Trump inches closer to Republican nomination Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley in South Carolina primary, his fourth consecutive victory, securing 60% of the votes KOZHIKODE l monday l February 26, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Haley said she is not quitting the race and taking the fight to Super Tuesday—March 5—when Republican voters in 15 states and one territory will vote Haley, two-term governor in South Carolina, said the 40% support for her indicates that Republican voters want an alternative Haley ignored in victory speech Trump celebrated his victory in Columbia, South Carolina and told his supporters, “There’s never been a spirit like this, and I just want to say that. I have never seen the Republican Party so unified.” ■ Earlier, Trump won Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the US Virgin Islands. P9 ■ PM inaugurates five more AIIMS, accuses previous govts of neglect Unveils 200 healthcare infra projects worth H11,500 cr across 23 states and Union Territories D i l i p S i n g h K s h at r i ya @ Ahmedabad fervent offering Women take part in Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Lakhs of devotees from across Kerala thronged the state capital for the offering | B P Deepu | P4 PRIME Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday inaugurated five new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth `48,100 crore. The projects, unveiled at an event at Rajkot in Gujarat, encompass health, road, rail, energy, petroleum & natural gas, and tourism sectors. These include around 200 healthcare infrastructure projects worth `11,500 crore spread across 23 states and Union Territories, a PMO release said. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the five AIIMS in Rajkot, Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Modi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at the underwater site in the Arabian Sea, where the ancient city of Dwarka is believed to have existed, on Sunday | PTI his government takes the country’s development seriously and executes projects fast. The five AIIMS were built at a cost of `6,315.23 crore. Among the other major projects the PM dedicated to the nation are the Bizarre! Goods train runs 70 km without driver H a r p r ee t B a j w a @ Chandigarh A diesel engine-powered goods train ran for 70 km without a driver at top speed from Kathua in Jammu, crossing five stations on its way before it came to a halt near Unchi Bassi station in Punjab. An official said no casualty or damage to property was reported. Divisional Traffic Man- ager, Jammu, Prateek Srivastava said that an inquiry has been initiated to know the cause of the incident. Prima facie, it seems that the train started rolling down the slopegradient track towards Punjab without the driver and his assistant. “The train came to a halt near Unchi Bassi station due to steep-gradient track, after covering a distance of 70 kms,” he added. It was halted with the assistance of sandbags, sources said. The 53-wagon train loaded with chip stones had stopped at Kathua for driver change. Sources said the hand brakes were not applied and the train started moving. The engine cabin was not secured fully— one side was powered off while the other side was running. The train gained speed and crossed a few stations before finally coming to a stop because of steep-gradient track. Meanwhile, when the train was hurtling through the tracks, a message was sent to all gatemen to keep the levelcrossings closed. new Mundra-Panipat pipeline project worth `9,000 crore and 21 projects of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation worth `2,280 crore. Targeting the Congress, Modi said the grand old party was in power for several decades but its development track record is poor. “For 50 years after Independence, there was only one AIIMS, and that too in Delhi. In the seven decades since Independence, only seven AIIMS were approved but even these were never completed.” Modi claimed his government inaugurated seven new AIIMS in just 10 days. “That’s why I am saying we are developing the country many times faster than what happened in the last six to seven decades and are dedicating it at the feet of the citizens,” he said, adding that his government approved 10 AIIMS in the last 10 years. The PM also inaugurated the 2.32-km-long Sudarshan Setu, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka district. express read INLD Haryana leader, party worker shot dead Akhilesh Yadav joins Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Chandigarh: Indian National Lok Dal’s Haryana unit president Nafe Singh Rathee and another party worker were killed when gunmen sprayed bullets on their SUV in Bahadurgarh on Sunday. Rathee’s bodyguards also suffered injuries in the attack. INLD leader Abhay Chautala blamed the Haryana government for not providing him adequate security Agra: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ in Agra on Sunday, days after the parties reached a seat-sharing arrangement in UP for LS polls. The INDIA “janbandhan” is locked and loaded, ready to dispel “darkness of anyay kaal”, the Congress said after Yadav joined the yatra. 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 ■ ■ IUML gives up 3rd seat demand for RS slot E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi After striking an aggressive posture, under pressure from its rank and file, the IUML on Sunday reportedly toned down its demand for a third seat in the upcoming general elections, instead telling the Congress that an extra Rajya Sabha seat would suffice. The Congress leadership, at a bilateral meeting in Aluva, convinced League leaders of its inability to part with a Lok Sabha seat. The party however, agreed , to accommodate the IUML’s demand for an RS seat. Leaders of both the parties termed the discussions “satisfactory”, but refused to divulge details. IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said the talks were positive and the party would make a final announcement on February 27. “Party state president Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal is currently out of the country, and will be back on Monday Senior lead. ers will meet him on Tuesday and take a final decision. The decision will be announced the same day,” Kunhalikutty told reporters after the meeting. Asked about League’s demand for an RS seat, he said several points were discussed, but refused to reveal any details. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said both parties were satisfied with the discussions. “The talks were successful and positive,” Satheesan ● More on P4 said.
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