5 states account for 72% of direct tax TuesdAY Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat accounted for 72% of direct taxes and 53% of CGST collected by Centre, the govt said 11 Top 5 five states states southern march, 2025 contributed `14.2 lakh cr of the total `19.62 lakh cr collected in direct taxes epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard The five southern states mentioned above received 15% from the Centre’s divisible tax pool | P10 Iran to address nuke program concerns It would not negotiate under ‘intimidation’, after Trump sought to ratchet up pressure on Tehran by ending a sanction waiver, allowing Iraq to buy electricity. Page 9 — TN, Karnataka, T’gana, AP, Kerala — together contributed 25% of the direct taxes and 27% of the Central GST Per capita income of six states Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh — exceed the national average of `1,88,892* UP, Bihar and MP got 36% of tax that Centre shares with states. They contributed 5% to total direct tax colllected by the Centre * Source: Economic Survey of Maharashtra Southern states have voiced concern over unfair sharing of Centre’s taxes A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS l New Delhi Fiery Day One as language row explodes in Lok Sabha P reetha N air @ New Delhi “suddenly some super CM appeared and they took a U-Turn”. THE three-language row hit ParThe minister said there is still liament proceedings on Monday time for the Tamil Nadu governas the Opposition parties and ment to sign the MoU on PM government clashed over the al- SHRI. “Today is March 10. We leged imposition of the ‘Hindi’ have still 20 days left in the month language through the National of March,” he said. Education Policy (NEP). Responding sharply to the House proceedings were ad- minister’s response, DMK MPs journed for half an hour walked into the Well of after DMK members the House and raised staged protests over Unslogans. Congress MPs, ion Education Minister too, stood up in solidarDharmendra Pradhan’s ity, though they didn’t remarks that the Tamil go to the Well of the Nadu government was House. Notably, mem‘dishonest’ on the issue bers from RJD, TMC and of implementing the PM SP did not join the DMK Schools for Rising India in their protests. Privilege (PM SHRI) scheme. Lok Sabha Speaker motion Replying to a quesOm Birla adjourned the DMK MP tion, Pradhan said the House till 12 noon. As Kanimozhi on TN government took a the House reconvened, Monday U-turn on implementing DMK MP Kanimozhi submitted a the centrally-sponsored said she was “very scheme, which envis- privilege motion pained” by a word Pradaged strengthening the against Pradhan, han used. “We have isschools managed by cen- accusing him of sues with the NEP The ... tral, state or local bod- ‘misleading the three-language formula ies. The minister said House’ by is not acceptable to that the state govern- making factually Tamil Nadu,” she said. ment had agreed to PM incorrect claims In his response, PradSHRI scheme and sevhan said he should not eral (DMK) MPs, who came to see have used a word for the memhim, conveyed this to him. bers of Tamil Nadu, the state “But when they went back, government, and its people. “I they made a U-Turn. They are do- withdraw my word if it has hurt ing mischief with the life of the anyone,” he said. Following this, students. They are misleading the Speaker said the word will be the people and doing injustice to expunged from the records. students of Tamil Nadu. They Later, Kanimozhi said Pradare undemocratic,” he alleged. han’s claim that the TN governPradhan said Tamil Nadu ment had agreed to sign the MoU Chief Minister M K Stalin had for the PM SHRI scheme but later also agreed initially but then took a U-turn was incorrect. CM: Mind your tongue, Pradhan; TN never said yes to edu policy E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chennai Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday slammed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for making objectionable remarks against the parliamentarians of Tamil Nadu during a heated exchange in Lok Sabha. “The union minister must control his tongue and not speak arrogantly thinking himself to be a king,” the DMK chief said. During the Lok Sabha proceedings earlier on Monday Pradhan , alleged that the TN government did a “U-turn” in its stance on implementing the PM SHRI scheme in the state. Refuting the allegations, Stalin, sharing the minister’s letter dated August 30, 2024, asked, “Was it not you who wrote a letter to me, saying the PM SHRI MoU sent by Tamil Nadu has fully rejected the National Education Policy and the three-language formula?” He said, “We never came forward to implement your scheme. No one can coerce me to do so.” l J8.00 l PAGES 12 The Centre distributes its divisible tax pool among states based on a formula recommended by the Finance Commission. Several southern states have raised concerns over what they describe as a skewed allocation of central taxes, arguing that they are being deprived of funds for outperforming many northern and eastern states in key developmental indicators. The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, is currently holding discussions with states on the issue of tax distribution. Govt directs IPL to ban ads promoting tobacco, alcohol K avita Ba j e l i - D att @ New Delhi The Centre has urged the Indian Premier League (IPL) to ban all tobacco and alcohol advertisements, including surrogate promotions, within the stadium premises during matches as well as telecast sessions on the national television. In a letter to IPL Chairperson Arun Singh Dhumal, the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Prof (Dr) Atul Goel said, “IPL should strictly implement the regulations banning all forms of tobacco/alcohol advertising, including surrogate advertisements, within the stadium premises where IPL games are held”. He added it is their social and moral obligation to promote public health. “Cricket players are role models for youngsters for promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. IPL, being the largest sports platform in the country, has a social and moral obligation to promote public health and support health initiatives of the government,” Goel wrote in the letter dated March 5, which was also addressed to BCCI President Roger Binny . Canada PM-elect to reset India ties j ayanth j ac o b @ New Delhi In a big push to ties that had deteriorated during Justin Trudeau’s leadership, Mark Carney , set to become Canada’s next prime minister, has said he would work towards rebuilding his country’s ties with India. Carney emerged victorious in the race to succeed Trudeau as Canada’s next prime minister, securing 85.9% of votes in the Liberal Party leadership contest. Ahead of the elections, the former central banker addressed the issue of US tariffs on Canada during a media interaction in Calgary Alberta, as Washington , and Ottawa find themselves at odds over the tariff threat and a looming trade war. “What Canada will be looking to do is diversify our trade relationship with like-minded coun- Mark Carney tries,” Carney said. “And there are opportunities to rebuild the relationship with India. There needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship. If I’m prime minister, I look forward to the opportunity to build that,” he said. Trudeau had claimed last September of “credible allegations” suggesting Indian agents were involved in assassinating proKhalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey Brit, ish Columbia. Since then, ties between the two countries nosedived. India outrightly dismissed the Canadian accusations, and said “Canada shared no evidence.” The fallout resulted in both nations expelling diplomats in a tit-for-tat exchange. Carney had previously led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England and also headed the board of Brookfield Asset Management, which has invested in India’s realty, renewable energ y and infrastructure sectors. Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diaspora abroad. An estimated 4,27,000 Indian students are studying in Canada. Closer home, over 600 Canadian companies operate in India. press Intake No pandemic-era fees for DIAL, 2-yr contract extended: HC | P3 PWD officials assigned specific road stretches to monitor upkeep | P4 Vanuatu moves to cancel Lalit Modi’s passport | P7 ED raids residence of Chhattisgarh ex-CM Bhupesh Bagel | P8 Zelenskyy arrives in Saudi Arabia ahead of summit with US | P9 Vodafone Idea fails to meet deadline for bank guarantee | P10 Sharjeel Imam charged in 2019 Jamia riots case New York-bound AI flight returns to S H E K H A R S I N G H @ New Delhi A Delhi court has formally framed charges against activist Sharjeel Imam for his role in “orchestrating” the violent riots in Jamia Nagar on December 15, 2019, during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The court, on Friday said that , Imam was not just a protestor but the “kingpin” behind the widespread arson, rioting, and violence. Additional Sessions Judge Vishal Singh at Saket Court said his speeches were not merely pro- express read Mauritius close maritime neighbour, says Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Mauritius as a close maritime neighbour and a key partner in the Indian Ocean as he set off on a two-day from visit to the island nation March 11. In 2015, he unveiled Vision SAGAR, in Mauritius. Two children among five killed in cracker shop fire Five people, including two children, died after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Garhwa. All the injured were rushed to a hospital in Ramanujganj in the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh, where the doctors declared them dead. As per the information received, the incident occurred between 11 am and 12 noon. Man shot in Ghazipur over monetary dispute A 30-year-old man was shot dead near Ghazipur phool mandi on National Highway-24 in east Delhi over monetary dispute, leading to traffic jam after the family members of the deceased protested and blocked both the carriageway demanding justice. Police have arrested two people in connection with the incident. P3 vocative but “venomous”. He added that Imam exploited the sentiments of the Muslim community urging them to block , roads across multiple states, knowing well that such a move would cripple public life. The judge outrightly rejected Imam’s argument that he merely advocated for peaceful protests. The court observed that in a densely populated city like Delhi, where ambulances and emergency services rely on smooth traffic movement, a mass-scale chakka jaam (road blockade) was nothing short of criminal negligence. “Blocking roads en masse in a city where medical emergencies are routine can directly endanger lives.” it stated. The court also framed charges against Ashu Khan, Chandan Kumar, and Aasif Iqbal Tanha, citing mobile location records and media interviews as key evidence of their role in leading the violent mobs. Rejecting claims that the riots were spontaneous, the court underscored that the violence was orchestrated with precision, following a larger conspiracy . While Imam and his co-accused will face trial, the court discharged 15 other individuals, ruling that mobile location data alone was insufficient to establish their role in the riots. p4 Refusing fuel can attract provisions of Consumer Protection Act: Petrol dealers A S H I S H S R I V A S TA V A @ New Delhi Under the Food and Civil Supplies Act, fuel stations cannot legally refuse service to any vehicle owner. Refusing fuel to a vehicle owner could lead to legal hassles, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association said on Monday as the government implements the recently announced ban on refuelling of overage vehicles. Citing lack of clarity the asso, ciation said, “Refusing fuel to a vehicle owner can attract provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. So I believe an amendment to existing regulations by the government would be necessary for enforcement. We will support this decision but are waiting for official notification and further clarity said Bibek Banerjee, ,” General Secretary, Delhi Petrol Dealers Association. The petrol pump owners said they are yet to receive an official communication from the government regarding implementation of the ban. “So far, there has been no official dialogue between fuel station owners and the government regarding this ban. We have no clarity on how we are supposed to identify overaged vehicles at the pump,” a petrol pump owner said. p3 Mumbai after mid-air security threat S H E K H A R S I N G H @ New Delhi A New York-bound Air India flight returned to Mumbai nearly eight hours after takeoff following a security threat received mid-flight. The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 303 passengers and 19 crew members, was flying over Azerbaijan when the crew was alerted about the potential risk, prompting an immediate course reversal back to Mumbai. Upon landing, security agencies swiftly initiated bomb detection procedures, but the threat was ultimately deemed a hoax. Flight AI-119 departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around 2 a.m. on its 15hour journey to John F. Kennedy Inter national Airport in New York. However, it was forced to return and landed back in Mumbai at approximately 10:25 a.m. In an official statement, Air India confirmed that the decision to turn back was taken as a precautionary measure in response to a potential security risk. The airline assured passengers that all necessary support, including accommodation and meals, had been arranged. “A potential security threat was detected mid-flight on AI119 operating Mumbai-New York (JFK) today, 10 March 2025. Following the protocols, the flight air-returned to Mumbai, in the interest of the safety and security of all on board,” said the airline spokesperson. The official further said that the flight landed safely back in Mumbai at 1025 hrs. Security agencies are undergoing mandatory checks on the aircraft, and AI is extending its full cooperation. “The flight has been rescheduled to operate at 0500 hrs of 11 March 2025, and all passengers have been offered hotel accommodation, meals, and other assistance until then. Our colleagues on the g round are making sure to minimise the inconvenience caused to our passengers by this disruption,” the spokesperson added. promoting harmony Delhi mosques alter ‘Juma prayer’ timings to accommodate Holi I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi Several Delhi mosques have decided to adjust Friday prayers (Juma Namaz) timings on Holi, to be celebrated on March 14, to accommodate the festivities. Some of the mosques have suggested postponing the prayer to later in the day starting at 2:30 pm. , Since Holi is coinciding with the second Friday of Ramzan this year, the timing adjustments are being considered. The new directive came two days after a circle officer in UP’s Sambhal kicked up a row by commenting that those who feel uncomfortable with Holi colours should stay indoors, as the festival comes only once a year, whereas Juma namaz takes place 52 times in a year. Following Sambhal, mosques in Rampur also announced a change in timings of the Juma prayer. One of the Muslim clerics from Mayur Vihar Deen Mohammad said, “...on the day of the festival, our mosque has issued an advisory that the Juma Prayer which is usually offered between 12:30 and 1 pm may be postponed and held between 2 pm and 2:30 pm.” Meanwhile, an Imam of Inayati Masjid shared in the whatsapp group saying, “Announcment for coming Juma prayer- On account of Holi on Friday March 14, the time of Juma Khutba is changed to 2:30 pm InshaAllah. The above time change is only for coming Juma.” Similarly, the timings are changed in Makki Masjid in Vikas Nagar. Imam of the Masjid, Hafiz Rais urged the Muslims to not make an issue if anyone will throw colour on them on Friday . Speaking to the Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid - Dr Mufti Mohammad Mukarram Ahmad, said, “This is not the first time when a festival is coinciding with Friday We are living in a demo. cratic country for over 70 years and this is all normal for us. We need to keep going by just respecting each others’ boundaries. 303 passengers, 19 crew on board The Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 303 passengers and 19 crew members, was flying over Azerbaijan when the crew was alerted about the potential risk, prompting an immediate course reversal. AI flight returns as toilets clogged In yet another fiasco for Air India, a ChicagoDelhi flight was forced to return to its departure city after spending over ten hours in the air — not due to a mechanical failure, but because its lavatories were completely clogged. p3 talks for aid Kyiv to offer partial ceasefire The Kyiv will propose an aerial and naval ceasefire with Russia during talks with US in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv would propose a partial ceasefire hoping that Washington would resume military aid.