Amidst fierce opposition, FCRA amend bill to come up in lS today THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l wednesday l april 01, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l LATE city EDITION Despite widespread objections, Lok Sabha is set to take up the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) for passage on Wednesday The amendment allows the Centre to appoint a designated authority, which would control funds and assets if the FCRA certificate of an NGO is cancelled, surrendered or ceased. Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, expressed concern over the proposed amendments | P9 The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India wrote to home minister Amit Shah seeking wider consultation and safeguards against ‘excessive state control over civil society’ 80% of Christian NGOs in Kerala have FCRA licence: Union Min George Kurian 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 ■ ■ ■ ■ IndiGo taps IATA chief Walsh as CEO ARS H A D K H AN @ New Delhi InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of India’s largest airline IndiGo, on Tuesday appointed seasoned William Walsh as CEO. Walsh, popularly known as Willie, is currently the director-general of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and was formerly CEO of British Airways and International AirWilliam Walsh lines Group, a holding company which owns Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, Level and Vueling. His tenure at IATA comes to a close on July 31, 2026 and he is expected to join IndiGo not later than the August 3. IndiGo’s appointment of a new CEO comes weeks after the sudden departure of Pieter Elbers. The MD Rahul Bhatia has taken interim charge of the company’s management. ■ Go get your own oil: Trump Won’t help you, a livid Trump tells allies who are not supporting the US in its war with Iran First oil cargo from Iran headed to port in Gujarat day 32 a g e n c i e s @ Dubai EGGED by a massive wave of disapproval for US-Israel’s unilateral decision to invade Iran, President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed frustration with allies who have been unwilling to do more to support the US war effort, telling them to “go get your own oil” as the conflict with Iran and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz roiled global markets. The president’s social media tirade came after US strikes hit a city home to one of Iran’s main nuclear sites, sending a massive fireball into the sky. Iran rubbished this claim and soon attacked a fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. Trump, who has vacillated between insisting there is progress in diplomatic talks with Iran and threatening to expand the war, directed blame at US allies like R a k e s h K u m a r @ New Delhi A screengrab from a video shared by US President Donald Trump which shows a US military strike in Isfahan, Iran, on Tuesday | X US IT firms on Iran’s radar  Iran said Tuesday it would target leading US technology firms like Apple, Google and Meta in the Gulf if more Iranian leaders were killed. It listed the names of 18 firms and asked their staff to leave the region the UK and France that have refused to enter a war with no clear endgame that they were not consulted on. “You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially decimated. The , hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” Trump wrote. He singled out France for not letting planes fly over French territory, saying Paris has been “VERY UNHELPFUL,” and that “The USA is going to REMEMBER THIS forever!!!” `3,000 welfare pension, free Ranjith nabbed in fresh sexual LPG, AIIMS: NDA unveils ‘Vikasita Keralam’ roadmap assault case MAJOR PROMISES  Bhakshya Arogya Suraksha Card with a monthly recharge of J2,500, for women from poor, BPL households  Welfare pension of J3,000 per month for women heads of poor households, widows and those above 70 years  Two free LPG cylinders per year, one each during Onam & Christmas, to poor families  Establishing Kerala’s first AIIMS  20,000 litres of free water per month for every household  Revamping devaswom boards  Establishing a high-speed Railway network connecting T’Puram to Kannur. E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kochi E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @T’Puram The BJP-led NDA on Tuesday released its manifesto for the April 9 Kerala assembly elections, laying out an expansive welfare and development roadmap under the banner of ‘Vikasita Keralam’, with a mix of direct cash support, infrastructure expansion and institutional reforms. At the heart of the manifesto is a targeted social welfare push aimed at economically vulnerable households. The NDA has promised a Bhakshya Arogya Suraksha Card for women from poor and BPL families, offering a monthly recharge of `2,500 that can be used for groceries and medicines. In addition, a strengthened welfare pension of `3,000 per month has been promised for women heads of poor households, widows and senior citizens above 70 years. The manifesto — released by BJP national president Nitin Nabin — has also pledged two free LPG cylinders annually, during Onam and Christmas, for poor families, and 20,000 litres of free water per month for every household. Healthcare features prominently in the manifesto, with a promise to expand the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to cover all Malayalees and to establish Kerala’s first AIIMS, addressing a long-standing demand for advanced tertiary care infrastructure in the state.The NDA has proposed a high-speed railway corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, the completion of all phases of Kochi Metro, and new metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. The manifesto promises to “protect” key pilgrimage centres, including Sabarimala and Guruvayur temple, by revamping devaswom boards to enhance devotee participation. It also promised a time-bound CBI probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case and a dedicated infrastructure ● More on P6 mission for the hill shrine.  Filmmaker Ranjith was taken into custody on Tuesday night in connection with a fresh sexual assault case registered against him following a complaint filed by a young actress. In her complaint lodged with the state police chief, the actress, who is working in Ranjith’s upcoming film, alleged that he attempted to sexually assault her on the film set. According to an officer with the Thodupuzha police, the incident allegedly took place two months ago at a shooting location in Fort Kochi. Ranjith was apprehended by the Thodupuzha police while allegedly trying to evade arrest. Officers intercepted the vehicle he was travelling in, along with a fellow actor, at Muttam near Thodupuzha, a source with Kochi city police said. The complainant stated that Ranjith called her to his caravan, promising a more prominent role, and then attempted to sexually assault her. She managed to escape and later informed some of her colleagues on the set, according to the complaint. “Ranjith has been booked under multiple charges, including sexual assault and outraging the modesty of a woman,” said an officer. ● More on P6 At least nine dead in Bihar temple stampede ‘Poor crowd management led to deaths’ RAMAS H AN K AR @ Patna At least nine devotees, eight of them women, were killed and 10 others injured in a stampede at a temple in Bihar’s Nalanda district on Tuesday . The incident took place around 8.30 am when a large number of devotees gathered at the Maa Sheetla Mandir located at Maghra village to offer morning prayers. Nalanda district magistrate Kundan Kumar said eight women died on the spot, while a man succumbed to his injuries later. The condition of four persons is critical. “When devotees Scene at the Maa Sheetla Mandir after the stampede on Tuesday morning | pti were entering the temple, several women collapsed due to dehydration and suffocation,” he said. The district administration has suspended four policemen, including the SHO of Deepna- gar police station, under whose jurisdiction the temple comes. Sources said 2,500 police personnel were deployed for security of President Droupadi Murmu, who was attending an event at Nalanda University . Official sources said 25,00030,000 people assembled at the temple on the last Tuesday of the month, considered an auspicious day. Locals said there was not enough police force to manage the crowd and alleged the authorities were busy with the President’s visit INDIA is set to receive the first Iranian cargo since 2019 as the vessel Ping Shun carrying 600,000 barrels of Iranian crude is headed towards a port in Gujarat. According to commodity market analytics firm Kpler, the vessel is expected to reach Vadinar on April 4. “As per @Kpler tracking, the vessel Ping Shun carrying ~600 kb of Iranian crude is currently signalled for discharge at India. Given the past pattern of frequent destination changes, the final discharge location remains uncertain,” Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst, refining & modeling at Kpler, posted on X. Iran was once a major oil supplier to India, but imports from Tehran were halted after US sanctions were imposed. Express Read Bhide is first woman BMC chief Mumbai: Ashwini Bhide, a 1995-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the first woman commissioner of the Asia’s largest and richest civic body the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). She will take over from outgoing chief Bhushan Gagrani, who retired on Tuesday after completing a two-year term. Bhide’s current assignment is Additional Chief Secretary in the CMO. She has also worked as an additional commissionerat BMC earlier. P10 18 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express