HYDERABAD l saturday l june 07, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late cITY EDITION Elon Musk’s Starlink gets India licence for broadband internet Elon Musk’s Starlink has bagged a licence for satellite internet services, a milestone towards launching commercial operations in India licence hours after trump-musk spat strict security rules await foreign co Starlink is the third company after Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications to get a licence from the Dept of Telecommunications to provide satellite internet services in the country. A fourth applicant, Amazon’s Kuiper, is still waiting for approvals. Notably, the licence came hours after an ugly, public spat between Musk and Donald Trump | P10 ■ ■ TRAI last month recommended that satcom companies like Starlink pay 4% of their adjusted gross revenue as spectrum charges to govt—a rate steeper than what these firms had lobbied for India’s rules mandate satcom firms to demonstrate capabilities with respect to security aspects, including monitoring, before operations 550 km above earth is world’s largest low Earth orbit used by starlink 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 Double delight: RBI cuts repo by 50 bps, CRR 1% Signals pause in rate cut cycle for the time being; releases `2.5L cr into banking system sense of certainty to the market with a 50 bps cut. The Reserve Bank of India Malhotra said the Monetary (RBI) has ‘frontloaded’ the dose Policy Committee’s decision of relief for borrowers. On Fri- was taken in view of durable day the central bank’s rate-set- disinflation and the need to , ting panel surprised the Street boost private consumption and with a 50 basis point cut investment. “Inflation in the repo rate—the has softened, with headbenchmark lending line CPI falling to 3.2% in rate—to 5.5% against the April—below the 4% tarexpectation of a 25 basis get,” he said. “We now point reduction. The project inflation for FY26 panel also shifted its polat 3.7%, down from our icy stance from ‘accomearlier forecast of 4%.” modative’ to ‘neutral’, On reverting to the signalling an end of rate ‘neutral’ stance from ‘accut cycle for now. With commodative’, he clariMPC will Friday’s cut, RBI has carefully assess fied this change indicates data to chart lowered the repo rate by a “very limited space” out future a cumulative 100 basis for further monetary polcourse of points (bps) in 2025. icy action. A neutral monetary policy To ease liquidity constance will mean rates in ditions, RBI also an- Sanjay Malhotra, future can go either way . RBI guv nounced a 100 bps cut in “It will depend on how the cash reserve ratio the data comes in. If (CRR) from 4% to 3%, to be im- growth is weaker, it can mean it plemented in four tranches will go down. If growth is good, starting September 6. This is ex- inflation is going up, the repo pected to release `2.5 lakh crore rate can go up,” he said. into the banking system. Meanwhile, real GDP growth Speaking to the media, RBI for FY26 has been retained at Governor Sanjay Malhotra said 6.5%, with Q1 projected at 6.5% the move was aimed at ensuring and Q2 at 6.7%. The governor policy certainty. He said RBI said the domestic economy recould have done the rate cut in mains resilient, supported by tranches, but it wanted to give a several positive factors.  P10 D i pa k M o n d a l @ New Delhi 7 Highs and lows 6 5 4 3 40 50 50 50 35 Repo Rate (%) 25 0 Change (bps) -25 4.4 4.9 5.4 5.9 6.25 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.25 may ’22 june aug sep -25 6 dec feb ’23 june sep ’24 dec feb ’25 apr -50 5.5 june PM dedicates Projects worth `46,000 crore to nation India’s Operation Sindoor will haunt Pakistan forever, says Modi in J&K RA J E SH KUMAR THAKUR & FAYA Z WA N I @ Katra / Srinagar Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lit into Pakistan, accusing the ‘unfortunate neighbour’ of conspiring to derail the economy and empowerment of Jammu and Kashmir through the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. “Pakistan attacked both insaniyat (humanity) and Kashmiriyat (Kashmir’s social harmony) in Pahalgam. It wanted to spark communal riots in India and rob Kashmiris of their livelihood,” Modi said in his first visit to J&K after the April 22 terror attack. His comments came while addressing a rally after inaugurating the world’s highest single-arch rail bridge over the Chenab river, India’s first cable-stayed Anji bridge, and flagging off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link that providies direct train connectivity to the Kashmir Valley . In all, Modi inaugurated development projects worth `46,000 crore for the region. “On the night of May 6, doom was let loose on Pakistan’s terrorists,” Modi said, adding that Pakistan will be reminded of its shameful defeat whenever it hears the name Operation Sindoor. “The edifice of terror that Pakistan built over the years was reduced to rubble in minutes. Development and peace of J&K is the Modi guarantee which nothing can hamper,” he said. He also lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for ‘Livelihood hit’ Praise for Adil PM praised the courage of Syed Adil Shah, who was killed by terrorists when he tried to save tourists from bullets Top: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, MoS Jitendra Singh, J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, and CM Omar Abdullah during inauguration of Chenab rail bridge; Above: Vande Bharat flagged off by PM, crosses the rail bridge on Friday | PTI standing firm against terrorism. Reaffir ming the Centre’s commitment to J&K’s all-round development, he said improved railway connectivity would transform the region with all-weather connectivity . Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who was present on the occasion, praised the successful completion of the rail link—a feat he said even the British attempted but failed.He also used the occasion to reiterate his demand for restoration of statehood to J&K. He joked he was demoted from the CM of a fullfledged state to CM of a Union Territory, while L-G Manoj Sinha, who was MoS earlier, got a promotion. He expressed confidence that J&K would regain statehood under the Modi’s watch. India launches pre-feasibility study to divert Chenab water J i t en d r a C h o u b e y @ New Delhi Modi said the Pahalgam attack directly impacted local workers in J&K—horse riders, porters, guides, shopkeepers and guest house owners Carney invites Modi to attend g7 summit J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi IN a major signal of improving ties between India and Canada following erosion of diplomatic relations under former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday confirmed his participation in the upcoming G7 Summit, to be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15–17. Confirming his attendance, Modi said he looks forward to meeting the newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney . Taking to X on Friday, Prime Minister Modi said. “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.” India’s ties with Canada turned frosty under Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau over a host of issues, including the activities of Khalistani separatists in the country . INDIA has launched a prefeasibility study for the construction of the ChenabRavi-Beas-Sutlej link canal project aimed at diverting water from the Chenab currently flowing into Pakistan under the currently inactive Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The project proposes to channel 15-20 million acrefeet (MAF) of water from the Chenab to Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, as part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic water infrastructure and assert greater control over Indus basin resources. The move follows the effective suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty under which India was permitted to use 20% of the basin’s water. Additionally, a team has begun assessing the existing canal structures across Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. An officer involved in planning the study at the Ministry of Jal Shakti stated, “We need to evaluate if the water diverted from the Chenab through these canals is being delivered in proper condition and determine investment required for restructuring the canal system.” In addition to the ChenabRavi-Beas-Sutlej link canal project, India is fast-tracking several new storage and run-of-river projects to support these initiatives. Under the IWT, India was allowed to use up to 20% of the water for non-consumptive purposes, and plans to demand permission to use up to 40% of the water in case of renegotiations, an officer said. Entire Cabinet took KLIS decision: Eatala 2 women booked for sharing child abuse content E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad E x p r e ss N e ws Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has registered 10 suo motu cases against several suspects for allegedly sharing or uploading Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on the web and social media platforms. Among those named in the FIRs are two women, one from Hyderabad and another from Nalgonda. At least three suspects, including the two women and a man from Hyderabad, allegedly shared child sexual abuse content on Instagram while a man from Secunderabad had uploaded the content on Facebook. The information regarding sharing of the material was passed on by a US agency to Telangana police through the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The NCRB has signed an MoU with the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), US, to receive cyber-tipline reports and proactively gather information on CSAM.  Continued on P5 Omar raises statehood issue CM A Revanth Reddy waves to the crowd at a public meeting at Thirumalapur village in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri on Friday BRS a party of devils, says Revanth E x p r ess N e ws Se rv i c e @ Hyderabad Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday launched a blistering attack on the BRS and its president K Chandrasekhar Rao, branding the par ty as “Dayyala Rajya Samithi” (party of devils). Addressing a public meeting at Thirumalapur village in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district after laying the foundation stone for various development projects, he ridiculed KCR for remaining silent over the recent controversial remarks made by his daughter and MLC K Kavitha. “KCR’s own daughter is saying that devils surround him. Unable to respond to that, the leader of those devils is now sleeping in his farmhouse. It’s not BRS, it’s DRS — not Bharat Rashtra Samiti but Dayyala Rajya Samiti. We must drive out these devils from Telangana, and I am taking that responsibility on behalf of four crore people,” he said. The CM also demanded that KCR answer the questions raised by Kavitha and questioned how those who “looted” Telangana are now attacking the current government. “The vultures that exploited the state are now raising questions,” he claimed. Continued on P4 Stone laid for projects worth `1051.45 crore n Gandhamalla Reservoir: `574 cr n Young India Residential School: `183 crore n works within Yadagirigutta Civic Municipality: `25.5 crore n Construction of a high-level bridge in Kolanupaka village and Kalvapalli village at `7.5 crore and `6 crore respectively n Construction of Tahsildar, MPDO offices and a PS at `8.25 crore n Stones for 20,000 MTS capacity godowns in Datarpally village and 2,500 MTS capacity godowns in Aleru Market Committee at `22.75 cr & `2.75 cr respectively BJP MP and former finance minister Eatala Rajender on Friday told the Justice PC Ghose Commission of Inquiry that the decision to construct the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, including the selection of barrage sites, was taken collectively by the “entire Cabinet” and not by the Finance department. The commission posed 19 questions to Rajender and cross-examined him for 20 minutes. The Kaleshwaram Commission has summoned Rajender, former chief minister K Chan- BJP MP Eatala Rajender addresses the media after deposing before the Ghose panel on Friday | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan drasekhar Rao and former Irrigation minister T Harish Rao for cross-examination. Harish Rao is scheduled to appear before the Commission on June 9 and KCR on June 11. Rajender, who served as finance minister from June 2014 to December 2018 during the BRS regime, told the commission that although a barrage was initially proposed at Tummidihetti with an estimated cost of `38,000 crore, it was later shifted to Medigadda due to objections raised by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Maharashtra government. He explained that Maharashtra had objected to the submergence of a large area, including a wildlife sanctuary within its , territory. The neighbouring state had also insisted on reducing the height of the Tummidihetti barrage from 152 metres to 148 metres.  Continued on P4 express read Ready for any kind of fight against AP’s Banakacherla proj: Uttam Stampede: RCB marketing head, three others arrested Hyderabad: Dismissing the allegations of the Opposition BRS that the Congress government failed to stop the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed Godavari-Banakacherla project, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday declared that “we are ready for any kind of fight” against Andhra’s project | p4 Bengaluru: In connection with the death of 11 persons in a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the IPL title triumph celebration of RCB, four persons, including the marketing head of the RCB franchise, were arrested by the Central Crime Branch and Cubbon Park police, when they were reportedly flying to Mumbai on Friday | p5