TIRUCHY l thursday l march 06, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Cabinet OKs ropeway projects for Kedarnath, Hemkund sahib The Centre on Wednesday approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand to ease pilgrim access to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib shrines Cuts travel time From 9 hrs to just 36 mins sky lifts to ferry 11,000 pilgrims daily The 16-km uphill trek to Kedarnath from Gaurikund is currently covered on foot, ponies, palanquins or helicopters. The `4,081 crore ropeway will cover 12.9 km, using advanced tricable gondola technology to carry 18,000 passengers daily, ensuring all-weather connectivity between Sonprayag and Kedarnath by cutting travel time from 9 hours to just 36 minutes ■ ■ The Hemkund ropeway, to be developed at `2,730 crore, will span 12.4 km from Govindghat, using monocable and tricable gondolas, carrying 11,000 people daily and enhancing last-mile connectivity Hemkund Sahib is a revered pilgrimage site and remains open from May to September, drawing 1.5 to 2 lakh pilgrims annually `6,811 crore worth projects are expected to be completed in 4-6 years 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 ‘why this hurry?’ ‘reform system first’ Speaking after the meeting, AIADMK organising secretary D Jayakumar said, “A drama has been enacted today to create an impression that the DMK is the only protector of Tamil Nadu’s rights” TVK president and actor Vijay, in a detailed statement on delimitation, argued that increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats without reforming present system is of no use Reciprocal tariff on India from Apr 2 TN parties want retention of state LS seats till 2056 Resolution passed to form Joint Action Committee with southern MPs E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai As many as 59 Tamil Nadu political parties on Wednesday unanimously demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi unequivocally assure in Parliament that the 1971 population census will remain the basis for delimitation of Lok Sabha seats for another 30 years — till 2056 — by adopting a resolution to this effect at the all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister M K Stalin. The resolution, proposed by the CM at the meeting held to discuss the impacts of the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats expected in 2026, also urged for a constitutional amendment ensuring the same. It was also resolved that formal invitations would be sent to form a Joint Action Committee, comprising of MPs from southern states, to carry for- express read dri raid Kannada actor’s 5-cr assets seized Bengaluru: Officers attached to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence raided 33-yearold Kannada actress Ranya Rao’s residence on Lavelle Road and seized assets worth `4.73 crore. The officials had on Monday arrested her for allegedly trying to smuggle 14.2kg of gold from Dubai. It was considered one of the biggest seizures of gold at the Kempegowda International Airport in recent times by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence | P5 Chief Minister Stalin at the TN all-party meeting on Wednesday | Express ward delimitation-related demands and spread awareness among the public. The all-party meeting strongly and unanimously registered its opposition to the delimitation exercise based on present population, which it termed as a “grave threat” to the representative rights of TN and other southern states and the country’s federal polity . Of the 66 recognised and registered parties invited by the TTto walk icon set into sunset The final game Multiple Commonwealth and Asian Games medallist Sharath Kamal says it’s time to hang racquet and his iconic bandana. The World TT in Chennai to be his last competition as a professional | More on p11 TN government for the meeting, only the BJP Naam Tami, lar Katchi and five other smaller parties — Puthiya Tamilagam, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), Puthiya Neethi Katchi, Dr MGR Kudiyarasu Katchi and the India Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam — skipped it. Stating that the resolutions adopted at the meet conveyed TN’s stand loud and clear, CM Stalin, later in a post on X, said that the all-party meeting also clarified that the state is not against delimitation, but it cannot and will not allow delimitation to be used as a disguised weapon against progressive states. Another resolution passed stated that if parliamentary seats are to be increased, TN’s existing share of 7.18% of the total seats in Lok Sabha must not be reduced under any circumstance.  P5 I feel, stepping away as a player gives me more time to help and develop the sport Photo: P Jawahar Donald Trump addresses his first joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday after beginning his second term as US President | AP Steps to open the door for US products India has taken steps to enhance market access for US agricultural products like alfalfa hay, duck meat, and medical devices and lowered tariffs on US products such as bourbon whiskey, motorcycles, ICT products, and metals. “The plan we have chalked out while setting a trade target of 500 billion USD by 2030 is mutually agreeable. It has many elements as agreed between the leadership of two countries, including increasing US industrial exports to India and expanding Indian exports of labour-intensive products to the US,” a source said Air India trainer pilot among 30 sacked, 10 others grounded Express news service @ New Delhi AIR INDIA has fired a simulator trainer pilot for lapses and removed 10 pilots, who underwent training under the trainer pilot, from flying duties pending investigation, the Tata G r o u p a i rl i n e s a i d Wednesday . The action came after a whistleblower flagged the simulator trainer pilot of dereliction of duty while training others. “A detailed investigation was conducted and, following a review of the evidence, the allegation was corroborated. Accordingly, the said trainer pilot’s services are being termi- Express N e ws S e rvi ce @ Krishnagiri Plea seeks temple for 1 caste, binned In a tragic incident, a Class 3 student, who slipped and fell into a 15-foot-deep irrigation pond filled with water, and a government school headmaster, who attempted to save the child, both drowned in Eluvapalli in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday. Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed his condolences and announced a solatium of `3 lakh each from the CM’s general relief fund. According to police, the deceased child — identified as eight-year-old M Nithin — was one among around 20 students studying at the Eluvapalli Panchayat Union Primary School located along Bagalur Road. Headmaster Gowrisankar Raji (53) and Class 3 student M Nithin (8) | Express During lunch break, Nithin, along with his brother and other students, was playing near a pond that had been dug for irrigation, when he slipped and fell into it. His brother informed the school headmaster Gowrisankar Raji (53), who jumped into the pond to rescue the child, police said. Meanwhile, students also informed other teachers and vil- lagers of the incident and they rushed to the spot. However, by then the HM and child had died, police said. The villagers retrieved the bodies and notified the Bagalur police, who sent them to the Hosur Government Hospital for autopsy. A case was registered under BNS and a probe was initiated. “The pond was dug by a local farmer for watering crops. In these parts, it is common for farmers to create such ponds, place tarpaulin sheets at the bottom — to prevent water from seeping into the ground — and fill them up using borewells. This pond is located on private property and is over 15 feet deep, filled with water up to 10ft,” police said.  P5 TN man, 2 girlfriends held for murdering his lover Deceased, accused met online Loganayagi had been in relationship with Abeez for the last few years after they met on social media, police said, adding that he had convinced her to have sex with a promise to marry her nated. As a precaution, 10 pilots who underwent recurrent training under the trainer pilot have been removed from flying duties pending further investigation,” said an Air India spokesperson. Air India has reported the matter to aviation regulator DGCA. While Air India did not disclose details of the incident or the trainer’s conduct, a source familiar with the matter said the trainer pilot was repeatedly absent during training sessions and violated several other protocols. Air India also said that it terminated 30 employees in 2024 for various ethical breaches, with numerous others handed disciplinary action. “Immediately following the privatisation of Air India under the Tata group, the airline implemented the Tata Code of Conduct to establish clear behavioural expectations and accelerate cultural change to that of a Tata Group Company the ,” airline said. This included comprehensive training for all employees on Tata’s ethos and ethics-related policies, such as anti-bribe r y, a n t i - c o r r u p t i o n a n d whistleblowing, among others. Air India said that an Apex Ethics Committee led by senior management oversees efforts to foster a culture with zero tolerance for unethical behaviour. Class 3 student, HM drown in pond in namakkal Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed for separating a temple from a group of four temples in Namakkal district so as to ensure exclusive worship rights over the temple to a particular caste. Holding that it is a public temple (administered by the HR&CE deparment) and can be worshipped, managed, and administered by all devotees, Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy dismissed the petition recently | P2 highlighting that the US has long faced high tariffs from sevPresident Donald Trump eral countries, including India. announced reciprocal tariffs He announced that his adminon India starting April 2, sign- istration would impose reciproaling a tough path ahead in the cal tariffs on several countries bilateral Free Trade Agree- starting April 2. ment (FTA) negotiations as The White House had earlier they could clash with these put out a factsheet on India’s sweeping tariffs. tariff regime: “The US But New Delhi reaverage applied Most mains hopeful that the Favored Nation (MFN) understanding reached tariff on agricultural between Prime Minisgoods is 5%. But India’s ter Narendra Modi and average applied MFN President Trump on tariff is 39%. India also February 13 will help charges a 100% tariff on resolve trade issues and Piyush Goyal US motorcycles, while keep the September we only charge a 2.4% deadline for signing the first tariff on Indian motorcycles.” tranche of the FTA, as ComHowever, New Delhi is hopemerce and Industry Minister ful that “trade issues can be Piyush Goyal began his US trip sorted mutually” as India-US on Monday to meet the new ties are “multifaceted” in line United States Trade Represent- with understanding arrived at ative (USTR), Jamieson Greer. the meeting between Modi and In his first address of his sec- Trump. “We have a roadmap ond term to a joint session of that will ensure we sort out any Congress, President Trump de- issue through consultations,” fended his strict tariff policies, said a source. J aya n t h J a co b @ New Delhi Express News Service @ Coimbatore A man and the two women he was dating were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly poisoning a 35-year-old woman and throwing her into 30foot-deep gorge on Yercaud Road as she demanded the man keep his promise of marriage. Salem Rural police identified the deceased as M Loganayagi alias Albiya of Thuraiyur in Tiruchy district. The accused were identified as Abdul Abeez (22), a fourth-year engineering student at a private college in Perambalur, S Thaviya Sulthana (22) of Avadi, an IT company employee and R Monisha (21) of Thuraiyur, a nursing student at the Villupuram Government Medical College Hospital. Police said that Loganayagi worked at a competitive exam coaching centre in Salem and was staying at a ladies hostel. On the night of March 1, she left the hostel and did not return, nor did she go to work. As she could not be reached on her mobile phone, the hostel warden reported her missing to Salem City Police on Monday. Based on her last phone call conversation, Salem Pallapatti police zeroed in on Abeez (22) and questioned him. The investigation revealed that he, along with Thaviya and Monisha allegedly murdered Loganayagi after luring her to Yercaud Hill on the night of March 1 and injecting her with poison. Loganayagi had been in a relationship with Abeez for the last few years after they met online, police said, adding that he had convinced her to have sex with him by promising to marry Based on this, Loganay. agi reportedly converted to Islam and changed her name to Albiya.  P5 Kane Williamson reverse sweeps versus South Africa on Wednesday | AFP NZ in final: Kane and able with Rachin by his side E x p r e s s N e w s s e r v i c e @ Chennai The story of the Champions Trophy fluctuated between the seemingly devious pitches of Dubai to high-scoring ones in Pakistan. So did the fortunes of most teams. The debate over Dubai favouring India had been in the news more than the grinding cricket they had played in the middle. The venue will be in focus for one last time on Sunday when India face New Zealand for the title. The Black Caps had always posed some threat to India in big matches, but the way Men in Blue have been playing this time, starting as favourites is a given. Going by their performance against South Africa in the semifinal on Wednesday, the Black Caps showed they will be no pushovers. A score of 362/6 against South Africa on a wicket that assisted some spin would give them confidence. But what would bring big cheer to the team will be the form of their top order batters, including Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson. Both scored hundreds and played a pivotal role to take the game away from the South Africans. Only solid batting could have saved the latter but fate discarded them later as skipper Mitchell Santner once again tweaked his way into form. May not be high-scoring but the final promises to be one big blockbuster.  P11 Abu Azmi in Mumbai | Express Maha House suspends Azmi for eulogy of Aurangzeb s u d h i r s u r ya v a n s h i & N a m i ta b a j pa i @ Mumbai/Lucknow SAmajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was on Wednesday suspended from the Maharashtra legislative assembly till the ongoing budget session ends on March 26, over his remarks eulogizing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil had moved the motion of suspension. “Azmi’s comments praising Aurangzeb and criticising Sambhaji Maharaj do not suit the stature of a member of the assembly and is an insult of the legislative assembly Patil said. ,” Azmi, president of the Samajwadi Party’s state unit, had said that during Aurangzeb’s reign, India’s border reached Afghanistan and Burma (Myanmar). “Wrong history is being shown in ‘Chaava’... Aurangzeb built several temples. I do not think he was a cruel administrator,” said the MLA from Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency in Mumbai. The motion for his suspension was passed by a voice vote. Crying injustice, Azmi said the action against him was taken despite him redacting his remark. “Whatever I have said about Aurangzeb is something that has been stated by historians and writers. I have not made any derogatory remarks against Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj or any national icons. Still, if anyone is hurt by my remarks, I take back my s t at e m e n t s, ” h e s a i d o n Tuesday . Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde dubbed Azmi a “traitor” and said he has no right to sit in the assembly . In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath asked the SP leadership “to send Azmi to UP where he could be dealt with appropriately.” He said the SP criticises events like Maha Kumbh while praises a “cruel and fanatic” ruler.