NEW DELHI 19 OCTOBER 2025 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard https://epaper.morningstandard.in PLUS: 12 PAGES Honey, I Shrunk the Netherlands MAGAZINE EXCLUSIVE VOICES BLING IN THE NEW Goals Beyond the Ground Espresso, Art, and Timeless Streets Anand Neelakantan Prabhu Chawla Ravi Shankar Shankkar Aiyar Neha Sinha Namrata Joshi Shampa Dhar-Kamath The Climate Plot Thickens A River Runs through Their Lives ‘Trouble is Where the Juicy is’ SWAMI SUKHABODHANANDA SPEAKS Freedom from the Inner Prison Paras to go after Chirag nominees in chacha-bhatija duel RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi DIWALI CHEER LIGHTS UP KARTAVYA PATH More than two lakh diyas illuminate the Kartavya Path on Saturday under the Delhi government’s plan for a grand Diwali celebration | SAYANTAN GHOSH No alimony for financially independent spouse: HC E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE Delhi High Court has said that alimony cannot be granted to a spouse who is financially independent, emphasising that permanent alimony under the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) is meant as a measure of social justice, not as a means of financial equalisation. A division bench, comprising Justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, made the observation while hearing a plea filed by a woman officer of the Indian Railways Traffic Service (Group ‘A’) seeking permanent alimony and compensation from her husband, an advocate, following their divorce. The couple, married in 2010, lived together for only a year before separating. Their marriage was dissolved by a family court in 2023 on grounds of cruelty. The husband had accused his wife of mental and physical cruelty and humiliation in social and professional settings. The wife denied the charges and counterclaimed cruelty by her husband. The family court had not only dissolved the marriage but also recorded that the woman had sought `50 lakh as a settlement in exchange for agreeing to the divorce. The demand was acknowledged in her affidavit and reaffirmed during cross-examination. The court refused her plea for alimony . The woman moved HC, contesting the findings of cruelty and the denial of maintenance. However, the bench upheld the lower court’s decision, observing that judicial discretion under Section 25 of the HMA must be applied judiciously and cannot be used to award alimony to a financially independent individual. Full Pak in BrahMos range, says Rajnath Defence minister warns neighbour against misadventurism N A M I TA B A J PA I @Lucknow EVERY inch of Pakistan’s territory lies within the range of BrahMos and Operation Sindoor was just a trailer, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday in a stern warning to Pakistan. The Union minister, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, flagged off the first batch of BrahMos missiles manufactured at the BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility Centre in Lucknow. Singh described the missile as a symbol of India’s rising strength and proof of India’s strategic confidence. “India’s defence capabilities now serve as a powerful deterrent,” the minister said. “Every inch of Pakistan’s territory lies within the range of BrahMos... Operation Sindoor ... made Pakistan realise that if India could create Pakistan, then if the time comes... I need not say more, you all are wise enough,” he said. “Maintaining this confidence is now our collective responsibility he said. ,” “The entire world now recog- Operation Sindoor is proof that victory has become a habit for us, and we must enhance our capabilities. It made Pakistan realise what might follow IN an escalation of rhetoric, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has warned that Pakistan’s expanding military capabilities could “shatter the misconceived immunity of India’s geographical warspace.” His statement, delivered during a high-profile address at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul, signifies yet another round of nuclear sabre-rattling by Islamabad. This time, it comes against the backdrop of ongoing Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan civilians near the border. CRICKETERS KILLED, AF BOARD EXITS SERIES IN PAK F I R O Z M I R Z A @ Chennai nises India’s capability. BrahMos has strengthened our belief that India can turn its dreams into reality,” he said. The indigenously developed BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles were used by India to destroy Pakistan’s air bases during Operation Sindoor in May this year. Inaugurated on May 11, 2025, the state-of-the-art BrahMos Aerospace unit houses all modern facilities for missile integration, testing and final quality checks. After successful testing, the missiles are prepared for deployment by the Indian armed forces. The defence minister said that BrahMos has proved that Made-in-India is now a global brand even as India strengthens its security and has emerged as a credible partner in defence and technology . Contracts worth crores Rajnath Singh said in Lucknow that the BrahMos team has wrapped up contracts worth approximately `4,000 crore with two countries in the last one month Self-reiiance a reality: Yogi Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said a self-reliant India is now a reality. Adityanath made the remark while kicking off a programme at the BrahMos unit Can shatter the image of Indian immunity: Munir J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi From left: Kabeer Agha, Haroon and Sibghatullah Munir, addressing graduating cadets, asserted that even a “minor provocation” from India would invite a “decisive, beyond proportions” response from Pakistan. “Should a fresh wave of hostilities be triggered, Pakistan would respond much beyond the expectations of the initiators,” he said. Munir went on to warn of “deeply hurting retributive military and economic losses” and said the responsibility for any future escalation, potentially with “catastrophic consequences for the region and beyond” would rest solely with the neighbouring India. Asim Munir Not the first time from Munir This isn’t the first time Pakistan army chief Asim Munir has resorted to inflammatory language. Days before the dastardly Pahalgam attack last year that killed 26 civilians, Munir had referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein.” AFTER featuring in a domestic tournament in Sharana of Paktika province of Afghanistan, local cricketers were having a get together in their home district, Urgun when three of them were killed in air strikes reportedly carried out by Pakistan. Condemning the incident and terming it cowardly Afghanistan Crick, et Board (ACB) has withdrawn its team from the tri-series involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka to be held in Rawalpindi and Lahore from November 17 to 29. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Indian cricket board (BCCI) expressed solidarity with the ACB. The ICC in a statement said it is deeply saddened and appalled by the tragic deaths of three young and promising Afghan cricketers, Kabeer Agha, Sibghatullah, and Haroon, who lost their lives in a recent air strike. “It was a local event in Sharana, the capital of the Paktika province. One of the teams has come from far away district named Urgun. After the game, they returned to Urgun. The players were having a get together after when they were targetted by Pakistan state,” Sayed Naseem Sadaat, ACB spokesperson, told this daily “Not only . once, three times the same area was attacked. A number of our innocent civilians and three cricketers were martyred in this attack. The ACB management has decided to withdraw from the tri-series planned by the PCB,” he added. Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan stood by ACB and posted on X: “It is absolutely immoral and barbaric to target civilian infrastructure... I welcome the ACB’s decision.” His teammate Mohammad Nabi termed it heinous. DHAKAFIRE AIRPORT CATCHES A massive fire broke out on Saturday at the cargo complex of the int’l airport in Dhaka, forcing authorities to suspend all flight ops as thick black smoke engulfed the area. | P9 AMONG the interesting contests brewing in the Bihar elections is the one between two different parties that share the same political legacy. While one of them is led by the chacha (uncle) and the other is run by the bhatija (nephew). The chacha is Pashupati Kumar Paras, brother of late Ram Vilas Paswan, whose son Chirag Paswan is the bhatija. Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party suffered a vertical split after his death, with Paras floating the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), while Chirag chose to name his faction as Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). With the NDA being extra generous this time in allotting 29 seats to Chirag’s party Par, as has threatened to play spoiler by fielding candidates against almost all of Chirag’s nominees, apart from entering the fray from other seats. Paras initially wanted to enter the fray as part of the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. But since Chirag Paswan, Pashupati Kumar Paras seat-sharing talks failed, he decided to go it alone. Chirag has fielded five candidates so far, and so has Paras from the same seats. The most interesting of the five contests is in Mahua in Vaishali district, where Paras fielded Shamsuzzama against Chirag’s Sanjay Kumar Singh. Others in the fray include RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, and RJD’s Mukesh Raushan. Shamsuzzama is expected to damage Sanjay Kumar Singh’s prospects, due to the division in Paswan and other Dalit votes. The Paswan vote bank constitutes 5.31% of the state’s population. During the 2020 polls, Chirag had fielded candidates ag ainst the ruling JD(U) and damaged its prospects of picking up more seats. P8 Panic grips Brahmaputra Apartment on Baba Khadak Singh Marg | PTI & SHEKHAR YADAV Major fire at residential complex housing MPs E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi A major fire broke out at the Brahmaputra Apartment on Baba Khadak Singh Marg in central Delhi on Saturday afternoon, injuring two persons. The apartment houses several Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs. The apartment complex was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020. According to fire officials, they received information regarding the blaze at 1.23 pm, following which 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The fire, which broke out in the parking area of the apartment, was brought under control at 2.05 pm. The visuals show thick smoke coming out of the premises. Two cars and a bike were damaged in the incident. “We received a call at 1.23 pm, rushed to the spot and brought the inferno under control,” said Fire Officer Bupendra Prakash. Panic gripped the high-security residential zone on the festive day with witnesses describing the scene as “terrifying”. , Vinod, a resident of the third floor, said that his dog was stuck inside. “I rushed back. My dog was stuck inside. My daughter is to get married in four-five months for which we bought jewellery and clothes. My wife and a kid sustained injuries,” Vinod said. Purnima, an eyewitness, said, “Initially fire officials didn’t let , us enter. We heard that some people were injured.” Another resident said that he was at work when the incident occurred. “Our belongings, docus and jewellery were destroyed,” he added. MISLEADING AD Relief at last for passenger barred from using toilet on overnight omni bus in TN SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR @ Chennai THE ‘relief ’ was in sight but to no avail, as the passenger was told by the bus staff that the toilet inside the overnight private bus can be used only for urination and not def- ecation. And, five months down the line, on Thursday, a consumer disputes redressal forum slapped the bus operator a penalty of `10,000 for deficiency in service. T h e p a s s e n g e r, B Satishkumar (42), a resident of Perambur, told the fo- rum that while on board the Chennai-Coimbatore overnight bus, he was told by the staff that the loo should be used only for passing urine. The signboard on the toilet door also said a `1,000 fine will be levied if the toilet is used for anything other than passing urine. In his complaint, Sathishku- mar claimed he is prone to use the restroom frequently, and had selected the bus only be- cause the operator mentioned the availability of the toilet facility inside the vehicle on the online site where he had booked the ticket that cost `1,182. In response to an email Satish sent to the operator, Krish Travels, through their official mail id, had reiterated its ‘pee-only policy’ in the toilet facility in- side the bus. The consumer forum comprising president D Gopinath and members Kavitha Kannan and V Ramamurthy took up Satish’s complaint filed under Section 35(1)(a)(ii) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The bus operator did not file any documents before the fo- rum and hence the case was decided ex-parte. The forum studied the complaint and evidence submitted, and agreed with the complainant that the operator had given a misleading advertisement as per Section 2(28) of the Act and unfair trade practice as per Section 2(47)(d) of the Act.