tirupati l thursday l february 12, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION SC asks Centre to file report on Air India plane crash probe The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Wednesday to file a brief report on the procedural protocol followed so far in the investigation probe by AAIB nearing its end, Govt tells SC Court gives three-week deadline Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that a fact-finding inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) is currently underway in accordance with international commitments and is likely to be completed in three weeks. The bench was hearing three petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation into the crash ■ ■ Mehta urged a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the three pleas be listed after three weeks “Let us see the result of the AAIB probe and then we will see whether a court of inquiry will be needed or not,” the CJI said and fixed the pleas for hearing after three weeks | P7 June 12, 2025 when Air India flight to London crashed in Ahmedabad 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 press Intake Govt taking steps to stop caste-based discrimination in edu: Minister | P7 All 6 stanzas of Vande Mataram must be sung before National Anthem, says MHA | P7 IAF to recreate Op Sindoor-style precision targeting near Pakistan border | P7 Sunetra Pawar meets Amit Shah amid NCP merger talks | P8 Mamata only chief minister to move SC against govt staff: Bhupendra | P8 superB two super overs decide afghan-sa tie The first tied match of T20 WC needed two overs after stunning display of pulsating comebacks by both teams. In the end, SA win by 4 runs I P11 Today’s matches 11am: Sri Lanka vs Oman (Pallekele), 3pm: Italy vs Nepal (Mumbai), 7pm: India vs Namibia (New Delhi) Union Budget debate States to get Bharat Mata over `25 lakh sold to the cr in FY27: FM US: Rahul Governor S Abdul Nazeer addressing the joint session during day one of the assembly session at Velagapudi on Wednesday | Express P u s h p i ta De y @ New Delhi P r ee t h a N a i r @ New Delhi FINANCE Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday rejected allegations levelled by several Opposition-ruled states that the Centre was not transferring states’ share from the divisible pool of taxes. The Union finance minister, in her reply to the Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha, said that the Centre has transferred the full 41% share of divisible taxes to the states as mandated by the Finance Commission. “The states should check if the entire net proceeds, which form the divisible pool, i.e., removing cess and surcharge from gross tax revenue, are received by them. There is no need to discuss the gross tax revenue,” the minister said. The FM said the Centre has allocated `25.44 lakh crore to states in FY27. “This much money will go to the states. This entails an increase of `2.70 lakh crore from FY26,” Sitharaman said. Commenting on the transfer of cess and surcharges, she clarified that these are collected for a purpose and if states can come with proposals on health, education, roadways, they will get the funds. “Cess and surcharge collected by the Centre are given to the States for development work in various sectors. This is separate from the 41% of funds allocated to the States,” she added. Debunking allegations that the government was not approving credits to the states, the finance minister stated the total credit has grown 13.8% in the current financial year. She pointed out that headline capital expenditure stands at `12.2 lakh crore while the effective capital expenditure, including grants to states, totals `17.1 lakh crore, amounting to 4.4% of GDP . The FM said the government has envisaged a total expenditure of `53.47 lakh crore for the next financial year, up 7.7% from the current fiscal ending March 31. According to the revised estimate, the budget size for FY26 is `49.64 lakh crore. After being repeatedly blocked from quoting ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir in the Lok Sabha last week, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mounted a sharp attack on the government over the India-US trade deal framework, accusing the Modi administration of having “sold off the nation” and terming it as a “wholesale surrender”. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, Rahul said he does not believe that any Indian PM, including Narendra Modi, would agree to such a deal unless there is a “chokehold” on him. “Why has he sold India? Because the US are choking him. They have a grip on his neck.” Rahul asserted that the The govt has trade agreement had un- given up control dermined farmers’ inter- over digital trade ests, destroyed the textile rules, removed sector, and handed India’s data localisation, energy security to the US. allowed free flow Calling it a surrender of of data to the US, limited digital the future of 1.5 billion tax, waived Indians, he said it was source code driven by the need to prodisclosure, and tect the BJP’s financial offered 20-yr tax architecture, which he holidays to big tech firms said is facing scrutiny in the US. “The US will deRahul Gandhi cide who we buy oil from. They will monitor.” He accused the government of opening the door to mechanised American farms, thereby crushing India’s small farmers, and called the move disgraceful, saying that no PM before had done such a thing, nor would any after him. “How can you come to this House and defend this? Are you not ashamed of what you are giving away? Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother — Bharat Mata?” he said. The House saw heated exchanges after Rahul referred to Union minister Hardeep Puri and industrialist Anil Ambani in connection with mentions in the Epstein files. HARD TALK 1 Rejecting criticism over impact of cess on divisible pool, FM said states must check net proceeds that can be shared 2 The govt plans a total expenditure of `53.47 lakh crore for FY27, up 7.7% from the current financial year 3 The Centre is open to working with states that are willing to set up key infrastructure to develop critical sectors such as healthcare, the FM said 4 charges baseless: Puri Targeting TMC, FM said there is no law and order in West Bengal but a ‘bomb culture’ prevails there Dismissing Rahul’s allegations as baseless, Union minister Hardeep Puri said, “He has a habit of making baseless allegations and lying.” Puri said he had met Epstein only a few times as part of an official delegation and had exchanged just one email with him. He added that he had limited interactions with Epstein had no connection whatsoever to the crimes later associated with him. CM Chandrababu eyes Gujarat Model for AP’s success with 15-year NDA government E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Asserting the need for continuation of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for another 15 years, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu described it as a positive development that no differences have emerged within the alliance leadership over the past 20 months. He said that this unity must continue for sustained state development. Chairing a meeting with NDA Legislature Party MLAs and MLCs at the Assembly Committee Hall on Wednesday , Naidu said the alliance is stronger today than during the elections, with increased public support. The same spirit shown before the elections should continue in the future, and the three parties should be in a position to jointly approach people seeking votes. Referring to Gujarat, where CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan along with BJP floor leader P Vishnu Kumar Raju and IT Minister Nara Lokesh during NDA meeting at the Assembly committee hall on Wednesday | Express the BJP has won five consecutive terms, he said similar success should be achieved here. He advised leaders to build lasting political credibility . The Chief Minister said joint meetings would be conducted district-wise with MLAs, MPs, SPs and Collectors. As part of political governance, the dignity of MLAs would be enhanced. Pending constituency works would be prioritized and completed. “Our development programs are yielding results. We have not fully recovered yet, but we have put systems back on track. MLAs must take ownership of the works done by both the Central and State governments in their constituencies,” Naidu told the leaders. Making it clear that Assembly sessions must be taken seriously the Chief Minister want, ed the Members present in the House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  P4 The reason we are implementing all the schemes announced during the election is that the Central government is providing a lot of support N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister AP moves beyond revival, set for next growth wave: Governor S G u r u S r i k a n t h @ Vijayawada Governor S. Abdul Nazeer said Andhra Pradesh is uniquely positioned to lead India’s next wave of industrial and technological growth, with Amaravati at the heart of this transformation. He emphasised that the State has “moved beyond revival, with welfare, development and governance aligned to future-ready models,” and is now preparing to harness opportunities in quantum computing, renewable energy, green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing. Addressing the joint session of the Legislative Assembly and Council, the Governor recalled the turbulence after bifurcation in 2014 and governance setbacks post-2019, noting that the people’s mandate in 2024 restored confidence in the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. “Disenchanted by past experiences, the people of Andhra Pradesh reposed their faith once again in my government in 2024, granting an unprecedented mandate to rebuild the State,” he observed. In his nearly one-hour-long speech, Nazeer described the Su- per Six welfare guarantees as a “super-hit,” with nearly `33,000 crore spent annually . He cited NTR Bharosa pensions for 63.12 lakh beneficiaries, Thalliki Vandanam support for 66 lakh students, free bus travel under Sthree Shakti, Annadata Sukhibhava aid to 46.86 lakh farmers and Deepam 2.0 LPG support for 1.08 crore households. “Welfare is not merely support for survival, but a My government has embarked on a clear and deliberate journey from resurgence to ascendance, guided by the resolve to rebuild, renew and rise S Abdul Nazeer, Governor of Andhra Pradesh foundation for bridging the gap between haves and have-nots,” he said. The Governor underscored a zero-poverty approach through the Family Benefit Management System and the innovative P4 (PublicPrivate-People Partnership), which has mobilised over one lakh “Margadarsis” to support 10.3 lakh families. Anna Canteens, housing and nutrition programmes continue to reinforce social security . He also stressed equity for Scheduled Castes, Tribals, Back- All set for the big day Election officials check ballot boxes and voting materials after collecting them ahead of polls, in Dhaka, on Wednesday | AP Hopes, apprehensions as B’desh goes to polls B angladesh heads to the polls In previous elections, Jamaat’s supon Thursday under an unprec- port hovered below 10%, while BNP edented political landscape, fol- secured over 30%. lowing the sudden exit of With the Awami League out, many former prime minister Sheikh believed BNP would secure a comHasina after a mass upsurge in 2024. fortable majority. But Jamaat’s reThe election is set to be a unique newed presence has complicated the experience for voters, many of whom electoral arithmetic, raising the will cast their ballots for the first prospect of a close fight. time. Alongside electing The NCP despite leading , members of parliament, the anti-Hasina drive, has citizens will also vote in a struggled to maintain its referendum on constitumomentum. It is contesting tional reforms. just 30 out of 300 parliamenThe main contest is betary seats under its alliance tween the Bangladesh Nawith Jamaat. In all, around tionalist Party (BNP) and 50 par ties are in the the Bangladesh Jamaat-e- Bayezid Milky contest. Islami. Voters will cast two balSenior journalist based The new National Citiin Dhaka lots—one for parliament zen Party (NCP), which and one for the referenemerged from the mass dum—while the absence of movement against Hasina, joined the Awami League has left many unthe race as part of an 11-party alli- certain. The Election Commission ance with Jamaat. The BNP, a sea- has warned counting may take longsoned force with past stints in pow- er due to dual ballots and higher er, was expected to dominate in the turnout. absence of the Awami League. Authorities say the February 12 However, Jamaat claims it has vote will shape Bangladesh’s future, built a strong base and is position- and citizens hope for a fair and ing itself as a formidable challenger. peaceful election. ward Classes and minorities, with schemes like Adarana-3 and protection of Waqf properties. Education and health were presented as twin pillars of advancement. Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a hub for quantum computing and advanced learning, while vocational training is being modernised with AR-VR technologies. On healthcare, the Sanjeevani programme is delivering last-mile telemedicine, supported by Gates Foundation initiatives in maternal and child health. A Universal Health Coverage scheme promises `2.5 lakh insurance per individual, alongside cashless care up to `25 lakh per BPL family. “Health, welfare and development are being pursued as interconnected pillars,” the Governor said. Economic revival is being driven by infrastructure and industrialisation, with Amaravati emerging as the flagship of technology adoption. Nazeer reaffirmed completion of the Polavaram Project by June 2027, regional development anchored in Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati and the launch of Amaravati Quantum Valley, which he said will place AP among select global locations for quanP4 tum computing systems.  TTD Ghee scandal Govt suspends official, more action expected E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i e @ Tirupati The impact of the Supreme Courtappointed CBI-led Joint Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Srivari Laddu Ghee Adulteration case continues to send shockwaves through the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), with several officials now facing disciplinary and legal actions. In a significant development, J Venkatrayudu, Additional Superintendent of Police and Investigation Officer of the SIT, has written a formal letter to the Chief Secretary of t h e G o ve r n m e n t o f A n d h r a Pradesh. In his communication, he sought initiation of suitable action against certain senior TTD officers for their alleged involvement in irregularities related to procurement and warehouse operations. The SIT report reportedly points to serious lapses in the implementation of tender conditions, failures in oversight and non-compliance with established procurement norms. These procedural violations are said to have paved the way for administrative irregularities, ultimately contributing to the larger ghee adulteration issue. Officials named in the letter include three Senior Assistants (M9 Clerks) in the Office of the General Manager (Procurement) and officials from the Office of the Deputy Execut ive E n g i n e e r, Warehouse.  P4