INDIA DEVELOPS 109 CLIMATE-RESILIENT SEED VARIETIES India develops 109 high-yielding, climate-resilient seed varieties. PM Narendra Modi unveiled the seeds at three experimental agriculture plots at Delhi’s Pusa Campus in the presence of farmers. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan said these seeds are climate-friendly and can bring good yield even in adverse weather. The government said the seeds are biofortified and will help combat malnutrition | P7 KALABURAGI MONDAY AUGUST 12, 2024 `9.00 PAGES 12 CITY EDITION 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 HINDENBURG: OPPN SEEKS JPC PROBE AGAINST SEBI CHIEF Regulator: Buch disclosed her investments, recused to avoid conflicts of interest PREETHA NAIR & BENN K O C H U V E E D A N @ New Delhi / Mumbai A day after US short-seller Hindenburg Research levelled allegations against Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, the Opposition parties demanded a joint parliamentary committee probe against Buch and her resignation from the post. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said the integrity of the market regulator, which is entrusted with safeguarding the wealth of small retail investors, has been compromised by the allegations against its chairperson. “Why hasn’t Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch resigned yet? If investors lose their hardearned money who will be held , accountable — PM Modi, the Sebi Chairperson, or Gautam Adani?” he said in a post on X. In its report on Saturday night, the New York-based firm claimed that Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged Adani money siphoning scandal. It alleged that Sebi had failed to take action against Adani group despite allegations of financial irregularities and market fraud. It also questioned Sebi’s decision to issue a showcause notice to Hindenburg in June, alleging violations of se- curities laws. The report further alleged that recent amendments to Reit Regulations, 2014 were made to benefit Blackstone, where Buch’s husband Dhaval is a senior advisor. Several other Opposition parties including TMC and AAP also demanded a probe. TMC MP Mahua Moitra asked if Buch had disclosed her ownership stakes to Sebi when she was a whole-time member. AAP MP Sanjay Singh said the SC should take note of the fresh allegations by Hindenburg. Meanwhile, Sebi has urged investors to remain calm and do due diligence before reacting to the Hindenburg report. It also cautioned investors that the US short-seller might be holding short positions in the securities covered in the report. On conflict of interest allegations, Sebi said: “We have adequate internal mechanisms for addressing issues relating to conflict of interest, which include disclosure framework and provision for recusal... Relevant disclosures required in terms of holdings of securities and their transfers have been made by the chairperson from time to time. The chairperson has also recused herself in matters involving potential conP10 flicts of interest.” Flood threat as TB dam crest gate collapses K I RA N BA L A N N A N AVA R @ Koppal/Hosapete PANIC gripped areas along the downstream of Tungabhadra reservoir after one of its crest gates got detached and washed away into the river early on Sunday morning. A large amount of water is gushing out of the gaping hole between the dam structure and the present water level. The reservoir, also called the Pampa Sagar Dam, reached its capacity of 162 ft recently . There are apprehensions that over 12 lakh hectares of farmlands in Ballari, Raichur, Koppal and Vijayanagara districts could be flooded. EXPRESS READ US fuelled violence in Bangladesh, says Hasina New Delhi: Days after she fled Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina blamed the US for the crisis that led to the fall of her government. In her undelivered speech, Hasina said that had her government handed over the strategically located St Martin Island to the US, the situation would have been different. P7 28 dead as rain lashes North, Northwest New Delhi: At least 28 people died in rain-related incidents Sunday as heavy downpours lashed North and Northwest India, causing landslides, traffic chaos and house collapses, as well as a dam breach which inundated several villages in Haryana. P8 A view of broken crest gate No 19 of the Tungabhadra dam in Munirabad of Koppal district | EXPRESS The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority cautioned people living along the banks of Krishna river to keep vigil. Around 12.50 am on Sunday the , crest gate No 19 of the dam, which has 33 sluice gates, detached from the chain link and fell into the river. By evening, a total of 2 lakhplus cusecs of water had gushed out of the reservoir. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the water resources minister, visited the site following the emergency . He said two contractor firms have been approached to repair the damaged gate of the dam. “We have informed two experienced contractors about it and provided them with designs. Their team too visited the place in the night. They are also trying to restore the gate of the dam,” he added. CONTINUED ON: P9 In the end, India’s campaign a case of glass half-full T HE lights are dimmed. The curtains are slowly drawing close. The show is over. Tales of valour, extraordinary human feats, moments of joy and ecstasy loss, es and despair are slowly being stored in the leaves of Olympic history. TNIE @ OLYMPICS Just like when a theatre gets over, the lights switch on in the hall, it’s time INDRANEEL DAS for the audiPARIS ence to wake up to reality . Paris soaked in the summer sun. There was a feeling of emptiness as the grandest sporting show on Earth ended on Sunday USA and China are . India shooter Manu Bhaker (left) with her coach and other members of the contingent on Sunday | PTI firmly perched at the top. Somewhere in the bottom half was India, 71 with one silver and five bronze. For a country that won seven medals in Tokyo 2020 in 2021 including a gold, this seemed a case of one step backward. If one adds the sixfourth finishes and Vinesh Phogat’s heartbreaking dis- qualification, then one can say it was just about alright. The backdrop under which the athletes competed too should be considered. The Sports Authority of India said they had spent about `470 crore for the preparation of the athletes in the last Olympic cycle. There was no lack of support from SAI, national sports federations (NSFs) and some NGOs. Perhaps that prompted India badminton team coach Prakash Padukone to say that the athletes also should take some responsibility . Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha felt that we should think about the future. There are quite a few debutants (about more than half of the 117-strong contingent). She felt that the primary objective would be to save and protect them. “They are the future of our country and we need to preserve them,” she said. Chef de mission Gagan Narang, London Olympic bronze medallist, said that it was a creditable performance. “There are 21 players who medalled,” he said alluding to the 16-member hockey team. He also felt that the athletes should be guided well. “Wrap them in cotton wool,” he said. The sports administrators right from SAI to NSFs must go into a huddle and find where they went wrong. They must find a solution to India’s inability to reach the double-digit mark. Or else the six here will count for nothing. For a nation that wants to bid for the 2036 Olympics, six medals definitely won’t reflect the sporting superiority on the global stage.
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