TUESDAY GYANVAPI 2.0 IS HAPPENING IN MADHYA PRADESH’S BHOJSHALA 12 The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the centuries-old Bhojshala complex in Dhar district MARCH, 2024 11TH CENTURY epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard IS WHEN THE BHOJSHALA COMPLEX IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COME UP X.com/TheMornStandard DRAGON’S MOVE REPORT TO BE SUBMITTED IN SIX WEEKS: “A detailed CHINA RENEWS CALL TO BOOST ECONOMY Country’s leaders wrapped up a week-long conclave expressing concern over economic growth PAGE 9 A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS NEW DELHI J8.00 scientific investigation be conducted by adopting carbon dating method for ascertaining the age,” the bench ordered. It sought a report by a committee comprising not less than five seniormost ASI officers within six weeks P8 PAGES 12 SBI info to ECI won’t say who gave what to whom S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday rejected the State Bank of India (SBI)’s request for extension of time till June 30 to furnish the details of electoral bonds and directed it to hand over the relevant information to the Election Commission of India (ECI) within 24 hours — before the end of business hours on Tuesday The . ECI should publish the details on its website by 5 pm on March 15, the court ruled. A Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandra- chud observed that the informatheir worth, and how much po‘Need transparency’ tion sought from the bank is litical parties received through ‘readily available’ and, hence, the now-scrapped scheme. So, the Terming the SC’s verdict there is no need for extra time. sensitive information of who do‘halfway to the truth’, Senior advocate Harish Salve, nated how much to which politiCongress leader Jairam representing SBI, explained that cal party will remain undisRamesh said there should have the process of matching the buyclosed, for now. been complete transparency in ers of electoral bonds with the While welcoming the ruling, exactly who donated how political parties that encashed the Congress said there should much to which political party them is time-consuming. To this, have been more transparency. the bench said there was no need Congress president Mallikarjun to match the donors’ KYC pAnEl CommissioN to pRobe fRom 1983-2009, afteR Sanjiv leads to paNel foRmatioN with comprising judges UNHRC pUsH Khan- Kharge alleged the BJP used to TRUTH And REconciliATion foR “We SET Up by only 1,00,000+ political parties.TAMilS To bEhavelAnKA na, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala, and ‘extort donations’. When asked asked you to disclose the availa- Manoj Misra, in its order. about the court’s clarification ble details with the EC. SBI can With the SC clarifying that no that the electoral bond details jet bursts with after judgguard flight in exercise of to be done, miraCulous esCape for 379 simply complyinto flamesthe hitting Coastmatching tokyo 5 Crewis smaller plane killed need not be matched, he said: ment by disclosing available in- the SBI will now have to disclose “What is the point of that? We formation,” said the bench, also the buyers of electoral bonds, need to know who gave you (the chennai l wednesday l january 03, 2024 l `9.00 l PaGes 20 l late city editiOn Sri Lanka has taken the first step to set up the much-delayed Truth Commission, a major demand for reconciliation after the 2009 war The Commission shall investigate, inquire, and make recommendations in respect of complaints or allegations or reports relating to damage or harm caused to persons or property, loss of life or alleged violation of human rights anywhere in Sri Lanka, which were caused in the course of the conflict which took place from 1983 to 2009, or its aftermath, the govt said ■ ■ The commission will provide people a platform and an opportunity for truth-telling and recommending ways and means of effective remedies for the aggrieved persons In October 2022, a UNHRC resolution reminded Sri Lanka about the demand to promote national healing by forming a truth committee pERSonS HAvE diEd in THE THREE-dEcAdE wAR in SRi lAnKA 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 Fire & escaPe AgEnciES ALL 379 people aboard a Japan Airlines flight had a miraculous escape as the plane collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft while landing at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday evening and turned into a fireball. However, five of the six crew members of the smaller craft were killed; its captain is in serious condition. “The JAL aircraft was landing on the runway where there was a Japan Coast Guard plane. The JAL jet crashed directly into it,” said Shigenori Hiraoka, head of Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau. The JAL aircraft had 367 passengers and 12 crew members. video footage shared on social media showed passengers shouting inside the plane’s smoke-filled cabin and running across the tarmac after escaping via an evacuation slide. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, 17 people on the JAL flight sustained injuries as they scrambled out of the burning aircraft. The Coast Guard flight was headed to Niigata on Japan’s west coast to deliver aid to the victims of Monday’s earthquake. P13 CAA in play before general elections as govt notifies rules BJP finalises seats deal with Naidu’s party, JSP Andhra EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Vijayawada assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP has been allotted 10 assembly and citizenship, says Amit Shah six MP seats. The JSP after four years nitish may will field finally get caa rules tO be nOtiFied candidates for beFOre lOk sabha electiOns india bloc LS and 21 two convener post assembly constituencies AFTER an eight-hour-long meeting on Monday, the TDP, JSP and BJP finalised the number of seats that each of the parties will contest for the ensuing Assembly and general elections. According to the joint statement released by the three parties, the TDP will be contesting 144 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP has been allotted 10 Assembly and six MP seats, and the JSP will field candidates for two Parliament and 21 formula pM & CM shake hands, truckers’ stir off after govt buys peace The TDP will be roll with the punches contesting 144 RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi modi says delhi gave 2.5X funds to tn, stalin seeks more flood relief T MURUgAnAndHAM & J o S E K J o S E p H @ Chennai/Tiruchy WITH just months left for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister M K Stalin, while displaying a brief camaraderie on Tuesday, made a strong political pitch for their respective parties, the BJP and the DMK. While the PM said the centre’s funding for Tamil Nadu has jumped nearly 2.5 times in the last 10 years and `120 lakh crore was given to states over that period, Chief Minister M K Stalin championed his social justice-led Dravidian model of governance as one that aims to ensure everything for everyone. The CM also hailed the Justice Party that laid the foundation for the Dravidian movement. The PM on Tuesday inaugurated the new ter minal of Tiruchy International Airport and laid foundation stone and inaugurated and dedicated to the nation 20 projects worth `20,140 crore related to air and seaports, railway, highway, petroleum and natural gas, atomic energy and higher education in Tamil Nadu. Speaking at the public event in Tiruchy the CM appealed to , the PM to declare the rain and flood that caused massive destruction in TN a natural calamity and immediately sanction funds under National D i s a s t e r re s p o n s e F u n d (NDrF) to facilitate relief and restoration work. “The calamity is very severe. Don’t think that I am repeatedly making this demand,” Stalin said, adding that it was up to him to convey the will of the people. Only the state governments, being close to the people, have the PM InAugurAteS AIrPort terMInAl Tiruchy: The PM inaugurated a new terminal of Tiruchy International Airport and laid foundation stone and inaugurated and dedicated 20 projects worth `20,140 crore related to air and seaports, railway, roads, petroleum and natural gas, atomic energy, education in TN | P4, P7 Persecuted minorities to get M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi ELITE CLUB File photo of the indigenously developed Agni-5 missile | EXPRESS India in multi warhead club with Agni-5 M AYA N K S I N G H @ New Delhi INDIA on Monday successfully test-fired an Agni-5 missile, which has the capability to deploy multiple warheads and can has a range of 5,000 km, effectively bringing the northernmost part of China within striking distance. With this test, dubbed Mission Divyastra, India joined a select club comprising the US, the UK, Russia, France and China that have the capacity to deploy multiple warheads. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, “Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology .” MIRV technology makes a missile capable of carrying and delivering multiple warheads at one or multiple targets. A traditional missile carries a single warhead. Designed and developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation), the Agni-5 missile is a canister-launched system transported by truck. The Agni-5 is an intercontinental surface-to-surface ballistic missile. It can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes and weighs around 50 tonnes. The maximum range of the earlier Agni series was 3,500 km. Last year, India carried out the maiden flight trial of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile from a ship off Odisha. OSCARS OPPENHEIMER BAGS SEVEN AWARDS including best picture, best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr & best director for Christopher Nolan. Emma Stone won the best actress award for her role in Poor Things | P7 THe two-day-old truckers strike in parts of the country ended late on Tuesday night after the Centre assured the protesters that the enhanced punishment in hit-and-run cases under the revamped law will be placed on hold for now. Amrit Lal Madan, president of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) late on Tuesday night appealed to the truck drivers to resume their services, saying the Centre has assured to look into the demands. The appeal came after his meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla. The chakka jam by truck drivers in various parts of the country had crippled transportation of essential commodities and led to panic buying. Under the recently enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which is set to replace the In- dian Penal Code, drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and run away without informing authorities face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of `7 lakh. Home secretary Ajay Bhalla, in his appeal, said: “Before implementing the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita clause on hitand-run, we will discuss it with AIMTC representatives and them take the final call.” Following the strike, there was a 10-15% jump in the prices of vegetables in the Delhi wholesale market as supplies were disrupted. rajasthan witnessed stray violence with a mob burning a police vehicle and pelting stones at security personnel, leaving three injured in Kekri district on Monday night. The Congress supported the protest, saying the misuse of the legislation could lead to an extortionist network and organised corruption. Heavy rush at a petrol pump amid the truckers’ protest in Hyderabad | ptI panic buying in punjab, Himachal pradesh public transport hit in a big way in Uttarakhand More than 2,000 petrol pumps in Punjab, Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh ran out of fuel due to panic buying amid concern over the availability of essential supplies like vegetables, milk and LPG cylinder refills Public transport was suspended for the second consecutive day in Uttarakhand due to the protest. There were long queues of vehicles at fuel stations. Some pumps in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, too, ran out of stock FOUR years after the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act got presidential assent but was put on ice following intense nationwide protests, the Centre on Monday walked the implementation talk by notifying its rules ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. This newspaper was the first to break the story on the government’s decision YOU READ IT FIRST HERE to implement the CAA before the genThe story was broken by TNIE on the front exp ess ead eral electionsr in rits January 3 friend to fake his own death,ofcanJanuary 3 edition against Man kills edition. page its cM file writ plea tn announces gift hamper for will “These rulesPongal now enable minori-insurance payout state, asks cj of Madras hc pocket `1-crore life WALKING THE TALK ties persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan 2019 to acquire citizenship,” Union home December 11: Parliament passes minister Amit Shah said in a post on X. SC judgment today on Adani-Hindenburg case Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) Applicants should have entered India 2019 on or before December 31, 2014 to be eligible for citizenship. December 13: President Ram Nath “With this notification PM @narenKovind grants assent to CAA. dramodi Ji has delivered on another Nationwide protests erupt commitment and realised the promise December 15: Women of Shaheen of the makers of our constitution to the Bagh begin indefinite sit-in in Delhi Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those coun2020 2024 tries,” Shah noted. January 30: January 29: Union The Congress and other opposition Gunman opens minister Shantanu parties, however, slammed the notificafire at anti-CAA Thakur declares at a tion, alleging it was designed to polarise protesters near public rally in the general elections, especially in West Jamia Millia Bengal that the CAA Bengal and Assam. Islamia will be implemented Applications for citizenship can only within seven days he submitted online through a dedicatFebruary: ed portal. According the rules, an appliProtests February 10: Home cant has to upload on the portal an “afintensify, minister Amit Shah fidavit verifying the correctness of the resulting in says CAA rules statements made in the application clashes in would be issued along with an affidavit from an Indian various states before Lok Sabha citizen testifying the character of the of polls February: the applicant”. The applicant must also Communal March 11: CAA rules file “a declaration… that he/she has adviolence in Delhi notified equate knowledge of one of the languages as specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution”. What's in it for beneficiaries The applicant must also declare that It will protect individuals who sought he/she will renounce the citizenship of refuge in India due to religious persecution his/her country of origin if the application being approved. Offers them a shield against Over 100 people lost their lives during eviction proceedings the anti-CAA protests or police action in They will get voting rights 2019-20. On Monday, security was Gives access to welfare schemes as also stepped up in Shaheen Bagh, Jamia and to Aadhaar and Pan cards other areas of the national capital as Gives them fundamental rights well as in various states where antiprotected under the Constitution CAA protests had erupted in the past. Chennai: TN has announced Pongal gift hamper for rice card holders and those residing in Sri Lankan Tamils Rehabilitation Camps. The state government has allocated `238.92 crore for the purpose. The gift hamper will contain raw rice and sugar (one kg each) and one full sugarcane | P3 New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday will pronounce its verdict on a batch of petitions on the Adani-Hindenburg row over allegations of stock price manipulation by the corporate giant. A SC bench headed by CJI in November reserved its verdict on the pleas RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister M K Stalin during the inauguration of various developmental works in Tiruchy on Tuesday | express onus of providing them education, medical, and other necessary assistance. “Putting forth a request and thereby asserting the state’s right is only the demand of the people and not a political rhetoric,” Stalin said in his impassioned plea. The PM started his speech by addressing the audience as “enadhu Tamizh Kudumbame” (My Dear Thamizh Family). In his earlier programme at the Bharathidasan University, the PM used a similar phrase to reach out to students by calling them as “enadhu Maanava Ku- S A H AyA n o v i n S T o n l o b o @ Chennai THe Chengalpattu police on Monday arrested a 38-year-old man who, along with his friends, allegedly murdered another friend and set fire to the body in an attempt to fake his own death and claim his life insurance money of `1 crore. Police said Suresh and two others combed through several others to determine whose body they could pass off as Suresh’s own before narrowing down on Dillibabu (38). Ironically, the insurance claim was rejected as the police had registered the death as a government) the donation, what contracts were given to that person, what exemptions from ED were given, what were I-T department exemptions and what kind of benefit was given to them. But you are not giving that.” The SC had struck down the electoral bond scheme as unconstitutional in a landmark ruling on February 15. It had also directed SBI to furnish details of all electoral bond purchases to the ECI by March 6, so as to be uploaded on the ECI website by March 13. Following this, SBI approached the court seeking an extension of the deadline. dumbame” (My Dear Student Fraternity). referring to the recent flood, the PM said he was deeply moved by the condition of affected families. “The central government stands with the people of Tamil Nadu. We are providing every possible support to the state,” he said. “I feel so much energy whenever I reach Tamil Nadu. The land that produced great souls like Tiruvalluvar and Subramania Bharathi. Whenever I go abroad, I often speak about Tamil culture and lanP7 guage,” the PM said. friend chosen for his matching features Dillibabu, the victim, and his family had lived in a portion of Suresh’s house as tenants about 10 years ago. Suresh had an insurance policy of `1 crore. Since he needed money, he set off on a plan to obtain a body that was of the same height as his own, to fake his own death. suicide case. The incident came to light following a habeas corpus petition filed before the Madras High Court by Dillibabu’s parents. Over fours years after the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) was practically put on ice, officials in the Union home ministry on Tuesday indicated that its rules would be announced well before the next Lok Sabha polls. The CAA proposes to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians — from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who had come to India till December 31, 2014. The law had set off a fire- Suresh, 38, was a gym trainer from Ayanavaram, and his friends Hari Krishnan, 32, and Keerthi rajan, 30, are from vellore and Mambakkam, respectively. The deceased Dillibabu was working in a private company in Chennai. Dillibabu and his family had lived in a portion of Suresh’s house as tenants about 10 years ago. Suresh had an insurance policy of `1 crore for which he had already paid premium for a few years. Since he was in need of money, he set off on a plan to obtain a body that was of the same height and build as his own, to fake his own death, P7 according to the police. storm of protests across the country that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people. The violent agitations ended after over three months during the first Covid lockdown. The government also did not notify the rules of the CAA to manage the situation. “We are going to issue the rules for the CAA soon. Once the rules are issued, the law can be implemented and R S i v A K U M A R @ Chennai CHIeF Justice of Madras High Court Sv Gangapurwala on Tuesday asked whether a CM can file a writ petition against the state. The CJ raised the question while hearing a 2014 writ plea filed by Chief Minister MK Stalin, when he was the Leader of the Opposition, seeking a CBI probe into the collapse of a building under construction at Moulivakkam near Chennai in which 61 people died. When the CJ asked advocate richardson Wilson who sought a week’s time for filing change of vakkalat for representing those eligible can be granted Indian citizenship,” the official said. T hough some protest against the rules can be expected in the initial days, they will be notified to ensure rights to persecuted nonMuslim migrants, the source said. Asked if the rules could be notified before the LS polls are announced, the official said: “Hope so. To a great extent, take it as ‘yes’.” “The rules are ready and the online portal is also in place and the entire process will be online. The applicants will have to declare the year when they entered India without travel documents,” the official said. Stalin whether the CM can file a writ petition against the state, Wilson replied saying that Stalin did not hold the post of CM at the time of filing the petition and said he would file his reply after filing vakkalat change. The CJ, however, told him to see the present situation, where the petitioner is the CM, and answer the question. richardson said, “It is a 2014 petition and the prayer does not survive. It will have to be closed. I will make my submission after a week.” He sought to file the vakkalat change since two counsels representing Stalin had difficulties in appearing for him. P7 OPPOSITION RAPS GOVT: P7 p R E E T H A n A i R @ New Delhi AS the battle for 2024 heats up, the Opposition alliance INDIA is likely to name Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar as its national convener, according to sources. Congress sources told this newspaper that the party has reached out to the Bihar CM in a bid to pacify the sulking leader and a decision will be announced soon. Senior Congress leaders including Salman Khurshid were in touch with Nitish and other alliance partners also backed the idea of making the Bihar leader the convenor of the bloc. Last week, rahul Gandhi had also reached out to Nitish, said a party leader. When asked if the convener will become an automatic candidate for prime minister, the leader said, “There is no precondition that the convener will become the PM. The party with more seats can claim the post.” There were reports that Nitish was upset after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal proposed Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s name as the bloc’s PM face at the INDIA bloc meeting last month. Speculation was also rife that the JD(U) may return to the NDA fold after Nitish was elected the president of the party last week. However, the party dismissed such rumours asserting that Nitish will lead seat-sharing talks with the 28party bloc and lead the campaign across the country . Inclusive projects The PM said these projects are from across the four regions of the country. They include an increase of 540 km in Amritsar Bhatinda Jamnagar Corridor and development of Bengaluru Ring Road Easing congestion Built at a cost of `9,000 crore, the elevated eightlane accesscontrolled expressway will improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram on National Highway-48 H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated and laid foundation stone for 114 National Highway projects across the country worth about `1 lakh crore. Among the several projects, he inaugurated the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway, built at a cost of `9,000 crore. The elevated eight-lane access-controlled expressway is a first-of-its-kind in the country which will improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram. The Prime Minister hit out at the opposition INDIA bloc, saying that the Congress-led alliance only believes in ‘negativity’ as he promised to double the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects to make India developed by 2047. While addressing a gathering in Gurugram, PM Modi said: “The astonishing pace of starting and completing infra projects has given Congress and its ‘ghamandia gathbandan’ or INDI-alliance ‘sleepless nights’, as they are used to only tom-toming projects whose foundation stones were laid with no completion in sight. They have lost the courage to debate on development issues.’’ The PM further said, “In the ECONOMIC CRISIS MAHARASHTRA Air courier quota doubled for CAPF in Manipur ‘Perform or perish,’ Pak PM tells Cabinet All govt papers must carry mother’s name The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced that the quota for air courier services for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel deployed in Manipur, affected by ethnic violence, has been doubled from three days to six days per week. According to MHA officials, this increased facility will be available until September 30, 2024, or until peace is restored in the state. The allocation of seats among CAPF personnel would be based on the extent of additional deployment of forces in Manipur. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said a ‘deep surgery’ is required to pull the cash-strapped country out of the economic crisis and urged his Cabinet members to either ‘perform or perish’. The PM inducted 19 members into his Cabinet earlier in the day, ending the tenuous wait for the completion of government formation. Addressing the maiden cabinet meeting, Shehbaz said Pakistan is facing massive challenges and a ‘deep surgery’ is required to pull itself out of the economic crisis. P9 The Maharashtra government on Monday mandated the inclusion of mothers’ names before their children’s names in government documents. This decision was passed by the Maharashtra cabinet on Monday and will be implemented in revenue and education documents starting May 1, 2024, across the state. Under the leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the cabinet has approved the mandatory recording of mothers’ names along with children born on or after May 1, 2024. P8 RELIEF FOR FORCES 6 die, 11 injured as bus catches fire in Ghazipur Around six people were charred to death and 11 were left critically injured when the bus carrying them as wedding guests caught fire after coming in contact with a high tension wire in Ghazipur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The bus carrying 38 people was coming from Kopaganj of Mau district and was headed for Mahahar Dham of Mardah in Ghazipur. According to authorities, the death toll may go up as some of those who are in hospital with serious burn injuries continue to be critical. In 2014, the BJP had contested 12 Assembly and four MP seats. The JSP was a part of the tripartite alliance, but it did not contest the elections. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda held negotiations with TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s residence. JSP president Pawan Kalyan and the party’s Political Affairs Committee chairman Nadendla Manohar were also present. Incidentally, BJP State president D Purandeswari was not part of the talks. Modi opens Dwarka Expressway, says Oppn believes in ‘negativity’ EXPRESS READ POWER SHOCKER Assembly constituencies. Names of the candidates will be announced subsequently by the respective parties. As per the first list of candidates announced by the TDP and JSP, the latter was to contest 24 Assembly and three Lok Sabha seats. Earlier, it was expected that the saffron party would contest six MLA and as many MP segments. But the BJP has succeeded in increasing its Assembly seats to 10 with Jana Sena giving up three of its seats and TDP letting go of one. PM Modi inspects the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway on Monday | PTI last 10 years, the country has changed but they are still looking through the glass of negativity Negativity and only nega. tivity has become the character of Congress and its allies.’’ PM Modi said he has laid the foundation stone or inaugurated projects worth `10 lakh crore in less than three months of the current calendar year. Emphasising that he wants everything on a large scale, with great speed to to achieve the target of making India a developed nation by 2047, the PM said: “All of you know and understand me well. I cannot think small, nor do I dream small, nor do I make small resolutions. Whatever I want, I want it big! Whatever I want, I want it at a fast pace! By 2047, I want to see my country as a Viksit Bharat.’’ The Prime Minister said that focus is on to create a 9,000 km high speed corridor out of which 4,000 km is already constructed. Now, the Metro connects 21 cities as compared to five cities in 2014. P4 DMK leader Ponmudy gets top court reprieve in DA case S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi IN a major relief to DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed his conviction and sentence in a `1.75 crore disproportionate assets case against him. The order enables Ponmudy to regain his post as MLA. On his conviction, Ponmudy (73) had lost his position as legislator and minister. The Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretariat declared his constituency of Tirukkoyilur vacant last week. A bench of the top court, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, in its order also suspended the sentence given to Ponmudy’s wife P Vishalatchi (68) in the case but not the conviction, and said she can move the special court for bail. The SC passed the order after hearing from senior advocate and former Attorney General (AG) of India, Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the couple, and argued they were innocent in the case.
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