Pic: BAI visakhapatnam l monday l february 19, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late 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 RA J E SH K UMAR T HA K UR @ 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 it is for the country’s benefit. Asserting that the ruling alliance will storm back to power with a record mandate of 400plus 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 past 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. P7 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 Lakhs of YSRC activists from 52 Assembly constituencies of four districts in Rayalaseema attended the ruling YSRC’s ‘Siddham’ meeting at Rapthadu in Anantapur | Express Jagan exhorts ‘star campaigners’ to send TDP home forever in crucial poll E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Anantapur Calling on the cadre to gear up for the electoral battle, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “It is time to fold our sleeves and get ready to send the TDP home forever.” Speaking at the ‘Siddham’ meeting in Rapthadu, Anantapur district on Sunday, Jagan described the ensuing elections as a battle between a party that stands by the poor and the one that supports capitalists. Lakhs of YSRC activists from 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 fivematch series. Rohit was a satisfied captain. After being constantly chal- 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 lenged by England, in Rajkot, he and the bowlers had come up with 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 . For England, the Rajkot Test E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada Countering the accusations levelled by the Chief Minister at the Siddham meeting in Anantapur, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu challenged YS Jagan Mohan Reddy 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-ahalf sessions to play The rest, . as said before, was all Jadeja’s magic. Kamal Nath not leaving party, claims MP Cong a n u r a a g s i n g h @ Bhopal Amid reports that veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath may switch to the BJP Madhya , Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Sunday claimed the senior leader is not leaving the grand old party . “Kamal Nath told me the media reports are misleading. He has assured me that he is with the Congress,” said Patwari. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Congress released a list of its leaders who joined the BJP in the last few years. Of the 62 who joined BJP in MP only sev, en gained politically while the rest found their careers waning, according to the party  P8 . TDP supremo and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu failed to keep his poll promises. In a wordplay of election symbols of the YSRC, the TDP and the JSP, Jagan quipped, “The fan should always be inside the house. The cycle should be kept outside and the empty tea glass in the sink.” Lashing out at the TDP chief, The fan should always be inside the house. The cycle should be parked outside and the empty tea glass in the sink. It is certain that the TDP will disappear as YSRCP is poised to achieve its target YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister Naidu invites CM to a debate on AP’s growth Record players: India post 434-run win against Eng g o m e s h s @ Rajkot 52 Assembly constituencies of four districts of Rayalaseema attended the programme. In his hour-long speech, the Chief Minister urged the cadre to be his star campaigners. He elaborated on the welfare schemes and development programmes initiated by his government and asked the party activists to go to every household and explain to people how vizag gears up for milan USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer of the US Navy, arrived at Visakhapatnam on Sunday for MILAN-2024. As many as 50 countries are set to participate in the Naval exercise from Monday | Express | P2 to a debate on whose administration was constructive and whose destructive. The former chief minister accused Jagan of misusing crores of rupees of the taxpayers for conducting Siddham meetings. “I am ready to discuss any issue on any day at any place. Are you?” Naidu asked the YSRC president. He claimed that Jagan feared defeat in the elections, and hence was trying to divert people’s attention. He accused the Chief Minister of looting `100, while giving only `10 to the people in the name of welfare.  P4 he said Naidu cannot claim to have introduced even a single welfare scheme that benefitted either farmers, women, youth or students. “On the other hand, the Jagan mark is tangible in every house and village from Kuppam to Ichhapuram in education, health and medical and educational sectors,” he added. Further, Jagan sought to know why Naidu was hankering after alliances to push his ‘cycle’ ahead, if he thought that the YSRC has not done any P4 good for the people.  Express read PML-N, PPP fail to reach consensus Islamabad: Talks between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party on a power-sharing formula for a coalition government remained inconclusive, according to a media report on Sunday | P9 Remarks on volunteers: Case booked against Pawan E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Guntur A criminal case has been filed against Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan in Guntur for his alleged derogatory comments against the village/ward volunteers last year. Guntur district’s fourth additional judge Sarath Babu issued a notice and directed him to appear before the court on March 25. Under the directions of the court, police filed a case under IPC Sections 499 and 500. Volunteers have accused the actor-politician of making derogatory remarks against them during his Vaarahi public rally at Eluru on July 9, 2023, and tarnishing the gover nment’s reputation. Citing NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data that 29,000 women from Andhra Pradesh were missing, the actor-politician had claimed that he was privy to intelligence from central agencies that the volunteers were aiding anti-social elements in trafficking of women. He also alleged that volunteers were passing on sensitive data from every village to some ruling party leaders under the pretext of checking their eligibility for welfare schemes. Subsequently the volunteers , filed a case against him and the government issued a GO to initiate legal action against him for “making objectionable comments on the volunteers”. Farmers raising slogans at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border on Sunday during their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest near Patiala district | pti Farmers harden stance as negotiations continue HARPR E E T BA J WA @ Chandigarh FARMER unions on Sunday hardened their stance 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 star ting Tuesday. Also, tolls across the state will be ‘liberated’ to allow free passage of vehicles. Farmer 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 . Haryana 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 P8 (Ekta Sidhupur).