FRIDAY 23 MAY, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard HOUSE NOD TO TRUMP’S TAX BREAK BILL House Republicans passed their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package, with Speaker Mike Johnson unifying his ranks to muscle Prez bill to approval. PAGE 9 FAMILIAL BONDING AT RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI Pakistan will pay a big price for any terror attack: PM Says no scope for bilateral talks, no water for the neighbour from Indian rivers R A J E S H A S N A N I @ Jaipur IN his first public meeting in Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday castigated Pakistan for using terrorism as a weapon against India and asserted that the hostile neighbour and its economy will pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack in future. Addressing a large gathering in Bikaner, Modi said Pakistan will not get a drop of water from rivers over which India has rights and claimed there was no scope for further talks. Modi arrived at the Nal Airbase in Bikaner and proceeded to the Karni Mata temple to offer prayers. From there, he reached Palana in Bikaner district to address the public gathering. At the meeting in Palana, about 20 km from Bikaner on the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, Modi said: “Pakistan will from now onwards pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack... Pakistan’s army will pay it, Pakistan’s economy will pay it.” PM Modi vowed a firm response to any hostile action from across the border. “Every drop of Indian blood will be avenged... Those who play with CISF deployed for security of Bhakra dam, Mann livid H A R P R E E T BA J WA @ Chandigarh WITH no signs of the ongoing Punjab-Haryana dispute abating, the Centre has decided to intervene by deploying Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the Bhakra Dam. This set the tone for another confrontation between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre. CM Bhagwant Mann lost no time opposing the Centre’s “draconian” move. He said on Thursday Punjab is capable of guarding the dam, warning his government would not pay a penny . Sources said that the deployment was necessitated by threat perception reports from Central intelligence and security agencies. The deployment order was sent to the Director, Security and Consultancy Bhakra , Beas Mana g ement Board (BBMB). The board was instructed to complete necessary formalities related to accommodation, transportation, communication and security equipment before deployment. Punjab Police deployment was beefed up at the site after a controversy broke out over the release of water to Haryana as per the BBMB’s water-sharing pact. Following the deployment decision, 296 posts of CISF personnel were created for induction into the security wing. Mann told the media in Sangrur, “The Centre should understand one thing. We neither have any drop of surplus water for other states nor any single penny to pay the MHA for the unwarranted CISF.” the lives of Indians will not be spared, India is no longer afraid of nuclear threats. Those who shed Indian blood will pay dearly for every drop,” he said. Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, Modi said, “On May 7, India eliminated nine major terrorist hideouts within 22 minutes. The world has now seen what happens when sindoor (vermilion) turns into gunpowder.” India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on terror infrastructure early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Following that, Pakistan tried, unsuccessfully to at, tack Indian military bases on May 8, 9 and 10. India launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation. “Pakistan can never win a direct fight against India. Whenever there is a direct fight, Pakistan has to face defeat again and again. That is why Pakistan has made terrorism a weapon to fight against India,” PM Modi said.  J8.00 Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi (second from left) and Navy Chief Adm Dinesh K Tripathi with their spouses during the Defence Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. At the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu conferred six Kirti Chakras, including four posthumously, to personnel of the Army and J&K Police | PTI PAGES 12  SC STAYS ED PROBE AGAINST TASMAC ‘ED crossing all limits, violating federal structure’ `1K-CR LIQUOR SCAM: ED S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi IN relief to the Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Enforcement Directorate’s probe and proceedings against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) over an alleged `1,000 crore scam. The two-judge bench hearing Tamil Nadu’s petition orally criticised the probe agency . “Enforcement Directorate is crossing all limits. How can your office raid a corporation (Tasmac)? You are totally violating the federal structure of the country,” CJI B R Gavai, who led the bench, said. The bench also comprised Justice Augustine George Masih. The petition filed by the DMK-run state government and Tasmac challenged the April 23 order of the Madras High Court that upheld ED’s We won’t differentiate between terrorist organisations and govt that supports them — they’ll be treated as one UAE, Japan express solidarity The UAE and Japan have expressed solidarity with India as multi-party delegations started reaching out to world capitals to sensitise global leadership about terror from Pakistan 3-fold formula key for ties with China India on Thursday reminded China that mutual trust, respect and sensitivity are the basis of its bilateral ties, after it became clear that Pakistan used Chinese weapons in the recent clash India to Turkiye: Show sensitivity India on Thursday called on Turkiye to understand that bilateral ties must be built on mutual respect and sensitivity to each other’s core concerns | P7 TN GOVT HAD MOVED THE TOP COURT ON MAY 20 CHALLENGING THE RAIDS CONDUCTED BY ED ON TASMAC PREMISES 1 The apex court asked, “How can you raid the state-run Tasmac?’ 2 Advocate Kapil Sibal said TN has filed 41 FIRs against Tasmac staff actions, alleging grave violations of constitutional rights and the federal structure. “The present petition raises questions of law having wide ramifications including the issue of federalism laid bare by the respondent 1 (ED) exceeding its remit and attempting to usurp the state’s right to investigate offences occurring therein,” the state government said. The ED, however, claimed that there is a `1,000 crore liquor scam in Tamil Nadu. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the TN government, said the state 3 ED said TN distilleries gave unaccounted cash to secure supply orders 4 ASG SV Raju said the ED is not crossing limits ‘at least in this case’ itself had filed 41 FIRs against Tasmac employees over allegations of impropriety. “The ED, however, entered the scene in 2025 and was raiding the headquarters and has taken the managing director into custody,” Sibal contended. Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, also appearing for the state, charged that the ED has taken cloned copies of the phones of the Tasmac officials, violating their privacy “There is something . called as privacy and there are guidelines in this regard of this court,” he said. THE Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has mandated preventive measures to curb the spread of dengue, malaria and chikungunya during the monsoon season. Ironically, the order comes when its public health department, the nodal agency implementing measures against vector-borne diseases, faces a severe staff crunch. In some sections, nearly 85% of staff are contractual, while in others just 8% regular. A reply filed by an official revealed the department’s sordid state: As against 5,176 sanctioned Civic body’s nodal agency MCD has mandated preventive measures to curb the spread of dengue, malaria and chikungunya during monsoon and its public health dept is nodal agency implementing the steps against vector-borne diseases S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi AFTER three days of arguments, the Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a batch of pleas challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, reiterating observation on the MANPOWER STATUS Name of Posts Sanctioned Regular Contract Vacant MHO Addl MHO DHO Epidemiologist Entomologist Malaria Insp Asst. Mal Insp Multi Tasking Staff (PH) posts of multi-tasking public health staff, regular employees number a mere 411. Of the remaining, 4,111 are contractual, 375 are contractual on compas- presumption of constitutionality in favour of the law. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih that waqf managements misused monuments, giving rooms for shops and making unau- thorised alterations. This was opposed by senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, saying: “There are other laws to deal with such issues. You can’t take my right over the waqf property because of these issues.” Defending the Act, Mehta said the fact that the SC has to 1 3 16 12 12 150 600 5,176 1 3 16 3 4 58 55 411 0 0 0 2 5 0 154 4111 0 0 0 7 3 92 391 279 sionate grounds, and 279 posts are vacant. “Cases of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are rising due to the rainy season. Considering the seriousness of the diseases, there should be adequate and well-trained staff. We cannot fight this menace without proper human resources. The corporation should pay attention to the issue on a priority basis,” said Yogesh Verma, a councillor in the MCD. Of 600 sanctioned posts of assistant malaria inspectors, 391 are vacant, 55 regular, and 154 contractual. Similarly, of 150 posts of malaria inspectors, 92 are vacant, and 58 occupied by regular employees. Three of the 12 sanctioned posts for entomologists are va- cant. Four are regular, and five are on contract. Seven of the 12 sanctioned posts for epidemiologists are vacant, while two are filled by contractual staff. The only posts fully filled with regular employees are 16 deputy health officers, three additional MHOs and one MHO. In a preventive measure, the MCD had earlier directed Delhi government offices, educational institutions, religious places and market associations to “eliminate” stagnant water. It had also asked for enhancing sanitation efforts, particularly in high-risk areas such as slums and densely populated regions. 6 dead, power cuts & chaos on roads ‘UNAUTHORISED’ VISIT as storm exposes capital’s infra gaps OF RAHUL TO CAMPUS ND P R A B H AT S H U K L A @ New Delhi FOR 2 TIME IRKS DU A severe thunderstorm that battered Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening left a trail of destruction, exposing glaring gaps in the infrastructure preparedness. With wind speeds reaching up to 79 kmph, the storm claimed six lives, three in Delhi and three in NCR cities, while crippling power, transport, and civic services. In the capital, a differently abled man was killed near Lodhi Road when a high-mast electric pole collapsed onto his tricycle. In Gokulpuri, a 22-yearold man died after being crushed by a fallen tree. A third death was reported after a balcony collapse in Mangolpuri. In the NCR region, casualties included a biker crushed by a tree in Ghaziabad’s Dasna, a woman killed when a school wall collapsed on her shanty, and a teacher fatally struck by a tree in NTPC Township, Dadri. A toddler injured in another incident later died of injuries. The storm exposed deficien- CONGRESS leader Rahul Gandhi made an unexpected visit to the University of Delhi, creating a stir on the campus, on Thursday afternoon. The university authorities said they were not informed about the visit and that Gandhi spent nearly an hour inside the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office. During his stay , security personnel cordoned off the area, raising concerns about protocol and safety, the authorities said. “This is the second time Rahul Gandhi has visited the university without prior intimation or approval from the administration,” read the notice issued by the university taking a serious note of his “unannounced” and “unauthorised” visit to the campus. During his visit, tensions flared near the DUSU secretary’s office. Ac- I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi Vehicles crushed under an uprooted tree after storm at Nizamuddin | PARVEEN NEGI cies in Delhi-NCR’s infrastructure. Delhi Metro services were suspended or delayed on Red, Yellow, and Pink lines due to overhead equipment damage and fallen debris. Air travel was equally impacted, with at least 13 flights diverted and over 50 delayed. Electricity supply took a major hit as trees and poles collapsed onto power lines. Roads across Delhi, Noida, and Ghaz- Jawan killed in encounter in Kishtwar forest area A soldier was killed in the ongoing encounter with terrorists in the forest area of Singhpora in mountainous Kishtwar district of J&K on Thursday. The police and Army launched a search operation in the early hours on Thursday after receiving inputs about the presence of terrorists there. 4 more days of police remand for YouTuber A Hisar court on Thursday extended the police remand of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra by four days, a police spokesperson said. The 33-year-old, who had been arrested on suspicion of spying for Pakistan’s ISI, was produced before the court at the end of her five-day police remand. | P8 Trespassing on Salman’s Bandra building, 2 held A man and a woman have been arrested for allegedly separately trespassing on Salman Khan’s building in Bandra area over the past two days, an official said on Thursday.The woman managed to knock on the door of the Bollywood actor’s flat at Galaxy Apartments, the official said. Arguments over, SC reserves order on Waqf law Dengue cases up, yet acute staff crunch in MCD health dept A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi EXPRESS READ iabad were clogged with fallen trees, toppled signboards and waterlogging. In Greater Noida, several cars were damaged as trees crashed onto parked vehicles. Traffic on Mathura Road and DND Flyway slowed to a crawl. Even national flags mounted on 115-foot poles, part of a `27-crore ‘Deshbhakti’ project, couldn’t withstand the winds. Nearly 200 flags were torn or damaged. P4 cording to sources, several students were inside the secretary’s room when it was locked from the outside. Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) misbehaved with the students, sources said. The DUSU secretary, who was outside at the time, was reportedly barred by NSUI members from entering her office. The university administration condemned the incident. In an official statement, Proctor Rajni Abbi expressed concern over the “disruptive behaviour” and said that such actions would not be tolerated. ABVP general secretary Mitravinda Karanwal said, “Instead of engaging with students, Mr Gandhi sipped tea with his handpicked karyakartas in what could only be described as an echo chamber dressed up as a connect session. Students who were forcefully sent outside were being manhandled by his security .” hear the pleas seeking interim stay for three days shows there is nothing ex-facie unconstitutional with the law. He submitted that creating a waqf is different from donating to a waqf. That’s why there is a requirement for five years practice as Muslims, so that waqf is not used to defraud someone. Govt seeks to withdraw cases filed against L-G during AAP rule E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE BJP-led Delhi government on Thursday moved Supreme Court seeking its direction to withdraw seven cases filed during the previous AAP rule challenging the authority of the L-G in various bodies, including the one connected to Yamuna cleaning. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed listing of the application on Friday . Appearing for the government, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the application seeks the withdrawal of seven cases pending in the SC, which challenged the authority of the L-G in several committees, including solid waste management and Yamuna cleaning. “These matters should not trouble this court anymore,” Bhati said. Justice Surya Kant said, “We will list all the cases for Friday and take up the application.” In one of the cases filed by the then AAP government, the SC in July 2023 stayed a NGT order asking the L-G to head a high-level committee formed to deal with issues concerning the rejuvenation of Yamuna. TWO ISRAEL EMBASSY STAFF SHOT DEAD Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, police said. | P9