NEW DELHI 07 SEPTEMBER 2025 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard MADE IN JAPAN https://epaper.morningstandard.in Getting on Your Nerves PLUS: 12 PAGES Hail Mary: Surviving Mothers MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE VOICES Anand Neelakantan Dinesh Singh Ravi Shankar Preeti Shenoy Gully Boys Utkarsh Amitabhl Prabhu Chawla Shankkar Aiyar Pratik Kanjilal Past, Present, and the Peculiar Branding Bakasura for Corporate Lords ‘I’m Looking for Something a Little Bit Scary’ SWAMI SUKHABODHANANDA SPEAKS Play of Unconsciousness Possible thaw as PM reciprocates Trump positivity J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Committed to tripartite talks for political deal: Kuki-Zos EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Guwahati THE Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) – umbrella organisations of Kuki-Zo rebel groups – on Saturday said the reopening of National Highway-2 in ethnic violence-hit Manipur “must not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas”. KNO and UPF recently signed a deal with the Centre to extend the Suspension of Operations agreement. In a joint statement, they sais contrary to “misinformed” narratives, the KukiZos never closed or blocked NH-2. “KNO and UPF reiterate that this gesture must not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement across buffer zones between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas. The sanctity of these zones remains paramount, and the responsibility for securing the highway lies with the Government of India and its deployed force,” they said. They added that they would uphold the people’s aspiration in future political dialogues for the creation of a Union Territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people within the Constitution of India. Stating that the path forward lies in dialogue and not division, the statement said the government, KNO and UPF reaffirmed their commitment to a structured and time-bound tripartite dialogue for a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution. Meitei organisation Arambai Tenggol welcomed the tripartite peace agreement. friction between the two countries, including the US decision IN a sign of a possible thaw to double tariffs on key Indian amid ongoing trade tensions goods to 50%. The move, linked and tariff pressure, Prime Min- in part to India’s continued purister Narendra Modi on Satur- chase of Russian crude oil, has day reaffirmed India’s commit- been termed by New Delhi as ment to its partnership with “ u n f a i r, u n j u s t i f i e d a n d the United States, responding unreasonable”. positively to the remarks by US Responding to a question on President Donald Trump. his post suggesting the US was Taking to X, Modi said: “Deep- “losing India and Russia to Chily appreciate and fully recipro- na,” Trump said, “I don’t think cate President Trump’s senti- we have. I’ve been very disapments and positive assessment pointed that India would be buyof our ties. India ing so much oil and the US have a from Russia.” very positive and Despite these difforward-looking ferences, both sides Comprehensive have emphasised and Global Stratetheir long-ter m gic Partnership.” strategic relationModi’s reship. External Afsponse came Special bilateral fairs Minister S hours after Presirelationship: Don Jaishankar on Satdent Trump deurday underscored “I get along very well scribed the Indiathe importance with Modi as you US relationship Modi places on the know... India and the as “very special” US partnership. He US have a special during a White said “PM Modi atrelationship. There is House press brieftaches enormous nothing to worry ing, during which importance to our about,” Trump said he said: “I’ll alpartnership with ways be friends the US. Where with Modi. He’s a President Trump is great prime minister.” However, concerned, he (PM Modi) has Trump also added: “I just don’t always had a very good personal like what he is doing at this par- equation with President Trump. ticular moment.” But the point is that we remain When asked whether he was engaged with the US, and at this open to resetting ties, Trump time, I can’t say more than said: “I always will. I’ll always that.” be friends with Modi... But InThe latest comments come dia and the US have a very spe- weeks after Modi, Russian Prescial relationship. There is noth- ident Vladimir Putin, and Chiing to worry about.” nese President Xi Jinping were The exchange comes against seen together at the SCO sumthe backdrop of rising trade mit in Tianjin, China. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Odisha Literary Festival 2025 as TNIE CEO Lakshmi Menon, Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla and Resident Editor Siba Mohanty look on, in Bhubaneswar on Saturday; and (left) actor and director Amol Palekar speaks during the session ‘Comrades in Arts: Love, Life, and Literature’ at the event | SHAMIM QURESHY/ DEBADATTA MALLICK | P5 ECI to meet all CEOs on SIR on Sept 10 M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi UNDETERRED by the huge controversy over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India has called a meeting of all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states and Union Territories on September 10 to discuss preparedness to conduct similar exercise elsewhere across the country, officials said on Saturday . Apart from SIR for other states, the meeting would also discuss issues relating to hold- DOMESTIC FUNDING NEW CANADA REPORT TRACES KHALISTANI TERROR FINANCE H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh AT least two Khalistani extremist groups have received financial support, originating from Canada, for politically motivated violent activities, according to a new Canadian gover nment report on terror financing. The report titled ‘2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks in Canada’ has identified the Khalistani extremist groups receiving financial support originating from Canada as Babbar Khalsa International and the Interna- t i o n a l S i k h Yo u t h Federation. These groups, categorized under Politically Motivated Vi o l e n t E x t r e m i s m (PMVE), are suspected of exploiting funding networks, including non-profit and charitable sectors, to support their objectives. The report classifies terrorist threats into three These threats are each estimated to involve billions of dollars in illicit proceeds annually in Canada Report on terror financing categories: Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE), PMVE, and Religiously Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE). While IMVE attacks, often by lone actors using low-cost methods like bladed weapons or vehicles, have caused the most fatalities in Canada over the past decade, PMVE and RMVE groups rely on sophisticated international financing networks. PMVE groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Khalistani extremists, are noted for abusing the banking infrastructure, cryptocurrencies and charitable organisations, the report said. P8 AAP, BJP trade charges over floods in Punjab H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh AS Punjab faces one of its worst natural calamities, the ruling AAP and the Opposition BJP are engaged in a blame game over the cause of the floods in the state. However, the Congress has been criticising both parties for their “handling” of the situation. Responding to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s remarks that the floods were triggered by illegal mining, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Saturday termed the charges “baseless and misleading”. Asserting that floods were caused by record rainfall and unprecedented inflow of water in rivers, Goyal said, “The focus must be on relief and rehabilitation of affected families instead of political blame games”. Goyal said that Punjab witnessed an extraordinary discharge of 14.11 lakh cusecs in the Ravi River this year, sur- passing the 11.2 lakh cusecs recorded in 1988. He clarified that mining is banned in River Ravi within 5km of the international border due to Army and BSF restrictions. Also, the River Beas is a declared “Conservation Reserve” where mining is prohibited. No mining exists in the Ghaggar River, while in the Sutlej, operations are permitted only under approved mine plans and with clearance from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority . Goyal stressed that regulated mining in Punjab does not endanger river embankments and no mining activity is permitted within 100 metres of flood protection embankments, adding unprecedented rainfall was the sole cause of the floods. O n F r i d a y, C h o u h a n linked illegal mining to weakened embankments, which contributed to the disaster. He assured that the Centre would develop a plan to lift the state out of the crisis. Buzz on nationwide SIR from January 1 ECI is likely to launch SIR for the rest of the country with the qualifying date of January 1, 2026. In an order on June 24, ECI had hinted nationwide SIR, but only rolled it out for Bihar ahead of Assembly election in the state ing upcoming assembly elections later this year in Bihar and in few other states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pudduchery next year. The meeting is going to be the third of its kind since Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took charge on February 19 this year, and will be attended by election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi apart from CEC Kumar. A senior poll panel official said, “Even as the final agenda for the meeting is yet to be finalised, during the deliberations, it is expected that the Commission is going to make To ‘fix’ friend, Noida astrologer sends bomb threats to Mumbai; held N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow AN astrologer was arrested from Sector 79, Noida, by Mumbai Police on Saturday for issuing a threatening message about a bomb blast during the Ganesh festival. Originally from Patna, Ashwin Kumar Supra had sent a WhatsApp message to Mumbai Police late Thursday night, claiming that 14 terrorists from Lashkar-e-Jihadi had entered the city with 400kg of RDX in 34 cars, planning a blast that could kill up to one crore people. A high alert was sounded and the case was handed over to the Crime Branch. The ATS and other security agencies were also put on alert. After investigation, the Crime Branch traced Ashwin to Noida and arrested him. Police have seized his mobile phone, SIM card, four additional SIM card holders, six memory card holders, one external SIM slot, and two digital cards used to send the threatening messages. EXPRESS READ `12K cr material seized as drug ‘factory’ busted Maharashtra cops have unearthed a synthetic drug manufacturing unit in Hyderabad that was allegedly supplying narcotic to several parts of the state. The officials said the seized material is valued at around `12,000 crore. Further investigation into the case is on, police said. 400 kg of RDX Ashwin Kumar Supra, from Patna, had sent a WhatsApp message to Mumbai Police, claiming that 14 terrorists from Lashkar-e-Jihadi had entered the city with 400kg of RDX in 34 vehicles, planning a major blast that could kill up to one crore people. During interrogation, Ashwin revealed that he sent the message in revenge against a person named Firoz. Ashwin had spent three months in Patna jail in 2023 due to a fraud case filed by Firoz. He used Firoz’s name to mislead authorities though details about the fraud case remain unclear. Police said that Kumar, a postgraduate, is a divorcee as his wife Archana left him. Ashwin has a history of financial disputes. The Mumbai Crime Branch took Ashwin along with them for further investigation. ‘NUDE’ GANG ON THE PROWL IN MEERUT VILLAGES Panic gripped Daurala villages in Meerut as the fourth incident connected to ‘nude gang’ came to light on Saturday. | P8 an assessment of the preparedness of different states to take up SIR exercise, as after Bihar the next round of intensive revision exercises are going to be taken up in those states, which are scheduled to go for assembly polls next year.” They, however, confirmed that all the CEOs have been asked to make presentations with regards to the number of electors and the details of the last SIR conducted in their respective states and UTs. Opposition parties including RJD, Congress, CPI, CPM, TMC, SP and DMK are against a nationwide SIR. Law student of pvt univ slapped 30 times within 90 sec; 5 booked E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Lucknow FIVE law students of a private university’s Lucknow campus were booked after an FIR was lodged against them for assaulting one of their classmates, the video of which went viral on social media. A senior police officer said five students were named in an FIR registered on the basis of a complaint by the victim’s father, Mukesh Kesarwani. Five students, who have been named in the FIR include Ayush Yadav, Jahnvi Mishra, Milay Banerjee, Vivek Singh and Aryaman Shukla. The video showed Shikhar Mukesh Kesarwani being slapped as many as 25-30 times over 90 seconds by some of his classmates, including a girl. The incident is believed to have taken place last month. In the video, two persons, including a woman, are seen raining blows on the student and the male student is heard abusing and threatening him. As Shikhar tries to defend himself, the attackers ask him to put his hand down. “Move your hand away from your face, or you will be beaten even more,” the accused is heard saying in the video. With no statement issued by the campus over the incident, the reason behind it could not be immediately ascertained. Shikhar’s father claimed that the incident had left his son traumatised and that he had stopped going to college. He said that the accused also broke his son’s phone.