MADURAI  MONDAY  MARCH 27, 2023  `9.00  PAGES 12  LATE CITY EDITION ISRO’S HEAVIEST LVM3 ROCKET PUTS 36 SATELLITES INTO ORBIT The 43.5 metre tall rocket, carrying internet satellites of UK-based OneWeb group, lifted off from Sriharikota at 9 am ISRO ‘USE OF CRYOGENIC STAGE WAS THE HIGHLIGHT’ ONEWEB READY TO DELIVER GLOBAL SERVICES The rocket deployed the first set of 16 satellites around 20 minutes after the lift off with the rest deployed in later stages. As per NewSpace India Ltd Chairman and Managing Director D Radhakrishnan, the mission’s highlight was that the LVM3 performed a series of complex manoeuvres during the cryogenic-powered final stage to place the satellites into orbits ■ This is the second dedicated mission of NewSpace India Ltd, the commercial arm of ISRO. OneWeb group’s first batch of 36 satellites were launched by the Indian space agency in October last year ■ The ones launched on Sunday were the final set of satellites OneWeb needs to deliver a broadband internet connection anywhere on Earth 616 NUMBER OF SATELLITES ONEWEB HAS ON THE ORBIT AFTER SUNDAY’S LAUNCH 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 TN YET TO FIX ELIGIBILITY FOR `1K HONORARIUM, SAYS PTR A N TO T J OS E P H @ Chennai THE DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu, which recently announced its plan to roll out the poll promise of `1,000 honorarium for women heads of families, is yet to take a final call on who will be eligible for the same. Chief Minister MK Stalin is going to convene a meeting of senior ministers to firm up the plan. Given the constraints of a revenue-deficit state, the finance ministry is in versary of DMK founder and the process of collating data former CM CN Annadurai. pertaining to income levels of In the state, there are 2.33 families to try and figure out crore families with ration who should be prioritised, Fi- cards. “If we were to give `1,000 nance Minister Palper family per month anivel Thiaga Rajan EXCLUSIVE to every ration card, (PTR) told TNIE in an INTERVIEW that is roughly `27,960 exclusive interview. crore annually That is . “It is just that this year, we 1% of GSDP It creates the high . have made a budget provision risk of inflation. In the name of `7,000 crore,” said PTR. The of trying to benefit all, I should scheme is to be launched on not end up damaging the poorSeptember 15, the birth anni- est, the weakest and the most Rahul martyr’s son, can’t betray country: Priyanka Congress holds ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ protests across the country It’s a brazen display of sheer arrogance: BJP R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi Priyanka Gandhi at the party’s ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ to protest Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as MP, outside Rajghat in New Delhi on Sunday | PARVEEN NEGI P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi “You don’t get a sentence of two years, you are not thrown CONGRESS leader Priyanka out of Parliament, you are not Gandhi Vadra on Sunday tore barred from contesting elecinto the BJP for calling her tions for eight years,” she said, brother Rahul Gandhi a ‘trai- adding the family has kept quitor’ and casting aspersions on et till now but not any longer. the Nehru-Gandhi family . “My brother even hugged the Addressing a gathering at PM and told him that he doesn’t the ‘Sankalp Satyagraha’ out- harbour any hatred towards side Rajghat, she said BJP lead- him. How much will you insult ers have repeatedly one man?” she asked. insulted her family, Launching a broadwhose members have side against Prime sacrificed their lives Minister Narendra for the country . Modi, Priyanka said: You (BJP) call us The Congress or“You can slap a case dynasts. Will you ganised similar satya- call Lord Ram and on me and put me in g rahas across the Pandavas dynasts jail. But the truth is country on Sunday to then? Should we that the PM is a cowbe ashamed that protest Rahul’s disard. He is hiding beour family qualification from hind power.” members Parliament. In Delhi, Taking a dig at BJP sacrificed their the party wanted to leaders for portraying lives for the hold the protest at the Rahul Gandhi as ‘Papcountry? Rajghat but Delhi popu’, Priyanka said the Priyanka Gandhi, lice declined permisgovernment is scared Congress leader sion. Following this, of him after lakhs of the leaders decided to people joined his sit outside the memorial. Bharat Jodo Yatra. “You call my brother, a marShe added: “Our family memtyr’s son, a traitor and your bers shed blood for this flag and minister insulted my mother in the land. Those who think that Parliament. One of your chief they can threaten or put us in ministers said Rahul Gandhi jail are wrong. We are not doesn’t even know who his fa- scared. We will continue to ther is. Your PM asks why this fight for the democratic values family does not keep the sur- of the country she said. ,” name of Nehru... you have inMeanwhile, as a show of prosulted the entire family,” she test against Rahul’s disqualifisaid, adding that leaders of the cation, the Congress has asked ruling dispensation get away its MPs to wear black dress in with their words and deeds. Parliament on Monday . THE BJP on Sunday lashed out at the Congress for its ‘Satyagraha’ against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Parliament following his conviction in a defamation case. BJP national president J P Nadda said the Congress protest is aimed at supporting a convicted person. “The court asked Rahul Gandhi to apologies but he did not do it because of his arrogance,” he said. Speaking in similar vein, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed it ‘a brazen display of arrogance. “It is against the country’s Constitution and the court’s verdict against Rahul Gandhi to justify his remarks against the ‘entire backward community’ of the country he said. ,” Dubbing the agitation as an insult to Mahatma Gandhi who organised Satyagrahas only for social causes, he said the Congress is doing it for political and personal causes of a convicted person. He alleged the Sankalp Satyagraha has nothing to do with fighting for truth, adding that Rahul was convicted by a court after due legal process and his disqualification as Lok Sabha MP came as a natural corollary . Questioning the real purpose of the Satyagraha, the BJP leader said: “Is it to justify the way you insulted the entire backward community of the country, or against the court which sentenced you, or against the provision under which you have to be disqualified?” Trivedi alleged that some Congress leaders, who were allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, participated in the party’s agitation. “They still want one set of laws for common people and another for their family he charged. ,” vulnerable,” he said. As per the medium-term fiscal plan, his target is to achieve a revenue surplus of `1,200 crore by 2025-26. Revenues are likely to leap from `2.07 lakh crore in 2021-22 to `3.59 lakh crore in 2025-26, as per the plan, a massive 73% jump estimated during the five-year period. At some level, universal benefits do not provide a good outcome, philosophically, practically, gross cost-wise and inflation-risk wise - Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ Bidar/Bengaluru DEFENDING the Karnataka government’s decision to withdraw a 4% reservation for Muslims in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category recently and distributing it among Lingayats and Vokkaligas, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the Constitution has no provision to provide reservation to any particular religion. Congress leaders termed it an attempt to create hatred. Hitting out at them, Shah appreciated the Basavaraj Bommai government’s decision to Superb Sunday 4 A day of rest after nearly a week of hard work is something that we all cherish. But, what about farm animals? They are often put to work for days on end in most places. But, some two dozen villages in Jharkhand, where people give their cattle a weekly off day when no work is demanded of them, is a notable exception. Cows and buffalos are not even milked on their off day. Not just that, they are given the best diet too. According to the elderly cat, tle remain healthy and energet- REPRESENTATIVE PICTURE how urgent it is. It has been considered a sin to take work from our cattle on Sundays,” use that 4% reservation to increase the quota for Lingayats and Vokkaligas by 2% each. In a major decision on Friday, the Karnataka cabinet scrapped the 4% OBC quota for Muslims under 2B category and moved them to the Economic Weaker Section. The freed-up quota was used to increase the reservation ‘No provision for reservation based on religion’ Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain also had a gruelling fight. She was tested to the extreme by Australia’s Caitlyn Parker in the 75kg final. But her hand was raised after an absorbing final to make it four out of four for the hosts. This is her third medal and first title in the worlds SATWIK-CHIRAG’S SWISS VICTORY Men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat China’s Ren Xiang Yu and Tan Qiang in the final of the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament. The 2022 World Championships bronze medallist beat the world No. 21 pair 21-19, 24-22 INNOCENT DIES The veteran Malayalam actor and former Kerala MP, who had been batlling cancer for the past few years, breathed his last at a private hospital in Kochi. said Rameshwar Singh, former head of Heth-Pochra Panchayat.“It is being practiced since ages which are also being followed by them without any question,” he added. District animal husbandry officials too confirmed that it has been a long-observed practice in the villages to give cattle an off day when they get extra care. The practice reportedly began after an ox, which was put to regular work, collapsed and died while ploughing a field. According to villagers, it began in one village and spread to the adjacent villages. MUMBAI HIGH NIKHAT STARS Nikhat Zareen dug deep in the final to claim her second world title. Fighting in 50kg for the first time in the the event, she got the better of Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam 5-0. She had won the 2022 edition in 52kg LOVELY BORGOHAIN ACTOR for Vokkaligas from 4% to 6% and for Lingayats from 5% to 7%. Shah, who was speaking after unveiling a statue of Sardar Vallabhabhai Patel at the Martyrs’ Memorial at Gorta village in Bidar district, alleged that the previous Congress government had provided the 4% quota to appease the minorities. Union home minister Amit Shah said there is no provision in the Constitution to give reservation based on religion. “The BJP never believes in appeasement. So, it decided to change the reservation,” Shah said strongly defending the state government’s decision THIS WAS INDIA’S FOURTH GOLD AT THE WORLD WOMEN’S BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE LAST TIME INDIA HAD WON FOUR GOLD MEDALS WAS IN 2006 (NEW DELHI) No milk, please! Cow’s having an ‘off day’ ic, if they are given a day of rest at least once a week. The practice is followed by all cattle owners in the region and it is considered a sin if villagers make their cattle work on their off days. This is not a novel initiative. The practice has been in force for more than a hundred years. Sanjay Ganjhu, a resident of Turisot village under Chakla Panchayat in Latehar said the tribals don’t take work from their cattle on Thursdays, while non-tribals do so on Sundays. “On Sundays, we don’t put our cattle at work, no matter ing to him, there is a steady natural growth in volumes. “As our economic advisors told us during a call, we have reached the phase where we should stop putting platform consolidation or solidification of revenues as our primary focus, and we should go for the true long-term objectives of revenue augmentation, investment-led growth, and job creation,” he said. FULL INTERVIEW ON: P4 Shah backs scrapping of Muslim quota; Cong cross ANIMAL RIGHTS M U K E S H R A N JA N @ Ranchi Similarly, TN’s gross state domestic product (GSDP) is estimated to grow from `21.8 lakh crore in 2021-22 to `35.9 lakh crore in 2025-26, well on its way to achieve the CM’s trillion-dollar dream by 2030. “The year 2023-24 will mark an inflection point for TN,” said a confident PTR. Accord- Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by seven wickets to lift the first Women’s Premier League Sciver-Brunt again After restricting Delhi Capitals to 131/9 in the final, Mumbai overhauled the target with three balls to spare. Nat Sciver-Brunt led the charge with an unbeaten 60, while MI skipper supported her with a well-made 37. MI’s Issy Wong got two wickets of three balls in her first over to put brakes on Delhi Capitals | P11 Overall, it was the fifth career world tour title for the Indian pair, who had claimed the India Open and French Open last year, besides securing the Thailand Open in 2019 and Hyerabad Open in 2018 Custodial torture: Probe against TN IPS officer such as a clash over a love affair, money lending, breaking CCTV cameras and a At least 10 young men from marital dispute. One police the Ambasamudram police personnel told TNIE he had division in Tamil Nadu have been present during the alcome forward alleging that leged torture. “The police ofAssistant Superintendent of ficials in the intelligence Police (ASP) Balveer Singh unit have known about IPS had tortured Singh’s behaviour them by removing from the start. If their teeth with cutthey had brought ting pliers and, in this matter to the atthe case of two men, tention of higher ofcrushed their testificials, some of cles. Tirunelveli these youngsters Collector KP would have been Karthikeyan said saved,” he rued. ‘Kicked my he had passed an orTNIE spoke to two brother in der for an inquiry to of the victims. the chest’ be conducted by the In a video shared sub-divisional mag- A victim named with TNIE, a youngChellappa istrate-cum-sub-colster named Chellaplector of Cheranma- alleged that the pa claimed that IPS officer hadevi, as per police Singh changed into crushed his standing order. shorts and donned brother’s Singh is a 2020gloves before dambatch IPS officer testicles with his aging his teeth usleft hand and with a BE degree ing blue metal and kicked him on from IIT-Bombay. beating him and his the chest. He was posted to two brothers at the Ambasamudram as Ambasamudram ASP on October 15, 2022. police station earlier this The 10 men, who faced the month. Chellappa and his alleged custodial torture, brothers run a mutton stall were arrested for offences at Sivanthipuram. T H I N A K A R A N R A JA M A N I @ Tirunelveli Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar wondered whether Lingayats and Vokkaligas had asked the government to take away the minority reservation to give it to them. “The existing 56% cap on reservation should have been expanded to increase the reservation for the two communities. Lingayats had asked for a 15% quota and Vokkaligas 12%,” he said. “Why is the BJP government trying to sow hatred between communities by scrapping the Muslims OBC quota? Are minorities not our people,” he asked. EXPRESS READ ‘ISRO made design changes to LVM3’ Sriharikota: With an eye on the ambitious Gaganyaan mission, ISRO made few design changes to the GSLV-Mk3 or LVM3 rocket that lifted-off majestically on Sunday from spaceport Sriharikota with 36 commercial satellites on board. ISRO Chairman S Somanath told TNIE that the modifications were aimed at increasing the reliability and safety quotient | P5 Panel seeks shorter UPSC selection time New Delhi: Asserting that the nearly 15 months long recruitment process wastes candidates’ prime years besides taking a heavy toll on their physical and mental health, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the Union Public Service Commission to reduce the civil services examination’s selection cycle. The panel also sought reasons for the low turnout of candidates in civil services examination | P7 Air India and Nepal jet almost collided Kathmandu: A major tragedy was averted on Friday when an Air India and a Nepal Airlines aircraft came close to collision mid-air but the warning systems alerted the pilots whose timely action prevented the disaster, authorities said here on Sunday. Nepal aviation regulator has suspended three employees of the air traffic controller department for “carelessness” Khalistan protest at India’s US mission Washington: A group of Khalistan supporters gathered in front of the Indian Embassy here and many of their speakers tried to incite violence. They also hurled abusive language and openly threatened Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Secret Service personnel and the local police intervened to keep situation from going out of control