HYDERABAD  THURSDAY  JANUARY 16, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 16  LATE CITY EDITION META INDIA APOLOGISES FOR ZUCK’S REMARK THAT NDA LOST LS POLLS Meta India on Wednesday apologised for CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s incorrect claim that the NDA government lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections INADVERTENT ERROR, SAYS TECH FIRM’S V-P COMPANY AVOIDS PARLIAMENTARY SUMMONS Meta India’s Vice President Shivnath Thukral took to X on Wednesday to tender an apology on behalf of the company for the “inadvertent error”. “Mark’s observation that many incumbent parties were not re-elected in 2024 holds true for several countries, BUT not India,” Thukral said responding to Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s criticism of the remark ■ ■ BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who heads Parliament’s panel on Communications and Information Technology, said the matter is now closed. He had earlier said the panel will summon Meta India | P7 Zuckerberg triggered a row by claiming in a podcast that the NDA government lost the 2024 election due to its weak Covid response 1 billion USERS FOR META APPS—WHATSAPP, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM—IN INDIA 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 E-Prix: SC rejects KTR’s plea to quash FIR T G N A I D U @ Hyderabad T H E S u p re m e C o u r t o n Wednesday rejected a plea filed by BRS working president KT Rama Rao seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) alleging misuse of funds in the conducting of FormulaE race in Hyderabad in 2023. A bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Prasanna B Varale upheld the Telangana High Court’s dismissal of Rama Rao’s quash petition and refused to intervene in the high court’s decision. With no other recourse, ED TO QUESTION KTR TODAY Former MAUD minister KT Rama Rao is set to appear before the ED on Thursday for questioning in the Formula-E race case. The ED is investigating whether the transfer of `54.88 crore to Formula-E Operations in October 2023 was in violation of of FEMA or PMLA provisions. All the accused in the case — Rama Rao, Arvind Kumar and BLN Reddy, have already appeared before the ACB Rama Rao’s counsel chose to withdraw the petition. However, the court did not grant liberty but allowed the withdraw, al, pointing out that the petitioner could pursue other remedies under the law. The FIR alleges that unau- thorised payments of approximately `55 crore, primarily in foreign exchange, were made to the For mula-E Operations (FEO), allegedly on the directions of Rama Rao, the then Municipal Administration minister. The high court noted that Rama Rao faces the allegations that he directed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to make these payments without clearance from the Cabinet or the Finance department. In its January 7 order, the high court ruled that prima facie, a case can be made out against Rama Rao. It stated: “Whether the petitioner directed the said payments with a dishonest intention to cause gain to himself or third parties is required to be investigated. The allegations, when read together, indicate wrongdoing and misappropriation of HMDA funds. CONTINUED ON P5 Exports down for 2nd month in a row in Dec ’24 EX P R ESS N E WS S E RV I CE @ New Delhi Sonia Gandhi inaugurates the new All India Congress Committee HQ at 9A, Kotla Road, in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI Rahul’s claim of fighting Indian state draws BJP ire PA R V E Z S U LTA N A N D R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi A rather sharp attack by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday against RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks, drew heavy retaliatory fire from BJP’s biggies. At the inaugural event of the party’s headquarters here, Rahul criticised Bhagwat’s claim that India achieved “true independence” only after the Ram temple consecration, saying it amounts to treason. “Bhagwat has the audacity to say to the country what he thinks about the independence movement and the Constitution. What he said yesterday is treason… Because he is stating that the Constitution is invalid and the fight against the British was invalid... In any other country, he would have been arrested and tried,” Rahul claimed. Rahul went on to say that the BJP and RSS have captured almost every institution in our country, adding the Congress is now fighting not just both of them but the Indian state itself. In its pushback, the BJP launched a bazooka against Rahul for claiming the Congress was fighting the Indian state. Party president J P Nadda, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, IT cell head Amit Malviya and others castigated Rahul for his ‘objectionable’ remark, adding it exposed his mindset against India. The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution in this country and we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Congress has a history of encouraging all those forces who want a weak India. Their greed for power meant compromising the nation’s integrity J P Nadda, BJP president “I compliment Mr Rahul Gandhi for saying clearly what nation knows that he is fighting the Indian state. It is not a secret that Mr Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with Urban Naxal and the deep state who want to defame, demean and discredit India,” Nadda alleged. Sitharaman wondered why Rahul carried a copy of the Constitution when he was using such language. Malviya said, “Rahul Gandhi has now declared an open war against the Indian State itself. This is straight out of George Soros’s playbook”. The Congress got its new headquarters 47 years after the party made bungalow No. 24, Akbar Road its temporary head office. Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the swanky office. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said Indira Bhawan, the new HQ, had been built on the foundation of democracy, nationalism, secularism, inclusive development and social justice. INDIA’s merchandise exports contracted 1% year-on-year even as imports rose 4.9% in December 2024, government data released on Wednesday showed. The trade deficit narrowed to $21.94 in December month-on-month compared to $32 billion in November as gold imports halved to $4.7 billion. In November 2024, gold imports had surged 186% year-on-year to $9.9 billion. In December 2023, the merchandise trade deficit was $18.76 billion. Services exports during the month rose by 3.25% year-onyear, while imports grew 12%. Total trade deficit (merchandise plus services) widened to $6.78 billion in December 2024 compared to $2.76 billion in the year-ago period. Merchandise exports during April-December 2024 were $321.71 billion compared to $316.65 billion during April-December 2023. Merchandise imports during the period were $532.48 billion compared to $506.39 billion a year ago. Merchandise trade deficit during the nine-month period of the current financial year widened to $210.77 billion from $189.74 billion a year ago. Total exports during AprilDecember 2024 is estimated at $602.64 billion, registering 6.03% growth. Deal reached to pause Gaza war, free hostages Will kick in on Sunday, says Qatar premier; Trump takes credit for the ceasefire pact AGENCIES The deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to AFTER more than 15 months of fighting that is to be accompagrueling war, Israel and Hamas nied by the opening of negotiaagreed to a ceasefire deal and tions on ending the war altothe release dozens of hostages, gether. Egypt is exploring the multiple officials confirmed on possibility of opening the RaWednesday . fah crossing to sent aid. Trump, who had warned HaThe deal promises the release mas of hell to pay if it did not of dozens of hostages held by free the remaining capHamas in phases in extives before he took ofchange for the release fice, said, “We have a of hundreds of Palesdeal for the hostages in tinian prisoners in Isthe Middle East. They rael. It would also alwill be released shortly. low hundreds of Thank you!” thousands of people The deal comes after displaced in Gaza to mediators Qatar, Egypt retur n to what reand the United States inmains of their homes. tensified their efforts in Soon after the news recent days to cement an We have a deal broke, thousands of for the hostages agreement. Qatari Prime Gazans gathered in in the Middle Minister Mohammed groups, hugging and East. They will bin Abdulrahman Al taking photos with be released Thani said the deal their mobile phones to shortly. would come into effect Thank you mark the announceon Sunday . ment in central Gaza’s Donald Trump Three officials from Deir el-Balah and oththe US and one from Haer area. Earlier, over mas confirmed that a deal had 100 hostages were freed from been reached, while Netanya- Gaza in 2023. hu’s office said that final details Trump said his Mideast enwere still unresolved, but that it voy, Steve Witkoff, would conhoped “details will be finalised tinue “to work closely with Istonight”. The pact is expected rael and our Allies to make sure to discussed by the Israeli cabi- Gaza NEVER again becomes a net on Thursday . terrorist safe haven”. US President Joe Biden Hamas triggered the war hailed the breakthrough agree- with its October 7, 2023, attack, ment, asserting it is the result which killed some 1,200 Israeof the pressure and isolation lis. Israel responded with a placed on Hamas along with de- fierce offensive that has killed termined US diplomacy . 46,000 Palestinians. SUJOY PAUL IS APPOINTED NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE Telangana High Court, in place of Justice Alok Aradhe, who has been transferred to the Bombay High Court. The Centre ratified the decision on Wednesday | P4 EXPRESS READ CM off today on three-nation tour Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will lead a delegation on a three-nation tour starting January 16 to attract investments to the state. The delegation will visit Singapore, Switzerland and Dubai from January 16 to 24. Officials expect many more multinational companies to show interest in investing in Telangana compared to last year | P4 TG to object to AP’s Godavari-Banakacherla linking plans EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad CHIEF Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials of the state Irrigation department to write letters to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressing Telangana’s objections to the AP government’s proposed Godavari-Banakacherla interlinking project. Copies of the letter will also be sent to Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards (GRMB and KRMB). Telangana is objecting to the project on the grounds that the AP government took up the GodavariBanakacherla linking without obtaining the required permissions. Chairing a review meeting along with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy in Delhi on Wednesday the chief minis, ter directed the officials to mention in the letter that, as per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 (APRA-2014), if any state wanted to construct a project on any river in the two sibling states, information should be given to the GRMB, KRMB, and the neighbouring state. AP however, , decided to take up the project without fur nishing this information. According to sources, the other objection of Telangana was that the Tribunal should decide the share of water between two states and one state should not take up projects Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at a review meeting on Irrigation in Delhi on Wednesday TG’S TERMS without the allocation being made beforehand. The chief minister also directed the officials to present effective arguments before Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) for Telangana’s share of river Krishna water under Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act (ISRWDA)-1956. The chief minister underscored that water allocations should be made project-wise as per Section 89 of the APRA2014. The Tribunal is set to take up the hearing on ThursCONTINUED ON P5 day . Telangana wants the Godavari Tribunal to decide the share of water between two states Sue mastermind of Pannun plot, says top panel M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi A high-powered committee set up by the government in the wake of a botched operation to bump off Khalistani radical Gurupatwant Singh Pannun on US soil, recommended legal action against ‘an individual’ who masterminded the plot. While the report did not name the individual, the FBI identified him as Vikash Yadav. In its lookout notice, the FBI said Yadav was wanted in a “murder-for-hire case; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; and money laundering”. The US District Court, Southern District of New York, issued an arrest warrant against him on October 10, 2024. The home ministry said in a statement that the panel was formed in 2023 to probe the individual’s links with the drug mafia and criminal gangs after allegations that a plot was hatched to disturb American security interest in 2023. “After a long enquiry, the Committee has recommended legal action against an individual, whose earlier criminal links and antecedents also came to notice during the enquiry the ministry said. ,” Yadav was with Research and Analysis Wing when the alleged plot to bump off Pannun went sideways. He was later sacked. The ministry said the panel recommended expeditious legal action against him. While announcing the constitution of the high-powered committee in November 2023, the External Affairs Ministry had said it will look into all relevant aspects of the matter. “The Enquiry Committee conducted its own investigations and also pursued leads provided by the US side. It received full cooperation from US authorities and the two sides also exchanged visits. The Committee further examined a number of officials from different agencies and also scrutinised relevant documents in this connection.” It added that the panel recommended “functional improvements in systems and procedures as also initiation of steps that could strengthen India’s response capability in dealing with matters like this”.