THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l monday l june 17, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION T20 World Cup 2024: The who, why and when of Super 8s With the group stages coming to an end on Monday, a look at the teams that have progressed, what lies ahead and more... How are the groupings made? Who will face India and when? While the top two teams from each group advanced, their seedings in Super 8s will be based on initial grouping. For example, Afghanistan will remain C1 even if they finish below West Indies in Group C as the former will be replacing New Zealand in the original grouping made by the global cricketing body before the tournament | p11 ■ ■ India, who will be A1, are up against Australia (B2), Afghanistan (C1) and either of Bangladesh/Netherlands (D2). They will begin their Super 8s journey against Afghanistan on Thursday The other Super 8s group will feature England, both the tournament hosts — West Indies, United States — and South Africa Three matches were abandoned due to rain during group stages so far 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 Shah seeks Kashmir-like zero-terror plan in Jammu Says Centre committed to rooting out terrorism from the region MU K E SH RA N J A N @ New Delhi Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asked security agencies to replicate their success in tackling terrorism in the Kashmir Valley in the Jammu division as well. Noting that the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is in its decisive phase, Shah directed security agencies to implement ‘area domination’ and ‘zero-terror plans’ in Jammu like they did in Kashmir. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the prevailing security situation in Jammu & Kashmir in the wake of recent terror attacks, Shah directed the security agencies to work on a mission mode and ensure quick response in a coordinated manner, officials said. Reiterating the Centre’s ‘zero-tolerance policy’ against terrorism, Shah said the government will root out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. The gover nment’s efforts have yielded great results in Kashmir with significant reduction in terror-related incidents and improvement in the law and order situation, which is “reflected in the record inflow of tourists in the Valley”, he added. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Israel pauses fighting during daytime along key aid route A g en c i e s Amid warnings about dire shortages of food and other essentials in the Gaza Strip, Israel on Sunday announced it will pause fighting during daytime along a route in the southern part of the Strip to facilitate aid deliveries. “A local, tactical pause of military activity for humanitarian purposes will take place from 8.00 am (0500 GMT) until 7.00 pm (1600 GMT) every day until further notice along the road that leads from the Kerem Shalom crossing to the Salah al-Din road and then northwards,” a statement by the Israeli military said. Overland access restrictions and the closure of the key Rafah crossing with Egypt since Israeli forces seized it in early May have made it tough to get essential supplies to those in need. The “tactical pause,” which applies to about 12 kilometers of road in the Rafah area, falls far short of a complete cease-fire that has been sought by the international community, including Israel’s principal ally the United States, , AP News reported. The United Nations welcomed the Israeli decision. “We hope this leads to further concrete measures by Israel to address longstanding issues preventing a meaningful humanitarian response in Gaza,” UN aid agency OCHA’s spokesman Jens Laerke P9 said in an email to AFP. Palestinian children collect food aid in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip | AFP Home Minister Amit Shah during a high-level meeting to review security situation in Jammu & Kashmir and preparedness for Amarnath Yatra, in New Delhi on Sunday | PTI Manoj Sinha, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chiefdesignate Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, CRPF Director General Anish Dayal Singh, BSF Director General Nitin Agarwal, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police R R Swain and other top security officials attended the meeting, which was held in the wake of terror attacks in Reasi, Kathua and Doda districts. The attacks came within a span of four days last week, killing nine pilgrims and a CRPF jawan, and leaving several others injured. Later on Sunday, Shah chaired another meeting to review the preparations for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin on June 29. During the deliberation, the minister was given a thorough briefing on the measures taken to ensure a safe and peaceful Yatra, officials said. During his interaction with the law enforcement and security agencies, the Union home minister appreciated them for the successful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections in the Union territory, which witnessed record voter turnout compared with past elections. On Thursday Prime Minister , Narendra Modi had reviewed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and directed the “deployment of the full spectrum” of “counter-terror capabilities” P8 in the region. If TDP puts up Speaker candidate, INDIA bloc to back it, says Sanjay Raut have a meeting and a consensus candidate will be decided. Our SHIV Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay leaders will take a call,” said Raut on Sunday said the INDIA Rao. However, the TDP leader bloc will support the Telugu was noncommittal whether the Desam Party if it fields its can- party demanded the Speaker’s didate for the Lok Sabha Speak- post. “Whether we claimed the er. Election to the post of the LS post or not, I can’t say he said, ,” Speaker is slated for June 26. adding that his party will supTalking to reportport the decisions ers, Raut claimed the taken by the NDA Rijiju meets TDP wants to field its government. Kharge The TDP’s position candidate. “If that Parliamentary is at odds with the happens, INDIA bloc Affairs Minister JD(U), which pledged partners will discuss Kiren Rijiju met to support the candithe issue and try to Congress chief date nominated by ensure that all the INMallikarjun Kharge BJP. JD(U) leader K C DIA alliance partners on Sunday, in what Tyagi said that by conextend support to the was termed a vention, the ruling TDP he said. ,” courtesy call. The party has the right to Raut alleged if the first Parliament nominate the Speaker BJP gets the Speaksession will begin because its number is er’s post, it will break on June 24 during also the highest. “The the TDP, JD(U), and which new MPs will statement by INDIA the outfits of Chirag take oath and bloc leaders is intendPaswan and Jayant Speaker elected ed to create confusion Chaudhary “We have . among the NDA partthe experience that BJP betrays the people who ners,” said Tyagi. NDA allies are set to meet on support it,” Raut said. TDP spokesperson K Ram- June 23 to decide their candimohan Rao told TNIE that the date. N Chandrababu Naidu’s NDA partners will sit together TDP with 16 seats and Nitish and decide the candidate, add- Kumar’s JD(U) with 12 are cruing that there are no cracks in cial to the governmentt, as the the alliance and it is stable. “All BJP failed to secure the seats to the partners of the NDA will form government on its own. Why teach riots? NCERT’s spin on lesson cuts E x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ New Delhi Amid furore over the omission of references to Gujarat riots and Babri masjid demolition in the Class 12 syllabus, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) director Dinesh Prasad Saklani sought to justify it saying such topics won’t benefit students. Such content can create ‘violent and depressed citizens’, he said in an interview to PTI. “Should we teach our students in a manner that they become offensive, create hatred in society or become victim of ha- tred? Is that education’s purpose? Should we teach about riots to such young children,” he said, adding that hatred and violence should not be the focus of school textbooks. The comments come at a time when new textbooks have hit the market with several deletions and changes. The revised Class 12 political science textbook does not mention the Babri masjid but refers to it as a “three-domed structure”. It has pruned the Ayodhya section from four to two pages and deleted details from the earlier version. It instead focuses on the Supreme Court judgement Dinesh Prasad Saklani, director of NCERT | PTI that paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple at the site where the disputed structure once stood before it was torn down by Hindu activists in December 1992. The changes in textbooks have triggered a controversy Pinarayi’s ‘autocratic style’ comes under fire at CPI meet E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the LDF government bore the brunt of criticism at the CPI district council meeting that reviewed the Lok Sabha election results. Though the CPM state leadership as such was not spared by members of the council, the focus of attack was Pinarayi. Too much stress on the CAA in the LDF’s campaign also drew flak at Saturday’s meeting. “Some council members highlighted Pinarayi’s arrogance and autocratic style of functioning. His behaviour is unbecoming of a people’s leader. Unlike past Left leaders, Pinarayi, through his actions and words, turn people hostile. The CM’s unilateral deci- CPM decides to probe erosion of party votes T’Puram: Assessing that unprecedented erosion of the party votes led to the LDF’s humiliating defeat in the LS election, the CPM has decided to go for a comprehensive examination of the wearing away of its votes at the constituencylevel. The decision was taken by the state secretariat that met in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to mark the beginning of the fiveday leadership meet. P5 sion making, the delay in distributing social security pension, lack of fund allocation to Supplyco and similar establishments came under criticism at the meeting,” said a senior CPI leader. Some leaders who spoke at the meeting stressed that cor- ruption charges against CM’s daughter also contributed to the LDF’s defeat, he said. The anti-CAA campaigns seemed more of an exercise aimed at minority appeasement, several leaders said. With more prominence given to religious leaders, these campaigns appeared religious meetings than political ones, they felt. The LDF’s minority appeasement came for sharp criticism. Leaders blamed front partners for gifting seats to minorities, which they said had not not gone down well with party cadres. “This led to a major shift in the Ezhava vote base,” they said. There was no point in blaming the CPM alone for this. The CPI was also indulging in minority appeasement when it chose P P Suneer for the Rajya Sabha seat, they ● More on P4 added. P r eet h a N a i r @ New Delhi Joyful bonding A woman gets mehendi applied on her hands on the eve of Eid al-Adha in Kozhikode on Sunday | E Gokul The New Indian Express wishes its readers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Our editorial offices will remain closed today. There will be no issue of the paper tomorrow. Centre has noted NEET lapses, guilty will face action: Pradhan E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar AMID nationwide outrage over the NEET-UG fiasco, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the Centre has taken note of two incidents of lapses in the test and those found guilty will face serious action. Pradhan also said that the Centre is mulling necessary reforms in the National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous agency under the Ed- ucation Ministry, tasked with conducting the nationwide medical entrance exam. “Two incidents of lapses pertaining to NEET has come to fore. Initial information was that some students were upset for getting less time in the exam and awarded grace marks. However, the government rejected it and on the recommendations of the Supreme Court, ordered a retest of 1,563 candidates in six centres,” he said. He also said some irregulari- Dharmendra Pradhan ties have come to light at two places. “I assure students and parents that the government has taken serious note of it. All these matters will be taken to their logical conclusion and accountability will be fixed on those found guilty for the lapses,” he said. “No matter how senior official of NTA someone is, if lapses are found they will face strict action,” he added. The Union Minister said the NTA also needs a lot of improvement. “The NTA is an autonomous organisation. However, it needs reforms and the government has taken this into consid- eration,” he said while reassuring the students that the guilty will not be spared and will get the harshest punishment. Notably, allocation of grace marks and allegations of question-paper leak in the NEET-UG exam has muddied the testing system that selects students for the medical colleges. After the Supreme Court’s observation, the NTA has revoked grace marks awarded to the 1,563 students and has announced a retest on June 23. with critics accusing NCERT of promoting saffronisation of the school curriculum. Rejecting such notions, Saklani said: “If something has become irrelevant ... it will have to be changed. Why shouldn’t it be changed? I don’t see any saffronisation here. We teach history so students know about facts, not for making it a battleground.” Claiming that the NCERT’s curriculum is based on facts and evidence, Saklani said, “If we are telling about iron pillar in Mehrauli and saying Indians were way ahead of any metallurigical scientist, are we saying wrong?” Vellappally flays LDF, UDF over ‘minority appeasement’ E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Alappuzha SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has castigated both the leading political fronts in Kerala — the LDF and the UDF — for “appeasing minority communities, especially Muslims”. In an article in ‘Yoganadam’, the mouthpiece of SNDP, Vellappally said of the nine persons nominated to the Rajya Sabha from the state, five are from the Muslim community and two from the Christian community . “The CPM and CPI have g ive n aw ay their seats to Muslim community members. Such discrimination was evident in the Lok Sabha elections too. The parties offered seats to Muslims in Malappuram and Christians in Kottayam saying these communities are in majority in the constituencies. However, both the LDF and UDF fielded Christian and Muslim candidates in constituencies where Hindus are in majority Vellap,” pally said in the article, citing the example of CPM’s Muslim candidate A M Arif f in Alappuzha. Traditionally, the Ezhava community, which constitutes 23% of Kerala’s population, are the Left’s main supporters. “The CPM and CPI sacrificed the confidence of backward communities, which supported the LDF from the beginning, to appease minorities. They fielded K J Shine (Latin Christian) in Er nakulam, Thomas Chazhikadan (Knanaya Christian) in Kottayam and V Wasif (Muslim) in Malappuram. They have no confidence to field other community members in these constituencies. However, they are fielding Muslims and Christians in constituencies where Hindus are in majority ,” Vellappally wrote. He said that many would be out for his blood over the state● More on P4 ment. EXPRESS READ Over 1 lakh fever cases reported in state in June T’Puram: More than 1 lakh fever cases have been reported across the state this month alone, with outpatient visits seeing a 65% rise till June 15. In total, the state has reported over 10 lakh fever cases this year. From 5,533 on June 1, daily OP visits by people suffering from fever rose to 9,102 on June 15, taking the total number of cases reported till midJune to 1,06,176. Daily hospital admissions saw 9% rise, from 104 on June 1 to 198 on June 15. P4
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