TIRUCHY l Thursday l June 08, 2023 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION 700 Indian students in Canada face deportation over fake documents The students, most of them from Punjab, had moved to Canada in 2017-19 on student visas. Their admission letters were found to be fake Twitter `16-20 lakh paid to agent to secure visa Canadian oppn leader pledges support The fraud was discovered in March, when the students applied for permanent residency in Canada. When the Canadian Border Service Agency perused the documents the students had submitted for their visas, it found the purported admission letters from Humber College in Toronto were fake. The students had paid `16-20 lakh each to a Jalandhar-based agent for moving to Canada ■ Once the students reached Canada, the agent told them to seek admission elsewhere saying Humber seats were full. He also returned some money ■ Meanwhile, Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre hit out at the Justin Trudeau-led government for the decision to deport the students. He said the students came in good faith and completed their programmes June 13 When the deportation is set to start, according to the notices to students 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 Wrestlers put agitation on hold for a week Trump BJP, save democracy: CM to oppn E x p r ess News S e r v i ce @ Chennai Anurag Thakur assures chargesheet in case against the sidelined WFI chief by June 15 U J W A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi Top protesting wrestlers on Wednesday agreed to suspend their agitation after Union sports minister Anurag Thakur assured that the Delhi Police probe into charges of sexual harassment against sidelined Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be wrapped up by June 15. “We had a very positive discussion with the protesting wrestlers... They demanded that the investigation be concluded and a chargesheet be filed by June 15. This demand was agreed by consensus,” Thakur said after having a sixhour-long discussions with the a wrestler delegation. This was the second meeting between the government and the protesting wrestlers within five days. The grapplers had met Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday night. On Wednesday top wrestlers , including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik met Thakur and made five significant demands, including the appointment of a woman WFI chief and the scrapping of police FIRs against them for violation of law and order on May 28. “In the meeting, it was suggested by the wrestlers that the WFI elections be held by June 30 and an Internal Complaints Committee of WFI be formed that should be headed by a woman,” Thakur said, adding all of them were agreed. “Also, two names of coaches were suggested by the wrestlers who will be part of the ad-hoc committee for technical assistance,” he added. The minister said all decisions were taken unanimously , adding the wrestlers had also demanded the withdrawal of cases against various academies and sportspersons as well as not allowing Singh and his associates to participate in the election process. The government also agreed to the demand not to allow Brij Bhushan Singh, who has completed three terms as president, Minister Anurag Thakur (L) after talks with wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Wednesday | Parveen Negi and his associates to contest the forthcoming elections. Bajrang Punia, while speaking to reporters after the marathon meeting, said that he was satisfied with the outcome and has decided to suspend the protest till June 15. If the government fails to deliver on its promise, the protest could be resumed, Punia said. Significantly, double World Championships medallist Vinesh Phogat, who had been spearheading the protest at the Jantar Mantar since April 23, skipped Wednesday’s meet.  P7 Chief Minister M K Stalin receives a Sengol with ‘Rising Sun’ on top from HR&CE Minister P K Sekar Babu at the Kalaignar centenary celebration in Chennai | ashwin prasath Centre hikes kharif crop MSPs by 5-10%, `143 more for paddy J i t e n d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi A day after removing the procurement ceiling for pulses under the price support scheme to encourage farmers to boost production, the Centre on Wednesday increased the minimum support price (MSP) of kharif crops. The latest move is to provide better remuneration to farmers and motivate them to diversify their crops. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved revision in MSP for all mandated kharif crops grown in 2023-24 crop year and procured in Kharif marketing season (October-September). The decision comes in the backdrop of weaker monsoons and reduced sowing areas. For primary food crops such as paddy the new , MSP stands at `2,183 per quintal — an increase of `143 from the previous year. The MSP of moong (green gram) has been increased by `803 to `8,558 and that of sesame by `805 to `8,635. The MSP for maize has been raised by 6.5% to `2,090 per quintal, tur/arhar (pigeon peas) by 6% to `7,000, urad (black gram) by 5% to `6,950, groundnut by 9% to 6,377, sunflower by 5.6% to `6,760, and soybean by 7% to `4,600. However, the comparative data over the past nine years show that the rate of increment in MSP during the NDA rule (2014-2023) is significantly lower than that of the previous nine years (2004-2013) under the UPA government. MSP hike BY UPA GOVT (2004-05 TO 2013-14) versus NDA GOVT (2014-15 TO 2023-24) Kharif crops Paddy Tur/Arhar (pigeon peas) Urad (black gram) Maize Sunflower seeds Groundnut Soybean % of increase during 9 years of UPA rule 134% 209% 205% 150% 176% 167% 184% % of increase during 9 years of NDA rule 61% 61% 60% 60% 80% 59% 80% express read Velumani case: HC allows DVAC probe aussies get head start Travis Head (left) and Steve Smith take a run against India in the WTC final match at the Oval on Wednesday. Head remained unbeaten on 146 and Smith on 95 at close of play on Day One. The two added 251 runs for the fourth wicket | AFP | P11 Chennai: The Madras HC on Wednesday allowed the DVAC to continue its probe into complaints of irregularities against former minister S P Velumani in awarding tenders for road works and storm water drains in Chennai Corporation during 2018-19. Based on its final report, the DVAC can decide either to register an FIR or drop the charges, the HC said | P2 Melpathi temple sealed over caste conflict K r i t h i ka S r i n i vasa n @ Villupuram Revenue officials sealed the Sri Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman Temple at Melpathi village in Villupuram district on Wednesday following a dispute over entry of Scheduled Caste members into the temple. Villupuram Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) S Ravichandran ordered the temple to be sealed after seven rounds of peace talks between caste Hindus and SC members failed to break the impasse, a senior official said. The caste Hindu members have been protesting against the entry of SC members into the temple for darshan. The temple comes under the A policeman guarding the sealed Sri Dharmaraja Draupadi Amman Temple at Melpathi village on Wednesday | Express Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department. At least 200 police have been deployed in the village to beef up security sources said. , Meanwhile, Villupuram col- lector C Palani on Wednesday said a final meeting will be held on Friday between the two communities to find a solution to the issue. According to some residents, the core issues of caste discrimination and action against those who attacked K Kathiravan (21), a Dalit, on April 7, remain unresolved as no one has been arrested even 50 days after an FIR was filed in the case. District superintendent of police P Shashank Sai told TNIE, “We are proceeding slowly to ensure that we don’t ratchet up tension in the village. Caste Hindus have assured us of their cooperation. The situation is under control.”  Continued on: p5 Final peace meet on Fri: Collector Villupuram collector C Palani said a final meeting will be held on Friday between the two communities to find a solution to the issue. Caste Hindu members have been protesting against the entry of SC members into the temple for darshan All the opposition parties must bury their differences and come together to remove the BJP from power in the 2024 general elections to save Indian democracy, Chief Minister M K Stalin said at a public meeting organised to launch the year-long birth centenary celebration of former CM M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Wednesday . During his speech, the CM elaborated on the significance of celebrating the birth centenary of the DMK patriarch who contributed significantly for the welfare of the state. Stalin said, “We have planned the year-long celebration to express our gratitude to ‘thalaivar Kalaignar’ for his service to society and to highlight his achievements.” Emphasising on the importance of the upcoming 2024 parliamentary election, the CM said, “This election is not about deciding who should rule the country, but it is about deciding who should not rule the country It is not just a power transfer; it . is about safeguarding Indian democracy and federalism.” Stalin stressed on the need for unity among opposition parties and mentioned that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar had informed him about a meeting of opposition leaders scheduled for June 23 in Patna and has extended an invitation to him. Stalin said, “All democratic forces should come together to remove the BJP from power. I have been talking to leaders of various state parties and to CMs of different states on the importance of joining forces against the BJP .” While cautioning against the BJP’s potential attempts to disrupt opposition unity he said, “The BJP , will go to any lengths to break the unity of opposition parties. They will spread falsehoods against the opposition parties to secure (electoral) victory Therefore, state par. ties must work together setting aside their differences.”  P5 Speculation rife on minor cabinet rejig RA J E S H K U M AR THA K U R @ New Delhi A series of meetings held by the BJP brass here since Monday has set off speculation of an organisational revamp and a possible minor reshuffle in the Union cabinet before the departure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US. Some ministers could be dropped and given organisational responsibilities so as to prepare the party for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. If sources are to be believed, a rejig in the ministries of agriculture, aviation, finance, Jal Shakti, environment and climate change, power and rural development is on the cards. The party’s senior leadership is learnt to have brainstormed on revamping BJP units in various states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala. The party is also expected to soon announce the name of leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly Incumbent . Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kateel has completed his term in office. As for poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, there is buzz over Union minister Pralhad Singh Patel being elevated as its state unit head. Patel is considered an influential leader who can tone up the party’s performance in the state elections later this year. Incumbent BJP state chief V D Sharma is said to not have a good rapport with Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan. In Telangana, incumbent state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar may get a major responsibility at the party’s national level. The meeting also discussed the strategy to expand the ruling National Democratic Alliance.