BHUBANESWAR l wednesday l april 29, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE EDITION Terror epicentres not immune to ‘justifiable punishment’: Rajnath Targeting Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor demonstrated statebacked ‘terror epicentres’ are no longer safe havens ‘End double standards in terror fight’ Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek in the presence of Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Singh called on the influential regional grouping to not lose sight of “state-sponsored” cross-border terrorism, stressing that there is no place for any “double standards” or ambiguity in combating the global menace ■ 2001 Need consistency, not selective response ■ Without naming Pakistan, Singh said “terrorism has no nationality and no theology”, adding that the credibility of regional groupings such as the SCO would depend on consistency, not selective responses He urged the SCO not to hesitate in seeking appropriate action against those who “abet, shelter and provide safe havens” to terrorists | P7 When the grouping was founded. India and Pakistan became members in 2007 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 Aviation industry SOS as jet fuel prices zoom Operations unsustainable, warn Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet UAE exits oil cartel, Don cold to Iran proposal A r s h a d K h a n @ New Delhi a G E N CI E S @ Dubai/Washington Alarmed by the steep rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have warned of shutting down operations unless the government intervenes to save the aviation sector, which is already bleeding due to the frequent airspace closures amid the war in West Asia. The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents the three airlines, have written to the civil aviation ministry seeking its urgent intervention to set the same fuel pricing mechanism unifor mly across both domestic and interday national operations. The letter pointed out that this was done in 2022 through the establishment of the ‘crack band’ mechCrack anism (pricing framework band linked to fair refining margins, FIA has called or ‘crack spread’, between for a pricing crude oil and ATF). This was framework set at $12–22/barrel in 2022. based on the As global jet ATF prices more ‘crack band than doubled to $180-190/barrel mechanism’ since the war broke out in West ($12–22/bbl), Asia on February 28, the Indian which was government last month limited implemented in the hike to `15 per litre for doOctober 2022, mestic operations. However, for claiming this international operations, the leaves room for price rose by `73 per litre. a reasonable ATF prices account for and fair margin around 40% of an airline’s for oil marketing overall operating cost. Followcompanies ing the April hike, this percentage band increased to 55-60%. The letter said the ‘irrational increase’ in ATF prices will result in ‘insurmountable losses’ for airlines, grounding of aircraft and cancellation of flights. “In order to survive, sustain and continue operation, we request your urgent intervention for immediate and meaningful financial support to tide over the current situation,” said the letter dated April 26. The airlines are also seeking a temporary suspension of excise duty (currently set at 11%) on ATF and VAT rates in key states. THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday announced its exit from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the wider OPEC+ alliance. A longtime member of OPEC, the UAE’s membership ends on May 1 and will not be renewed. The announcement came on a day when oil prices climbed again as the prospects of reopening the Strait of Hormuz appeared dim with the Trump administration not showing interest in Iran’s latest offer to reopen Hormuz after the US blockade is lifted. The UAE said the decision follows careful consideration of its national interest and its stature in the global energy market. OPEC and “This reflects the UAE’s longterm strategic and economic OPEC+ vision and evolving energy OPEC was profile... and reinforces its comformed in 1960 mitment to a responsible, reliby Iran, Iraq, able role in global energy marKuwait, Saudi kets,” it stated. Arabia, and The move comes amid the Venezuela to Emirates’ frosty relations with break the cartel neighbour and OPEC heavyled by Western oil firms. OPEC+ weight Saudi Arabia. UAE has been trying to leverage its own is a broader alliance formed foreign policy amid pushback from Saudi Arabia under an asin 2016 to sertive Crown Prince Mohaminclude nonmembers to set med bin Salman. The UAE is one of the world’s oil production top oil producers and its exit policies from Vienna-based OPEC could weaken the oil cartel which controls global oil prices through production cuts. However, the withdrawal won’t necessarily have any immediate effects in markets as oil supplies are already constrained by the Iran war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that Tehran “has just” informed Washington that it is in a “state of collapse”. “They (Iran) want us to “Open the Hormuz Strait,” as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation,” Trump posted on social media. 60 Rising mercury Odisha plans dedicated centres for heatwave on lines of cyclone shelters E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar With Odisha emerging the core of the boiling cauldron that India has turned into, recording the highest mercury level in the country the state , government has decided to create dedicated centres for providing shelter and relief to people affected by heatwave conditions. Announcing the initiative, Revenue and Disaster Management minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday said the centres would function on the lines of existing cyclone and flood shelters, offering temporary rest facilities, drinking water, shaded spaces and other basic amenities. Pujari said the primary objective was to provide respite to outdoor workers, travellers and commuters during peak afternoon hours. He said the heatwave relief centres would be operational from this year. In the initial phase, the government has decided to set up such shelters in areas where temperatures e xc e e d 4 0 d e g re e Celsius. “These centres will be located at key locations so that people can take shelter, rest and resume work once temperature subsides. The initiative will be expanded gradu- ally in heat-prone regions as part of our government’s broader disaster preparedness strategy he said. ,” He stated that the state government has already prohibited outdoor labour between 11 am and 3 pm as a measure to protect workers from extreme heat. The restriction will remain in force from April 1 to June 15. Movement of goods and passenger operations have been restricted during afternoon hours in severelyaffected zones, with provisions for roadside rest-stations equipped with ORS packets and drinking water, the minisContinued on P5 ter said.  Day after shock ‘proof of death’ walk, Jitu gets sister’s money D e b a s h i s h M i s h r a @ Keonjhar A day after Jitu Munda made a heartrending 4 km trek, carrying skeletal remains of his sister to the Odisha Gramya Bank branch as proof of her death, the bank as well as Keonjhar district administration sprang to action on Tuesday and released the `19,300 deposit amount from her account to the family . The deposit was handed over to Jitu, his brother Dhaneswar and sister-in-law at their home in Dianali village, about 65 from Keonjhar headquarters town. An additional assistance of `30,000 was also released from the Red Cross Fund. “The administration helped Munda (Jitu) in applying for the death and legal heir certificates. By implementing the process in ‘Fast Track’ mode, the medical officer has also provided the death certificate,” the Keonjhar administration stated in an official release. The incident, eerily similar to Kalahandi’s Dana Majhi, who had walked 10 km in 2016 carrying his dead wife’s body on his shoulders in absence of an ambulance, is not only a tragedy of errors but also a glaring example of systemic failure. While presenting a deeply poignant humanitarian situation, Policemen speak to Jitu Munda in front of the Odisha Gramya Bank branch it has exposed an absolute lack of awareness among people living in the margins about how institutional systems function. At the centre of the story was the “proof of death”. For Jitu, a daily wage earner, the `19,300 was not just money lying in a bank account of her deceased sister Kalara Munda. It was probably a social security net. Kalara had sold her oxen and deposited the proceeds in the Odisha Gramya Bank branch located at Malliposhi village. She was unmarried and had no direct heirs. On Monday, passbook in hand, Jitu headed to the bank seeking to withdraw the deposit and what followed had since sparked nationwide shock and outrage. After the incident, the bank’s regional manager visited the branch to investigate the incident. It was found that Jitu had turned up at the bank for the first time on Continued on P5 Monday  . CM orders RDC probe into Keonjhar incident Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday ordered a RDC inquiry into the incident and directed officials to be more sensitive towards the common people. The RDC, Northern Division, will begin the investigation from Wednesday. According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), after the CM’s intervention, the issue has been resolved with all dues paid to Jitu Munda along with immediate issuance of death certificate and legal heir certificate. However, the chief minister has ordered RDC inquiry to ascertain why such an incident occurred and ensure that it is not repeated. BJD condemns incident, demands action Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Tuesday termed the incident in Keonjhar district where a tribal youth had to bring his sister’s skeletal remains to a bank for withdrawal of money deposited in her name, as a shame on the state. Addressing a media-conference here, senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra and vice-president Sudam Marandi demanded immediate action against the officials responsible for this incident. Stating that this incident reflects the insensitive attitude of bank officials, the BJD leaders also blamed the failure of the district administration for such an incident. “While the state BJP government calls itself a people’s government, in the chief minister’s own district, such an incident has taken place,” they said. The BJD leaders announced that with the approval of BJD president Naveen Patnaik, a delegation will visit the incident site and prepare a report. Decisive final phase election in West Bengal today S U BH E N D U M AI T I @ Kolkata After weeks of rhetoric, roadshows, and a political temperature that rose in tandem with the summer heat, it’s time for the real thing. As West Bengal goes to polls for the second and final phase on Wednesday, appellate tribunals upheld the appeals of just 1,468 of the over 20 lakh voters who were removed from the supplementary list following the controversial special intensive revision of poll rolls. The final phase, covering 142 assembly constituencies, is widely seen as the decisive one. It is here, in the traditional stronghold of the Trinamool Congress in south Beng al, that the par ty’s Singham vs Pushpa side show Amid fears of widespread violence, a side show played out with the EC’s police observer Ajay Pal Sharma warning potential troublemakers of “appropriate treatment”. The TMC called out the Prayagraj ACP, who earned the moniker Singham for his crackdown on criminals, for voter ‘intimidation’. TMC’s Jahangir Khan retorted, “If he is Singham, I am Pushpa,” alluding to the award-winning Telugu action film by the same name where the protagonist’s most popular dialogue is “Pushpa will not bow, damn it.” Polling officials check election materials for voting in the second phase in Kolkata | PTI decade-long dominance faces its sternest test. At the centre of attention is Bhabanipur, where the contest has crystallised into the most closely watched face-off of the phase: Mamata Banerjee versus Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari— once an insider in her political circle, now her most prominent challenger. Their battle is as much personal as it is political, emblematic of the broader struggle playing out across the state. Around them, an array of senior leaders and emerging figures are in the fray—ministers such as Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas, Sobhandeb Chatterjee, Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sashi Panja; BJP’s Swapan Dasgupta; Left leaders including Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya; and younger candidates like Meenakshi Mukherjee and Dipsita Dhar. BJP sweeps local body polls, Cong crashes and AAP shrinks in Gujarat AI hub in the making Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in conversation with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw during the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Google Cloud India AI Hub, in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday | PTI The BJP swept Gujarat local body polls dealing a blow to the Congress and AAP. The BJP captured all 15 municipal corporations and dominated results for 84 municipalities, 34 district panchayats and 260 taluka panchayats, according to the State Election Commission (SEC) data | P8 South panchayats outperform North on multiple parameters: Govt data J i tend r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi A new study has revealed that the South outperformed northern states in rural local governance across various parameters, including health, education, poverty alleviation, water and sanitation, and developments focused on women and children. West Bengal did not participate in the study . Most of the panchayats in the ‘Achiever’ category are from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. In the Northeast, Tripura leads the charts. On the flip side, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan are at the lower end of the ranking table. governance. Released by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the report covers a total of 3,313 panchayats that fall under the ‘ chiever’ category for poverty A The report, titled the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 for 2023–24, documents rural and social development based on 112 indicators aimed at strengthening grassroots reduction and livelihood generation. Additionally 1,015 pan, chayats are recognised for exemplary achievements in promoting healthy living. Record participation in the evaluation PAI 2.0 saw record nationwide participation, from 27 states and 6 on 8 UTs. Works out to 97.30%, compared to 80.79% of the 2.67 lakh panchayats in PAI 1.0. All panchayats were told to display their scorecards outside their offices for transparency and accountability The report offers a detailed analysis of more than 250,000 panchayats across the country . Each one is assessed based on over 150 parameters. However, the previous report, PAI (1.0) for 2022-23, was based on a much larger set of 516 parameters, making a direct comparison difficult. “We considered 112 parameters. While data for seven pa- rameters was questioned, and the rest overlapped with other indicators,” said Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary at the ministry. This report is claimed to be the first nationwide framework for measuring rural development progress using verifiable indicators. It has also been presented to the UN as part of efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.