Teltumbde released from prison kozhikode l Sunday l november 27, 2022 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l city edition Scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde after his release from Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai on Saturday | PTI Mumbai: Scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, was released from Taloja central prison in Navi Mumbai on Saturday, a day after the apex court rejected the NIA plea challenging his bail. Teltumbde had spent two-and-a-half years behind bars. 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 Guj BJP to form cell to take on radicalisation Lewy on target In another drama-filled day in Qatar, Australia and Poland kept their dreams alive but Saudi Arabia had a mild setback. First WC win in 12 years Australia edged Tunisia by a solitary goal to keep alive their chances of advancing to the knockout stages. It was their first World Cup in 12 years. Manifesto promises Uniform Civil Code as well Lewy opens account D i l i p S i n g h K s h at r i ya Pole Robert Lewandowski finally opened his World Cup account in a less than comfortable 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Both sides can still qualify for the next phase. @ Ahmedabad Today’s Matches Japan vs Costa Rica 3.30 pm Belgium vs Morocco 6.30 pm Croatia vs Canada 9.30 pm Germany vs Spain 12.30 am (Mon) Poland’s Robert Lewandowski (right) celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal against Saudi Arabia during their World Cup match at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Saturday | AP Usha to contest for IOA prez post I n d r a n e e l D a s @ Chennai Marketing Murder WITH THIS ISSUE PLUS 12 PAGES The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections are heading towards the home stretch. A day before the deadline for filing nomination papers, Olympian and multiple Asian Games medallist P T Usha decided to enter the contest for the president’s post. Backed by the Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) and the Athletes Commission and a few other National Sports Federations, she confirmed her candidature. After days of silence, speculation and a spate of meetings, consensus was reached on Sat- urday. As of now, it is understood that she has the backing of the Athletes Commission and SOMs who apparently met in New Delhi on Saturday If in. siders are to be believed, she was backed by the athletes and a few other NSFs as well. The numbers can change before the filing of nomination papers closes at 5pm on Sunday As of . now, she is the lone candidate (until late on Saturday) and seems to be on a very strong wicket. “With the warm support of my Fellow Athletes and National Federations I am humbled and honoured to accept and file for the Nomination of the President Of IOA,” tweeted the 58-year-old. Usha was inducted into the Rajya Sabha as a BJP MP in July. Though she was a last-minute choice, it is understood that since the ruling dispensation prefers a sportsperson to head an organisation, she was seen as an ideal candidate and a strong one. EXPRESS READ Tension at Vizhinjam port project site T’Puram: Tension prevailed for around two hours at Vizhinjam container terminal site at Mulloor after the anti-port protesters and activists of the people’s collective, which favours the project, clashed on Saturday. ‘no future for COngress without IUML’ | p4 Usual suspects like the Uniform Civil Code were part of the Gujarat poll manifesto the BJP released on Saturday, but the main talking point was the setting up of an anti-radicalisation cell, as the promise was made for the first time. The party’s Sankalp Patra was released by BJP national president J P Nadda, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state party president CR Patil in Gandhinagar. “We will create an anti-radicalisation cell to identify and eliminate potential threats, and sleeper cells of the terrorist organisations and anti-India forces,” Nadda said. He also announced that they would introduce the Gujarat Recovery of Damages of Public and Private Properties Act to “recover damages to public and private properties by anti-social elements during riots, violent protests and unrest.” Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Gujarat cabinet on October 29 announced the setting up of a committee to study the modalities of implementing the Uniform Civil Code. “We will ensure complete implementation of the Gujarat J P Nadda releasing the BJP manifesto for Gujarat polls on Saturday | PTI Uniform Civil Code Committee’s recommendation,” Nadda added. All these were part of the party’s hard Hindutva agenda. To attract first-time voters and youth, the BJP promised loads of jobs. “We will provide 20 lakh employment opportunities to the youth of Gujarat in the next 5 years.” It includes the promise of 1 lakh government jobs to women in five years. Taking a leaf out of AAP’s book, the BJP promised free education to all female students from kindergarten to postgraduation besides free twowheelers to the meritorious college-going female students. Free bus travel to senior women citizens was part of its basket of promises.