Chennai l tuesday l october 01, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l late city EDITION Modi speaks to Bibi as Israel steps up lebanon campaign Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the situation in West Asia amid conflict in Lebanon Crucial to prevent escalation, says modi “Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages,” Modi wrote on X. Meanwhile, a report said Israeli forces have conducted small-scale, targeted raids in Lebanon in recent weeks. The Wall Street Journal reported that the troops entered tunnels dug by Hezbollah on the Lebanese side near border ■ 1,000 ‘Israeli special Forces enter Lebanon’ ■ Sources told the US daily that the raids are a precursor to a wider ground operation that could begin this week. The troops are tasked with gathering intel and destroying Hezbollah’s assets near the border Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said Israel will use all its capabilities, including ground forces, to achieve its objectives | P9 people have been killed in the last two weeks, Lebanese authorities said CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SC lambasts Naidu for laddu politics S u c h i t r a k a lya n M o h a n t y tdp DOUBLES DOWN @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu for making a public statement that the previous government led by Jagan Mohan Reddy used ghee containing animal fat to prepare laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. After going through the lab report, the court said it was ‘the rejected ghee’ that was sent for test and there was no primafacie evidence to show spurious ghee was indeed used for making laddus. TDP said it stands by Naidu’s statement, adding it has proof to show spurious ghee was used. “There is no going back... 100% it was used,” TDP spokesperson said A bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan also sought to know if the laddus that were said to have been made using contaminated ghee were tested. “Whether that ghee, of which the sample was not found confirming to the standards, was used in the preparation of laddus?” it asked senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the And- hra Pradesh government. The bench said it was inappropriate on the part of a higher constitutional functionary to issue loaded statements before the conclusion of a probe, adding: “We should keep God away from politics.” It noted that an FIR was registered on September 25 and the SIT was constituted on September 26 to probe the matter, but the chief minister had already made a statement on September 18. “Where was the justification for him (Naidu) to go to the press and says all this, when a probe had already been ordered by the state?,” it said. After Naidu made the controversial statement, several petitions were filed before the SC seeking a court-monitored probe into the allegations. While posting the matter for hearing on October 3, the bench directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek the Centre’s views on whether the state government should go ahead with its probe or an independent investigation is required. Recognition for Samsung labour union: TN gets 2 weeks to decide e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ Chennai The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu labour department authorities to take a decision on the application submitted by Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam, which has been on an indefinite strike, regarding the registration of the union within two weeks. Justice R N Manjula issued the direction on Monday when a petition filed by P Ellan, general secretary of the union, seeking direction to register it, came up for hearing. The petitioner stated that the union, which was formed in June this year, had submitted an application to the Registrar of Trade Unions (Joint Commissioner of Labour, Chennai) for registering the union. The JCL had sought the opinion of the Deputy Commissioner of Labour (DCLConciliation) of Kanch­ eepuram. Ellan alleged that the authorities concerned are refusing to register the union saying that the Samsung India Private Limited has objected to the use of the company’s name by the union as it is a trade mark name. But the objection is not sustainable as the union is using the name only for the sake of trade union purposes and not for any trade related matter, the petitioner said. He further stated that the formation of trade union is a fundamental right as per the Constitution and under the Trade Union Act.  P7 Introducing our new fortnightly page dedicated to interior design in City Express, where you can catch up on the latest trends in decor, gardening and homeware City Express @ P3 Yashasvi Jaiswal (left) scored 72 while R Ashwin took two wickets to reduce Bangladesh to 26/2 on Day 4 | PTI | P15 Records galore in Kanpur Batters give hosts pole position After bowling out Bangladesh for 233, India batters tormented visiting bowlers to rewrite records at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. They broke the record for the fastest team 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 in men’s Test cricket before declaring at 285/9 India broke an array of records to take the driver’s seat on day four of the second Test against Bangladesh Run-rate hits roof Throughout their first innings, India’s scoring rate never dropped down below eight which also is the highest in men’s Test innings (min 200 balls). Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (72 off 51) and KL Rahul (68 off 43) slammed a half-century each while skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scored at a quick pace to give India a lead of 52 runs. R Ashwin then reduced the visitors to 26/2 giving India a hope of victory, which otherwise was heading for a draw after more than two days of no-play willing to return the 14 sites, Parvathy tells MUDA, asks it to cancel sale deed Siddu buys peace as wife offers to return all land K a r t h i k KK & B a l a C h a u h a n @ Mysuru / Bengaluru On a day the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy BM and others in the MUDA site allotment case, a letter written by Parvathy to MUDA surfaced on Monday offering to surrender all the 14 plots that are at the heart of the controversy . In her emotional letter to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) commissioner, which is undated, Parvathy requested swift action to take back all the sites. “I have never sought wealth, property or riches. I have lived , carefully, ensuring that no stain touches my husband’s political career due to my actions,” the letter read. Parvathy mentioned that she had not discussed her decision with her husband, her son — Dr Yathindra, who is an MLC, or other family members. “This is a decision I made after consulting my conscience. The day the allegations surfaced, I had made up my mind to return the plots. However, some well-wishers advised me to reconsider as they believed these accusations were politically motivated. But my decision remains unwavering,” she stated. “The land plots, which were given to me by my own brother as part of our family ties, have turned into a controversy I never imagined that these plots . could cause my husband to face unfair accusations,” she lamented. Earlier in the day the ED’s Bengalu, ru zonal office registered the case under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). ED These properties are like dust to me compared to the respect and peace of my husband — Parvathy B M, Siddaramaiah’s wife sources, on condition of anonymity, said the ECIR has been filed based on the FIR registered by the Mysuru unit of Karnataka Lokayukta last weekend. The Lokayukta police invoked charges of corruption, cheating and forgery against against Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathy his brother-in-law (Parvathy’s , brother) Mallikarjuna Swamy and a former landowner — Devaraju — from whom Swamy had purchased land and gifted it to Parvathy The FIR . mentions charges of corruption, cheating and forgery in the allotment of 14 MUDA housing sites in upscale Vijayanagar area of Mysuru to Parvathy in 2021 after her 3 acres, 16 guntas site in down-market Kesare outside of Mysuru city limits was acquired by MUDA for a layout. Earlier in the day, RTI activist Snehamayi Krishna had lodged a formal complaint with the ED. The 16-page complaint, a copy of which is with this newspaper, refers to a purported windfall of `55.8 crore to Siddaramaiah’s family through questionable means. Krishna alleged that there were ingredients of money laundering by the CM and his family members. The Lokayukta police booked the CM’s family on the direction of a special court hearing cases against current or former elected representatives, on September 25 on the basis of a private complaint by the RTI activist. Coonoor teacher dies in special status for desi landslide outside house cows in poll-bound maha e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ Nilgiris cm holds review meet Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin A 42-year-old private school- on Monday held a high-level teacher was killed in a land- review meeting and asked officials slide caused by heavy down- to be prepared for efficient pour on Sunday night in handling of sudden and intense downpours during the northeast Coonoor in Nilgiris. According to the Coonoor po- monsoon which has become routine in recent years | P4 lice, the deceased, R Jayalakshmi, was employed as a Hindi language when she was caught in a teacher at a private landslide that buried her school in Coonoor. and part of her home unShe lived with her husder 5ft-6ft of soil. band Ravindranath and Upon information, fire two children aged 11 and R Jayalakshmi and rescue services per14 at Allai Sait comsonnel rushed to the pound, a low-lying area near scene, and after two hours of Lakshmi theatre, enroute to struggle, with the help of loKrishnapuram. cals, managed to retrieve JayAround 9.40 pm on Sunday, alakshmi’s body Her husband . Jayalakshmi ventured out of and two children — rescued her home to check the impact from inside the house — esof heavy rain in the vicinity caped with injuries.  P7 S u d h i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai Ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections, the state cabinet on Monday decided to give ‘Rajmata Gomata’ status to indigenous cows. The cabinet also approved a proposal by the animal husbandry department to give a subsidy of `50 per day for each indigenous cow. This decision is expected to benefit more than 46 lakh cow owners across the state. A government resolution said, “Since Vedic times, the significance of cows in human life is religious, scientific, and economical and hence it is called as Kamdhenu.” Desi cow milk has high nutritional value and is an important part of the hu- man diet, the government resolution said. The document highlighted the concerns about the rapid fall in the number of desi cows in the state. “The newlyaccorded status to the animal would encourage farmers to raise cows,” it added. Some of the indigenous cow breeds in Maharashtra are Devni and Lalkandari in Marathwada, Khillar in west- ern Maharashtra, Dangi in northern Maharashtra and Gavlau in Vidarbha. There are 46,13,632 desi cows in the state, according to the 2019 census, a drop of 20.69 per cent compared to the earlier census figures. In another major decision, the state cabinet accepted the second and third reports of the Justice Shinde committee, set up to finalise the protocol for issuing Kunbi-Maratha and Maratha-Kunbi certificates based on historical records. The acceptance of the Justice Shinde panel report by the state cabinet is a significant move to placate the Maratha community protesting for inclusion in the OBC category, amid a backlash by backward communities. govt’s highest recognition Mithun Da dances his way into the elite Dadasaheb Phalke club E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Chennai Veteran actor and BJP politician Mithun Chakraborty will be bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award—the government’s highest recognition in the field of cinema— this year. Once a sympathiser of the Naxal movement in Calcutta, Chakraborty became a Rajya Sabha MP on a Trinamool Congress ticket in 2014. However, he moved to the ruling BJP in 2021 ahead of the West Bengal Legislative As- sembly election that year. Earlier this year, he was also awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian honour in the country . Making the announcement on X on Monday Union Minis, ter for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote, “Mithun Da’s remarkable cinematic journey inspires generations! Honoured to announce that the Dadasaheb Phalke Selection Jury has decided to award legendary actor, Sh. Mithun Chakraborty Ji for his iconic contribution to Indian Cinema.” The award will be presented at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony on October 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reshared the post and wrote on X, “Delighted that Shri Mithun Chakraborty Ji has been conferred the I only wish to tell everyone that if I have reached this far, why can’t you? You should have the dedication and motivation. You should have the resilience to face difficult situations —Mithun Chakraborty prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, recognizing his unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. He is a cultural icon, admired across generations for his versatile performances. Congratulations and best wishes to him.” A star in the 80s, Chakraborty has had a decreased presence on the silver screen in recent times. Although he was part of Bengali-language films like Kabuliwala (2023) and Projapati (2022), his last Hindi outing was the controversial The Kashmir Files (2022). He also served as the head judge or ‘grandmaster’ on the popular dance reality series Dance India Dance from 2009 to 2018. Mithun Da, as he was better known, made his acting debut with Mrinal Sen’s 1976 film Mrigayaa, for which he won the National Award for Best Actor. He bagged two more National Awards for 1992’s Tahader Katha (best actor) and 1998’s Swami Vivekananda (best supporting actor). Mithun Da’s claim to fame, however, was his distinctive dancing style in the 1982 superhit Disco Dancer, which is widely credited for ushering in the era of disco dancing in India through chartbusters like ‘I Am A Disco Dancer’. ECIR based on FIR by lokayukta ED’s ECIR has been registered based on an FIR filed by the Lokayukta police against the CM, his wife Parvathy, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy and then landowner — Devaraju — from whom Swamy bought land and gifted it to Parvathy Vendetta tool, says congress “It is no secret that the ED has become an instrument of harassment, vendetta, revenge, and vengeance,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said SC: Appoint separate judge for Senthil Balaji case express news servi ce @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Madras High Court Chief Justice to appoint a separate judge for trial of the corruption case against Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji who was granted bail last week in the alleged cash-forjobs scam. The court also said it would look into the petitioners’ demand to remove Balaji from his minister post in the next hearing on October 22. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, which went through the report of the judge of a special court dealing with cases related to Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members o f L e g i s l at ive A s s e m bly (MLAs) of Tamil Nadu, said the judge has 29 cases with him. The bench said the special judge’s report indicates that in many cases, the trial has begun while in many others, it is yet to begin. “The case, which is the subject matter of this application, has more than 2,000 accused and around 600 prosecution witnesses. Looking at the allegations, which have been made in the charge sheet, the case requires urgent disposal. Considering the number of cases entrusted to the special judge, it would be appropriate for the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court to appoint one session judge to deal with this case,” the bench said.  P7