SOURCE: X HYDERABAD TUESDAY MARCH 19, 2024 `9.00 PAGES 18 LATE CITY EDITION TENSIONS HIGH AS PAK AIRSTRIKES IN AFGHAN TERRITORY KILLS EIGHT A RESPONSE TO ATTACK ON ARMY OUTPOST: PAK The airstrikes come amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours over a series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, which Islamabad has blamed on groups based in Afghanistan. Pakistan said Monday’s airstrikes, which were in response to a recent attack on one of its army outposts, targeted a group allied with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan | P11 The Pakistan Army said eight terrorists were killed in ‘anti-terror operations’ in the border regions inside Afghanistan on Monday STRIKE KILLED CIVILIANS, SAYS TALIBAN ■ ■ Afghan Taliban said Pakistan targeted civilian homes and claimed five women and three children were killed in the pre-dawn strike Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan rose after the Taliban took power in Kabul in 2021. Pakistan said it had repeatedly urged the group to act against terror outfits operating in Afghanistan 6,000 PAK TALIBAN FIGHTERS IN AFGHANISTAN, SAYS PAKISTAN OFFICIAL CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SC raps SBI for Double NDA deal in Bihar, Tamil Nadu selective data Kavitha plotted share on bonds with Kejriwal, WHO GOT WHAT 1 BJP JD(U) LJP (RV) HAM RLM 2 18 THE Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that BRS MLC K Kavitha, along with others, conspired with top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the then Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, to get favours in the Delhi Excise Policy formulation and implementation. The ED released an official statement in connection with Kavitha’s arrest on Monday . The statement says: “In exchange for these favours, Kavitha was involved in paying `100 crore to the leaders of AAP . By the acts of corruption and conspiracy in the formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, a continuous stream of illegal funds in the form of kickbacks from the wholesalers was generated for the AAP. Further, Kavitha and her associates were to recover the proceeds of crime paid in advance to AAP and to generate profits or proceeds of crime from this entire conspiracy .” The ED said that it has conducted searches on 245 locations across the country includ, ing Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and other places, and 15 persons, including Manish Sisodia, AAP MP Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair, have been arrested in the case so far. The ED said that it has so far filed one prosecution complaint and five supplementary complaints in the case. The statement says that of the “proceeds of the crime”, assets worth `128.79 crore have been traced so far and have been attached vide provisional attachment orders on January 24, 2023, and July 3, 2023. Both the attachment orders have been confirmed by the adjudicating authority the ED said. , Kavitha was arrested on March 15 in Hyderabad following a search of her residence. The ED alleged that during the search, its officials were obstructed by Kavitha’s relatives and associates. Meanwhile, Kavitha on Monday knocked on the doors of the Supreme Court, challenging her arrest by the ED. CONTINUED ON P4 EXPRESS READ RS Praveen Kumar joins BRS, says he’s ‘delighted’ Hyderabad: A ‘delighted’ RS Praveen Kumar, who had resigned as the BSP state chief on Saturday, joined the BRS on Monday in the presence of KCR. Later, Praveen Kumar expressed delight at joining the BRS, saying that this will give him the opportunity to work under the leadership of KCR | P4 IMD’s orange alert for TS forecasts thunderstorms Hyderabad: The IMD-Hyderabad has issued an orange alert for certain districts of Telangana, with forecasts of thunderstorm with lightning, hailstorm and gusty winds at isolated places in Nizamabad, Jagtial, Rajanna Sircilla, Vikarabad, Sangareddy and Kamareddy districts on Tuesday | P2 Poll ready HOME VOTING FOR VOTERS OVER 80, DISABLED PERSONS 35,356 POLLING STATIONS 1,80,000 polling personnel 1,64,10,227 MALES 1,65,87,134 FEMALES 2,727 TRANSGENDERS Officials work at a call centre set up for the Lok Sabha elections at the GHMC office in Hyderabad | SRI 35 34 37 31 15 21 30 36 38 7 6 23 22 29 14 24 25 8 9 13 12 40 11 26 28 39 10 27 R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi THE BJP on Monday ironed out its seatsharing deal with National Democratic Alliance partners in Bihar, pocketing 17 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. It emerged as the undisputed big brother in the alliance, as the JD(U) will contest from 16, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) 5 and the Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) one each. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP , JD(U) and the undivided LJP were part of the NDA, which won 39 of the 40 seats. Both the BJP and JD(U) had contested from 17 seats each at that point in time. The big headline maker this time was Chirag Paswan, son of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan. His faction, LJP (RV), got five constituencies, including the prestigious Hajipur, the seat held by his late dad. Chirag later said he will vacate his Jamui seat and contest from Hajipur. Chirag’s gain was Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras’s loss. Paras, the brother of Ram Vilas, is the sitting MP from Hajipur. His breakaway faction of the LJP has five seats in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Paras is expected to tap the RJD-led grand alliance in Bihar in a day or two. Meanwhile, ending days of speculation about whether it will join hands with the AIADMK or BJP the Pattali Makkal Katchi , (PMK) on Monday announced that it has decided to go with the saffron party . The party would firm up ties with the NDA and a formal announcement on the number of seats and the candidates to be fielded would be made by PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss soon, party general secretary Vadivel Ravanan said. BJP Paschim Champaran (2), Purvi Champaran (3), Aurangabad (37), Madhubani (6), Araria (9), Darbhanga (14), Muzaffarpur (15), Maharajganj (19), Saran (20), Ujiyarpur (22), Begusarai (24), Nawada (39), Patna Sahib (30), Patliputra (31), Arrah (32), Buxar (33) and Sasaram (34) JD(U) Valmikinagar (1), Sitamarhi (5), Jhanjharpur (7), Supaul (8), Kishanganj (10), Katihar (11), Purnia (12), Madhepura (13), Gopalganj (17), Siwan (18), Bhagalpur (26), Banka (27), Munger (28), Nalanda (29), Jehanabad (36) and Sheohar (4) LJP (Ram Vilas) Vaishali (16), Hajipur (21), Samastipur (23), Khagaria (25) and Jamui (40) Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets women BJP activists in Jagtial on Monday We worship Shakti, INDIA wants to destroy it: Modi EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad ALLEGING that the INDIA bloc’s manifesto states that its fight is against ‘Shakti’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the coming General Elections is a fight between people who want to destroy Shakti and the people who worship it. Addressing a public meeting in Jagtial, Modi said that every mother and daughter in the country was his Shakti. He said, “I accept the challenge of the ‘INDI Alliance’ who have announced they will finish this Shakti.” At a rally in Mumbai, Rahul had said: “We are not fighting against a political party ...We are not fighting against Narendra Modi, nor are we fighting against HAM Gaya (38) RLM Karakat (35) Hyderabad smallest (78.12 sq.km) Adilabad largest (12,572.70 sq.km) Malkajgiri has 8,67,717 most voters voters in (31,49,416) 18-19 age group SEIZURES Gold worth `5.73 crore seized in Miryalaguda during vehicle checks `5 lakh in cash and mixergrinders worth `90,000 seized in Adilabad Voter turnout 69.95% in 2004 72.70% in 2009 68.77% in 2014 and 62.72% in 2019 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad THE Hyderabad Metropolitan D e v e l o p m e n t Au t h o r i t y (HMDA) has drawn plans to implement a Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA) to facilitate organised growth and has invited private landowners, pattedars, and farmers within the HMA to participate voluntarily in the scheme. To be part of the scheme, land parcels within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) are required to have a minimum area of 50 acres, while those outside the ORR should have at least 100 acres of contiguous land. The HMDA had earlier successfully implemented LPS in areas such as Uppal Bhagayat, Inmulnarva on the ShadnagarBengaluru Highway, and Lemoor village of Kandukur mandal. Private landowners will receive a share of 60% of the developable area or approximately 1,741 sq yd of developed plot per acre. This allocation will be made in proportion to the extent of land owned by each participant. The HMDA will ensure essential amenities such as well-constructed roads, water and sewerage systems, etc. PM holds his first-ever roadshow in Tamil Nadu Coimbatore: PM Modi on Monday conducted his first roadshow in TN. At the end of the 2.5km roadshow from Saibaba Colony to RS Puram in Coimbatore, the PM paid homage to the victims of the 1998 serial blast. This is PM’s first political engagement in TN after the announcement of LS election schedule by the ECI SPRINGING a surprise, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday tendered her resignation from the post as well as that of the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry . She submitted her resignation from both posts to President Droupadi Murmu. An official communique from the Raj Bhavan read: “The Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan has tendered her resignation with immediate effect. The resignation has been submitted to the President of India.” It is believed that Tamilisai will contest the coming General Elections from either Kanniyakumari or South Chennai Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu as a BJP candidate. In 2019, Tamilisai contested from Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu on behalf of the BJP and lost. In 2009, she contested CONGRESS CENTRAL ELECTION COMMITTEE EXPECTED TO finalise candidates for the remaining 13 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana on Tuesday. The party has already announced four names | P4 HMDA plans land pooling for growth around ORR S B A C H A N J E E T S I N G H @ Hyderabad one person. In Hindu dharma, there is a word ‘shakti’. We are fighting against a ‘shakti’ (power). The question arises as to what is that ‘shakti’...” Meanwhile, under attack for his remark, Rahul clarified that he was not talking about any religious power but the ‘shakti’ of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. He accused the PM of twisting his words and said he was speaking about the power of which Modi was wearing the mask. In Jagtial, referring to the Delhi liquor scam and the alleged KLIS scam, Modi accused the BRS of betraying the trust of Telangana and looting the state for the 10 years it was in power. Assuring the people that he would not spare those looting the state, he said: “This is Modi’s CONTINUED ON P5 guarantee.” Tamilisai resigns as Governor, to contest LS polls LOGANATHAN VELMURUGAN 97 @ Hyderabad 3,84,932 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE direct the Chief Election Com@ New Delhi missioner to file a detailed compliance affidavit by March 21 to THE Supreme Court on Monday ensure no further complicadirected the State Bank of India tions arise over the matter. (SBI) to disclose all details reThe details sought are relatlated to the electoral bonds in its ed to electoral bonds purchased possession by March 21, includ- and redeemed after April 12, ing the unique alphanumeric 2019. The court, however, rejectnumbers that can link donors to ed a plea urging it to order the political parties. SBI to disclose details related to Rapping the public sector electoral bonds purchased and lender over selective disclo- redeemed prior to this date. sure, the Supreme Court said it “With effect from April 12, had in its February 15 2019, we had directed verdict sought comthe collection of dePlea against plete disclosure of all tails. Everyone was disclosure data related to elecput to notice at that toral bonds in the The Supreme Court time. This is why we on Monday refused did not ask for disclobank’s possession. The bench noted to entertain pleas sure of bonds sold by Associated the submission of prior to the interim Chambers of senior advocate Harorder. This was a conCommerce & ish Salve, who apscious choice by the Industry of India peared for the SBI, Constitution bench,” and Confederation the bench said. that there is no reserof Indian Industry Solicitor General vation on the part of seeking to delay Tushar Mehta said the bank in disclosthe disclosure of after the March 11 oring all the details of electoral bonds der (on SBI’s plea for electoral bonds in its numbers | P12 time till June 30 to possession. fur nish details of “We had asked all details to be disclosed by the electoral bonds to the EC), SBI which includes electoral those before the court started bond numbers as well. Let SBI giving press interviews delibnot be selective in disclosure,” erately embar rassing the the five-judge Constitution bench. But the court said its Bench of the Supreme Court shoulders were “broad enough” headed by Chief Justice D Y to face the broadside. Chief Justice Chandrachud Chandrachud said. The bank’s chairperson was said once the court delivers a also directed to file an affidavit judgment, it becomes the naby 5 pm on March 21 stating tion’s property and is open for that all details have been dis- debate. He went on to say that closed to the Election Commis- court was only concer ned sion (EC). The court went on to about enforcing its directions. S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y 32 33 5 16 19 20 Directs bank to disclose all details, including alphanumeric numbers, to the poll panel 4,82,688 Sisodia to loot, alleges ED 4 3 17 Importantly, the land covered under the scheme will be designated for mixed land use. The scheme does not involve any land acquisition process. Private landowners will not have to pay fees and charges, including conversion and registration fees. The entire financial burden of implementing infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, water supply, sewerage and electricity facilities, will be borne by the HMDA within a specified timeframe. The HMDA will retain the remaining 40% of the developable area for essential infrastr ucture development, reservation of social amenities, educational and cultural facilities and affordable housing initiatives, as well as for the capitalisation of the master CONTINUED ON P5 plan. from Chennai North and lost. She also unsuccessfully contested three Assembly elections. Tamilisai also worked as the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit presi- dent from August 16, 2014, to September 1, 2019. She was appointed Governor of Telangana on September 1, 2019, and took charge of the post on September 9. She was given additional charge of Puducherry on February 16, 2021. Speaking to reporters after submitting her resignation, Tamilisai said that it had been a pleasure to serve the wonderful state of Telangana. She said that she was impressed by the warmth of the people of Telangana. CONTINUED ON P5 Ad-hoc panel dissolved, WFI requests nat’l camp F I R O Z M I R Z A @ Chennai The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday dissolved the ad-hoc committee formed on December 27, 2023 to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The decision paved the way for the federation led by Sanjay Kumar Singh, considered a close associate of former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, to take administrative control of the sport. “The decision to dissolve the Ad-hoc Committee comes in light of the lifting of the ban on the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the successful completion of Selection Trials by the Ad-hoc Committee appointed by the IOA as per the directives of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi,” said the IOA order. Interestingly, the sports ministry — which on December 24, 2023 directed the IOA to form the ad-hoc committee three days after the Sanjay Singh-led panel won 13 out of 15 posts in the election — has not issued any order this time. The IOA also instructed WFI to appoint a “Safeguarding Committee” to address concerns of sexual harassment apart from conducting elections of the Athletes’ Commission. Soon after the order, Sanjay Singh wrote to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) requesting it to facilitate the hosting of national camps for the Asian Championships and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier scheduled next month. “The top-four (gold, silver and two bronze medallists) of the trials are eligible for the camp,” Sanjay Singh told this daily .
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