PIC: BAI HUBBALLI MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2024 `9.00 PAGES 12 CITY EDITION GOLDEN MOMENT FOR INDIAN BADMINTON IN MALAYSIA India women’s team pulls off 3-2 win over Thailand to bag first-ever gold in the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Shah Alam ANMOL VICTORY TAKES TEAM HOME VISIBLE SIGNS OF ENCOURAGEMENT With the gold-medal contest locked at 2-2, India were relying on teenager Anmol Kharb yet again in the decider. The 17-year-old played with plenty of authority to see off Pornpicha Choeikeewong 21-14, 21-9. Earlier, twotime Olympic medallist Sindhu and the doubles duo of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand had put the team ahead | P11 ■ ■ Anmol showed maturity beyond her years to get over the line, not once but thrice, in crunch matches. Her emergence is a welcome boost for the Indian team, that will be intent on nurturing her further Even the likes of Treesa and Gayatri were exceptional. Sindhu was on point in the final. This is encouraging ahead of key events this year 472 ANMOL KHARB’S WORLD RANKING. SHE WON THREE MATCHES IN THE EVENT 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 NDA’s 3rd term crucial for India’s progress, says PM Opposition parties are incapable of taking the country forward: Modi RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said a third term for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is essential for India’s progress because the opposition parties lack the vision and commitment to take the country forward in terms of development. Addressing BJP delegates from across the country at the BJP’s national convention, Modi said he is not seeking another term to enjoy power but for the country’s benefit. Asserting that the ruling alliance will storm back to power with a record mandate of 400-plus seats, he said even world leaders are convinced about his continuance as PM that he is getting invitations for events that are months away. “The elections are yet to happen, but I am getting invitations from foreign countries for July, August, September... These countries know that Aayega to Modi hi (Modi’s victory is inevitable),” he said, adding that every country now wants to have deeper relations with India. In his 70-minute address to party’s delegates, Modi urged them to work hard and reach out to each and every beneficiary of Central government schemes. “For NDA to cross 400, the BJP will have to cross the milestone of 370. The next five years are going to be crucial. We have to take a big leap towards Viksit Bharat. The first imperative is to ensure the return of the BJP to power in strong numbers,” he said. Taking a jab at the opposition It’s Mahabharata war, says Shah Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the BJP National Council meeting on its second day at Bharat Mandapam | PTI The next five years are going to be crucial. The first condition for realising the big goals for the country is to ensure the return of the BJP to power with a strong mandate Narendra Modi, PM parties, Modi said they may not know how to plan or execute large projects but they are matchless in making false commitments. “Despite this, these parties lack the courage to make one promise—ViksitBharat. Nor do they question us about it. They have acknowledged they cannot lead India to development,” he said. Modi claimed the BJP is the only party that aspires to make India a developed nation by 2047, adding that NDA’s last 10 years have been characterised by bold decisions and futuristic policies. “We dared to complete the tasks were left unfinished for decades—Ayodhya Ram temple construction, opening of Kartarpur corridor, abrogation of Article 370,” he said. Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday likened the Lok Sabha polls to the Mahabharata war, asserting that the BJP will win. “Just as in the Mahabharata war there were two camps, Kauravas and Pandavas, today there are two camps ahead of polls,” he said Ram Rajya for 1,000 years: BJP resolution The BJP’s national convention passed a resolution on the Ram temple in Ayodhya, stating it heralds establishment of ‘Ram Rajya’ in India for the next 1,000 years. The resolution noted the temple has become a temple of “national consciousness” Nadda’s tenure extended till June BJP national president JP Nadda’s tenure has been extended till June 2024. The decision, which was announced in January by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was approved by the party’s national council held in New Delhi on Sunday RECORD PLAYERS: INDIA POST 434-RUN WIN G O M E S H S @ Rajkot RAVINDRA Jadeja was down on his knees, kissing the pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. He had completed a fifer, trapping Mark Wood on the pads and helped India secure a record victory in the third Test against England here on Sunday. At least he thought so. Wood reviewed and survived, but it was always going to be a matter of time. He dismissed Wood in the next over, this time the celebrations were much casual despite India registering a 434-run victory — the biggest in terms of margin of runs — taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Rohit, understandably was , a satisfied captain. After being constantly challenged by England, in Rajkot, he and the bowlers had come up with EXPRESS READ BC hostels in Tumakuru faced rice shortage Tumakuru: Backward Class hostels in Tumakuru faced rice shortages in December last year forcing officials to get 180 quintals of rice from the Siddangana Mutt. The district was supposed to get rice from the Food and Civil Supplies Department in October 2023, but got it only in January 2024, said an official | P4 Mutual decision of AAP, Cong to go solo: Kejri New Delhi: Rebuffing rumours that all is not well in I.N.D.I.A bloc, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said it is a “mutual decision” of the AAP and Congress to go solo in Punjab for the LS polls. He said AAP is holding seatsharing talks with the Congress in Delhi as not going for it will make things easy for the BJP. India’s Ravindra Jadeja (L) celebrates the wicket of England’s Joe Root on Day 4 in Rajkot, on Sunday. This is India’s biggest win (in terms of margin of runs) | AP specific plans for a slowish surface and it worked. Mohammed Siraj led the way in the first essay and Jadeja in the second. R Ashwin, who had to head home for a family emergency, too, joined the team on Sunday contributing , to the victory This one, along . with Visakhapatnam, will remain special for Rohit because of where they were after Hyderabad and the players they did not have. For England, the Rajkot Test was supposed to be their best chance. The hosts were playing with two debutants and a middle-order with a cumulative experience of one Test. England had India down to 33/3 on day one. England were 207/2 after day two. When they started batting on Saturday they did not have to , face Ashwin. And yet, over the course of 48 hours, India did what they do more often than not in a home Test. They bundled out England, piled on a massive lead — Jaiswal, once again, showing his class with record double century — before putting England back with four-and-a-half sessions to play The rest, as said before, . was all Jadeja’s magic. This Test win, as much as it is about a complete performance with everyone contributing, is also testament to India’s strength at home, and why they continue to remain giants, and the team to beat. Three charred to death, 5 injured after scrapyard goes up in flames in B’luru EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru IN a major accident, three died, while five other workers were critically injured after a major fire broke out at a scrapyard where the workers were allegedly filling chemicals into perfume bottles. The incident happened in Kumbalgodu on the outskirts of the city on Sunday . The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. One of the deceased has been identified as Saleem, aged around 30, who was running the place, while the identity of two others is yet to be established. The injured are identified as Afroz, Sadik, Allah Baksh, Riyaz and Imran. Of the A gutted autorickshaw parked near the scrapyard where a fire broke out at Ramasandra in Bengaluru on Sunday | EXPRESS five, the condition of four is said to be critical, and are being treated at Victoria Hospital. The accident occurred around 5 pm when eight workers were reportedly infusing chemicals into perfume bottles at a 30x40 sqft scrapyard on Chikkabasti Main Road at Ramasandra near Kumbalgodu. P5 Farmers harden stance as negotiations continue Suspense on Nath’s next move continues, but Cong says he will stay Impossible for administration to be free of corruption: CM H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh FARMER unions hardened their stance on Sunday even as the fourth round of talks with the Centre kicked off in Chandigarh, with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, calling for taking the protest to the door steps of BJP leaders. In Punjab, protesting farmers will gherao the residences of BJP leaders for three days starting Tuesday. Also, tolls across the state will be ‘liberated’ to allow free passage of vehicles. Far mer leaders warned the protest will continue even if the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into force, reiterating that the farmers will not accept anything less than the C2 (comprehensive cost of production) plus 50% formula for minimum support price (MSP) as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report. The SKM announced its decision after its meeting in Ludhi- ana on Sunday SKM leader Bal. bir Singh Rajewal said farmers will stage protests in front of the residences of Punjab BJP leaders including MPs and MLAs from Tuesday to Thursday. Toll barriers in the state will also be deactivated during February 20-22 to make passage free for passengers, he added. Rajewal said the SKM will hold a high-level meeting on February 22 in Delhi to chalk out future strategy . Meanwhile, Haryana farmers unions have also got active after a meeting with khaps at Kurukshetra on Sunday Hary. ana BKU (Chaduni) president Gurnam Singh Chaduni said they will announce their plan of action on Monday if the fourth round of talks fail. “If the government thinks it can continue to hold meetings till the MCC is imposed and then say back off citing the code, it’s not going to work,” said Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur). If the government thinks it can continue to hold meetings till the MCC is imposed and then say back off citing the code, it’s not going to work,” said Jagjit Singh Dallewal Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president, Bharti Kisan Union E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Bhopal Farmers raise slogans at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Sunday during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest near Patiala district | PTI VETERAN Congress leader Kamal Nath kept political pundits guessing on Sunday about his next move a day after his sudden arrival in Delhi cutting short his tour to Chhindwara where his son is the Lok Sabha member of Parliament, even as Congress sources said he is not leaving the party . According to sources, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi rang and talked to Kamal Nath, in attempts to prevent him from leaving the Congress. “I had told you all on Saturday also that if something which you are asking (me joining the BJP) actually materialises, then you all will be the first ones to know. I haven’t had any talk with anyone (in the BJP) on what you all are asking,” Nath told reporters in Delhi on Sunday . Kamal Nath loyalists and former MP minister Sajjan Singh Verma said the former MP CM is busy with plans for the 29 Lok Sabha seats from the state. A source considered close to Kamal Nath, told this newspaper that it is quite possible that son Nakul Nath actually joins the BJP and not the father. Sources added that the father is concerned about son’s political future as he won the 2019 LS polls from Chhindwara by just 37,500-plus votes when the Congress was in power in MP . Kerala cops nab K’taka Naxal India’s biggest leopard safari to come up at BBP soon on the run for over 20 years NEW ATTRACTION BOSKY KHANNA @Bengaluru THE much-awaited dedicated leopard safari will soon start at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP), the first in Karnataka and the biggest in India. Even as Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre on Thursday directed the forest department and zoo management officials to start the leopard safari soon, on the lines of the already-existing BBP’s lion and tiger safaris, BBP officials said it depends on the time the leopards in the safari take to bond with each other and how fast they get trained. “If all goes well, the safari can be thrown open for people in one-and-a-half months. But if the model code of conduct (MCC) comes into force (for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled in April-May), then it will be open to people in May or after the MCC is lifted,” said an official from the department. Training is necessary as officials are wary of the leopards not co-existing with each other, which was the case with the cheetahs brought from South The enclosure has space to house 20 leopards, but right now there are 12, which are being made to get accustomed to each other, so there is no conflict between them. The leopards have divided themselves into two groups, with six in each — Official, forest department Africa to the Kuno reserve in Madhya Pradesh. BBP has carved out 20 hectares of land in its area for the safari. The management has set up a high-rise mesh and kept tall trees away from the fences, not wanting to give any room for the big cats to escape. Leopard safaris, managed by zoo authorities, are already open in Nagpur in Maharashtra and Rajgir in Bihar, but the one at BBP is planned to be bigger than them. P5 E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Chikkamagaluru NAXALITE Suresh Angadi alias Pradeep, who was evading the police for more than 20 years, was arrested by the Kannur police in Kerala. Suresh was a wanted Naxalite in over 15 cases registered in Sringeri and Kudremukh police station limits. The Karnataka police had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head. It is said that he was found injured in an elephant attack at a Naxal camp in the dense forests of Kerala. He is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Wayanad. Anti-Naxal Force SP Jitendra Kumar Dayam said that after Suresh recovers, he will be brought to Karnataka for interrogation. Suresh hails from a village in Gonibeedu Hobli of Mudigere taluk. P R A M O D K U M A R V A I D YA @ Haveri IN a shocking remark, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that is is impossible for the administration to be corruption-free. In his reply to a query on corruption, Siddaramaiah told reporters, “Who said there is no corruption? It is impossible to be corruption-free. There will always be black sheep, but such elements will be identified and punished.” Playing down Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim that communities belonging to Dalit and other backward castes have a prime share in t h e co u n t r y ’s natural resources, he said the entire 140 crore people of the country are partners in these resources. “Not only Muslims, Christians and Dalits, every citizen of this country has rights over natural resources. No one community or minorities alone can have rights on the resources,” he said. On the Lok Sabha elections, he said the first list of Congress candidates will be out soon. Debunking for mer chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s remark that he allocated Rs 2,000 crore for his assembly constituency Varuna in the recently presented budget, Siddaramaiah asked sarcastically, “What position does Yediyurappa hold now? The media report on the allocation is false.”
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