The controversy dates back to 2025, when Shah made remarks that were seen as referring to Colonel Qureshi. Qureshi was among the officers who, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefed the media during Operation Sindoor. He had reportedly used the slur “sister of the same community as terrorists”, which was perceived to be referring to her.