hyderabad l Thursday l June 19, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION Govt set to roll out annual FASTag passes for pvt vehicles from Aug 15 Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, on Wednesday said the move is aimed at making highway travel hassle-free 200 trips on national highways for `3,000 Less congestion, disputes at toll plazas The pass will be valid for one year from the date of activation, or 200 trips, whichever comes first. Users may re-purchase the pass once the 200-trip limit is exhausted, even if the one-year validity period has not yet ended. The pass—valid only at NHAI-operated toll plazas—is designed exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles such as cars, jeeps & vans ■ The annual pass can be activated on existing FASTag ■ Gadkari said the annual pass will reduce wait time, ease congestion, and minimise disputes at toll plazas ■ Using annual passes will not be mandatory; users can continue to pass toll plazas using their existing electronic toll collection tags `15 Will be the Average cost of crossing a toll plaza for annual pass holders 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 Revanth: Will stop Naidu from Modi calls out Trump on mediation. going ahead with Banakacherla Don reiterates role in defusing clash E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad Asserting that his government would not allow his Andhra Pradesh counter par t N Chandrababu Naidu to go ahead with Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) project, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday stated that Telangana had a clear action plan to protect its interests. “We will approach the courts, and if relief is not granted, we will go to the people,” he said, following an all-party meeting of MPs convened here. The meeting adopted a resolution opposing the G-B project and also resolved to pursue the matter through all legal and constitutional channels. Addressing a press conference later, Revanth said: “I suggest to Chandrababu Naidu... You may be an NDA partner or Prime Minister Modi may listen to you, but it is an illusion if you think you will get all ap- KCR calls BRS meet on ‘neglect of projects’ Hyderabad: BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao will soon convene a meeting with senior party leaders to discuss the “criminal negligence and indifference” by the state govt towards irrigation projects, according to party sources | P4 provals for the Banakacherla project...” Referring to water availability, he said: “If Chandrababu Naidu believes that there is 3,000 tmcft of water in the Godavari river, Telangana is allocated 968 tmcft while AP is allocated 518 tmcft. Give a blanket NOC for Telangana to utilise its 968 tmcft first.” Apart from Revanth and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Congress MPs Renuka Chowdhary Balram Naik, Suresh , Shetkar, M Anil Kumar Yadav, K Raghuveer Reddy and Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, BJP MPs DK Aruna and M Raghunandan Rao, BRS MP V Ravichandra and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi attended the meeting. During the meeting, Uttam gave a presentation on the issue while Godavari Basin Deputy Director S Subramanyam Prasad briefed members on the ongoing and proposed projects on the Godavari river. CM to visit Delhi today Addressing the meeting, Revanth stated that the Telangana government was firmly opposing the G-B project. He said that he, along with Uttam, planned to meet Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Thursday and invited Un, ion Minister G Kishan Reddy to accompany them. Earlier in the meeting, Revanth described the Godavari and Krishna rivers as Telangana’s lifelines and stressed that the government was prioritising public interest over politics.  Continued on P4 Prime minister says India has always been against third-party mediation on Kashmir issue J ayanth J a c ob @ New Delhi Sending a clear and firm message to Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Donald Trump that India has never accepted—and will never accept—third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi made it unequivocally clear during their 35-minute phone call on Tuesday . The call — their second direct engagement since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam — came against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. Misri said “India’s response was measured, precise, and limited to terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir,” underscoring New Delhi’s commitment to strategic restraint without compromising on national security . The conversation also sought to clarify India’s position on recent claims by President Trump, who had repeatedly talked about playing a role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Modi directly addressed this, saying there were “no discussions on a trade deal between India and the US or about a mediation between India and Pakistan” at any point during the four days of military confrontation. The ceasefire talks, he said, were conducted exclusively between India and Pakistan, without external involvement. President Trump suggested a stopover meeting in the US during Modi’s return from Canada, but the prime minister declined due to prior commitments. Both agreed to find another opportunity for an in-person meeting soon. Narendra Modi Donald Trump Hours later, Trump reiterated that he intervened to prevent a military conflict between India and Pakistan in May after the Pahalgam terror attack. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a fantastic man” and expressed optimism about a forthcoming trade deal between the US and India. “Well, I stopped the war… I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India. But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India,” President Trump said. Addressing speculation around a potential White House meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, Trump credited Munir with playing a key role in de-escalating the crisis. “This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side,” Trump said, referring to Munir. “Modi, from the India side, and others — they were going at it, and they’re both nuclear countries. I got it stopped.” Trump also questioned media coverage of his claims, stating, “I don’t think I had one story. Did I have one story written…” India and Canada to reinstate envoys 3 top Maoists J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi Ok google Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy takes a tour of the Google Safety Engineering Centre after inaugurating it in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The facility is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region and the fourth in the world | Sri Loganathan Velmurugan IN a big step towards mending strained ties, India and Canada have agreed to reinstate High Commissioners in each other’s capitals and restart stalled trade negotiations, following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit early on Wednesday . Modi and Carney agreed to take steps to restore stability to the relationship with the return of top diplomats marking the first formal gesture of renewed engagement. “Diplomatic steps will follow in due course,” said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The meeting set in motion the resumption of dialogues on trade, connectivity, and public engagement. Trade talks, previously paused, will also be revived, with both leaders instructing their officials to Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Canadian PM Mark Carney on the sidelines of G7 Summit at Kananaskis, Canada | PTI restart negotiations soon. Collaboration on global challenges and emerging technologies formed a key part of the discussion, with both sides agreeing to deepen cooperation in clean energy, AI, digital infrastructure, food security and , critical minerals. After the meeting, PM Modi said, “Had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney Complimented him and the . Canadian Government for suc- cessfully hosting the G7 Summit. India and Canada are connected by a strong belief in democracy freedom and rule of , law. PM Carney and I look forward to working closely to add momentum to the India-Canada friendship. Areas like trade, energy, space, clean energy, critical minerals, fertilisers and more offer immense potential in this regard.” This marks Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to Canada since the diplomatic fallout following allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The controversy triggered diplomatic expulsions and the suspension of key dialogues. A statement from Carney’s office reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties “based on mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity”. Do not have the phone Op Sindhu: 1st evacuation flight from Iran lands today you seek, KTR tells ACB TG helpline J AYA N T H J A C O B , F aya z Wan i & N a m i ta B aj pa i @ New Delhi / Srinagar / Lucknow E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday submitted a written reply to the notice issued by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on June 16 in connection with the Formula E race case, directing him to hand over his mobile phone. Referring to the ACB’s letter dated June 13, Rama Rao pointed out that he had cooperated with the investigation by personally appearing before the ACB and answering all the queries posed to him. He wrote that on June 16, he was served another notice under Section 94 of the BNSS, asking him to submit the mobile phone used between November 1, 2021, and December 1, 2023, along with other electronic devices. He pointed out that the notice under Section 94 did not specify the reason or purpose for seeking these devices, nor did it explain why they were necessary for the investigation. Rama Rao said all official records relevant to the Formula E case are already with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department and maintained that all decisions related to the case were made in his official capacity as minister of that department. Rama Rao further stated that he had changed his mobile phone in the first quarter of 2024 and no longer possessed the old device. He also confirmed that he had not used any other electronic devices during the period in question. Rama Rao made it clear that the demand for submission of personal electronic devices not specifically mentioned in the allegations amounts to a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to a citizen under the Constitution. He said there was no establishment of necessity for such devices in the course of the investigation. He added that if any electronic devices are to be examined, strict protocols laid down by the Supreme Court must be followed to prevent tampering or misuse of data. He underlined the right to privacy and constitutional protection against self-incrimination, saying that no individual should be compelled to submit devices without a valid and clear reason, and that data from such devices must not be used against the person. INDIA has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from conflict-torn Iran, which has come under heavy Israeli aerial bombardment. The first evacuation flight is expected to land in New Delhi on Thursday . A total of 110 Indian students boarded a special flight from Yerevan in Armenia on Wednesday. The flight is scheduled to land in New Delhi around 2:00 am on Thursday Around 90 of . these students are from Jammu and Kashmir. There are around 1,300 J&K students in Iran. The Iranian Embassy in Delhi said five Indian students were injured during a strike on a medical students’ dormitory on Keshavarz Street in Tehran on Sunday Sources said the stu. dents were safely evacuated and nobody sustained any serious injury . “My ward is studying MBBS in Sheraz University I am wor. ried about his safety especially , after hearing news that a hostel came under Isreali strike,” said Srinag ar resident Shabir Ahmed. Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of J&K Students Association, said 250 more students have been shifted to safer location of Qom. They will be evacuated to Armenia and then ‘Iran will not surrender’ Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to surrender. “Wise individuals who know Iran, its people, and its history never speak to this nation with the language of threats,” he said airlifted to Delhi. Meanwhile, the families of those working in Israel are equally worried. Workers from around 70 families from Barabanki, Lucknow and other districts are employed in various factories in Israel. Ram Singh, a welder from Malihabad, Lucknow, shared his experiences with his family through a video call, explaining that mobile alerts come 10 minutes before a missile attack, followed by loud sirens five minutes ahead. “The moment the siren sounds, there’s panic all around. Everyone runs for the bunkers,” he told his family . Kashmiri students wait to board a flight to India under an evacuation operation facilitated by Govt of India, at Yerevan Int’l Airport in Armenia on Wednesday | pti gets SOS calls from Baghdad E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Hyderabad The Telangana government’s helpline numbers, set up to assist people from the state currently in Iran and Israel, rec e ive d s e ve r a l c a l l s o n Wednesday from those stranded and their families. According to Ch Chakravarthi, PRO at Telangana Bhavan, New Delhi, no calls have been received from the main conflict zones so far. “Most calls are from Baghdad, with people expressing fear and uncertainty . There are around 183 pilgrims in Iraq. We received approximately 15 calls on Wednesday from both stranded people and their families,” he said. Meanwhile, Soma Ravi, president of the Israel Telangana Association, confir med to TNIE that Revella Ravinder, a 57-year-old migrant worker from Jagtial, died of health complications unrelated to the conflict. Ravinder, who moved to Israel two years ago for work, had been hospitalised for 20 days before succumbing to a heart attack. Efforts are underway to repatriate his body . from TG killed in AP E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Rajamahendravaram/Bhupalpally Three top leaders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with the Greyhounds force in the forest near Kintukuru village in Devipatnam mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district on Wednesday morning. The slain Maoists were identified as Gajarla Ravi, also known as Uday or Ganesh, a Central Committee member who hailed from Chityala in Telangana’s Bhupalpally district; Ravi Venkata Chaitanya, alias Aruna, East Division Secretary and member of the AndhraOdisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC); and Anji, alias Narmadakka, from Chhattisgarh. Aruna was the wife of senior Maoist leader Chalapati, alias Ramachandra Reddy who was killed earlier in , an encounter in the Dandakaranya region. Police sources said the encounter took place at Kintukuru, around 100 km from Rajamahendravaram. Acting on intelligence inputs that a group of around 16–20 Maoists had gathered in the area, the Greyhounds launched a combing operation in the early hours. The location is around 30 km from the Polavaram project site. Police suspect that some leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana who attended the meeting may have escaped during the exchange of fire. Incidentally, Gajarla Ravi was part of the team of Maoists that participated in the peace talks during the YS Rajasekhara Reddy government. He joined the PWG in 1990 and worked his way up the chain of command and carried a reward of `25 lakh on his head. Ravi’s elder brother Gajarla Saraiah was killed in an encounter. Ashok, his younger brother, told TNIE that Ravi had not even attended the funeral of their parents. “I appeal to the police to hand over his body so that we can perform the last rites,” Ashok said. inside Begumpet, RGI airports get hoax bomb threats I P3