BHUBANESWAR l thursday l february 26, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l LATE CITY EDITION slew of demands messes up BSNL director’s visit to Prayagraj Wanted snan kits for a dip at the sangam Banzal sought six male and two female snan kits for a dip at the Sangam, including towels, undergarments, slippers, combs, mirrors, soap, shampoo, oil along with a bed sheet for general use at the ghat. Hotel and Circuit House arrangements included toiletries, shaving kits, dry fruits, fruit bowls, towels. He also wanted a boat ride and visits to a few temples BSNL director Vivek Banzal is in the line of fire for making ‘absurd’ demands linked to his proposed Prayagraj trip. He now faces a show-cause notice ■ 50 unacceptable in new India, says Scindia ■ The visit scheduled for February 25-26 was cancelled pending a full inquiry. Banzal (pic) is due to superannuate by September-end | P10 Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said an order like this is ‘unacceptable’ in new India, adding it flouts all rules and traditions and is ‘beyond absurd’. Banzal became BSNL director in October 2018 Personnel had to be assigned to fully manage Banzal’s trip 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 Terror anywhere threatens peace NCERT to rewrite everywhere, Modi tells Knesset judiciary chapter Says India’s connection to Israel is written in blood and sacrifice; calls for diplomacy, peace J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Solar cells to face 126% anti-subsidy duty in US PUSHPITA D E Y @ New Delhi THE US has imposed a countervailing duty of 126% on imports of solar cells and modules from India, alleging that Indian manufacturers benefit from significant gover nment subsidies. Similar duties have been levied on Indonesia and Laos. Countervailing duties, also known as anti-subsidy duties, are tariffs imposed to offset the harmful effects of foreign government subsidies on imported goods. The decision follows an investigation by the US International Trade Commission, which found that subs i d i s e d i m p o r t s we r e causing material injury to domestic producers. In parallel, the US Department of Commerce is conducting anti-dumping duty investigations into solar cell imports. As part of the investigation, the department selected two Adani Group entities—Mundra Solar Energy and Mundra Solar PV—as mandatory respondents. The case turned more adverse after both companies withdrew from the investigation and did not provide complete responses. “This level of countervailing duty will effectively shut the US market for Indian solar panel exports. That is typically the outcome when the US imposes anti-dumping or countervailing duties—exports of the affected product from the targeted country become commercially unviable,” said Abhijit Das, former head of the Centre for WTO Studies at IIFT. In 2025, India exported solar panels worth $1.2 billion to the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reiterated India’s strategic partnership with Israel in an address to the Knesset and said “India’s connection to Israel is written in blood and sacrifice” and “nothing can justify terrorism.” Becoming the first Indian PM to address the Israeli parliament, Modi framed India-Israel ties through the lens of shared security challenges and historical bonds. Recalling that more than 4,000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in the region during World War I, he said the relationship was rooted in “blood and sacrifice”, not merely diplomacy . In a direct reference to the October 7 Hamas assault and the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Modi drew parallels between the two nations’ experiences. “We feel your pain. We share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly , with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” he said. “No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism,” Modi asserted, underlining India’s “consistent ‘Ambitious’ FTA talks on: PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, as Speaker Amir Ohana looks on, in Jerusalem on Wednesday | Shlomi Amsalem and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance for terrorism, with no double standards.” He warned that terrorism seeks “to destabilise societies, block development and erode trust,” adding that “countering terrorism requires sustained and coordinated global action, because terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere.” Even as he struck a hard line on terror, Modi balanced his remarks with a call for diplomacy . “The road to peace is not always easy but India joins you and the , world for dialogue, peace and stability in this region,” he said, expressing support for efforts that could lead to a durable peace, including in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the visit as historic, calling the partnership “an enormous multiplier of our individual powers”. Terming Modi as “a great friend to Israel,” he said their deep personal rapport reflected the strength of bilateral ties. Modi outlined plans to broaden the economic pillar of the partnership, including talks on an “ambitious” FTA. “We are committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows, and promoting joint infra development.” Referring to the Bilateral Investment Treaty signed last year, he said it would “provide confidence, predictability to our businesses” Elevated to a strategic partnership in 2017, India–Israel relations have expanded significantly in defence, technology, cybersecurity and innovation. Modi’s visit — his second as PM — comes amid heightened regional tensions, reinforcing converging geopolitical interests and deepening security cooperation between the two countries. The Knesset conferred the ‘Speaker of the Knesset Medal’, its highest honour, on Modi. In record cash haul, Odisha Vigilance seizes `4 cr from mining officer’s flat E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar/Cuttack A day after arresting senior mining officer Debabrata Mohanty in a graft case, the Odisha Vigilance stumbled upon over `4 crore in cash during a search at his flat here in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. It turned out to be the anti-corruption agency’s biggest-ever cash haul in the state. Stacks of currency notes concealed in trolley bags and almirahs were seized from the residence of Mohanty, who was posted as deputy director of mines of the Cuttack circle. Vigilance officials said a total of `4.27 crore in cash was unearthed from his flat in Bhubaneswar, and investigation is underway to find the source of the money . Mohanty was apprehended on Tuesday evening while allegedly accepting a `30,000 bribe from a licensed coal vendor in exchange for ensuring the smooth operation of his coal depot and granting permission for coal transportation. Following the trap, Vigilance officials launched simultaneous Vigilance officials count seized currency notes & Debabrata Mohanty (inset) | Express searches at multiple locations linked to him, including his rented residential flat at Nature’s Crest Apartment in the Shree Vihar area of Patia in the state capital, his parental house at Mathasahi in Bhadrak district, and his office chamber in Cuttack. During the search, officials also recovered 305 grams of gold and 600 grams of silver ornaments, along with `1.20 lakh in cash from his office drawer and personal possession. A double-storey building on approximately 2,400 sq ft at Pahala in Bhubaneswar was also found. Mohanty was produced before the court of the Special Judge, Vigilance, Bhubaneswar, following his arrest. Details of investments, deposits, insurance and savings are being ascertained, Vigilance officials said. Mohanty had started his career as a mining officer (senior surveyor) in the mining office at Balangir in 2004 and worked in the same rank in Baripada, Berhampur, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar till 2018. He was promoted to the rank of assistant mining officer (chief surveyor) in March 2018 and was posted in Sambalpur. Later, he served as the mining officer at Phulbani, overseeing Phulbani, Boudh and Nayagarh from April 2022 to December 2025. He joined as the Deputy Director of Mines, Cuttack circle, from January 7 this year. His jurisdiction included Cuttack and Kendrapara districts. Vigilance sources said this is the highest-ever cash recovered from the possession of an official during a raid in the state. The previous highest cash seizure by the anti-corruption agency was `3.4 crore, recovered from the residence of an assistant engineer of the minor irrigation division in Ganjam district on April 7, 2022. Karnataka vs J&K Cricket caught at silly point: Headbutting makes headline in Ranji final F i r o z M i r z a @ Chennai Headbutting is relatively unknown in cricket. An act immortalised by one of the geniuses of world football — Zinedine Zidane, found its way on to the cricket ground in Hubballi. Karnataka’s batter K V Aneesh was born in 2001, the same year when domestic veteran Paras Dogra made his first-class debut. Almost 25 years later, the two crossed paths at the grandest stage of the domestic cricket—Ranji Trophy final — with the 41-year-old Dogra headbutting Aneesh on Day 2 with his team, Jammu and Kashmir posting 527/6. The incident took place during the 101st over of the innings when Dogra awkwardly fended off a rising delivery from India pacer TV grab of the headbutting incident involving Paras Dogra and KV Aneesh on Wednesday | X Prasidh Krishna. Soon after, he rushed towards Aneesh, who was stationed in as a close in fielder and headbutted him though gently Aneesh was also wearing a hel. met. Karnataka’s experienced batter Mayank Agarwal also got involved with Dogra. Karnataka captain Devdutt Padikkal deciding to talk to the umpires. Apparently Aneesh was commenting on , the veteran’s batting despite him scoring more than 10,000 runs in his career. The J&K skipper tried to downplay the incident saying it wasn’t a big thing after the day’s play while the on-field drama brought back memories of the past to team’s head coach Ajay Sharma. “It was just in the little heat of the moment. Not a big thing. Yeah, it is all settled now. That’s (a hot day) a different thing and it was momentary. We started talking and chatting after that so it’s all well,” Dogra told reporters. He is set to be penalised by BCCI. Former India all-rounder Sharma witnessed the scuffle from the sidelines when a past incident crossed his mind. It involved West Zone pacer Rashid Patel who chased North Zone opener Raman Lamba with a stump in his hand following an on-field altercation in 1990-91 Duleep Trophy final. INSIDE Girl plotted murder of mom, brother with help of boyfriend & aides: Cops | P4 PRAYAGRAJ jagannath temple a symbol of unity: CM MAJHI | P2 after SC rebuke SUCHITRA K ALYA N M OHA N TY & S LALITHA @ New Delhi into Chapter No 4, entitled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society”... The aforesaid error is T H E S u p r e m e C o u r t o n purely unintentional and Wednesday took suo motu cog- NCERT regrets the inclusion nizance of the controversial of inappropriate material in chapter on ‘judicial corruption’ the said chapter,” it said, addin NCERT’s Class 8 social sci- ing there was no intent to quesence book and expressed its tion or diminish the authority strong displeasure, forcing the of any constitutional body . body to issue an apology and ofIt clarified that the chapter fering to rewrite the would be rewritten contentious text. “with consultation A three-judge bench from the appropriate comprising Chief Jusauthority” and the retice Surya Kant and vised book would be j u s t i c e s J o y m a l ya m a d e ava i l abl e t o Bagchi and Vipul M students. Pancholi listed the mat- Book flags On Tuesday the book , ter for Thursday after was removed from sales backlog senior advocates Kapil by the Publications DiThe chapter Sibal and Abhishek vision of NCERT. An pegs the Singhvi mentioned the official said the online number of matter for urgent version was yet to be pending cases uploaded. consideration. “This seems to be a in the Supreme The controversy was Court at very calculated and over a section in the deep-rooted measure,” 81,000, in high text book on ‘corrupcourts at the CJI said. tion in the judiciary’ in Justice Bagchi ob- 62.4 lakh, and a chapter titled The role served that the book in district and of the judiciary in our subordinate seems to go against the society. While explaincourts at basic structure of the ing the concept of judi4.7 crore Constitution. cial accountability, it Following the SC’s notes that judges are strong remarks, the NCERT bound by a code of conduct that held a high-level meeting on requires them to remain fair Wednesday evening, which and impartial and maintain inwent on till midnight. After the tegrity in their professional marathon meeting, it issued a and personal lives. statement late in the night, When these standards are apologising for the “inappro- not upheld, the chapter said priate textual material” and its that the judiciary has internal “error of judgement”. mechanisms to ensure account“It has been observed that ability It also mentions that in . certain inappropriate textual serious cases, judges can be rematerial and error of judge- moved by Parliament through ment have inadvertently crept impeachment. express read Killer hoarding wakes up BMC; safety check ordered, crackdown to follow Today’s Match 7pm: India vs Zimbabwe (Chennai) Bhubaneswar: A day after collapse of an illegal hoarding in Aiginia claimed two lives, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) woke up from its slumber and ordered safety check of all such installations across the city on Wednesday. The civic body also announced a crackdown on illegal hoardings in the city within a month beginning March first week. On Tuesday evening, the hoarding crashed, killing Tuna Gouda and Sachidananda Pradhan during a thunderstorm in Aiginia area of the city. Another woman Mausumi Nayak also sustained injuries in the tragic mishap | P2