NEW DELHI 06 APRIL 2025 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard THE REVIVALISTS https://epaper.morningstandard.in Are You a Nutraceutical Ninja? PLUS: 12 PAGES MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE VOICES Pushpesh Pant Ravi Shankar Devdutt Pattanaik Preeti Shenoy Young Woman and the Sea A Biased Take on Hindu Identity Dinesh Singh Prabhu Chawla Balhasan Ali Geetha Ravichandran ‘MY FATHER IS MY SIKANDAR’ SWAMI SUKHABODHANANDA SPEAKS Into a World Beyond the Self Footsteps in a Tale of Two Cities The Pathless Path Nobody happy when Naxal is killed, says Shah to Reds 86 CADRE SURRENDER IN T’GANA, SAY COPS E J A Z K A I S E R @ Raipur UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday in Dantewada made an appeal to Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream. “Nobody feels happy when a Naxalite is killed,” Shah said while reiterating the government’s commitment to eliminating left-wing extremism by March 2026. Speaking at the closing ceremony of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar Pandum festival in Dantewada, Shah said the region had suffered from violence for decades, but the time had come for Bastar to be known for its tribal heritage, folk traditions, and development rather than Naxalism. “The days of bullets and bombs in Bastar are over. I appeal to Naxalite brothers to surrender. You are our own people. No one feels happy when a Naxalite is killed. Just lay down your arms and join the mainstream,” he said, offering an olive branch to the outlawed Naxalite movement. Shah emphasised that those who surrender will be fully protected by both the Union and state governments and in- In Telangana, 86 Naxalites, including 20 women, surrendered to the police in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, in a fillip to bring peace to the region. Union home minister Amit Shah dons a tribal headgear in Dantewada in Chhattisgarh Saturday | PTI tegrated into the region’s development. Highlighting the BJP government’s focus on tribal welfare, he said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to give everything to Bastar in five years. But it can happen only when schools function, tehsils have health facilities, and every person has Aadhaar, ration cards, and health insurance.” He said 521 Naxalites surrendered in 2025 following 881 in 2024; villages aiding surrenders will get `1 crore for development. Shah announced Bas- tar Pandum will go national beginning next year, featuring tribal artists from across India and foreign envoys to showcase its culture. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, speaking on the occasion, said Bastar Pandum symbolises PM Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ vision. “The recently organised Bastar Olympics and now Bastar Pandum, clearly indicate that the people of Bastar wish to connect with mainstream development and get rid of Naxalism,” he said. Shah paid tribute to Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo, the former ruler of Bastar, alleging that Congress leaders conspired in his 1966 killing. He also accused Congress of failing to uplift the poor. Shah later chaired a highlevel security meeting in Raipur to assess ongoing antiMaoist operations. P8 SHEKHAR YADAV Schools need to justify fee hikes as edu a right of every child: Speaker A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ Centre gets Manipur groups to talks table The Central government on Saturday succeeded in bringing leaders of the civil society organisations representing the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur together in New Delhi to the negotiating table for the first time since ethnic conflict erupted in the Northeastren state in May 2023. | P7 Country needs UCC for equality of women: HC To ensure opportunity and achieve equality for all women, irrespective of their caste and religion, as enshrined in the Constitution, the Karnataka High Court has requested the Union and state governments to make efforts to enact a law on the Uniform Civil Code. | P4 ‘Peace in Indo-Pacific our responsibility’ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday underlined India’s responsibility in peace and prosperity in the IndoPacific region and said that it was a necessity to reorient the future roles of Armed Forces in the middle of unpredictable geopolitical landscape. ASSEMBLY Speaker Vijender Gupta has said that commercialisation of education is not acceptable and that schools need to justify fee hikes. “There are a few good schools focusing on quality education rather than on commercial benefits. However, there are others trying to make money by arbitrarily hiking fees. There is an urgent need to check such institutions. In case of any fees hike, the school management should justify the move,” Gupta said during the 23rd edition of Delhi Dialogues organised by this newspaper on Saturday “I am . against any increase in school fees as education is a right of every child,” he added. Gupta said that he has already spoken to the Delhi government’s Directorate of Education in this regard. “The DoE has been keeping a close watch on every school and action will be taken against those hiking fees arbitrarily .” The seven-time MLA hoped the newly formed BJP government would function much more efficiently than the previous ones. “The new government must focus on real issues rather than creating anarchy. Upholding democratic values by serving people should always be the agenda of any government,” he said. On ‘sheeshmahal’ which Arvind Kejriwal had built and stayed in during his tenure as CM, Gupta said the premises were expanded from 10,000 square yards to 50,000 square yards by demolishing several government accommodations. “I don’t think any leader would like to stay in the ‘sheeshmahal’. After necessary modification, the bungalow should be put into better use — maybe a guesthouse,” he said. PM Modi with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo | PTI India, Lanka ink first-ever defence cooperation pact Our security interlinked, co-dependent: Modi J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Security Cooperation in the Indian Ocean,” Modi said. INDIA and Sri Lanka on SaturDissanayake assured Prime day signed an ambitious defence Minister Modi that Sri Lanka cooperation pact, with Prime will not permit its territory to be Minister Narendra Modi outlin- used in any way that threatens ing a comprehensive roadmap India’s security interests and for deeper bilateral ties and conveyed to him that Sri Lanka highlighting the interconnected deeply values India’s assistance security of both nations, a senti- in times of need and its ongoing ment reciprocated by president solidarity . Anura Kumara Dissanayake. To reaffirm the friendship, The first defence agreement Modi quoted Tamil poet Thirubetween the two counvalluvar (Seyar Kariya tries serves as an umYaavul Natt Pinn Aadu brella framework to rePul Vinnaikkariya Yaastructure existing vul Kaapu) which meant Demonstrating defence cooperation, fo“in the face of challengour continued cusing on enhancing es and enemies, there is commitment to high-level visits, joint assist Sri Lanka in no stronger assurance exercises, capacity than a true friend and its economic building, exchanges in recovery, India has the shield of his friendconcluded the Humanitarian Assistship” in his speech. ance and Disaster Re- debt restructuring This was Prime Minprocess with Sri lief (HADR), increasing ister Modi’s fourth visit Lanka naval port calls, and exto Sri Lanka, and he beploring defence induscame the first foreign Vikram Misri, try cooperation. leader to be hosted by Foreign Secretary “We believe that we the Dissanayake govhave shared security inernment. Another imterests. The security of both portant agreement was a trilatcountries is interconnected and e r a l M O U fo r d eve l o p i n g co-dependent,” Modi said after Trincomalee as an energy hub meeting Sri Lankan president along with the UAE. Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Modi and President Dissanay“I am grateful to President ake virtually inaugurated the Disanayaka for his sensitivity Sampur solar power project, towards India’s interests. We which will help in Sri Lanka’s welcome the important agree- energy security The grid inter. ments made in the area of de- connectivity agreement between fence cooperation. We have also the two nations will open up opagreed to work together on the tions for Sri Lanka to export P7 Colombo Security Conclave and electricity Modi said. , UGC INITIATIVE New rules for easy degree recognition from foreign univs K A V I TA B A J E L I - D AT T @ New Delhi WITH the aim of promoting internationalisation in Indian higher education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Saturday introduced a new set of regulations for the easy recognition and equivalence of foreign qualifications. UGC Chairman Prof M Jagadesh Kumar said, “Many students return with international qualifications to seamlessly integrate into India’s higher education system or workforce. Such students need a VALID FOR structured procedure to evaluate foreign credentials without unpredictable delays HIGHER EDU, JOBS and procedural ambiguity.” Acknowledging this challenge, he said, Equivalence the UGC has decided to establish a standcertificates ardised equivalence framework by bringissued under ing in a new regulation. The UGC has the regulations developed a transparent, technologywill be valid for driven mechanism for recognising forthe purpose of eign qualifications from schools and pursuing higher higher education institutes. education and “This move is crucial given the Nationresearch in al Education Policy 2020’s vision of India, as well transforming India into a global study as for destination. If Indian institutions are to employment attract international students, we must opportunities ensure fair recognition of degrees earned abroad,” he told this paper. “By addressing a long-standing issue, UGC has taken a decisive step through this significant reform toward making India’s higher education system more inclusive, competitive, and future-ready he said. ,” The rules are expected to benefit Indian students who study abroad and seek to continue their academic or professional journey in India. However, they do not apply to professional qualifications in disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, nursing, law, and architecture — areas governed by respective statutory councils in India. FAMILY CIRCLE: THE DHONIS IN ATTENDANCE M S Dhoni’s parents (Pan Singh Dhoni and Devaki), wife Sakshi and children watched the match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. His parents tend to stay away from matches but they made an exception on Saturday. It led to speculation that Dhoni would announce his future plans but it didn’t come to pass | ASHWIN PRASATH Delhi govt signs MoU with Centre for Ayushman Bharat rollout PUNJAB CONG RIFT WIDENS, E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE Delhi government inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre on Saturday to implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the city With this, Delhi has . become the 35th state/UT to implement the Centre’s health insurance scheme. West Bengal is now the only state which has not implemented the scheme. The MoU was signed between the Delhi government and the National Health Authority in the presence of Health Minister J P Nadda and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, among others. “All senior citizens aged 70 years and above will be covered under Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana, which provides `5 lakh free health cover irrespective of their socio-economic status. The scheme will cover all their pre-existing illnesses. It is esti- mated that more than 6 lakh senior citizens in Delhi belonging to 4.5 lakh families will be benefited,” Nadda said, adding that the state will run the PMJAY in trust model. Gupta said that the Delhi gover nment would cover 2,35,000 families in the first phase, with card distribution starting from April 10. “Citizens in Delhi will now be able to reap benefits from AB PMJAY, which provides free health cover of `5 lakh to each beneficiary family per year. In addition, the Delhi government would be giving an additional top-up of `5 lakh,” she said. T h e Ay u s h m a n B h a r at scheme provides free and cashless treatment for 1,961 medical procedures across 27 specialities, covering the costs of medicines, diagnostic services, hospitalisation, ICU care and, surgeries and more. The Delhi government has set `2,144 crore fund for PMJAY in its budget. The BJP, which came to power in Delhi in February approved the implemen, tation of the scheme at its first cabinet meeting. REBELS MOVE DELHI Dissent is brewing within the Punjab Congress as several senior leaders have raised concerns over the working style of state unit president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and LoP Partap Singh Bajwa. | P8