Indians represent over 10% of U.S. visa applicants The U.S. mission in India on Thursday said it has processed one million non-immigrant visa applications this year 65% Representation of Indians among H&L applicants TIRUCHY l friday l september 29, 2023 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION Punjab police arrest Congress MLA Khaira in 2015 drugs case H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh Indians visited the US 1.2 mn 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 ■ ■ more visas are processed in India surpassing pre-pandemic levels U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti handed over the one-millionth visa to a couple who will be visiting the U.S. to attend their son’s graduation Was a statesman who worked for welfare of farmers govt missed chance of conferring the Bharat Ratna funeral on Saturday with police honours SOWED Indian I green revolution Illu stra tion: Sourav Roy THE Punjab Police on Thursday arrested firebrand Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a 2015 drugs case, widening the rift between the Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the state. The arrest is also expected to hit the Opposition bloc INDIA, as both the parties are part of the alliance. The Punjab Congress rallied behind Khaira, terming the arrest political vendetta. It has already made clear its opposition to any tie-up with the AAP in Punjab. The arrest was made after a police team raided Khaira’s Chandigarh residence at 6 am on Thursday. The police took Khaira to a court in Jalalabad and got a two-day custody till September 30. There was high drama before the arrest as Khaira’s son Mehtab Singh went live on Facebook and confronted the police team, asking them to show the arrest warrent. The drugs case was registered in March 2015. Nine persons were booked and convicted. The police had recovered 2 kg of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, pistols, and two Pakistani SIM cards from them. Khaira’s name cropped up later and an SIT was formed in April his year. Khaira was arrested based on the SIT probe. Last year over 20% M S Swaminathan 7 August 1925 - 28 September 2023 If agriculture goes wrong nothing else will go right. That’s why @AgriGoI should make farmers’ wellbeing centre of all programmes & policies - M S Swaminathan in a 2017 tweet (now X) n the realm of agriculture, search reached those toiling in our the passing of a visionary fields. It was a testament to his dedfigure is a poignant moment ication to the welfare of India’s for our nation. On Thursday farming community. Throughout , we bid farewell to a true lu- his career, he achieved what some minary Dr M S Swaminath- might consider almost impossible. , an, a man whose name beDr Swaminathan’s influence and came synonymous with progress, leadership extended beyond Ininnovation, and the pursuit to- dia’s borders. As Director General wards food security The legacy of . of the International Rice Research this remarkable individual, who Institute in the Philippines from devoted his entire life to the better- 1982 to 1988, he guided the institute ment of India’s agricultural land- to significant strides in rice rescape, will resonate through gen- search, benefiting the rice-growing erations. His funeral will be held regions worldwide. His unwaverin Chennai on Saturday with po- ing passion for India’s progress lice honours. He was 98. was both contagious and His contributions to inspiring. He possessed the make the country self-sufrare ability to transform ficient in food grains, by scientific knowledge into introducing and breeding practical solutions, bringdwarf wheat varieties, had ing hope and sustenance to led to enhance production those who toiled in our from 50 million tonnes in fields. 1950 to now 330 million The awards and accoR S Paroda tonnes. From a net importlades he received bear witThe writer is former er, India has become a ma- director general, ICAR, and ness to his exceptional conSecretary, Department of tributions. The nation jor food exporter. In addition to his ground Agricultural Research and honoured him with the breaking work, he played a Education, Govt of India. Padma Bhushan and PadHe is Padma Bhushan pivotal role in shaping the awardee and a student of ma Vibhushan. Dr Swamifuture of agricultural re- Prof M S Swaminathan nathan was not merely a search and development in scientist; he was a statesIndia. Dr Swaminathan man who tirelessly advowas instrumental in the creation cated for the welfare of our farmof the All India Agricultural Re- ing community. As chairman of search Service, which facilitated the Farmers Commission, he reccollaborative research among sci- ommended paying farmers MSP, entists from all corners of the na- i.e. the cost of cultivation (C2) tion. This networking of scientific +50% of C2. minds laid the foundation for inIn closing, it is with a heavy novative solutions in agriculture, heart that I reflect the wish of enfostering a sense of unity among tire agricultural scientific commuresearchers dedicated to improv- nity on the missed opportunity by ing our agricultural landscape. India’s decision-makers to have His commitment to bridging the awarded him our highest civilian gap between scientific discoveries award, the Bharat Ratna. and practical implementation led In Dr Swaminathan, India has to the inception of the lab-to-land lost a great son of the soil. His programme. This visionary initia- achievements will continue inspirtive sought to transfer agricultural ing the young generation to strive technologies directly to farmers, for yet better future for Indian agensuring that the benefits of re- riculture. P7 Home sales peak in high-interest season A R sh a d K h a n @ New Delhi HIGH interest rates are no longer deterring home buyers as data for the July-September quarter showed that housing sales hit a record. This is notable because the monsoon months are considered weak for the realty sector. According to the latest data by property consultant Anarock, sales across the seven cities in India surged to 1,20,280 units in the third quarter of 2023 against 88,230 units a year ago. This translates to a 36% annual sales growth. Among the top seven cities, MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) recorded the highest housing sales at 38,500 units, followed by Pune with 22,880 units. Cumulatively the two western cities ac, counted for 51% of total sales seen across the top seven cities in Q3 2023. When combined with the Southern cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the four cities accounted for 91% of the sales in the quarter. Housing sales in the National Capital Region grew at 6% to 15,865 units, while in Chennai the same grew by 46% to 4,940 units. Kolkata reported a modest growth of 7% to 5,320 units. Every step towards your goal is your life’s SIP SIP for your life Scan to know more or contact your MFD / RIA Advantages of SIP Freedom from timing the market Flexibility to choose investment amount An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative SIP - Systematic Investment Plan. Visit https://www.hdfcfund.com/information/key-know-how to know more about the process to complete a one-time Know Your Customer (KYC) requirement to invest in Mutual Funds. Investors should only deal with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website (www.sebi.gov.in/intermediaries.html). For any queries, complaints & grievance redressal, investors may reach out to the AMCs and / or Investor Relations Officers. 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